The Persistent Nature of Freedom Isn't About Easy Routes
Resistance to oppression takes effort and sometimes money
ABOUT a month ago - or maybe about 6 weeks ago, so some time in May - Evri (British courier) apparently dropped support for Firefox and anything based on Gecko. We've reproduced the issue by using different Firefox-derived browsers and even by creating a new account. Same outcome.
Evri does not even wish to listen and, having studied its financial situation and surveyed media coverage (dozens of links shared in IRC already), it seems like Evri won't be around for much longer anyway. Their Android-based terminals began failing a lot about a year ago and sometimes they'd not even fix these for an entire week. Incredible!
The company is trying to dodge bad reputation; there have already been 4 different names:
"LIMITED" is about dodging liability, among other things. My last employer did the same a few years before I resigned. It went by many different names while it quietly stole money from the staff (pension fraud).
So "EVRI LIMITED" probably has limited shelf life now. Its latest financial report looks very negative.
Anyway, alternatives or contingencies do exist, but they require more walking, the prices are generally higher, and delivery may be less reliable. That's the price of my wife rejecting Chrom-isms and refusing to change Web browsers (she uses LibreWolf).
People typically need to pay more, not less, for sticking with Freedom-respecting Software (FS, or Free software). In other words, Free software isn't about saving money, it is about principles. Rejecting "smart" phones and "apps" also means being left out of various discounts. Paying with cash and without "loyalty" cards may mean anonymity, but the shops are essentially "fining" such customers by denying them debates/deals/discounts other people receive (in exchange for their personal data).
The same goes for free speech. People who insist on freedom of expression generally pay more.
In society, people must make sacrifices - even financial compromises - in order to collectively ensure or to protect other people's freedom. If enough people understand this and act accordingly, the world will be better off. █