Like many of you, the MB Crew are BIG fans of Firefox. Believe us when we say, we want MotionBased to work in Firefox as bad as you do. And we're moving in that direction, but it may be a bit. Cross-browser compatibility means scrapping the SVG viewer and re-writing the Map Player, Analyzer, and Dot Racing. Not a small project, but one we're committed too. Until then, here's a little tip that makes it easy to jump from Firefox to Internet Explorer. 
IE View Lite is a Firefox extension that makes it easy to open links in Internet Explorer. Once installed, right click Map Play or Analyzer and 'Open Link Target in IE', launching IE with desired page.
You'll discover that it doesn't work on links that use java script, like activity links. The drop down is the give away here - it will say 'View This Page in IE'. Another negative is session recognition. IE doesn't know that you are already loginned in via Firefox. So, if you're a hardcore Firefoxer and only open IE when absolutely necessary, open in IE for Map Player and Analyze then close resume session in Firefox.
Happy browsing,
Even better is IE Tab now you can open in a tab IN Firefox. Even better you can tell it what parts of the site to automatically open in IE Tab!
Posted by: Blair Callicott | February 07, 2006 at 08:41 PM
Blair,
Thanks for the comment. You bring up a good topic. Open IE Tab in Firefox is a decent option and may work just fine for you, but unfortunately we can't officially support it. Here's why - it opens a stripped down version of IE in Firefox and uses hooks and hacks to get it to perform like the real IE. You'll find that you're giving up some IE features and functionality. But, we'll let you be the judge of that. (note - IE Tab has been updated recently. The latest version is better, IE Tab 1.0.7)
Posted by: Mike | February 08, 2006 at 01:48 PM
You are right about needing the Open in IE as a Firefox extention. Good job!
Todd
www.businessthoughtsblog.com
www.h2f2006.blogspot.com
www.toddstorch.com
Posted by: K. Todd Storch | February 11, 2006 at 07:32 AM
I'll open links in IE when Microsoft write a version of IE that doesn't have the gaping security holes that the current one has. Keep up the work on the rewrite!
While you're at it, can someone update the MB agent so that it honours the settings in Windows as to which is the default browser! Most of the apps I use know that I use firefox, so if they launch a URL they launch it in firefox. The MB agent fires off yet another IE window.
Posted by: Adrian | March 27, 2006 at 08:15 PM
In fact, a svg plugin that works with Firefox browser engine in Windows exists, it's the beta 6 from Adobe, that unfortunately they keep "secret" in the underground of their website.
I use it currently and it works, u can try downloading it at www.adobe.com/svg/viewer/install/beta.html
Posted by: Daniel | June 16, 2006 at 09:52 AM
Adobe says on their website that they are end support for the viewer on Jan 1 2008. Hopefully guys will have a new system by then?
Posted by: RickS | March 17, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Hi Rick,
Yes, we are in the process of building the new Analyzer. If you haven't already seen the Player tab on an activity keep your eye open. The Player is still in Beta, but is the feature that will be taking the place of the Analyzer. Read more about it below:
http://wiki.motionbased.com/mb/Player
Best,
Kathryn
Posted by: Kathryn | March 21, 2007 at 01:47 PM