4 ms·

Three years after its revamp, Firefox's Android browser adds 450 new extensions

40 points by laktak 3y ago

Laaas 3y ago
I don't understand why they restrict the extensions you can install in the first place? Who cares if an extension's UI doesn't work perfectly on mobile? That they took so long to extend the list confounds me.
- PrayagBhakar 3y ago
  I wonder if part of it was being able to work with extension devs to see how to better integrate extensions on mobile. I suppose one way to test that would be to see if the Firefox extensions api improved for mobile
- millzlane 3y ago
  I don't want to imagine the amount of issues generated for people from bad extensions. I suspect it was a decision made to prevent driving off "new to firefox" users with a browser that didn't function because they got an extension "from firefox".
  - fwn 3y ago
    > I don't want to imagine the amount of issues generated for people from bad extensions. I'm a heavy Firefox user, but since almost no one uses Firefox for Android, and of that group almost no one uses extensions beyond maybe ublock Origin, I'd put the number of issues at roughly 5. On a more serious note, I think the Firefox for Android user base is highly educated. They are not going to accidentally install a typical extension to, say, extract website content in markdown, thinking: "What is an extension developer anyway?"
- mmwelt 3y ago
  It's now also possible to install any add-on on Firefox by turning on desktop mode.
- SushiHippie 3y ago
  See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38649293 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38649293
- paulryanrogers 3y ago
  There was an escape hatch using an addon collection and beta or nightly. That may have taken off some of the pressure
mdaniel 3y ago
yesterday: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38644608 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38644608
sureglymop 3y ago
Why do they not open up extension settings in a "normal tab" like on desktop? That breaks so many desktop extensions that are now available to be installed, e.g. floccus.
- tobz1000 3y ago
  It seems equivalent to desktop for me. Add-ons -> [add-on-name]: opens the modal content for an addon Add-ons -> Add-ons manager -> [add-on name] -> Settings: opens the settings page for an addon in a new tab.
mvdwoord 3y ago
But still no pull to refresh...
- cicko 3y ago
  Pull to refresh what? It's an annoying feature that's already built right into Firefox for Android and doesn't need an extension.
- 8K832d7tNmiQ 3y ago
  It's on Settings > Customize > Pull to Refresh. Otherwise, I have no idea what you are talking about.
  - mvdwoord 3y ago
    Holy crap, I have overlooked this for quite some time. Apparently added in April or something. Was stuck on nightly because of this. Thanks.

40 points by laktak 3y ago

I don't understand why they restrict the extensions you can install in the first place? Who cares if an extension's UI doesn't work perfectly on mobile? That they took so long to extend the list confounds me.

PrayagBhakar 3y ago
I wonder if part of it was being able to work with extension devs to see how to better integrate extensions on mobile. I suppose one way to test that would be to see if the Firefox extensions api improved for mobile
millzlane 3y ago
I don't want to imagine the amount of issues generated for people from bad extensions. I suspect it was a decision made to prevent driving off "new to firefox" users with a browser that didn't function because they got an extension "from firefox".
- fwn 3y ago
  > I don't want to imagine the amount of issues generated for people from bad extensions. I'm a heavy Firefox user, but since almost no one uses Firefox for Android, and of that group almost no one uses extensions beyond maybe ublock Origin, I'd put the number of issues at roughly 5. On a more serious note, I think the Firefox for Android user base is highly educated. They are not going to accidentally install a typical extension to, say, extract website content in markdown, thinking: "What is an extension developer anyway?"
mmwelt 3y ago
It's now also possible to install any add-on on Firefox by turning on desktop mode.
SushiHippie 3y ago
See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38649293 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38649293
paulryanrogers 3y ago
There was an escape hatch using an addon collection and beta or nightly. That may have taken off some of the pressure

mdaniel 3y ago

yesterday: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38644608 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38644608

sureglymop 3y ago

Why do they not open up extension settings in a "normal tab" like on desktop? That breaks so many desktop extensions that are now available to be installed, e.g. floccus.

tobz1000 3y ago
It seems equivalent to desktop for me. Add-ons -> [add-on-name]: opens the modal content for an addon Add-ons -> Add-ons manager -> [add-on name] -> Settings: opens the settings page for an addon in a new tab.

mvdwoord 3y ago

But still no pull to refresh...

cicko 3y ago
Pull to refresh what? It's an annoying feature that's already built right into Firefox for Android and doesn't need an extension.
8K832d7tNmiQ 3y ago
It's on Settings > Customize > Pull to Refresh. Otherwise, I have no idea what you are talking about.
- mvdwoord 3y ago
  Holy crap, I have overlooked this for quite some time. Apparently added in April or something. Was stuck on nightly because of this. Thanks.