RSSGoogle Gets More Cozy with Firefox
By Nate Mook | Published November 7, 2005, 7:20 PM
As the default start page and built-in search utility, it's no surprise that Google wants Firefox to succeed in a market dominated by Microsoft's Internet Explorer. But the company has recently pulled closer to the open source Web browser, funding usability testing and launching a Firefox affiliate program.
In a post to his Web log late last week, lead Firefox engineer Ben Goodger -- who began working at Google in January -- reported on efforts to improve the browser's tabs. Tabbed browsing makes it possible to open multiple Web sites in the same window, but the concept is still fairly young.
"The challenges that face us building the Firefox UI is how to make Tabbed Browsing useful to those who want it, discoverable to those whose lives would be made easier by it, and transparent to those who don't need it," Goodger wrote.
To that end, Google, not Mozilla, held usability studies to figure out how people responded to tabs in Firefox 1.5 Beta 1. One of the results, according to Goodger, was that people have trouble with Back button behavior as opening a new tab resets the history. Closing of tabs was also difficult for some.
"At Google, we are constantly bit by the z-index issue since we use a lot of web apps," Goodger explained. "When you have targeted links open new windows, when you close the opened window the page you came from is usually the window behind it, so it works out nicely. With tabs, not so much."
In response, Google, which employs a handful of Mozilla developers, has built experimental versions of Firefox with changes to the way tabs work. It's not clear if any of the modifications will make their way into the official Firefox release, but Goodger has requested public feedback.
Cutting paychecks to Firefox engineers and helping improve tabbed browsing aren't the only things Google is doing to aid Mozilla. The company recently unveiled a new "Referrals" program as part of its AdSense advertising service for webmasters.
By placing a special button on their pages, site owners can earn $1 USD every time someone downloads Firefox. With the upstart browser recently surpassing the 100 million download mark, however, Google says it will only pay "for the first time" a user runs the Web browser.
"We're very excited about this program and hope to see more similar programs available to web publishers in the future," said Mozilla developer Asa Dotzler.
In addition to cozying up with Firefox, Google has also established ties to the OpenOffice.org program through an agreement with Sun Microsystems. Google will pledge resources to help the open source productivity suite in its quest to offer a capable, free alternative to Microsoft Office.
But how will the Firefox community respond to an encroachment by the corporate search giant? Some users remain skeptical of Google's intentions, but many are welcoming the extra support as Firefox continues to chip away at IE's Web dominance.
"I think it is great that Google invest the time and money to improve Firefox usability," one user wrote on Goodger's blog. "Why do they do it? Maybe they just want the best possible transporter for their services? Besides, Google are the good guys..."
Google is trying to figure out how tabbed browsing works? Just look at Opera. They've had it right for years now. Sheesh!
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|I think some of you fail to grasp what this article is really saying to us.
You have to understand that one of the downsides of being a non-profit Organization (traditionally the requirement of having a .org domain) is that they don't have the money to conduct extensive usability research. Google, on the other hand, is a public company now with tons of capital to spend on such studies. Since they have Firefox's success in mind, courtsey of Mr. Goodger, they conducted the study.
Incidentally, many of the changes to tabs are being done in the 1.5 releases... the tabs functionality is infinitely better than 1.0.x. The only thing I wish they'd change is that the "X" (Close Tab) button should be on each tab rather than just one on the far right. On the other hand, I'm a keyboard junkie, so I just CTRL-F4. The changes that don't make it to 1.5 will probably be used in a future release though... at least, that's my guess.
As for the AdSense program, it's a nice offer, but doesn't exactly strike me as the best idea for a get-rich-quick program, lol. I admit I'm very skeptical of Google's quick rise to power... power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. I like a lot of what Google is doing, and they're certainly successful in pushing Microsoft to get moving on a lot of things again... but to what end? I don't think I trust Google's long-term intentions entirely either.
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|They ned to make the close button for the tabs user-configurable. I personaly prefer it where it is, ut I know many who, like you, you like to see it on the tabs.
Purely subjective. I'd hate to see them change it, still limiing the user to only one option.
And....you know Googles long-term intentions?? Do tell!
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|I'm pretty sure you misinterpreted my analysis as something more than speculation and concern.
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|This seems to be the "Cozy Corner" of a kindergarden.
Good grief! This is just media language. "Cozy" - nonsense!
This is about C O R P O R A T I O N S - who are granted the status of a human person, but don't give a damn about human worths.
You can't be helped if you believe anything what corporations tell you.
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|All corporations lie? All the time?
Really?
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|Corporations are organized and ran by people.
Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
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|Yea...didn't you know, it's a global corporate conspiracy to lie to everyone with every breathe.
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|Firefox exists to uphold W3C Standards, as a continuation of the Mozilla/Netscape Codebase, and an open source project that has always enjoyed corporate sponsorship from the beginning (as Mozilla, pre-Sea-Monkey).
There is nothing significantly new about the concept of Google working with the Firefox Browser. We all read that Googer signed on to work at Google. The article above describes how Google is funding future development that had already been on the Firefox Roadmap.
Tabbed browsing is becoming a standard - and unless we wait for Microsoft Internet Explorer v7.0 to be released (which to my understanding will feature tabbed browsing) -- tabbed browsing will remain a non-standard, complicated, unfriendly tool that most end-level-users will not understand. Microsoft will introduce tabbed browsing along with RSS as if it is brand new technology that they developed - and will likely shape the public's view of the technology.
Why not let Firefox do this first, as it did with built-in pop-up blocking?
I encourage everyone here to read Ben Goodger's recent post on his blog that inspired this article and I really can't understand half of the posts that have been placed on this topic and where they are coming from...
This isn't an MS vs. Google post. It's about one piece of software receiving sponsorship to move forward on its own roadmap.
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|LOL.
Now here's an interesting thought. MS and Google are actually partners behind closed doors and in 5 years when Google owns 1/2 of everything internet tech and MS owns the other 1/2, they merge.
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|You forgot about the 200 lawsuits from the EU when Google and MS announce they will merge.
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|Ha! Now that is what i'm talking about :)
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|What if it's a big cover-up? What if Google is actually people from Microsoft but just not using that company name?
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|That would be probably the most brilliant business plan ever.
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|And unlikely - google stuff doesn't crash. :P
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|Haha.
I dunno though, my Gmail goes down all the time. =p
...yes, I know it's still in beta. It's a joke.
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|Be nice if they would include these changes in the official release. Had to download an extension to get the same effect.
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|Er... no. We don't want the google toolbar in the default Firefox build...
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|xactly. It's why I like Firefox. It only has the features I want and none I don't through extensions.
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|I was talking about theenhancements they made to the tabbed browsing idiot.
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|People hate Microsoft (even though they pirate their operating system), rip out the free MS programs so they can "stick it to the man".
Now Firefox is "the man". Now what are you going to do?
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|Clever handle you got there.
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|Yeah...is that a fewt impersonator?
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|So it would seem... if so, how pathetic.
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|Only a real loser would worry about my handle and try to make it a personal attack.
GET A LIFE.
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|I'm sorry, did your original post have a point? Looked to me like a meaningless troll to get attention.
Guess it worked.
Happy now?
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|Fwet, is that really you?
I'd like some numbers on people that hate MSFT, and pirate their OS.
LOL
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|One day Asa Dotzler blames Opera for not being 'completely free', and the next, he's selling out to Google. Way to go Firefox... you've gone commercial.
On a side note, Google vs. MS competition is always good. But Firefox just lost half its (already tarnished) respect in my eyes.
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|Selling out?
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|"Way to go Firefox... you've gone commercial."
Um...er...
Do they charge? Do you *have* to use google when using Firefox? Ad supported?
Nope, nope, and nope.
You on dope?
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|http://labnol.blogspot.c...als-tab-in-adsense.html
Program is only for US Publishers
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|I really just thought of it now but the only thing Microsoft that I actually use anymore is "Windows XP" itself which is stripped down to the bare minimum;
Internet Explorer = Firefox with some perfect extensions have replace IE FOREVER.
Microsoft Office = OpenOffice.org 2.0 replaced this forever :D
ZIP/CD Burning support in windows has been replaced with Nero 7 and PowerArchiver 2006
Windows/Microsoft Update has been replaced by Windiz Update for Firefox
Windows Media Player has been replaced by foobar2000
The only thing of microsofts I actually use anymore is Notepad, Calculator, MS Paint, Administrative Tools.
So I guess you could say i'm anti-microsoft.. but the farther i've moved away from Microsoft products the more safe and stable my pc has become.
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|I AGREE, i run a similar system,
ie=ff(with ADBLOCK, filterset.g updater and miniFoxFlat....sooo mutch realestate, no adds, FF RULES)
wmp=k-lite mega codec pack/MusikCube
zip/cd=nero/winrar
msn=gaim
for the time being, im sticking with ms office 2k3 tho, not too impressed by OoO yet
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|I'm the same way, though most of what you listed is actually totally removed from my system. IE's core is gone, MS Office would never touch my system(or work on it), Zip/CD burning is gone(and other programs like 7-zip/Nero perform those tasks). Windows update is gone/disabled(obviously...no IE), and WMP is completely removed in favour of MPC.
Administrative tools...aye, I think part of that still works on my system. Notepad is replaced with metapad, and wordpad is gone. I do use calc.exe, but I have PSP5 in place of MS Paint.
Stable as a rock. :P
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|LOL...what a life loser....worried about the stability and safety of his PC....ffs...what about the rest of your life...well, obviously there isnt one. If you read what you posted you will see that you need serious counseling or medication if your whole world revolves around hating software based on "0101000100100110000111001" ROFLMAO.
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|If you like Paint, then you'll love Paint dot Net!
Check it out at http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/
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|All they care is that you use their operating system you tard, they could care less what you put on it.
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|Thanks for that useless information.
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|Indeed..
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|Yeah, because we all know firefox was the first to ever impliment ad blocking!
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|FF is quite a new browser, so logicaly it probably wasent the first, no need for sarcasm.
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|Mann.... google and firefox together.. hehehe.. this should be interesting.
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|When Microsoft is re-start Windows (tm) Live (tm) Google recieve important competitor. But Microsoft be back while Google makes fine search results.
I like Firefox and Google contribution. Google have many proffesionals who have non-standart brain :) and have good innovation ideas in that brains.
In Microsoft vs Google war can win only we - users of PC and Mac's
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