Automatically updating the number on GetFirefox.com

Posted by GregKNicholson on Tue, 04/12/2005 - 23:07Syndicated Download Counter

I mentioned this at the notblog* but here it is again:

Currently, there's a chunk of text near the top of GetFirefox.com (otherwise known as the Firefox product page) that reads Join more than 44 million others and make the switch today. It would be thoroughly cool if it could instead read Join 44,503,871 others (and counting) and make the switch today.

(It'd be even cooler if it said Join 6,427,631,117 others but that's another matter.)

I am something of a web development pleb (a pleb developer, if you will) so I have no idea how to do this. But, I know for certain that it's possible to insert content from an off-site RSS feed in a mozilla.org web page – they do it on the front page for mozillaZine News.

I've had a look at the front page's online source but I'm still none the wiser.

In conclusion, somebody else do it... Please?

Go on – you know it'll be fun. And cool. Thoroughly cool™.


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A NEW <DESCRIPTION> NODE in the xml body FOR AVERAGE.
Submitted by sergio_br on Wed, 04/20/2005 - 13:09.

Let's simplify things.

Sfx download XML could include a new <description>
tag inside the xml body to give us the AVERAGE BY SECOND download FLOAT POINT NUMBER.
It would make possible VERY PRECISE scripts using the whole number, and simple scripts, by using a rounding function as Math.floor( value).
Now, JUST ONE FEED would be NECESSARY (the one EVERYBODY already use)

Sergio Reloaded

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The SCENARIO has changed for DYNAMIC COUNTERS
Submitted by sergio_br on Wed, 04/20/2005 - 12:07.

As you know, the download counter is taking longer to be updated. (About a minute ?)
I suggested Asa ( who writes to the home page) a second feed to inform us the average per second downlads.
This way, "dynamic effect fans" can increase their counter with some accuracy! It seems that tendency is favorable to static meters...

Sergio Reloaded

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I have just implemented the "Satisfying BOTH"
Submitted by sergio_br on Mon, 04/18/2005 - 05:05.

Check out the link and see the fake roll over link (showing "more than 46 million" style) that shows the raw numbers when the mouse pointer is over it:


DHTML to switch static types of SFX Download information

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You could simply do that as a
Submitted by Paeniteo on Tue, 04/19/2005 - 17:18.

You could simply do that as a tooltip with the "title" attribute such as in:

almost 47 million

No need to create a separate div somewhere unexpected on the page.

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Very clever
Submitted by sergio_br on Tue, 04/19/2005 - 21:09.

The fact is that I like big things, and the div I can add borders and manipulate style totally.
Anyway, it's a clever comment to use tooltip instead.
I just like big (and customizable) things! :)

Sergio Reloaded

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Satisfying BOTH
Submitted by sergio_br on Mon, 04/18/2005 - 02:03.

Coleagues!
We could create a DHTML that exibited the textual information "almost 47 million" based on the current download information (which can be saved on a program(script, ASP, PHP, etc) variable. When a person moved the mouse pointer over it, another <DIV> could show the STATIC download count at that point, that was stored in that variable. It would take some lines of code but the result would be interesting and it would satisfy all audiences and tastes.

As you could see, it looked like a link, only to attrack people's mouse. It was done with the css: <u style='color:blue'> text </u>

See you !
Sergio Reloaded

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Well, I think it is quite OK
Submitted by Paeniteo on Wed, 04/13/2005 - 12:27.

Well, I think it is quite OK the way it is.

"More than 44 million" is just a much easier to grasp fact than "44,503,871". In the latter case, most ppl will just read a bunch of digits and ignore it.

Of course, one could and should make the number dynamic nontheless. I.e. switching to "more than 45 million" once it occurs.
Could also be made to show something like "almost 45 million" if it's in the range from 44,8 to 45 million and so on.
Special texts for special numbers such as 50 million could be made as well.

That would be far more interesting that the "naked" numbers for the average reader.

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Photo of interesting counter situation
Submitted by sergio_br on Tue, 04/19/2005 - 14:58.

I updated the photo:

The light-yellow SCORE only appears when the mouse is over the fake link


http://www.spreadfirefox.com/?q=node/view/14036

Sergio Reloaded

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I opened bug 290132 regardin
Submitted by chrisblore on Wed, 04/13/2005 - 13:29.

I opened bug 290132 regarding this so feel free to add your views there where they can be easily seen and developed by others.


On second thoughts, it may actually look more professional to simply have the download count as automatically updated when reaching a certain threshold as you suggested and is perhaps more palatable to the average home user. The exact numbering is also maybe too indicative of some kind of user tracking that may put some people off.

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WONTFIX
Submitted by Paeniteo on Sun, 07/03/2005 - 19:20.

FYI, the bug is resolved as "WONTFIX".
They said that they do not want to put additional strain on the counter-feed.

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I replied to the bug, but it
Submitted by Paeniteo on Sat, 04/16/2005 - 15:34.

I replied to the bug, but it does not seem to get much attention.

Meanwhile we have the situation that getfirefox.com is not up-to-date anymore.
OK, their fact is still correct, as 45 million is more than 44 million as well.

By the way, they are confusing downloads and users there, anyway.

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That sounds like a good idea
Submitted by chrisblore on Wed, 04/13/2005 - 07:33.

That sounds like a good idea and something cool to add. You could probably just use the same text-based feed as is used here at Spreadfirefox.com.

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