Mozilla and Microsoft release custom Firefox with Bing

Mozilla and Bing are pleased to make available Firefox with Bing, a customized version of Firefox that sets Bing as the default search engine in the search box and AwesomeBar and makes Bing.com the default home page. (Existing Firefox users can also make these changes by installing the Bing Search for Firefox Add-on).

Read more: http://blog.mozilla.com/blog/2011/10/26/offering-a-customized-firefox-experience-for-bing-users/

 

What kind of numbers do they get for their alternative versions?

 

What's the point? Is it that hard to change such basic things? I'd say waste of bandwidth, unless there's some kind of agenda here.

 

Though I use Google for searches in my native language (because Bing local version is terrible), I use Bing USA for searches in English.

I'm favorable to anything that can help Bing in its battle with Google. Very dominant monopolies aren't good for users.

See how all relevant browsers, especially IE, are improving at faster pace because of hard concurrence.

See how Android, iOS, Windows Phone and even Symbian are improving because of tight competition.

Even Windows is improving faster, thanks largely to future threats in the horizon.

I could go on and on.

 

Weird ... ... it's an about:config job to change default browsers in Firefox, but not difficult to do. I thought Bing was bundled with Fx anyway as it's in my drop-down GUI search box & I don't remember installing it. Mind you, my memory is going these days ...

I still prefer Duck Duck Go & Start Page.

 

Cool alternatives.

FWIW:

Duck Duck Go results are enhanced by Bing (used to be Yahoo search, but Yahoo search merged with Bing).

Start Page results are enhanced by Google.

 

I don't get it..Bing is installed already as a search engine choice (FF 10). As far as I recall, 7 has it too. I wonder if that's the only "custom" part of this.

 

Mozilla has previously released a number of similarly customized Firefox builds in collaboration with various partners. For example, they released a special version of Firefox with Twitter integration earlier this year. Mozilla has been expanding its relationships with commercial partners over the past year, leading to some unexpected tie-ins. The release of Firefox with Bing is merely the latest development.

Source: http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...icrosoft-release-custom-firefox-with-bing.ars

 

Looks like I'm getting the best of all possible worlds then.

 

Perhaps this is headed towards Mozilla dropping Google and picking up Microsoft for their financial well-being.

 

Not until Bing delivers better search results for non-US countries it won't.

 

I would like to fully understand what is Microsoft's strategy for Bing outside USA/ for non-English searches.

Looks like Microsoft wants Bing to become really popular in USA before investing outside.

Or they think that what Americans choose, the world will choose.

I really dunno, lol.

 

This is a convenient time to selectively remember that "very dominant" monopolies aren't healthy: when it involves Bing trying to increase market share.

By the way, why is it necessary to have the "very dominant" bit? Aren't vanilla monopolies just as bad?

Anyway, that's why I switched to non-Microsoft solutions. For the general good.

 

Yes.

I won't argue about semantics. If we are going to use the strict dictionary definition for "monopoly", Google market dominance doesn't classify as "monopoly", simply because alternatives always existed and the prices are free anyways.

I can't switch to a "solution" that doesn't cover all my needs. I wouldn't switch to Bing USA if it didn't cover all my needs for English searches.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an idealistic, I'm a pragmatic person.

 

Very true. I've learned to distinguish between needs and wants. I'm a pragmatist as well!

 

For example, to play my favorite games in my favorite networks is a need for me that only Microsoft platforms fully satisfy.

https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=306480

 

All the best with your dependency issues. I hope things work out for you.

Meanwhile, I going to make my Firefox stand in the corner for being a bad boy and use Chrome ... because I want to and can without cutting my nose!

 

After all the heavy tweak processes your Firefox passed to suit for you?

You can't be that bad. LOL

 

Well, it's not a total waste. I think I learned something from the tweaks that wasn't limited to just one browser. For example, css tweaks come in handy for Chrome and Opera as well.

 

Now I've to admit that this is somewhat unexpected.

I though you were a proud FX FANBOY! The last warrior or something like that..

Having been so vocal in favor of all Mozilla devs controversial decisions in the last months. LOL

Compared to some of them, this move towards Bing is much more logical.

 

Also, Here.

 

Which controversial decisions? The versioning? That never bothered me the way it seemed to bother others. I like having improvements available as soon as they're ready.

 

The versioning was one that I was initially a critic, but after Mozilla officially admitted that they don't target businesses, I accepted it fine. Started to make sense after that. Plus FX v5/6/7 fixed the performance issues/specific bugs I experienced with FX v4.

But I'm talking about this: https://www.wilderssecurity.com/showpost.php?p=1825284&postcount=41

 

The good old urlbar business... That seems so long ago. See how it's all got quiet now? People just like to have a good moan and then go on their way!

And as far as "Having been so vocal in favor of", I posted what I thought was a "helpful" adjustment for those who weren't too happy. Isn't that about it?