Arkenfox is simply a set of configuration you can (and should) apply yourself onto a clean Firefox installation.

A fork means taking the source code and modifying it directly, not providing an alternative configuration file.

Arkenfox is not a fork FYI

Hosting data yourself wouldn’t be required, but it would become an option.

You’d have the option of leaving your identity on your home server, or a separate domain/website, or host your data and identity but use another instance to federate.

Though, designing UX for this will be an interesting challenge.

I think Whoogle does that?

Sorry for the late reply, that shadow is present in most launchers as a default option to create contrast between the wallpaper and status icons.

Things like Nova Launcher and Lawnchair have options to disable it.

Awesome to see that Sony development is still kicking <3

use Tor Browser.

If your concern is fingerprinting, that is undeniably the best there is out of the box.

If you want Tor Browser without having to use the Tor Network, Mullvad is basically just that; Tor Browser without the Network.

What exactly does Google have left that people like? Gmail?

Nope, not GMail either, even GMail has ads now.

I’d love to slap LineageOS on a modern sony

Loved their devices back then, especially because they offer an extended range of updates specifically for developing on-top of AOSP, even including (Major) Kernel Updates

That on a modern device? Count me in

is this everywhere on the device?

If anything, installing GrapheneOS on a Pixel probably reduces the risk of something happening to your phone, that’s kind of the point with having an Android distribution that maximizes security and privacy.

And because the installer is so simple that you just connect your phone, open a browser and hit three buttons, it’s really unlikely that you’ll accidentally brick your phone trying to install it.

yes but active usage doesnt mean it was not used?

If their criteria was “at least 1 person uses it at all, sometimes” then it would not have been removed 🤔

likely no maintenance effort at all.

The maintenance comes less from the code and more from making sure that every single menu added or changed in any way continues to behave correctly in three different sizes with themes and everything.

It’s hidden away behind a flag now because it hasn’t been actively used for years on end.

Not the other way around.

It is essentially just extra maintenance of a feature in Firefox that (statistically) not many people use

As such, it’s marked as “unsupported” to make clear that if any issues arise, Mozilla won’t help you with those issues.

SimpleX is quite a promising project, uses Double Ratchet End-to-End-Encryption (from Signal), and has a very interesting protocol and model to provide quite strong metadata protection, especially in regards to whom you talk to and groups you’re in.

If your threat model requires exceptionally strong Metadata protection, SimpleX is probably going to be your go-to

Though, for a more lenient threat model, where still good, but less laser-focused metadata protection is enough, Signal will probably do just fine.

Personally I use Signal, but I also have a SimpleX Profile, an XMPP Account and Matrix. (preferred in that order)

Yes, they self-implemented that.

So unlike Heliboard, you don’t need to import Google’s Swypelibs.

Its great, same as their standalone Speech-To-Text Application.

Just FYI, Heliboard (continuation of OpenBoard) has all of the above. Just note that you’ll need to import Google’s Swype library once to use Swipe-To-Type.

It’s not a traditional matrix client mind you, and when I say “Matrix First” I mean architecturally.

Yes.

After their plan of starting with local iMessage and expanding later didn’t turn out well, they turned it around. Start with Matrix, add local bridges later.

The current application is based on the Beeper Mini codebase, is Matrix-First and will soon allow you to use local bridges to better preserve E2EE. As seen by some MSCs opened up by the beeper team, they are also looking into encrypted chat backups with these local bridges.