140.8.0-103 - konform-browser/source
codeberg.org
## Summary - feat: Expose configuration for these features under Preferences: - [Backup/restore](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-backup) of profile data - [CookieBanner reduction](https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/cookie-banner-reduction) (default on) - [LinkPre...

Good $TIME_OF_DAY, beehaw folks!

Today I come to share the first announcement of Konform Browser 140.8.0-103 and what’s new since previous update post last week!

If you are new to Konform Browser, it was previously introduced to the lemmies in this post. In one sentence, it’s a web browser for Linux based on Firefox ESR with the primary goals of security, privacy, and user freedom. Hoping to be an example of how these three goals don’t have to be at odds but support each other and work in harmony.

Without more ado, some highlights of the new since last week:

  • Exposed UI for “Local AI” features like full-page translations, link previews and configuring local models. These features are all disabled by default but now easier to selectively enable and keeps working locally and offline more gracefully when remote updates are disabled.
    • This coincides funnily with the new “AI killswitch” news from FF v148 this week. Konform Browser approaches the “AI/ML” feature-set from the opposite end from upstream: Selective opt-in, progressive enhancement, and graceful degradation, while making sure any external endpoints or keys are user-configurable.
    • Check out about:translations (which is pretty handy and reliable) and about:inference (where you can now load and test arbitrary models from HuggingFace)!
    • The “Link Preview” feature is rather janky and considered experimental.
    • The “AI chatbot” integration to bigcloudtech is unaffected by these changes and remains disabled under every preset.
  • Latest security fixes up to Mozilla Firefox ESR 140.8.0.
  • Various privacy improvements
    • navigator.sendBeacon() now disabled by default (re-enabled by “Just Make It Work” preset)
    • Ported over several relevant patches from Tor Browser
    • Proxy bypass protection enabled to reduce risk of network leaks
  • Changes made on about:welcome now take effect immediately without requiring browser restart
  • UI: Disabled various nags and onboarding callouts (no more “Hey please try the new feature” in the middle of your workflow)

For more details check out release notes and (if that’s not detailed enough for you :p) commit log.

If you check it out, would love your feedback on the project in general and, if this isn’t a first, your take on development and recent updates. Fellow devs: Doors wide-open for new (carbon-based) contributors ^^

Konform Browser is now also on Mastodon: https://techhub.social/@konform

Packages available for most Linux distributions.

AUR source package

Releases

  • grillme@lemmy.zipEnglish
    1·
    5 days ago

    Update:

    Backup / restore is windows only

    Sync: only synced one plugin and ignored the others. Didn’t sync any layout customizations. Felt kinda gross.

    • grillme@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      5 days ago

      Ahh copying profile over then launching with -allow-downgrade seems to have worked. Nice!

      • ken@discuss.tchncs.deOP
        2·
        5 days ago

        Ah, glad it worked out! Somehow this earlier reply only came in here after posting the same suggestion ;^^

        Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and impressions!

        • grillme@lemmy.zipEnglish
          1·
          4 days ago

          Thanks for your help!

          First inpression is that video isn’t working. Looking at the console suggests it might be related to cross-domain content? (Im way outta my depth here).

          The profile was copied over from librewolf, so is this a hardcoded setting or just something that Im not understanding?

          • ken@discuss.tchncs.deOP
            1·
            4 days ago

            Ah, sorry you’re having issue! Re video playback1:

            • Do you have a URL not working for you I can reproduce your issue with (you can DM me if not want to share public)?
            • Media Codec installed and available? about:support and look Media -> Codec Support Information. Are you on Arch perchance?
            • Tried the “Basic Functionality” preset? about:welcome should show on first launch, can also be reused later.
            • It’s not likely but still possible that some preference set in your old LW profile interferes. Different result in fresh profile?
            • Same result without addons? (“Troubleshoot Mode” under about:support)
            • Left-hand side of address bar, there should be a shield and couple of icons. You can click those to temporarily or permanently unlock protections for current site.
            • In a fresh profile, you could try “Just Make It Work” preset - does it work there? That will, among other things, enable DRM modules and allow the browser to silently download and execute binaries from Cisco and Google in background, just like vanilla FF. This behavior is disabled under the other presets for security reasons and I don’t recommend it much beyond testing and troubleshooting.
            • Sometimes, sites blocking you will yield CORS errors in console. If that’s the case you should also see HTTP responses with 4XX status codes under Devtools Network tab. or 5XX if legit server error.

            1: Should work; I’m streaming 4k fine.

            • grillme@lemmy.zipEnglish
              1·
              3 days ago

              Wow thanks for detailed info!

              It was the ffmpeg thing - I only had v8 installed. Librewolf and og firefox must use that.

              Thanks for taking the time to troubleshoot.

    • ken@discuss.tchncs.deOP
      1·
      5 days ago

      Backup / restore is windows only

      Ah right, I forgot that part - exposing that feature on Linux is a Konform thing.

      Actually, there is one more thing you can try which I should have thought of first and might work better:

      Do the original approach of copying the profile dir in place, but start Konform Browser with the --allow-downgrade flag: konform --allow-downgrade

      After it has (hopefully successfully) completed the import, it can then use it like normally when started without the flag afterwards. I just tried it with a recent LibreWolf profile and seems to migrate everything fine.