First off, a huge thank you to everyone who responded to my [last post] with suggestions and insights. The feedback was incredibly helpful.

Now, I’d like to focus on one specific challenge that’s still unresolved: my browser situation.

Currently, I’m using Brave as a temporary solution. It has vertical tabs and pinned sites, which I need, but it’s still Chromium-based. I want to move away from Google’s ecosystem, but I’m not willing to compromise on usability. If a browser can’t handle vertical tabs or DRM for streaming, it’s not a viable option for me.

What I Need

• Vertical tabs (non-negotiable; Arc spoiled me)
• No Chromium (Firefox-based or independent engine preferred)
• Functional DRM (yes, even on Linux—don’t judge me)
• Daily usability (no constant cookie purges, no janky workarounds)

What I’ve Tried

• Vivaldi & Zen Browser: Firefox-based, which I liked in theory. But DRM (Widevine) was a no-go, even with plugins. Linux + DRM is a known nightmare, but if someone has a functional setup, I’d love to hear about it.
• Mullvad Browser: Privacy-wise, it’s great, but the aggressive cookie-clearing makes it impractical for daily use.

What I Haven’t Tried (But Am Watching)

• Ladybird Browser: This could be the answer—if it ever becomes stable. If anyone’s tested recent builds, I’d love to hear how close it is to daily usability.

What I’m Looking For Now

Is there a browser out there that I’m missing?
One that balances privacy, usability, and my specific needs - without forcing me into a Chromium-based corner?

Specifically, I’d love to hear from people who’ve had success with:

• Firefox-based browsers (or others) that handle vertical tabs and DRM smoothly.
• General experiences with non-Chromium browsers - what’s your daily driver, and why?

If you’ve found a setup that works for you, I’d genuinely love to hear about it.


> thanks <

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share my current status quo of gradually moving away from US-based services and products and replacing them with European alternatives where possible.

This is not about perfection or ideological purity — more about direction, values, and supporting EU-based ecosystems when reasonable alternatives exist.

What I’ve Already Switched

Email / Cloud / VPN

I’m fully aware that Proton is a European company based in Switzerland. My decision to move away from Proton was not about trust or geography, but about risk concentration.

I was using Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and Proton VPN at the same time and decided to follow the principle of:

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.”

So I deliberately split these services across different providers:

• Proton Mail → TutaMail (Germany)
• Proton Drive → Filen (Germany)
• Proton VPN → Mullvad VPN (Sweden) (when I actually need a VPN)

This is more about resilience and diversification than distrust.

Music Streaming

• Deezer → Qobuz (France)
  • While Deezer is often seen as European, I decided to move away after learning more about its ownership and investor structure.
  • A significant share is held by non-EU stakeholders partly linked to the US, which didn’t align with what I want to support long-term.
  • Qobuz feels more in line with my values, and the switch was a nice improvement in sound quality.

Messaging

• WhatsApp → Threema + Signal
  • WhatsApp is completely gone.
  • Signal is still US-based, but currently required for activism/political work.

Language Models

• ChatGPT → Le Chat

Charging Devices

• Anker → recable (Germany)

Voice Chat

• Discord → TeamSpeak

OS

• Windows → Linux Mint (Oh boy, do I love Linux Mint <3 Fck Windows)

Office / Creative Software

• Microsoft Office → LibreOffice (rarely needed anyway)
• For most creative work, I use Affinity Publisher, Designer & Photo

Entertainment

• Cancelled several US streaming services (e.g., Disney+)

Navigation

• Apple Maps → TomTom

Payments

• PayPal → Wero

Clothing

• While Adidas is a German brand, a lot of their production happens outside the EU, which I want to move away from over time.
• Ideal goal: Support European production under reasonable conditions.
  • Shoes: Switching from Adidas → TREAZY (EU production, plant-based materials)
  • Socks: Planning to switch to TREAZY socks (made in Portugal)
  • Underwear — Open Question
    • Looking for high-quality men’s underwear (trunks) that:
      • Is genuinely produced in Europe,
      • Feels really comfortable,
      • Actually lasts a long time (doesn’t stretch out or fall apart after a few months).
    • Do you have recommendations? Something you’ve had for years and still feel comfortable in, made in Europe?

Audio / Hardware

• Initially planned: Shure SM7B
• Decided on: Sennheiser MD 421 Mark II (Supporting a European audio manufacturer felt like the better fit for me.)

What I Still Use (Reluctantly / Pragmatically)

• Netflix (No real EU alternative with a comparable catalog — I only subscribe occasionally, 1 month every few months.)
• Gaming: Steam (ecosystem reasons)
• Password Manager: 1Password (Canada — not EU, but best fit for my needs so far)

Big Open Topic: Smartphone

• Currently using an iPhone 15 Pro
• Considering a Fairphone with LineageOS
• Waiting to see developments around Fairphone 6
• Would love to see some experiences here.

Where I’d Really Love Community Input

• Messaging: Thoughts on Element / Matrix / XMPP?
• Streaming: Any serious European Netflix alternatives you like?
• Underwear: European underwear brands/experiences that are truly high-quality & long-lasting?
• General: EU services/products you’d strongly recommend or avoid?

This is very much a work in progress, not a finished state. Happy to learn, adjust, and iterate — feedback welcome! 😊

Thanks!

Edit: Improved structure and readability.