Firefox just tried to sell me a VPN service on a new tab
If I ever see another ad I will be done with Firefox and switch to Chromium.
Also, on the other hand, this doesn't make any sense. Let's see the logic.
- I want an alternative, open browser. Free both in beer and speech. OK.
- I also don't want said browser not to work with "bad" web corporations like Google, and accept their money. OK.
- I also want no ads on this thing, even if it's only about other products of the same browser maker. OK.
- I also don't want to support them monetarily. OK.
- Oh, and no shady data practices! OK.
So, how this company/non-profit making this very complex and sophisticated piece of software will survive with no money? Should the engineers do photosynthesis and sleep on park benches?
The thing is, Firefox needs money and needs to be sustainable in doing that. I also don't like the idea of showing ads inside Firefox, but I can accept that if it's a necessary evil, and done in a responsible way (static, not very invasive, etc.).
Currently, I believe survival of Firefox is much more important than a petty Mozilla VPN ad. Because I think that they need that money, and we need an open web.
Not true considering there's no way to pay for Firefox development. I mean yes you can buy their shitty VPN but not only is that wasteful but would actually encourage such practices even more.
Firefox started and got stuck on a tab congratulating themselves on reaching version 100. This actually delayed the loading of the URL that was supposed to open as it wouldn't load until I dismissed that popup.
At least the VPN ad, as much as I hate it, has an excuse - they're trying to make money. But this? What was the point? What is the user supposed to do with it? The browser is supposed to be a tool to let you browse the internet and otherwise remain invisible; people don't install browsers because they love browsers, they install them because they have shit to do on the web. If the browser intentionally gets in the way of that it's a flawed browser.
Firefox is the most user-hostile piece of open source software that I know of. Every few months it will find some new bullshit to nag you about. It's like an advertising platform - except ad platforms at least make money.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Mozilla-Salaries-E19129.htm
and they have so much that they can increase the salary of their CEO year after year!
http://techrights.org/2022/02/17/mozilla-salaries/
also how do we call a company that depend on ADs in new tabs, but at the same time blocks ADs from the web?
what is the alternative though?
Otherwise Edge is a good alternative to Chrome, with Microsoft trackers instead of Google trackers. Vivaldi can also be considered if you don’t mind the slower UI.
I love all the other web developers.
I don't hate them, but [1]. The problem with Safari is that it is too expensive (you also have to buy Apple). [1] Opinion autocensored due to site guidelines.