Linux has a problem too. arm64 Linux has very limited browser support. Even Chromium works poorly.
Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
31–40 of 349 posts
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#32I do a lot of systems engineering-level work on Linux and was surprised to see this title. The paper talks about how corporations behind commercial operating systems exploit their position and suppress user choice and use other shady tactics. The title of this paper is a bit inaccurate it should at least say "... commercial operating systems".
I recall a moment in history when ffmpeg had some infighting and some dinguses forked off, followed by Ubuntu moving packages over from ffmpeg to said fork in its repos because the package maintainer was one of the dinguses.
So no, Linux is not innocent of the crime of corralling users towards its own interests.
EDIT: Was the distro Debian? It's so long ago my memory is foggy, but it was one of the two.
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's always Safari under the hood, but that may change soon thanks to EU regulations ( https://www.macrumors.com/2022/12/14/apple-considering-non-w... )
because of , not thanks to. Once again the EU meddle with things they should not. And once again I’m pissed off by their regulations (though this time at least it makes a bit more sense than the previous time…)
What's wrong with more choice and competition? I really don't understand the walled garden apologists. If Apple 'tears down the wall', users still have a choice not to install non-Apple software if they don't want to.
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#34Just reading the beginning, it looks like they're mainly complaining about proprietary OS vendors restricting users' choice in browsers through various shenanigans. Linux users (for desktop systems) don't have this problem, and for mobile, Android users can easily install Firefox (or better yet, Firefox Nightly) through the Google Play store and set it to be the default browser. Basically, if you want to have choice…
It’s only iOS/iPadOS that Apple does this with. And iOS makes up 18% of web traffic. That’s a lot, but it means 82% can use the browser they want at any time. Chrome makes up 80-odd percent of all other traffic, so the stats overall look like: Chrome: 65.6% iOS Safari: 18% All others: 16.4% Personally, I’m more concerned about Chrome than iOS.
>All others: 16.4%
This whole essay is really just Mozilla complaining that they aren't on anyone's radar anymore and should be disregarded as bullcrap.
Firefox once upon a time defeated IE6 despite home turf advantage, to say nothing of Chrome which played that game even better.
If Mozilla wants more market share, maybe they should make software people actually fucking want.
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#35Just reading the beginning, it looks like they're mainly complaining about proprietary OS vendors restricting users' choice in browsers through various shenanigans. Linux users (for desktop systems) don't have this problem, and for mobile, Android users can easily install Firefox (or better yet, Firefox Nightly) through the Google Play store and set it to be the default browser. Basically, if you want to have choice…
It’s only iOS/iPadOS that Apple does this with. And iOS makes up 18% of web traffic. That’s a lot, but it means 82% can use the browser they want at any time. Chrome makes up 80-odd percent of all other traffic, so the stats overall look like: Chrome: 65.6% iOS Safari: 18% All others: 16.4% Personally, I’m more concerned about Chrome than iOS.
Platform abuse is still not acceptable and should not be justified. For people stuck in that ecosystem the lack of choice is 100%, relativity to global traffic is irrelevant.
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#36Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's always Safari under the hood, but that may change soon thanks to EU regulations ( https://www.macrumors.com/2022/12/14/apple-considering-non-w... )
because of , not thanks to. Once again the EU meddle with things they should not. And once again I’m pissed off by their regulations (though this time at least it makes a bit more sense than the previous time…)
I am honestly glad that the EU forces vendors to put the customer first. I won't be sad if they force opening of the walled garden that is the iOS app store.
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#37Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've been overhearing lots of complaints coming out of the Ubuntu corner about how everything is moving to snap exclusive distribution. Not too familiar with the whole snap ordeal myself, but I understand it is quite the shitshow and that can't be good for the Linux browser landscape.
Ubuntu is dead.
Not at all
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#38Just reading the beginning, it looks like they're mainly complaining about proprietary OS vendors restricting users' choice in browsers through various shenanigans. Linux users (for desktop systems) don't have this problem, and for mobile, Android users can easily install Firefox (or better yet, Firefox Nightly) through the Google Play store and set it to be the default browser. Basically, if you want to have choice…
>...(or better yet, Firefox Nightly) ...
I think this is some of the disconnect between users on this site who don't understand why people would possibly actively choose iOS even with the lockin. Most people do not want to use a product that is constantly updating and adding features in that are going to be taken out shortly, for something as basic nowadays as web browsing. If you're on the cool new technology people the average person likes rapid innovations. Once your tech is considered a commodity, then the average person wants a the equivalent of a toaster. Most people do not want to fiddle with their toasters or find out each day what new changes their toaster has. They want to put in bread, and get out toast. For browser, most people want to just be able to navigate to a handful of websites.
The restrictions are a feature and not a bug.
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#39Linux has a problem too. arm64 Linux has very limited browser support. Even Chromium works poorly.
I use chromium on arm64 Linux. Can't complain. Which issues are you talking about?
Re: Browsers are essential and how operating systems are holding them back (2022) [pdf] (2022)
#40The iron of this Browser-supremacy ideology, delivered as a .PDF file...
I'd wager PDF Viewers are more important than browsers. :P