Well, after months of back and forth with the wonderful folks who contribute their time and legal skills to mozilla.org, we've finally got the OK to move forward with the new name. The Phoenix browser is now the Firebird browser. Complain away.
Posted by asa at April 14, 2003 05:32 PMWell, let me just use this first-post opportunity to say "congrats," and that I think the new name rules.
I can't wait to see Firebird replace the current browser in the Mozilla suite!
Posted by: jck on April 14, 2003 08:31 PMI think Firebird's a fine name. However, I'd like to say that the legal system which nixes Phoenix but allows Firebird (and yes, I understand exactly why the one is allowed but not the other) needs to be taken out back and beaten into ignominious submission.
Posted by: alan on April 14, 2003 11:38 PMI like it.
I like that it's related to the Phoenix name - provides continuity and it has a nice acronym in "FB" :)
Posted by: Rob on April 15, 2003 01:35 AMI like it too. I got scared while reading the mozine forum, where all the stupid-meaning spanish names (i´m spanish) and weird animal names were proposed.
Posted by: iKe on April 15, 2003 03:22 AMI've heard the naming legal issues, but haven't ever seen any details. Can you tell us who has a problem with you continuing to use Phoenix? Or any of the other names you've had to abandon?
It's not like it's a new word... it's probably been around for a few thousand years... how could someone have the legal right to stop you using it?
Just curious (and, yes, I do like Phoenix better than firebird. Firebird reminds me of my dad's car that was always breaking down ;-)
Posted by: Jeff on April 15, 2003 08:41 AMFirst off, thank you for all your Mozilla/Phoenix word Asa!
I don't have a strong feeling one way or another about the individual names (Firebird and Thunderbird), but I think it is a grave mistake to have the names so similar. Any product manager will tell you that names that are too close to each other create confusion, especially when those names have no meaning in the context of the product.
Many people will be confused about which (FB or TB) is which and are going to open the wrong one and get frustrated. If that happens too many times, you'll lose them as potential users.
In spite of the above, I look forward to the rollout of the new road map.
Marc
P.S. Moz 1.4a has been so stable for me (save one unreproducable rendering engine lockup), I probably won't bother upgrading until Firebird (or was that Thunderbird?) comes out.
Posted by: Marc on April 15, 2003 09:00 AMGreat news... except for one thing, what about the Firebird database (SQL server based on Interbase) at www.firebirdsql.org
Wont there be some issues with names??
Posted by: Dave on April 15, 2003 09:29 AMAs we all know there are now tons of complaints from Interbase....too bad they didn't do a decent legal job in the 1st place and now have to whine so publicly. Personally, I dig the new names...rock on.
Posted by: Piel on April 16, 2003 10:23 AMAsa, Keep up the great work! This database stuff will quiet down soon enough. Many of us greatly appreciate the work you guys do.
Posted by: Alan on April 16, 2003 11:23 AMWe definitely appreciate your work!
Don't get too angry.