New Firefox For Android Beta Released 107
Mozilla has announced the availability of a new beta version of Firefox for Android. The release notes list many of the new features and fixes, which include Flash support, improvements to panning and zooming, plugins loading only on touch, and a new "Awesome Screen." They point out that many Android phones are supported, and that a beta version for tablets will be coming soon. Mozilla is asking for help "testing everything from the faster startup and response times to compatibility for specific websites and graphics performance." Here's the download page.
Re:What's special about this version? (Score:4, Interesting)
>"What makes this version so special that it warrants a /. front page story?"
Because it is the first Firefox for Android that uses the Android user interface, instead of a totally foreign one. It is a pretty big milestone.
If they can improve the speed to match (or at least approach) the native Android browser AND support Adblock, I will absolutely use it for 100% of my mobile phone and tablet browsing, like I already do for all my desktops.
Re:Let me know when Android devices equal the N900 (Score:0, Interesting)
I've bought mine twice over since there isn't a good enough replacement (the N950 came close aside from not being retail available).
Let me know when an Android-based phone has:
* Root-out of the box
pick most newer Android phones
* Hardware QWERTY
You're doing it wrong seriously soft keboard with predictive type or keyboards like swype destroy a physical keyboard
* Removable SD storage
completely unnecessary, but available on many Androids
* Large internal storage
pick any new phone
* Works with T-Mobile 3G/4G bands (if not just the latter)
pick any newer phone
* FM+RDS Transmitter
You're doing it wrong seriously- 1980's want their tech back.
* USB Host
pick most newer Android phones
* Onboard Wifi that can be repurposed for carrier-hostile tether
pick any newer Android phone
* Debian-based userland
LOL seriously? your just making shit up now
* Relatively curve-free body (unlike most everything HTC).
In short, a phone platform that's a multitool in its own right and isnt beholden to a carrier.
I'm not sure about all those forks you're talking about, but there aren't more than three major ones. That should be easy enough to not have Firefox be de-supported.
People can come up with weird excuses to believe "dumb" phones are still the "best" option also but that doesn't make it true. I know change is tough, but the other side really is much better...