It's no different that Debian with Iceweasel.
debian's Iceweasel is a little squabble about the logo not being licensed correctly. they only divert official version to add the -debianXXX when they backport security patches on the stable branch. They never removed anything. apart from branding. They even upstreamed the branding agnostic flags so they don't have to change even that!
FDroid's fork is now a move against binary blobs. And copious tracking. They are taking back firefox (pun intended). From the announce: "It removes the proprietary binaries out of the official builds." [emphasis mine]
There was already discussion on the community when mozilla decided to make the, then optional by effort of contributors, google play api on the android build... just so a really small portion of users could share youtube videos to chrome cast (like anyone uses firefox to watch videos they care so much they want to see on the TV...). Everyone reaching the IRC on how to build without the proprietary google dependency was ignored. But some soldiered on. There was even a PaleMoon build on the play store just for that! (palemoon were mostly to avoid the new australis UI, which breaks lots of OS usability/accessibility features just to copy chrome).
Now, on top of the google play api (which now is not just for chrome cast, but also for tracking. ha! didn't see that coming did you?) they added adobe DRM, which will probably reach android soon.
I sure do hope that incite the rest of the community as it incites me. I've been running fennec build laboriously myself on my phones for a while. And i hope i now have the time to stop that nonsense and contribute to fdroid's effort somehow. Even if just by bitching... err promoting on forums.
You seem to be implying that Debian's Iceweasel package contains binary blobs. That shouldn't be the case, could you clarify that please? It's true though that Debian doesn't have policies about software using non-free network services and user tracking.
What's the nearest thing for general Linux? I'm guessing Tor Browser without Tor?
I didn't see anything specific in Arch/AUR repositories.
Correct. I've been using Fennec (the custom build) ever since the team managed to get it to build, and have had zero complaints.
As far as I'm aware, that is the last upstream binary in the official F-Droid repository.
Keep in mind, anyone is free to make their own F-Droid repository using the fdroidserver software. The server supports either building apks from source, or adding binary apks (ala Firefox). There is nothing special about the repository at f-droid.org/repo other than it being preconfigured in the client. But hey, if you really wanted, you could build the client yourself with different default repositories, because that is also open source :
good question. this is the 1st time i've heard. never saw a discussion about it on the forums or gitlab.
self-repair.mozilla.*
tiles.services.mozilla.*
tiles.*.services.mozilla.*
pfs.mozilla.*
snippets.mozilla.*
fxfeeds.mozilla.*
services.addons.mozilla.*
crash-stats.mozilla.*
*.data.mozilla.*
versioncheck-bg.addons.mozilla.*
fhr.cdn.mozilla.*
sendto.mozilla.*
push.services.mozilla.*
The amount of stuff you must block to have a decent browser experience nowadays is simply mind boggling. Of course, Chrome or Opera are no more better.- This page doesn't explain that it is being dropped [0,1].
- there is no signals from the F-Droid team that I can see that it is dropping firefox [e.g. on #fdroid at freenode].
- The metadata for the F-Droid build server still includes Firefox [2]
[0] - https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=org.mozilla.fire...
[1] - https://f-droid.org/wiki/page/org.mozilla.firefox
[2] - https://gitlab.com/fdroid/fdroiddata/blob/master/metadata/or...
A few weeks ago Nightly ended up having "Pocket" integrated, and rumour said it would replace Mozilla's own open source Sync plus the integrated Reader.
Addons will soon no longer be able to be installed unless approved by Mozilla. (Another walled garden. Sigh...)
Bullshit. The add-on signing requirement will be able to be easily disabled. It's just as much of a "walled garden" as Debian's repos are (ie. nothing like a walled garden).
I believe you are talking about the big red boxes that mention it has "Non Free Addons". This is what is known as an "AntiFeature" in F-Droid [0]. It is not a reason to exclude a project from the main repository. Rather, it is purely a piece of metadata that is shown on the website and in the client to let people know that it is a thing.
The goal is to provide as much information as possible to users, so that they can make educated choices about which software they choose to install on their device.
[0] - https://f-droid.org/manual/html_node/AntiFeatures.html
you still can install ALL the same addons on fennec as you can on official firefox.
can you people, please, stop talking before reading anything official? the very own page for the new build warn about unsafe addons! https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=firefox&fdid...
now, here is the official list of what is removed [with my comments]:
Removed: Tests [not sure about that]
Removed: Crashreporter [tracking]
Removed: Healthreporter (UI?)
Removed: Mediastreaming (requires non-free library: play-services) [google's binary blobs]
Removed: Updater [tracking]
Removed: EME/DRM [adobe's binary blob]
Added: MultiLocales [tracking. what is some 100kb of text when you now don't have to tell play store your locale?]I understand removing EME and DRM support, but they are removing a feature simply because it only works when a certain closed source library is installed. Is graceful degradation somehow "below" them?
That's like banning packages that use .NET (when it was non-free) on NuGet. You can create open source code that supports proprietary libraries without having to compromise your morals, with the sane choice of graceful degradation when you absolutely need the library.
This seems like a very petty reason to completely remove video streaming support from their distribution of Firefox.
1. https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=org.mozilla.fenn...
And honestly if you want the full featured software and don't care about ideals, just download it from Play.
Removed: Tests [not sure about that]
Removed: Crashreporter [tracking]
Removed: Healthreporter (UI?)
All that stuff provides telemetry for Mozilla that helps in finding and addressing bugs. People complain about a website not working correctly on Firefox but disable all the reporting stuff and never fill a bug on bugzilla. That kind of thing is useful. The source code for that is available on github, you can check what is sent and decide if it is worth using it or not. Removed: Mediastreaming (requires non-free library: play-services) [google's binary blobs]
Users want stuff to work. I am not talking about users with a free software mindset that are willing to hop through unfortunate hops to get their system working. I am talking about the average non-technical non-aware-of-foss user which number in the millions world wide (billions?) They want their browser to be able to play multimedia content. If you don't want to use non-free multimedia then don't access mp3 and other patent encumbred content. Removed: Updater [tracking]
Another piece that you can check the code. Everyone wants an evergreen browser that receives patches, keeps its health in check and is kept up to date. There is no way of updating software without sending some data about the current software. Check the code and see if there is any sensitive information being sent and decide for yourself. Removed: EME/DRM [adobe's binary blob]
EME is one thing and DRM is another. They work together but they are not a single unity. Before EME/DRM you had proprietary unauditable DRM software running wild on your computing device. Now you have an open source sandbox that can be audited to make sure that the proprietary DRM blob can't escape and fetch personal fingerprint data from your computing device. If you don't believe that the EME/DRM sandbox included in your Firefox is the same as the one from the code, there are mechanisms for building your own and using it. And thats the important part: "If you are against DRM then don't using services that use DRM". Some people want to listen to music, watch movies and other multimedia on services that believe that DRM solves some stuff. EME/DRM solution protects their personal data while giving them the features needed to use such services. If you don't agree with DRM then you don't use those services. The DRM blob is downloaded when you use those services, if you're not using them then the blob is not on your machine and never will be.The fight against DRM shouldn't happen inside the browser but in the users mindset and towards the service providers. The EME/DRM solution was created as a compromise, give the users what they want while trying the best solution to protect them. Let FSF and other FOSS entitites audit the EME/DRM sandbox. Let researchers try to pick personal data and fingerprints from the machine. Match that against the other solution which is non auditable. If all the effort and action placed into the hate machine against EME/DRM was instead directed at educating users and teaching about non-DRM services then EME/DRM would not be needed.
And that brings us to the topic of action. Mozilla is the only large player in the browser ecosystem that has all its code open, its roadmaps published, its processess available for public perusal and collaboration. You can't influence or be a part of Safari, Opera, IE, Edge and Chrome development. You can't verify, audit, help steer, be a part of what the companies behind those products want for the the web.
THE WEB IS THE ONLY MASS COMMUNICATION MEDIA WHERE EVERYONE HAS A VOICE
Keeping the web free and open, made by everyone for everyone, is the mission of Mozilla. That mission passes through a lot of different efforts which you can help. Millions of people worldwide have no idea how to the web works and don't know how to produce content and make their voice available online.The Mozilla Webmaker project helps teaching the web through workshops. Instead of spreading FUD and attacking people online, you can direct your energy into positive actions such as educating users on how to make the web their own and how to make their opinion count such as when talking about the DRM situation. The webmaker initiative goes beyond that with workshops and activities to teach about privacy, online rights, net neutrality, information credibility, programming. All that is open and in need of help. Educating users do more about the web than removing EME/DRM API hooks and sandbox.
Firefox is the only browser that has its source code completely open and where you can help steer the project. You can be a part of Mozilla and then join the thousands that are trying to steer the web towards the users. If you don't agree with some practice, then, instead of shouting on Twitter and Hacker News, join the mailing lists and discussions. Be a part of the process. Help.
Firefox OS is the only mobile operating system developed in the open and based on web technologies that are not controlled by a single entity. You can help us create a wonderful mobile system that brings the benefits of the open web in the hands of everybody. Instead of rooting and fighting about isolated closed proprietary islands, you can help steer our little web boat. Our low-cost (and low-specs :-P ) devices are bringing internet access to lots of people in emerging countries, with that there is information sharing, education, and other life transforming opportunities that bring positive social change.
Mozilla is what we make it be. As volunteers, employees, fans and users we can make it more than it ever was. Mozilla is also a project, an idea, that making a good quality software and solutions as a foundation/community we can rival companies and make the ideal of values over profit prevail on the web.
I see a lot of hate for all the decisions Mozilla makes. Apparently it is the fashionable trendy thing on the web to spread FUD instead of taking positive action and helping. The whole situation with Brendan Eich is one of those cases. Brendan is a normal human being like all of us. We all have our flaws, prejudices, qualities, dreams, and bad decisions. Everyone here has some opinion and action taken about such opinion that goes against something that is deeply important to some group. We're humans, we make mistakes. We're products of the zeitgeist of our formative years. We learn and change through time but yet we all make mistakes at the eyes of others and sometimes even to our own. Unlike many here, I've been around Brendan Eich couple times and he was always pleasant, supportive and energetic about the web. That is his passion and fight. A strong problem with the web is the echo chamber. Someone makes a mistake or something we all disagree and consider bad and that person is forever bound to suffer our hate. That kind of action leads us nowhere. Whats helps is education, empathy, showing "the other" why we thing our opinion is important and why we would think another course of action was correct. Dialog and comprehension makes the world a better place, pitchforks don't.
You all here, may you be FUDing/fear mongering or not, can help Mozilla, the Web, Brendan and everyone. You can join the cause of an open web though dialog and positive actions. You can help Mozilla better its code and actions. You can help teach people about the web and let them multiply their opportunities. You can help audit code, translate content, make us see the correct path when we're in the dark. You can help Mozilla fight for a web made of people and not of incompatible features and companies.
Thats what I am asking. Instead of flamewars and fighting Mozilla, join us, help us work, teach and learn with us and we'll all make a much better and interesting web.
Let me pose a simple honest question, if not Mozilla, then who? Which major browser vendor you see going in the direction you want? If no one is going there, then, what entity you think could create a succesful browser with the values you want?
1. UI copying chrome
2. telefonica servers for video chat
3. Ads on your new-tab-page
4. Yahoo search deal
5. Adobe binary blob DRM installed and enabled by default. this is flash security holes all over again.
6. google binary blob DRM on android.
mozilla have long gone from being a incubator the firefox project to try to be a startup coming up with the next big thing, for who knows why. like their sync thing that they keep annoying me to use every time. it's like ubuntu trying hard with ubuntu one. but ubuntu at least was started to make money.Mozilla is supposed to be a symbol of the hacker ethic.
When they bent to the whims of social media lynch mobs - they betrayed the one who literally built the foundation of their existence.
https://www.google.com/search?q=eich+mozilla+ceo
> They made it very clear they were surprised by the internal reactions and that's why he stepped back down. Besides, social media or not, the primary reason the issue blew up at all was a lack of transparency in their organizational politics.
Eich wouldn't have been canned if not due to external political forces.
The core of Mozilla is gone, the organization's ongoing denial of it further sinks the brand off the deep end.
Create a wound. Deny it happened. When in history did that ever work?
It gives me the impression "mozilla are liars, they just don't care." Why do organizations continue to go along with lie as if repeating it rewrites history to washes away treachery like that?
Ah, the old good FUD. Anything done on Mozilla's scale has political agenda as complex problems include multiple stakeholders and conflicting interests.
Perhaps you'll be able to shed some light on the negative externalities of Mozilla's agenda?
And could you name the people who know what they are doing?