11–20 of 44 posts
It does seem a bit silly to remove the RSS icon without any data on its usefulness. Then again, maybe Mozilla has some data we're not privy to on how many people actually use that button besides Dave Winer.
I'm afraid that in the upcoming years, Chrome will shred Firefox' market share to confetti pieces.
Why not implement it as an extension, like Chrome does?
There has been a bothersome trend in software in general lately to strip things down. It used to mean that a new version of software contained new features on top of those you already had but lately there has been a push to remove things that are viewed as used by only a small percentage of the user base. Sadly many of those things are used by the more 'advanced' segment of the user base.
FF4 is removing the RSS icon and also the bottom status bar which are the two that irk me. Not just turning off, removing entirely. The status bar functionality has to be restored by a plug-in now, which only serves to bog the browser down. The RSS functionality I'm sure will be the same but again, more plugins to replace what was native functionality.
I fully understand catering to the bulk of the market but this should apply to default settings, not removing features entirely. Default them to off if you want an uber clean interface, don't gut existing features.
I have always avoided Chrome (even with its speed) because I can't stand its UI but once FF4 ships I may just make the leap since really I'm not seeing much difference anymore. (though FF does let me put the tabs back down where I like them) Just a word from one old school guy... if you have features, don't remove them just for the sake of streamlining. Someone out there relies on that... and that someone may just be one more rat that jumps ship.
It is in a sense like developer tools, if you know where they are you can easily activate them and use them, if not, they are out of the way.
Good riddance.
If you want to re-enable it, you just have to configure your toolbars, and find the feed icon, then position it where you want it. Sorry, this is non-descript, I don't currently have access to Firefox so that I could provide the complete steps.
My mother doesn't know what that is or its use. Neither does my brother, sister, neighbor, dog, ipad, etc. So I'd say only geeks know what a feed is. Then let geeks use an extension and don't bother +90% of internet users with that. It is in a sense like developer tools, if you know where they are you can easily activate them and use them, if not, they are out of the way. Good riddance.
In fact, of course, using an RSS feed is a very simple concept, which turns out to be extraordinarily useful to normal, non-geekly folks who just want to read a lot without being pestered by all the normal encumbrances of the web.
So, your argument strikes me as weak.
My mother doesn't know what that is or its use. Neither does my brother, sister, neighbor, dog, ipad, etc. So I'd say only geeks know what a feed is. Then let geeks use an extension and don't bother +90% of internet users with that. It is in a sense like developer tools, if you know where they are you can easily activate them and use them, if not, they are out of the way. Good riddance.
A browser that lacked unessential features was the original appeal for firefox and if anything chromes popularity is in a large part because people see it as a speedy lean alternative to an ever bloating firefox.
I dont see why a plugin is less user friendly than yet another neglected preference feature, optional value added features is exactly what plugins are for
My mother doesn't know what that is or its use. Neither does my brother, sister, neighbor, dog, ipad, etc. So I'd say only geeks know what a feed is. Then let geeks use an extension and don't bother +90% of internet users with that. It is in a sense like developer tools, if you know where they are you can easily activate them and use them, if not, they are out of the way. Good riddance.
While it's probably true that geeks make up most RSS users, that doesn't mean either that it should be this way, or that it will remain this way, or that there is some obvious and immutable reason that it must be this way. In fact, of course, using an RSS feed is a very simple concept, which turns out to be extraordinarily useful to normal, non-geekly folks who just want to read a lot without being pestered by all th…
I bet less than 80% of ordinary people even use bookmarks, being way simpler than feeds in concept.