IdeaWell

Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Introducing Ad Blocker for Firefox on iOS

Original Article

Hacker News Discussion

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Frustration with the staged rollout and inaccessible feature
Users complained that Mozilla’s big announcement did not match the limited availability of the ad blocker.
- “I HATE it when a company does a staged rollout of something after making a big announcement. If you're going to announce something, then don't stage the rollout.” – drewg123
- “Making an announcement when fewer than 40% of your customers will see the feature feels like (unintentional) gaslighting.” – yboris
- “It's been days (weeks?) and I'm still waiting for the option to appear for me.” – WD-42

2. Concerns about telemetry/privacy trade‑offs
Many noted that the ad blocker seemingly required enabling telemetry or “remote improvements,” raising privacy worries.
- “Apparently, you can only block ads if you allow Mozilla telemetry. Thanks, dicks.” – nonameiguess
- “Previously, access to these changes required you to share technical and interaction data (telemetry) with Mozilla. However, as of Firefox version 148, you can opt into receiving remote improvements, even if you have opted out of sharing your telemetry…” – mossTechnician
- “How did that even happen? I sure hope that was a bug and not a product decision…” – embedding-shape

3. Criticism of Mozilla’s communication, UX, and premature marketing
Commenters argued that Mozilla’s announcement and documentation were confusing or inadequate.
- “If Mozilla put even half as much time into working on Firefox as they do tarnishing its reputation, they'd dominate the market.” – thesuitonym
- “You need to put out that documentation before the start of the rollout, or people won't find it when they look for it.” – Wowfunhappy
- “Yeah release notes, in‑app help, intuitive UIs, and version documentation hosted on your own website are definitely not possible.” – evilduck (sarcastic)

4. Discussion of alternatives and the ad blocker’s limitations
Users pointed out that the Firefox iOS blocker misses many ads (YouTube, search, sponsored content) and often prefer other solutions.
- “Safari + the Content Blocker Wipr works well for me.” – doublepg23
- “It doesn't block YouTube ads or search ads.” – OptionOfT (quoting the FAQ)
- “I've been using Orion as a replacement for Firefox on iOS, which has support for extensions (including uBlock Origin) and better UI/UX…” – 9999gold
- “I use Firefox on Android to watch YouTube videos without ads.” – ramijames (highlighting the iOS shortfall)

🚀 Project Ideas

Feature Rollout Tracker for Firefox iOS

Summary

  • A lightweight web app and optional iOS widget that monitors Mozilla’s feature flags and notifies users when the native ad blocker is available for their specific Firefox version and region.
  • Core value: eliminates guesswork and frustration caused by staged rollouts by providing transparent, real‑time availability status and opt‑in guidance without requiring telemetry.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Firefox iOS users who want the native ad blocker but are stuck waiting for rollout
Core Feature Real‑time rollout status checker, version‑specific availability, telemetry‑free enable instructions
Tech Stack Next.js (frontend), Vercel serverless functions, Mozilla’s public feature‑flag API, iOS WidgetKit extension
Difficulty Low
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters complained about “staged rollout” and “gaslighting” (e.g., “I spent 3 minutes double‑checking that even after updating Firefox minutes ago the option is still not visible to me”); this tool directly addresses that pain.
  • Could spark discussion about feature‑flag transparency and serve as a practical utility for power users who dislike opaque rollouts.

uBlock Origin Lite Wrapper for Firefox iOS

Summary

  • A Safari Content Blocker app that imports the latest uBlock Origin Lite filter lists and exposes them as a toggleable blocker usable inside Firefox iOS via the system’s Content Blocker API.
  • Core value: gives Firefox iOS users the same comprehensive ad‑blocking power as uBlock Origin Lite without needing Firefox extensions or enabling telemetry.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Firefox iOS users dissatisfied with the limited native ad blocker and seeking uBO‑Lite‑level filtering
Core Feature Automatic update of uBO Lite filter lists, one‑tap enable/disable, compatible with Firefox iOS content‑blocker setting
Tech Stack SwiftUI, Content Blocker Extension, JSON filter list parser, GitHub Actions for daily list updates
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • Users expressed that “uBlock Origin Lite on Safari iOS is still king” and wished they could use it in Firefox; this wrapper bridges that gap.
  • Provides a concrete alternative that could reduce reliance on browsers like Orion or Brave, satisfying the desire for a true ad‑blocking Firefox experience on iOS.

Search & First‑Party Ad Blocker iOS Proxy

Summary

  • An on‑device VPN/DNS proxy that blocks known Google search ad domains and common first‑party ad servers, working system‑wide so Firefox iOS (and any other app) gets cleaner browsing.
  • Core value: fills the gap left by Firefox’s native blocker, which expressly does not block search or first‑party ads, delivering a more complete ad‑free experience.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Privacy‑conscious iOS users who want to block search‑engine ads and site‑served ads without jailbreaking
Core Feature Local DNS‑based filtering with configurable blocklists, low‑battery VPN profile, optional whitelist UI
Tech Stack Swift NetworkExtension (NEProxyProvider), CoreData for list storage, Firebase Remote Config for list updates
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Revenue-ready: “Freemium – free basic blocking, $2.99/mo for premium lists & whitelist management”

Notes

  • Commenters noted “Ads shown on search engine results pages are not blocked” and wished for a solution; this proxy directly tackles that limitation.
  • Offers a practical utility that could be discussed on HN as a way to circumvent browser‑level ad‑blocking limits while staying within Apple’s policies.

Firefox iOS Extension Bridge

Summary

  • An open‑source app that converts popular WebExtensions (e.g., uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger) into Safari Content Blocker rules on the fly, allowing them to be used within Firefox iOS without waiting for Mozilla’s native support.
  • Core value: unlocks the full extension ecosystem for Firefox iOS users, giving them the same customization and blocking power they enjoy on desktop.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Power users and developers who rely on specific WebExtensions and are frustrated by Firefox iOS’s extension limitations
Core Feature Extension‑to‑content‑blocker conversion engine, user‑friendly UI to select/install extensions, automatic sync with Firefox desktop extensions
Tech Stack Rust core for rule conversion (wasm), Swift UI, WebExtension manifest parser, iOS Share Extension for easy install
Difficulty High
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN discussion highlighted that “Orion offers custom support for WebExtensions but it’s basically requiring them to manually check and port WebExtensions”; this bridge automates that process, earning praise from users wanting true extension support.
  • Could stimulate conversation about the feasibility of bringing WebExtensions to iOS browsers and serve as a practical tool for those who rely on uBO or similar blockers.

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