Mozilla Delays Firefox 7 Update Due to Add-on Bug

Mozilla has paused the Firefox 7 update process for now as it discovered a bug that hides add-ons in the new version of the browser.

Mozilla stressed that the add-ons and their data are still intact and they are still part of Firefox. The company is working on a fix for the issue and offers users, who are already using Firefox 7, a simple workaround with the help of a separate "Add-on Recovery Tool".

Mozilla did not say when the update for Firefox 7 would become available. According to StatCounter, Firefox 7 holds a browser market share of 4.02 percent today, which means that about 15 percent of Firefox users are affected by the bug.

It is unfortunate for Mozilla that it is being hit with this problem, especially since it is struggling with stabilizing its market share against its rivals and add-on problems such as compatibility with future versions is an emotionally debated issue among loyal Firefox users. There is no way to know how Firefox market share will be impacted by this hiccup, but I don't think it will help Mozilla in its current situation. It really is a minor issue, but Mozilla needs to regain trust and demonstrate that its rapid release process works well. Quality problems is not what Mozilla needs right now.

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5

omnimodis78 , September 30, 2011 4:09 AM

I'm using 7 and it didn't hide or have any impact on my 2 add-ons (adlock plus and telemetry), but still, isn't this exactly why Beta versions are releases, to catch this sort of screw-ups? No big deal, it's just more embarrassing than anything else.
-2

back_by_demand , September 30, 2011 4:11 AM

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

Shame

/not
2

RabidFace , September 30, 2011 4:16 AM

While really the only add-on I ever use is AdBlock+, I just took a look at my extensions and apparently Java Console 6.0.26 is not compatible with FF7. Doesn't seem like it has affected my browsing at all, but still.

It seems like all FF is doing is alienating it's user base by trying to keep up with Chrome. I have been a FF user since 2004 and have never seen so many problems until now with it's newly updated number scheme.

Maybe it's that FF is having issues trying to be the best with Chrome out now. I am not fully sure, but I am not liking it. There may be a day where I don't use FF anymore if Mozilla doesn't get it's act together.

And from the HTML5 games I have messed around with, Chrome is a bit faster in that aspect.
0

JackNaylorPE , September 30, 2011 4:23 AM

I'm being told that java console isn't working but I have been having 0 issues and the browser is much snappier than 6 ...adblock plus, forecastfox and everything else appe3ars to be working
4

bv90andy , September 30, 2011 4:30 AM

I think they should definitely shorten the release cycle to 5 weeks. Make it 4 weeks.

Somebody for 3?
4

warezme , September 30, 2011 4:33 AM

Are extensions add ons? Because all of mine are working fine, Adblock +, Firebug, Noscript, Flashblock, yes I hate pop windows and crap.
4

icepick314 , September 30, 2011 4:41 AM

maybe it's the damm flash again...

I've been watching Mission:Impossible on Amazon and Firefox uses around 1.3GB of memory including Plug-in Container after about 2 hours of use...

better memory management my butt...

at least I'm sticking with Firefox because of Adblock+, FastestFox, and DownloadHelper...

although the Java Console is still not working even after the latest update...
0

wlachan , September 30, 2011 4:51 AM

At least 4 updates and still not fixing the true-type fonts with hardware acceleration? FF is going down.
-1

jsheridan , September 30, 2011 4:55 AM

wouldn't it be easier to just have techs travel to the 5 FireFox user's home and fix the problem in person rather than pushing out another update?
1

bustapr , September 30, 2011 5:01 AM

when i installed it adblock plus was erased, but reinstalled easily
0

anonymous@guest , September 30, 2011 5:06 AM

I use 10 add-ons and all of them are working perfectly. This has to be quite a specific situation because otherwise it would have been detected during beta or aurora stages.
-2

JOSHSKORN , September 30, 2011 5:12 AM

For whatever reason, I have Firefox 7 installed on my computer, but I do my browsing with Nightly about 99% of the time. Very few websites don't cooperate, which force me to bust out IE9. I wish Firefox would just already release a 64-bit version of their browser, instead of something that's a test.
0

adiposity , September 30, 2011 6:27 AM

7.0.1 seems to be out, I'm assuming this delay is over.
0

reprotected , September 30, 2011 6:47 AM

After updating to Firefox 7, I noticed my Adblock Plus was uninstalled. Nothing difficult like a reinstall fixed it.
4

cookoy , September 30, 2011 6:58 AM

is this something we should expect more often from the rapid release schedule - less thorough testing - quantity for quality?
1

eddieroolz , September 30, 2011 7:16 AM

This is what happens when you have an awfully rushed cycle that no one but the marketing group agrees with.

Hopefully the Mozilla Foundation will learn from this.
0

gnookergi , September 30, 2011 7:28 AM

I'm running 7.01 so I'm assuming that the problem is taken care of.
6

wlachan , September 30, 2011 7:43 AM

They missed the opportunity of making it FF8.
3

dickcheney , September 30, 2011 8:37 AM

cookoyis this something we should expect more often from the rapid release schedule - less thorough testing - quantity for quality?

Think about the big sweet inflated number! Must boost the precious!
0

gti88 , September 30, 2011 8:39 AM

Install Addon Compatibility Reporter - it helps to use extensions which are not officially supported by newer versions of FF.

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Mozilla Delays Firefox 7 Update Due to Add-on Bug

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