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Popular web browsers way too complex, far too difficult to control. Simpler software could satisfy web users. Could reduce potential for surveillance and anno

Popular web browsers way too complex, far too difficult to control. Simpler software could satisfy web users. Could reduce potential for surveillance and annoying distractions. Easier to audit and control.

conception 1y ago
We should have stopped with gopher. I’m not even sure I’m joking.
- SunlitCat 1y ago
  Although being too young to be really have seen gopher, i can still remember the (comparatively) simple "Internet" from mid to late 90s. IRC for chatting, ICQ for instant messaging (which didn't work because my ISP at that time used a strange firewall / proxy setup and IRQ wasn't able to get through), newsgroups as a kind of discussion board, picture viewers for all kind of image formats (like wise video players), real player (Buffering...:D) for streaming....and most importantly web browser(s) when you want to grab information from all around the world (but dang having only a 33.6kbit modem, was really a test of patience sometimes). Oh! I forgot! WinAmp which can whip the llama's...yeah you surely know what it does whip! ;)
kbrosnan 1y ago
No, simpler software is not accepted by the general public. For a few years Firefox rejected EME/Widevine. When Netflix does not work then they will just use a browser that works.
1vuio0pswjnm7 1y ago
NB. I am a member of the "general public". I use simpler software. For example, I do not use a so-called "modern" web browser with DRM supoort in order to read, submit and reply on HN. Nor do I use a more complex program to download video files. I may use a more complex program to edit, convert and play video files, such as ffmpeg/ffplay, although unlike a so-called "modern" web browser ffmpeg is not controlled and "automatically updated" by an surveillance advertising company or financially depedant on one, sending it data about users in return for money.

conception 1y ago

We should have stopped with gopher. I’m not even sure I’m joking.

SunlitCat 1y ago
Although being too young to be really have seen gopher, i can still remember the (comparatively) simple "Internet" from mid to late 90s. IRC for chatting, ICQ for instant messaging (which didn't work because my ISP at that time used a strange firewall / proxy setup and IRQ wasn't able to get through), newsgroups as a kind of discussion board, picture viewers for all kind of image formats (like wise video players), real player (Buffering...:D) for streaming....and most importantly web browser(s) when you want to grab information from all around the world (but dang having only a 33.6kbit modem, was really a test of patience sometimes). Oh! I forgot! WinAmp which can whip the llama's...yeah you surely know what it does whip! ;)

kbrosnan 1y ago

No, simpler software is not accepted by the general public. For a few years Firefox rejected EME/Widevine. When Netflix does not work then they will just use a browser that works.

1vuio0pswjnm7 1y ago

NB. I am a member of the "general public". I use simpler software. For example, I do not use a so-called "modern" web browser with DRM supoort in order to read, submit and reply on HN. Nor do I use a more complex program to download video files. I may use a more complex program to edit, convert and play video files, such as ffmpeg/ffplay, although unlike a so-called "modern" web browser ffmpeg is not controlled and "automatically updated" by an surveillance advertising company or financially depedant on one, sending it data about users in return for money.