4 ms·

Why not just release this as an extension? And make it work with Firefox as well. This seems why browser extensions exist at all. No need to pretend that perple

Why not just release this as an extension? And make it work with Firefox as well. This seems why browser extensions exist at all. No need to pretend that perplexity or openai is actually going to do any work at all on the rest of the browser. And it seems overkill to release your own browser just to white label it.

yoavm 1y ago
It's pretty much impossible to create WebExtensions that provide a complete experience and feel native. The API is (perhaps rightfully so) quite restrictive.
xnx 1y ago
IIRC most web use is mobile. Approximately 0% of mobile users can install extensions. Edit: I forgot iOS Safari can install extensions. Android users can install Firefox and then install extensions, but this is a big ask for the typical user. Probably still a good estimate that <0.5% of mobile users have ever installed an extension.
- frizlab 1y ago
  That’s absolutely untrue? On iOS extensions are supported, and I hope an android too!
  - xnx 1y ago
    Good point. I forget about Safari extensions because iOS forbids other browser engines. Chrome on Android does not support extensions (maybe in the future with manifest v3?), but Firefox does.
  - danielbln 1y ago
    Not in Chrome, but definitely in Firefox.
- MattPalmer1086 1y ago
  You can install add ons in Firefox mobile.
  - xnx 1y ago
    Indeed, and that's great, but the market share is too small for me to even read: https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/mobile/worldwide https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/mobile/world...
  - cco 1y ago
    The poster agreed, they said approximately 0% of mobile web users can install extensions.
- _Algernon_ 1y ago
  Everyone who has android can install Firefox and thus can install extensions. Last I checked the Android market share was nowhere close to 0%
  - xnx 1y ago
    Yes, and that's great, but <1% of Android users use Firefox.
    - _Algernon_ 1y ago
      But they can…
  - carlosjobim 1y ago
    My girl absolutely cannot install a browser extension, neither can most people I know.
    - _Algernon_ 1y ago
      If that is a literally true, I'd be doubting her capability to informed consent to a relationship, but that's just me. It's literally a google search and one or two button clicks. It's about the same complexity as opening and scrolling Facebook.
  - oc1 1y ago
    I've never heard of someone installing a browser extension on mobile and if i haven't heard it, your regular user won't for sure.
    - const_cast 1y ago
      I do it for Ublock Origin. The web without an adblocker sucks so much ass. I truly don't understand how regular users do it without killing themselves.
- leptons 1y ago
  I've been hearing that Chrome/Android will be supporting extensions soon.
rs186 1y ago
Care to read the article? > OpenAI decided to build its own browser, rather than simply a “plug-in” on top of another company’s browser, in order to have more control over the data it can collect, one source said.

yoavm 1y ago

It's pretty much impossible to create WebExtensions that provide a complete experience and feel native. The API is (perhaps rightfully so) quite restrictive.

xnx 1y ago

IIRC most web use is mobile. Approximately 0% of mobile users can install extensions. Edit: I forgot iOS Safari can install extensions. Android users can install Firefox and then install extensions, but this is a big ask for the typical user. Probably still a good estimate that <0.5% of mobile users have ever installed an extension.

frizlab 1y ago
That’s absolutely untrue? On iOS extensions are supported, and I hope an android too!
- xnx 1y ago
  Good point. I forget about Safari extensions because iOS forbids other browser engines. Chrome on Android does not support extensions (maybe in the future with manifest v3?), but Firefox does.
- danielbln 1y ago
  Not in Chrome, but definitely in Firefox.
MattPalmer1086 1y ago
You can install add ons in Firefox mobile.
- xnx 1y ago
  Indeed, and that's great, but the market share is too small for me to even read: https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/mobile/worldwide https://gs.statcounter.com/browser-market-share/mobile/world...
- cco 1y ago
  The poster agreed, they said approximately 0% of mobile web users can install extensions.
_Algernon_ 1y ago
Everyone who has android can install Firefox and thus can install extensions. Last I checked the Android market share was nowhere close to 0%
- xnx 1y ago
  Yes, and that's great, but <1% of Android users use Firefox.
  - _Algernon_ 1y ago
    But they can…
- carlosjobim 1y ago
  My girl absolutely cannot install a browser extension, neither can most people I know.
  - _Algernon_ 1y ago
    If that is a literally true, I'd be doubting her capability to informed consent to a relationship, but that's just me. It's literally a google search and one or two button clicks. It's about the same complexity as opening and scrolling Facebook.
- oc1 1y ago
  I've never heard of someone installing a browser extension on mobile and if i haven't heard it, your regular user won't for sure.
  - const_cast 1y ago
    I do it for Ublock Origin. The web without an adblocker sucks so much ass. I truly don't understand how regular users do it without killing themselves.
leptons 1y ago
I've been hearing that Chrome/Android will be supporting extensions soon.

rs186 1y ago

Care to read the article? > OpenAI decided to build its own browser, rather than simply a “plug-in” on top of another company’s browser, in order to have more control over the data it can collect, one source said.