Not seeing any updates in `apt`.
This is the Mozilla release. It will take a bit for the Linux distros to get it packaged and into the repos. Even the Firefox install on my windows machine here doesn't see it as an automatic update yet.
Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
11–20 of 392 posts
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having a capability for widespread A/B testing is brain-damage?
Yes, running experiments on unknowning and unconsenting users is unethical, especially when the metrics being optimized for usually aren't in the users' best interests. The widespread acceptance for this behaviour could definitely be classified as brain damage.
> the metrics being optimized for usually aren't in the users' best interests
Do you have any source for that? If you truly believe that Firefox is optimizing metrics that aren't in the users' best interest in general, why are you even using said software in the first place?
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, running experiments on unknowning and unconsenting users is unethical, especially when the metrics being optimized for usually aren't in the users' best interests. The widespread acceptance for this behaviour could definitely be classified as brain damage.
So when deploying changes it should just go to every single user with no incremental rollout?
Yes. The testing should be done on users that opt in (likely less than 0.1% but that should be OK if it's done properly) and it should be rolled out by releasing an update to everyone.
These so-called "best practices" often aren't.
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#14A good outcome of this certificate fiasco is that many firefox users learned about the "studies" and "Normandy" brain-damage and promptly disabled them.
The Mozilla / Firefox teams must have a bunch of people monitoring HN threads. I always notice very aggressive downvoting whenever FF is criticized.
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having a capability for widespread A/B testing is brain-damage?
Yes, running experiments on unknowning and unconsenting users is unethical, especially when the metrics being optimized for usually aren't in the users' best interests. The widespread acceptance for this behaviour could definitely be classified as brain damage.
> especially when the metrics being optimized for usually aren't in the users' best interests
I don't think so. Mozilla is not google, and apart from the mr. Robot error, that they apologized for, I am sure Mozilla is using it for making the browser better, and not to use you for targeted ads like the other browser maker does.
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
Having a capability for widespread A/B testing is brain-damage?
Having this capability is useful and is certainly not brain-damaged. Adding unsuspecting users to the pool of testers is.
Mozilla hasn't exactly been known for great decision making with the 'feature' in the past. I disabled across all my clients after this shit: https://www.cnet.com/news/mozilla-backpedals-after-mr-robot-...
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#17I tried Firefox recently because I want to ditch my Chrome habit and I love Mozilla but it had serious performance issues on all of my macs (fans would spin at max after 5 min, a long standing and known issue I guess) along with some real oddities on my android.
Between bad performance and these many recent missteps I ended up ditching it for just another chromium based browser out there. Though my experience is somewhat anecdotal I have to wonder how much longer Mozilla can keep it up before they end up as just another chromium flavor.
Edit: Wow I woke a beast I guess. Not sure what the insta-downvotes right at the start there were about.
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#18Earlier quoted context omitted.
So when deploying changes it should just go to every single user with no incremental rollout?
Yes. The testing should be done on users that opt in (likely less than 0.1% but that should be OK if it's done properly) and it should be rolled out by releasing an update to everyone. These so-called "best practices" often aren't.
By relying on opt-in you won't test whether a feature actually works for the average user, so if you don't test it, you might roll something useless/confusing/actively harmful out to all of them instead of just a few.
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#19A good outcome of this certificate fiasco is that many firefox users learned about the "studies" and "Normandy" brain-damage and promptly disabled them.
The Mozilla / Firefox teams must have a bunch of people monitoring HN threads. I always notice very aggressive downvoting whenever FF is criticized.
Or you know, maybe it's just people like myself who don't like unnecessary toxic behavior towards open source maintainers?
Re: Firefox 66.0.4 is out, fixes disabled add-ons
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Mozilla / Firefox teams must have a bunch of people monitoring HN threads. I always notice very aggressive downvoting whenever FF is criticized.
Or you know, maybe it's just people like myself who don't like unnecessary toxic behavior towards open source maintainers?
It was and is multiple comments, on a regular basis, which is why I mentioned it. Open source, especially when very well-funded, isn’t a shield from criticism.