what exactly is branded software?, trying to install firefox...

Preston C. · 2009-02-14 05:46:52

I imagine that I want the Firefox that is not branded, so that it works better with AL. So that would mean that the branded version of FF would be the official release by Mozilla?

So am I right in saying that:

branded: means that there are no real changes in the software except by the organization/company that made the software? In this case Mozilla.

not branded (don't know what the correct term for this is): means that a distro, for instance, made changes to the software so that it works better with the software?

Or do I have them backwards, :-)?

Also, I found this, http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Firefox , in the wiki. Should I do all of this or is there an easier way to install the not branded version of FF, such as- pacman -S firefox?

Thanks,
Preston

cdwillis · 2009-02-14 05:56:02

pacman -S firefox will get you the unbranded version of firefox.

If you want the branded version you can build it from the AUR

alternatively you could download and install the binary from the firefox page, but you wouldn't get updates with pacman

Preston C. · 2009-02-14 05:58:35

Looks like I will do pacman -S firefox. Thanks for the help.

SamC · 2009-02-14 06:02:29

Not exactly. In this case, branded means that Firefox contains things that Mozilla copyrighted - the Firefox name and logo. 'pacman -S firefox' will get you the non-branded version - Gran Paradiso. The functionality of the software is not changed at all, apart from the user agent that it sends.

Ranguvar · 2009-02-14 06:20:16

SamC is right. I've found that since building the branded package takes forever, firebrand is another alternative that is much faster and allows you to switch between branded/unbranded/Ice branding. It's in the archlinuxfr repo.

Last edited by Ranguvar (2009-02-14 06:40:15)

Preston C. · 2009-02-14 06:25:46

I went ahead and went with "pacman -S firefox". It seems to be working well. Any reason why I would want the branded version? Thanks.

Ranguvar · 2009-02-14 06:39:59

Aesthetics only. Theoretically it could cause a problem because it identifies itself as Minefield (or whatever the beta name is for that release) instead of Firefox, but most sites go off of other stuff IIRC (I haven't run into any issues). firefox.useragent.extra.firefox in about:config can be changed if you want to Firefox, anyways.

jacko · 2009-02-14 06:41:20

Preston C. wrote:

I went ahead and went with "pacman -S firefox". It seems to be working well. Any reason why I would want the branded version? Thanks.

They already told you, it's about copyrighted images and names. Un-branded just means that is is not the official binary from mozilla, instead it is a binary compiled by arch devs and given a different name and logo.

Talk about making something out of nothing.

The point your missing is that arch does not or will not try to change the code when making packages for arch. Arch delivers packages as vanilla as possible. Mozilla is the one forcing arch to change thier hand when it comes to packaging FF and use an uncopyrighted name.

Last edited by jacko (2009-02-14 06:45:27)

Preston C. · 2009-02-14 06:48:37

jacko, I didn't make something out of nothing. I don't want to get into some kind of debate with you, on my first post, because there is not a real reason to.

Ranguvar, thank you for your answer to my question. Thank you for understanding it. I thought that "theoretically" that might be the case.

pyther · 2009-02-14 12:21:12

^^
I don't think jacko was targeting you, I think he was talking about the branding/unbranding issues with the mozilla dev team.

This is the same reason why ubuntu/debian has Ice Weasel. AFAIK the only thing different in Ice Weasel + Firefox is the artwork and maybe a patch or two, to the code.

tjwoosta · 2009-02-14 14:59:25

Mozilla is the one forcing arch to change thier hand when it comes to packaging FF and use an uncopyrighted name.

this sounds like a good explanation, but why then do other distros include the branded version? (like opensuse, fedora, and ubuntu, and mandriva)

This is the same reason why ubuntu/debian has Ice Weasel. AFAIK the only thing different in Ice Weasel + Firefox is the artwork and maybe a patch or two, to the code.

actually ubuntu comes with the regular branded firefox

Last edited by tjwoosta (2009-02-14 15:00:05)

R00KIE · 2009-02-14 15:44:29

Just like Ranguvar said you can always change the user agent firefox sends after you install it, just type about:config on the address bar then type agent on the filter bar and change general.useragent.extra.firefox to Firefox/3.0.6 or whatever version you are using and you are good to go, exactly the same thing as installing the branded version.
The only place I have run into issues with firefox identifying as something else is when trying to compose a message on hotmail ... otherwise it's all the same thing.

moljac024 · 2009-02-14 16:13:00

Although the name "Gran Paradiso" sounds silly, I kinda like the icon. Maybe it has grown on me

pyther · 2009-02-14 22:21:06

actually ubuntu comes with the regular branded firefox

Interesting, I wonder what the default in Debian is. Ubuntu must ship a vanilla firefox if it is the default or might have the patches it uses being reviewed the the firefox dev team.

Dead Code · 2009-02-15 02:46:31

Debian comes with Iceweasel i guess

Ranguvar · 2009-02-15 05:46:30

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Fi … ogo_issues
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Co … an_project

Allan · 2009-02-15 06:22:14

Ranguvar wrote:

I've found that since building the branded package takes forever

Now that most of firefox's functionality is in xulrunner, rebuilding firefox for branding only takes me a minute or two.

jduped · 2009-03-12 06:24:47

real easy solution...I found this playing with iceweasel...

user agent switcher, switch to IE or something the site wants if you encounter a specific issue, this came about when I was trying to book a flight online and iceweasel wasn't a reconized browser.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/59

Arch Linux

#1 2009-02-14 05:46:52

what exactly is branded software?, trying to install firefox...

#2 2009-02-14 05:56:02

Re: what exactly is branded software?, trying to install firefox...

#3 2009-02-14 05:58:35

Re: what exactly is branded software?, trying to install firefox...

#4 2009-02-14 06:02:29

Re: what exactly is branded software?, trying to install firefox...

#5 2009-02-14 06:20:16

Re: what exactly is branded software?, trying to install firefox...

#6 2009-02-14 06:25:46

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#7 2009-02-14 06:39:59

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#8 2009-02-14 06:41:20

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#9 2009-02-14 06:48:37

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#10 2009-02-14 12:21:12

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#11 2009-02-14 14:59:25

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#12 2009-02-14 15:44:29

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#13 2009-02-14 16:13:00

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#14 2009-02-14 22:21:06

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#15 2009-02-15 02:46:31

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#16 2009-02-15 05:46:30

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#17 2009-02-15 06:22:14

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#18 2009-03-12 06:24:47

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