Honest question: is it simply the fact you can't use a Gecko engine on iOS that makes it useless to you?

My impression is that the Firefox shell offered is still able to provide the various anti-tracking privacy features that many would point to Firefox for, and the variety of browser shells available should mean that you'd be able to find a UI to your liking if Safari's isn't.

At that point, the only thing I can see missing is a non-webkit engine. I get that that's an annoyance and definitely on the same anti-competitive level as 00s era IE, but by and large web developers account for it and it works acceptably. As much as I'd need it to for mobile browsing.

Would just be interested to know if there's something more I'm missing.

> Honest question: is it simply the fact you can't use a Gecko engine on iOS that makes it useless to you?

No plugins/add-ons effectively.

Gotcha, that's completely fair and not something I'd considered. Thanks!

As a vague counter point, I use Firefox Focus[0][1] which touts the tracker blocking and ad blocking I'd rely on extensions for normally. It meets my needs as the only additional extensions I use on desktop are for tab and session cookie management, both of which are moot points in a browser without tabs and a "clear cookies after each session" policy.

[0] https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fo... [1] https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/firefox-focus-privacy-browser/...

Because you need plugins on a mobile browser?

That was supposed to be an honest question with an honest answer. There was no need for a snarky remark. But yes, totally.

The topic is about owning your own hardware/software combo - so having addons/customization is the definition of it.

>That was supposed to be an honest question with an honest answer. There was no need for a snarky remark.

Well, somewhat snarky. It's still a legimate question.

Why would one "need" plugins on a mobile browser? What kind of functionality that mobile Firefox doesn't provide?

>The topic is about owning your own hardware/software combo - so having addons/customization is the definition of it.

Well, the topic is about owing your computer. Which has some merit (even though owing is a kind of a weasel word: you do own it, even if the OS enforces this or that measure. You can sell it at any time, for example, break it and nobody will ask you to return it, etc.).

So, the real topic is "doing whatever you want with your OS, with the ability to disable all checks, protections, etc, install custom everything etc".

Which I can see the appeal in some cases.

For a mobile phone what exactly is the great appeal?

Why would you want to block ads on your desktop browser but allow them on mobile?

There are ad blockers for Safari. There may be folks waiting to pounce with absolutely true complaints about how unsophisticated they are compared to what's possible in other browsers, but in practice they do a sufficient job.

There are certain extensions that I use on Firefox on the desktop. I would like to have some of those extensions available for my mobile device, in such a way, that I can enhance the usability of my mobile browser.

I use UBlock Origin with my mobile Firefox. If I couldn't have plugins, I would probably use my phone less for browsing the internet.

I need that plugin.

Why would a mobile browser be different to a desktop one in this regard?

Because you usually work on a desktop, and might have all kind of handy extensions to help you.

You usually view webpages in a very minimal interface, small screen, often on the go or leisurly, and with limited interaction on a mobile phone. So, aside from something like an adblocker (for which there are solutions), what would one use?

What browser extension is NOT useful on mobile?

Adblock?

Indeed uBlock Origin is the #1 reason I use Firefox on Android.

#2 is dark reader.

AdGuard works pretty well on iOS. I don’t think there is a way to do a ‘dark reader’ specifically though perhaps pages honour the OS’s ‘dark mode’ setting these days? I would guess support is spotty.

Sites that use the prefers-color-scheme media query honor the OS setting on iOS, but it obviously doesn't work on sites that haven't implemented it - Dark reader[0] takes a invert-colors approach and makes it a little easier on the eyes.

[0] https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/darkreader/

well adguard only have ip, domain names etc. I mean it has less context? Addon has more context about the webpage lets say it can remove ads belonging to DOM with id #ads-1 ?

Exactly, uBlock Origin it doesn't just block on domain. It can also remove certain CSS items. Even nag screens about cookies and adblockers :)

And in Europe, cookies / nag-popup-removers for all those GDPR compliance dialogs (though vanilla Firefox is becoming better in blocking trackers by default).

Yes

For those that aren't aware: Because only safari is allowed in iOS every other browser is basically just a skin.

The main issue was (I guess still is), iOS does not allow JIT compilation - in order to keep control over the apps available (having JIT would allow running any code effectively).

Of course, nowadays the assets of apps have to be part of the deployable, itself. So it's common to run localhost web server.

"This is for your security": https://docs.house.gov/meetings/JU/JU05/20190716/109793/HHRG....

That's another way to look at it. This is why we have choices and other mobile OSs.

Then what have I been using on iOS for the past 4 years? (as long as I've been using iOS)

A Firefox shell running on iOS Safari Engine. I also use it and love it for its syncing capabilities, but the underlying engine is not Gecko.

A skinned Safari.