Well, you don't have to sync anything. You can turn syncing off in Options.

Other than selecting the types of data via the Sync Setings shown in about:preferences#sync there aren't really any user controls provided for Sync. It's either on or off via Connect or Disconnect from the Sync server per device.

Send Tab is an integral part of Sync, and won't work with Sync disconnected.

I don't understand your problem; users have the preference to use only the preference for Open Tabs in the Sync Settings selector by deselecting all the other 'tick boxes'.

Does This send tab feature still work if you disable all engines in the Sync setting and don't sync anything ?

the-edmeister said

Other than selecting the types of data via the Sync Setings shown in about:preferences#sync there aren't really any user controls provided for Sync. It's either on or off via Connect or Disconnect from the Sync server per device. Send Tab is an integral part of Sync, and won't work with Sync disconnected. I don't understand your problem; users have the preference to use only the preference for Open Tabs in the Sync Settings selector by deselecting all the other 'tick boxes'.

I have to back up a bit. I have no sync settings "options". Apparently, that's because I'm not signed in.

The problem is that immediately, as soon as I signed in, the syncing began, before I had a chance to make any decisions. Like Chrome.

There are services.sync.engine prefs for each of the engines that set whether to include the engine (services.sync.engine*true) or decline the engine (services.sync.engine*false).

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

See also bug 1570565.

the-edmeister said

Other than selecting the types of data via the Sync Setings shown in about:preferences#sync there aren't really any user controls provided for Sync. It's either on or off via Connect or Disconnect from the Sync server per device.

So the settings options only show up after you sign in?

TyDraniu said

See also bug 1570565.

cor-el said

There are services.sync.engine prefs for each of the engines that set whether to include the engine (services.sync.engine*true) or decline the engine (services.sync.engine*false).

• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/about-config-editor-firefox

Thanks for an explanations.

So for me, change everything to false except for services.sync.engine.tabs, and I'll still have all that unwanted tabs syncing, all the time, just for the opportunity to use Send Tab?

What a fiasco. They tout this feature, and then release it half thought out, half done, and with apparently no sense of urgency to fix it, since that bug report is 2 months old.

noel_envode said

the-edmeister said

Other than selecting the types of data via the Sync Setings shown in about:preferences#sync there aren't really any user controls provided for Sync. It's either on or off via Connect or Disconnect from the Sync server per device.

So the settings options only show up after you sign in?

Yes, you need to sign in to Sync to see those options.

noel_envode said

They tout this feature, and then release it half thought out, half done, and with apparently no sense of urgency to fix it, since that bug report is 2 months old.

Firefox Sync dates back to Dec 2007 when Weave (the original name for what later became Sync with Firefox 4.0 in Mar 2011) was launched by Mozilla Labs and then as an optional add-on / extension for Firefox 3.x. https://blog.mozilla.org/labs/2007/12/introducing-weave/

Overall I don't think Sync is "half thought out, half done, and with apparently no sense of urgency to fix it". Sync has been expanded / enhanced multiple times over the last 11 years. The result has been is that Sync is over-thought out, with new features added in a willy-nilly manner piece-by-piece at times. And mixing a Firefox Account (fxa) with Sync services is a part of the over-thinking fault by Mozilla.

The "Bug 1570565" that you cited is for Firefox Accounts (fxa-desktop-decouple) and it is proposing an enhancement to enable signing in to Sync for desktop users separate from logging into the users Firefox Account for other Mozilla / Firefox services. Those other Firefox / Mozilla services being this forum (SUMO), the add-ons website (AMO), Firefox Monitor, and the various newsletters / mailing lists offered by Mozilla.

Thanks to you guys, I figured out a few things.

the-edmeister said

Overall I don't think Sync is "half thought out, half done, and with apparently no sense of urgency to fix it". Sync has been expanded / enhanced multiple times over the last 11 years. The result has been is that Sync is over-thought out, with new features added in a willy-nilly manner piece-by-piece at times. And mixing a Firefox Account (fxa) with Sync services is a part of the over-thinking fault by Mozilla.

I'm no Firefox basher. Maybe I should have said ill-conceived and lacking in detailed instruction.

cor-el said

Does This send tab feature still work if you disable all engines in the Sync setting and don't sync anything ?

Excellent question. I think it solved my problem, at least partially. We'll see.

First I unchecked all the Firefox android sync choices, disabled the Firefox android account sync, which removed the Firefox android account.

I then logged into my Firefox desktop account. However, before I even had the chance to type in my phone number, it started syncing, which is exactly what I did not want. Not to mention I got some extra addons that were not even from Firefox android. My only theory on that I also had Firefox focus & Firefox preview on my phone.

Maybe the fact that I logged in before using that same profile that experienced the sync? After all, since it was used to login, it is listed as one of the recognized devices.

I went with another desktop profile, logged in, and disabled all the engines in the Sync settings. Nothing synced.

I tried the Firefox Send function, and it actually worked! It shows up as a notification on the phone that opens in the Firefox android browser, as well as a desktop popup, and in the desktop Your Phone app.

I didn't even have to re-establish the Firefox Android account.