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Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

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Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#41

Post by thitcanh »

elktea wrote: post #2

anyone using this site that still uses chrome, why?

Because Chrome is objectively the best browser.

I left Chrome for Firefox about 2 years ago because Chrome was becoming slow (I was more likely the reason) but Firefox was always “just okay” in many regards. No automatic omnibox search that I enjoyed since probably 2010 in Chrome, for example. That feature alone makes navigation a breeze.

Then last summer probably I switched to Safari. Nice browser, but very barebones if not for the beautiful Reader view, reading list and iOS Keychain integration. Generally smooth but extremely sluggish on the new Facebook site.

I don’t use Chrome because my dislike for Google grows by the day, but I recognize that Chrome is still the best at what it does, and that’s why many still use it.

If Edge supported the keychain I’d probably consider it.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#43

Post by luckylion »

guerrilla wrote: post #9
oblio wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My guess? Better supported by many sites, both on the internet and internal company sites. Faster for some things. And of course, inertia. Studies have shown that people just don't change defaults, as a rule. Only a small minority of people change them.

> Better supported by many sites Interesting. I haven't had much trouble with Firefox yet, even with uBlock Origin. Any idea what kind of sites?

https://web.skype.com/ because one of the largest IT companies on the planet cannot support a standard-compliant browser on their web client.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#45

Post by ulrikrasmussen »

What I don't get is why Google is allowed to provide a browser and be a major content provider at the same time. If this is allowed to continue then it seems inevitable than an unhealthy monopoly will form where Chrome and its derivatives are the only browsers that can consume the modern web, and where opting out of tracking is not a possibility for anyone but the most technically inclined (although that's almost already the situation now).

Come on EU, step up. Google doesn't need protection here, they'll survive even if they cannot retain control over the development of Chrome, and in particular the authority over the extension store.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#46

Post by _flux »

aniforprez wrote: post #32
elktea wrote: post #2

anyone using this site that still uses chrome, why?

As a developer, Chrome's tools are pretty good. As a user, the sync options for history and bookmarks are what keep me in. It's definitely not perfect but it's fine for now. I like Firefox but not enough to switch I was first a Firefox user, switched to Chrome, back to FF and finally to Chrome once I got a smart phone and they added sync

Firefox has sync as well, though, and it can even send tabs to other sessions.

I don't think it has history sharing, that sounds useful.

Firefox syncing can also be self-hosted if you're into that..

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#48

Post by Number157 »

queueworker wrote: post #19
elktea wrote: post #2

anyone using this site that still uses chrome, why?

better devtools compared to any other browser is what keeps me on Chrome

Have you tried Firefox recently? I switched a few months ago and so far I haven't found myself missing anything.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#49

Post by commoner »

brnt wrote: post #20
agilob wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use NeatURL where description says: Before: http www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ioquake3-Auto-Updater&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Phoronix+(Phoronix) After: http www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Ioquake3-Auto-Updater It removed unnecessary, known tracking code from URL before visiting the URL so origin of click isn't known to advertisers and trackers.

For some websites, I've discovered that setting utm_medium let me read their paywalled articles. So, they're not always useless ;)

Combine ClearURLs with Bypass Paywalls Clean, and you get the best of both worlds:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/bypass-paywal...

https://gitlab.com/magnolia1234/bypass-paywalls-firefox-clea...

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#50

Post by qwerty456127 »

Mordisquitos wrote: post #39
qwerty456127 wrote: post #12

No problem as long as it's available elsewhere, is it? As to popularity - this mere news will probably bring more new users than Google store did in quite a period of time.

I do not understand what you mean with "No problem as long as it's available elsewhere" . Are you implying that we should just treat Google's decisions as inscrutable facts of nature that we must accept with resignation, and just be glad that the extension is still available somewhere?

Perhaps. Because Google is not Apple and does not prevent us from side-loading anything, still gives us a great browser and a great OS for free.

In fact we, the advanced privacy-concerned users, are not interested in such extensions being on the store front and becoming too popular. Let Google use simple methods to track people who don't care about being tracked (many people who I tell about tracking really don't care, they say I'm a paranoid weirdo complicating things instead of just using them the way everybody does) enough to find a workaround.

When AdBlock was only used by a bunch of superusers nobody cared to counter it, everybody was happy.

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