232477 - Improve installed shortcut names

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Firefox :: Installer, defect, P4)

Description

[Ben Goodger (use ben at mozilla dot org for email)]

IE's Quicklaunch button is called: "Launch Internet Explorer Browser" and this
shows in the item's tooltip. Firebird's quicklaunch shortcut should be renamed
to "Launch Firebird Browser". A descriptive comment should also be added to the
file. IE's is "Finds and displays information and Web sites on the Internet."
which also shows in the tooltip. We need an analog. 

Our start menu shortcuts should be changed to reflect the function of the app,
by appending "Browser". e.g. "Firebird Browser"

Comment 1

[David Hallowell]

Attachment: Patch changing shortcut names as suggested

This patch will change the names of the shortcut links, I'm not sure how to set
the comment field of the shortcut (for the tooltips), is it even possible with
XPInstall? Removed licence and readme links that don't currently work (bug
229036)

Comment 2

[David Hallowell]

Attachment: Moving Firefox shortcut directly under "Programs" in Start Menu

This patch removes the subfolder under "Programs" in the start menu, as Firefox
only is a single app this makes it easier to access (same as IE) it seems a bit
of an overkill to create a folder just for one app.

Comment 3

[alanjstr]

Did you see bug 229036 comment 12?

Comment 4

[David Hallowell]

(In reply to comment #3)
> Did you see bug 229036 comment 12?

Never noticed that, although personally (and I know it's not my decision to
make) I think the readme and licence links are not needed - they just provide
unneeded clutter, licence info should be linked to from the about dialog and the
readme is aimed at users of the app suite last time I looked.

Therefore I think ideally either:
1. the Mozilla Firefox icon should be directly under the 'Programs' folder (like
IE).
2. All the standalone apps will eventually live under a 'mozilla.org' folder
e.g.
Start > Programs > mozilla.org > Firefox Browser
Start > Programs > mozilla.org > Thunderbird Mail
Start > Programs > mozilla.org > Sunbird Calendar
Start > Programs > mozilla.org > Chatzilla

Although the problem with both the solutions is where do we expose the link to
the profile manager, although personally I don't think we need a link to it,
just leave the profile functionality to the advanced users, most people are
using multiuser OSes these days (Win2k, XP, etc - even Win 9x supports user
profiles, and of course Linux, MacOSX, etc do)

Comment 5

[Peter Hewitt]

I'd echo everything in comment #4 but I'd have to disagree with "Launch Firefox
Browser" being the name of the icon. I can only speak from my friends but
everyone I know has either renamed it to "Internet Explorer" or to something
totally random "Rachel's browser" or something.

Also Windows Media Player plonks an icon down there simply called "Windows Media
Player" - a practice consistent with iTunes, QuickTime, Terrapin FTP and many
other programs self important enough to stick themselves down there.

On the comment front, I'd be tempted to use "the browser reloaded" for the sake
of brand recognition.

Comment 6

[C. Fox]

(In reply to comment #0)

> Our start menu shortcuts should be changed to reflect the function of the 
app,
> by appending "Browser". e.g. "Firebird Browser"

I think instead of appending "Browser", "Mozilla" should be added to the 
beginning. That would maintain the Mozilla brand, plus, Thunderbird is 
currently listed as "Mozilla Thunderbird" on it's shortcut.

Adding "browser" seems to imply there's a "Firebird Email", "Firebird Chat", 
ect. Microsoft doesn't have the "Internet Explorer Browser" start menu item.

Comment 7

[alanjstr]

I think the folder should be Mozilla Applications and the shortcuts under be
Firefox Browser and Thunderbird Mail

Comment 8

[C. Fox]

(In reply to comment #7)
> I think the folder should be Mozilla Applications and the shortcuts under be
> Firefox Browser and Thunderbird Mail

Changing the tooltips and start menu aliases is one thing, changing the actual 
directory names is another. An idea that has already been dismissed.

See bug [URL=http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=238564]238564[/URL]

Comment 9

[C. Fox]

(In reply to comment #8)
> Changing the tooltips and start menu aliases is one thing, changing the 
actual 
> directory names is another. An idea that has already been dismissed.
> See bug [URL=http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=238564]238564[/URL]

Sorry. Ignore that. Didn't read comment #7 closely enough.

Comment 10

[Michael Favia]

If we improperly construct the “door” to our application it doesn't matter how
flawlessly we execute the feature set and how efficient the UI is. In response
to some of the issues that have been raised on this all important issue I have
these remarks and conclusions:

1.Internet Explorer doesn't add browser on its shortcut name because it has the
words “Internet” and explore in it. Even technophobes know what it does with a
name like this. It was a good bit of naming on their part and it serves them well.
2.Adding “mozilla” or even worse “mozilla.org” to the front of everything will
increase the awareness of the modular suite and foundation at the cost of
alienating our prospective base and decrease the simplicity and ease of use we
pride our applications in (maybe we can make this push when they are downloading
the application not everytime they use it). Look at Microsoft Office naming
scheme for a clue on how annoying that can be. (“Microsoft Office PowerPoint
2003” no I am not making this up.)
3.A hierarchical folder system should imply that the children of a folder are
indeed a part of the parent. As such a Firefox icon in the “Mozilla” folder is
read and understood as “Firefox by the Mozilla people”. (See: many examples)

My conclusions:

Name all icons: “Firefox 1.0”
Make the Comment: "the browser reloaded" or "the web browser reloaded" or
“Firefox empowers you to browse the web faster, more safely and efficiently than
any other browser.”

Make the folder structure:
Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Firefox 1.0
Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Thunderbird 1.0
Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Sunbird 1.0

The exception: the icon created on the desktop

I think that while Firefox is early in its adoption it would be recommendable to
make the icon on the desktop read: “Firefox Web Browser” or “Firefox Browser”
with the same comment as above. I say this because most power users that i know
use their desktops for temporary files (those files are temporary right :) ?)
instead of application launching icons (we launch the web from the address bar
or elsewhere to save steps). Additionally, unexperienced users routinely search
the desktop for application launching icons and could benefit from more
descriptive icon label.

Comment 11

[Michael Favia]

Additionally i think that the license, profile manager, and readme should be
relagated to the "About" dialog or at least unified between applications so that
1 entry suffices for all projects. Cuts down on the digital clutter and
emphasizes the applications themselves.

Comment 12

[C. Fox]

(In reply to comment #10)

> Name all icons: “Firefox 1.0”
> Make the Comment: "the browser reloaded" or "the web browser reloaded" or
> “Firefox empowers you to browse the web faster, more safely and efficiently than
> any other browser.”

That's a baseless claim. It's like AOL saying they are easier to use than any
other internet provider. How about "Firefox empowers you to browse the web
quickly, safely, and efficiently." ?

> Make the folder structure:
> Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Firefox 1.0
> Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Thunderbird 1.0
> Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Sunbird 1.0

That would be nice. It would cut down on the folder clutter. I think the "safe
mode" icons need to be changed of moved somewhere else or something, though.
They can be a point of confusion right now. "Is the one not marked 'Safe Mode'
unsafe (or unstable)?", "Can I get spyware and viruses on the plain one?" ect...

Comment 13

[franCk]

alanjsr in comment #7 has it right, we'd better do:
Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Firefox Browser
Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Thunderbird Mail
Start -> All Programs -> Mozilla -> Sunbird Calendar
Because we have a big drawback in the naming scheme over Microsoft : they are
not self-explanatory. 
And yes, people *do have* problem remembering that Access is DB stuff or even
that Power Point is a presentation software - whereas nobody has trouble with
Word or Internet Explorer. Go figure...
OK later when Firefox is a recognized brand, thyen we'll drop the suffix, but
right now, better not!

In the other hand if we use a prefix Mozilla, we should do things like :
Mozilla Internet Explorer
Mozilla Outlook Express
(actually the first one is really possible as you know - but I'm not really
suggesting that, I just show the example to show what the meaning of a prefix
should be)

Comment 14

[Asa Dotzler [:asa]]

p4 priority - not a blocker. if a patch materializes, please nominate for aviary
approval. 

Comment 15

[Ian Macfarlane]

I would go with windows shortcut comments (tooltip text) of "The safer, faster,
better web browser", from mozilla.org. This should also be used on start menu
entries, and the firefox safe mode should have its own descriptive text for what
it's for.

This IMO is not just for Firefox, it applies to Mozilla, Thunderbird, etc etc.

Voting for this :)

Comment 16

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

Things have changed quite a bit since this bug was filed... Win7 no longer exposes quick launch, we've decided to go with "Mozilla Firefox" vs. "Firefox", we've moved the start menu shortcut to the root of the start menu, and this bug as it stands doesn't provide much value anymore so resolving->wontfix.

I do think it would be a good thing to add tooltips to the shortcuts but that should be done in a fresh bug.

Comment 17

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

(In reply to comment #16)
> Things have changed quite a bit since this bug was filed... Win7 no longer
> exposes quick launch, we've decided to go with "Mozilla Firefox" vs. "Firefox",
> we've moved the start menu shortcut to the root of the start menu, and this bug
> as it stands doesn't provide much value anymore so resolving->wontfix.
> 
> I do think it would be a good thing to add tooltips to the shortcuts but that
> should be done in a fresh bug.
Which is bug 250948 :)