Autodesk to Support Firefox

For its mainstay software, Autodesk is firmly locked in Microsoft's embrace. But at the edges, the company shows more flexibility. Its Discreet [sorry, I forget the new forgetable name] and GIS divisions have software that runs on Linux.

Today, ZDnet UK reports that Autodesk is stepping beyond the narrow confines of the aging Internet Explorer browser to support FireFox, the fast-growing alternative browser with the kewl logo:

"Software company Autodesk said on Thursday that it is working on Firefox support for MapGuide, a product that allows companies to distribute GIS applications on the Web. 'We consider Firefox support to be essential and are working on it for the next version of MapGuide,' said an Autodesk spokesman."

While there are enuf copies of FireFox to warrent adaption for MapGuide, the same is apparently not true to 6-million-downloader [or is it now 7 million? 10 milion?] DWF Viewer. "Autodesk employee Scott Sheppard said on the Autodesk forum in July that it has no plans to add Firefox support for this [DWF Viewer] product at present: 'There are a fair number of Macintosh users who wish to view DWF files. The Firefox/Mozilla customer base has not yet reached a similar critical mass'."

FireFox is used by 24% of Web surfers in Germany and 22% in Hungary, countries Autodesk's CEO identifies as hot, hot, hot.

Comments

[Roger Middy]

Sorry - which GIS division products run on Linux?

[Scott Sheppard]

Before anyone jumps to the erroneous conclusion that I have some kind of anti-Firefox
bias, please be assured that I do not. I actually have Firefox 1.0.6 installed on my computer. Most of the Autodesk
DWF Viewer software developers, who like to be hip and cool, have it
installed on their systems. Despite the fact that some of us early adopters
are using it, and although the developers would actually enjoy porting the Autodesk DWF
Viewer to this browser, that alone does not yet make the business case for
doing so. When the data we collect shows that the 80 million people who have
downloaded Firefox are interested in the DWF Viewer on that browser,
Autodesk will consider it. If there is money to be made, directly or
indirectly, we will consider it. We like money. :-) Autodesk is driven by
satisfying customer needs and is always interested in helping the industry
move in more productive directions.

[Kent Elrod]

I am sure you meant to use the word DISCRETE and not DISCREET.