613852 - Automatic update is not automatic when the application chooses to require user consent even though the Firefox preferences infer that it is.

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: Settings UI, defect)

Description

[Mosselman]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.2.12) Gecko/20101026 Firefox/3.6.12 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729)
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-GB; rv:1.9.2.12) Gecko/20101026 Firefox/3.6.12 ( .NET CLR 3.5.30729) AND Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; nl; rv:1.9.2.11) Gecko/20101013 Thunderbird/3.1.5

In the settings (Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Update) for both Firefox and Thunderbird you can find the setting "When updates to Firefox are found" with the following options:

"Ask me what I want to do"
"Automatically download and install the update"

The problem is that I still get asked if I want to install updates. Whether or not this only happens with mayor updates is irrelevant if you ask me. Automatic should be automatic. 

The update screen I am refering to is one like this one:
http://download.cnet.com/i/tim//2010/03/11/Firefox_3.5_to_3.6_update.png

This screen is fine for me, but it is hard to understand for the less computer savvy people of age that I often have to help with their computer problems.

If the screen is prefered for most, there should be a 'seamless update' option in the same menu. This would install any updates, even mayor ones, not reboot firefox but just apply the updates at next startup. It would be semi-seamless in the sense that it would show a progress bar that does not require any actions at that next startup.

The same goes for add-on updates. I always have to confirm these. I don't want to do this when the auto-update is enabled.

To summarise: New function or fix of auto-update to not require any user confirmations when installing updates.



Reproducible: Sometimes

Steps to Reproduce:
(Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Update) set the  "When updates to Firefox are found" to "Automatically download and install the update".

Either wait for a mayor update to happen or install an older version of either firefox or thunderbird in order to get the message.
Actual Results:  
I get the update screen similar to:
http://download.cnet.com/i/tim//2010/03/11/Firefox_3.5_to_3.6_update.png


On this computer I am using windows XP, but as most of you know this screen comes up in any version of firefox, thunderbird, etc on ubuntu, windows and osx.

Comment 1

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

Each application can choose whether or not an update requires user consent to apply an update when the user has chosen these settings.

beltzner, what do you think about providing a way for users to override the user consent requirement or changing the strings so the Firefox preferences are clearer in regards to this?

Comment 2

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

Moving to Firefox preferences since preference ui would need to change to fix this bug as reported. If there is additional work required on the application update code it will be done in a separate bug after the ui has been decided.

Comment 3

[:Gijs (he/him)]

I think the changes to the update prefs mean this is resolved now. We still prompt, but only if you haven't restarted, and not to ask for permission to update but just to tell you to restart, and the messaging is much clearer.