Topic: Firefox

The Media Research Center analyzed over 600 stories on Apple News, finding that the platform went 96 consecutive days without featuring a single story from a conservative outlet in its top stories section. The discussion explores how news aggregation apps on mobile devices and browsers like Firefox act as primary "attack vectors" for political propaganda. It is suggested that micro-services architectures, rather than human editors, may be driving this content selection.

Technical issues with the Firefox browser are discussed in relation to the No Agenda art generator, with recommendations to use Bravo or Microsoft products instead. The segment also outlines the benefits of the $200 Associate Executive Producer credit, which includes a lifetime listing on IMDB.

The hosts critique Microsoft Start for its intrusive clickbait and the persistent loading of the Edge browser. Technical difficulties regarding Digital Rights Management (DRM) are noted, specifically how certain browsers like Brave may fail to load Netflix content without specific DRM components, necessitating the use of Firefox or Edge.

A review of the Alcatel Quickflip (sold via Cricket) identifies it as a superior "Off The Grid" (OTG) phone for under $40. Running an early version of KaiOS (based on Firefox OS), the phone offers excellent battery life and a fast browser without the heavy tracking of modern smartphones. Users are warned not to log into Google services on the device, as Google cannot currently identify the OS, which is viewed as a significant privacy benefit.

Technical advice is given on using a Pi-hole (Raspberry Pi) to block ads at the network level. The Brave browser is also discussed as a tool for privacy, though its business model involving "indicators" and cryptocurrency is viewed with some skepticism. The segment mentions the controversy surrounding Brave's founder and his departure from Firefox.

Facebook has filed a patent for ultrasonic cross-device tracking, which uses high-frequency tones in TV ads to activate a phone's microphone. In mobile news, the Nokia 8110 "banana phone" is discussed; however, the host expresses disappointment that Google has invested $22 million in its KaiOS operating system. This investment is seen as a move to bring data-tracking apps like YouTube and Maps to simple feature phones.

The hosts critique a presentation by Mitchell Baker, chairperson of the Mozilla Foundation, regarding the "physical layers" of the internet. They argue her explanation of net neutrality is "gobbledygook" designed to protect the interests of big tech. They explain the concepts of "peering" and "transit" as the true economic drivers of internet traffic.

The hosts expose the financial relationship between Mozilla and Google, noting that the "non-profit" foundation received hundreds of millions of dollars to make Google the default search engine in Firefox. They highlight Mitchell Baker's $1.1 million compensation package, arguing that Mozilla's "freedom fighter" image is a front for corporate lobbying.

Despite the hype surrounding artificial intelligence, modern web browsers often fail to correct simple typos in top-level domains (TLDs). A user typing ".ccom" instead of ".com" typically receives an error message rather than an automated correction. This lack of basic "smart" functionality highlights the gap between marketing claims for AI and its practical application in everyday software.

The hosts discuss the merits of the Brave browser, which uses a proxy method to block ads without alerting publishers. They compare it to Firefox and Chrome, arguing that users have a responsibility to use tools that prevent data leakage to advertisers.

The hosts compare the performance of Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Google Chrome, noting that Edge is fast but consumes significant system resources. A tip is shared regarding bypassing The New York Times paywall by switching browsers once the ten-article limit is reached. Concerns are raised about browsers and applications like Skype continuing to run background processes after being closed.

The Mozilla Foundation announces plans to deprecate non-secure HTTP connections in Firefox, mandating HTTPS for all websites. The hosts argue this move, supported by the "Let's Encrypt" initiative, creates a centralized point of control over the web through certificate authorities and will break many legacy devices and small websites.

A detailed account of a technical failure involving the Universal Audio Apollo Twin audio interface follows a software update. Despite rules against installing updates before a show, the installer began modifying drivers automatically after a Firefox download. The resulting interface changes and routing issues caused a significant delay in the broadcast, eventually requiring a firmware downgrade to restore functionality.

The hosts discuss a new project, MoralSelfLicensing.com, which offers certificates allowing users "douchebag events" as an offset for good deeds. A technical dispute occurs between the hosts regarding the website's rendering on different browsers, specifically Firefox on Windows 7. The concept is proposed as a $100 donation tier.

Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich resigned following a backlash over his 2008 donation to California's Proposition 8. The dating site OkCupid participated in the protest by displaying a message to Firefox users. The hosts criticize this as a "public relations campaign" and a misuse of the LGBTQ community for commercial interests, specifically to drive users toward Google Chrome.

Technical difficulties with browser speed and DNS settings lead to a discussion on adware attacks. A specific type of malware, referred to as "Highlighty," inserts double-underlined links into web pages that trigger advertisements when moused over by the user.

The community has organized a listening meetup in Virginia, with resources available at noagendameetup.org. Listeners continue to register creative domain names that forward to the main show site, including oralsexlicence.com. Additionally, a new initiative called "No Agenda Everywhere" encourages users to use a browser plugin for HTTP referrer spoofing to increase the show's visibility in server logs.

The BBC and other major outlets are caught reporting a fake study claiming Internet Explorer users have lower IQs than users of other browsers. Despite warnings from mathematicians like David Spiegelhalter that the data was suspicious, the story ran globally before being revealed as a hoax by a non-existent PR firm. The hosts use this as an example of how easily dubious statistics enter the news cycle.

A Firefox plugin called the "No Agenda Bullshit Filter" is highlighted, which automatically corrects names and terms on web pages (e.g., changing Donald Rumsfeld to "Ted Rumsfeld"). The hosts also celebrate the successful Kickstarter funding for "Rhino of the Bearded Ones," which will allow him to continue producing "No Agenda Shots."

Randy Asher has launched noagendaart.com to archive episodic artwork and provide a central repository for listener submissions. The hosts review various PR initiatives, including No Agenda branded golf balls and Firefox personas. Jim Lunsfeld's new proxy service at noagendaproxy.com is highlighted as a tool for anonymous browsing and bypassing workplace or international filters.