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The Mozilla Foundation is making a bold claim that their upcoming mobile version of Firefox (codenamed Fennec) will spell doom for app stores of all stripes. The foundation says that the Javascript engine in Fennec is the fastest ever developed. Mozilla believes the speed of the engine will allow developers to build a new generation of web apps. “Anyone who knows JavaScript and HTML can develop a great app without having to learn a specific mobile platform," said Mozilla VP of mobile Jay Sullivan.
Mozilla points to the frustration developers experience trying to get their applications onto multiple platforms. They hope Fennec will put an end to that by making web apps the standard. The Firefox creators are hoping to position the new browser to take advantage of the future of web apps, which they claim will win. But didn’t we hear this when the iPhone launched? Apparently Mozilla thinks it will be different this time around.
Mozilla is baking all sorts of goodies into the new mobile browser to try to get mobile users to make the switch. There will be a mobile version of the “Awesomebar” as well as extension support. Current Firefox users will also be able to have their history and tabs sync down to the mobile device. The browser will be out the N900 soon (betas are available now), and on Windows Mobile and Android early next year. The iPhone? Probably not.
Comments are closed on this article
Vano
December 24, 2009 at 10:07pm
Have tried "pre-alpha" version two times, on Fuze with custom WM6.5.1, both times it screwed up the phone (until uninstalled), managed start fenec, but it would not open any web pages, it would just roll the "waiting" circle...Oh and startup time...wow...almost 30 seconds?!
For now I'm sufficient with opera 10b2u.
van_helblaze
December 21, 2009 at 7:35am
I would love to have firefox on my iphone, but to be honest, I'm getting sick of the device, considering buying a HTC Tilt2.
ogremustcrush
December 18, 2009 at 11:53pm
Hmm, or you could just use WebOS, which has a great browser built in and the apps are written in javascript and hmtl the same as webpages, but with access to API's that a simple webpage can't access.
TechJunkie
December 19, 2009 at 6:50am
Exactly! WebOS seems to wipe most other browsers with thier own TP! But, I do hope that this can and will replace the Opera browser on my Touch Pro 1. Still, I wouldn't trade my Pre for anything at the moment, especially anything from google.
nekollx
December 21, 2009 at 9:53am
Um where did the Goggle dig come from? Mozilla Foundation != (not equal) Google thats like saying Apple == Microsoft
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Caboose
December 18, 2009 at 9:02pm
I cannot wait to give this a try. I do a lot of internet surfing on my G1 and the included browser is alright, but there needs to be a better alternative. And Opera just isn't it.
-= I don't want to be dead, I want to be alive! Or... a cowboy! =-
Cache
December 18, 2009 at 7:37pm
Yeah, I'm with you on that. I love my Firefox at home, would love to use it on my BB.... if only. If only.
JJFlemming
January 08, 2010 at 8:34am
I too am worried whether this will be on the blackberry, I am thinking of getting rid of my iphone now as I can't even view my own free ipod touch website through their useless Safari browser! Here's to hoping for Firefox on the BB!
