4 ms·

Though certainly a step up from server-based spyware, this app is still browser-based, which is incredibly annoying. I'm trying to avoid using browser-based ap

by gnosis 13y ago

Though certainly a step up from server-based spyware, this app is still browser-based, which is incredibly annoying. I'm trying to avoid using browser-based apps, especially ones that require bloated browsers such as Firefox, Opera, or Chrome. I much prefer open-source apps that are serverless and don't require browsers, like Newsbeuter[1] and rss2email[2]. [1] - http://www.newsbeuter.org/index.html http://www.newsbeuter.org/index.html [2] - http://www.allthingsrss.com/rss2email http://www.allthingsrss.com/rss2email

shyn3 13y ago
You just listed 3 browsers that are pretty common and bloated. I was wondering what you are using for a browser?
- gnosis 13y ago
  w3m in emacs, mostly -- except for a few sites I care about (like HN) that absolutely insist on using Javascript. It might be a bit extreme for most people, but browsing the web in text-only mode (w3m is capable of displaying images, but I mostly don't use it that way) is great! I quickly and efficiently get what matters to me most: the content. And I don't have to worry Javascript, Flash, HTML 5, or other rich media vulnerabilities. Not to mention the great integration of w3m in emacs, which is far beyond anything you'd get with a standalone browser (even if you're using addons like Pentadactyl or It's All Text).
  - npsimons 13y ago
    Second this; having your browser as just another emacs buffer is just too handy; now if I could just get w3m to support the minimum necessary JS to get my regular sites to work . . .
    - gnosis 13y ago
      An experimental Javascript extention to w3m, called w3m-js, used to exist.. 10 years ago.[1][2] But unfortunately the project looks pretty dead now. [1] - http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~hsaka/w3m/ http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~hsaka/w3m/ [2] - http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/w3m-js/ http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/w3m-js/
ahk 13y ago
RSS articles usually have links to other articles. So, reading on a browser saves a context/app switch if I want to follow a link. Also why I feel youtube/twitter etc is better on the browser.
- gnosis 13y ago
  I am also in favor of having applications closely integrated, but just not inside the browser (which is a completely awful, broken, weak, and insecure evironment) but inside emacs. I'm still using Newsbeuter right now, which is a separate app, and it does take me a context switch to go from it to w3m running in emacs when I want to view an article. However, I'm in the process of transitioning to having an email client integrated in to emacs. That, along with rss2email should give me complete integration as far as web browsing and rss reading go, since w3m (my web browser) is already integrated in to emacs. As for youtube, I am more than happy to sacrifice integration to avoid using its crappy web interface. Also, I prefer downloading youtube videos so I can archive them for future viewing (which is important, as way too many videos disappear from youtube after a while). I don't use Twitter, and hope I never have to. So that's not an issue for me. I do use IRC, for which there are emacs clients, and I may transition to using those in the future.
  - MatthewPhillips 13y ago
    We get it, you really like emacs. It's ok that products exist that are not for your needs/wants.
    - gnosis 13y ago
      My comments here are 100% from my own perspective. I don't pretend to speak for anyone else. I hope that is ok with you.
      - MatthewPhillips 13y ago
        Sure, it's just kind of weird to comment on an article about a web app when you don't use web apps. I don't own an iPhone but I wouldn't comment on an iPhone app and say how much I dislike it for being an iPhone app...

by gnosis 13y ago

shyn3 13y ago

You just listed 3 browsers that are pretty common and bloated. I was wondering what you are using for a browser?

gnosis 13y ago
w3m in emacs, mostly -- except for a few sites I care about (like HN) that absolutely insist on using Javascript. It might be a bit extreme for most people, but browsing the web in text-only mode (w3m is capable of displaying images, but I mostly don't use it that way) is great! I quickly and efficiently get what matters to me most: the content. And I don't have to worry Javascript, Flash, HTML 5, or other rich media vulnerabilities. Not to mention the great integration of w3m in emacs, which is far beyond anything you'd get with a standalone browser (even if you're using addons like Pentadactyl or It's All Text).
- npsimons 13y ago
  Second this; having your browser as just another emacs buffer is just too handy; now if I could just get w3m to support the minimum necessary JS to get my regular sites to work . . .
  - gnosis 13y ago
    An experimental Javascript extention to w3m, called w3m-js, used to exist.. 10 years ago.[1][2] But unfortunately the project looks pretty dead now. [1] - http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~hsaka/w3m/ http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~hsaka/w3m/ [2] - http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/w3m-js/ http://en.sourceforge.jp/projects/w3m-js/

ahk 13y ago

RSS articles usually have links to other articles. So, reading on a browser saves a context/app switch if I want to follow a link. Also why I feel youtube/twitter etc is better on the browser.

gnosis 13y ago
I am also in favor of having applications closely integrated, but just not inside the browser (which is a completely awful, broken, weak, and insecure evironment) but inside emacs. I'm still using Newsbeuter right now, which is a separate app, and it does take me a context switch to go from it to w3m running in emacs when I want to view an article. However, I'm in the process of transitioning to having an email client integrated in to emacs. That, along with rss2email should give me complete integration as far as web browsing and rss reading go, since w3m (my web browser) is already integrated in to emacs. As for youtube, I am more than happy to sacrifice integration to avoid using its crappy web interface. Also, I prefer downloading youtube videos so I can archive them for future viewing (which is important, as way too many videos disappear from youtube after a while). I don't use Twitter, and hope I never have to. So that's not an issue for me. I do use IRC, for which there are emacs clients, and I may transition to using those in the future.
- MatthewPhillips 13y ago
  We get it, you really like emacs. It's ok that products exist that are not for your needs/wants.
  - gnosis 13y ago
    My comments here are 100% from my own perspective. I don't pretend to speak for anyone else. I hope that is ok with you.
    - MatthewPhillips 13y ago
      Sure, it's just kind of weird to comment on an article about a web app when you don't use web apps. I don't own an iPhone but I wouldn't comment on an iPhone app and say how much I dislike it for being an iPhone app...