Screenshot from Firefox Nightly 155.

This built-in functionality is an inferior version of the Search By Image extension, which has existed for years and is recommended by Mozilla itself.

Forcing you to use Google as the search engine for this functionality just adds insult to injury. This should not be necessary.

  • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
    94·
    5 days ago

    just use the third-party extension then. no need to complain unless and until mozilla nixes those.

    right now, they’re just adding an option to google search (which is their default, and main source of funding) for those who are using that default.

    • XLE@piefed.socialOPEnglish
      92·
      5 days ago

      Defaults matter.

      Mozilla calls it harmful design when Microsoft does this.

      This new functionality is essentially an unremovable add-on that is enabled by default. And it only works on one site, unlike the independently developed extension.

      The extension developer is at a huge disadvantage here. I have to disable the Firefox default, visit a website, search for an extension, and install it in order to get the better experience. That’s a ton of additional friction.

      This behavior reminds me of Amazon. That company will also allow anybody to list things on their marketplace too, but if something is good enough, they will copy it, make it worse, and prioritize pushing it to their users. You technically have the “choice” but they rig the game in their own favor.

      right now, they’re just adding an option to google search (which is their default, and main source of funding)

      There are some very uncomfortable implications with this: Did Google compel Mozilla to do this, either explicitly or implicitly?

      • If Google made Mozilla add this feature, then it was done behind closed doors. That is a bad sign for the open web.
      • If Mozilla added this without being forced by Google, it suggests a disturbing amount of bias towards that company.