"Its main advantage is an ethical one: it is entirely free software. While the Firefox source code from the Mozilla project is free software, they distribute and recommend non-free software as plug-ins and addons."
Konqueror. The browser that was open-source from day 1 (back when Mozilla was still Netscape), that wrote their own first-class rendering engine with a tiny fraction of the money or developers that Mozilla has. I often wonder how history might've been different if they'd got the money and attention that Mozilla did.
Suppose you were to right click -> Customise and remove the icon, the feature is effectively disabled. If you can't take Mozilla's word on that, that's understandable. You can check the integration code - its open source. Now if you're going to say that its the principle of opting-out rather than opting-in, that's a separate discussion. If you're concerned about your privacy, you can protect it in 3 clicks.
If you're still concerned, then use IceWeasel or SeaMonkey.
User preferences are stored in the plain-text file "prefs.js" in your user profile directory. Presumably you could just append the preference to the end.
If you want a programmatic way to modify the UI, probably a simple extension could do that using Fx's UI API.
in some sort of weird recursive stroll through the internet I clicked a link from that page and got 'TabMarks', a service that consolidates bookmarks. Thought that was pertinent, given the discussion in this thread.
> we collect information about the URLs, titles and content of the web pages and other information you save to Pocket. The types of information we collect includes your browser type, device type, time zone, language, and other information related to the manner in which you access the Pocket Technologies. We also collect information about your use of the Pocket Technologies so that we can provide our services. For example, as a part of providing Pocket’s syncing features, we sync information about the items that you save and view within Pocket so that your list, tags, scroll position, and other account and usage information may be synced across all of your devices.
> In addition to the methods described above, we may also collect information using cookies or other technologies. You may decline our cookies if your browser permits, although in that case you may not be able to use certain features, you may be required to enter your password more frequently during a session, and you may be unable to install or use certain Pocket Technologies. Cookies and other technologies make our Pocket Technologies easier to use and help us customize and personalize the services we provide based on your interests and activities.
> We may also use "pixel tags," "web beacons," "clear GIFs" or similar means (individually or collectively "Pixel Tags") in connection with emails that we send to our users in order to collect usage data. Our use of Pixel Tags allows us to count users who have visited certain pages on our Website, to deliver branded services and to help determine the effectiveness of promotional or advertising campaigns.
> We may also analyze and use aggregated information to improve the products and services that we offer, and to develop new products and services.
> In the event that we or certain of our assets are acquired, user information may be included among the transferred assets.
> Please note this Privacy Policy will change from time to time. We may amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the amended terms on our Website that you can access at getpocket.com or through the options or help menu of the Pocket application. All amended terms shall automatically be effective thirty (30) days after they are initially posted on the Website.
> By installing the Pocket™ application, visiting our website or installing or using any of the Pocket Technologies, you are accepting these terms of service.
The firefox integration is not a pocket-brand application, website, or technology. It uses pocket's public API and is open-source, mozilla-developed and -licensed code.
I thought the API used was undocumented and custom to Firefox? I don't know where exactly I found the Google groups discussion going on between various Mozilla people and the community, but this was a point made a number of times. IIRC at least one Mozilla person was working on getting clarification regarding this clause of the TOS.
The part where you log in and then explicitly upload specific URLs to Pocket? The part where you navigate to the Pocket app and use it? This sounds like any other website.
I miss the early 2000's of the web where everything was the wild west and was untouched by the advertising cancer.