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Millions download latest Firefox browser | Millions download latest Firefox browser |
(about 6 hours later) | |
More than five million people have downloaded the latest version of Firefox since its release a day ago. | More than five million people have downloaded the latest version of Firefox since its release a day ago. |
Mozilla, which makes the number two web browser, has been keeping a real-time map showing where in the world users are installing the software. | Mozilla, which makes the number two web browser, has been keeping a real-time map showing where in the world users are installing the software. |
Despite the rapid uptake, downloads have been slower for version 4 than its predecessor. | Despite the rapid uptake, downloads have been slower for version 4 than its predecessor. |
Over the past year, Firefox's market share has declined slightly in the face of competition from Google's Chrome. | Over the past year, Firefox's market share has declined slightly in the face of competition from Google's Chrome. |
Firefox 4 was made available for download less than a month after Microsoft launched Internet Explorer 9, the latest version of its market-leading browser. | Firefox 4 was made available for download less than a month after Microsoft launched Internet Explorer 9, the latest version of its market-leading browser. |
Both pieces of software promise users a faster, more secure online experience. | Both pieces of software promise users a faster, more secure online experience. |
Firefox, like its rival, now makes extensive use of HTML 5 - the newest standard for the hypertext language used to build websites. | |
Both browsers also feature hardware acceleration for displaying web pages - drawing on the power of a computer's graphics processor to improve the speed of complex visuals. | |
Declining share | Declining share |
Within its first 24 hours, more than 5.5 million users had downloaded Firefox 4. However, that falls short of the 8 million who downloaded version 3 on its release day in 2008. | Within its first 24 hours, more than 5.5 million users had downloaded Firefox 4. However, that falls short of the 8 million who downloaded version 3 on its release day in 2008. |
The lower figure may be explained by the widespread availability of pre-release versions of Firefox 4 in the months ahead of its launch. | The lower figure may be explained by the widespread availability of pre-release versions of Firefox 4 in the months ahead of its launch. |
Firefox has enjoyed rapid growth since it first appeared in 2004. At its peak, in 2009 it held a 24% market share, according to Netmarketshare. | Firefox has enjoyed rapid growth since it first appeared in 2004. At its peak, in 2009 it held a 24% market share, according to Netmarketshare. |
However, by February 2011 its slice of the browser market had fallen to 21%. | However, by February 2011 its slice of the browser market had fallen to 21%. |
At the same time, Google's Chrome browser has grown from 1% to 10%, according to the same figures. | At the same time, Google's Chrome browser has grown from 1% to 10%, according to the same figures. |
Internet Explorer remains the dominant platform, although its fall has been the most precipitous - from 68% in March 2009 to 56% in February 2011. | Internet Explorer remains the dominant platform, although its fall has been the most precipitous - from 68% in March 2009 to 56% in February 2011. |
Some analysts believe that Firefox could still secure a bigger piece of the increasingly fragmented market, especially among corporate users. | Some analysts believe that Firefox could still secure a bigger piece of the increasingly fragmented market, especially among corporate users. |
"Internet Explorer 9 is only for Windows Vista and 7. Two thirds of companies are still using Windows XP," said Ovum analyst Richard Edwards. | "Internet Explorer 9 is only for Windows Vista and 7. Two thirds of companies are still using Windows XP," said Ovum analyst Richard Edwards. |
"If you want to make the most of the HTML 5 stuff that is out there then you have to go to IE9 and a Windows 7 upgrade or switch to Firefox. | "If you want to make the most of the HTML 5 stuff that is out there then you have to go to IE9 and a Windows 7 upgrade or switch to Firefox. |
"That may be a significant opportunity for Firefox," he said. | "That may be a significant opportunity for Firefox," he said. |
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