this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2023
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[–] rglullis 18 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (15 children)

Some counterpoints:

  • I like the idea of a system where users get a share of the revenue from the ad networks, which then can be used to support other content creators or businesses online. I think that if most of the web worked like this, we wouldn't have people being treated as eyeballs and we would still have the power to vote with our wallets to choose who is actually worth of our attention. Is there any other browser or company doing anything like that?

  • People keep talking about Firefox as if it's a paragon of virtue, but casually forget that they are only alive because they are completely dependent on Google to survive and are nothing more than "controlled opposition" nowadays. They also have done a ton user-hostile shit like sponsored links in the frontpage and completely crippled pocket, and let's not forget that current Mozilla execs are raking in millions while laying off people and disbanding key projects.

  • The crypto part keeps called a scam, but their system has been working perfectly fine and it has always been liquid enough for me at the exchanges. Is their BAT token needed? Certainly not, and I would be fine if the 3-8 euros worth of BAT I receive every month (depending on my mobile usage and on their success as an network) were sent to me directly via SEPA. But can anyone realistically say that there is any efficient worldwide way to distribute payouts? For every dollar you sent to someone via Patreon (or Ko-Fi, or any alternative), how much do they get to keep? With the Brave creators program, all of the $15/month that I send to the different people get to them.

All in all, I will stop using Brave in a heartbeat if there is anyone else providing any alternative with a slight chance to fight Surveillance Capitalism. None of the Chromium or Mozilla forks are doing that.

[–] slowbyrne@beehaw.org 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Brave's objective is to create a system that looks altruistic but they control it and take a ever increasing cut. Google started off the same way. I like the idea, but it's one that needs to be controlled by a not for profit or by the people. Giving that control to a for profit company is just repeating history.

Firefox isn't perfect, but my argument for choosing them or a fork of FF is to combat the market share of chromium based browsers. With google pushing for Web Environment Integrity (aka web DRM) using a different browser is one of the few good ways to protest.

I would also like to point out that popular open source projects often get contributions (both code and financial) from large corporations. Sometimes it's their main source of revenue. This isn't just a Mozilla problem. I wouldn't even say it is a problem. A problem would be if those contributions affect the project in a negative way.

Just like in most things these days our choices are limited to the shitty and the less shitty. Obviously where Brave and Firefox lands on that shitty spectrum will depend on your priorities, but for me at least Firefox is less shitty and far from perfect, but decent.

Edit: grammer

[–] rglullis 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Brave’s objective is to create a system that looks altruistic but they control it and take a ever increasing cut.

I don't see how? All they control is the ad network. Viewing the ads is opt-in. The ads they displayed are stored in device, and the code that selects which ads to show you is open source. The system for verifying ad views can be audited by any party. The token is on the blockchain so they can't manipulate and the contract does not have any special rules.

Assuming a world where Brave gets significant market share, the "worst" they could do would be to change the promised revenue share, but if they went to do that then users would lose the incentive to opt-in into the ads, and they would more likely lose revenue and open themselves for competition. (That's a risk that could run even if they did everything right, by the way)

using a different browser is the only good way to protest.

That is not true. "Though Brave uses Chromium, Brave browsers do not (and will not) include WEI".

A problem would be if those contributions affect the project in a negative way.

And I could make the argument this is in the case with Mozilla and Firefox. Mozilla being so dependent of Google's revenue means that they will never take any measure that could be seen by Google as a credible threat to their business. Ask yourself why Firefox never included an ad-blocker by default or has kept its mobile browser crippled for so long, or got rid of FirefoxOS...

[–] upstream@beehaw.org 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Firefox never included an ad-blocker by default because an Ad-blocker kinda does the opposite of what the web-browser is supposed to do.

A web browser shall render the web page according to specification. Blocking content hinders this behavior and will even break some websites.

I think most people have forgotten that 15 years ago web browsers had barely started becoming standards compliant, with Opera being the first(?) to pass the Acid2 rendering test in 2006.

For reference: https://hyperborea.org/journal/2006/03/opera-passes-acid2/

A user installing an ad-blocker is perfectly fine, and hopefully the user makes an informed decision of advantages and the possible disadvantages that said ad-blocker might have.

And it’s also fine for fringe browsers like Brave to have a default ad-blocker, but there’s a big difference from that to just putting one in a product that’s used by millions, even though most users would likely be happy with the change.

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[–] Boozilla@beehaw.org 14 points 1 year ago (14 children)

I have stopped using Brave. Fuck those guys.

I just wish Firefox would update less frequently. It's way too often.

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[–] Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de 12 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Im just waiting for Firefox mobile to add back support for all add-ons.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@beehaw.org 13 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Have you tried Fennec? It's a stable and up-to-date release of Firefox with full support for add-ons and about:config

Not all add-ons work for mobile, but many of them do. You just have to use the "save to collection" feature to add them. I've got sponsorblock working in mine.

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[–] tetra@feddit.de 12 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I use Brave as a secondary browser for PWAs on the desktop. I wish Firefox would support it again.

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[–] acastcandream@beehaw.org 10 points 1 year ago (10 children)

Here’s my current problem: I use Firefox mainly, but I need a chromium browser for work occasionally. I feel like brave is better than chrome proper right? But the CEO is also terrible. Is there something I can use that’s chromium based (occasional usage) that is at least “the least bad” option?

[–] Jaysyn@kbin.social 12 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Use one of the "clean" versions of Chromium (not Chrome) from Woolyss.com

If you want updates to be handled automatically, you can use ChrLauncher

EDIT: I guess you can't use the latter on OSX.

[–] ElectroLisa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 8 points 1 year ago (3 children)
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[–] sour@feddit.de 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I use brave because it doesn't apply chrome or edge group policies. If someone can tell me a better chromium based Browser (or firefox based) that does this, I'm all ears...

[–] TWeaK@lemm.ee 13 points 1 year ago

From another user:

Firefox:

Chrome:

Also Mull for Android, with Mulch for Android System Webview.

[–] MrMonkey@lemm.ee 10 points 1 year ago

STOP USING JAVACRIPT

[–] p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 year ago

Stop posting stupid shit from a no-name blog.

[–] Rbon@lemmy.sdf.org 9 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I currently use brave on iOS to block YouTube ads. Is there any other option right now? I’d be willing to switch.

[–] corvid@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The best solution on iOS is Yattee. You can add Piped or Invidious instances as locations and stream ad-free YouTube from there. Another solution that doesn't involve Piped and Invidious is AdGuard. Open a YouTube link in Safari, hit actions, then hit Block YouTube Ads (by AdGuard).

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[–] settinmoon@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 year ago

I use Brave as a secondary browser mostly for government websites because sometimes my firefox privacy settings breaks them and since many of them are poorly designed a technical issue over your account may result in hours on the phone to resolve.

[–] n3m37h@lemmy.dbzer0.com 8 points 1 year ago (9 children)

You look deep enough at any company and you will find a lot of shit you don't like.

Go live off the land in the woods if you don't want to support shitty companies.

Otherwise STFU

[–] rockonhomieg@lemm.ee 12 points 1 year ago
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[–] orca@orcas.enjoying.yachts 8 points 1 year ago

It’s only a matter of time until Eich sells all of Brave’s users down the river.

[–] Zoldyck@discuss.online 7 points 1 year ago

I'm pretty sure I've read this news a couple of times now the past week or weeks?

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