May 12, 2014 11:06AM  |
 Mozilla’s modernized Firefox 29 browser has been heavily criticized by users since it was released on April 29. Users say that without a way to revert to the old browser, this update may force them to switch to new programs entirely.Unlike in previous versions of Firefox, the new browser shares many design elements with slimmed down programs like Google Chrome. Although users are attacking the overall design, they are not criticizing some of the features included in Firefox 29, like the Enhanced Firefox Sync. This feature lets users easily transfer their Firefox features — including their settings, their histories, their bookmarks and more — from one device to another. A Bad Design The overwhelming response to the design change has been negative, based on NewsFactor’s coverage of the update. Users feel Firefox has pushed the type of design on them that they have been trying to avoid. Firefox 29 may include some great features, but the design changes that people must interact with every day do not seem as good. Even though the update is not automatic — users have the option to install it — the shock that is associated with the design change has only made things worse for Mozilla. Andy, one of the users who responded to NewsFactor’s coverage, pointed out that some of the changes don’t seem to work with a desktop PC. “The whole ‘toytown’ look and feel simply doesn’t work on a desktop PC. Significant areas of customization have been removed (there’s no way to configure a proper menu bar, for example) and the add-ons that are supposed to restore the previous UI don’t work,” Andy said. Other comments, such as “this update is terrible,” make it clear that users are not happy with the direction that Mozilla is taking. A robust browser with numerous customization features is what Firefox users want and are used to, but that is not what they feel Firefox 29 is providing.
Given the feedback that users have provided to Mozilla over the past two weeks, you would assume that the company would be trying to make things right wherever possible. Unfortunately, that does not appear to be the case, as Firefox may soon come with ads. Users were concerned in February when Mozilla took to its blog to explain that the “new tab” page would potentially include “sponsored content from hand-picked partners.” Mozilla Firefox VP Johnathan Nightingale has now responded to those concerns by stating that Firefox will not be turned into a jumbled mess of advertisements, but that does not mean there will not be sponsored content. To start, the Firefox team is experimenting with new types of non-sponsored content that can be shown whenever someone opens a new tab. If that experiment goes well, Nightingale said that the team will then consider sponsored content. |
