Zen browser, An advanced modern Firefox fork with a beautiful Apple-like interface
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@Kjala I am not talking about themes. Theme API is about extensions.
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@aminought I.m not going to pretend like I knew the theming API or what it was but got to learn a few things from the creators themselves https://hacks.mozilla.org/2017/12/using-the-new-theming-api-in-firefox/ and I'm going to try out Tree style tabs with Zen to see how badly TST integrates with Zen in terms of theming.
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@BlackIkeEagle Yeah. It's (Vivaldi) like the browser version of logging into different Desktop Environments.
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I decided to take a look into the browser because of this post and honestly I was pretty underwhelmed so far. I will stick with it because it seems to be in it's infancy given most articles I've seen are a few weeks old but for what it is now it is missing a few things for me to consider it.
Against Firefox it's a no-brainer but against Vivaldi, I only see it as a good alternative if you are doing it solely to go against the google engine monopoly view; which I agree, share needs to be diversified. But in regards to the defaults and the Apple-like claims, idk. It looks like my setup (achieved by changing MAYBE 3 settings) on Vivaldi, with some added in-window rounding. Three things that are needed before I can consider using it in any long term manner.
Out of the box mouse gestures (though I don't often use the mouse to navigate, when I do its just so easy and fast for basic creations, closures etc.), a quick command palette (so much control with little effort + command chains), and the settings which I don't know if Vivaldi can be beaten at.
But given it is still new, I hope that they consider addressing these soon and them adding a stand out feature and then I will consider using it as a secondary.
Sidenote: I'm a developer (pages, apps, extensions) and have a variety of browsers on all my OSs for compatibility testing. Zen is a welcomed addition.
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@Jrograms prev. + page actions, great for my specific usage, easy debugging and navigation with the css tool and page minimap
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@Jrograms I think the only problem with this browser is relying on the promise of Mozilla adding functionality to Firefox of which by the time we and all humanity in 2024 will be a myth.
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No offence, but Zen looks like a Firefox's skin to me...
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@donchen Not really. But I don't know what are your thoughts on Brave's interface in relation to Chrome so...
A skin would only mean a modification only on the user interface. Tile Tabs WE extension can't tile the tabs of a skin like how you can do it with Zen. And you can't mod your skin like you can with Zen. With Zen, you become a little lazy with one-click buttons that instantly modify your browser install. But be it a skin or not, it's a great browser and I'm just glad it exists.
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I agree Zen is a browser with great potential, and when I discovered it in late August I was quite excited about it. However, I got frustrated with it, and decided to retry Vivaldi for the umpteenth time, and this time it blew my mind.
Frustration about Zen, in no particular order:
- themes, i.e. the real ones, not the tweaks, are a mess, many don't work
- it blocked the Suspend function (I am using Linux LMDE), as a consequence of which I had to restart my computer
- pinned tabs change position when Zen is closed then relaunched.
These things will probably get cleared up, so I have not given up on it, but now that I have rediscovered Vivaldi with its myriad options, it will be a tough competition.
Before Zen I tried Floorp, and even though Zen is much younger, right off the bat it is more polished. In Floorp pages load a lot slower, some webpages aren't rendered well or certain functionalities on webpages don't work, certain webpages did not even load whereas they did in Brave.
I even tried Arc when it 1st came out, I tried it on my MacBook Air. Nice, good eye candy, some good features, but boy was the thing slow.
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I have heard a lot of good things about Zen browser lately. Wish it was on Android so I could try it.
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@Granite1 just days ago installed EndeavourOS and now dualbooting with Win10 and can confirm that. htop, F9, nothing happens.
But Zen is in alpha so... we can expect that. -
Chrome devtools keep me on vivaldi but various frustrations with vivaldi over the years have me branch out to look at other options. I've already switched from vivaldi mail to betterbird. At least we have decent options now.
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I would never switch to a browser like Zen for various reasons.
No Widevine VMP. They can't get a license, there has to be a company behind the browser in order to get a license.
I use my browser for media playback too, I like to listen to Spotify, watch Netflix and watch live tv and sport channels from my local tv provider.
Zen can't play anything of the above.
Zen is based on Firefox ESR. Over time ESR will be less secure than the regular release of Firefox.
So I don't see the point of using a Firefox fork instead of Firefox which is a browser that is so customizable like Vivaldi is.
You can have any kind of interface you want in it with CSS and you can make it as privacy focused you want if you don't like the defaults it has.
I just don't see the point, if I ever wanted to use a Firefox based browser because "I hate contributing to Google's monopoly" like the OP said, I would just use Firefox. -
@electryon Zen is not based on Firefox ESR. Zen is based on the latest Firefox version as is LibreWolf. And yeah, for a lot of people the widevine and DRM situation has been a thorn for them. As for me, DRM is something strange to me and YT && invidious cover for most things.
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@electryon that's funny, the only reason I have zen installed right now is because I want better media playback which it provides on wayland.
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@Robbo said in Zen browser, An advanced modern Firefox fork with a beautiful Apple-like interface:
@electryon that's funny, the only reason I have zen installed right now is because I want better media playback which it provides on wayland.
Wayland, you are a linux user, Zen won't have playback issues in linux at playback of Netflix etc because VMP is not supported in linux.
But as a windows user, Zen is a no no for me. I also use my browser for watching sports from my local tv provider, I watch Netflix, I listen to Spotify. Browsers like Zen can't fulfill my media playback needs.
Firefox supports VMP and in version 132 they have also added support for Microsoft PlayReady for 4K Netflix playback.
Maybe Firefox with a css that mimics Zen's interface would be an alternative. Especially now that Firefox has very nice vertical tabs support in latest nightlies, they have also added support for transparency and Mica in latest nightlies, it will be easier than ever to make a replica of Zen's interface in Firefox. -
@electryon It's based off of the latest release of Firefox and in the worst case just a release behind. check this website: whatismybrowser.org, using Zen.
About Widevine, well you just have to use something DECENT that supports it and Vivaldi on Windows is great. Not as great on Void Linux (YT is dead slow). I have never watched Netflix or Amazon Prime and I only heard of a thing like DRM recently on the internet. That's why I use the AppImage version of Zen here in the void. -
I like Zen Browser, but as many others, the lack of widevine makes me stick with Vivaldi.
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thank you for sharing this amazing browser
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@Kjala said in Zen browser, An advanced modern Firefox fork with a beautiful Apple-like interface:
But I hate contributing to Google's monopoly on browser engine.
It is far less transparent than Vivaldi. They use Mozilla servers ( https://www.clubic.com/actualite-538319-zen-browser-le-navigateur-qui-se-sert-de-firefox-pour-rendre-internet-plus-sur-et-plus-style.html ). Mozilla Fundation receive more than 80% of its revenue from Google. So you are back to the same point. Plus, if you look at the links this browser is linked to, when it is launched, you could be surprised. At least we know how Vivaldi team make their life . The Mozilla Foundation, has laid off 30% of its employees and they are letting other teams using their servers for free ? Where is the logic ? This can be a good browser, but the way it popped up is not clear....
