Firefox Popularity Rises As IE Falls

[forwardone]

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1035_22-5545930.html


The popularity of alternative Web browser FireFox continues to rise at the expense of Microsoft's Internet Explorer, according to a new study. From the beginning of December through mid-January, 4.78 percent of Internet surfers studied by online measurement company WebSideStory used the Mozilla Foundation's FireFox browser, a gain of 0.88 percentage points. At the same time, IE usage declined 0.7 percent to 92.7 percent, the firm reported. WebSideStory said IE use has declined from 96.7 percent since June.

The study measured market share by embedding sensors on major Web sites such as those of the Walt Disney Internet Group, Best Buy, Sony and Liz Claiborne. Previous studies from WebSideStory tested all operating systems, but the company said its Windows-only numbers are more accurate because new configurations in Apple Computer's Safari browser inadvertently skewed results. WebSideStory retrieves data from 30 million Internet users a day passing through its monitored sites. The company then takes a snapshot of two days and compares the growth.

Mozilla, an open-source software foundation formed by Netscape, launched FireFox 1.0 in November (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5443931.html?tag=nl), after recording more than 8 million downloads of its test version. As downloads continued to surge, measurement firms such as WebSideStory and Dutch market researcher OneStat.com began releasing data tracking FireFox gains and IE declines. In December, OneStat reported that IE's market share had slipped to 88.9 percent (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-5488279.html?tag=nl), a figure Microsoft disputed.

Even though Microsoft maintains the dominance it has enjoyed since defeating Netscape Communications' browser in the mid-1990s, FireFox's snowballing popularity is raising eyebrows.

Much of FireFox's success rides on it simply not being IE. FireFox fans have praised the new browser's automatic pop-up blocking and tabbed browsing features, but security has been one of the big points. Viruses and spyware (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5419714.html?tag=nl) are often aimed at IE because of its near-total market dominance.

However, FireFox's popularity may eventually attract the attention of malicious code writers trying to exploit security holes. The recent discovery of a potentially damaging software flaw (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-1009_22-5517149.html?tag=nl) suggested the potential for FireFox attacks.

Since beginning its measurements last summer, WebSideStory has been cautious to draw any broad conclusions about FireFox's popularity. This time around, the company said many people are not only downloading FireFox, they're sticking with it and using it.

"We are finding that in many cases there's room for two browsers on the desktop, and in other cases people are completely switched over," said Geoff Johnston, an analyst at WebSideStory.

A Microsoft spokesman did not immediately comment for this story.Geoff

[forwardone]

Microsoft have publicly stated they will focus on increasing Internet Explorer's security features with the next version of Windows coming out next year.

But will it be too little, too late?
So, yet another version of Windows?

Geoff

[jmrenterprises]

more money to spend and make M$ more millions.

think ill go to linux and at least most of thats free.

i also use firefox and find it very easy to use.

take care john in sheffield uk

[traxx7]

Where can you download Firefox?
Thank you

[forwardone]

traxx7, you can download it from the Mozilla site.

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/

Geoff

[forwardone]

I stopped using Firefox, I just couldn`t get into it. Interesting that this new report shows just one of the problems I found occasionally too when I did use it.


Firefox users alienated
June 24, 2005

Surfers that use alternative browsers to Microsoft's Internet Explorer could find problems accessing certain UK websites, according to new research.

One in 10 UK websites failed to work properly on the open source Firefox web browser when analysed by web-testing firm SciVisum.

SciVisum tested popular websites, such as Odeon cinema and JobCentrePlus, and found that they were difficult to access for web users using browsers other than Internet Explorer.

Of 100 websites, three per cent failed to provide full access to non Internet Explorer users and seven per cent used codes only recognised by the Microsoft browser.

Firefox, an open source browser created by Mozilla, has been downloaded more than 50 million times since its launch in November 2004.

Deri Jones, chief executive officer of SciVisum, said: “"Surprisingly, after all these years, users of standard-compliant browsers are still faced with sites that do not support their browser or with a link suggesting they download Internet Explorer, a browser they had presumably chosen not to use."

Other sites that failed non Internet Explorer users included Insurance.co.uk, an online insurance site run by Lloyds TSB and the British American Tobacco site.

According to the study, the most improved websites include electrical retailer Powerhouse that no longer excludes Firebox users and the English Heritage site. Geoff

[Luxor]

more money to spend and make M$ more millions.

think ill go to linux and at least most of thats free.

i also use firefox and find it very easy to use.

take care john in sheffield uk
I would use linux, but I have the same problem with it as Geoff does with Firefox. The problem is that it isn't compatible with every program I use on a daily basis. It may be more secure, however I think I will be fine with an updated version of Internet Explorer, my firewall and a quality updated anti-virus service.

+++LUXOR+++

[forwardone]

I think the Service Pack 2 has improved security a good deal with I.E. although they still seem vulnerable in some aspects.

I prefer it due to the fact that I just find it so easy to use. Another browser that gets a good recommendation is Opera, but again I`ve read some posts that say it has similar problems to Firefox.

As you say, Luxor, a good firewall and anti-virus are essential, and I also use Adaware to remove spyware.

Geoff

[Luxor]

Another browser that gets a good recommendation is Opera, but again I`ve read some posts that say it has similar problems to Firefox.
I have also encountered this, which is why I no longer use it. Also, I have a problem with the banner and the cost to remove it.

+++LUXOR+++

[forwardone]

Firefox Market Share Slips in July

August 15, 2005, 12:31 PM

Microsoft's Internet Explorer has gained back some lost ground during the month of July according to NetApplications.com, a California-based host of site usage monitoring services.

The slight drop in the alternative browser's popularity marks the first time it has lost market share since its introduction last year.

In July, usage of Internet Explorer grew from 86.56 percent to 87.2 percent, while usage of Firefox fell from 8.71 percent to 8.07 percent. Although Microsoft seemed to be the breadwinner from Firefox's loss, the market share of Apple's Safari also increased slightly from 1.93 percent to 2.13 percent.

NetApplications has said the 10 percent market share milestone was crucial for Mozilla as it would give Firefox more credibility among corporate users as a viable alternative to Internet Explorer.

Mozilla has already made moves to make its browser more appealing to corporate clients, including the creation of the Mozilla Corporation to oversee development of Firefox and Thunderbird.

A possibility for Internet Explorer's gains could be the initial beta release of Internet Explorer 7. While it was released as a closed beta during the month, copies of the install file were leaked out across the web and on P2P services.

Apple has also been working hard to improve its in-house browser, adding RSS capabilities and improving performance. Inclusion of the updated browser within the latest upgrade to Mac OS X -- known as Tiger -- could be fueling growth.

Even with the drop in market share, Mozilla announced on Sunday it had passed the 80 million download mark just nine months after the official release of Firefox 1.0.

Geoff

[etgsgroup]

I love this browser. (FF is good)

[forwardone]

Mozilla has made further improvements to it`s Firefox browser.

http://www.itp.net/news/details.php?id=18931&category=

Mozilla turns up the heat with Firefox
by Cleona Godinho

Mozilla claims that Firefox 1.5 is the first browser to support DHTML accessibility, which, when enabled, allows web applications to be read aloud.
Mozilla has officially launched a new version of its open-source browser called Firefox 1.5, with which it hopes to grab Internet Explorer’s number one spot.

Firefox 1.5 features major enhancements such as an improved pop-up blocker and a new ‘Software Update’ feature, which lets users automatically download security and feature updates without performing a complete installation for each. Support for Mac OS X users has also been improved.

Other improvements include speedier browser navigation, a drag-and-drop feature for advanced tabbed browsing and a new wizard that allows users to report web sites that fail to load in the browser. Firefox’s tabbed browsing and its ‘Report a broken web site’ wizard are currently not present in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 6.0 (IE).

Another major difference between Firefox 1.5 and IE 6.0 is that IE uses ActiveX system technology, which many web sites use to download and install spyware or malicious programs on a user’s computer without their knowledge. Firefox attempts to close this security hole by not using the Active X system, which means invisible downloads through ActiveX plug-ins are not possible.

According to recent online news reports, the Mozilla Foundation has plans to launch a major community marketing campaign via its Spread Firefox (www.spreadfirefox.com (http://www.spreadfirefox.com/)) web site, which it will use to persuade IE users to opt for its browser.

The browser also has major support from growing internet giant Google through a recently launched Firefox affiliate program, dubbed AdSense referrals. The program gives global users the chance to earn money through Firefox downloads made through a Google toolbar on their web site. Mozilla has also recently announced a new search alliance with Google’s long-time rival Yahoo.

Microsoft however has major plans of its own, as it is planning to launch Internet Explorer version 7.0 soon. This new version should boast coloured tabbed browsing and anti-phishing functionality.

Users who are interested in checking out Mozilla’s Firefox 1.5 can download it for free from www.getfirefox.com (http://www.getfirefox.com/).

[scrapage_online]

let see if ie 7 launched, previously i am a fan of ie, now i am using firefox 1.5, and it is great.

[value4money]

I`ve just upgraded to the latest Firefox 1.5, but there are some things about IE I still prefer. :smt024

[akhadkhan]

I'm not a fan of IE, but this is the single browser in the world that opens ALL web sites. I always use Opera, but Ie - is just like the first love. you may be not use it, but always remember about it!

[dimona]

Agree with Akhadkhan - IE opens everything, but sometimes crashes doing this ;-)
firefox is better, but the lates version 2.0 - it seems to be failed. I think, no success waites for it.

[golddust]

I love FF, and use many of the very handy extensions, though I haven't tried the lastest version of IE....

golddust

[q3q]

Golddust - you should to this - upgrading is easy and free! I used the 1.5 version, and when I downloaded the 2.0 (about 5.4 Mb) I started to love my Foxy even more.

[golddust]

I do use 2.0... it is the latest version of IE I haven't tried.

[namangan]

I wonder if anybody can recommend alpha Firefox 3? I heard it doesn't crashes - is it true? Thanks.

[golddust]

I have not tried the alpha, but rarely have this problem with FF at all.

[dmacdonald111]

I did get a lot less errors when I was using firefox than with (cringes) IE. Now I've been forced to upgrade to (shudders) IE7 as my broadband supplier uses IE so I can't have any of the features unless I use it (sound familiar? lol). But IE is SO buggy. Crashes on me all the time, and if I get another message asking me if I want to debug the website I'm on even though I'm not allowed to (as the message says) I will beat up BG!