topic Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet.... in Tech Talk

Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 05:40:28 GMT

For those of you who use Google app (basically a very large majority of users), you may know that every link you open using the Google app actually opens them in Google Chrome browser. The Android WebView component powered by Chrome, in this case, actually stores all cookies, cache, history and other temp files in the Chrome browser.

I wanted to change this behaviour because Chrome doesn't offer an automatic or easy way to clear all those temp files. Over time, this can result in Chrome browser storing huge amounts of temp files, which makes 3rd party tracking even easier. Also, dark mode support on Chrome is very basic and relies on the implementation of individual websites.

Google app allows you to change/ switch the link opening feature under its Settings, so you can use another browser (the Default browser) to open all links from Google app.

Initially, I switched to Firefox Focus which provides a one click erase feature to erase everything. But I didn't like the UI, especially for this purpose because each time it would look like I am launching another app (which I was doing though). I wanted a more seamless experience with a UI that was similar to WebView.

So i switched to DuckDuckGo Browser. But this browser has the same problem with Dark Mode as Chrome. I hate having to switch between websites in dark mode and those in light mode continuously. There has to be consistency, especially since such constant switching will be strainful to the eyes.

Then I switched to Brave Browser. This too did not have the automatic history deletion feature, although it is better than Chrome in atleast two aspects:

1. Exit button that allows you to close the browser and delete everything automatically.

2. Universal dark mode support.

But still not the ideal solution.

Then I tried Bromite Browser. While this allows a default incognito mode setting, it had the same problem with dark mode as Chrome and DDG.

After trying out a couple of other browsers, i finally came to Via Browser. This is a browser that I have used long time back, but for some reason that I don't remember now, I stopped using it. I was very impressed then, and just as impressed today too.

This browser kind of looks like the perfect default browser for the following reasons:

1. Has a default incognito mode.

2. Universal dark mode support.

3. UI is extremely clean and simple.

4. The smallest browser with the least footprint. Extremely lightweight.

5. One/ Two click erase feature, same as Exit button above.

6. Adblock support

But there is a catch: Privacy Policy.

Despite the uncomfortable privacy policy, this is the best browser I found for casual browsing activity. I won't be using their cloud feature or login to any of my accounts using this browser. But for the problem that i was trying to solve, this is indeed the best solution yet.

Let me know if you know a better browser that fulfills the 6 requirements mentioned above.

UNIVERSAL DARK MODE

When theSystem is using Dark Mode:

Google App

Clicking on the 1st link with Chrome as Default browser:

Clicking on the 1st link with Via as Default browser:

Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

owl123 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:32:53 GMT

Check out kiwi browser. It has support for extensions too.

Also try vivaldi

Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:37:56 GMT

Universal Dark Mode means like this?

Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:50:51 GMT

Kiwi is very buggy.

Vivaldi has the same problems as other Chromium browsers.

Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:53:00 GMT

I mean all websites will open in dark mode within the browser, even if the websites don't themselves have a dark mode.

At the moment, if you use Chrome, it will only render pages in dark mode if a particular website offers it. Otherwise, those websites will be in light mode in Chrome even if your System is using Dark mode.

Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 11:59:44 GMT

Ok ok now I understood. Did you tried force dark mode in chrome flags ?

Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:12:21 GMT

I don't want to use Chrome because of other reasons too that i mentioned in OP.

But even with Force Dark Mode enabled, it leaves the blank ad spaces in white. Check it out:

Chrome

But see how it is in Via:

MOST IMPORTANTLY, FORCE DARK MODE OVERRIDES SYSTEM THEME. SO WHEN MY SYSTEM USES LIGHT MODE, CHROME CONTINUES TO USE DARK MODE!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:17:04 GMT

Ya ,Ok 👍

Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:21:03 GMT

I use Bromite but It doesn't supports Color palette for Amoled Background. So, switched to Chrome

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:22:47 GMT

Bromite too doesn't support Universal Dark Mode.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 12:25:08 GMT

Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:23:25 GMT

You should try Opera. It is fast, smooth and stable. By literally trying every other browser, I came to Opera, and hands down it's the best, at least for me.

Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Gaurav_Sîngh — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:26:23 GMT

how is your chome homepage of dark pitch color?

mine is dark gray

Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Gaurav_Sîngh — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:27:20 GMT

what about samsung default browser (Samsung Internet)

Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:36:26 GMT

I used Repainter available in Play Store

Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:48:40 GMT

You mean Google?

I have a black wallpaper. I'm not sure if the Google background is dark because of that (Material You).

Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:40:44 GMT

I haven't used anything. Everything is stock.

Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:41:57 GMT

Same problem of no automatic cleaning. No default incognito mode. And as far as i can remember, they don't allow you to turn off their News feature either.

Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

TheMystic — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:44:29 GMT

No default incognito mode.

Also, since I am signed into my Samsung account in this browser, i don't want to use it to access random sites. This is also a reason why i don't use the Chrome browser or Edge browser, where I'm signed into some of the sites.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Via Browser: Best Default browser yet....

Vikramaditya015 — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 14:45:25 GMT

Which one are you talking about 🤔