Mozilla's goal was for the Firefox 3 download to set a new record for the Guiness Book of World Records but the servers just couldn't handle the rush as visitors kept getting the "Http/1.1 Service Unavailable" error message.
By: Captain Maverick
Published: Jun 17, 2008
Updated: Sep 2, 2010
Mozilla really built up the release of Firefox 3, so much so that they even promoted a "Download Day" when everyone was supposed to go and download their copy of the new web browser at the same time. The goal was to set a new record for the Guiness Book of World Records but the servers just couldn't handle the rush as visitors kept getting the "Http/1.1 Service Unavailable" error message.
It got to be such a problem that one of the Mozilla developers, Mike Schropfer, wrote on the Mozilla developer center blog that everyone should head over to an alternative site, http://getfirefox.com/ to get the new browser because they weren't getting through on the help/check for updates in Firefox 2.
Most people just kept trying and eventually were able to get through and get the update to Firefox 3 though as the traffic started dieing down in the afternoon and evening. The servers started being able to handle the regular flow of traffic with the huge rushes dieing down and returning back to a dull roar.
So if you are trying and find yourself getting an error message when you go through the help/check for updates in Firefox 2, keep trying because eventually you will also get through.
{slot15}Meanwhile, reports are coming back that Firefox 3 is significantly faster than it's predecessor, and carries about 15,000 improvements. Among those improvements is a new full-page zoom feature that displays a portion of the web site up close in just seconds and a smart location bar that learns as people use it, basically adapting to the user's preferences over time.
Additionally Mozilla is raising the bar in the security arena with new malware and phishing protection tools that offer protection from worms, Trojans, viruses, and spyware. One of the tools called Web Site ID even allows users to verify that a web site is what it claims to be and not a site looking to steal sensitive information from visitors.
Even with the slight "Download Day" hiccups, Firefox 3 looks like a great browser to have on every computer even if it takes a few tries to download the update. But then I just might be a Firefox fan.
You can share this Mozilla news story with your friends or family from our PC section. This article can be shared through e-mail or sent to online social Web sites including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and others. You can choose from one of the options below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome!