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Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

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Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#141

Post by morsch »

krono wrote: post #109
progval wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can't we have one piece of good software that doesn't try to shove "relevant" "suggestions" from "trusted" "partners" down our throats? A few don't, like VLC: https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/73dafr/vlc_creator_...

Neutral FYI: VLC on OSX had unremovable sponsored radio/podcasts in its sidebar last time I used it

Are you sure you weren't using a VLC clone that added this stuff? Because these things exist (e.g. "VLC plus"). They're basically malware, tricking people into downloading what they think is the genuine article.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#142

Post by roca »

huhtenberg wrote: post #111
eCa wrote: post #4

As someone who has used Firefox since v0.* I really, really, really dislike the language they have used lately. > relevant suggestions from our trusted partners The suggestions are not relevant to, and the partners not trusted by, me.

> RELEVANT suggestions The fuck with this? How can they make _relevant_ suggestions without spying on my (s/browsing history/activity/), profiling it and phoning back to the mothership? (Edited, "browsing history" -> "activity")

According to the page that you apparently didn't read, it's based on the search text you typed and your city location.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#143

Post by my123 »

_8j50 wrote: post #100
hsbauauvhabzb wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Outsider here: whats wrong with brave? I haven’t touched it but have no reason to distrust it, happy for you to change that for me though

Brave is based on Chromium, it lacks some of the privacy centric features that are found in Gecko browsers. 1st party isolation,tracker blocking, containers, anti fingerprinting measures and SNI encryption are some things I can think of right now (maybe chrome as caught up now?) Plus, Google controls Chromium and Firefox is literally the only alternative now. They push changes that are against or in in ignorance of o…

You also have Safari (and GNOME Web on Linux) using the WebKit engine, developed by Apple as an alternative...

But that's not available on Android or Windows (the WebKit port exists there, but no good UI frontend as far I know)... which are the two big platforms. (because Apple doesn't care enough about those I guess?)

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#144

Post by e3bc54b2 »

daptaq wrote: post #81
Adrig wrote: post #34

Meh, the feature is easily deactivable, the settings are clear and extensive. As far as ads go, it's one of the best implementations. Firefox still has no alternative in the privacy / user-centric space (don't mention Brave, I'm gonna get mad). Mozilla has done a lot for the web, I can give them some slack for exploring different revenue models. Still, I'm going to keep on eye for this kind of practices in the future…

Knowing Mozilla, the option will be changed and renamed every version and will have to be re-enabled manually again and again.

And eventually, Mozilla's 'telemetry' will tell them that 95% users never opt out, and that'll justify removing the opt out option entirely.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#145

Post by roca »

Leparamour wrote: post #99
eCa wrote: post #4

As someone who has used Firefox since v0.* I really, really, really dislike the language they have used lately. > relevant suggestions from our trusted partners The suggestions are not relevant to, and the partners not trusted by, me.

>The suggestions are not relevant to "Relevant" is a code word for "we spy on your every move and also share your personal browsing behaviour with our many external partners to serve you relevant ads".

They don't do any of those things, according to the article. Perhaps you didn't read it.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#146

Post by mnadkvlb »

ohgodplsno wrote: post #3

Before HN flips its shit and threatens to move to a browser that is either owned by an ad company, or use a browser that replaces all ads with its own ads, you are asked whether you want to enable it or not on the first launch. As much as it sucks, having more sources of income rather than just relying on Google is a net positive.

Firefox should split from mozilla and have its own foundation.

I dont feel like donating to mozilla under the current bean counter CEO.

If its an individual organization doing just firefox, i would 100% buy/subscribe to a paid version of the open source browser, which is not shilling my data for ads. I cant believe i am the only one who wants this.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#147

Post by Thev00d00 »

krono wrote: post #109
progval wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Can't we have one piece of good software that doesn't try to shove "relevant" "suggestions" from "trusted" "partners" down our throats? A few don't, like VLC: https://www.reddit.com/r/bestof/comments/73dafr/vlc_creator_...

Neutral FYI: VLC on OSX had unremovable sponsored radio/podcasts in its sidebar last time I used it

They have "Jamendo Selections" nowadays, but that service offers independent music under creative commons licences, you can also right click and remove it.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#148

Post by bserge »

huhtenberg wrote: post #111
eCa wrote: post #4

As someone who has used Firefox since v0.* I really, really, really dislike the language they have used lately. > relevant suggestions from our trusted partners The suggestions are not relevant to, and the partners not trusted by, me.

> RELEVANT suggestions The fuck with this? How can they make _relevant_ suggestions without spying on my (s/browsing history/activity/), profiling it and phoning back to the mothership? (Edited, "browsing history" -> "activity")

The suggestions are shit just like any other platform, but they have to make the announcement look good to the advertisers :)

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#149

Post by wheybags »

Am I the only one who increasingly wishes that Firefox could be detached from Mozilla? I donate to Mozilla because I care about Firefox, but all the other crap they waste time and money on is not only useless, it is of negative value to me. And then they start pulling shit like this. Why? Just make Firefox, many people will give you money for this, and stop pissing about.

Re: Mozilla to put ads in Firefox address bar suggestions

#150

Post by Hendrikto »

callahad wrote: post #98
Barrin92 wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

maybe go the other direction and try to cut expenses rather than trying to make more money? Firefox gets hundreds of millions from Google alone in royalties, that is not enough to build a web browser? Firefox has lost almost half of its users since 2010, yet it keeps burning more money every year. Run the company in a lean way, cut the fat, do one thing well. It's like Wikipedia, every year they seemingly find new in…

> Firefox gets hundreds of millions from Google alone in royalties, that is not enough to build a web browser? Empirically, it is not. Even Microsoft gave up that chase. Browsers are staggeringly complex and expensive to build. Which may be an indictment of the Web itself, but in the absence of a simpler alternative (Gemini?), the Web we have is the Web we've got, and browsers have to meet it where it is.

> Empirically, it is not.

This is just not true. Mozilla spends millions on exec salaries and useless side projects, yet they still have hundreds of millions in cash reserves.

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