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Chrome has version numbers. And similarly, firefox doesn't make a big deal about new version releases since 4.0 was out. The ones that do make a big deal out of

by nxn 15y ago

Chrome has version numbers. And similarly, firefox doesn't make a big deal about new version releases since 4.0 was out. The ones that do make a big deal out of them are blogs and tech sites, but those will get bored of doing so soon enough.

tghw 15y ago
Chrome hides the version number, because 98% of the time, it doesn't matter. There's no mention of it on there download page (http://www.google.com/chrome/ http://www.google.com/chrome/). They make it available only if you need to get specific. Firefox, OTOH, still advertises their version number right on the download button (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/).
- nxn 15y ago
  Not sure if I'd call that "advertising" -- it's a small green number on a green background. Before the rapid release schedule you'd have a 72pt version number hitting you in the face when you went to their main page within a week of a major release. Never the less, I see what you mean about it being still "visible" to the user.
- mtogo 15y ago
  Chrome has no version number, firefox has a tiny version number on the button. You're really going to say that chrome is better because of that? So HN has gotten past the language holy wars, but now they're arguing about something ridiculous like which browser is somehow better. Fantastic.
  - tghw 15y ago
    No where did I say it was "better", I'm just pointing out that Google has effectively made Chrome version-less, while Firefox is still making a big deal about each of their new versions, despite them having fewer changes. I think you're looking for conflict where there is none. I use both browsers, depending on what I'm using them for.
    - mtogo 15y ago
      How do you check the chrome version? Wrench -> About Chrome How do you check the firefox version? Firefox -> Help -> About firefox Does chrome post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does firefox post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does someone on HN make a thread when there is a new version of either? Usually. Neither one is making a big deal about their versions. You are.
      - tghw 15y ago
        I'm just pointing out differences. Hardly a big deal, it's just clear that Mozilla is still transitioning to thinking less about distinct versions. A couple of examples of where Mozilla does make the version number clear: * The download link * The downloaded file (Firefox Setup 6.0.exe) * The new version page that automatically comes up the first time you run the new version (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/) * And, most annoyingly, the add-on version check and resulting incompatibilities. That last one actually is kind of a pain, since, as other people have mentioned, not all add-on authors have updated their add-ons to be compatible with 6.0, despite that being a single character change to an XML file for 98% of them. (Fortunately, addons.mozilla.org does this for authors, so it is only the ones hosting the add-ons themselves that are a problem.)
    - gsmaverick 15y ago
      Mozilla is de-emphasizing the version number and eventually will get rid of it altogether. You can currently only see the version number in small font on their homepage.
- mbrubeck 15y ago
  Mozilla is also planning to remove the version number from the download button. Read the second message in this thread: https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXsksAr6TQ/discussion https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXs... All the comments about Firefox's version number are the same that were made last summer when Chrome started incrementing their version every six weeks. A year later, I think Chrome users would all agree that the choice of number in the UA string has relatively little impact on users, positive or negative. I'm glad it gives HN something new to argue about for a while, though. :)

by nxn 15y ago

tghw 15y ago

Chrome hides the version number, because 98% of the time, it doesn't matter. There's no mention of it on there download page (http://www.google.com/chrome/ http://www.google.com/chrome/). They make it available only if you need to get specific. Firefox, OTOH, still advertises their version number right on the download button (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/).

nxn 15y ago
Not sure if I'd call that "advertising" -- it's a small green number on a green background. Before the rapid release schedule you'd have a 72pt version number hitting you in the face when you went to their main page within a week of a major release. Never the less, I see what you mean about it being still "visible" to the user.
mtogo 15y ago
Chrome has no version number, firefox has a tiny version number on the button. You're really going to say that chrome is better because of that? So HN has gotten past the language holy wars, but now they're arguing about something ridiculous like which browser is somehow better. Fantastic.
- tghw 15y ago
  No where did I say it was "better", I'm just pointing out that Google has effectively made Chrome version-less, while Firefox is still making a big deal about each of their new versions, despite them having fewer changes. I think you're looking for conflict where there is none. I use both browsers, depending on what I'm using them for.
  - mtogo 15y ago
    How do you check the chrome version? Wrench -> About Chrome How do you check the firefox version? Firefox -> Help -> About firefox Does chrome post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does firefox post a blog post when there is a new version? Yes. Does someone on HN make a thread when there is a new version of either? Usually. Neither one is making a big deal about their versions. You are.
    - tghw 15y ago
      I'm just pointing out differences. Hardly a big deal, it's just clear that Mozilla is still transitioning to thinking less about distinct versions. A couple of examples of where Mozilla does make the version number clear: * The download link * The downloaded file (Firefox Setup 6.0.exe) * The new version page that automatically comes up the first time you run the new version (http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/ http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/6.0/whatsnew/) * And, most annoyingly, the add-on version check and resulting incompatibilities. That last one actually is kind of a pain, since, as other people have mentioned, not all add-on authors have updated their add-ons to be compatible with 6.0, despite that being a single character change to an XML file for 98% of them. (Fortunately, addons.mozilla.org does this for authors, so it is only the ones hosting the add-ons themselves that are a problem.)
  - gsmaverick 15y ago
    Mozilla is de-emphasizing the version number and eventually will get rid of it altogether. You can currently only see the version number in small font on their homepage.
mbrubeck 15y ago
Mozilla is also planning to remove the version number from the download button. Read the second message in this thread: https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXsksAr6TQ/discussion https://groups.google.com/d/topic/mozilla.dev.usability/_nXs... All the comments about Firefox's version number are the same that were made last summer when Chrome started incrementing their version every six weeks. A year later, I think Chrome users would all agree that the choice of number in the UA string has relatively little impact on users, positive or negative. I'm glad it gives HN something new to argue about for a while, though. :)