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RandomGerm4n | on: An Update on Orion for Linux and Windows
I've never understood what niche Orion is supposed to fill. People who value privacy would be more likely to use an open-source browser. Firefox and Brave already serve that purpose. Maybe it's less important to Mac users, but on Linux, a proprietary browser is a major deal-breaker for most people. Plus, it's less convenient if the browser isn't simply included in the repository as a result. Orion should have been developed as open source from the start, with community involvement. Kagi can still benefit from this, though, by serving as the default search engine in exchange for funding the development, and by having the Kagi Assistant directly integrated into the platform.
sestep | parent | next
For me the answer is quite simple: it's the only browser on iOS that lets you run Chrome extensions and Firefox add-ons.
hobo123 | root | parent | next
Doesn't Firefox also run Chrome extensions? Not that Firefox doesn't have enough extensions by itself...
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| root | parent
{"deleted":true,"id":49945032,"parent":49943527,"time":1791040587,"type":"comment"}
shakow | parent | next
> I've never understood what niche Orion is supposed to fill

For me, as battery-efficient as Safari, but with better chrome and access to ffox extensions ecosystem.

jorvi | root | parent
Chromium-based browsers actually have had better battery life than Safari for 2 years (!) now[0]. And perform better. Which is a real egg on Apple's face.

The only reason to use Safari is because you're knee-deep in the Apple ecosystem, otherwise something like Chrome, Edge or Brave just makes more sense.

[0]https://birchtree.me/blog/everyone-says-chrome-devastates-ma...

sosborn | root | parent
> But this is not to tell every Safari user that they are irrational or wrong in any way for using Safari over Chrome (or any other browser, for that matter). Does Safari use more battery than Chrome? In these tasks it sure seems to, but it’s not by a massive amount, potentially costing you about 0.5% of your battery life every hour. Is that enough for you to switch browsers if you prefer Safari’s UI or reliability or privacy options? I suspect not.
jorvi | root | parent
The point is moreso that Chrome being a battery hog is a myth.

Safari is less private than Brave and does not have the breadth of extension that Chromium browsers (and Firefox) do. So again, the only reason to really choose Safari is if you're completely in the Apple ecosystem.

anonreplier | root | parent
I suspect a lot of users don't care about Chrome's (hobbled) extensions
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TheCapeGreek | parent | next
Anecdotally, the niche it solved for me for a while was "Safari for optimal performance on mac, but with proper extensions like ublock".

I used it regularly for almost a year, eventually got off because of some UI bugs that came up and because the Safari dev tools feel so clunky/need relearning compared to Chrome & FF.

SOLAR_FIELDS | root | parent
I’ve been using it on iOS since it’s near inception and I can report that it is much more stable now than it was since its original release. I tried to live on the desktop browser, however, and eventually had to declare it unusable and switch back to Firefox. Mostly around things like 1Password and similar extensions being pretty broken in the Orion desktop browser.
ibejoeb | parent | next
In addition to what other have said about extensions, ad blocking, no telemetry, and some nice features like tab management, it works in the Apple ecosystem. If you use a mac and an iphone, you get the native sync services for history, bookmarks, passwords, etc. Makes sense that they're focusing on that.

Developing internally initially, as opposed to making it open source, was probably the only practical way for a small team with a specific goal to get there. I don't see any problem turning it over to community development for secondary platforms. If it gets adoption, great. If it fizzles out on linux and windows, nothing is lost.

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figassis | parent | next
On Mac, a non Safari browser that moves faster, allows chrome extensions and more customizability. I stopped using it because they refused to implement DNS over HTTP, handwaving it as "use what the OS already gives you".
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blahgeek | parent | next
> Kagi can still benefit from this, though, by serving as the default search engine in exchange for funding the development

This is not gonna work because Kagi is not free to use

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ivanjermakov | parent | next
I used it on iOS for ad blocking until uBlock's release https://apps.apple.com/pl/app/ublock-origin-lite/id674534269...
Grombobulous | root | parent
Pragmatically, on iOS the ad blocking you’re getting with paid apps like Wipr 2 is still better than uBlock origin lite.

So, in my opinion, there wasn’t a really good reason to wait for uBlock to land on Apple’s platform.

The ad blocking aspect never seemed like a flagship reason to use Orion if you ask me.

Some of the other features are.

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xstas1 | parent | next
It comes with adblocking out of the box, and is a reliable way to watch YouTube ad free on iOS.
TheSkyHasEyes | parent | next
The site made it difficult to even know what Orion was. Your comment answered that, thanks.
slow_typist | parent | next
On iOS it integrates better with Kagi search. It is basically a skin for safari though.
Shadowmist | root | parent
Being able to swipe up on the address bar to close tabs almost makes it worth using.
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Brian_K_White | parent | next
I've been paying for kagi since it came out, use linux on my laptop and lineaege on my phone, and I don't use Orion.

In other words, as you say, exactly.

I have no idea if it's a good or bad or I'd like it or not. I never even considered trying. I don't mind that it exists. I don't think kagi are doing anything bad with it. But I also just have no interest in even trying it. Presumably it's good for soneone but for me (a paying kagi customer linux user) it's almost like it's invisible. A probably benign, utterly uninteresting thing.

I don't use any of their AI features either. I hope they cost extra seperately so that I'm not paying for that stuff I'm not using but I suspect I probably am.

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ghostly_s | parent
Afaict the niche they attempted to fill is the one Firefox already fills on desktop, a highly customizable browser with extension support. (Firefox does not support extensions on iOS, apparently has no plans to do so, and as I understand the support is somewhat limited on Android as well). I switched for about a year because they delivered what seemed like a serious effort at that with their initial release. After seeing basically zero effort at addressing very fundamental bugs in that support in that year, I switched back. As far as I’m concerned their battle is already lost.

The iOS codebase is the only one that potentially has any value to the OSS community; this kind of "enjoy our garbage!" source release really irks me.