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Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

blog.mozilla.org

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Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#221

Post by bzbarsky »

mikeash wrote: post #157
goerz wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are there any iOS browsers available that can be installed via sideloading that do not use the Safari engine?

It looks like Chromium can build for iOS, although without much of a UI. I'm not sure about Firefox, as their official iOS version (which is just a UI for the WebKit engine, of course) makes it hard to search for.

https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Gecko-iOS links to https://hg.mozilla.org/users/tmielczarek_mozilla.com/gecko-i... which exists, again without much of a UI. The build instructions are in the wiki.

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#222

Post by MBCook »

0x38B wrote: post #204
RKearney wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The 5 and 5C do not have 64 bit processors, which is a requirement for Content Blockers.

Content blockers seem to work on 32-bit devices if you compile for them: "Yes, but I'd guess it's an arbitrary limitation—at least it seems to be for A6 devices. BlockParty works perfectly on my iPhone 5C and apparently on @wadetregaskis' iPhone 5, both of which are 32 bit A6 (and not officially supported). I get all the relevant menus, and it does block ads (even the huge easylist conversion works, albeit poorly)."…

Apple chose not support 32 bit devices in their blocking API, which isn't too unreasonable. I imagine it kept the code quite a bit cleaner (or avoided having to run parallel implementations to get good speed).

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#223

Post by MBCook »

CPLX wrote: post #177

If I may be permitted a n00b question, what are the advantages and disadvantages if any to having more than one content blocker enabled? When I installed this didn't have to disable Crystal, which I already had. Do they just sort of function in series?

I believe so. You just end up with more rules which slows the process down more and more. Apple tries to be intelligent about it, but at some point if you quadruple the number of rules installed it's probably going to take longer to search them for matches.

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#224

Post by detaro »

01Michael10 wrote: post #173
FussyZeus wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are no legal breaches here. Apple's platform, Apple's rules. I have no idea. I don't create browsers for that and many other reasons. Any browser on iOS is still using Safari webkit underneath anyway so there isn't much point.

> There are no legal breaches here. Apple's platform, Apple's rules. That hasn't been the case for Google... > I have no idea. I don't create browsers for that and many other reasons. Any browser on iOS is still using Safari webkit underneath anyway so there isn't much point. That is another ridiculous restriction...

> That hasn't been the case for Google...

On what platform? Google in web search is a monopoly, Google or Apple in Smartphones are not. That matters for most of these things.

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#225

Post by mkskm »

st3fan wrote: post #54

We just pushed the button on stage at the Mozilla All-hands. It should by live in most countries now. https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1055677337 Ask us anything you want to know about this product. Also, keep an eye on the Github repo. https://github.com/mozilla/focus We are still watching the Keynote but will flip the switch soon.

Why don't you charge for this? I would be more than willing to pay.

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#227

Post by JohnTHaller »

needmoreram wrote: post #195
JohnTHaller wrote: post #181

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple won't let full third party web browsers into iOS, all web browsers have to use the Mobile Safari engine underneath. Apple added ad blockers to iOS but will only permit them in Mobile Safari proper. Third party "browsers" aren't permitted to use the ad blockers you can install in iOS.

Admittedly, I'm quite ignorant of the laws related, but wouldn't this be grounds for an anti-competitive lawsuit (even if the App Store terms specifically say so)?

Those laws only apply to monopolies. Apple doesn't have a monopoly in any market segment, so they engage in quite a few anti-competitive behaviors that would be illegal if they were a monopoly. That's why Microsoft got in trouble for bundling Internet Explorer with Windows even though end users could install any browser they liked while Apple is free to require iOS users only use Mobile Safari or a browser UI running on top of Mobile Safari (Chrome, Firefox, etc on iOS).

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#228

Post by FussyZeus »

01Michael10 wrote: post #173
FussyZeus wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are no legal breaches here. Apple's platform, Apple's rules. I have no idea. I don't create browsers for that and many other reasons. Any browser on iOS is still using Safari webkit underneath anyway so there isn't much point.

> There are no legal breaches here. Apple's platform, Apple's rules. That hasn't been the case for Google... > I have no idea. I don't create browsers for that and many other reasons. Any browser on iOS is still using Safari webkit underneath anyway so there isn't much point. That is another ridiculous restriction...

Apple isn't stopping you from making a web browser. The "restriction" is that the development tools are still going to use the same underlying web engine. You can make all the browsers you want, but you couldn't, for example, create a web browser using Mozilla's engine. It would still report itself as webkit/Safari.

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#229

Post by pistoriusp »

s73v3r wrote: post #163
pistoriusp wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"It's free!"

If it were anything other than Mozilla, wouldn't that be a Con? Because then it'd be more likely that the maintainer would take money to let ads by.

Well... One of the best selling paid versions, Crystal, is going to allow companies to pay for "acceptable ads."

Personally, I think the people who paid for blockers were ripped off, there's nothing special or difficult in building a content blocker:

1. The majority of the value, the blocking list, it readily available and actively maintained.

2. Performance and integration into iOS is provided by Apple, you simply produce a format that Apple approves.

So what are you paying for? Marketing, packaging, and giving a 3rd party control?

Re: Focus by Firefox, a Content Blocker for iOS

#230

Post by nyolfen »

byoogle wrote: post #202
splouk wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there any reason I should switch to this from AdBlock Plus? Edit: I see the chart comparing the two on your github page. Are you planning a firefox version?

Yes, see the benchmarks and last FAQ on http://adblockfast.com/ . Edit: Yes to Firefox as well, see https://github.com/rocketshipapps/adblockfast/issues/23 for timeline.

how does it compare to ublock?
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