Every few Firefox releases there’s one where they helpfully throw new junk in your face or mess with your settings. Firefox 118 is both.

Mozilla has added a translation engine that they say is client-side, based on an engine called Bergamot that they created. They removed all languages other than the one I’m writing in from my settings, even though I read (poorly, and for sport) in other languages. And then they put a pop-up over every page that’s not in English - including some I’ve deliberately switched to other languages - offering to translate it.

Getting rid of this requires an about:config hack that I saw only on The Site We’ve Chosen Not to Use. So here’s the incantation:

browser.translations.automaticallyPopup false

and if you’re really angry

browser.translations.enable false

And put back any languages it removed from your site preferences.

Honestly, if I didn’t know these people weren’t Google, I’d be really suspicious. But with Chrome’s stellar Ad Privacy, I have to put up with Mozilla’s crap, as the clock has to be ticking even for the ‘good guy’ Chromium derivatives.

  • Nia [she/her]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    1 year ago

    I’ve been using the translation feature ever since they first released it in extension form way before the update, I really like it and have put it to tons of use.

    They really should start sticking this stuff in settings disabled by default though, maybe offer it as a toggle in the first boot welcome screen or the first time it detects you’re on a foreign language site, but never pop up again if you dismiss it, preferably the former.

    • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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      1 year ago

      Or just make it granular.

      Would you like to translate: Yes, always for this language. No, not notary. Never for this language.

      A drop down could offer options to turn off totally, or go to further settings. I think in the effort to keep things simple, software is often oversimplified. Sure, some users need guidance. Many don’t.

      • Nia [she/her]@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        It actually is like that or at least close to that but it’s a bit hard to find in the settings, looks like you can’t just add them directly and have to do it when the popup shows which is a bit awkward though

        • hitmyspot@aussie.zone
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          1 year ago

          Lol, so too simple and too complex. They really are trying to make it tricky. I’m sure over time it will iron out. I do like the idea of local translation and the move to other translation that is not Google.

    • tias@discuss.tchncs.de
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      1 year ago

      They are talking about the behavior of Mozilla, which is a web browser developer. So how would switching search engine help?

      Also Orion is not an alternative unless you exclusively use Apple products and operating systems, which would be a whole other problem of vendor lock-in and monopolistic behavior.