Mozilla Announces Plans to Play Ads in Firefox Browser

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Mozilla today announced plans to put ads inside its Firefox browser. If you're already a Firefox user, you likely won't see any at all.

Mozilla this week announced that it will launch a program called 'Directory Tiles' that will fill those tiles on a new tab with sponsored content. Don't worry, though. If you're a frequent Tom's Hardware visitor, this doesn't mean your Tom's tile is going to be pushed out of the way in favor of an ad. Instead, this program will only affect new users.

"[New users'] tiles – those nine rectangles that populate over time with the most frequent and recent websites they visit – are empty.  The new tab page isn't delivering any value for them," Mozilla's Darren Herman explained. "Directory Tiles will instead suggest pre-packaged content for first-time users. Some of these tile placements will be from the Mozilla ecosystem, some will be popular websites in a given geographic location, and some will be sponsored content from hand-picked partners to help support Mozilla's pursuit of our mission. The sponsored tiles will be clearly labeled as such, while still leading to content we think users will enjoy."

Mozilla says Directory Tiles carries 'inherent value' for users and helps Mozilla become more diversified and sustainable. That said, it's possible some users will see this as black and white as a once ad-free product displaying ads. After all, it's hard not to play the 'what if' game when a company makes a move like this. What if targeting new users is no longer enough? What if, down the road, Mozilla decides to reduce the number of user-generated tiles to six and save the last row for ads?

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Jane McEntegart
34 Comments Comment from the forums
  • boogalooelectric
    Looks like its time to switch browsers again. Dammit!
    Reply
  • Jake Hall
    STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!
    Reply
  • voltagetoe
    Going down as a real business. Take a few pennies while you can !!
    Reply
  • vittau
    Looks like its time to switch browsers again. Dammit!
    Did you even read the text?!Only new users will see it, and only until their tiles aren't filled with their own content. Absolutely zero problems with this.
    Reply
  • maxiim
    Looks like its time to switch browsers again. Dammit!
    Did you even read the text?!Only new users will see it, and only until their tiles aren't filled with their own content. Absolutely zero problems with this.
    Unless you're the kind of user, who has firefox clear history on close. At which point you see those ads on new tabs....all the time.
    Reply
  • velocityg4
    Looks like its time to switch browsers again. Dammit!
    Did you even read the text?!Only new users will see it, and only until their tiles aren't filled with their own content. Absolutely zero problems with this.
    Unless you're the kind of user, who has firefox clear history on close. At which point you see those ads on new tabs....all the time.
    In which case set the new tab page to blank. Which I do anyways for speed and not wanting my new tab page showing previews of porn. ;)

    I don't even know how often I even see the new tab page. I hardly ever open one then navigate to a site. If I want to see something in a new tab I right click and open in a new tab. For searches I have configured the search bar in about:config to create a new tab when searching automatically. That way I can research something I am reading about more efficiently.

    With about:config you'll be able to disable it anyways. I'm sure some add-on will also block it.
    Reply
  • Onihikage
    Did anyone here actually read what they're doing? New users with no web history have nothing to fill up those boxes in the New Tab page, so Mozilla is just going to let some ads be put in empty boxes. It's no big deal, doesn't get in anyone's way, and actually makes a good bit of sense.
    Reply
  • boogalooelectric
    Looks like its time to switch browsers again. Dammit!
    Did you even read the text?!Only new users will see it, and only until their tiles aren't filled with their own content. Absolutely zero problems with this.
    I still do not like it. Nor am I thrilled with firefox lately. I AM entitled to my own opinion.
    Reply
  • Onihikage
    If you don't like it, set the New Tab page to about:blank.
    Reply
  • maxiim
    12665838 said:
    Looks like its time to switch browsers again. Dammit!
    Did you even read the text?!Only new users will see it, and only until their tiles aren't filled with their own content. Absolutely zero problems with this.
    Unless you're the kind of user, who has firefox clear history on close. At which point you see those ads on new tabs....all the time.
    In which case set the new tab page to blank. Which I do anyways for speed and not wanting my new tab page showing previews of porn. ;)

    I don't even know how often I even see the new tab page. I hardly ever open one then navigate to a site. If I want to see something in a new tab I right click and open in a new tab. For searches I have configured the search bar in about:config to create a new tab when searching automatically. That way I can research something I am reading about more efficiently.

    With about:config you'll be able to disable it anyways. I'm sure some add-on will also block it.

    These things might no pertain to us(hardware/pc enthusiast, or tech savy people in general) exactly, but you have to remember that people that know how to setup their browser like that are in the minority of the browser user population.
    Reply