Firefox for mobile

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Firefox for mobile
Firefox 3.5-4.0 logo.png
Ffmobandroid21.png
Firefox for mobile 21.0 on Android
Developer(s) Mozilla Corporation
Mozilla Foundation
Stable release 21.0 (May 14, 2013; 32 days ago (2013-05-14)[1]) [±]
Preview release 21.0 (April 5, 2013; 2 months ago (2013-04-05)[2]) [±]
Written in C++, XUL, Java
Operating system Android 2.2 and above[3]
Type Mobile browser
License MPL
Website www.mozilla.com/mobile/

Firefox for mobile (codenamed Fennec) is the build of the Mozilla Firefox web browser for devices such as smartphones and tablet computers.

Firefox for mobile uses the same Gecko layout engine as Mozilla Firefox. For example, version 1.0 used the same engine as Firefox 3.6, and the following release, 4.0, shared core code with Firefox 4.0. Its features include HTML5 support, Firefox Sync, add-ons support and tabbed browsing.[4]

Contents

History[edit]

Plugin support was initially disabled by default, removing compatibility with popular web content types such as Adobe Flash.[5] In September 2011, Flash support has implemented in pre-release builds for pre-Honeycomb versions of Android.[6] Flash support for Android 2.x and 4.x has been enabled for most smartphones in version 14.0, while support for Android 3.x may come in a later release.[7]

The browser's version numbering was bumped from version 2.0 to version 4.0 to more closely match desktop releases of Firefox since the rendering engines used in both browsers are the same.[8]

Release dates:

  • Version 1: January 28, 2010. For Maemo.[9]
  • Version 4: March 29, 2011. For Android and Maemo.[10]
  • Version 5: June 21, 2011. For Android.[11]
  • Version 6: August 16, 2011.[12]
  • Version 6.0.1: August 30, 2011.[13]
  • Version 6.0.2: September 6, 2011.[14]
  • Version 7.0: September 27, 2011.[citation needed]
  • Version 7.0.1: October 2, 2011.[citation needed]
  • Version 8.0: November 8, 2011.[citation needed]
  • Version 9.0: December 21, 2011.[citation needed]
  • Version 10.0: January 31, 2012.[15]
  • Version 10.0.1: February 10, 2012.[16]
  • Version 10.0.2: February 17, 2012.[17]
  • Version 10.0.3: March 13, 2012.[18]
  • Version 10.0.4: April 24, 2012.[19]
  • Version 10.0.5: June 5, 2012.[20]
  • Version 14.0: June 26, 2012.[21]
  • Version 15.0: August 28, 2012.[22]
  • Version 15.0.1: September 10, 2012.[23]
  • Version 16.0: October 9, 2012.[24]
  • Version 16.0.1: October 11, 2012.[25]
  • Version 17: November 19, 2012.[26]
  • Version 18: January 8, 2013.[27]
  • Version 18.0.2: February 7, 2013.[28]
  • Version 19.0: February 19, 2013.[29]
  • Version 19.0.2: March 7, 2013.[30]
  • Version 20.0: April 2, 2013.[31]
  • Version 20.0.1: April 11, 2013.[32]
  • Version 21.0: May 14, 2013[33]

Name[edit]

The codename used for Firefox for mobile is Fennec. It comes from the Fennec Fox, a small desert fox (just as the Fennec browser is a small version of Firefox browser). Firefox for Maemo Beta 5, released in 2009, was the first release to have official Firefox branding, with Firefox name and logo.[34]

Platforms[edit]

As of Version 20, Firefox for mobile is only available for Android 2.2 and above devices with an ARMv6 or ARMv7 CPU.[35] The x86 architecture is not yet supported.[36]

Official support for the Nokia N900 Maemo device ceased with version 7.[37]

An alpha of version 1.1 (1.1 Alpha 1) for Windows Mobile, released on February 19, 2010, is the last build for this operating system.[38][39] Following the Windows Phone 7 announcement and Microsoft's decision not to release a native development kit, development for Windows Mobile was put on hold.[40] If Microsoft releases a native development kit in the future for its Windows Phone OS, then Mozilla will consider again developing Fennec for the platform.[3]

Tristan Nitot, president of Mozilla Europe, has said that it's unlikely that an iPhone or a BlackBerry version will be released, citing Apple's non-compete application approval policies and BlackBerry's limited operating system as the reasons.[41]

There are no plans to develop Firefox for the Symbian platform.[3]

Mozilla has no plans to develop Firefox for WebOS.[3] An unofficial port to WebOS was made, but is no longer maintained.[42]

An unofficial port is also available for the OpenPandora Handheld.[43]

While desktop versions are not supported, versions for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux are available; these versions are intended as a way to give people who do not have a supported operating system the ability to localize, experiment and build add-ons.[44]

Reception[edit]

The main complaints about the browser pre-version 14 was slow browsing speed, lack of plugin support and performance issues.[45][46] To address these concerns, Mozilla redesigned the browser in version 14.0, adding Flash support, improving start up speed, as well as other enhancements.[47] This update dramatically improved Firefox for Mobile. As of May 2013 the average user rating of Firefox for mobile on the Google Play Store is 4.3[1]

See also[edit]

Portal icon Free software portal

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Mozilla Corporation (May 14, 2013). "Firefox". Google Play. Google. Retrieved May 15, 2013. 
  2. ^ Mozilla Corporation (April 5, 2013). "Firefox Beta". Google Play. Google. Retrieved April 13, 2013. 
  3. ^ a b c d "wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms". 
  4. ^ "Mobile features". Mozilla. Retrieved 2012-06-26. 
  5. ^ "Mozilla releases Firefox for Mobile for Maemo phones". Techworld. Retrieved 2010-02-02. 
  6. ^ "Support for Flash on Android Fennec". Retrieved 2011-09-21. 
  7. ^ "Fennec Features Plugins". Retrieved 2012-06-26. 
  8. ^ "Fennec 4.0 – New and Notable". 
  9. ^ "Firefox for Nokia N900 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2010-01-28. Retrieved 2012-02-09. 
  10. ^ "Mozilla Launches Firefox 4 for Android, Allowing Users to Take the Power and Customization of Firefox Everywhere". Retrieved 2011-03-29. 
  11. ^ "Firefox 5 for desktop and Android released, Firefox 8 before Christmas". Extremetech.com. 2011-06-20. Retrieved 2012-02-04. 
  12. ^ Mozilla. "Firefox for Android Has a New Look and Tools that Empower Developers to Build Rich Mobile Web Experiences". Blog.mozilla.com. Retrieved 2012-02-04. 
  13. ^ "Firefox 6.0.1 and 3.6.21 desktop security updates now available". Developer.mozilla.org. 2011-08-30. Retrieved 2012-02-04. 
  14. ^ "Firefox 6.0.2 and 3.6.22 security updates now available". Developer.mozilla.org. 2011-09-06. Retrieved 2012-02-04. 
  15. ^ "Firefox for Mobile 10.0 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-31-01. Retrieved 2012-02-07. 
  16. ^ "Firefox for Mobile 10.0.1 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2012-06-15. 
  17. ^ "Firefox for Mobile 10.0.2 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-17-02. Retrieved 2012-06-15. 
  18. ^ "Firefox for Mobile 10.0.3 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-13-03. Retrieved 2012-06-15. 
  19. ^ "Firefox for Mobile 10.0.4 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-24-04. Retrieved 2012-06-15. 
  20. ^ "Firefox for Mobile 10.0.5 Release Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-05-06. Retrieved 2012-06-15. 
  21. ^ "Firefox Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2012-06-26. 
  22. ^ "Firefox Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-08-28. Retrieved 2012-08-28. 
  23. ^ "Firefox Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-09-10. Retrieved 2012-10-18. 
  24. ^ "Firefox Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2012-10-18. 
  25. ^ "Firefox Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-10-11. Retrieved 2012-10-18. 
  26. ^ "Firefox Notes". mozilla.org. 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2012-12-12. 
  27. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-01-08. Retrieved 2013-01-09. 
  28. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-02-07. Retrieved 2013-02-09. 
  29. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-02-19. Retrieved 2013-02-20. 
  30. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-08. 
  31. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2013-04-02. 
  32. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-04-11. Retrieved 2013-04-13. 
  33. ^ "Firefox Notes - Mobile". mozilla.org. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-05-15. 
  34. ^ "Firefox for Maemo Beta 5 Released". 
  35. ^ "Mobile System Requirements". 
  36. ^ "Firefox Mobile supported devices". 
  37. ^ "No updates in Maemo5". 
  38. ^ "Fennec Alpha for Windows Mobile Release Notes". 
  39. ^ "Final Fennec Alpha for Windows Mobile 6". 
  40. ^ "Stopping Development for Windows Mobile". 
  41. ^ "Mozilla rules out Firefox for iPhone and BlackBerry". November 9, 2009. 
  42. ^ "Fractal Brew". Fractal Brew. 10 October 2011. 
  43. ^ "Fennec in the OpenPandora App Store". OpenPandora. 29 May 2010. 
  44. ^ "releases for Linux, MacOSX, MSWindows". 
  45. ^ http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Android-Web-Browsers,review-1705.html
  46. ^ Yin, Sara (2012-04-06). "The Best Android Browsers". PC Magazine. 
  47. ^ https://wiki.mozilla.org/Fennec/NativeUI

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Category:Mozilla Fennec
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