5 ms·

Why would I go there to download a new version of Firefox? I went to 'About Firefox', it downloaded a 10 MB update, restarted, and here's Firefox 7.

Lagged2Death 15y ago
That's not working for me. Help->About offers an update, downloads it, installs it, then informs me that the update it's just installed (6.02) is old, and I should go to the website to download v7.
Qz 15y ago
Consider the case of not having Firefox already installed.
- diminish 15y ago
  As a user of Firefox since 0.x versions, I am happy FF still keeps up with nice updates in 2011 and onwards.
bbrizzi 15y ago
I did this to check which version I was running. It started downloading FF7 automatically, I just had to hit 'Apply update'. Awesome.
- AgentConundrum 15y ago
  It's awesome, but it's still not nearly as frictionless as Chrome. My understanding of Chromes upgrader - as a user who only occasionally uses the browser since firefox is still my main - is that the browser auto-upgrades the first time you load it after the new version comes out. Now, I thought this was how the new Firefox worked, but since I did it manually today even after rebooting once for a plugin issue (Netflix doesn't fullscreen properly after you load it a few times - apparently it's an issue with the firefox plug-in container and/or silverlight), now I'm not so sure. Either way, Chrome installs cleanly without the user even having to know it happened. Firefox, OTOH, causes the UAC in Win7 to halt everything for the upgrade. It's not as transparent as maybe it could be.
  - nfm 15y ago
    Chrome also uses bdiffs, so updates are significantly smaller.
    - mbrubeck 15y ago
      Firefox uses bsdiff to generate binary diffs for updates: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Software_Update:MAR https://wiki.mozilla.org/Software_Update:MAR It's not quite as efficient as the "Courgette" algorithm used by Chrome, but it's much smaller than downloading a full installer. Hopefully we can use Courgette if the patent issues* are resolved. * http://ipwatchdog.com/2009/10/31/google-sued-for-patent-infringement-over-chrome-courgette/id=7021/ http://ipwatchdog.com/2009/10/31/google-sued-for-patent-infr...
  - ConstantineXVI 15y ago
    By default, Chrome/Win installs in your profile dir instead of the global Program Files so it doesn't need admin to update.
  - mbrubeck 15y ago
    Firefox does update automatically. By default it checks for updates every 8 hours, downloads the update in the background, and installs it the next time you start Firefox. If you haven't restarted Firefox for 24 hours after an update is downloaded, it'll prompt you to restart. If any of your add-ons will be disabled by the update, Firefox will list those add-ons and ask whether to upgrade or not. We're working on refining all of this; here are some of the things that may change in the default update behavior in future versions: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Silent_Update https://wiki.mozilla.org/Silent_Update
    - AgentConundrum 15y ago
      Thanks for the clarification. I did think the Firefox update was automatic, but I think I confused myself by doing it manually today. My main point was really meant to be the UAC, since it was a bit jarring to see today (First upgrade on Win7; just bought this computer a month ago). I'm glad to see that this is being looked into. On the bright side, I had absolutely no issues with add-on compatibility this time around. In the old days, I would wait a while - sometimes literally months - before upgrading, because of issues with add-ons I considered "important". I actually ended up backing up my profile before any upgrades, and often had to roll back the version. I didn't even think of that today, I just clicked apply and everything worked. It's a serious improvement.
polshaw 15y ago
Why am I told 'firefox is up to date' (6.0.2) when i do this? Is this done geogprahically? (UK here)

Lagged2Death 15y ago

That's not working for me. Help->About offers an update, downloads it, installs it, then informs me that the update it's just installed (6.02) is old, and I should go to the website to download v7.

Qz 15y ago

Consider the case of not having Firefox already installed.

diminish 15y ago
As a user of Firefox since 0.x versions, I am happy FF still keeps up with nice updates in 2011 and onwards.

bbrizzi 15y ago

I did this to check which version I was running. It started downloading FF7 automatically, I just had to hit 'Apply update'. Awesome.

AgentConundrum 15y ago
It's awesome, but it's still not nearly as frictionless as Chrome. My understanding of Chromes upgrader - as a user who only occasionally uses the browser since firefox is still my main - is that the browser auto-upgrades the first time you load it after the new version comes out. Now, I thought this was how the new Firefox worked, but since I did it manually today even after rebooting once for a plugin issue (Netflix doesn't fullscreen properly after you load it a few times - apparently it's an issue with the firefox plug-in container and/or silverlight), now I'm not so sure. Either way, Chrome installs cleanly without the user even having to know it happened. Firefox, OTOH, causes the UAC in Win7 to halt everything for the upgrade. It's not as transparent as maybe it could be.
- nfm 15y ago
  Chrome also uses bdiffs, so updates are significantly smaller.
  - mbrubeck 15y ago
    Firefox uses bsdiff to generate binary diffs for updates: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Software_Update:MAR https://wiki.mozilla.org/Software_Update:MAR It's not quite as efficient as the "Courgette" algorithm used by Chrome, but it's much smaller than downloading a full installer. Hopefully we can use Courgette if the patent issues* are resolved. * http://ipwatchdog.com/2009/10/31/google-sued-for-patent-infringement-over-chrome-courgette/id=7021/ http://ipwatchdog.com/2009/10/31/google-sued-for-patent-infr...
- ConstantineXVI 15y ago
  By default, Chrome/Win installs in your profile dir instead of the global Program Files so it doesn't need admin to update.
- mbrubeck 15y ago
  Firefox does update automatically. By default it checks for updates every 8 hours, downloads the update in the background, and installs it the next time you start Firefox. If you haven't restarted Firefox for 24 hours after an update is downloaded, it'll prompt you to restart. If any of your add-ons will be disabled by the update, Firefox will list those add-ons and ask whether to upgrade or not. We're working on refining all of this; here are some of the things that may change in the default update behavior in future versions: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Silent_Update https://wiki.mozilla.org/Silent_Update
  - AgentConundrum 15y ago
    Thanks for the clarification. I did think the Firefox update was automatic, but I think I confused myself by doing it manually today. My main point was really meant to be the UAC, since it was a bit jarring to see today (First upgrade on Win7; just bought this computer a month ago). I'm glad to see that this is being looked into. On the bright side, I had absolutely no issues with add-on compatibility this time around. In the old days, I would wait a while - sometimes literally months - before upgrading, because of issues with add-ons I considered "important". I actually ended up backing up my profile before any upgrades, and often had to roll back the version. I didn't even think of that today, I just clicked apply and everything worked. It's a serious improvement.

polshaw 15y ago

Why am I told 'firefox is up to date' (6.0.2) when i do this? Is this done geogprahically? (UK here)