- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
The new MV3 architecture reflects Google’s avowed desire to make browser extensions more performant, private, and secure. But the internet giant’s attempt to do so has been bitterly contested by makers of privacy-protecting and content-blocking extensions, who have argued that the Chocolate Factory’s new software architecture will lead to less effective privacy and content-filtering extensions.
For users of uBlock Origin, which runs on Manifest V2, “options” means using the less capable uBlock Origin Lite, which supports Manifest V3.
Hey that’s a great reason for many to move to Firefox, even for normal users
I wish it had a cleaner UI
firefox is extremely customizable. I like the options, but you can make it yours and its way better that it was a few years ago, even faster than chrome
Defaults matter
What do you mean by clean? Firefox UI is highly customizable, you can even add spacing where you want it, or select a more compact view
You can even customize it with userChrome.css
No one does that outside of a handful of users
Regardless of how many people do it, you can do it. Then you can have the “clean” interface you want
I’ve never had too many issues with it. It’s not bad imo
You can actually make it look exactly like Chrome, Safari, whatever you want with userChrome.css. Mine currently looks like Safari.
That’s not good for privacy
How so?
Maybe because it alters your maximized resolution, which makes you easier to identify? But that sounds like a bit of a stretch to me.
It makes you stand out
You’ll use Chrome on your Android like all the others and you’ll not complain 👁️🗨️
It’s a browser, with a tab bar and hamburger menu to access settings. A plain, boring, 2024 design web browser.
And that’s exactly what it should be. Use the least amount of screen space to give me the information and buttons I need to navigate, and get the fuck out of my way. Provide a way to use plugins to alter and block ads effectively, and that’s literally all I need.
And this is how both Firefox and Chrome looks like.
I’m always confused when people talk about browser design/UI for exactly this reason. Regardless of browser, 95% of your screen is the same. Why would you even care what the default theme is? Not to mention themes are super customizable
Except it is HUGE
We have no idea how much Firefox is going to lick Google’s boots to get more money. Mozilla might end up just dropping manifest v2 too.
Anti Commercial-AI license
I really don’t see how supporting Manifest V3 is a problem. It’s still going to be used by many extension developers, and there’s no harm in its availability as long as you can still block WebRequest, which is currently the case. On the Mozilla taking Google’s money point, sure, that’s true, but it doesn’t seem to have affected too much of the browser, other than search defaults abd a few other things that can be very easily turned off or removed entirely. I wouldn’t say the chances are particularly high for Manifest V2 to be completely removed, personally.
The way Mozilla’s going, nothing would surprise me. They care about Google money, and that’s it.
Anti Commercial-AI license
Got a source on that one? Because the changes they’re (not) making don’t make it seem like they’re bowing down to Google.
What is the Anti Commercial-Al license and why do people keep adding it to their comments?
“I DO NOT GRANT PERMISSION TO LAW ENFORCEMENT TO READ THIS COMMENT. ANY USE OF THIS COMMENT BY LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR ANY REASON IS ILLEGAL. THIS COMMENT CANNOT BE USED AS EVIDENCE AGAINST ANY NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONS IN RELATION TO ANY CRIME.”
Manifest v3 has an upper limit of rules that can be implemented, so if you don’t see how supporting it is a problem, you’re blind.
Supporting v3 and v2 inevitably leads to v2 support being dropped. Firefox has done this plenty in the past with the goal of “cleaning up the code base”. Taking care of 1 code path > Taking care of 2 code paths.
It’s simple on the face of it, and all results in less control for web users.
Firefox’s implementation of manifest v3 is a bit different than Chrome’s, and still allows for blocking webrequests with no upper limit.
https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2024/03/13/manifest-v3-manifest-v2-march-2024-update/
https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2022/05/18/manifest-v3-in-firefox-recap-next-steps/
I for one welcome Mozilla’s use of embrace, extend, exterminate.
Why would Mozilla do that? I guess only if Google gave them an ultimatum because they do give Mozilla a lot of money
Because Mozilla is about money. They just have to be a bigger browser alternative to Chrome/Chromium than all the rest on Windows and Google will give them money to stay afloat. But if they don’t implement manifest v3, addon writers won’t be able to generate addons for both Chrome/Chromium and Firefox, meaning it will become less relevant and maybe another alternative will come in to take their place (their sweet sweet Google money).
Anti Commercial-AI license
They already support manifest v3, but with less restrictions than Chrome’s implementation.
Indeed, that’s what I quoted originally. What I’m saying is that them going the whole way wouldn’t be a surprise.
Anti Commercial-AI license
If there’s any whiff of Google forcing Mozilla to do anything they’ll instantly be investigated for monopolistic abuse by the EU.
Hell, the whole reason why Google is paying Mozilla is to keep it alive to be able to say “see, we’re not the only browser left”. If Mozilla dies then Chrome would be under constant scrutiny.
I assume they just support both with no plans to phase out v2
Ah; but do they have plans /not/ to phase out v2?
Because if they don’t, phasing it out will eventually be the easiest way to maintain their codebase and performance.
Firefox’s implementation of manifest v3 doesn’t come with the same restriction as Google’s. Ad blockers will still work with manifest v3 on Firefox (but not on chrome).
This means that all manifest v3 extensions made for Chrome work with Firefox, and almost all manifest v3 extensions made for Firefox will work with Chrome.
A lot is kind of an understatement:
“In 2022, 81% of Mozilla’s revenues were derived from Google”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Corporation#:~:text=In 2022%2C 81%25 of Mozilla’s,twice hourly from Google’s servers.
https://assets.mozilla.net/annualreport/2022/mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf
With that level of support, I don’t think an ultimatum would be required.
Oh wow that’s much more than I thought