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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

#231

Post by phantomathkg »

BunsanSpace wrote: post #220
deallocator wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but I feel HTTPS everywhere does not belong in that list. Secure by default doesn't sound evil to me, and Let's Encrypt made it easy enough to get free HTTPS certificates (and for non technical people, almost all hosting services I've seen offer it out of the box)

A static blog that takes no user input/data doesn't need HTTPS. Here's a good lecture about why HTTPS everywhere isn't as important as people think. http://n-gate.com/software/2017/07/12/0/

Pretty sure Troy Hunt have already mentioned why even a static blog should use HTTPS.

https://www.troyhunt.com/heres-why-your-static-website-needs...

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#232

Post by achairapart »

Const-me wrote: post #184
deallocator wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't disagree with what you're saying, but I feel HTTPS everywhere does not belong in that list. Secure by default doesn't sound evil to me, and Let's Encrypt made it easy enough to get free HTTPS certificates (and for non technical people, almost all hosting services I've seen offer it out of the box)

> Let's Encrypt made it easy enough to get free HTTPS certificates Just checked. My hosting provider asks 2x more money for SSL addon (which includes unique IP, unlimited subdomains, and free certificate). They wrote on the support forum I need that addon regardless on which certificate I gonna use, the included free one, or any other like lets encrypt. Not gonna switch hosting nor pay 2x more for it just to please G…

I think you're mixing different problems here. You can't blame Google nor HTTPS if your hosting provider is trying to rip you off. You don't need unique IPs or unlimited subdomains to get an SSL certificate, these are just forced requirements from your provider.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#233

Post by m-p-3 »

Closi wrote: post #207
madeofpalk wrote: post #159

I really struggle to believe that "Google" thinks this itty bitty extension that a rounding error % of their users use would have an impact on their buisness model, which was grounds to kick it off the store. This "just" sounds like the typical story we hear so often of an overzealous "app" reviewer waking up on the wrong side of the bed and just decided to delete someone's product and/or business (which is a huge pr…

One extension does not have an impact, but in aggregate across many extensions these things can make a huge difference. The primary reason Google has Chrome and Android is to maintain ecosystem control and to continue tracking users to support it's Ad business (or reduce the threat that other browsers will diminish it's business in these areas).

One of my reason to stick with Firefox on both desktop and mobile.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#234

Post by m-p-3 »

WesolyKubeczek wrote: post #214
solarengineer wrote: post #182

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even more reason to help push Mozilla Firefox. Having typed that, I sure hope there are people at Mozilla who would help ensure that Mozilla does no evil :(

Unfortunately, from the look of it it seems like Mozilla overflows with people determined to make Firefox irrelevant.

They did lose a bit of focus in the past, but I believe they're getting it back with some privacy-oriented side-projects like Firefox Relay.

Hopefully they don't go under :(

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#236

Post by jrochkind1 »

ColinHayhurst wrote: post #163
skinkestek wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As has been said by someone before: There's a billion dollar niche waiting for the right company: - make a search engine that works - show text ads clearly distinguishable from results - play nice, and maybe even use use a cool slogan like "we're not evil" or something (it used to be someone else's but it seems they don't use it anymore ;-)

Self-disclosure: Mojeek CEO. On your points: - Our search engine works and has been doing so for >15 years. Our search quality needs improving but does so gradually. And it's independent; our own crawler, index and infrastructure - We just introduced non-tracking search ads: https://www.mojeek.com/support/ads/ - We use "No Tracking , Just Search" and "Search without Surveillance" We've been building for 15 years; her…

Here's the first test search I did. "github ruby hanami" looking for the hanami github repo. Seems like a relatively simple query.

On Google, it's the first result. https://www.google.com/search?q=github+ruby+hanami

On mojeek, it's not even on the first page. https://www.mojeek.com/search?q=github+ruby+hanami

It's possible that at this point I (and others) have trained ourselves to know/do the kind of queries that work on Google, without even realizing it, which would be another thing making it hard to switch. Although in this case... I'm actually a bit surprised mojeek doesn't manage it. Just `github hanami` doesn't get it either. Is it just not matching on sitename at all?

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#237

Post by TeMPOraL »

fennecfoxen wrote: post #227
TeMPOraL wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The general solution is to do a little of both. The job of the regulators isn't to just kill off specific companies that got too powerful - it's to create conditions where disruption is possible. An important way to do this is to prevent big players from abusing their power to make themselves nearly-impossible to disrupt.

> The job of the regulators isn't to just kill off specific companies that got too powerful - it's to create conditions where disruption is possible. Broadly speaking, the big regulations tend to create conditions where disruption is harder. Regulatory compliance is often a substantial investment, and a rather big one, thus a barrier to entry; it's a lot easier for big, profitable Google to hire a team of regulatory…

That depends. Often enough, regulatory burden tends to scale with size as well! But I agree that quite a lot of compliance requirements apply to everyone, and that they're much harder for small companies to meet.

However, the reason for those requirements isn't, ostensibly, to make disruption difficult - it's to protect the society from problems that can be caused by companies of all sizes equally easily. For example, safety regulations about medical equipment. Or data protection regulations. To the extent these laws make disruption difficult, it's often unfortunate cost of safety.

(I understand though that the real world isn't perfect and big players tend to influence these laws to their benefit. But perfect being the enemy of good, and all that.)

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#238

Post by dspillett »

Hendrikto wrote: post #8

> The reasons for this are ridiculous and probably only pretended because ClearURLs damages Google's business model. […] > Among other things, it was claimed that the description of the addon is too detailed and thus violates the Chrome Web Store rules. The mention of all the people who helped to develop and translate ClearURLs is against Google's rules because it could "confuse" the user. Ridiculous. > Also, Google…

> Among other things, it was claimed that the description of the addon is too detailed ...

> Also, Google has criticized that the description of the addon did not mention ...

So it was simultaneously too detailed, but needed more details.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#239

Post by agustif »

prepend wrote: post #215
tough wrote: post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

That quote isn’t specific to capitalism and would apply to any economic system where people have salaries.

Kay, stand corrected then. Edited the first line and left only the quote.

Re: Google Removed ClearURLs Extension from Chrome Web Store

#240

Post by yurielt »

tough wrote: post #203
b112 wrote: post #180

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bear in mind, that many subconsciously are unhappy with their workplace's policies and effects on the world, but at the same time have linked their personal esteem and identity with work. By threatening their self esteem, their very identity, by validating what the know deep inside them, that they work to do evil, without wanting to, they must strongly reject/defy such claims to reassert and restore their veiled view…

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

Even if socia Kali am h happens then the employees pass to own the company thus they would have more of an incentive to act like this blaming this on capitalism seems like a baseless claim in this specific situation
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