Re: Removing Firefox Version Number

[email protected] wrote:
> On Aug 19, 9:53 pm, Asa Dotzler<[email protected]>  wrote:
>> panos wrote:
>>> On Aug 18, 8:52 am, Asa Dotzler<[email protected]>    wrote:
>>>> This is one thing that I think several people in this discussion
>>>> are missing. There is only the latest version. There are no other
>>>> versions. You're either on the latest version or you're just about
>>>> to be updated to the latest version. Those are the two states in
>>>> the new development model.
>>> Are you talking about the perception you wish to give to users or you
>>> actually mean that automatic updates will be enforced and the choice
>>> to disable them will be removed ?
>> Panos, the choice to disable unprompted updates will never be removed.
>> You can be assured of that. It certainly won't happen as long as I'm
>> involved in Mozilla. But unprompted updates are the normal case now and
>> unprompted updates are and will be the experience for the overwhelming
>> majority of our users going forward.
>>
>> - A
>
> The way you're saying it seems like "prompted updates" is not a choice
> that you would like us to have. But one that is interfering with your
> plans and so you want to make it difficult for those that choose
> something that you're offering against your will.

Firefox major updates are unprompted. That's a critical component of our 
new rapid release model. ( BTW, this is getting really off topic for a 
version number discussion.)

> MS heavy handed approach is the main reason why Mozilla grew into such
> a fruitful tree. From your words, it seems that the Firefox tree has
> grown too much to be handled with nurturing hands and now needs a
> heavy hand to control it.

I don't see it that way at all. Mozilla is responsible for helping 
nearly half a billion people stay safe and secure online. To that end, 
we have always delivered security and stability updates as unprompted 
updates. Many months ago we moved to a new development model where 
security and stability updates also contain new features. These releases 
are made available through the same unprompted update mechanism that 
we've been using for about 7 years now.

> Without a nurturing hand, the tree will still bear fruits but won't
> grow any bigger. So it is time to pick up the fruits and run, soon
> there won't be any left because the masses are coming.

I'm sorry that I'm having difficult following the analogy any farther. 
If you have further questions about Firefox's version number being moved 
from the About window to the Troubleshooting window, I'd be happy to try 
to answer them.

Thanks for sharing your concern. I hope I've answered any questions you had.

- A