Hacker News Reader

Comment by OJFord | Hacker News Reader

TFA doesn't seem to expand on the opening claim that it's 'potentially disturbing'.

I think it could be great - better funded by 'power users' than by tracking and ads.

A paid Firefox version would be great. Companies often have less of a problem buying software than donating to another entity, so adding features that are primarily of interest to companies might be a good way to earn money.

Reads like FUD. From everything I've seen, "Firefox Premium" is not a thing as such. I can't read German, so maybe Chris Beard revealed something different in the interview from what he's been saying in other public meetings - but I doubt it.

There are plans to launch paid subscription services & products in a Firefox brand family. Some of services may even be independent from the browser and be separate standalone apps & products. Some of the services may even - gasp - work in a non-Firefox browser.

Think of things like Firefox Send, Firefox Monitor, Firefox Lockbox, a system-wide VPN, an in-browser secure proxy. Specific plans are still in progress, but I don't think any of them are literally "you pay for browser now"

Fwiw, I wasn't assuming that 'pay for browser' (optionally) meant any more than, if I'm signed in, I get Lock~box~wise et al. - or 'unlocked' access beyond 100 passwords or something.

I just think if you don't make payment look like it's about a specific product, that people will be more willing and likely to pseudo-donate by subscribing before they hit whatever such limits.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com