Firefox Extension Lets You Pick the Name

Rovaedne writes "Mozilla Firefox , the web browser formerly known as Firebird, formerly known as Phoenix, has a new extension which allows you to change the name to something palatable. The extension called Firesomething lets users change the name seen in the browser titlebar, Help menu, and About dialog, thus erradicating all traces of "Firefox" in Firefox (currently version 0.8). There is a name change FAQ, but it currently does not mention this extension. This extension should hopefully help curb some of the criticism that Mozilla has received from its most recent choice of name."

Actually

[PatrickThomson]

it's primary function is to randomise the browser name to avoid name clashes. I'm currently browsing in mozilla firebunny, for example.

Re:Actually

[ScottGant]

As other have hinted below, why not take this a step further?

Bring out an extention for other apps.

For instance, being able to change OpenOffice to Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel. That way you can fool the higher-up's into thinking you have "what everyone else is using".

Save the cash from buying Office and take that money and go on a vacation! Then, when you get back, and before you get charged with fraud, quit and go live in a goat farm somewhere making cheeses.

Ok, I got way off on a tangent there...but you see what I mean.

Re:Actually

[Pfhreakaz0id]

would help those running pokerbots for the online poker sites... currently, the largest online poker site is blocking a bot program by not letting you log in (or kicking you off) by scanning for a window with the program name in the title. You can even go to the program's home page, and because the title bar switches, it will kill it.

If I acutally wanted to USE this bot, it would be pretty trivial to hack it's resources to change the titlebar (actually, I'm sure the author has already randomized the title). We're going to see an increasing battle between 'bot programs for online gambling and those who run online gambling sites.

If you're curious, to a google groups search on rec.gambling.poker for "WinHoldEm"

What's in a Name?

[The Monster]

Bring out an extention for other apps.

I'm not sure how much of an 'extension' is really required here. I make it a matter of policy in my shell scripts to do

Self=`basename $0`

and use that value in the script itself as its name. This way, if anyone ever wants to change the name of the script, they, uh, change the name of the script. The -[Hh]* option for help, as well as any log file names based on $Self , then correctly specify the new name.

Of course we don't have executables with names like "Mozilla Firefox", because that's not geeky enough. Still, it should be trivial for any app to allow configuration of the name it displays in the title bar.

I can imagine what would happen, just for example, if The Bride of Monster (Personnel Manager at a sheltered workshop, dealing with handicapped adults) installed a copy of The GIMP on a computer at work, to save their tight budget the expense of buying Photoshop for working up sales brochures and such... Being able to change it so it says 'GNU Image Manipulation' or just 'GNU Image' might save her from the wrath of uptight Politically Correct types.

Finally

[TooLazyToLogon]

Finally I can run Internet Explorer in Linux. Now if i can just get a name change extention for OpenOffice.org

Re:Finally

[Evil Pete]

And I was thinking that in the spirit of Firebird and Firefox I'd rename it to Flamebait.

Re:Actually

[Davak]

Will Firefox ever fix the lack of DDE support?

For example, I can communicate with mozilla with a command such as:

Link.LinkTopic = "Mozilla|WWW_GetWindowInfo"
Link.LinkMode = 2
Link.LinkRequest

I can grab all sort of nice information through this process. Netscape, Opera, IE -- all support this function. Firefox currenly does not.

If plug-ins like the one described in the original posting change the DDE information, then it will even be more complicated to develop applications that are compatable with this browser.

Davak

Re:Actually

[Rick the Red]

I'm using Mozilla Internet Explorer

Next step for microsoft

[peterprior]

1. Get Firefox
2. Change name to Internet Explorer
3. apply IE theme
4. Release as Internet explorer 7
5. Profi... oh ..wait... ;)

No, boss...

[sanctimonius hypocrt]

This is just IE 7.0. Want me to get a copy for everyone?

Re:Next step for microsoft

[JohnHegarty]

1. Get Firefox
2. Change name to Internet Explorer
3. apply IE theme
4. Insert SCO copyright code
5. Get sued
6. Profit

Re:Next step for microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, that is exactly what I did here in corperate..

Attach the IE icon to it and voila... the users act as if there is no difference except it's massively faster, no popup's, no crashes, no freezes.

It's funny, many people scream about the massive retraining required switching workers to Open Source... It's not real.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

It'd be easier to believe you worked in corporate if you could actually spell it.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[Anonymous Coward]

It'd be easier to believe you worked in corporate if you could actually spell it.

Actually, it wouldn't.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[mkoenecke]

That's a nice theory, and it is true the human brain can adjust for misspellings, but spelling errors distract the reader from the message and make one look uneducated. Every time (and it is pretty dratted often) I read some idiot using "loose" for "lose" I immediately think just that: "Idiot." Almost certainly unfair, but it's still my reaction.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[ibbey]

That's a nice theory, and it is true the human brain can adjust for misspellings, but spelling errors distract the reader from the message and make one look uneducated. Every time (and it is pretty dratted often) I read some idiot using "loose" for "lose" I immediately think just that: "Idiot." Almost certainly unfair, but it's still my reaction.

No, it's anal morons like you who distract the reader, not the spelling. I honestly hadn't noticed the misspelling until you pointed it out (and I have better then average spelling abilities). What you need to remember is that most people posting to Slashdot aren't English majors. We're usually people posting a thought fairly quickly. Even if we know the correct spelling, it's easy to make a typo when you're typing quickly. Sure, you should catch the error when you preview, but not everyone will.

What you need to learn is that spelling & grammar != intelligence. I know several people who are smarter then me, but who can't spell worth crap. At least one is dyslexic, the others may just have actual important things on there minds.

Good spelling important in many contexts. Fortunately for us, slashdot isn't one of them. If you're that bothered by the problem, I suggest that you go elsewhere since the problem is fairly pervasive here.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[rookkey]

This post is off-topic as is the parent.

No, it's anal reactionaries like you who dilute the English language to the point of nonsense. Things have gotten so bad, college students commonly submit resumes riddled with typos, newspaper letters to the editor are incomprehensible, and business proposals look wholly unprofessional. And it all stems from slack usage of English in casual settings such as Slashdot.

It's embarrassing that you think that only English majors should have a solid command of the language. It just shows what a failure today's educational institutions are. When a person makes a typo, he should immediately realize it and correct it. If a person is unsure if the word is "consistent" or "consistant," then he should make the ten-second effort to find out and commit the fact to memory. This is what educated people do.

What is unacceptable is people that furiously type their thoughts and then do not even look over what they wrote to see if any of it makes sense.

What you need to learn is that spelling & grammar != intelligence

Oh, cut it out with the holier than thou bull. If a person cannot effectively communicate his intelligence, then that intelligence is worthless. Smart people cannot get far in modern times without being able to write. And smart people won't be heard if they treat the English language like a redheaded stepchild.

By the way, have you ever considered readers not fluent in English? When they encounter a misspelled word, they have no way of initially telling if the word is misspelled or if it is a word they just haven't encountered before. How about having some consideration for foreign readers?

By the way, have you ever considered blind readers who use screen-reading software? When you misspell words, you make your writing inaccessible to the blind. How about having some consideration for the blind?

People used to have pride in the things they wrote. Now instead of people sucking up their egos and admitting their mistakes, we have people that now argue that making mistakes doesn't matter.

There is a difference between making an honest mistake and continually choosing not to care. You encourage this recklessness. And now we have college graduates who think spell checking is what word processors do, and not what humans do. Even after running a spell check, students submit papers full of flagrant violations of the language. Because people continually abuse English in places such as Slashdot, they believe college papers and business proposals shouldn't be scoured of all errors.

Good spelling important in many contexts.

Good spelling is important in all contexts.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[rookkey]

Fortunately, it's largely a self correcting problem

I see it to be the complete opposite case: grammar and spelling is best corrected at the source.

People who submit such resumes don't get hired, their letters to the editor don't get published, and their proposals are rejected.

But people submitting typo-ridden resumes are getting hired, error-plagued letters to the editor are being published (because the proofreaders at the newspapers themselves have no grasp of the language), and people who routin

Re:Next step for microsoft

[angle_slam]

Attach the IE icon to it and voila... the users act as if there is no difference except it's massively faster, no popup's, no crashes, no freezes.I use Firefox 0.8 as my primary browser at work and Mozilla 1.5 as my primary browser at home. Firefox crashes on me about once a week. I have no problems with Mozilla 1.5.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[AnyoneEB]

FireFox (v0.8) seems to have more bugs than FireBird (v0.7). If it really bothers you, you could just use v0.7. The only difference I've really noticed since installing v0.8 is the download manager.

Re:Next step for microsoft

[AntiOrganic]

No, except on massively slow machines (<= 300 MHz), I've definitely found Firefox to be much snappier at page rendering than Internet Explorer. You might be having some trouble if you're using extensions that slow the browser to a crawl, like Tabbrowser Extensions, but I've found that a vanilla Firefox is much faster than IE, especially on faster machines, at rendering everything but heavy (1000+ row) dynamically-sized tables and shitty AOL Hometown pages with 300 animated GIFs running at once.

On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[multipartmixed]

Why, you ask?

When I set up a Windows box for a neophyte (admittedly, not often) I do everything I can to purge Internet Exploder from the system. Some might find this unjustifiable, but the only time I'm ever asked (begged) to help Windows is when a friend of my wife's computer is running badly due to six billion viruses and twenty-two trillion Spyware programs.

Anyhow. I hunt down all the shortcuts to IE and file associations to IE (i.e. as a viewer, default browser, blah blah blah) and replace them with Firebird. Then, I swap Firebird's icon with IE's icon. (I do a similar thing with with Lookout Express and ThunderBird). I used to even install the IE theme, but it's been busted for a while.

This will help to complete the illusion.

Of course, when I'm done, I just tell them I put on a new version of "The Internet" called Mozilla to help them not get viruses and spyware in the first place. I make sure they hear the brand at least a dozen times when I'm talking to them, because I want to build brand recognition. Maybe they'll tell their stupid friends how great Mozilla is and their friends will download it and use it. (Wishful thinking, I know).

But we all know that telling a Windows user to use Mozilla Fire* instead of IE will far on deaf ears; these people will click that stupid fuckin' blue E because they want to "get on the Internet". You have to make them use something else, or they WILL succumb to temptation and get infected again.

So far, nobody's come back. Either they hate me now, or they are relatively virus-free; I really don't care which.

At least my daughter was easier to set up. She knows to use Mozilla (full suite) instead of IE/OE. If she truly *needs* to use IE (i.e. one of her favourite sites doesn't work with Moz), she can ask me to add it to IE for her. I do this by modifying the automatic proxy configuration URL -- if it's on my safe site list, it points to Squid; otherwise it points to an inetd->shell hack which tells her to come and see me.

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[peterprior]

This all works well until you get a tech support query, and ask them what browser they are using. They say IE, you say, "ok, go to tools -> options" and everything goes quiet as they can't find that menu option.

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[multipartmixed]

A very valid point.

That's why they are trained to say "so and so set me up" when talking to tech support; I know the techs at the local ISP.

But even so, yeah, I admit this could cause some problems, but a clever tech will out what's going on anyhow.

The main point being, they don't call *me*. LOL.

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[jtwJGuevara]

That's why they are trained to say "so and so set me up" when talking to tech support; I know the techs at the local ISP.

But even so, yeah, I admit this could cause some problems, but a clever tech will out what's going on anyhow.

Not in my neck of the woods. The braniac for an isp tech here came over to setup my cable internet service was throwing fits because he couldn't find the IE icon on my desktop. I simply told him to "use Firefox.... it's not vastly different from Netscape". He still was dumbf

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[lokedhs]

Very disturbing... I won't be calling these guys up for tech support anytime soon.

Yep. I think they are definately losing sleep over that. :-)

Windows Update

[prandal]

Nor can they go to Windows Update to ensure that their PC is fully patched

Re:Windows Update

[I confirm I'm not a]

Good point. It's worth noting that even Mozillatips [mozillatips.com] recommend keeping IE around for Windows Updates and also certain poorly-designed-but-necessary sites, like certain banks.

Incidentally, I keep IE as my 2nd browser at work for testing, and also to use the control panel app on a Cobalt Raq box. Irony, eh?

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[Fweeky]

With some XUL magic it shouldn't be too difficult to make Firefox's preferences dialog look and work more like IE's :o

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[ameoba]

Mozilla is, what we refer to, in theorerical computer science, as, 'Emacs Complete'. This means that it would be a fairly straightforward exercise to implement Emacs in XUL.

The upshot of is is that, if somebody were ever able to implement Mozilla in a non-bloated way, we'd have a non-bloated Emacs & by extension, have non-bloated versions of countless other programs.

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[Anders]

At least my daughter was easier to set up.

Yeah, the initial set up is quite easy (especially if you are not the female). But just wait for your daughter to become a teenager.

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[Washizu]

"When I set up a Windows box for a neophyte (admittedly, not often) I do everything I can to purge Internet Exploder from the system"

Wait until they have to use some poorly built online banking software or online billing system that blocks Mozilla users. Keeping people in the dark about what browser they're using will give them a reason to badmouth Mozilla for not working properly when they find out what you did.

I like Firefox, but as long as certain websites require IE you're doing your "neophyte" frien

Re:On a more serious note, this extension is GREAT

[Tokerat]

I like Firefox, but as long as certain websites require IE you're doing your "neophyte" friend a disservice by "purg(ing) Internet Exploder from the system."

No, you'r hurting businesses that ecide to set up websites that require Internet Explorer, and I see this as a Very Good Thing (tm). Not because I'd like to specifically be anti-Microsoft, mind you, but there is absolutely NO REASON that any website this day in age shouldn't be able to funciton on all browsers. The web is designed to be a system for delivery of cross-referenced marked-up "documents", which, while having much more/different uses and purposes than their tree pulp counterparts, are quite easily designed to a specific standard. Breaking that standard is breaking the Web, same thing.

Banking on the Web should be IE only? Imagine the parking lot at the local bank will only allow Fords. What do you do with your BMW then? It runs better, smoother, faster, looks nicer, doesn't include clunky features, and follows the same 4 wheels/brake pedal/steering wheel/etc. standards needed for road use...

I'd like to hear any good reasons why a website should function in IE on Windows only. Anyone who replies "ActiveX" should be modded +1 Funny.

Re:Windows Update...

[jd142]

Then they are very stupid. If they're going to do that, they should set up an SUS box on campus and let you all hit that for updates. SUS is Software Update Server, Microsoft's way of letting large organizations easily push out the updates they want their users to have. Admins download and approve MS patches then the SUS box pushes them to clients. You use GPO's to tell the clients where to get their updates from. It's actually quite slick and easy.

It's like making your own urpmi source for Mandrake a

Re:Next step for microsoft

[praksys]

The Mozilla crowd should take a page from Microsoft's book and rename it to "Web Browser (tm)".

I'm calling mine slash dot.dot

[Amiga Lover]

I'm calling mine slash org dot.dot so I can use slash dot dot dot to go to aytch tee tee pee colon slash slash slash dot dot dot org... Because it's no sillier than 4 name changes in 12 months.

Re:I'm calling mine slash dot.dot

[TintinX]

It hasn't changed 4 times, it's changed twice, and they have been necessary changes to avoid conflicts with other Open Source projects.
Remember, FF is not yet out of Beta so a name change is trivial.
That said, it needs to start building a brand name and that brand will be Firefox. I believe the developers have said clearly that it will not change again.
Anyway, I love the new FF icon. Much nicer than Moz ;)

Re:I'm calling mine slash dot.dot

[Dan93]

Actually, from what I understand, Firebird, Pheonix and Firefox are just code names. When the browser is released 1.0 it'll just be Mozilla Browser.

Re:I'm calling mine slash dot.dot

[I confirm I'm not a]

I believe that that may have changed, and that Firefox will remain the brand name of the browser, which - once it reaches version 1.0 - will continue to be available separately to, as well as part of, the suite. That's why so much effort has been expended on the Firefox *image* - the logo, the cute "ads" ("Reclaim the Web", etc) and marketing. Then again, my information dates back at least a few days, so it's possibly out of date already ;)

The original announcement [mozillazine.org] on mozillazine suggests that Firefox is a permanent name, though I couldn't find other postings about the brand-identity. Like I say, this information is probably out-of-date already...

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Random names?

[sanctimonius hypocrt]

"...brought to you by a cadre of flaming geese?"

Re:Random names?

[abram10]

Well, you could append a random 4- or 5- letter code to Fire. It may not always be intelligible, but, eventually, you could get something!

FireBlah!

What's wrong with Firefox?

[Saint Stephen]

Remember: YOU HAVE TO THINK IN RUSSIAN!

I like Firefox. What the hell name would I change it to? Who cares anyway?

Re:What's wrong with Firefox?

[malok2]

I have tried to get so many friends to switch over to firefox, and their first reactions were:
1) mozilla ? Their old browsers sucked.
2) firefox ? It sounds like a firewall software.

anyways, after taking the time to explain them what firefox really is, they were all convinced.

Black and white vs colour

[Space cowboy]

Strange, how it's far easier (at least for me) to see that the sketched black/white drawing is a fox than the coloured rendered version - I thought the coloured version was simply abstract until I saw the sketch :-)

Who needs computers - bring back sketchpads :-)

Simon

Re:Black and white vs colour

[AndyL]

If it was a really sketchy, super black/white drawing then you'd be able to see that it's really a panda.

Re:Black and white vs colour

[nickos]

A firefox is a red panda. Here's [binderparkzoo.org] a picture of one. This [wellingtonzoo.com] site has some more info, specifically "The Chinese name for red panda is hunho or firefox, due to their colour and similar size to a fox".

Re:Black and white vs colour

[Teddy Beartuzzi]

Try this anime style [laacz.lv] one:

Old news

[Delirium Tremens]

I have been running Firetoad (and sometimes Firemussel) for 3-4 weeks now.
The plugin was actually released the same day as 0.8.

Re:Old news

[momokatte]

The plugin was actually released the same day as 0.8.

Almost, but not quite. Someone (Dunderklumpen) on the MozillaZine forums made the suggestion for the extension the day Firefox was released, and I released a barebones extension two days later.

The new news, though, is that the extension finally got a user-friendly interface (no more digging around in about:config) last weekend. The extension has changed a lot over the past six weeks, thanks to the MozillaZine forums users who were interested in its d

Cheesy...

[PoorLenore]

about:config also let's you change the 'Mozilla' bit, too. Mozzerella Seasquid here.

Hmmmm....

[Yoda2]

Along the lines of the post above, I could call it "Internet Explorer" and just tell my employees that M$ released an "upgrade." I could do away with the "real" IE once and for all in one fell swoop.
/me heads for early Saturday in the office while everyone is gone

Better?

[geekster]

So now it has an infinite number of names? Great...

Re:Better?

[Pros_n_Cons]

This is what I thought of when I heard about this:

A beautiful woman walking gracefully down the street, gets her shoe caught in a crack, hits the ground like a sack of rocks, rolls with the momentum a few times and gets up walking away like nothing happened.

Firefox's news strategy: "we ment to do that"

I know what I want to call it...

[bennomatic]

Does anyone remember what Spock's first name was?

Re:I know what I want to call it...

[Anonymous Coward]

I think it was Mister, If I remember correctly :)

Re:I know what I want to call it...

[MadChicken]

Did this get modded down? Here's proof [allscifi.com]

anti-branding.. i like it!

[plams]

Tech: Tech-support.. how may I help you?
Me: Hi, uhm... Well, I'm having trouble connecting to the internet..
Tech: *groan* Ok. What browser are you using?
Me: Eh.. It says firepanda..
Tech: Oh? Well, try opening it...
Me: Ok.... done
Tech: Now, in your.. firepanda window.. try find a menu called "preferences"
Me: Uhm.. firepanda?! it says crimsongazelle now..
Tech: *sigh*

How about

[beforewisdom]

Phoefirebirdfox ?

finally, a reason to switch from...

[dankelley]

...mozilla, which seems just as fast, and more full-featured (e.g. mail, calendar). I must be missing something in the enthusiasm for firefox.

i see it differently

[G27 Radio]

I'm not a very big fan of Mozilla at all--not since Phonix/Firebird/Firefox came out. Mozilla renders quickly, but it just feels clunky and slow to get started.

I like Firefox because it's trimmed down and has a smaller footprint. If I want to use mail I just start up Thunderbird. The calendar plugin works from both Thunderbird and Firefox.

I suppose if I regularly needed all the features in Mozilla I'd feel differently. No disrespect to Mozilla, but I really prefer using Firefox and Thunderbird.

Re:finally, a reason to switch from...

[zonix]

I must be missing something in the enthusiasm for firefox.

Try some of the extensions like AdBlock (block flash, iframes, etc.). The extensible search engine bar is really cool to (get imdb search, DHL tracking, etc.). Not to mention the quick search feature (keyword bookmars)!

z

Yay for Mozilla Firespider!

[hattig]

The browser choice for the discerning balrog spider!

Great

[r00zky]

I'm renaming it to FireAvian, so it's compatible with RFC 1149 [faqs.org]

Browser formally know as...

[peterprior]

All this "The browser formally known as..." stuff.
I'm going to call my firefox "Prince" :)

Diluting Mindshare

[Apple Acolyte]

Unfortunately, it will not do wonders for Firefox's name recognition if most of its users decide on proprietary appellations. Let's try to increase mindshare by sticking to its official name, and as an added benefit we'll always know to which browser we're referring! Just MHO.

Cool

[anonicon]

I really like this, hadn't know it existed. Now that I'm running FireBush, my entire browsing experience has become faster, leaner and a whole lot less intrusive.

Here's to hoping that the Mozilla hackers keep up the technical and political innovations. :-)

Linux branding oppoptunity.

[Anonymous Coward]

This extension is just what we need to make Linux distributions more freindly to Joe User.

Whenever you get a Linux distribution, it insalls about 5 differeent web browsers with confusing names such as Konqueror, Mozilla, Lynx, Galeon and Epiphany. There is no need for all those web browsers. And don't scream CHOICE either, you are only going to be using ONE, so why have 5 installed?

This is where this extension comes in. Linux distributions could now just ship one browser, but customised with their experiance. Imagine Debianavigator, Fedora the explorer, SuSEscape, Webdrake, Genfox and Slackzilla web browsers, with their own themeing, but still firefox internally, and "hardcore" users could still change it back if they wanted by downloading the extention.

Lindows already ship a customised Mozilla known as "Lindows Internet Suite", so why can't other Linux distributions do this? They already brand KDE/GNOME/ETC with their menu layouts, icons and apps, so why not do web browsers?

Re:Linux branding oppoptunity.

[arcanumas]

There is no need for all those web browsers. And don't scream CHOICE either, you are only going to be using ONE, so why have 5 installed?

Um, because ,while you may be using only one of them, the Distro-makers can not know WHICH one.
Therefore.. choice.
And rest assured that there ARE reasons for choosing one, even if many use the same rendering engine.
I, mean some people use Konqueror (KHTML) , others Mozilla (gecko) and all the variations (that make a difference on the Interface and features side) , w

Just call it OpenSourceBrowser...

[cnelzie]

...and be done with it. No need for going all ga-ga about naming it something new every two weeks because the 'Geeks that Be' don't bother doing a simple Google Search to make certain they aren't trouncing on someone else's software product name...

Yeah, OpenSourceBrowser isn't very 'sexy', neither is OpenOffice.org, but that seems to work for them...

Fire-star

[tverbeek]

This plug-in is kinda funny, and I hope the Mozilla folks can take a joke and enjoy the laugh. But treating "the criticism that Mozilla has received from its most recent choice of name" as if it were a serious issue suggests that the submitter of this article could stand to lighten up and look around. The vast majority of Browser Formerly Known As users seem to have taken to the the name "Firefox" pretty well. As the album cover says: 205,000 Google hits for "firefox browser" can't be wrong.

New open-source strategy?

[plams]

Could this be used as legal immunity for linux? So, when SCO decides to sue someone for having an unlicenced linux kernel, they just reply with something like, "Sorry sir McNeal, but I checked this morning.. and what do you know, we actually run Mozillix, Fenix and Bollox... but not linux?"

I'm running...

[Stile 65]

Nutzilla Firecock. I wonder what other names people have come up with.

After this article, I'm hoping the Slashdot editors go through the logs and find the funniest client names and post a list (after a few days for people to play with names). I can't wait to see what you bastards come up with! :)

On a technical note

[smittyoneeach]

This is all swell and spiffy, but do we need to standardize an environment variable for browsers, as there is for editors, so that we can still use the system effectively in terrifying presence of 'Leonid_Brezhnevs_eyebrows-er'?

Why is this on Slashdot?

[glpierce]

Sorry, but does anyone consider this worthy of being posted to Slashdot? There are a dozen Mozilla extensions that are more functional or more fit for conversation.

Good for a few jokes, yes; worth a whole story, no.

I Kind of Like "Firesomething"

[citizenc]

I vote we get Mozilla to change the name of Firefox PERMANENTLY to "Firesomething". :P

Letting employees go has never been so easy!

[stienman]

"Hey Carol, why is my browser named 'Fired' and defaults to loser.com?"

-Adam

Why the user agent string??

[Jugalator]

Optionally modifies the browser's User-Agent string to reflect your custom browser name.

Argh... I can understand it if you wish to access a site that thinks it only works with IE when it actually doesn't, but it's stupid to change it if:

1. You make the name "Mozilla Seaturtle" or something else "just for fun".
2. You keep it set to IE's user agent even if you don't need it.

Why? Because Firefox popularity will decrease in statistics and web masters will feel less reasons to support Firefox when checking their access logs.

Extentions are cool

[whovian]

With all the time I spend exploring all these neat extentions, my boss suggested to me that I call my browser YoureFired.

My browsers name is now...

[Den_onda_kotten]

Firefly!

You can't take the sky from me.

GUID!

[davegaramond]

Of course, the answer lies in GUID, which is guaranteed to be unique even across the universe. So no more painful name switching of Firebird to Firefox to Firephoebe, just use

Mozilla 43c23aa3-7c29-4ce2-96ca-23c751efe5ff 0.9

mIRC and name changing

[BMonger]

Sorta kinda off topic but....

Back in "the day" there were those programs that you could run that would display ads while you were browsing the web. Basically it was a strip along the bottom of your screen. It checked for mouse/keyboard movement and made sure the the foremost window had the name of "Internet Explorer". Well I never browsed the web for more than 15 minutes or so but I was on IRC for hours on end using mIRC. And mIRC let you change the name that was shown in the title bar. So I changed it to "Internet Explorer" and... voila! I received a check from the company the next month for about $25 or so... but I got bored of looking at ads and never did it after that.

unpalatable

[WhiteDragon]

What is so 'unpalatable' about Firefox? I personally like that name. And the animal it is named after, the Red Panda [animalinfo.org] is pretty neat as well. I just switched my mom over to firefox on windows, and she loves it! No more popups! She certainly didn't complain about the 'unpalatable' name.

This would really be funny

[lone_marauder]

If it randomized the broswer ID in the referrer as well. Unfortunately, I just checked, and it doesn't.

Phoenix rises from the ashes!

[incom]

I can finally use the phoenix browser again, it's still my favorite name for the software.

IE can be renamed too

[Temsi]

Editing the Windows registry allows you to change the name in the title bar of Internet Explorer.

Mine currently says "Internet Exploder".

How?
I'm glad you asked, here's how:

Look for Window Title under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Intern et Explorer\Main
If Window Title doesn't exist there, create it as a new String Value, edit the value with whatever name you want, restart your IE and enjoy the new name.

A much better extension would be

[melted]

one that allows you to select you the User Agent string to misrepresent yourself as Explorer or an older version of Mozilla. That could be handy at times.

Necessary for distros

[MisterBad]

Considering that the Mozilla org is being quite stingy with the Firefox trademark -- you're not supposed to use the icons or name except for the "official" builds -- this is actually really useful.

It's come up as an issue with the Debian package [debian.org] for Firefox.

KDE can do this too

[polyp2000]

I only discovered this recently so i'm not sure how far back it goes (Im running KDE3.2)

many Kde applications can be started to display a different name. For example, if you were feeling particularly sadistic you could run konqueror like this ...

%> konqueror --caption "Internet Explorer"

although something like

%> juk --caption "iTunes"

is probably more palatable

nick ...

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist...

[Big Nothing]

In Soviet Russia, the browser picks YOUR name.

Re:What about Thunderbird?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because it doesn't even vaguely resemble an automobile.

Re:What about Thunderbird?

[LetterRip]

Probably because they are well aware of Trademark law, and realize that they would lose the case since cars are in an entirely different market from webbrowsers and email clients?

LetterRip

Re:What about Thunderbird?

[baxissimo]

You'd think, but cars and computers may have more in common than you think [acer.com]. At least one automaker thought their brand name would look swell on a computer product.

Excuse me, but it's the TV series

[Moderation abuser]

With wooden puppets: Thunderbirds are go... dundundeladee.

Or the Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle.

Oooh. Look not a Ford in sight.

In the real world, not necessarily the one you inhabit, the Thunderbird is a mythical beast from native Indian legend.

Re:What about Thunderbird?

[dacarr]

Have you ever tried using your car to send an electronic mail, or your MTA to drive to the supermarket?

That's why.

Re:What about Thunderbird?

[sepluv]

Trademarks only apply to a single product type. Software is a separate category from vehicles for the purposes of trademarks.

Re:What about Thunderbird?

[DA-MAN]

What about the Ford Explorer (Internet Explorer) or the Lincoln Navigator (Netscape Navigator) connection?

Seems like browsers are supposed to just be named after cars....

What's next? the Nissan Opera????

Re:Isn't it time to work on essential things?

[wnknisely]

Firefox is not Mozilla. Firefox does not have a built-in email client Most importantly: The subject of this story is an extension - something that is *optionally* installed by the end-user. It is not something that has been checked into the source by the developers.

Re:Trademarks and Un-offical Builds

[I confirm I'm not a]

(yes, even open source projects can be A-holes when it comes to "stealing" thier stuff).

As I understand it, this is a necessary by-product of US trademark law - "enforce your trademark or lose it". Mozilla recently sent out enforcement letters to t-shirt retailers, etc, which has to be the nicest, sweetest, most kindly example of legalese I've ever seen - along the lines of "you're using our trademark without permission. We understand why you're doing this, but we have to ask you to stop. Hope you're

Re:Internet Explorer, The browser formerly known a

[mooman]

Yeah, I was thinking of using this plugin to rename Mozilla to something like Mosaic 0.93b

I bet few folks these days would get it but other old fogies like me would probably appreciate the tip o' the hat...