undefined | Better HN

0 pointszamalek7y ago0 comments

The hard work you guys put in is always appreciated, FF in all its forms has become truly the best browser there is. That being said, how on earth was Reader Mode prioritized above adblocking?

As it stands, adblocking is "post MVP"[1][2]. QR code scanning, however, is somehow part of the MVP. This doesn't make sense to me: there are many apps that launch the default system browser when scanning a URL QR code. You can easily get by without that functionality in the browser.

The comments in this post should be sending you really loud signal: technical users (the type of people who install preview software) don't consider a browser without adblocking MVP. You are drastically underestimating the significance of adblocking extensions.

[1]: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/96 [2]: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/2622 [3]: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/113

0 comments

11 comments · 3 top-level

callahad7y ago· 4 in thread

I understand where you're coming from, but I honestly find Firefox Preview's built-in tracking protection blocks enough ads on its own. I'd encourage you to give it a shot. (Though, to reassure you: proper adblocking is on the roadmap.)

On the other hand, QR code scanning is necessary for a good Firefox Sync setup experience, and that genuinely seems crucial to the MVP: we don't want your data stranded on one device unless that's explicitly what you want.

pps7y ago

Any idea why after sync I can see history from my desktop browser, but no bookmarks? There are only 3 clean folders on Firefox Preview.

mncolinlee7y ago

That's upsetting. Please do report bugs. We do fix them. Bookmark sync had been working in Nightly for weeks, so I'm really surprised. I imagine it's hitting some kind of exception on your bookmarks.

pps7y ago

Done https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/3774 :)

callahad7y ago

It looks like that should have been resolved a month ago with build 1.0.1921 (https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/2252)... are you sure your bookmarks are set to sync (check in about:preferences on desktop)? If so, try forcing a new sync Firefox Preview by hitting Settings -> Sync -> Sync Now.

2 more replies

giancarlostoro7y ago· 3 in thread

When Chrome first came out I stopped using it cause it didnt have adblock. Then when it did it was still crippled and I realized Google is in the Ad business so I never used Chrome since. This is very correct adblocking is a necessity, if they even include a Mozilla Adblocking DNS server for the browser thats fine to me. As long as I dont see ads.

I wont give up on Firefox anytime soon. I would love to see some serious competitors though.

hdfbdtbcdg7y ago

I don't want my browser ignoring my DNS settings!

giancarlostoro7y ago

I would assume it would be opt-in if they went with this.

sharperguy7y ago

Everyone switched to ublock once adblock+ starting taking payments to not block certain ads.

Most people who care about adblocking will choose whatever browser suppoerts adblocking over anything else honestly.

_delirium7y ago· 1 in thread

I'm not sure if it's prioritization so much as just Reader mode being easier because it doesn't need that much from the extension API. Adblockers need to do more browser-level things like intercept HTTP requests, while Reader mode can be done with just DOM/CSS manipulation.

neltnerb7y ago

Also, reader mode is the only way non-mobile websites are readable on my phone. I left chrome on my phone for it (now I use Firefox Focus as my primary mobile browser for the vastly better privacy, but very much miss that it seems to have no reader mode). If this has reader mode I am absolutely going to use it as my backup for when Focus breaks a site over Chrome.

When it came out I considered reader mode a killer feature, and coincidentally it also tends to remove the ads. Or at least the ones not embedded in an article, which is good enough for me as long as they remain stationary.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

11 comments · 3 top-level

callahad7y ago· 4 in thread

pps7y ago

Any idea why after sync I can see history from my desktop browser, but no bookmarks? There are only 3 clean folders on Firefox Preview.

mncolinlee7y ago

That's upsetting. Please do report bugs. We do fix them. Bookmark sync had been working in Nightly for weeks, so I'm really surprised. I imagine it's hitting some kind of exception on your bookmarks.

pps7y ago

Done https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/3774 :)

callahad7y ago

2 more replies

giancarlostoro7y ago· 3 in thread

I wont give up on Firefox anytime soon. I would love to see some serious competitors though.

hdfbdtbcdg7y ago

I don't want my browser ignoring my DNS settings!

giancarlostoro7y ago

I would assume it would be opt-in if they went with this.

sharperguy7y ago

Everyone switched to ublock once adblock+ starting taking payments to not block certain ads.

Most people who care about adblocking will choose whatever browser suppoerts adblocking over anything else honestly.

_delirium7y ago· 1 in thread

neltnerb7y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse