Mozilla vs Proton

Thunderbird for iOS: Mozilla Rebuilds Mail App from Scratch

MZLA Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation, is developing a native iOS version of the Thunderbird email client for iPhone and iPad. The app is being rewritten from scratch in Swift and SwiftUI, unlike the Android version which is based on K-9 Mail. The team aims to release an initial community test version in the coming months. Key features at launch include automatic account setup with OAuth support, multi-account management, and background synchronization. Apple iCloud accounts will need to use IMAP and password due to lack of OAuth APIs from Apple. The app will distinguish itself from Apple Mail by not tracking user behavior or collecting personal data. Future plans include QR-code account transfer from desktop and integration with Thunderbird Pro and Thundermail services.

• MZLA Technologies, a Mozilla subsidiary, is developing a native iOS version of Thunderbird.
• The iOS app is being built from scratch in Swift and SwiftUI, while the Android version uses K-9 Mail code.
• A first community test version is planned for release in the coming months.

Chrome 155 introduces new Tabs Split View API for extensions

Chrome 155 introduces the new Split View API, allowing extensions to programmatically detect, create, and manage built-in split views in the browser. Developed with Mozilla and other browser vendors in the WebExtensions Community Group, the API integrates with the Tabs API and requires no additional permissions. Extensions can now create split views using the `splitWithTabId` parameter or the `createSplit` method, and unsplit them via the `unsplit` method. Previously, extensions had to use brittle workarounds like resizing native windows or embedding iframes. The API was announced in October 2026, following the native split view feature introduced in Chrome 145 in February 2026. This enhances productivity workflows by enabling more robust multitasking extensions.

• Chrome 145 introduced native Split View in February 2026.
• Chrome 155 introduces the new Split View API.
• Developed with Mozilla and other browser vendors in the WebExtensions Community Group.

Laytr App Lets You Save Anything Online

Laytr, a new app by indie developer Mostafa Talaat under his company Waitery Inc., offers a read-it-later service that extends to saving any web content, including articles, recipes, screenshots, videos, PDFs, bookmarks, and tabs. The app automatically sorts content types and allows organization into collections called 'cases,' with reminders for saved items. Privacy is a core feature: everything is stored locally and synced via iCloud, requiring no account, and the developer cannot access user data. Laytr imports Pocket exports, easing migration after Pocket's shutdown. The app is free for up to 30 saved items, with Premium pricing at $1.99/month, $14.99/year, or $39.99 lifetime (introductory $24.99). Users can export their entire archive as a ZIP file at any time. Laytr avoids AI features and personalization to maintain privacy.

• Laytr is a new app by Waitery Inc. that lets users save any web content, not just articles.
• The app is privacy-focused: no account required, data stored locally and synced via iCloud.
• It imports Pocket exports to ease migration after Pocket's shutdown.

Proton partners with Apertus, Switzerland's sovereign AI model

Proton has partnered with the team behind Apertus, adding their sovereign AI model to its privacy-first AI chatbot Lumo.

Keep important emails in focus with Proton Mail Categories

Proton Mail now sorts your inbox into Categories automatically, while keeping the contents of your email private. Less noise, more focus.

Proton’s Tool Reveals What ChatGPT and Claude Know

Swiss provider Proton launched AI Paper Trail, a browser tool that analyzes exported chat data (zip/json) from ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude to summarize what those chatbots may have learned about a user. The tool — which currently supports ChatGPT and Claude exports — reports metrics such as a “Privacy Exposure” score and an estimated monetary value of a user’s data. A Bitkom survey of 1,003 Germans found 34% of AI users consult chatbots for health questions and 43% of respondents worry personal data are not securely stored by AI providers. The article notes OpenAI and Anthropic say they do not build advertising profiles from user data but may use exports for model training depending on settings; deleted chats can still be retained in some cases (Anthropic: at least 30 days). Proton positions the tool to highlight privacy exposure and to promote its privacy-focused Lumo chatbot; its transparency report shows past compliance with Swiss authority orders for Proton Mail.

• Bitkom survey of 1,003 Germans: 34% of AI users consult chatbots for health questions; 43% of respondents worry AI providers do not securely store personal data.
• Proton introduced AI Paper Trail, a browser tool that analyzes exported ChatGPT and Claude chat files (zip/json) and reports a Privacy Exposure score and estimated data value.
• OpenAI and Anthropic say they do not create advertising profiles from user data but may use exported data for model training depending on settings; deleted chats can still be retained or processed under some conditions.