Firefox Default Home Page Should Be More Democratic
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If you’re using a recent version of “Firefox”:1 and haven’t changed the “default home page”:2 that it sets, I’m sure that you’ve noticed this page is a Google page — a co-branded Google/Firefox search page. Of course, you can change this page if you want (@Tools > Options > General > Home Page@), but you aren’t given any choice as to what the _default_ home page is set to during the install process. Doesn’t this seem like a conflict of interest? After all, the Mozilla Foundation’s “mission”:5 is:
bq. The mission of the Mozilla project is to preserve choice and innovation on the Internet.
In a recent “article”:4 from ZDNet on the Google/Mozilla Foundation (the folks that build Firefox) relationship, some of the staff from the Mozilla foundation explain:
bq.. The Mozilla Foundation’s deal with Google is playing a crucial role in helping the non-profit organization challenge Microsoft with its Firefox browser.
Gervase Markham, a Mozilla staff member, said on Sunday that over the past year the Foundation has hired around 10 people, which would not have been possible without the money that Firefox makes by linking to Google.
p. and,
bq.. Markham said the Foundation may sign more sponsorship deals in the future, but is cautious of making too many deals as this could have a negative impact on usability. He claims this is one problem that Netscape encountered.
“Netscape ran into trouble with its browser as it sold every bookmark and link, and couldn’t change the browser in a way that was better for users without breaking its deals,” said Markham. “We’re very aware that Netscape fell into this trap and don’t want to do same thing. Google was the default browser for Firefox before we even signed the deal.”
p. Hey, it’s great that Google has been leading the charge in a lot of ways to help the Mozilla Foundation, but it’s not great (at least from a user standpoint) that no choice is given in what the default home page is. Not everyone uses Google. In fact, Yahoo! has been making some “inroads”:6 into Google’s perceived search hegemony recently.
If the Mozilla Foundation is really about “_preserv(ing) choice and innovation on the Internet_,” then they should change the install process to allow users to choose their preferred search engine flavor. I can always use IE if I feel like giving up any choice in the matter.
[1 (Official Firefox site)]http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/central.html
[2 (Default Firefox home page)]http://www.google.com/firefox?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official
[4 (ZDNet article on Google Firefox relationship)]http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39189475,00.htm
[5 (Mozilla Foundation about page)]http://www.mozilla.org/about/
[6 (Zoinger article on search market share)]http://www.zoinger.com/archives/2005/01/31/17.53.46/index.html
April 18th, 2005 at 3:15 pm
An added “snake in the grass”: when you upgrade Firefox from a previous version (e.g., 1.01 to 1.02), they “upgrade” your home page and default search box provider back to Google. There is a checkbox for the home page setting that is shown during the upgrade install, but it’s opt-out - i.e., if you don’t uncheck it, whatever home page you’ve selected gets changed into the Google-served Firefox home page.
April 18th, 2005 at 3:56 pm
randomtruth,
Good catch. This “trickery” in the upgrade process smells of evil to me. The Google backlash is coming.
April 18th, 2005 at 3:59 pm
Just a note. I’m now “Zoinger” instead of “danoschmano.” The Management.
June 14th, 2005 at 8:06 am
Hey all,
It’s not true that changing the Firefox default startup page is impossible. I’ve published a tiny HowTO at http://www.tschreiner.org/howtos
June 15th, 2005 at 9:32 am
Thomas,
Thanks for pointing out that users can change the default start page. However, the point I was trying to make is that Firefox by default starts up on a Google page. It would be better, IMO, if Firefox let the user choose the start page from the get go.