Firefox 7 is the third rapid release of the browser rolled out since the end of June. Some may consider the first true rapid release as the first that delivers noteworthy improvements over Firefox 4 – improvements that are more than just cosmetics. Firefox 7 is a shining example that Mozilla still has a strong impact on the Internet, yet it is confronted with an increasingly aggressive competitive field that could make it less relevant in the future.
If there was ever a Firefox update you should care about, it is Firefox 7. If you don’t, then you can read PC Magazine’s “Seven good reasons to upgrade”, even if you would have to admit that the reasons that Firefox is free, that it is based on an open project and a cross-platform approach don’t really count. Also, you might not care about add-on compatibility (since you expect in anyway) and a somewhat hidden new performance tool. So, there may be just two reasons (reduced memory usage, more performance) to upgrade and even those two may only be one and half good reasons as the memory management plays into performance.
For matters of completeness, I should note that Firefox 7 received the new Azure Direct 2D graphics backend that partially replaces the old Cairo API, but Mozilla isn’t quite done with this project as it is working on an entirely new graphics API anyway. At this time, Azure simply accelerates Canvas 2D and is quite effective (provided you have a decent graphics card that delivers a good amount of acceleration) in this discipline. We previously found that it can closely match IE9, which has been the class leader here. Also, keep in mind that Mozilla is working on a Cairo and Skia backend for Azure. You may recall that Skia is a 2D graphics library used by Google in Chrome (previously only for Windows and Linux, but recently also for Mac): Skia is open source and gives Google much more freedom to adjust graphical elements. Mozilla may take advantage of that opportunity as well as it does not have to rely, for example, GDI, anymore.
The memory deal: Firefox matters
Firefox 7 is a prominent update primarily because of its improved memory management that, for example, releases consumed memory reliably when you are closing tabs. The feature has been heavily pushed by Mozilla and was generally welcomed, even if some also argue that Mozilla fixed an issue that should have never been in Firefox in the first place. Still, Mozilla took on the memory issue very aggressively and made it a big deal for the latest release.
Interestingly, it wasn’t just Mozilla that has worked on memory leaks. If you browse through Chrome’s revision log, you will find hundreds of changes to Chrome’s memory management just in September and a few dozen memory leak plugs. It is evident that Mozilla may have prompted Google to check Chrome’s memory management as well. Google just doesn’t talk about it.
This has been the most apparent example to me that Mozilla still drives innovation and there have been a few cases that showed how Mozilla initiated some innovation, but was just outrun by Google which has the resources to implement more changes much faster than Mozilla can. The latest example may be the Joystick API, which Mozilla suggested more than a year ago, but is apparently being taken over by Google and there is a good chance that Chrome will get it before Firefox will: A input method for devices other than a mouse and a keyboard – such as game pads and a remote control.
Mozilla’s problem: The platform
Even if Firefox 7 is most likely the most desirable version of Firefox yet, and even if Firefox 7 is a very competitive browser and represents a necessary compromise between IE and Chrome as far as the browsing experience goes, Mozilla has issues. Mozilla will post another significant drop in market share this month and fall into the 26.6% neighborhood, current StatCounter data suggests. Chrome will be near 24% and is likely to surpass Firefox market share for the first time on individual days as early as next month. It appears that IE share has stabilized and Firefox is now the only browser that is losing market share to Chrome. Features will not solve this problem for Mozilla.
Once Chrome surpasses Firefox, the browser war will turn into a two-horse race between Microsoft and Google. It is likely that Mozilla has lost this race already and it is too late to fend off Google, but giving up is obviously not an option. The frustrating part of this deal, for Mozilla, may be that Firefox is a very competitive browser, but Mozilla has to realize that it cannot win against Google and Microsoft with features – and it cannot remain a strong contender on the sole promise of being a great browser for the people alone. Mozilla can pitch the story of being independent and not being tied to corporate interests all day long – if the story does not resonate with users, the message will have to change.
I am convinced that Mozilla is losing share as it lacks a cohesive platform. Mozilla is moving toward a platform for desktop, tablet and ultra-mobile browsers, but cannot touch certain areas, such as the iPad and the iPhone with a complete browser solution. By offering just a browser, and a crippled browser on iOS, Mozilla can provide solutions for some problems (such as BrowserID), but it is difficult to push those ideas to become standards, if the company does not control the underlying platform in a market that will be, for some time, more fragmented than it is today. Microsoft will push its own ideas with Windows 8 and Windows Mobile, Google will promote Chrome OS and Android, and Apple will obviously favor iOS and MacOS. In the end, Firefox is just an app on top of those platforms and Mozilla’s hopes rely on the strategies at Apple, Microsoft and Google.
The only way for Mozilla to escape this trap is to deliver its own platform – much faster than it has indicated in the past. 2012 is a must-hit target – 2013 will be too late. Mozilla can’t take chances in this market and has to anticipate stronger competition as the months go by. If it has a platform in place, it can take part in the platform play and will have a good opportunity to market Firefox as a platform enabler and not just as an app.
If there is a compelling platform in place, Mozilla has the foundation to grow Firefox market share again.
Wolfgang Gruener in Business Products on September 27
No comments:
Post a Comment