4 ms·

Distraction-free? Have they stopped filling the new tab page with revenue-generators like Pocket?

Tomte 7y ago
Two clicks and it‘s gone forever. In the main GUI, not some about:config setting.
po1nter 7y ago
This is my new tab page: https://imgur.com/TpSzOCZ https://imgur.com/TpSzOCZ Note that the search bar can also be removed. So yes, as distraction free as you want to make it.
- drankula3 7y ago
  Defaults matter. And currently, Firefox fills their new tab page with spam and self-promotion by default.
  - dao- 7y ago
    > spam I don't think this fits the definition of spam. Many average Joe users happen to find those curated suggestions useful. Yes, user testing has been done. > Defaults matter. Yep. More advanced users also tend to be better positioned to opt out compared to average Joe opting in.
    - drankula3 7y ago
      Spam: unsolicited usually commercial messages (such as e-mails, text messages, or Internet postings) sent to a large number of recipients or posted in a large number of places[1]. By that definition, it is spam. > user testing has been done User testing isn't flawless, and is what got us the ribbon in Microsoft Office for example, an incredibly unintuitive interface. [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spam https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spam
      - madhadron 7y ago
        > got us the ribbon in Microsoft Office for example, an incredibly unintuitive interface. On the contrary. The ribbon is a really excellent piece of UX work, much more discoverable and usable than the masses of menus that preceded it. It just isn't what people were used to. My favorite story is a friend of mine ranting about how he couldn't find anything with the ribbon in Word, and adding, "but at least they added styles to Word." I had to point out that styles had been in Word for a long, long time and the ribbon had just done its job very nicely.
      - dao- 7y ago
        So... I'm not sure what exactly we're talking about. Since the comment said "spam and self-promotion", I'm assuming spam doesn't mean the self-promotion but the recommended media articles. They're not commercial messages. Arguably the self-promotion could be called spam but it also occupies much less space on the page.
neogodless 7y ago
It's that, in your opinion, worse than what Google does, collecting and monetizing information about you?
- Causality1 7y ago
  Frankly, yes. I might find Google's actions offensive in principle, but since I block ads they have absolutely zero impact on my life. Things like Pocket are actual hassles, albeit small ones.

Two clicks and it‘s gone forever. In the main GUI, not some about:config setting.

This is my new tab page: https://imgur.com/TpSzOCZ https://imgur.com/TpSzOCZ Note that the search bar can also be removed. So yes, as distraction free as you want to make it.

drankula3 7y ago
Defaults matter. And currently, Firefox fills their new tab page with spam and self-promotion by default.
- dao- 7y ago
  > spam I don't think this fits the definition of spam. Many average Joe users happen to find those curated suggestions useful. Yes, user testing has been done. > Defaults matter. Yep. More advanced users also tend to be better positioned to opt out compared to average Joe opting in.
  - drankula3 7y ago
    Spam: unsolicited usually commercial messages (such as e-mails, text messages, or Internet postings) sent to a large number of recipients or posted in a large number of places[1]. By that definition, it is spam. > user testing has been done User testing isn't flawless, and is what got us the ribbon in Microsoft Office for example, an incredibly unintuitive interface. [1] https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spam https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spam
    - madhadron 7y ago
      > got us the ribbon in Microsoft Office for example, an incredibly unintuitive interface. On the contrary. The ribbon is a really excellent piece of UX work, much more discoverable and usable than the masses of menus that preceded it. It just isn't what people were used to. My favorite story is a friend of mine ranting about how he couldn't find anything with the ribbon in Word, and adding, "but at least they added styles to Word." I had to point out that styles had been in Word for a long, long time and the ribbon had just done its job very nicely.
    - dao- 7y ago
      So... I'm not sure what exactly we're talking about. Since the comment said "spam and self-promotion", I'm assuming spam doesn't mean the self-promotion but the recommended media articles. They're not commercial messages. Arguably the self-promotion could be called spam but it also occupies much less space on the page.

neogodless 7y ago

It's that, in your opinion, worse than what Google does, collecting and monetizing information about you?

Causality1 7y ago
Frankly, yes. I might find Google's actions offensive in principle, but since I block ads they have absolutely zero impact on my life. Things like Pocket are actual hassles, albeit small ones.