The latest Edge Canary version started disabling Manifest V2-based extensions with the following message: “This extension is no longer supported. Microsoft Edge recommends that you remove it.” Although the browser turns off old extensions without asking, you can still make them work by clicking “Manage extension” and toggling it back (you will have to acknowledge another prompt).
At this point, it is not entirely clear what is going on. Google started phasing out Manifest V2 extensions in June 2024, and it has a clear roadmap for the process. Microsoft’s documentation, however, still says “TBD,” so the exact dates are not known yet. This leads to some speculating about the situation being one of “unexpected changes” coming from Chromium. Either way, sooner or later, Microsoft will ditch MV2-based extensions, so get ready as we wait for Microsoft to shine some light on its plans.
Another thing worth noting is that the change does not appear to be affecting Edge’s stable release or Beta/Dev Channels. For now, only Canary versions disable uBlock Origin and other MV2 extensions, leaving users a way to toggle them back on. Also, the uBlock Origin is still available in the Edge Add-ons store
Firefox time
LibreWolf time too.
Zen is nice
Zen was amazing when they first came to light, but they keep changing how workflows work, and it destroyed the workflow I had.
For example, I am a browser minimalist. I don’t need workspaces, and I don’t have thousands of tabs open, because that’s insane to me, personally. I now have to see the ugly Default Workspace at the top of my tab bar every time I go to open or switch tabs. This was an option before, so it was perfectly fine. They’ve taken that option away, which is very much not okay. Options are good. They also messed around with the New Tab icon, making it to where I couldn’t move it to the bottom where I prefer it to be, instead putting it at the top, which is extra movement needed to get to the top… They later added that back in, but again, why the fuck are you just willy nilly taking options away from people? It should just be an OPTION.
Anyway, I’ve had so many headaches with their approach to changing workflows that I don’t even recommend it to anyone any longer. I’m sure I’m just the crazy person who wants some of the offerings, while not being FORCED to use some of the others. :)
In floorp you can remove the workspace button from the top and disable them altogether I think.
To be fair it’s still alpha software, things are basically guaranteed to change until they reach a stable state. I’ve enjoyed it so far though
Yeah, I hate how projects become allergic to options. If you want to push your own agenda with new defaults, okay fine, but never ever remove options, let people keep it how they liked it.
I saw in their notes for the previous updates about the workspaces, which essentially said “workspaces are a major part of Zen, so you are no longer allowed to NOT use them”. When it was clearly a viable option before. So much for being customizable!
Infinite options is bad design for a number of reasons. One is that when everyone’s experience is unique, troubleshooting is impossible. Two is that when you add an option, you have to support that option forever.
Options are expensive, at least if you want to keep your software working for a long period of time.
Then adding too many options is the problem, not having options in the first place.
You can remove that, i don’t see any workspaces
I have a feeling you might be one of those that turned their automatic updates off after an issue where they really, really fucked the UI up on Macs, or something like that. Or you might be a person who doesn’t like the auto updates anywhere.
I turned mine off for awhile, but don’t want to catch anything when a new FF release rolls out, so I turned them back on, especially since I rarely use the browser anymore due to said changes with no user options.
I’m on the latest version on Windows, Linux, and Mac. The option is gone, I’m afraid.
I’m on the latest version try installing this Zen Mod that lets you remove anything https://zen-browser.app/mods/ab9b529c-63d6-48c0-a59a-4a407c5c3129/
While I really appreciate you for helping, the fact that these were part of the core application, then taken away by the developers so that we rely on third parties to bring back, is my biggest gripe with the browser. The options were there, and they took them out. I would rather just go back to Firefox than deal with an always changing UI, and removal of options. :/
I understand that feeling although they do mention it’s a browser in alpha still so i don’t judge them too harshly for it
Hopefully mainline Firefox can take some design notes from Zen
firefox is starting to enshittify, LIBREWOLF, or another might be better.
I use Firefox for most things, but Google Meet maxes out all my CPUs if I use Firefox. Any kind of screen sharing kills it. Suggestions on how I can get video encoding working greatly appreciated… Intel Xe graphics.
If I needed ANY version of chrome around I would keep Vivaldi.
Personally I keep a copy of chromium around just for Google meet. Everything else is on Firefox.
I used to just use Firefox for Google Meet, but it seems they broke it somewhere along the way. Probably on purpose.
Same…
same
Well, Firefox tries really hard to go to shit as well with their new Privacy Policy and their first ever Terms of Service.
Genuine question - isn’t their terms basically “if you use these third party services you’re subject to their terms, and also were going to collect some data to see if people actually use this feature or if it’s a waste of time?”
The Privacy Policy for a long time has been that they use your data for marketing. I’m honestly completely confused why people are always recommending it.
LLM usage is a part of it, but it’s not the only thing. They are moving more and more in a direction that they use your usage data for marketing I feel.
For example search suggestions, where they started tracking in which location you are searching for what and tell that third party advertisers, so that they can show you ads depending on your information. Additionally they also state very clear that they will handle personal information and location data and give that to third parties if you use advanced search.
Another example is the “new tab” in which they show ads and sponsored content and track how you interact with that for showing you better ads.
There are a lot of other features which will track behavior or usage, but you have to actively use them.
Then there is the debate about the “you grant us non exclusive, worldwide” rights to use your uploaded and typed in data discussion. Yes, they need to have rights to handle my data I input, but together with the ads stuff this smells fishy. Maybe more so because this is the first ever Terms of Use and all of that has been working without that in the past.
In the meantime they set usage reports and studies active per default. You can disable it, but you have to know about that option.
All of that is far from other browsers like Chrome and Edge but they seem to slowly change in a more ads-driven way. Firefox was basically surviving on google money the last decade, and that may stop, so we have to be extra careful.
Yup. But FUD must be pumped out.
For anybody unaware, their new privacy notice essentially states that if you opt in to using a third party LLM within Firefox, the LLM provider will get the info that you give to the LLM.
Thanks for the eli5