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Mozilla says there are still 12 million Internet users rocking Firefox 3.5, and as far as Mozilla is concerned, that's 12 million too many. As such, the open source browser maker is planning a funeral for Firefox 3.5 and has come up with a plan to get stragglers to step up to a newer version, preferably the latest build.
"We need a plan to obsolete Firefox 3.5 as we can't support it into perpetuity," Mozilla states on a wiki page. "We have been frustrated with our efforts to move users off of old releases and are worried too many people do not upgrade and are on vulnerable and unsupported versions of Firefox."
The first part of Mozilla's plan entails updating Firefox 3.5 to version 3.6.18 for anyone who has automatic updates enabled. Mozilla would prefer that users make the jump to version 4.0, but will push 3.6.18 because the company considers that version to be the security upgrade for 3.5.
"We are treating the automatic update checkbox enabled as a 'Yes, I want Mozilla to keep me updated.' Previously as a courtesy we had people opt-in between major versions due to the potential jarring nature of the update," Christian Legnitto, Firefox release manager, wrote in a message posted to a developer mailing list. "We feel the difference between 3.5 and 3.6 is not severe and with 3.5 reaching end-of-life 3.6 *is* the security update for 3.5 users. Of course, we prefer people voluntarily install Firefox 4, but a minimum we want them on a release that is getting active security updates."
Before these updates are pushed out, Mozilla plans to start warning Firefox 3.5 users that they're running an out of date browser that is "no longer protected against online attacks."
Do you use Firefox? If so, which version? And if not, which browser are you running?
Image Credit: graphichorizon.net
Comments are closed on this article
arkarkwin
November 07, 2011 at 7:44am
I am not even surprise. I work in a community college as a Media/IT specialist. All of our machines are on deep freeze and they are all running FF 3.6. I handle a couple of laptops for events and Samsung flat panel displays, they are all out of reach of the main IT department. I put latest FF on them just to spike them. LOL
b00tpwnz4ll
May 20, 2011 at 9:24am
My wife runs FF 4.0.1 and I run Chrome 11. They're both fairly secure, and speedy enough on our E6600 and Q6600 Processors with 4GB of RAM and ATI 4850 and 4870 Crossfire configurations, respectively. Folks, upgrading your drivers so your apps don't act wonky is just a fact of life. They're as essential as OS updates. Sometimes a bad one will sneak in, but it's fairly rare. Just keep a version previous handy in case you need to roll back. If you can't do that, go buy a tablet. Also, don't even get me started on the short sighted "code" that comes out of the Symantec corporation. <shudder> Their "Norton" products are a slap in the face to the skills of the man after whom they are named.
nmanguy
November 06, 2011 at 9:54am
If she's using 4.0.1, she might as well use 7.0.1, since most people refused to update from 3.5 to 4 because of the interface changes, but I don't think 4 and 7 are any different in that regard.
nickb64
May 18, 2011 at 11:21am
my school still runs FF 2 alongside IE7, and some machines have IE6 because I'm pretty sure Win98SE doesn't get higher than that.
I run Chrome 11 off my Patriot XPorter to get away from the fail.
Harry Meyers
May 17, 2011 at 5:16pm
Tried it but it doesn't work with Norton Toolbar. Lost Identity Safe, with ID's and passwords. Fortunately Windows System Restore fixed it. I'd rather have Identity Safe than FF4. If they will get Norton Toolbar to work I will be happy to upgrade.
0ly1r3m@1ns
May 21, 2011 at 2:35pm
i haev norton and i turned its tool bars off cause there totaly usesless and safe id dosnt do shit
whathuhitwasntme
May 17, 2011 at 4:41pm
I have a new program for you. It's free. It replaces everything Internet Exploder did.
the catch you ask? Well we update it every 5 hours, and replace the version you have running smoothly every 3 weeks. In order for it to run properly, you have to reinstall windows completely with this from scratch. NOW dont bitch, that it doesnt work properly until you have ordered a COMPLETELY NEW PC an reinstalled every file you use and then if it still doesnt work properly, it is probably your fault for haveing an out of date driver, this had to have taken you at least 5 hours to do, and since then we updated the drivers again. START OVER!
really, that is how you are making this feel.
It's not you, its YOUR SOFTWARE. could ya make it work with the rest of the internet please? Or do we need to update the drivers for that as well?
TechLarry
May 17, 2011 at 7:39am
If the majority of my extensions weren't busted, I'd have moved to FF 4.
raven199009
May 16, 2011 at 9:34pm
i run Firefox 4 and have been ever since i got onto the beta version. as soon as an update is availiable i get it. absolutely love it. haven't had a problem with it so far and my machine seems to like it as well.
Lhot
May 16, 2011 at 7:40pm
I run FF4.0.1 on Windows XP 32 bit...haven't had one single issue...maybe...dare I say it...that Windows 7 maybe causing the problems....only addons I run are No Script and Adblock Plus...since I installed it...no issues what so ever...this include Java and Adobe Flash...not ONE SINGLE problem, and I'm on FF 4.0.1 like 16 hours a day, 24/7....
I have no clue why ppl are having problems with FF4.0.1....I sure don't ^^
Vano
May 16, 2011 at 4:36pm
I've upgraded the day one (well, actually, I did clean install and copied needed files such as history, bookmarks, etc from old profile) and besides a few extensions (out of 60+ that I use) everything works great and no issues. It is much faster and more responsive compare to 3.6.
whathuhitwasntme
May 16, 2011 at 3:49pm
Ok first off, my drivers are uptodate just want to say this upfront.
I have extensive programming material on my machine as I am in class for a computer programming degree. The MINUTE I INSTALLED firefox 4 my java went to shit. It is a known issue that java and firefox 4 have a incompatiblity issue. They tell us wait for 4.01 wtf? You shove 4.0 out then fix it later? We have M$ for that! That's why I quit using IE. Now you take up the mantra of the loser, we will fix it in the next patch.
That's why there are so many still rocking the version that actually works.
Praise whom ever you prais, YOU HAVE TO OPT IN for facebook!
aarcane
May 16, 2011 at 3:23pm
I keep ff around. 3.6 or 4, depending on which machine, but the newest version available through the package manager.
my wife tried to upgrade to ff4, and ff4 crashes constantly on her system. not sure why, so she rolled back.
I also keep chrome incognito around for when I need to open a quick browser while playing a game (gamefaqs, etc.) since loading 100+ tabs can wreak havoc on even the newest systems.
I thought about switching to chrome, but it lacks a few key features that I've grown accustomed to from firefox, and with ff4s new tab groups, I'm hooked again.
lhatten
May 16, 2011 at 2:25pm
What is it about some of you. Don't you read? Statement like FF3.6 is doin fine FIREFOX if it WORKS LEAVE IT ALONE !! is just stupid. Haven't you read about the good things in FF4 lile sandboxin etc? I think that eikichi may have an answer. One of the great things about FF4 (apposed to chrome) is that it has hardware acceleration. It is turned on by default. Why don't one of you compainers try to disable it (Tools Options and uncheck use hardware acceleration) and see if that makes a differece. If it does, udate your drivers.
drcrazyrich
May 16, 2011 at 1:38pm
first IE9 sux FF4 does so too !!! Chrome doesnt have proper visual correction for me ,to use full time and misses easy of use for me. FF3.6 is doin fine FIREFOX if it WORKS LEAVE IT ALONE !!
Willers
May 16, 2011 at 1:07pm
I'm on Chrome. I've got FF4 on my comp for a back up, but this browser war is starting to take its toll. I have IE9 for live purposes and Chrome takes care of pretty much everything else. FF4 has but only a small spot on my task bar anymore.
sojrner
May 16, 2011 at 12:47pm
FF 4 is my primary at work. (dev tools on it that I'm used to)
I also use chrome and opera to change it up at times. IE 8/9 are only for testing. (no matter how much faster benches say IE9 is, I still can't get comfortable in it. I've tried...)
At home I'm primarily opera and chrome. (Would be opera exclusive but google docs chokes there) I occasionally jump to FF4 there as well.
Ghostryderflyby
May 16, 2011 at 12:23pm
I'm still rocking 3.6, but that is because FF4 has been nothing but trouble for me. Page incompatibilities, frequent browser crashes and Norton password manager not working with it for starters. 3 different times about 3-4 weeks apart each since it came out, I've loaded up FF4 to see if the issues were resolved, only to find it's still a buggy train wreck and password manager still doesn't work with it. Nix goes FF4 and back on goes 3.6.
Then Mozilla keeps badgering me with the upgrate to FF4 notices, which is just chapping my backside right now since their buggy code is the entire reason I'm not running it. I'm getting annoyed enough I've considered running IE9, since at least password manager works with it. I just hate the page and button layout on IE9, so I really don't want to go there. How about just fixing FF4 Mozilla? *sigh*
eikichi
May 16, 2011 at 11:20am
It's worth mentioning that I ran into a few computers that had trouble with FF4 crashing. My first instinct was to make sure they were running the latest version of Flash. After that didn't resolve the problem I next updated the nVidia display drivers. Even though they were running versions of the driver that weren't terribly old (6 months to a year) the update to the latest version resolved the problem.
With FF4 enabling hardware acceleration by default this could be causing some of the trouble that people are experiencing. I would bet that another culprit is errant extensions. I try to weed out extensions that are no longer useful to me every so often to keep my browser running lean.
smithbd01
May 16, 2011 at 10:58am
I used the beta version and submitted a bug report and the new version still had this problem, if I had multiple windows open, and I selected Open in a New Tab, it would open the new tab sure enough, back in the first Window I had opened. Sorry, the way it worked previously is the way it should work. I like to keep my browsing grouped by what window I have open, not flipping between windows I have open and tabs in those windows.
Anyway, FF4 sucks, it's broken, I used it in Beta, I continue to use the old version and if 12 million other people are still rocking the old version it definitely says FAIL to Firefox on that newest version.
Shalbatana
May 16, 2011 at 10:40am
I've updated to 4 at home and have had nothing but good experiences.
However at work we have certain programs we use to update our web content folders that run (I'm guessing) as add-ins thorough firefox/java.
The program does not work with 4 yet, so we're stuck on the older version.
jnite
May 16, 2011 at 10:31am
Something I can't help but wonder is does everyone know how to upgrade to 4? I know it is easy to do, but a lot of people just rely on the auto update to upgrade them to the next version, which going by this article is only auto updating to 3.6. Also, not everyone keeps track of tech related news so many may not even know there is a version 4. I know my parents would still be on version 3.5 if I hadn't updated them to 4 myself.
Airheadq
May 16, 2011 at 10:37am
Yeah, it only does incremental updates of patches automatically and not a version upgrade. There was pretty much a week of news and hype leading up to it, but if you don't see one piece of tech news that way then yeah you wouldn't notice.
kixofmyg0t
May 16, 2011 at 8:58am
I think Anoymous needs to "protect everyone's rights" by DDOSing Mozilla for not supporting 3.5 til the end of time.
Am I right? Who's with me? Goin onto IRC now to whine and complain....
For real though I dont see why every is complaining that Mozilla just wants everyone to have a better browser. I have 4.0 on my PC's and couldnt be happier. Had it since the "minefield" days. But honestly I use the stock Android 3.1 browser mor than anything else.
Dartht33bagger
May 16, 2011 at 8:44am
I've been using Firefox for about 4 years now and I got Firefox 4 on the first day it came out. I've not had a single problem with it so far and it is so much faster than Firefox 3.6. I don't see why so many people are complaining about it on Facebook.
ABouman
May 16, 2011 at 9:48am
That's interesting to hear - I updated to FF4 last week and had NOTHING but problems with it from the get go. It hung or froze every time I attempted to stream a video or music in my browser and I ran into several problems while I was trying to upload stories and photos to the site (pages not loading properly, hanging/freezing, difficulty getting the pages to respond to commands). I actually switchd back to 3.6.18 out of sheer frustration.
Airheadq
May 16, 2011 at 10:44am
You might want to try a clean install of FF4. You may have to do the same for Flash and Java as well if you need them. This is probaly what you don't want to hear but you know keeping with the most current version is always better. I'm using FF4 on a new rig and have no issues whatsoever.
Razor86
May 16, 2011 at 9:37am
It is simple, most people don't have anything better to do than complain about anything that does fit "perfectly" into their little world. I am with you, I was even using it through the beta cycle, and it was quite solid then too. I think it is a fantastic product.
graydiggy
May 16, 2011 at 8:25am
if they had made sure all the bugs were out of FF4 then more people would have upgraded. it was ridiculous how many bugs were in it. Not to mention how much of a resource hog FF4 is.
