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Andre-D
July 24th, 2009, 08:29 PM
Why is the Firefox in Ubuntu repository always "delayed" (old version) ?
..even when Mozilla does provide a newer version for Linux ?

I bet there's a reason .. but is it good ? - and what is it ?
RJ12
July 24th, 2009, 08:34 PM
Maybe stability
kerry_s
July 24th, 2009, 09:39 PM
Why is the Firefox in Ubuntu repository always "delayed" (old version) ?
..even when Mozilla does provide a newer version for Linux ?

I bet there's a reason .. but is it good ? - and what is it ?

cause ubuntu is not a rolling release distro, once the ubuntu version is released it's locked in. to get newer versions of software you update the distro to the next release.
you of course always have the option of upgrading manually.
QIII
July 24th, 2009, 09:47 PM
Many things in Ubuntu are "delayed" while the developers work to make sure that the vendors' latest releases work well in Ubuntu.

If you are interested, you can keep up with the latest FF builds (I think I am using "Minefield" right now. May be updated again today when I get home...)

You can find out how here:

https://launchpad.net/~ubuntu-mozilla-daily/+archive/ppa
Andre-D
July 24th, 2009, 09:52 PM
ok, so if I want the latest browser, for security reasons, I need to download/install from Mozilla myself.
-Is there any good reason NOT to do it ?
-can I add a source to the "third party software" , and make it update automagically ?
aysiu
July 24th, 2009, 09:59 PM
ok, so if I want the latest browser, for security reasons, I need to download/install from Mozilla myself.
-Is there any good reason NOT to do it ?
-can I add a source to the "third party software" , and make it update automagically ? A few things:

1. Even if Ubuntu keeps the old version of Firefox, it'll keep issuing security updates to the old version even if Mozilla doesn't.

2. Yes, you can easily install the Mozilla build of Firefox. It's as simple as copying and pasting one command. More details here:
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/firefox

3. You can add a third-party software source, but it'll be branded as Shiroteko, and it'll have other problems (user agent identification to work around on some websites, an ugly blue icon, non-default-browser setting to change).
Andre-D
July 24th, 2009, 10:33 PM
ok, great - thanks.