Now if only Apple will let Firefox run its own rendering engine instead of Safari’s.
Like, that’s the only thing I don’t get. Other apps which are not web browsers, fine. Use Safari. But an actual web browser? FFS, let them use their own engine.
this post was submitted on 12 May 2026
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Man it's so funny how the only company that even thinks about allowing you to not have AI, gets so much shit from people.
OK you don't like AI, you can turn in off. They added an option for that. Meanwhile Chrome is automatically downloading 4gb worth of models without your consent. Same with basically each other browser.
Folks are free to use whichever distro they like, Librefox, Waterfox, but remember that without Mozilla foundation the very engine would stop working. Then these forks will not work anymore. Then where will you go? Chromium? Safari?
It's important to keep companies accountable, but nothing is ever black and white.
OK you don’t like AI, you can turn in off. They added an option for that. Meanwhile Chrome is automatically downloading 4gb worth of models without your consent. Same with basically each other browser.
Because Chrome is used by normies who have no idea and wont care while Firefox is used by tech-literate users who care and like to tinker. The backlash was because FF implemented AI that you had to go to about:settings to disable. Result of backlash - a switch in settings to disable it.
It would be smart to implement AI and advertise people that they can switch it ON if they want to. Not the other way.
Folks are free to use whichever distro they like, Librefox, Waterfox, but remember that without Mozilla foundation the very engine would stop working. Then these forks will not work anymore
There is nothing to go to. But if we accept the outcome, we just submit to the system. Might as well switch to chrome at that point hoping that Servo gets developed fast enough. Firefox would lose their browser share at an instant once they are not different from chromium based browsers. Basically seppuku themselves.
Not understanding your user base is how you get a backlash.
People seem to care more about synthetic benchmarks than using a browser that gives them much less tracking and ads. Remember when chrome was popular because its so fast? I never noticed a difference between that and Firefox in ordinary web pages, except Googles, since they are intentionally making it slow for Firefox.
And with all that going on, people still picked chrome. :)
Now if Mozilla would finally get a CEO who is not driven by stupid capitalistic bullshit, I would actually start using Firefox again.
Until then, I stick to WaterFox.
Why not LibreWolf?
Too locked down for the average user.
It genuinely hurts my soul that this is a complete argument.
The idea that users could or should have preferences - to be responsible to opt (in or out) in any capacity is an unreachable goal.
It's frustrating that a lazy or evil developer can so easily convinve the masses to give up privacy simply by dangling a shiny just outside the default security safeguards.
Ok
It is? I didn't notice anything. I suppose by virtue of having even heard of it I'm not the average user.
With default settings it will wipe your history and cookies on exit
(Which I happen to forget about every single time I install it on a new machine, I hate this default with a passion)
Then there's disabled WebGL, which you also have to reenable on a bunch of sites. Not too hard, but probably annoying for some
Some websites don't work correctly, due to the strict settings.
Its a really really simple change to make them work again and iirc you can set a profile but it is mildly technical which means wayyy too difficult for average people
I guess I don't view those types of sites on my Pc (probably on my phone).
Isn't waterdox owned by a weird company?
Not anymore. It’s owned by the creator again.
Oh awesome!
Nice but it's kinda wierd how people decided to use these browsers after this new law was passed, I mean it's so easy to install apps on smartphones right now but people needed this choice screen to choose another browser of their liking? I would guess it's probably old people that switched that didn't know how to install browser without it, I googled but couldn't find any prove of this tho so it's just my guts
i'm sure more people would install brave now they know about how great it is
I'm sure more people would delete Brave if they started to apply the same standards they do for Firefox
Oh, you should just disable the rewards the cryptowallet the ads on the homepage and ignore all the nonsense they did in the past, then it's greaaaaat
We tend to overestimate people's skill in tech. The average user uses what came installed, doesn't like installing and experimenting apps, uses a browser while logged in to google, taps yes on everything, will install apps when sites ask for it, without even noticing, and will register in every site or app that asks for it, and even give their real email, name, etc
And there are probably many users that do all of this due to being afraid that things might just start breaking, or that more actions they don't understand will be required to keep the system rolling, if they stray from this path for even a little.
it’s so easy to install apps on smartphones right now
Providing choice as a default is precisely about people who are influenced by defaults. It's NOT about how feasible something technically is.
It's like browser war 1.0 all over again but only on mobile...
(Microsoft had to do the exact same thing after they preinstalled Internet Explorer with Windows)
It's laziness. Most people just take the path of the least resistance.
Once you show them the screen, any choice is the same amount of work so they will select what they really want. But without the screen, 90% of people will be good enough with the default option. Or, they might even be mildly uncomfortable with that option, but not enough to do something about it.
It’s laziness. Most people just take the path of the least resistance.
we all do in many parts of life
I didn't say it's a bad thing. If someone tried to pay attention to every little choice they make, they would be exhausted before the morning coffee.
What kind of browser I use is important to me, since I am a geek. But I don't pay attention to many things that more socially adept people would consider important.
the trick is to know what is worth paying attention to and what is not
Rather, the trick is to figure out what is important for you individually and learn to not care for the opinions of others thst go past factual decision making information.
If someone tried to pay attention to every little choice they make, they would be exhausted before the morning coffee.
Story of my life.
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It isn't that weird. Users have a very low tolerance for independence, especially as tech markets itself to less and less tech savvy userbases(like Gen alpha and z). They do what their screens tell them to for the most part.
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i've legit seen many people who have no idea what a web browser is, internet == chrome/safari/edge (which opens automatically when clicking a link on some app) for them. this isn't just older people, actually it's usually worse with younger people.
Meet my wife! Since this screen, she uses the duckduckgo browser (iOS) Idk why, she neither, but she is happy with it.
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