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Firefox 2: 2 Million Downloads in a Day

By BetaNews Staff, BetaNews

October 30, 2006, 10:15 AM

Mozilla said that downloads for the second version of its Firefox browser reached two million in the first 24 hours, or more than 30 downloads per second. The rate of downloads compare to one million in the first 24 hours with the first version of Firefox, and 1.5 million with Firefox 1.5. The latest version of Firefox adds enhancements such as a phishing filter, a retooled user interface, and performance improvements.

Mozilla user experience lead Mike Beltzner says Firefox's "less is more" philosophy is what makes the browser so popular. He even compared it to a Honda Civic, a car popular with auto enthusiasts due to its easily upgradable design. "By default, Firefox is a simple, sleek, efficient, reliable and effective web browser," he said. "If you're the type of person who tinkers, though ... well, the sky is the limit."

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By TC17

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 1:35 PM

The optional plugins/extensions are what make Firefox better than IE for me. I also like the built in, "as you type", spell checker in Firefox 2.

I tried the latest IE7, and didn't like it. I found it not very user friendly and confusing.

Score: 0

By Zee333

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 11:59 AM

RingMaster you're wrong.

These downloads which were counted by Microsoft were done before they even released IE7 to Windows Update, so no they didn't add downloads from Windows Update. I'm not sure about Firefox, but i should think its the same as IE.

Also, owenw you are chatting out of your arse saying Firefox has pretty much no secirty flaws, Firefox has MORE flaws in it then IE so quit posting crap.

Score: 0

By RingMaster

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 10:04 AM

Downloads != Uses

Get that straight.

Plus Firefox needs to be downloaded and Mozilla probably more than likely counts downloads from within the Firefox auto-updater, not just manual download links. So of course it'll be high.

IE7 also gets it AUTOMATICALLY DOWNLOADED with Automatic Updates which Microsoft is probably counting as downloads.

Point: Mozilla and Microsoft will have HUGE downloads within short times.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 11:12 AM

...but mozilla's is larger in a shorter period.

Why they're downloaded isn't the story.

Who cares?

2.2M in a day for Mozilla.
3M in 4 days for IE.

Do they directly tie to users? Nope.

Does it tie directly to interest? Yep. Even if it's just a few *really* interested fanatics.

Of course this also does not mean that there weren't 2.2M downloads of IE the first day and only 800K the next 3, but...

I really don't think anyone here is guilty of making the downloads=users mistake. None of us are really that stupid.

IE7 hasn't hit auto-download yet, and there seems to be some contention as to whether Firefox 2.0 is auto-updating 1.5.

blah blah blah....

Point: Duh?

Score: 0

By Tene

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 1:59 PM

>IE7 hasn't hit auto-download yet, and there seems to be some contention as to whether Firefox 2.0 is auto-updating 1.5.

No, it isn't. 1.5.0.7 doesn't have the ability to auto update from one major version to another. 1.5.0.8, which will be released very shortly, does. From what I gather people who have the latter installed will be given the option to either update to 2.0.0.x or merely recieve security updates.

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 12:07 PM

None of us are really that stupid.
You're giving "us" alot of credit there.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 2:23 PM

Okay...

Everyone here but Grazer.

Better? :p

Score: 0

By digitalking

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 9:56 AM

"Where's the beef?"
-Clara Peller, January 10, 1984.

Score: 0

By ertisan

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 9:12 AM

Another new flaw in Firefox 2.0
Mozilla Firefox 2.0 is prone to a DoS within its javascript Range object. In a
special condition, a NULL Pointer Deference occur and Firefox crashes. Code execution is possible but not yet verified.

PoC test here: http://security-protocols.com/poc/ff2_death.html

Score: 0

By imafurby

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 9:26 PM

Honda Civic -- Yuck!

Score: 0

By jorgex3

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 7:54 PM

This info. is for those who are using FF2 to speed up your connection by using ad blocking addon. Download the host file http://hostsfile.mine.nu/ copy the file here C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\DRIVERS\ETC\ replace it. Now you can use any browser and the ads, popups, spyware, adware... WILL BE REJECTED.
FF2 IS MY FAVORITE, BUT I USE THEM ALL, SO STOP THE FIGHTING. FREEWARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Score: 0

By Arakiel

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 8:07 AM

...so I can replace the ads with 404 errors? Why the hell would I want to do that when adblock completely removes them and the iframe they came in on? Not to mention that the more you add to your hosts file the more your network slows down as it has to scan the file everytime it looks up an address. And have you even considered the problems you could introduce if your hooked up to a domain?

Score: 0

By jlsand

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 1:23 AM

Score: 0

By Tenoq

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 12:41 AM

You actually trusted a random internet identity's recommendation to replace your host file?

Score: 0

By jlsand

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 1:25 AM

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 6:27 PM

I've been using IE 7 since it came out in Beta and other then everyonce in awhile out of the blue it crashed... I never had a problem with it. None, no security breaches, no computer that needed to be rebooted because IE crashed, no nothing. Now I am using the full version and I've had no problems... nudda, 0, zero. I like it, I've been using IE since '95 and I like the new IE 7 version quite well. I do have FireFox, Netscape and Opera on my box... but I always use IE for my everday surfing, I use the other web browsers to make comparisons to web sites I create so that they all look some-what similar in each browser.

Score: 0

By scratchpentagon

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 10:39 PM

you used IE in '95?! seriously? why in god's name would you want to do that?

Score: 0

By GoodThings2Life

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 7:23 AM

A) I could.

B) I wanted to.

Who the heck are you to judge?

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 10:03 AM

IE'95...lmao

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 8:23 PM

Everyone had to start somewhere... and yes IE was what was at hand. Remember the first time you looked under the hood of a car and thought wow... lets try it out? Well that's how the Internet came to me and at that time I had no idea what downloading was all about let alone the difference from IE or Netscape, and I bet you probably had about the same knowledge your first time online.

Score: 0

By philosopher_dog

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 6:11 PM

Ok, I'm back again to FF 2. I thought IE7 was going to be cool, but it's buggy as anything. Also, still no mouse gestures, and that little utility you can download for mouse gestures crapped my mouse out generally. I suppose this is a foreboding of things to come with Vista. That thing's going to be bug central by the looks of it.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 3:20 PM

deleted...reads comment again and sighs (I must be blind?)

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 6:53 PM

What's buggy about it?

Score: 0

By Jay P

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 5:54 PM

hahaha, it's a bunch of lies they're just covering up what microsoft had that a lot of people downloaded wie, if you look at the number isn't that a coincidence that firefox 1.5 had 1.5 million people downliading it, while the firefox 2, had 2 million people hmmm what a freaking liar they are, nice try mozilla you guys still suck at your firefox browser

Score: 0

By cranbers

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 9:40 PM

You obviously never used it or are not aware of the features or addons available. I use ie6 or even 7 and I miss firefox. I use the portable version when I go places that don't have it, on a library computer or even work. The extensions are awesome, the tab and spell check feature rock there is no comparison. I found my browser and will use nothing else. Opera and ie7 suck and with ie tab working flawlessly now with all pages that use activex, there is no need to even have the icon for ie anymore.

so microsoft could learn a few things about firefox, not that they care much anyway. They updated loosely and lazy like their browser and did it for no other reason then there being mass defections to Firefox.

Score: 0

By Jay P

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 4:04 AM

who needs extensions for a browser if you're just going to surf the net, it's not like people spend their whole life on the net, or do they unless they don't have a life, cause downloading a lot of extensions wouldn't look good in a computer cause it would take a lot of space or what, but people have their views of what's nice and what's not

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 11:05 AM

it's not like people spend their whole life on the net

...no, just their "Second Life".

Yeah...it was a bad joke. Sue me.

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 10:06 AM

"downloading a lot of extensions wouldn't look good in a computer cause it would take a lot of space"

do you know how to use a c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r?

Score: 0

By arkytech

edited Oct 31, 2006 - 5:59 AM

Punctuation, it is a wonderful thing. It can separate a rambling statement and make coherent sentences out of it. You ought to try something other than commas and lower case. Then you won't get comments like this.

Firefox 2.x is nice, but I miss some of the older version's methods. I really had to work to get the tabbed browsing to work properly (chosen links in new tabs - NOT a new instance of Firefox).

Score: 0

By sophist_dreams

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 5:25 PM

I'm a FF fan, but this is a skewed result attributable to the fact that anyone who had FF 1.5 downloaded the update to 2.0. It's not like they are gaining any new users, any more that IE 7 did when it was released.

Score: 0

By GoodThings2Life

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 7:25 AM

2 million in 1 day versus IE7's 3 Million in 3 days. Hmm.

Score: 0

By scratchpentagon

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 10:39 PM

except upgrade downloads don't count. ;]

Score: 0

By Mystiqq

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 5:21 PM

Now just to wait until the extensions catch up with this update...

Just to clear something out. FF is by far the best choice if you need something more than just a "basic" browser. Ive got 41 extension installed, some of which ive customized my self, and counting. Without them i could just as easily just pick up IE7 and be done with it but its just not an option anymore.

If you dont like the looks, trying different themes probably would be a good idea, no?

Score: 0

By Grazer

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 12:12 PM

Ive got 41 extension installed...
Do you actually have room to display web pages anymore?

Score: 0

By David_2005

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 4:38 PM

IE7 for me also, i do not like the way Firefox looks and also noticed my browsing was slower. I like the way IE7 looks compared to Firefox so that is my opinion, if you don't like it you can suck on my..........

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 10:10 AM

...wooden arm?

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 11:04 AM

I was thinking

...elephantine, mucus encrusted, pustule laden, dripping, schnoz, but perhaps I just picture him differently than you.

Of course, he could have a wooden arm *and* a large, unsightly nose.

...the world may never know.

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 11:57 AM

lol

Score: 0

By cranbers

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 9:45 PM

your browsing was slower? I think you are doing something wrong or are just suffering from mind games. I see no difference between the two in rendering. Now if it took 10 seconds to load a page then ie then ok you have a point. But if anything your talking about miliseconds difference. That would be if your using adblock or something.

Adblock is a awesome extention. In fact you don't even realize its working until you use ie again or disable adblock to see what you have been missing on the web, that is a whole lot of adds you never even knew existed.

have you ever looked at the extention or theme section of firefox? If you haven't look and I bet you will be using firefox. If you like ie so much you can get a theme that looks just like it.

Score: 0

By owenw

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 5:41 PM

IE7 has so many security flaws, i would never use it for everyday browsing. It also has a very clunky new interface, and is very difficult to customise.
Firefox is very secure, and has virtually no security flaws, and is 100 times for stable. It also is easy to customise and uses less ram.

Score: 0

By cranbers

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 9:48 PM

I really don't care much about the security. I only visit a set number of legit sites, don't visit porn sites or warez and I run antivirus and antispyware. Not that they have ever been useful. I spend at least 30-60 hours a week on the net. firefox is just simply the best browser out there hands down. There is no other browser that has the features, customizing ability and fun ease of use as firefox does. I love it and if it they charged for it in 3.0, I would buy it.

Score: 0

By sophist_dreams

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 5:23 PM

you sure you have anything to suck on?

Score: 0

By Zee333

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 4:35 PM

I use IE7 - i just feel better using it, FF seems like a granpa to me, IE7 is a lot more fresh :)

Score: 0

By Skizelli

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 2:50 PM

How about we just use what we like, drink a coke (or a pepsi) and stfu?

Score: 0

By The_Zeroorez

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 3:18 PM

Dude, what the hell are you doing on BetaNews?

Score: 0

By The_Zeroorez

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 2:33 PM

1.5 = 1.5M
2.0 = 2M xD

Anyway, props to the Mozilla servers! _O_ 168MB/sec upstream 24 hours long.. great!

Anyway, I think it's better to compare it with a baya than a Civic. You get a VW Beetle, which is quite nice.. However, you can make jut how you want, you own Baya! xD

Score: 0

By mjm01010101

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 4:09 PM

That transfer wasn't from one source. They have mirrors, and lots of them.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 3:12 PM

I did expect more FF 2.0 downloads than IE7 downloads initially. I still think more people will be using FF 2.0 until IE7 becomes a critical update. Most are waiting for it to be automatically downloaded before they use it, and even then, there is an option to not install it once downloaded.

Still--regardless of end results, just because one is downloaded more than the other does not mean one is any better than the other--just that it has been downloaded more.

EDIT: Fixed my baseless attack...happy now, Paradise? (that comment was a baseless argument without any evidence, so you're right. Sometimes I post without proofreading...shame on me)

Score: 0

By Paradise-FH-

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 2:42 PM

"I did expect more FF 2.0 downloads than IE7 downloads initially--Mozilla has a large core of those willing to download multiple times only to make the numbers higher."

oh shut up already.

Score: 0

By DaveBG

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 1:44 PM

Congrats!
http://static.flickr.com...78562314_14716c0232.jpg

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 2:10 PM

Man, someone needs to tell them frosting comes in colors nowadays. ;)

Score: 0

By sflorack

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 1:02 PM

The Firefox vs IE comments always make me smile. Two simple facts: If you are smart enough to know about exploits and active-x controls, your system (regardless of the browser you use) is more secure than the "casual user". If you're computer security is hinged on a browser and not legitimate safeguards such as anti-virus/spyware/trojan packages, then maybe you deserve what's coming for you.

I personally use Firefox because I've become addicted to certain plugins. But I'm not so stupid to believe that because I'm not using IE that I can disable all active protection on my machine, either..

Score: 0

By Morsel

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 1:01 PM

Congrats Mozilla! IE7 is aiight I guess but indeed FF is king of the hill now.

Score: 0

By Pegusis2

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 6:31 PM

You really need to take a look at some server logs of web sites dude... you'll see that over 80% of all web sites being visited are being visited with Internet Explorer... FireFox is only a small %.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 2:09 PM

Dude...

Installed base?

Market share?

Ever heard of 'em?

IE6 is still ruler of the roost, my friend. Being gung-ho about Firefox is great and all, but don't let that get in the way of reality, mmmkay?

Score: 0

By cranbers

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 9:57 PM

Well lets see the average user thinks internet, they think ie. why is that? Because ie comes hard bolted to every consumer pc. Anyone who has bought a computer from an oem or learned about the web in college or high school or from their parents have used ie. Becasue it is there, because it is readily available and because it works. there really is no reason for majority of all internet users to switch. Heck most probably won't even upgrade to ie7 unless it comes preinstalled with their new computer.

Firefox is word of mouth only. The fact they have 10 percent share in as little time as it has been is impressive to say the least. But the fact is firefox is great. Will they ever be on 100percent of all computers? No, probably will never go above 15-20 percent of all users. But that is because corporate, government and the average users will all keep with ie. Simply because it is already on the desktop and all websites work with it.

But everyone should know there is a choice and be made aware of the advanced fun amazing features that firefox has. But like windows vs linux, most people don't give a damn. They want to go to their favorite site do what they want to do and get away from the computer. So majority of people will use ie. forever and ever with no idea what they are missing.

Score: 0

By PC_Tool

posted Oct 31, 2006 - 9:18 AM

Nice rant.

Not arguing with you or anything, just wondering what the hell the point was in context of the post you were replying to.

I never stated *why* IE has greater market share. I really don't. The point of my post was to point the OP back towards reality.

But again, nice rant.

Score: 0

By crashoverride

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 4:45 PM

lmao

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 1:21 PM

Not according to web statistics for the half dozen sites I admin.

Score: 0

By Austin814

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 12:49 PM

I'll help explain, I downloaded it, just like I downloaded FF1 and 1.5 to see if it really stacks up against IE. I didnt like it, I'm still using IE7. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who did that. I'm also sure, that FF users download IE7 and went back to using FF

Score: 0

By THZGryphon

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 1:25 PM

I downloaded it just to see what it was like, make compatibility for, and so that I am educated enough about it to see through the filth from ignorant users. Still using IE7 primarily.

Score: 0

By Grazer

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 1:22 PM

Exactly! Any reasonable person knows all downloads maybe indicate are interest; with automatic downloads of updates being the primary reason for the "maybe". (Not too mention there may be a few fanatics zealous enough to download multiple times to "support" their favorite browser.)

Score: 0

By Secret Agent Man

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 3:52 PM

Regardless, 2 million in 24 hours is still quite a chunk in such a short time period.

Score: 0

By Grazer

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 6:28 PM

So, a lot of people are interested...and...?

Score: 0

By gallyjh

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 12:47 PM

*yawn*

let the ff vs. ie7 continue...

Score: 0

By Secret Agent Man

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 12:46 PM

Does this take into account the amount of downloads that occur automatically (from automatic updates within Firefox)?

Score: 0

By kronix2

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 1:04 PM

No, Firefox 2 wasn't rolled out as an update on launch day. AFAIK it still hasn't been.

Score: 0

By Neoprimal

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 2:12 PM

Then I have no clue how I got F2...because I haven't been to the mozilla site since F1.5b.

Score: 0

By 33Nick

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 12:28 PM

numbers that can't lie...

But watch a desperate attempt by Microsoft to redefine the old saying: "Figures can't lie but liars can figure!" As MS tries to spin an explanation to this.

Score: 0

By bourgeoisdude

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 3:16 PM

"But watch a desperate attempt by Microsoft to redefine the old saying: "Figures can't lie but liars can figure!" As MS tries to spin an explanation to this."

Still waiting...

Again, I expected this. Firefox has a much larger "fan base" core than IE.

Score: 0

By Arakiel

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 12:47 PM

chances of Microsoft bothering to respond:

|-|---------------|

Score: 0

By midnighter_9999

posted Oct 30, 2006 - 11:42 AM

*EVIL LAUGH*
Firefox 2 still kicks IE7's backside......HARD!
*EVIL LAUGH*

Score: 0

By toolongclanky

edited Oct 30, 2006 - 11:35 AM

I'm using it. Have been for some time now. Works great! No matter what MS does with IE at this point, its' history of exploits and bad security has vexed me indefinitely. No doubt it's better then it was, hopefully. Firefox is where it's at. =)

Score: 0

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