Google launches trial for new tracking feature FLoC, automatically opts in Chrome users

[Ashley MLP Fangirl]

4 hours ago, Murasaki said:

I have ditched Chrome since yesterday and I'm not missing it at all (on my phone too). Firefox is great.

yeah firefox is awesome. I prefer Safari over it but eeeh on Windows/Android you don't have that choice... 

[Murasaki]

41 minutes ago, RejZoR said:

If you want even better experience I'm gonna shill a tool of mine:

https://rejzor.wordpress.com/firefox-tweaker/

 

So you can customize Firefox even further. Mozilla does a lot of things really badly (and some really well), but when you tweak it your own way, it's still one of the best browsers out there. Especially since it's almost the only one left with its own rendering engine.

That's pretty neat! Changed around 15 settings with it. Thank you for including documentation on what all of the settings actually mean/do LOL!

 

[Tieox]

Long time Google user, not sure what to think of this, as mentioned before surely we are tracked albeit on Firefox or Brave or any browser, sure not to the same technical detail filled degree but still likely adequately enough to build a profile.  

 

Out of all the other browsers out there the only one I'm tempted to try is Brave, had too many weird bugs with Firefox although that was a very long while ago.

 

 

[Sauron]

On 4/15/2021 at 5:01 PM, Drama Lama said:

It really doesn't change anything in my opinion.

It does change quite a few things. First of all this is harder to work around because it's baked into your browser; it knows exactly which websites you visit and when whereas a website would need to rely on third party cookies, canvas footprint and other things that can be blocked or deleted (and in general aren't as accurate). This can also tie your activity to your profile even if you're elsewhere using a different device, which isn't the case otherwise (aside from websites you sign in to of course).

[wall03]

On 4/15/2021 at 11:58 AM, RejZoR said:

I don't get it how can people become so dependent on Google. It's just so unnecessary.

Gmail

I got Gmail back in 2013 because I needed a free email service and couldn't afford an email service. Today I have a free Outlook account (and can self host an email account), but it's hard to move because of all the services linked to Google (signed up with Google's email) and that time when I pressed Sign up with Google because I needed to join in 5 seconds.

 

Google Drive

Back in August, I zipped all of my pictures, documents. and photos and uploaded them to Google. Why? I was moving from my laptop to my computer and didn't own thumb drives or NAS. Plus, Dropbox Free isn't quite enough storage.

 

Google Voice

I have Google Voice because I need another phone number to give out for business reasons, and didn't want to pay for another phone line.

 

Google Chrome

I don't use Chrome directly, but when I moved to Microsoft Edge Dev (Firefox's interface is not very recent, plus i wanted the dev tools) I was, and am, entitled to Chromium, run by Google. Also, work requires Chrome.

 

Android TV

I bought a projector with Android and can't be bothered to buy one of Roku's offerings. Besides, I'll be using Android TV's interface anyway to get onto Roku.

 

Google Docs/Sheets/Slides

I didn't own Microsoft Office until last December, so how else was I supposed to compose documents, organize spreadsheets, and present myself presentations for no reason?

 

Youtube

What the fuck else am I supposed to watch LTT on?

[Tieox]

3 hours ago, wall03 said:

 

 

Youtube

What the fuck else am I supposed to watch LTT on?

Floatplane 

 

[wall03]

Just now, Tieox said:

Floatplane 

 

but the point is that that costs money that I can't afford.

[Tieox]

Just now, wall03 said:

but the point is that that costs money that I can't afford.

Zero judgement here, I love how tied up all Google is, and how easy it makes moving between devices.  I presume this is the exact same issue Apple users have when they consider jumping ship to Android/Google/PC.

[wall03]

1 minute ago, Tieox said:

Zero judgement here

thanks. I hope it's the right reason-

 

1 minute ago, Tieox said:

I love how tied up all Google is

I don't really care about the part that their all tied up, just that I need services that they offer.

 

1 minute ago, Tieox said:

how easy it makes moving between devices.

I don't own any Google devices...

 

but yeah. It's hard to move. I disagree on why. I see why you might be tied to something, but I never really use mobile platforms, and don't own anything that would really be of value I need Google for.

 

Services and reasons why I can't leave them | simplified
 

Reason 1: I'm stuck with it

• Chrome (during work)
• Android TV (projector)

Reason 2: No free (viable) alternative:

• Google Voice
• Google Docs

Reason 4: No free alternative

• YouTube
• Gmail
• Google Drive

Reason 3: Based on a Google service.

• Microsoft Edge

Is this a rant? If so, please ignore this post. And my life. Thanks!

[Fnige]

On 4/16/2021 at 12:34 AM, FakeKGB said:

Couldn't they have picked a better name?
"FLoC" just sounds weird

They should FLoCin choose a better name

--------------------------------------

 

Edit: Now im wondering if theres a balance between having targeted advertising that companies love dearly and privacy that consumers love dearly.