I'm also a long time fan of firefox, but it does seem like there's always something I have to disable or fix with every major update.
Firefox has always claimed to be very pro-privacy, but they don't always live up to that with their actions (From a privacy perspective perhaps the biggest slap in the face was Pocket). Even here "local translation" means that Firefox needs to repeatedly ping Google's servers in order to download the models. Still better than letting Google translate the contents of a page, but far from ideal from a privacy standpoint.
As it stands I have modifications to over 100 settings in about:config that have to be made with each fresh install of firefox to get it locked down properly. Firefox is still the best browser out there because it gives you the ability to disable all that stuff, but its still a pain.
User share is always going to suffer because for most people their phones come with something else already, their PCs and tablets do too, and they don't know any better. They don't see or understand the problems with using chrome so why look for a browser that gives them better solutions?
I use firefox because I care about my security and privacy. If I didn't care about that I'd use Chrome or whatever Microsoft is shipping these days too because I know sites will make sure their stuff works in those browsers. All the hate I have for firefox comes from a place of love. I care about firefox. I depend on it. I want firefox to be better. Often that means I'm calling them out on their bullshit, bitching about the extra work they're giving me after updates, or just mentioning how they could have done better.
Firefox users complain about firefox because if they didn't care enough to complain they'd just be using chrome.
I disable things like service workers, normandy, shield, pocket, the new tab page, searching from the address bar, prefetch, WebGL, push notifications, WebAssembly, and lots of dom. options
You can backup your user.js but updates tend to add/rename/remove preferences so that gets ugly fast. I've also seen firefox reset prefs I've set but didn't lock. I've been meaning to automate monitoring the file for changes and notifying me for lines that were added or modified, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
As a former Mozillian. In fact a former Pocketeer, that worked on the new tab.
I can assure you, you have no idea what you’re talking about. Like demonstrably, not a single valid argument. Like actively promoting misinformation no argument.
I personally think on-by-default telemetry and "studies" are the bigger slap in the face, but to each their own.
Would you perhaps care to substantiate any of that, or just stick with the personal attacks?
In addition to the information that you provide to us when you register for a user account, we collect information about the URLs, titles and content of the web pages and other information you save to Pocket. The types of information we collect includes your browser type, device type, time zone, language, and other information related to the manner in which you access the Pocket Technologies. If you are on a mobile device, we collect the advertising identifiers provided by Apple on iOS and by Google on Android. You can change this identifier in your device settings. We also collect information about your use of the Pocket Technologies so that we can provide our services. For example, as a part of providing Pocket’s syncing features, we sync information about the items that you save and view within Pocket so that your list, tags, scroll position, and other account and usage information may be synced across all of your devices.
I also purchased a Kobo precisely because it has Pocket integration.
So, thank you for the good work.
well as an individual data point, I recently threw in the hat because both my regional bank's website and my health insurance page stopped working at all on Firefox. Not really something I can do without and it seems to be getting worse for companies with smaller web presences.
Basically, reputation builds at glacial speed, and it is rapidly destroyed.
Complaints and reports of bad user experience linger for years, if not decades, and reversing consumer trends requires humongous good will.
They say there's only one chance for a good impression. But there's also basically no chance at all for a second bad impression.
Add to that local translation! FF is the best it has ever been and somehow it is losing user share faster than ever. I used to get all the hate, but now at days... I'm just not sure. I'd love to know why.