5 ms·

What's the drama on Android? It's been working great for me for years now.

by distances 6y ago

brianush1 6y ago
They removed about:config, for one
- cpeterso 6y ago
  You can use about:config in Firefox Nightly for Android: https://support.mozilla.org/lt/questions/1300502 https://support.mozilla.org/lt/questions/1300502
input_sh 6y ago
They've completely redesigned it about a year ago, making it much faster, but losing add-on compatibility. So pretty much the same thing that happened to desktops on v57, except a bit worse: only 17 add-ons are currently available in nightly. Still more than what's available on Chrome and Safari on mobile, so it always remained my browser of choice on a phone.
- cpeterso 6y ago
  You can install any add-on from addons.mozilla.org in Firefox Nightly for Android: https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/09/29/expanded-extension-support-in-firefox-for-android-nightly/ https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/09/29/expanded-extensio...
  - Macha 6y ago
    Right, but choosing between power user features and stability is clearly worse as a user than not having to choose between power user features and stability. Also isn't there more telemetry on by default in nightly?
    - cpeterso 6y ago
      Installing unsupported add-ons also risks instability. Mozilla didn't restrict the initial list of supported add-ons because they don't want to allow add-ons. They continue to expand the list of add-ons supported in Firefox for Android as more add-ons and APIs are tested. Mozilla uses Firefox telemetry to fix bugs, identify areas to optimize, and guide product decisions. How else can Mozilla know which devices or problems to prioritize?
  - CameronNemo 6y ago
    IIRC fennec (from fdroid) is going to allow all add ons too.
    - ce4 6y ago
      Thanks for the info! What a relief, I'm currently still on v68 to not lose uMatrix, bypass paywalls, amp redirect to html, old reddit redirect and others. I'm really waiting for this
  - input_sh 6y ago
    Neat! I had no idea. Thanks for sharing!
ducktective 6y ago
Same but I've disabled its updates since like a year.
- xnx 6y ago
  Me too. Waiting for the current branch to properly support extensions, or for an Android Chrome fork to support the extensions I use.
  - as_ 6y ago
    Kiwi Browser let install Chrome extensions :)
    - xnx 6y ago
      Yes! I've tried that, but one of my most-used save page extensions doesn't work.
- lxgr 6y ago
  Is that a good idea though, considering that your browser is arguably the largest attack surface there is on your computer?
  - fwn 6y ago
    It's not a good idea. That's also why it's very important to provide updates that do not disable functionality important for the user. That way you don't force users to choose between security or functionality. Mozilla still does not allow non-store extensions on their new firefox. Until they're back I have to keep old Firefox around. ...which sucks.
corty 6y ago
They broke all addons and made the Tabs and Bookmarks UIs unusable imho.

What's the drama on Android? It's been working great for me for years now.

brianush1 6y ago

They removed about:config, for one

cpeterso 6y ago
You can use about:config in Firefox Nightly for Android: https://support.mozilla.org/lt/questions/1300502 https://support.mozilla.org/lt/questions/1300502

input_sh 6y ago

They've completely redesigned it about a year ago, making it much faster, but losing add-on compatibility. So pretty much the same thing that happened to desktops on v57, except a bit worse: only 17 add-ons are currently available in nightly. Still more than what's available on Chrome and Safari on mobile, so it always remained my browser of choice on a phone.

cpeterso 6y ago
You can install any add-on from addons.mozilla.org in Firefox Nightly for Android: https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/09/29/expanded-extension-support-in-firefox-for-android-nightly/ https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/09/29/expanded-extensio...
- Macha 6y ago
  Right, but choosing between power user features and stability is clearly worse as a user than not having to choose between power user features and stability. Also isn't there more telemetry on by default in nightly?
  - cpeterso 6y ago
    Installing unsupported add-ons also risks instability. Mozilla didn't restrict the initial list of supported add-ons because they don't want to allow add-ons. They continue to expand the list of add-ons supported in Firefox for Android as more add-ons and APIs are tested. Mozilla uses Firefox telemetry to fix bugs, identify areas to optimize, and guide product decisions. How else can Mozilla know which devices or problems to prioritize?
- CameronNemo 6y ago
  IIRC fennec (from fdroid) is going to allow all add ons too.
  - ce4 6y ago
    Thanks for the info! What a relief, I'm currently still on v68 to not lose uMatrix, bypass paywalls, amp redirect to html, old reddit redirect and others. I'm really waiting for this
- input_sh 6y ago
  Neat! I had no idea. Thanks for sharing!

ducktective 6y ago

Same but I've disabled its updates since like a year.

xnx 6y ago
Me too. Waiting for the current branch to properly support extensions, or for an Android Chrome fork to support the extensions I use.
- as_ 6y ago
  Kiwi Browser let install Chrome extensions :)
  - xnx 6y ago
    Yes! I've tried that, but one of my most-used save page extensions doesn't work.
lxgr 6y ago
Is that a good idea though, considering that your browser is arguably the largest attack surface there is on your computer?
- fwn 6y ago
  It's not a good idea. That's also why it's very important to provide updates that do not disable functionality important for the user. That way you don't force users to choose between security or functionality. Mozilla still does not allow non-store extensions on their new firefox. Until they're back I have to keep old Firefox around. ...which sucks.

corty 6y ago

They broke all addons and made the Tabs and Bookmarks UIs unusable imho.