Fennec beta 1.0b5 gets official Firefox branding, available for N810 and N900
The Nokia N900 has an excellent Mozilla-based browser loaded by default, but that doesn’t mean the Mozilla Mobile team has stopped working on their Fennec browser for the N810 and N900. I just received word that Firefox for Mobile Beta 5 is now available. I quickly pulled out my N810 and N900 and loaded up the new browser on both. You can see a shot of this site on both devices using this Firefox (previously known as Fennec) browser. I have only played with it for a few minutes, but it seems pretty slow and buggy to me still and cannot come close to the browser on the N900.
Here is a complete list of everything posted on the Mozilla site for this updated version:
- Enabled official branding, with Firefox name and logo
- Support for localizations, currently including Spanish, German, French, Italian, Dutch, and Russian
- Enabled plugins
- Viewport meta tag support
- Fixed a number of sites that resize their content after the page is loaded
- Added a form assistant to make filling forms easier
- Improved panning performance and behavior
- Zooming doesn’t jump around anymore
- Numerous other bugs and polish issues addressed
This builds upon the feature set of the previous releases:
Easy navigation to Web content:
- Smart URL bar (”awesome bar”)
- Integrated Web search – built into the URL bar
- Easy access to multiple search engines
Interface Optimization:
- Touch-oriented UI
- Maximize content by auto-hiding controls and URL bar
- Zoom in and out
- Touch-enabled bookmarking, controls, tabs
- Tabbed browsing allows view of multiple thumbnails
- Ability to scroll iframes
Security:
- Instant Web site ID (”Larry”)
- Password manager
- Popup blocker
- Clear recent history
- Customized security settings
- Automated Update
Customization:
- Add-ons, including ability to find and install add-ons directly to device
- Location-Aware browsing
- Install and manage search engines
Productivity:
- Offline browsing
- Download manager
- Preferences pane
- Spell checker
Performance:
- Memory management
Devices services integration:
- Click on a phone number to initiate a call
- JavaScript API to get device location
Keep these tips and tricks in mind when navigating in the browser:
- swipe left to expose back/forward/bookmark and settings buttons; swipe right to dismiss them
- swipe right to expose tabs; swipe left to dismiss them
- stowed away URL bar full page viewing; URL bar reappears when you begin an action
- touch Settings button to adjust preferences; touch button again to go back
6 Comments to Fennec beta 1.0b5 gets official Firefox branding, available for N810 and N900
you didn’t mention what types of bugs were hampering the browser, but I guess if its still kinda slow compared to the default browsers then the bugs and performance reasoning aren’t that consequential. Still I’d like to hear what you’ve experienced.
About to DL and try it out as I type.
s4rNovember 10, 2009
I have been using Fennec since the first release on the N810 WiMax Edition.
After starting up the N810, I was immediately prompted for the update. So far, it seems more stable.
I installed Weave and have that working as well. I can’t wait to try it on the N900.
Mozilla is very much interested in finding out about any and all bugs. Please email us or file bugs in bugzilla (http://bugzilla.mozilla.org). Please include areas where you think performance is too slow.
November 10, 2009
[...] rest is here: Fennec beta 1.0b5 gets official Firefox branding, available for … VN:F [1.5.2_773] Share and [...]
manuNovember 10, 2009
the waiting has come to an end FINALLY!
November 11, 2009
[...] of the popular browser. A new beta version 1.0b5 is out for the Nokia N810 and N900 and our buddy Matt Miller is taking it for a test spin. It sounds like the most significant change with this new beta is it now has official Firefox [...]
November 9, 2009