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The web APIs seem to be filled with features that in theory could be useful but you would have to do some serious hunting to find a legitimate user while you ar

The web APIs seem to be filled with features that in theory could be useful but you would have to do some serious hunting to find a legitimate user while you are flooded with examples of evil uses. Firefox removed the battery API for this. In theory you could do something like show a stripped down site for low power users or something but it was only ever used for tracking. While browsers have been used for a lot now, gaming seems like the one place we have seen virtually no use outside of random 2D games. I doubt there is a single web game that actually makes useful use of the gpu vendor details.

tomaszs 6y ago
The problem with limiting browser features is that it makes web apps less competitive with apps on propertiary platforms. I agree not all websites should have access to battery API, but the user should decide on that, not a browser vendor. The same goes for all other limitations imposed.
- pksebben 6y ago
  I think the sane argument here is for sensible defaults. Leaving all those switches turned on is just opening the door for adtech. The set of information that's made available out of the box should be small, and if you need to access information about my graphics card, you can ask for it.
  - Wowfunhappy 6y ago
    I think this only works if the average consumer can assess what is being asked for, though. “Do you want to let this website know what hardware you have?” is not a simple question. “What is hardware?” “Should I let a game know my hardware? Should I let a news website know my hardware?”
    - tomaszs 6y ago
      It is a discussion how to do it right. And surely, if propertiary platforms can do it, browsers can do it too. Especially propertiary platform app has permission to the system data enabled on default. Browser asking for it, would make web apps safer than native ones
    - pksebben 6y ago
      If one does not understand what they are being asked to consent to, they are incapable of giving informed consent.

tomaszs 6y ago

The problem with limiting browser features is that it makes web apps less competitive with apps on propertiary platforms. I agree not all websites should have access to battery API, but the user should decide on that, not a browser vendor. The same goes for all other limitations imposed.

pksebben 6y ago
I think the sane argument here is for sensible defaults. Leaving all those switches turned on is just opening the door for adtech. The set of information that's made available out of the box should be small, and if you need to access information about my graphics card, you can ask for it.
- Wowfunhappy 6y ago
  I think this only works if the average consumer can assess what is being asked for, though. “Do you want to let this website know what hardware you have?” is not a simple question. “What is hardware?” “Should I let a game know my hardware? Should I let a news website know my hardware?”
  - tomaszs 6y ago
    It is a discussion how to do it right. And surely, if propertiary platforms can do it, browsers can do it too. Especially propertiary platform app has permission to the system data enabled on default. Browser asking for it, would make web apps safer than native ones
  - pksebben 6y ago
    If one does not understand what they are being asked to consent to, they are incapable of giving informed consent.