Arc Browser

[neoOpus]

Please add this New Browser to the detection list

Arc

When I attempt to add it manually, the icon isn't picked up because this browser installs as a WindowsApp (UWP), and since customizing browser icons isn't possible (a feature that would be great to have for every browser and profile), it appears as shown in this screen capture.

Note: Ignore the icons for other browsers, as they're not visible since I haven't reinstalled them yet.

[donaldguy]

Arc is weird, and seems to have only fully bound the notion of launching a url via the "CWA Protocol Association Execute Command" [as bound in a DelegateExecute registry key to the GUID ({A56A841F-E974-45C1-8001-7E3F8A085917} ONLY WHEN ITS THE DEFAULT BROWSER]

but after objectively more hours than it was worth, I discovered/verified that it will also end up working if one calls Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchAsyncUri

with LauncherOptions setting TargetApplicationPackageFamilyName to TheBrowserCompany.Arc_ttt1ap7aakyb4

fundamentally this is all .NET stuff, I gather (its not my area of expertise), so it should be not hard to implement directly if one is so inclined, but as shared in U-C-S/Hurl#100 (comment) - I managed to force into PowerShell and then that PowerShell script inside a .{bat,cmd} container so it could be treated as an exe

I don't per se have a solution for the icon, but if you were inclined to do one of them "batch to exe" convertors, you could then probably just set the icon on that.

[aloneguid]

Arc won't install on Windows 11 at all. It does seems like a new and slightly unstable browser. It may be worth revisiting when it works properly?

[arendon1]

Commenting just to have this thread on my watchlist. I'm also interest in Arc support.

[aloneguid]

Still can't install it (I'm usually testing new browsers in Windows Sandbox). It seems Arc is only available for Windows 11?

[arendon1]

Still can't install it (I'm usually testing new browsers in Windows Sandbox). It seems Arc is only available for Windows 11?

You're totally right, current version of Arc are only Windows 11 exclusively, they seem to be working on Windows 10 version of it.

https://resources.arc.net/hc/en-us/articles/19400148671383-Unsupported-Devices

Is this a major issue to recognize it as a browser?

[aloneguid]

@arendon1 Honestly I don't know because I can't even install it on Widnows 11 (see error above).

[neoOpus]

@arendon1 Honestly I don't know because I can't even install it on Widnows 11 (see error above).

Actually, I don't have any problem installing it, if you want, I can provide you a remote control to a fresh Windows 11 today or this weekend so you can do your testing and updates… Please let me know if you are interested and what remote control software do you want to use (RustDesk, AnyDesk, Teamviewer, Parsec)

[link6155]

I have not tried this myself, but there's a workaround for a similar tool here U-C-S/Hurl#100 (comment)

[aloneguid]

@neoOpus I appreciate the offer, but it seems Arc haven't figured a way to create a way to install it. I've seen reddit comments people suggesting modifying their installer, installing custom certificates, setting up Windows Store correctly, enabling developer mode and so on which seems like a terrible way to support this. Until Arc supports all current Windows versions and not a specific edition of Windows 11 with custom configuration it's a no go for me.
The other way to support this is to write a custom program that opens Arc and then invoke it from BT, but that might be a waste of energy because Arc people may create a proper installer by then.

[Theblockbuster1]

I was thinking it might be possible to open a URL via a browser extension. Also the browser would have to be opened if it's not running.

For now I find it easier to just have my default browser as Arc, and use the BT extension to open links in Firefox in 1 click.

[neoOpus]

@Theblockbuster1 commented on Jun 28, 2024, 4:01 PM EDT:

I was thinking it might be possible to open a URL via a browser extension. Also the browser would have to be opened if it's not running.

For now I find it easier to just have my default browser as Arc, and use the BT extension to open links in Firefox in 1 click.

Originally posted by @Theblockbuster1 in #76 (comment)

There is a solution for that through the BT chrome extension available in the Chrome store or linked on the webpage created by Ivan @aloneguid. This extension enables you to right-click on the link and select the option from the context menu to open it in BT (app), which will then suggest the browsers you have installed to choose from.

[Theblockbuster1]

Yes, that's what I'm using :) it's very useful. I mostly use it by clicking on the extension icon to reopen the current tab.

[neoOpus]

There are other extensions that can do the same thing like these https://webextension.org/listing/open-in.html You pick the one you just need but you can opt to configure General Purpose But please next time open another discussion if your request is unrelated

…

On Fri, Jun 28, 2024, 16:22 blok ***@***.***> wrote: Yes, that's what I'm using :) it's very useful. I mostly use it by clicking on the extension icon to reopen the current tab. — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#76 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AAKS6MC5OTZMGRHNC7KA7VTZJXAZDAVCNFSM6AAAAABHEZHUIOVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZDCOJXGU4TIMZYGE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[aloneguid]

Seems like Arc will be coming to windows 10, and I think this might make it a normal recognisable browser for all windows versions. See https://browserco.typeform.com/to/k37wtsev?typeform-source=arc.net#source=download

[aloneguid]

@donaldguy I have solved the issue of opening links in Arc via UWP API in Windows, so it's coming along. What's left is detecting whether Arc is installed.

[aloneguid]

At the moment I'm able to detect Arc browser (and Firefox Windows Store version as a bonus)

The only outstanding issue is finding out where Arc stores chromium profiles on disk (looking for help here). Arc itself needs to be launched differently via UWP COM API but i've done this already.

[neoOpus]

At the moment I'm able to detect Arc browser (and Firefox Windows Store version as a bonus)

The only outstanding issue is finding out where Arc stores chromium profiles on disk (looking for help here). Arc itself needs to be launched differently via UWP COM API but i've done this already.

Unfortunately, I do not have access to a Windows machine, so I won't be able to investigate anything personally. Additionally, the profile is likely behind a random naming scheme for security reasons. However, the Arc team may be able to provide a way for you to access the information you need. Do you need me to contact Arc on your behalf?

[aloneguid]

No worries @neoOpus thanks, I found it, and it's under ..\AppData\Local\Packages\TheBrowserCompany.Arc_ttt1ap7aakyb4\LocalCache\Local\Arc\User Data\Local State which is a normal Chromium data folder with all the usual stuff inside.

What I've got left is passing an argument to Arc which it seems to ignore at the moment. It's not UWP issue as I can do it now for Firefox MSSTORE version.

[neoOpus]

No worries @neoOpus thanks, I found it, and it's under ..\AppData\Local\Packages\TheBrowserCompany.Arc_ttt1ap7aakyb4\LocalCache\Local\Arc\User Data\Local State which is a normal Chromium data folder with all the usual stuff inside.

What I've got left is passing an argument to Arc which it seems to ignore at the moment. It's not UWP issue as I can do it now for Firefox MSSTORE version.

I think this part of the path "ttt1ap7aakyb4" is random and changes from one user to another which could be a problem but if the field can be edited then anyone can use the appropriate path by looking in their folders tree

[aloneguid]

Arc is weird, and seems to have only fully bound the notion of launching a url via the "CWA Protocol Association Execute Command" [as bound in a DelegateExecute registry key to the GUID ({A56A841F-E974-45C1-8001-7E3F8A085917} ONLY WHEN ITS THE DEFAULT BROWSER]

but after objectively more hours than it was worth, I discovered/verified that it will also end up working if one calls Windows.System.Launcher.LaunchAsyncUri

with LauncherOptions setting TargetApplicationPackageFamilyName to TheBrowserCompany.Arc_ttt1ap7aakyb4

fundamentally this is all .NET stuff, I gather (its not my area of expertise), so it should be not hard to implement directly if one is so inclined, but as shared in U-C-S/Hurl#100 (comment) - I managed to force into PowerShell and then that PowerShell script inside a .{bat,cmd} container so it could be treated as an exe

I don't per se have a solution for the icon, but if you were inclined to do one of them "batch to exe" convertors, you could then probably just set the icon on that.

This is really interesting. Arc does not open URL even if it's the default browser for me.

[aloneguid]

It seems to work now

[aloneguid]

It's now released in 4.0.1, please try.

[arendon1]

These are amazing news! tysm for your hard work Ivan!

[rp1231]

The arc browser icon disappeared for me on browser after I updated the arc browser.
Had to use the rediscover browsers button to get the icon back.
Didn't get to test whether it was just the icon that was gone or the browser option itself had stopped working as I had already clicked the rediscover browsers button by then.

[arendon1]

Can confirm prev commenter case. After Arc's update had to refresh the browser discovery on bt.
Not a big issue, but a behavior worth noting, I think.

[aloneguid]

I can confirm this as well, rediscover does fix it, but that's not ideal. Issue is that on update msstore apps will change the folder name where they are installed, so I need to handle this as well, should be fixed soon.
The good news is browser ID is not changed, so all the confiruration is kept on rediscover.

[rp1231]

I can confirm this as well, rediscover does fix it, but that's not ideal. Issue is that on update msstore apps will change the folder name where they are installed, so I need to handle this as well, should be fixed soon. The good news is browser ID is not changed, so all the confiruration is kept on rediscover.

Would caching the browser Icon be a possible solution?

[neoOpus]

I can confirm this as well, rediscover does fix it, but that's not ideal. Issue is that on update msstore apps will change the folder name where they are installed, so I need to handle this as well, should be fixed soon. The good news is browser ID is not changed, so all the confiruration is kept on rediscover.

Would caching the browser Icon be a possible solution?

Maybe the discover should be reworked... if it finds the browser in the setting file then it should just update the path and keep it at the same position without messing with other settings unless necessary... but it is up to Ivan!