Saturday, August 23, 2008

Firefox 2 users to be offered 3.0.1

If you're still running Firefox 2 as your main browser, Mozilla would really like you to update – and won't be shy about telling you so.

According to ComputerWorld, the Mozilla Foundation is planning to offer the latest Firefox build – version 3.0.1 – to users currently running version 2.0.0.16 or older. This marks the first time that Firefox users have been presented with an automated message about a completely new build, rather than a 'point upgrade' from their existing version.

The update mechanism is due real soon now, but will be held back for a short while: Mike Beltzner, the director of the Firefox project at Mozilla, wants to "make the offer in the native language of the build that you're running, and we're having text localised and translated now" which is obviously going to hold things up a little bit – especially as Firefox 2.0.0.16 is currently available in forty-five languages as a fully-localised build, and a further five as downloadable language packs.

Despite this short delay, it's likely that the update prompt will grace a screen near you in the next week or so. When prompted, you'll have the option to upgrade – obviously – or to delay the prompt for twenty-four hours if you're in the middle of something. The option will also be there to decline the offer outright, but that might not be the end of it: Beltzner claims that Mozilla will "reserve the right to make the offer again" but promises that if the message is repeated it won't be for several weeks.

If you do decline the update, you should probably be aware that Mozilla will be officially canning support for the 2.0.0.x series of Firefox in December 2008.

Do you think that offering the latest and greatest to stalwart 2.0.0.x users is a good idea, or is it only likely to alienate those who have good reason not to upgrade? Share your thoughts over in the forums.

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