There you go suggesting yet another 'useful' way for companies to monitor me and try to monetize my data. So target advertising won't be enough, soon it will be targeted and timely delivered as well in the process slowing down my (what's supposed to be) high speed connection. At the same time I get bombarded with irrelevant junk that is transforming what is supposed to be my productive time in to a never ending fight to maintain that conference call and somehow kill that the pop-up of some skillful, artistic and beautiful but in appropriately timed video of the girl doing naked yoga poses.

How do I convince my CEO that my cousin used the computer without my knowledge just once before all the pop-ups started to happen? Maybe I can send her a log of the my battery usage.

Why do people on this site believe that everyone who is interested in tech is a programmer? This"just write it" is foolishness of the highest order. For many of us non-programers "just write it" is like telling some one living in Florida to "just build a plane and fly to that concert in Vienna after work tomorrow". If that seems like a ridiculous ask, then so is asking a person without the skill to write a script for that. So it can be done in 20 minutes, use that 20 minutes to help someone by writing the program and loading it to a repo. All the 20second tutorials in the world will not get someone to write a program if they just don;t have the skill set.
This is part of the reason Windows is successful: think of a problem, there is likely program out there that solves it already, and if there isn't one someone will soon write one (Apple users just go and buy one). Linux will not get out of single digit adoption until people with the skills write and edit programs for the non-programers like myself because when stuff needs to get done fast Windows will have the program (and yes it is easier to clean out the malware and fight the popups than it is to write the program).

I'm just an end user but I think that the blame should not be placed solely at Mozilla's feet. We as consumers have not been vocal enough about with excessive "features". the number of scripts and other wonderful features not only makes websites complex but easily breakable. The end result of tackers and loggers and data miners and ..... well you get the picture.Websites should provide interfaces for lite browsers. I see no reason (except data mining) why a website can't provide a basic alternative for lite browsers without all the plugins on the planet. let those who want the customized experience use a full featured browser and those that only need the utility use whatever they want.

I just found this website (http://panopticlick.eff.org/) and discovered that much of my attempts at privacy has been for naught. Three of my browsers were presented as unique out of over 3 Million in their database. Java and js were partly responsible. I've often said, FF rose to the fore because it was lite and secure; now both these attributes are out of the window. Is there any real reason stick with FF now?

Wow! does that mean the time that I was burning some stuff in a barrel at the back of my property and tossed in some aerosol cans for effect I could have been charged for using a WMD? This is real scary stuff.

"then content providers will move their content away from open standards and implement it with native apps — abandoning the web in the process" Am I the only person that thinks this bit of information stinks like an open landfill? Which IT manager of CEO who wants to keep his job will "abandon the web"? Tell me that someone made this crap up! The argument for DRM is fickle at best and using this like of bullcrap only shows desperation. DRM might have some advantages but it also has the potential to reduce access for legitimately purchased goods. The real question is who does it benefit? When the consumer has to pay to access his "property" from a second computer or has to pay for multiple copies of the same material because DRM prevents access and transfers, only big business will benefit. Content providers migrated to the web without DRM, I really can't see why they would just take all their marbles and go at this point.

I think you are right of course, but then many of us might be criminals if we have an Apple or Samsung product. They have been found to exploit the young and we might have contributed to the exploitation. Crap, I hope the feds don't lock me up for my Ipad

But isn't he in court because of reasonable suspicion? Legal wording (if it is a part of any judgement) to make sure that every one is kept on their best behavior. In any event, how would they compel him to do so? Lock him up? On what charge? Disrespecting the judge? Wouldn't that be like in the days of king Henry, being detained at the kings pleasure? If they say he is guilty prove it or leave the man alone, don't ask someone to help get themselves convicted. If he is a criminal he will mess up again until then let him be.

"which is owned by Microsoft" apologies for the error, this should have read "which is associated with Microsoft". Microsoft does not own SuSe but does have an association with them through two agreements. I'd still love to know a little about the patent business though.

I was of the impression that ideas can not be patented and only actual innovations can be. So let us assume the idea was Microsoft's, do they collect for an idea or the implementation of the idea? what if some one uses a different process from them, can they still collect? Tab browsing is a Microsoft invention? I think I have too many questions and I doubt if any one here can really answer them so I'll more stop at this point. No maybe one thing, Is SUSE(which is owned by Microsoft) released under the GPL? and if it is, doesn't it mean that innovations can be cannibalized from SUSE based on the GPL? This action by Microsoft goes beyond this one act. It it the patent industry gone mad an in the process driving up prices for the consumer. Too many patents sit on paper preventing innovations and charging an arm and a leg when someone independently comes up with an idea that is close to the one that's on paper. these acts are leading to the slow death of imagination, free thinking and innovation. Personally, I think that patents should have a life expectancy and can only be renewed if the patent holder is actively developing and or using the patent as part of a legitimate commercial activity. in Microsoft's own case all windows OS up to Win XP would just about be fair game, or force them to keep the OSes relevant. (What a task that would be, imagine Microsoft running around trying to preventing MS clones)