Helium Browser • Hacker News Board

Re: Helium Browser

#111

Post by cookiengineer » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:38 AM UTC

GodelNumbering wrote: post #91

I have felt like a perennial browser refugee for a while. For about 20 years now (since OG Firefox was at peak and Chrome was not yet launched), every new browser promises the same things, gets popular enough, then does a full or partial 180. While I like the pitch of this browser, I find it a little difficult to take it at the face value, especially given there is no info on the founders, or whether it is run as a c…

In my opinion that's Ladybird at the moment.

It's hard to predict what future generations of developers are doing, but right now Ladybird seems to have the right values embedded into their nonprofit structure.

All the other browser projects have to be enshittified eventually, and therefore have to fulfill other interests than their users' interests to get there.

Re: Helium Browser

#112

Post by muglug » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:39 AM UTC

ulrikrasmussen wrote: post #107

Can someone explain to me why most browser forks are based on Chromium? If the goal is to make a privacy focused browser which is independent of Google, isn't it then a bit counterproductive to put all your eggs in a basket which only exists due to the goodwill of your main competitor? Why not webkit or Gecko? There might be a good argument for it, but as a person concerned with privacy and the future freedom of the…

Even in 2025 you still get the most compatibility with [insert-website-here] with Chromium

Re: Helium Browser

#113

Post by digitalPhonix » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:42 AM UTC

muglug wrote: post #112

ulrikrasmussen wrote: post #107

Can someone explain to me why most browser forks are based on Chromium? If the goal is to make a privacy focused browser which is independent of Google, isn't it then a bit counterproductive to put all your eggs in a basket which only exists due to the goodwill of your main competitor? Why not webkit or Gecko? There might be a good argument for it, but as a person concerned with privacy and the future freedom of the…

Even in 2025 you still get the most compatibility with [insert-website-here] with Chromium

Sure but I only use Firefox (no other browser installed (except Edge on Windows)) and I don’t have any issues; so some none-trivial portion of the web doesn’t require Chrom(ium) specific behaviour.

Re: Helium Browser

#114

Post by lpln3452 » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:45 AM UTC

hopelite wrote: post #65

lunarcave wrote: post #32

In the "choose a default search engine" page, it has a slightly amusing summary for each. > Google > Your personal data fuels its monopoly. Market-dominant due to anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices. > Qwant > Based in Europe. Uses Bing results. Sends tracking data to Microsoft. > DuckDuckGo > Privacy-focused. Relies on Bing results but never tracks or profiles you. > Ecosia > May plant trees for clicking ad…

I wish we could just add our own default search with a search string template like when the Internet was still alive. That being said, I like using the slightly more obscure presearch.com and Swisscows.com, for what it’s worth.

Firefox still lets you do this.

You can add any URL as a custom search engine by providing a string template for the query.

It doesn't have to be a formal "search provider". Any URL that accepts a query string will work.

Re: Helium Browser

#115

Post by cranberryturkey » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:48 AM UTC

jitl wrote: post #53

cranberryturkey wrote: post #28

Does it support PWAs?

From the website > Install any web apps and use them as standalone desktop apps without duplicating Chromium.

Thanks

Re: Helium Browser

#116

Post by sidcool » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:55 AM UTC

Call me sceptic but not falling for it again. I have been hurt too many times.

Re: Helium Browser

#117

Post by adrr » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:55 AM UTC

MountDoom wrote: post #16

What makes me a bit uneasy about the project is that the website doesn't explain who is building it. For most open-source, I think that would be fine. But browsers auto-update, so their vendors essentially have the continued ability to run code on your machine. You want some confidence that they won't get owned and won't sell the access to bad actors down the line, so there is an element of personal trust. All the we…

Who is paying for it?

Re: Helium Browser

#118

Post by cortesoft » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 4:57 AM UTC

ulrikrasmussen wrote: post #107

Can someone explain to me why most browser forks are based on Chromium? If the goal is to make a privacy focused browser which is independent of Google, isn't it then a bit counterproductive to put all your eggs in a basket which only exists due to the goodwill of your main competitor? Why not webkit or Gecko? There might be a good argument for it, but as a person concerned with privacy and the future freedom of the…

Its probably the easiest to build off of.

Re: Helium Browser

#119

Post by godelski » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 5:04 AM UTC

lunarcave wrote: post #32

In the "choose a default search engine" page, it has a slightly amusing summary for each. > Google > Your personal data fuels its monopoly. Market-dominant due to anti-competitive and anti-consumer practices. > Qwant > Based in Europe. Uses Bing results. Sends tracking data to Microsoft. > DuckDuckGo > Privacy-focused. Relies on Bing results but never tracks or profiles you. > Ecosia > May plant trees for clicking ad…

The irony is it is a Chromium browser...

Re: Helium Browser

#120

Post by godelski » Thu, Sep 25, 2025, 5:05 AM UTC

bangaladore wrote: post #64

FinnKuhn wrote: post #3

Can someone explain to me how this differentiates itself from (ungoogled) Chromium with a few tweaks? How does it compare to Firefox privacy wise being based on chromium?

What privacy concerns do you have with Chromium?

Google

The noun, not the verb