this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2023
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Firefox

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On desktop I am using Firefox since I can remember. The main reason being the good add-on support and the privacy friendly image of the browser. Although there might be better solution to keep my own data privat, Firefox always felt like the sweet spot between privacy and usability. Now I am using an iPhone and first thing I did, was to install Firefox. But after I learned that all browsers on iOS have to use the WebKit engine, I am wondering what difference it makes to use Firefox there. Is it on iOS more like a skin for Safari, or how much does ist affect the inner workings of the browser? What are the biggest differences?

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I believe Apple is allowing new browser engines to run on iOS which has lead to google starting development on Chromium for iOS and Mozilla starting development for Gecko on iOS. So even though there isn't any major differences now, there will be soon.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If the iOS Firefox is like the Android version with addon support after this, I'd be extremely satisfied.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

It very well could be, and they could even release a nightly version so you can access the about:config menu.

[–] cheese_greater 1 points 1 year ago

Ya, its like every week there's a new WebKit-based exploit that can turn your phone into a sleeper cell or whatever. Its scary and insane we have to tolerate forced vulnerabillity because of this weird anti-competitive rule

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Good to know. Is there already some kind of schedule, when the new Engine will be implemented?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I am not sure but I believe it should be here by the next major iOS update

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's great to hear! As much ss I like to bash Apple sometimes, this is a great step and I really appreciate this change

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

It really is, it would also mean that thr legitimate Tor browser would become possible on iOS instead of having to use Onion Browser.

While I will still stick to Android because of custom roms, stock iOS will be much preferred to stock Android with the addition of side loading and the browser engines. Now they need to add a proper file management system.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Any source on that? I expected it during WWDC but didn’t hear anything (although I could have missed it)