use firefox/chromium instead of ubuntu browser

[Akronix]

Hello.

Long time ago I posted this issue in askubuntu expecting an easy workaround, but it looks like there isn't: http://askubuntu.com/questions/455307/how-to-get-back-unity-webapps-to-firefox-integration and that many ubuntu users are in the same situation than me. (Yes, people like webapps!)

I'm really disappointed with the change from ubuntu 13.10 to ubuntu 14.04 of how webapps work. I used to be very fan of the unity webapps for many reasons; but now, with the new browser, they are completely useless. And I really miss them..

I don't think it's necessary to explain why I prefer to use firefox, a powerful, complete, customizable and, at the end, my browser by default; to any other way or browser for webapps.

There are a lot of improves to do in unity-webapps. But now I'm requesting the minimum: "To be able to to use firefox or chromium for unity-webapps again"

I'm looking forward for any one reason to not allow the user to select our favourite (and fairly better) browser for webapps.

[David Barth (dbarth)]

Hi, thanks for your feedback and appreciation of webapps.

I understand you reasons for using Firefox. But you seemed to be a (rather) rare case of user using Firefox and webapps in tabs.

The majority of users feedback was that a single window per app was a less confusing model. That's why we invested into having our own webapp container. Note that webapp-container is /not/ webbrowser-app. The webapp is hosted in a distinct web engine instance. It has its own window, and nothing is shared between the 2.

Then, because we can't maintain complex extensions for 2 browsers (3 even if counting webbapp-container itself), we decided to limit the functionality of what the browser extensions do, to just "signaling" webapps, and installing a webapp shortcut on the launcher.

Technically it is possible to restore the feature in the Firefox extension. You are welcome to provide an alternate build of the extension, hosted in a PPA for example. However, we can't commit to maintaining that for Trusty (and the next 5 years), considering the changes Firefox may see in that timeframe.

If you need help in doing this, feel free to ask justinmcp or zaspire (also their nicks on IRC) for pointers to do so.

David

[Doug McMahon (mc3man)]

I believe the real point of this bug was you've dropped a semi-useless webbrowser-app build into 14.04 & then made it the one & only for webapps.
The least Ubuntu could do down the road then is if you can manage a decent web browser port it back to 14.04

[Erki Hallingu (erkiha)]

webapps as it is does not work very poorly and in some cases do not work at all (amazon cloud reader) in its current state. As websites lige gmail and amazonreader do not support this browser and suggest installing normal browser. So to make webapps usable again, the only way is to use one of major browsers chrome or firefox which have most support by websites.

[David Barth (dbarth)]

None of the major browsers will support a webapp mode though.

Firefox does not. Our initial approach at using an extension to implement that proved to be problematic. Even more so now that Firefox plans to require signed extensions by default.
Chrome was supporting a webapp mode. We could resurrect that, but that would create a situation where Firefox users don't have webapps, whereas Chromium ones do.
In the end, and in the perspective of convergence, using our own web engine is the most consistent. At least for modern sites which do not require Flash.

For older sites using Flash, users can still use their favorite browser, and put a bookmark on the launch bar.

[Akronix (akronix)]

Hi.

I agree with the ones who say that a major and powerful browser is
preferable, if not mandatory.

As an everyday ubuntu+unity user, i used to like a lot and to use webapps.
Since, 14.04, unfortunately, i don't use them at all; im fact, I'm missing
them..
But I'm not willing to have multiple windows and to stop using Firefox for
all my internet stuff.

I'm not the only one out there in this situation, I posted this in
askubuntu: http://askubuntu.com/q/455307/180722
It had got a bounty for 1 week and 14 ppl voted me up (which is significant
to be askubuntu), no counting people who don't have an account in askubuntu
or many people which, i believe, have stopped using webapps (not pretty
popular before, but definitely impopular now) since 14.04.

I definitely think we should rethink how to integrate ff and chromium (both
opensource btw, so we are able to do some work inside) with webapps if we
want to make them usable again.

If some day i have enough spare time, I'll try to do some hack here. But i
think that this is supposed to be a core developer work, not a end-user
work...
On Mar 13, 2015 4:56 PM, "David Barth" <email address hidden> wrote:

> None of the major browsers will support a webapp mode though.
>
> Firefox does not. Our initial approach at using an extension to implement
> that proved to be problematic. Even more so now that Firefox plans to
> require signed extensions by default.
> Chrome was supporting a webapp mode. We could resurrect that, but that
> would create a situation where Firefox users don't have webapps, whereas
> Chromium ones do.
> In the end, and in the perspective of convergence, using our own web
> engine is the most consistent. At least for modern sites which do not
> require Flash.
>
> For older sites using Flash, users can still use their favorite browser,
> and put a bookmark on the launch bar.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1329046
>
> Title:
> use firefox/chromium instead of ubuntu browser
>
> Status in WebApps: libunity:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> Hello.
>
> Long time ago I posted this issue in askubuntu expecting an easy
> workaround, but it looks like there isn't:
> http://askubuntu.com/questions/455307/how-to-get-back-unity-webapps-
> to-firefox-integration and that many ubuntu users are in the same
> situation than me. (Yes, people like webapps!)
>
> I'm really disappointed with the change from ubuntu 13.10 to ubuntu
> 14.04 of how webapps work. I used to be very fan of the unity webapps
> for many reasons; but now, with the new browser, they are completely
> useless. And I really miss them..
>
> I don't think it's necessary to explain why I prefer to use firefox, a
> powerful, complete, customizable and, at the end, my browser by
> default; to any other way or browser for webapps.
>
> There are a lot of improves to do in unity-webapps. But now I'm
> requesting the minimum: "To be able to to use firefox or chromium for
> unity-webapps again"
>
> I'm looking forward for any one reason to not allow the user to select
> our favourite (and fairly better) ...

[Krister Swenson (thekswenson)]

I love webapps.
I hate the crap Unity Browser that can't zoom and make browsing generally annoying.