Upgrading to latest version drops many extensions on which users have come to rely.
Boston, Massachusetts (PRWEB) December 5, 2005 -- Many users upgrading the increasingly popular Firefox browser to Version 1.5 will lose features on which they depend to perform daily business tasks. Only users who thoroughly read through the technical "Release Notes" are warned about the potential loss of functionality. Other users only discover that these features are missing after the upgrade.
"I got caught up with the excitement over the release, not realizing I was taking one step forward and two steps back" stated Donald French, a Firefox user and President of the Institute for Advanced Professional Studies in Boston, Massachusetts.
Firefox enables users to add functionality to their browser through the use of "add-ons," also called extensions or plug-ins. They become an integral part of the browser from the user's perspective and users grow to depend on them.
Firefox blocks the installation of an extension if it is incompatible with that version of the browser. From a technical perspective, this compatibility requirement is a good idea, preventing the browser from operating unreliably due to incompatible extensions. From a user perspective, it's an unpleasant surprise to learn of diminished functionality only after the upgrade.
"Over 25% of my extensions were no longer available. It was quite a shock, and a big disappointment, to learn my upgraded browser removed some vital features. The prior version was good enough and worth keeping until the needed extensions became compatible with the new version of Firefox," said French. "Prior to upgrading, Firefox users should verify that essential functionality will be preserved. What's needed is a warning about the potential loss of features and an up-to-date list of compatible add-ons. If there was a list, I did not see it," said French.
Once upgraded, Firefox provides a list of the extensions deactivated from the previous version along with the extensions active in the current version. Hopefully, needed extensions will soon be compatible with version 1.5.
For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release, contact Donald French or visit
http://www.iaps.com/blog/2005/12/firefox-15-drops-old-extensions.html
About Institute for Advanced Professional Studies (IAPS):
Founded in 1977, IAPS is a leading international training and consulting firm that designs and presents educational programs for technical professionals and managers. It provides technical experts to assist organizations with assessment, design and implementation of leading edge software for electronic products and complex IT systems.
Contact:
Donald French, President
Institute for Advanced Professional Studies
Boston, Massachusetts
617/742-2777
http://www.iaps.com
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