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Mozilla abandons Firefox Windows 8.1 Metro app due to lack of interest
The Inquirer ^ | 03/17/2014 | By Chris Merriman

Posted on 03/17/2014 12:27:50 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Mozilla has announced that it has abandoned a version of its Firefox web browser for Microsoft's Modern, or Metro, Windows 8.1 user interface. Although the Firefox web browser for Windows 8.1 Metro has been two years in the making, and in spite of a public beta released last month, Mozilla has decided not to release that version of Firefox, with Windows 8.1 users invited to continue to use the desktop edition.

In a blog post on Friday, Firefox VP Johnathan Nightingale cited apathy as one of the driving factors, explaining, "On any given day we have, for instance, millions of people testing pre-release versions of Firefox desktop, but we've never seen more than 1,000 active daily users in the Metro environment." He said that it is important for the company to "pick our battles".

The development of Firefox Metro has been beset by problems, which explains its lengthy gestation period, and Mozilla believes that its resources are best put to use in further development of the desktop edition and that releasing a final version of Firefox Metro would be "a mistake".

This news is a mixed blessing for Microsoft. While the removal of a major competitor and the limitations of Chrome in the Metro environment make Internet Explorer the only game in town, the withdrawal also represents another indictment of the Metro, er, Modern user interface.

With an upcoming update to Windows 8.1 including a move back towards the traditional Windows desktop environment and Windows 9 expected to complete the backpedalling, Mozilla has very little to fear about the impact this decision will have on its user base.

However, Microsoft is fast being forced to recognise that the Windows 8 Metro, or Modern, user interface will likely become history best forgotten along with Windows Vista and Windows ME.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: firefox; mozilla; windows81
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To: F15Eagle

I get them here and on most other sites I frequent! I don’t have malware or a virus on my system but these ads are driving me crazy!


21 posted on 03/17/2014 4:08:24 PM PDT by hsmomx3
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Comment #22 Removed by Moderator

To: UCANSEE2

the 1996 compuserve or aol main screen looks almost identical to the 8.1 metro boxes. just awful.


23 posted on 03/17/2014 6:07:55 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: NonValueAdded

From the movie IDIOCRACY.


24 posted on 03/17/2014 9:11:19 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (I just messed up my tagline. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: Secret Agent Man

Well... it’s all about appeal to the lowest common denominator.


25 posted on 03/17/2014 9:20:05 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (I just messed up my tagline. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: F15Eagle; hsmomx3
Install MalwareBytes (free) to remove it.

And I can download it from CNET Download.com, right ?

: )

26 posted on 03/17/2014 9:25:14 PM PDT by UCANSEE2 (I just messed up my tagline. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
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To: F15Eagle

I didn’t install malware bytes from cnet. I installed it from the malware bytes home page a year ago.


27 posted on 03/17/2014 10:54:19 PM PDT by hsmomx3
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Comment #28 Removed by Moderator

Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: SeekAndFind

METRO is good for touch devices but is useless on laptops and computers. My Windows 8.1 laptop has a program I installed that bypasses METRO TILES.....I never see them or want them. With this installed program I get the Windows desktop and start button back

I have never once used a METRO app


30 posted on 03/18/2014 12:26:42 AM PDT by dennisw (The first principle is to find out who you are then you can achieve anything -- Buddhist monk)
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To: F15Eagle

So after running malware bytes for the entire hard drive, and running my AV everyday, nothing shows up. Now what? Thanks.


31 posted on 03/18/2014 4:24:01 AM PDT by hsmomx3
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Comment #32 Removed by Moderator

To: F15Eagle

They just pop up the lower right hand corner of my screen or if there is a picture in the comments which I do not click on, ads appear. I have run malware bytes as well as my anti-virus.


33 posted on 03/18/2014 11:47:40 AM PDT by hsmomx3
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Comment #34 Removed by Moderator

To: F15Eagle

Already done that type of a search and there is nothing on there of this nature. Thanks.


35 posted on 03/19/2014 4:42:22 AM PDT by hsmomx3
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To: F15Eagle

I think I may have come across something...Web Protect for Windows.....I have no idea what that is. My OS is Win 8.1


36 posted on 03/19/2014 4:50:31 AM PDT by hsmomx3
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To: SeekAndFind

I am using a Windows phone now. I prefer the UI to the iPhone and Android. (The UI also works great on a touch screen laptop.) One-handed use is actually possible, and the “pin” system is great. Additionally, a Nokia Windows phone is inexpensive.

It doesn’t have a million apps, but I only use a handful anyway.


37 posted on 03/19/2014 4:53:47 AM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas ( Isaiah 22:22, Matthew 16:19, Revelation 3:7)
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To: F15Eagle; All

A HUGE thank you everybody. I found Web Protect for Windows on my programs list and did some research. I removed it and restarted my computer and am running malware bytes again. This seems to have been the culprit.


38 posted on 03/19/2014 5:17:09 AM PDT by hsmomx3
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Comment #39 Removed by Moderator


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