683224 - Make Windows installer to check latest versions

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 322206

(Firefox :: Installer, enhancement)

Description

[Tomer Cohen :tomer]

In order to make sure users will have the latest version of the browser after following direct download links (some of them link to sites like rapidshare and megaupload), I suggest adding a version check before starting the actual install. This will make sure less users will install old versions, and will direct them from where to download the latest versions for free.


This feature will require making an HTTP request to Mozilla servers in order to check if it is the latest version from the json feed at http://www.mozilla.org/includes/product-details/json/firefox_primary_builds.json or any other location, and showing a message if required. 

Yes, I know that we show a message on outdated versions on the firstrun page and the software updater should warn the users on outdated versions, but I'd prefer to make sure the user won't install outdated versions at the first place.



When starting the Firefox 4 installer, for example, the following message should appear:

[Warning! Old version!]
You are about to install an outdated version. Using outdated versions might expose you to some security issues that discovered and addressed in later versions. You can get the latest version for free on <a href="http://getfirefox.com">http://getfirefox.com</a>.

[Cancel installation]    [Install Anyway]

Comment 1

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

The stub installer when implemented (planning to start next month) will always download the latest version. There are use cases for installing older versions so the regular installer will still be available though it won't be the main mechanism provided to install Firefox.