diff --git a/FAQ.md b/FAQ.md index e84849b76..0c48a4102 100644 --- a/FAQ.md +++ b/FAQ.md @@ -1,91 +1,73 @@ # Frequently Asked Questions -## Does Google Sync/Translate/Data saver work? -No. -This is not a limitation of Bromite but of all Chromium-based projects in general, as general public is not allowed to use Google's APIs for free unless when using Chrome. - -Additionally, these features would not be privacy-friendly. +## Does Google Sync/Translate/Data Saver work? +No. This is not a limitation of Cromite but of all Chromium-based projects in general, as the general public is not allowed to use Google's APIs for free unless when using Chrome. Additionally, these features would not be privacy-friendly. -## Does Bromite require root? +## Does Cromite require root? No. -## Is Bromite de-googled? - +## Is Cromite de-googled? Yes, although this has not been verified (and hardly can be) under all situations; if you were to find connections to cloud-based services please report them via the issue tracker. -Bromite uses [ungoogled-chromium's python script](https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium/blob/master/utils/domain_substitution.py) to disable URLs in the codebase since version `78.0.3904.93`. - -Projects which follow a strict approach on this are [Iridium](https://iridiumbrowser.de/) and [Inox patchset](https://github.com/gcarq/inox-patchset). - -## Does Bromite support DRM media? +Cromite uses [ungoogled-chromium's python script](https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium/blob/master/utils/domain_substitution.py) to disable URLs in the codebase. +Other projects which follow a strict approach on this include [Iridium](https://iridiumbrowser.de/). +## Does Cromite support DRM media? Yes, in order to play protected/encrypted media content the browser will use Android's DRM media framework to automatically negotiate access (same as Chromium). -This means for example that requests to Android license servers will be performed (`www.googleapis.com`), see https://w3c.github.io/encrypted-media/#direct-individualization +This means for example that requests to Android license servers will be performed (`www.googleapis.com`), see https://w3c.github.io/encrypted-media/#direct-individualization. To disable this functionality you should disable protected content playback from Site settings -> Protected Content. ## What is the SystemWebView? -It is the core component of Android for all web page visualizations. For example when you access a new wifi network and need to activate it, that is using the SystemWebView. If you do not know what it is then you do not need to install it. - -See also [the wiki page](https://github.com/bromite/bromite/wiki/Installing-SystemWebView) for community-contributed installation instructions. - -Ad-blocking was present and always enabled in the SystemWebView from version `72.0.3626.120` till version `77.0.3865.104`, when it stopped working due to [upstream NetworkService changes](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TZEuPvr2KAbP4_TZpuuwtEEArQsyAkc2HDu68l66YwU/edit?ts=598244df#heading=h.ougoi5i6508y). +It is the core component of Android for all web page visualizations. For example when you access a new wifi network and need to activate it, that is using the SystemWebView. Cromite does not currently offer a SystemWebView apk and there are no plans to do so (see [issue 62](https://github.com/uazo/bromite-buildtools/issues/62)). ## How to enable DNS-over-HTTPS? -See [this page](https://www.bromite.org/doh). +DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH) is enabled by default in opportunistic mode (same as upstream Chromium); it is advised to choose a provider instead in order to use explicit mode. Enable DoH from Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Use Secure DNS -> Choose another provider and then enter the DoH template URL. -## Can you add HTTPS everywhere? -No. -We cannot add add-ons to Bromite (merely some features). - -## Is Bromite on Play Store? -No, and this is not going to change. Many limitations apply for submissions there, including which ads are allowed to be blocked. - -Bromite favors user freedom in software choice: the device is yours so you get to choose which software to run on it, end of the story. +## Can you add HTTPS Everywhere? +Cromite does not support add-ons. However you can achieve the same effect via Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Always use secure connections -## Is Bromite on F-Droid? -It is not on the official F-Droid repository and there are no (more) plans to submit it. +## Is Cromite on Play Store? +No, and this is not going to change. Many limitations apply for submissions there, including which ads are allowed to be blocked. Cromite favors user freedom in software choice. -You can use F-Droid client to install and receive updates via [the official Bromite F-Droid repository](https://www.bromite.org/fdroid). +## Is Cromite on F-Droid? +It is not on the official (default) F-Droid repository. This repository only accepts apps that the F-Droid maintainers can build from source, with a strict policy against including any non-FOSS binary blobs or native libraries, thus making it near impossible for any Chromium-based browser to be accepted - see [here](https://forum.f-droid.org/t/chromium-base-browser-or-bromite-in-main-f-droid-repo/17220/9) for further details. +You can however use the F-Droid client to install and receive updates via [the official Cromite F-Droid repository](https://www.cromite.org/fdroid/repo). -## Does Bromite support WebRTC? -Partially, see https://github.com/bromite/bromite/wiki/WebRTC +## Does Cromite support WebRTC? +Partially, with mitigations to minimise IP leaks. -## Using Bromite will favour the monopoly of the Chromium/Blink engine, why do you develop and maintain Bromite? +## Using Cromite will favour the monopoly of the Chromium/Blink engine, why do you develop and maintain Cromite? In short, to show what a Chromium-based engine could do **for the user** if the user experience and needs were the main focus of modern browser design. For an Android browser using an alternative engine see [Fennec F-Droid](https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid/). -## Does Bromite support extensions? -No; Bromite will support extensions only if upstream (Chromium) does, or similarly another project maintains the patch and functionality. +## Does Cromite support extensions? +No. Cromite does however integrate Adblock Plus functionality and has experimental support for Greasemonkey-style userscripts. ## Why do push notifications not work on this website? The [Chromium Blink engine](https://www.chromium.org/blink) uses [GCM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Cloud_Messaging) to deliver messages -when websites use the [Push API](https://w3c.github.io/push-api/); this will not work in Bromite because cloud integrations are disabled (GCM in this case). +when websites use the [Push API](https://w3c.github.io/push-api/); this will not work in Cromite because cloud integrations are disabled (GCM in this case). [ServiceWorker notifications](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/ServiceWorkerRegistration/showNotification) do work instead since they use [android.app.Notification](https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/ui/notifiers/notifications). ## Can PWAs be installed? -PWAs are only supported as home shortcuts; WebAPKs will not work because they are generated server-side on googleapis.com (which is not allowed in Bromite). +PWAs are only supported as home shortcuts; WebAPKs will not work because they are generated server-side on googleapis.com (which is not allowed in Cromite). -## Does Bromite support the Android autofill framework? +## Does Cromite support the Android autofill framework? -Yes, since version 94.0.4606.109 the native Android autofill can be used; this does not require accessibility services as a workaround. +Yes, Cromite uses the native Android autofill framework. -## Does Bromite support casting media content? +## Does Cromite support casting media content? No, this would require Play Store binary blobs. ## Can you add this search engine as default? -No. -Bromite does not make any choice related to default search engines, the Chromium default is used. -Various Android browsers get some fee to ship their apps with a specific default search engine, Bromite does not get any fee from anyone. -Changing the default search engine would lead to an endless series of requests to change it based on personal preferences, thus no change is made to the default. -See also: https://github.com/bromite/bromite/wiki/SearchEngines - -## Some sites show ads, how can I fix this? -You can compare the blocked URLs with a desktop browser and Bromite (using [remote debugging](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools/remote-debugging/)) and figure out some new filter rules to be added. -If the ads are blocked via cosmetic filtering then blocking them is not possible with Bromite's engine and you might need something like an [user script](https://github.com/bromite/bromite/wiki/UserScripts) instead. -See also: https://github.com/bromite/bromite/wiki/AdBlocking +No. Cromite does not make any choice related to default search engines, the Chromium defaults are used. +Some Android browsers receive commissions to ship their apps with a specific default search engine. Cromite does not receive any fee from anyone. +Changing the default search engine would lead to an endless series of requests to change it based on personal preferences. +You can manually add any search engine that supports OpenSearch. Visit the search engine home page, then under Settings -> Search Engine you should see the option to pick that search engine as your default search provider. + +