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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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