ONLY REAL counter values, please

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

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

If your script is well made, getting the Real Count at some intervals, to make an AVERAGE increased tax, that's OK !!! The important is to communicate with real-number source at some intervals !!!

It seems that some people got the current number from xml source and attached it to a simple counter that increased one by one and at a high speed. (they could at least increase the counter using a RANDOM number between 0 and 4, for example, to mimic real downloads) The problem, is that after a while, the number shown is totally unreal (usually higher).

That's why I created this topic

The criticized scripts are the ones that doesn't care about getting the real count every X seconds to make a balance.

PEOPLE MAY COMPARE 2 different sites and feel bad if the difference is alarming... And for people who NEVER HEARD about Firefox, it's a little HARD TO BELIEVE that the downloads are so fast, even with the REAL refreshed information...

I continue with the opinion that everybody here is VERY CREATIVE, have GOOD ideas, but as THE SIMPLE THINGS are usually THE BEST, I think that a static REAL number got when the person visits the page would be enough to the produce the necessary information to the visitor. Pressing F5 they could see the next real situation, IF THEY FIND IT necessary. Please, don't take it personally we are only talking about tech issues.
ALL of YOU are very CREATIVE and have good IDEAS.

Sergio Reloaded

'Faking' the download count is only usually by a matter of a very few downloads. It is normally used just to ensure that a download count can be updated in near realtime without having to coutact the server so often. It is not there to 'deceive' users as the relative difference between the 'faked' number and the actual number is usually no more than 50 downloads, out of nearly 50,000,000 total!

I think Sergio br is right about this. Faking counter could have big consequences. It shows dishonesty, witch in any case is bad. Alan h I know you think it’s not cheating but why risk it. I person think it is cheating. I also believe that as much good sff.com dose it could also be a downfall of firefox. As you all know firefox did not get here on any commercial or hype. It is here because it’s a great browser. So I personally never try to force firefox on anyone. I have happily (well some what happily) removed firefox from many computers. I guess some people are just not ready for it or maybe it just not for them. One thing though, I have never lied about firefox. I have always been honest about it. Saying stuff like some website do not support it and mentioning other flaws in earlier version that I found. I think sff.com has to be honest and stick to reality or it also could become some hype site. As you all know sometimes it better to come as a under dog to a fight. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. So be honest.

Hmm, actually I was considering writing a script that would fake it, but accurately, but looking at the downloads one minute apart, say, and then figuring out the rate. then when a page loads, it'll start with the real number, but increment it via Javascript, a la the Gmail Megabytes counter. Do you consider that cheating? I doubt a site visitor would.