Mozilla Labs Test Pilot is a new way for Mozilla to get information from you on your browsing habits to help make products even better. If you are a fan of Firefox, Thunderbird or the handful of other products under Mozilla’s belt, helping them make them better can make life easier for you. For now, Text Pilot is available for Aurora or Beta Firefox users. If you are already opt into those releases, you are automatically a part of the Test Pilot program.
Let’s take a look at Mozilla Labs Test Pilot.
How to get involved with Test Pilot for Firefox
As we said, if you are already on the Beta or Aurora Firefox release schedule, you are a member of Test Pilot by default. If you are not, you will need to head to Test Pilot’s web site to get started.
You will need to install the Test Pilot extension in Firefox.
Click “Download Test Pilot.”
Once installed, you can get started with Mozilla Labs Test Pilot.
Text Pilot allows you to take part in studies to help make Firefox and Thunderbird better.
In order to open Test Pilot, click on “Tools.”
Then, click “Test Pilot.”
From here, you can interact with Settings, Your User Studies and About.
Click “Settings.”
This will open another sub-menu about the settings. Basically, you can choose how you are alerted to a new study for Firefox. This is a good way to keep in the loop about what Mozilla is testing to make the browser better. You can also always submit data if you choose to do so.
Open the Test Pilot menu again and click “All Your User Studies….”
This will show you all the studies currently available to you. When a new study is available, if you chose to be informed about it, you would find it here.
Now, click “Finished Studies.”
This is where you will find all the closed studies in Firefox. If you click “More Info,” you can get more data on what the study revolved around.
If you head back to the Test Pilot screen, click “Study Findings.”
Clicking on any study will show you the data compiled based on the study’s questions.
You can also change the settings from Test Pilot itself by clicking “Settings.”
These are the same settings available through the drop down menu when you access Test Pilot from the Tools menu.
How to get involved with Test Pilot for Thunderbird
Again, if you are already on the Beta release for Thunderbird, Test Pilot will already be available for you.
If not, you will have to manually install it like we detailed above. You can find the extension link for Test Pilot for Thunderbird here.
Test Pilot for Thunderbird works exactly like it does in Firefox. If you follow the steps for using Test Pilot in Firefox, you can get started in Thunderbird, too.
Can you opt out of Test Pilot for Mozilla?
As long as you stay on the current release channel for Firefox and Thunderbird, you are automatically opted out of Test Pilot for Mozilla. You don’t lose out on anything using Mozilla product and not using Test Pilot, but by opting in, you can help make the products you use every day better. Mozilla takes these studies and this data to make decisions on the evolution of its browser and e-mail client. If you are a fan of Mozilla, consider opting into Test Pilot. You’re only helping yourself use the software you love better.
Read more about Mozilla Labs Test Pilot.
