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Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

robert.ocallahan.org

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Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#231

Post by pyre »

jfuhrman wrote: post #136

For those saying Google is a benevolent company, here are a few signs that the bean counters are taking over: Tracking Google Apps for Education and even paid Google Apps for Business emails to build ad profiles, making misleading statement to the public that they're not doing so, and then when it finally came to statements to federal court, lacking the dare to continue lying and finally confessing the truth and then…

> Google employee access personal information of others. Google says it has fixed the issue, but how do we even know? Is there any legal safeguard against someone at Google reading your email?

I would also ask if there is a "legal safeguard" at any email service? You could equally call out Yahoo and Microsoft for lack of transparency in their internal procedures around email. They just lack a publicly reported incident of an employee over-stepping bounds.

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#232

Post by evilpie »

darklajid wrote: post #147

Ff fan here. Running Aurora on desktop, laptop and mobile. Love the project, have nothing but minor complains. Currently leading the list: For quite a while FF on Android has a 'broken' long press menu on links. Someone thought that it should be Share Link -> Open Link in New Tab Open Link in Private Tab Copy Link Bookmark Link I.. guess I don't understand how others use their browser. The last action doesn't make se…

Here is a heatmap with data on how often these different buttons are clicked: http://starkravingfinkle.org/blog/2014/07/firefox-for-androi...

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#233

Post by pender »

The vast majority of users are not developers and wouldn't even spend the time paying any attention to any of this. The only way Firefox is going to survive is by being 1. Easy to use 2. Fast 3. Secure and the priority is in that order. Right now Firefox fails, on all three, when compared to Chrome.

Want Firefox to succeed? Then they will need to change priorities.

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#234

Post by findjashua »

It's all about the extensions!

I use Firefox on the desktop mainly because of Tree Style Tabs and Snap Links. I can't browse the web without these two anymore.

I use Firefox on mobile because it allows me to use extensions. Especially, with Ad Block Edge, I can browse mobile web without the annoying ads. And with Phony (user agent switcher), I can easily switch to the desktop version of a site.

Speaking of Ad Block Edge, anyone complaining of Firefox being slow and hogging memory, it's probably because of Ad Block 'Plus'. Replace it with Ad Block 'Edge' and enjoy smooth browsing!

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#235

Post by api »

dep_b wrote: post #230
pdkl95 wrote: post #195

Separate process tabs? Rendering and javascript speed? UI features? I know it's popular on HN to focus on technical features, but that entirely misses the point of this post. Technical features will continue to improve over time. The browser that is "best" in any given area will change as the code evolves. Most of the other reasons to like a given browser are the subjective opinions we all have or the particular use…

The reason to stop using Firefox on my Mac was battery life, Safari handles this so much better that it was impossible to ignore. On Windows 8 whenever I use I tend to use Internet Explorer as it's better optimised for HDPI screens. But I still love Firefox and I'm ready to return to the nest again as soon as the battery life issue is fixed.

Honestly I think the OP's title should really be "use something other than Chrome." The fear here is that Chrome (and Google) are approaching critical mass that would allow platform lock in.

I personally think that Gmail is the greater threat. In looking at users signed up on a service of mine, I see almost all GMail. It's breathtaking. Pretty soon Google will have the ability to basically embrace-extend-extinguish the Internet's most useful service.

I too use Safari on Mac. Better integration with the OS. Chrome is slightly faster but meh.

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#236

Post by DCKing »

lucb1e wrote: post #218
DCKing wrote: post #212

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I did not downvote. But I disagree his post contributes to the conversation. Nobody believes the strawman argument that Google is a "benevolent company". Of course they are being assholes to make their services more used. Everyone is aware of that. Moreover, "Google is evil" => "Google wants to create a lock-in for Chrome or Android" is a total non sequitur. None of what is mentioned means or even implies that Google…

> Google really does not care if you use Firefox, Chrome, iOS, Android or whatever I think they do. Maybe it's not a huge deal, but it's an advantage to control more aspects of what users use (ISP, OS, browser, and finally the service itself). With Google Chrome they can make anything the way they want and support any feature they like, whereas with Firefox they'd have to wait for the guys at Mozilla to agree with so…

> I think they do. Maybe it's not a huge deal, but it's an advantage to control more aspects of what users use (ISP, OS, browser, and finally the service itself).

Fair enough. Make it "Google really does not care much if you use Firefox, Chrome, iOS, Android or whatever".

The point is that even if Google prefers that you use Chrome, it's not an argument to go for vendor lock-in. It's an argument maybe for wanting to increase market share. This piece suggests that Google has motivation for breaking other platforms though, which I find ridiculous as it will only diminish their returns.

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#237

Post by personZ »

kybernetyk wrote: post #224
personZ wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also created a new account to post a mixed list of random complaints. Sorry it's actually a repost given that this identical list was posted by angularfan -- also a fresh new account created purely to post this list -- 20 days ago. Is that really the behavior HN wants?

> Is that really the behavior HN wants? He/She might have good reasons for anonymity. As long as the post contributes to the discussion I don't really care if the account is 10 years or 10 days old or if it has been posted 20 days ago.

It doesn't contribute to the discussion. It's a wall of noise hit list of entirely random quality, that draws absolute, nefarious conclusions from complex situations.

If someone hates Google, then sure, it's "contributing". If you're just looking for information it's just extremist nonsense.

Indeed, this very submission was already submitted a week ago (just as that hit list appeared before), and of course would have been blocked by HN as a dupe but made it through courtesy of the fun of querystrings.

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#238

Post by eropple »

findjashua wrote: post #204
jfuhrman wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Edit: I can't edit my post, perhaps due to the downvotes(why downvote without replying?), so here's a couple more. Tying Android App store to having Google search engine as default on Android, ensuring that alternative search engines cannot be shipped as default. http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/02/12/documents-shed-light-... Stopping Acer from shipping Aliyun OS by threatening to pull the Play Store and Android beta…

You stated facts, with sources. I can't see why someone would downvote, and that too without stating the reason. I upvoted to counter at least one downvoter.

I downvoted and flagged him because he spams this post on Google threads, using a sockpuppet every time.

He is not interested in discussion, he's interested in frothing.

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#239

Post by mythz »

sabbatic13 wrote: post #223
mythz wrote: post #39

If the premise here is that Google is the evil empire, why is Google still on the Home Page when running Firefox?? Apparently large sums of money can have an effect on ethics. Obviously the underlying goal here is a plea for more FF marketshare, but it's a tad hypocritical if the message is to not use services from a company you're promoting yourself. That's do as I say, not as I do type stuff.

Keep mind that Google was initially installed as the default search engine years ago, because FF users voted for it to be so. Only after Google saw how many search referrals they then got from FF, did they, that is Google, suggest an actual deal (which paid, incidentally, only a few percent of the market value for those referrals.). That deal doesn't include anything preventing users from changing the defaults. Consi…

> Mozilla doesn't care if doing and advocating what's good for the user makes that relationship less and less valuable for Google. They are, in fact, sacrificing potential financial gain for the sake of their principles.

Ahh, No. They're biting the hand that feeds them while they're still being fed, which just makes them look tacky. They admittingly see the writing on the wall, with declining mind and marketshare to Google which is what's prompted this post - which isn't in the users best interests, it's what's in their own. Users also end up using what they believe is the best or most convenient choice. Which is fine, everyone has the right to do what's best for themselves.

Mozilla had their opportunity to go with another Search Provider in Dec 2011 when they renewed their agreement with Google: https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2011/12/20/mozilla-and-google-...

Re: Choose Firefox Now, Or Later You Won't Get A Choice

#240

Post by DCKing »

kybernetyk wrote: post #224
personZ wrote: post #213

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They also created a new account to post a mixed list of random complaints. Sorry it's actually a repost given that this identical list was posted by angularfan -- also a fresh new account created purely to post this list -- 20 days ago. Is that really the behavior HN wants?

> Is that really the behavior HN wants? He/She might have good reasons for anonymity. As long as the post contributes to the discussion I don't really care if the account is 10 years or 10 days old or if it has been posted 20 days ago.

Anonymous posting is one thing. Anonymous copy-pasting of generic mostly off-topic link lists to influence opinion is something else. The latter is, hopefully, not behavior HN wants.
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