How to dramatically improve your Sailfish native browser

Question

14

How to dramatically improve your Sailfish native browser

asked 2017-11-28 15:10:31 +0300

RodSeq
336 ●7 ●13 ●12

updated 2017-11-29 13:08:23 +0300

2 very useful open-source patches developped by Sailfish community members:

Installing the patch developped by @nodevel will dramatically speed-up your native browser experience (not Quantum but almost): https://openrepos.net/content/nodevel/hosts-adblock (latest version download)

Installing the patch developped by @coderus will allow you to select by default all the major search engines available on the market: https://openrepos.net/content/coderus/search-engines-sailfish-browser (latest version download)

Highly recommended to all the Sailors !

PS - for the installation, you have to first enable "Settings"->"Allow untrusted software" - you can also download and install the native Sailfish WareHouse app : this app lists all the Apps/Addons/Patches from OpenRepos that you can then install by just clicking on "Enable Repositories"->"Install"

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Comments

2

isnt the browser open source?? wonder why patches are needed and its not implented in an updated version.

kaktux ( 2017-11-28 15:38:18 +0300 )edit

3

because none of this are patches.

coderus ( 2017-11-28 15:45:42 +0300 )edit

9

@kaktux: You are mixing up things. Because the webbrowser is open-source patches are possible in first place, but in this case these are not even patches (as coderus stated). @RodSeq: You're headline is pretty much misleading. Just not loading some advertisments doesn't make the webbrowser faster.

hoschi ( 2017-11-28 15:48:36 +0300 )edit

1

@coderus: You prefer call it Addons or Plugins ? @hoschi: Time for loading webpages is dramatically reduced not loading advertisements : try for yourself ! @kaktux: hope those great addons can be implemented by default in next browser versions

RodSeq ( 2017-11-28 17:39:25 +0300 )edit

5

Hosts adblock is an app of its own, you could use any other blocker like Defender (from the same developer).

inta ( 2017-11-28 18:11:16 +0300 )edit

isnt the browser open source?? wonder why patches are needed and its not implented in an updated version.
kaktux ( 2017-11-28 15:38:18 +0300 )edit
because none of this are patches.
coderus ( 2017-11-28 15:45:42 +0300 )edit
@kaktux: You are mixing up things. Because the webbrowser is open-source patches are possible in first place, but in this case these are not even patches (as coderus stated). @RodSeq: You're headline is pretty much misleading. Just not loading some advertisments doesn't make the webbrowser faster.
hoschi ( 2017-11-28 15:48:36 +0300 )edit
@coderus: You prefer call it Addons or Plugins ? @hoschi: Time for loading webpages is dramatically reduced not loading advertisements : try for yourself ! @kaktux: hope those great addons can be implemented by default in next browser versions
RodSeq ( 2017-11-28 17:39:25 +0300 )edit
Hosts adblock is an app of its own, you could use any other blocker like Defender (from the same developer).
inta ( 2017-11-28 18:11:16 +0300 )edit

Answer 1

15

answered 2017-11-28 18:44:21 +0300

potski

915 ●18 ●31 ●35

My experience would dramatically improve if I could swipe-back to last page. It is not nice to everytime swipe first, curse and select back BUTTON.

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Comments

4

Would it be enough to be able to swipe back but only on the URL area (at the bottom of the display)?

vattuvarg ( 2017-11-28 18:50:41 +0300 )edit

I liked how fennec on N9 worked -- so far the best experience, but perhaps new UX things I encounter will change that.

too ( 2017-11-28 19:04:39 +0300 )edit

And jump to external URL handers should happen with some delay and preferably via a popup dialog. Accidental mailto: clicks from web pages leads me email client almost daily.

mcfrisk ( 2017-11-29 00:30:55 +0300 )edit

2

@potski @vattuvarg this patch seems to do what you like, right? unfortunately it doesnt work anymore for some updates now. maybe someone could fork/update it.

i really miss that feature and the extra space for the url...

misc11 ( 2017-11-29 09:48:14 +0300 )edit

@misc11 - The description seems to fit, yes. Does that patch work? long.time.no.update...

vattuvarg ( 2017-11-29 10:15:44 +0300 )edit

Answer 2

5

answered 2017-11-28 19:49:43 +0300

bocephus
1477 ●28 ●34 ●47

No need to install a "patch" when you can just do

curl http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/hosts.txt -o /etc/hosts

(backup of original hosts file of course recommended but optional)

It's not like that file is updated weekly anyway; the current version is from Sept. 15.

And it doesn't just affect the stock browser, hosts blocking is of course system-wide.

As for search engines you can add whichever you want manually to /home/nemo/.mozilla/mozembed/searchplugins, but granted the "patch" in question makes it easier.

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Comments

1

I think this is the proper way to do it. There is no need for apps or patches if you can perform with simple command.

BTW adding duckduckgo is already explained here

ddark ( 2017-11-28 20:32:17 +0300 )edit

1

Newer Firefox with tracking protection would also help to reduce network traffic and thus speed up the browser.

mcfrisk ( 2017-11-29 00:26:56 +0300 )edit

2

@bocephus @ddark: typing terminal commands is not an option for "Basic Users", while installing the "patch" is a fancy method than any user can perform. If your goal is to bring Sailfish OS mainstream: better to make it User Friendly and not a platform for few geeks..

RodSeq ( 2017-11-29 12:38:04 +0300 )edit

Answer 3

5

answered 2017-11-28 21:53:47 +0300

figgis-diggis
1898 ●18 ●23 ●26

updated 2017-11-28 21:57:14 +0300

Actually there are much more interesting options in about:config (since it's just mozilla embedded) that make the default browser the most versatile one. Like cookie or javascript settings (AFAIK even WebPirate doesn't allow to change these options).

Damn shame it's not possible to install proper adblock anymore.

As for the Defender, I do think that its developer deserves praise, but my experience with it is not what you call positive. It froze when trying to update hosts, its "locking" cookie feature doesn't actually work (as far as I see, browser treats the unwriteable cookies.db as nonexistent).

What I really miss is classic Opera Presto like the one we had on MeeGo. It was really versatile (almost like the old desktop Opera) and still has the best text reflow algorithm so even pages not adapted for mobile are readable in portrait mode. Good night, sweet prince.

Talking of Opera. Jolla, if you hear — GESTURES. Damn it, gesture-based OS without gestures where they make most sense — the browser. You gotta be kidding me.

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Comments

2

Yes, Talking of Opera.

I think Opera's mobile browser is the best one for use on any mobile device. It's my go to option on all of my devices.

The killer function is the text reflow.

I use the Android version, having a native Jolla one would be nice so as to get away from the clunky Android back button.

AlanBreen ( 2017-11-28 22:49:51 +0300 )edit

@figgis-diggis: I have never experienced freezes with Host Adblocks (actually removed many browser freezes), so that it may be better than Defender that I have not tried yet

RodSeq ( 2017-11-29 12:54:22 +0300 )edit

ditto that host blocking not flexible eniugh or fast.

DarkTuring ( 2017-11-29 23:03:24 +0300 )edit

The usability for native browser would also dramatically improve if about:config had an option for browser.tabs.loadInBackground. It's so annoying when native browser focuses on new opened links.

Zer0 ( 2017-11-30 17:37:04 +0300 )edit

Answer 4

0

answered 2017-11-30 23:26:07 +0300

too

629 ●18 ●28 ●33

updated 2017-11-30 23:27:44 +0300

I installed search-engines-sailfish-browser first by clicking latest version download above using linux desktop browser and the scpd the file to sailfish.

then on fingerterm:

[nemo@Sailfish ~]$ md5sum sailfish-browser-searchengines-0.0.11-10.6.1.jolla_.noarch.rpm 
6b16247fcf33a231ba36fc5982b54a9d  sailfish-browser-searchengines-0.0.11-10.6.1.jolla_.noarch.rpm
[nemo@Sailfish ~]$ devel-su
Password: ****************
[root@Sailfish nemo]# pkcon install-local sailfish-browser-searchengines-0.0.11-10.6.1.jolla_.noarch.rpm
...
Installed       sailfish-browser-searchengines-0.0.11-10.6.1.jolla.noarch   Additional search engines for Sailfish Browser

and it works (changed search engine to Qwant).

and without setting allow untrusted software in Settings.

rpm -qil sailfish-browser-searchengines-0.0.11-10.6.1.jolla.src.rpm tells this package is all .xml files so it looks pretty safe.

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Answer 5

0

answered 2017-12-01 04:21:44 +0300

SymbianRefugee
653 ●18 ●29 ●38

updated 2017-12-01 04:31:16 +0300

You can also enhance the privacy through the about:config as detailed here:

https://www.privacytools.io/#about_config

(not all the config files are available in sailfish browser though)

Might also want to change privacy.trackingprotection.enabled to on.

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