Ubuntu: Changes to Firefox Reverted, Codename for v. 10.10 Announced
Earlier this year Canonical announced that it would implement an important change in the upcoming version of the Ubuntu operating system, Ubuntu 10.04 codename Lucid Lynx. The default search engine in Firefox, as Canonical said at the time, would be changed from Google to Yahoo! This change was due to a revenue sharing deal struck between Canonical and Yahoo!.
“This revenue will help Canonical to provide developers and resources to continue the open development of Ubuntu and the Ubuntu Platform. This change will help provide these resources as well as continuing to respect our user's default search across Firefox,” explained Canonical’s Rick Spencer at the time.
In a surprising turnaround, Canonical has now announced that it would no longer implement this change in Ubuntu 10.04. The default search engine in Firefox for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx will remain Google. Canonical’s Rick Spencer already asked the Ubuntu Desktop team to change the default search engine back to Google.
Why the turnaround? As Spencer explained, it is the best option from a user experience point of view. Users upgrading from 9.10 to 10.04 expect to get Google, they are familiar with the search engine.
“Each release we determine the best default web browser and the best default search engine for Ubuntu. When choosing the best default search provider, we consider factors such as user experience, user preferences, and costs and benefits for Ubuntu and the browsers and other projects that make up Ubuntu. Up until Ubuntu 9.10 these defaults have always been Firefox and Google,” explained Rick Spencer.
The final version of Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx will be released this April and it will feature Firefox as the default browser and Google as the default search engine. The switch to Yahoo! will not be visible to regular users, only to those that took part in the development cycle of Ubuntu 10.04.
In Ubuntu-related news, the codename of the Ubuntu 10.10, the version to be released after Ubuntu 10.04, has been announced. The codename of Ubuntu 10.10 is Maverick Meerkat.
“This revenue will help Canonical to provide developers and resources to continue the open development of Ubuntu and the Ubuntu Platform. This change will help provide these resources as well as continuing to respect our user's default search across Firefox,” explained Canonical’s Rick Spencer at the time.
In a surprising turnaround, Canonical has now announced that it would no longer implement this change in Ubuntu 10.04. The default search engine in Firefox for Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx will remain Google. Canonical’s Rick Spencer already asked the Ubuntu Desktop team to change the default search engine back to Google.
Why the turnaround? As Spencer explained, it is the best option from a user experience point of view. Users upgrading from 9.10 to 10.04 expect to get Google, they are familiar with the search engine.
“Each release we determine the best default web browser and the best default search engine for Ubuntu. When choosing the best default search provider, we consider factors such as user experience, user preferences, and costs and benefits for Ubuntu and the browsers and other projects that make up Ubuntu. Up until Ubuntu 9.10 these defaults have always been Firefox and Google,” explained Rick Spencer.
The final version of Ubuntu 10.04 Lucid Lynx will be released this April and it will feature Firefox as the default browser and Google as the default search engine. The switch to Yahoo! will not be visible to regular users, only to those that took part in the development cycle of Ubuntu 10.04.
In Ubuntu-related news, the codename of the Ubuntu 10.10, the version to be released after Ubuntu 10.04, has been announced. The codename of Ubuntu 10.10 is Maverick Meerkat.
