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Ask HN: Why is Google search different on mobile Firefox compared to Chrome?

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Re: Ask HN: Why is Google search different on mobile Firefox compared to Chrome?

#31

Post by whalabi »

gundmc wrote: post #21
1drr wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it surprising that an organization the size of Google doesn't have the resources to test key features in such a notable browser. Though I just searched and it seems Firefox has a shockingly low market share in mobile: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usage_share_of_web_browsers Perhaps that's why it's not given the attention it needs, how unfortunate.

Bingo, Firefox mobile has << 1% of the mobile browser user base. It's hard to justify the resources to test every change and feature to ensure a good user experience for such a small number of users.

Google search is similarly hobbled on desktop Firefox. It looks terrible.

Re: Ask HN: Why is Google search different on mobile Firefox compared to Chrome?

#33

Post by UnoriginalGuy »

theturtletalks wrote: post #20
1drr wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I created a new account to post this, so I have no interest in Karma. It was just something that I noticed when I switched from mobile Chrome to Firefox. You don't have to discuss this blindly, just pull your phone and test for yourself, it'll only take you 2 seconds. My phone has Android 8.0, Firefox Mobile 68.0

I think his point is that Firefox should integrate with AMP. Now I’m not sure if Google puts obstacles in place to make this harder, but wasn’t AMP recently open sourced?

AMP is built on Google's CDN, and the standard is controlled by Google for Google's own self interests.

It being "open source" or not kind of misses the bigger picture. If Google had any interest in AMP being a web standard they would have sent the spec out, and helped fund a neutral org to run it.

Re: Ask HN: Why is Google search different on mobile Firefox compared to Chrome?

#34

Post by ninedays »

Because there are multiple evidences for years that Google purposefully degrades the user experience for people not using Google Chrome in order to entice them to switch. Happens mostly for Firefox but it also happens for Chromium (basically, almost all non Chrome browsers)

Check how long it takes for Gmail to load on Firefox to have a sneak peek on how the UX is degaraded.

Re: Ask HN: Why is Google search different on mobile Firefox compared to Chrome?

#36

Post by mrgreenfur »

amelius wrote: post #30
gundmc wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Bingo, Firefox mobile has << 1% of the mobile browser user base. It's hard to justify the resources to test every change and feature to ensure a good user experience for such a small number of users.

And the reason for this is probably that Chrome comes bundled with Android.

Agreed, and this is likely the entire reason for Android to exist: more searches

Re: Ask HN: Why is Google search different on mobile Firefox compared to Chrome?

#37

Post by jsmith99 »

CanisDirus wrote: post #29
giancarlostoro wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You only need to do so for Google sites. Maybe an enhancement on Firefox Containers that only do this for Google sites.

There's an addon that does exactly this: https://addons.mozilla.org/pl/firefox/addon/chrome-ua-on-goo...

This addon works but it caused me to see a lot more captcha puzzles. My recaptcha v3 score changes from 0.1 to 0.9 depending on whether the extension is enabled.
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