Solved Support Extensions
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So excited for the premiere of the Android beta! But unfortunately I simply can't switch from Firefox until there's adblock, so I eagerly await extension support.
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@LonM said in Support Extensions:
@goldnoway it really depends on how they're building the app. I assume they are going to use chrome as a base to start on, so to me it makes sense to use the chrome Web store.
Kiwi Browser does this as well, so it already works there. Go, give that man a job at Vivaldi.
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Something to note, Vivaldi Mobile is very obviously built on Chrome...and Chrome does not use extensions nor does it have an ad-blocker. So unless they do some further build-out away from that Chrome base....it might be a long time before extensions are a thing. I have seen other Chrome based browsers on Android with built in ad-blockers though...so that at least seems possible.
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@jbaerbock Slight correction - Chromium, the open-source project, not Chrome, the proprietary browser.
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@MrNoName My reference was not to extensions - merely to the source of the Vivaldi rendering engine.
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I still have hope for it and I like how Kiwi have implemented it, but probably it'll require time.
In the meantime, I'll keep Kiwi&Opera as Vivaldi Android companion. -
Also need extensions, particularly to integrate LastPass!
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@HyperPete I use Bitwarden and auto-filling passwords is working just fine without an extension. Does LastPass not provide the same functionality?
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Japanese Staff @ahojo said "the reason Vivaldi don't have Extension is that Chromium don't support it". And "We know that many user hope to add Extension to Vivaldi. So, We are examining various approach."
Quotation Source : Android版: 将来、拡張機能が使えるようになる可能性はありますか？
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Actually the only thing I need from mobile browser is to normally (without ruining the pages DOM) and less traffic usage. So the thing that helps to achieve that is ad blocker. For example Brave is way faster and less traffic hungry because they did native ad blocker. I know that ads are good for favorite websites to live, I always turn off ad blocker on the websites I want to support, but overall its a good tool to have, because web is full of crappy 5MB banners
So: there is not actually much need in full extensions support for mobile browser, but some built in functionality extension is probably welcomed, not just visual. -
@0x49D1 said in Support Extensions:
So: there is not actually much need in full extensions support for mobile browser, but some built in functionality extension is probably welcomed, not just visual.
... for you. On Firefox I've got 11 extensions installed, not counting themes.
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I think the priority of most people here, including myself, is to have extensions that can strip off adds and other trackers. So if you can add this natively, like "Bromite browser" and other does, most people will not ask for full extension support.
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Why don't start a poll and choose 3 or some more features to develop inside Vivaldi, instead of external addon? I say this because I read few posts ago that Chrome won't support extentions on Android...
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fyi ,yandex browser had extensions and that browser based on chromium too. Hope the developer team use that to develop this feature.
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I would suggest adding support for userscripts. Many extensions are available as a script
Doctor Flay ™
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@TMSxVivaldi said in Support Extensions:
I think the priority of most people here, including myself, is to have extensions that can strip off adds and other trackers. So if you can add this natively, like "Bromite browser" and other does, most people will not ask for full extension support.
Ok, let's put this to bed. People who want to block ads need to vote for this feature. The only way you'll be able to block ads in Vivaldi is with extensions. Vivaldi Android is not going to implement ad blocking, Jon has made this clear. However, the core of Vivaldi's mission statement is user choice. "A browser that adapts to you, not the other way around." Vivaldi clearly understands that people want to block ads, and enables users to do so through extensions.
This is actually preferable, let me explain. No browser, mobile or desktop, has built-in ad blocking functionality that is as effective as what can be done with existing extensions.
One thing we should define at the top is what do we mean by ad blocking? Jon is making the distinction between blocking ads and blocking trackers. However, I think many if not most users mean both. To the common user not well-versed in this technology, ad blocking doesn't mean solely the visual ads that are annoying but includes the trackers and scripts that are a threat to privacy and security. You're explicitly bundling these two separate functions into one feature ("adds [sic] and other trackers"). Additionally your example, Bromite, sells itself as having some tracker blocking added, while the dev refers users to Brave if they are seeking better ad blocking. Unless specificity is noted, the term
"ad blocking"means both ads and trackers for the rest of this post, as it is the common understanding.The reality is that neither of those browsers is as good as the solutions available from extensions; in fact, no desktop browser has built-in blocking features that compare to extensions. It is unrealistic to think that Vivaldi Android would build blocking functionality that matches what is already available from extensions, even if they were going to try.
Vivaldi is not a large team, especially compared to the Chrome or Firefox dev teams. Some much-needed revenue is generated through partnerships, that's why the Speed Dial is populated with certain links upon installation of Vivaldi.¹ While I trust Vivaldi, their customer focus is top-notch and they've never given any reason to lose the trust we've placed in them, this fact does create at least a perception of conflict of interest. Jon is aware of this and that's part of the reason why Vivaldi will not include ad blocking (specifically).
These are just some of the reasons, with the current state of technology, extensions are preferable to built-in ad blocking. But there are further reasons for Vivaldi to focus development efforts on support for extensions. Given the limited resources of Vivaldi and their obvious commitment to quality, it takes a good bit of time to create the browser its user base expects. Let's not forget the patience we had to exercise for Vivaldi Android, this beta isn't even a month old. Vivaldi rewards our patience with a stable browser that provides a unique level of flexibility & control.
In conclusion, extensions philosophically align with the core of Vivaldi's raison d'être. They bring a wide spectrum of additional functionality that users already enjoy on the desktop without having to dedicate resources to all the different features individually. Supporting extensions has the most votes out of all the feature requests for Vivaldi Android, even more than the explicit request for native ad blocking. Additionally, existing extensions provide superior ad blocking compared to any current native implementation on any platform.
Please vote for this feature if you want to have ad blocking on Vivaldi Android.
"A browser should adapt to you, not the other way around."
1: Not all the included default bookmarks are from sponsors. Vivaldi chooses bookmarks added with a new installation that they believe provide value, only some of them are sponsored.
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@Baltasar Not totally true.
Yandex support Adguard - which is already a great thing - and some extensions from its store. Ublock didn't work when I tried.
Kiwi, on the other side, support most chrome store extensions, but a total compatibility can't be guaranteed due the differences between chromium on desktop and on android - but "most useful ones" seems to be working correctly.
So, even if an extension support will appear - and I hope so - we have to accept the compromise that something might not work as chromium actually don't officially support any extension on mobile. -
I really need extensions, at least user script engine (Violentmonkey, or Greasemonkey, or Tampermonkey) and user CSS engine (Stylus).
They exist in all extension environments (Chrome, Firefox, Presto) so if Vivaldi enables one of them, I'm saved.
In the meantime, I use Firefox for Android with Violentmonkey and many many user scripts as well as Stylus and some other extensions too.
Update: After Firefox abandoned add-on support, I've been using Kiwi Browser since December 2021, for years, it works great.
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@S_Paternotte I fully agree. This would be ideal.
