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Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

ha.x0r.be

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Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#111
post #39

The new Google Chrome design with version 69 marked the beginning of a new era – Google wants to portray Chrome as something that is way more than a browser. They want you to see it as the primary interface of the web. This is what the average user wants. All complex functionality has been put in the background. Cross-platform integration has been perfected. Give it a year and users around the world will no longer th…

That might all accurately describe what they'd like to achieve, but fortunately we still live in a free market society where there's room for competition (and if there isn't, regulators often step in).

I don't find Google to be the best search experience anymore. It gives me too many ads and partnership deals. I use searx.me and it gives me good old fashioned organic web search with results that are just as good.

Plenty of alternatives exist to their other services as well which only get better every year. I'm now convinced Google has a hard fight ahead of them just to keep what they've already got.

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#112
post #98
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I rate Firefox pretty highly since Quantum released. It's fast, polished and in my unscientific testing, consumes less resources.

I tried using Firefox Quantum since Safari 12 closed off most extensions. Firefox Quantum is laggy in comparison, particularly the UI (web page rendering is fine). For example, dragging tabs to other windows is jittery. Launching preferences page is a bit delayed.

@four try Firefox Developer Edition. There's a current known UI tabs issue in Firefox that's fixed in the next version (which Dev Edition runs on).

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#113
post #38
post #32

Many years ago I shared that I browse across several browsers, separating usage depending on the site I am visiting. + Gmail, Drive, Google Calendar = Chrome + Sites I trust = Firefox + Sites I do not know or trust = Firefox Private browsing (or Firefox Focus on Android) This involves cautiously copying links from browser to browser, and if I make a mistake I have a scorched Earth policy of the history and cookies. T…

I used to this do exactly, but switching to Firefox containers made Chrome redundant. Chrome uses too much memory to leave it running just for few websites, and Google including analytics script as builtin library was the last straw.

> Google including analytics script as builtin library

Wait, what? Do you have a source for this?

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#114
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sources on any of this?

"With a smarter Chrome, you will be able to do more than just look at a webpage. Imagine searching on Chrome for a singer you just heard, and having Chrome show you not just their bio, but also their upcoming concert near you and where to purchase tickets. With AI, Chrome will also better understand what you’re trying to get done, and help you do so faster. Vacation planning typically requires juggling multiple tabs…

It is sad that Google is so deep into the rabbit-hole that they think people will share their enthusiasm for a future of AI-driven user-focused ads.

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#115
post #32

Many years ago I shared that I browse across several browsers, separating usage depending on the site I am visiting. + Gmail, Drive, Google Calendar = Chrome + Sites I trust = Firefox + Sites I do not know or trust = Firefox Private browsing (or Firefox Focus on Android) This involves cautiously copying links from browser to browser, and if I make a mistake I have a scorched Earth policy of the history and cookies. T…

There should be browser extensions that let us compartmentalize sites in different browsers.

Multi-account containers (posted as a sibling of this comment) in combination with "temporary tab containers". Works awesome.

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I also use Gentoo and the packaged Chromium and have zero issues with YouTube and Amazon videos.

Thanks! But have you had issues with any other videos (or anything else besides lack of Google integration/auto-updates for that matter)?

I have used that Gentoo Chromium on a bunch of different video sites.

Here are some examples I can think of:

- to stream live webcast and prerecorded webcasts through a Continuing Legal Ed provider, using their (proprietary?) web app.

- Vimeo.

- NFL.com but not live streamed any games.

- some of the 2018 Winter Olympics, including live stream.

- videos but no live stream on the Premier League and Bundesliga websites.

- Twitch, both live and recorded

However, I have never tried Netflix or Hulu or any other pay provider.

I'm sure I've watched videos on other sites that I'm not thinking of right now, like BBC, etc.

I have never had any other issues, but I only use Chromium for a few things, like expressly watching videos, and using a few specific websites. Otherwise, I use Firefox and FF Nightly as my main browsers, for almost everything except watching videos and streams and also anything with audio. For all that stuff, I have had nothing but great experiences with Chromium.

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#117
post #70

This update really broke a lot of things. There are a lot of services that rely on the first logged in google account. I used to log into chrome with a personal account, and log into gmail/etc first with my business account. That way, my bookmarks and history would stay with me personally, but things that I use a lot, work email/google cloud etc would open as default under the work account. One common issue is some s…

FWIW I've used the dual profile strategy (one for work, one for personal) for a long time and I really like it, so perhaps it just takes some getting used to.

For example, I most definitely prefer my bookmarks and browser history to be separate. Let's just say I might blush if the location bar autocompleted some sites from my personal history if I was entering a URL in front of someone at work...

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! But have you had issues with any other videos (or anything else besides lack of Google integration/auto-updates for that matter)?

I have used that Gentoo Chromium on a bunch of different video sites. Here are some examples I can think of: - to stream live webcast and prerecorded webcasts through a Continuing Legal Ed provider, using their (proprietary?) web app. - Vimeo. - NFL.com but not live streamed any games. - some of the 2018 Winter Olympics, including live stream. - videos but no live stream on the Premier League and Bundesliga websites.…

Thank you!

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! But have you had issues with any other videos (or anything else besides lack of Google integration/auto-updates for that matter)?

NFL streaming has been a pain point, but MLB works. Haven't tried NHL or NBA yet.

Thank you!

Re: Chrome is a Google Service that happens to include a Browser Engine

#120
post #103

I'd strongly suggest people create separate users in the browser, one for daily, one for Google, one for Facebook. This way in my regular browsing there's no Facebook or Google cookies reporting on what websites I visit. It's really easy and doesn't impact at all on workflow, if you want your Gmail you just click the user button, and click Google. You could even set that user's homepage to Gmail.

Same browser and connection means those multiple accounts most likely share more than enough of a fingerprint to beprobabilistically joined together.
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