Tag: firefox

Mozilla Launches Firefox Lite Browser For Android In India

Mozilla first launched the Firefox Lite browser in Indonesia in August 2018. With a size of under 4 MB, the lightweight Android browser was developed to provide a smoother browsing experience on budget Android devices. The Firefox Lite is actually a rebrand of Firefox Rocket which was also released in 2018 and aimed towards a privacy-focused environment. On March 13, 2019, the Firefox Lite browser was formally launched in India.

Features

Mozilla Firefox Lite is available with a host of features to improve web browsing in Android devices. The company claims that the “Turbo Mode” in the browser can automatically block third party ad-tracking code, helping websites load much faster and reducing overall data consumption. In addition, the browser has a night mode, a feature which is being adopted by a multitude of applications in the market. Users can also long-press the Night mode option to customize the brightness of the mode.

The “Screenshot Whole Page” feature does exactly what it says. If the user wants to capture the whole webpage rather than the screen, he/she can click on the “Screenshot” button and an image of the entire webpage is saved in the “My shots” section (which is accessible via the menu bar). The image/webpage can then be viewed offline by the user or be shared with other people.

The browser also has an option for VPN browsing, called ExpressVPN. The plugin can be downloaded separately from the Play Store and can help users browse more privately. Noteworthy, the VPN service is free for only 7 days, after which users will have to pay for the same. Another helpful feature in the application is the “Block images” feature, which will hide all the images on the website for faster loading times.

If users swipe up from the home screen, they can access the Live Feed which will display content related to shopping, travel and lifestyle tailored by Firefox’s latest partners in India. Companies such as DB Digital, NewsPoint and Times Internet have teamed up with Mozilla to provide customized content for the Live Feed. The company also states that it will add more partners across the country to enhance content delivery.

Availability

Also Read: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp Down For Users Around The World

The Firefox Lite browser can be downloaded on Android devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop or later. The application is available on the Google Play Store, and will be competing against similar light browsers such as Opera Mini and UC Browser Mini. As of now, Mozilla Firefox Lite is available in 15 Asian markets, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, and India.

March 14, 2019
Mozilla Brings Out Firefox v35 with a Cool New Conversation Tool

Mozilla has launched the new version of its internet browser called Firefox Version 35 Final which will be followed by Firefox for Android 35.0 in the coming days. The latest version comes with various new features including new room-based conversion tool for Firefox Hello, improved geolocation tools and an integrated download manager for Android.

The new room-based chat model allows users to organise different conversations and contacts in groups, making it easy to keep track of old chats and start new ones with your contacts. The new version has also simplified the chat process by removing certain steps.

Now, when you start a conversation, a window opens showing a self-view until the person you have invited clicks on the link and joins you. When they do, you’ll be notified with an audio alert and the Hello icon will turn blue. According to Mozilla, Firefox Hello is the world’s first global communications system built directly into a browser.

Second important iteration in the Firefox v35 is the Firefox Marketplace for the desktop, however, it is currently in Beta. The marketplace is already available on Firefox OS and Firefox for Android, now the company is testing apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux with the help of selected users.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEPq4xFGzG0

Next up is the soon-to-release Android-build version with the promise of improved opt-in geolocation service with the help of your Wi-Fi and cellular signal. Along with this, Bing Search will provide secure search via HTTP and will be integrated with the Android download manager as well.

All of the aforementioned features will be available in Firefox toolbar and in the Customize mode. The v35 is already available for Windows, Mac and Linux as free, open-source download fon Firefox.com while the Firefox Version 35 for Android will be available shortly.

January 14, 2015
Yahoo Steps Into the Shoes of Google as Default Search Engine on Firefox

Of course, Google is the ultimate king of internet search engines and there is no doubt in it. With almost all the popular browsers using Google Search as their default search engine, the American internet giant enjoys a monopoly in the social-networking arena.

Well, Yahoo is trying to revive its lost glory and has taken a major step to challenge the supremacy of Google over internet search. Starting in December, Firefox will use Yahoo as its default search engine in the United States on mobile and desktop.

“I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve entered into a five-year partnership with Mozilla to make Yahoo the default search experience on Firefox across mobile and desktop,” Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer wrote in a Wednesday blog post. “This is the most significant partnership for Yahoo in five years.”

It is estimated that Google has been paying Mozilla around $100 million for the privilege of being the default search engine used in the Firefox browser. That deal, last renewed for a three-year period in 2011, has come to an end and will not be renewed as Yahoo has grabbed the contract for the next five years.

“Our teams worked closely with Mozilla to build a clean, modern, and immersive search experience that will launch first to Firefox’s U.S. users in December and then to all Yahoo users in early 2015. The interactive and integrated experience also better leverages our world-class content and personalization technologies.” Mayer wrote. She further talked about the company’s vision saying, “At Yahoo, we believe deeply in search – it’s an area of investment and opportunity for us.”

Market leader Google accounts for 67% of searches from US desktop computers. That compares to about 20% for Microsoft and 10% for Yahoo, according to research firm comScore. Let’s see how much popularity this American multinational giant gains with this deal.

November 20, 2014
Android Vs Firefox OS : Beginning of the New ‘Low-End Phone’ Era

Celkon debuted its Campus A35K this week, it joined the ever growing club of affordable Android KitKat Smartphones in India. With a price tag as low as Rs 2,999 in an exclusive partnership with online marketplace Snapdeal.com, this device does indeed have quite a proposition on its hands, but how well will it work? Let’s find out.

The front surface is a 320 x 480 pixel display of 3.5 inches in size. The device itself is enclosed inside a 119mm x 63mm x 10.7mm body and its overall weight comes up to 102gms. A 1GHz processor powers it from within, gaining what little assistance it can from just 256MB of RAM. Touted as the cheapest Android KitKat-operating system based Smartphone, the handset has dual-SIM slot and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Micro-USB, and AGPS connectivity options along with 3G connectivity. It comes equipped with a disappointing 1400mAh battery, but then again we can’t complain much considering the face that its priced so cheap.

Android KitKat is the latest version of the Google-owned operating system. While the market is flooded with devices based on the previous generation of JellyBean OS, handset makers are now focusing on launching devices with Android KitKat.

The price segment this phone caters to is still ruled by the old world feature phone. The new entrant is said to be eliminating most of these buttons phone soon.

Also, Indian phone makers Intex and Spice have decided to bring Mozilla’s Firefox OS to India. Intex calls its device the Cloud FX. The company said that the phone will be priced around Rs.2000, thereby bringing the Smartphone experience to the last group of people untouched by it. Spice on the other hand has just given a July release timeframe and announced that its phone will be a dual Sim device.

This may bring a revolution in the low-end phone segment mobilizing bigger players to enter that arena. If any one device in this segment works, there is a possibility of new trends in this segment. With major companies like Google and Facebook investing in initiatives to connect the massive unconnected population with internet, operating systems like these which facilitate cheaper devices which will further lead to more global interconnection.

June 18, 2014
Mozilla Will Include Ads In Its Firefox Browser

Ads are coming to the New Tab page of Mozilla Firefox. The company announced the new move, Tuesday, during the annual meeting of the Interactive Advertising Bureau in California.

This is a slight paradigm shift for sure, considering how New Tab pages have remained ad-free before. Darren Herman, Mozilla’s VP of Content Services, says the content in the new Directory Tile program will include “pre-packaged content for first-time users. Some of these tile placements will be from the Mozilla ecosystem, some will be popular websites in a given geographic location, and some will be sponsored content from hand-picked partners to help support Mozilla’s pursuit of our mission.”

Darren says that Mozilla is “excited about Directory Tiles because it has inherent value to our users, it aligns with our vision of a better Internet through trust and transparency, and it helps Mozilla become more diversified and sustainable as a project. While we have not worked out the entire product roadmap, we are beginning to talk to content partners about the opportunity, and plan to start showing Directory Tiles to new Firefox users as soon as we have the user experience right.”

The revenue opportunity is significant, as Mozilla sees 100 billion tile impressions in the U.S. alone each year, according to a company spokesperson.

February 12, 2014
Apple’s iCloud now Lets Windows users Sync Bookmarks With Chrome and Firefox

Apple’s iCloud previosuly allowed Windows users to sync mobile Safari bookmarks with Internet Explorer, but now Apple is opening this functionality up to more web browsers

The additional functionality comes by an update to Apple’s iCloud Control Panel for Windows, a small app designed to keep contacts, calendars and bookmarks up-to-date between iOS devices, Mac and PC.

As reported by Apple Insider, the extra options mean the majority of Windows users will be able to take their bookmarks with them without resorting to using a third-party browser like Chrome for iOS. It also means that PC users can enjoy far greater freedom of browsers than those with Macs can.

Apple notes that the appropriate iCloud Bookmarks extensions for Chrome and Firefox must be installed for the system to work. Apple has yet to add iCloud bookmark syncing support for the Mac versions of Chrome and Firefox.

iCloud Control Panel 3.0 for Windows can be downloaded for free from Apple’s Support Downloads webpage.

September 19, 2013
Mozilla, Epic Games Team Up To Bring Unreal Engine 3 To The Web

For the longest time, HTML5 was far behind Flash in terms of game development as it didn’t offer a native experience. Mozilla and others have been bridging that gap over the last year, however, and the non-profit’s latest move inspires more hope that HTML5 can deliver native gaming experiences sooner rather than later.

Mozilla and Epic Games announced at GDC that Unreal Engine 3 is now available to HTML5 developers. This was made possible through Mozilla’s work in developing “a highly-optimized version of JavaScript” that allows game developers to bring graphically intensive content to the Web.

Epic had already ported the engine to Flash and there have been a few other attempts at building or porting a 3D game engine to JavaScript, but nothing approaching the size and scope of Unreal Engine.

Epic’s port is based on a very new piece of technology, asm.js and the OdinMonkey JavaScript engine module for Firefox. In essence, asm.js enables code that’s been automatically ported to JavaScript from C/C++ to run almost as fast as the same code compiled as a native app. OdinMonkey adds support for asm.js, which is a subset of the JavaScript spec, to Firefox.

With Firefox OS and the Firefox Marketplace launching later this year, this is a significant win for Mozilla. No, the porting of Unreal Engine 3 doesn’t mean that Mass Effect 3 is going to find its way onto sub-Rs 6000/- Firefox phones, but it does mean that mobile hits like Infinity Blade and Dungeon Defenders will. It should also mean that we’ll see more developers offering up browser-friendly versions of their mobile hits — particularly if the porting process is relatively painless and offers an additional revenue stream.

March 28, 2013
Firefox Beta For Android Update Allows Per-Tab Private Browsing

Mozilla announced that it will be bringing its Firefox OS to carrier-sold devices in 2014. But a fundamental part of that ecosystem is the performance of its mobile browser, which is likely why the company is working so hard to perfect the underlying architecture of its Android version.

Private Browsing is perhaps the biggest part of the Firefox Beta update, but not the only one. The Monday announcement also detailed several more updates that users will likely find interesting.

First the big news though. Prior introduced “Firefox for Android Beta comes with new per tab private browsing, allowing you to switch between private and standard tabs within the same browsing session”. While this mode has been called by other, less-savory, names it has many legitimate uses. For instance, you may want to shop for your spouse’s birthday present without her accidentally stumbling across the evidence. Of course, you can erase history, but Private Browsing has your back in case you forget.

Second, Mozilla has a new and updated version of the Home screen. The latest Firefox beta allows users to customize the shortcuts. Users can completely change the images on the home screen to their favorite or most frequently visited sites. To do this, simply tap and hold a site to pin it to the Home page.

Also, the latest version introduces compatibility with much more ARMv6 hardware; “Firefox for Android Beta is now available to phones with minimum requirements of 600MHz, 384MB, QVGA. New devices supported include: Samsung Galaxy Next (GT-S5570, GT-S5578), HTC Aria (S31HT), HTC Legend (A6363), Samsung Dart (SGH-T499), Samsung Galaxy Pop (SCH-i559), Samsung Galaxy Q (SGH-T589).”

Mozilla is going in the opposite direction of Opera, which is adapting itself to the high-performance WebKit engine; Firefox started with high-end devices and is now expanding down, promising good performance on two- and three-year-old hardware.

[GHacks]

February 26, 2013
Mozilla Marketplace brings web apps to Desktop mode

An early version of the Mozilla Marketplace is live, users of Firefox 16 Nightly build some 100-plus apps to install, including Evernote, Jolicloud and Springpad. These apps will be able to run in Desktop mode, and they show up as if they were installed in the main Windows.

Presently this only works with Windows.

[Liliputing]

June 13, 2012
Firefox gets updated to 9, faster Javascript and Lion compatibility added. links

Firefox browser has been updated to version 9. This version offers better compatibility on Mac computers running on Mac Lion 10.7, and a faster and juiced up Javascript handling. This is set to improve overall browsing speeds on the browser. Mozilla is claiming a overall 30% boost in performance post the JavaScript optimizations. Firefox 9 also improves theme integration and swipe navigation for Mac OS X users. Want to take it for a test spin ? Download your version below

[Mozilla Windows]

[Mac]

[Linux]

December 20, 2011
Internet Explorer share dips to 50%, marks the end of a legacy?

The Microsoft Internet explorer has been the most popular browser since forever, it still is. But its share has rapidly dipped from the 95% high seven years ago to around 50% and dipping. The market is more attuned now to using new age browsers like Chrome and Firefox, which are much more flexible to the users needs. According to Net Marketshare’s latest report the browser has dipped to its all time low and is expected to dip further by the end of the year. The browser is still the highest used, but the gap is quickly decreasing with Firefox now owning 23% and Chrome sustaining a large 19% chunk of the market pie.

November 3, 2011
Google Chrome eating IE and Firefox’s share of the Pie, Now at 20.7% of Total Market

StatCounter reports suggest, Google’s Chrome web browser now has a 20.7% share of the web browser pie, An increase of seven times over just two years. This also means that highest competition Internet Explorer’s Share is now only 50% of the total pie and Firefox has a 28% share which has come down from 30%.

StatCounter gathers its data from more than 3 million websites with more than 15 billion page views.

July 6, 2011
Gmail Offline Shifting from Gears to HTML5

Google announced this week, that it would begin upgrading offline access to Gmail from Gears, its now obsolete plugin, to HTML5. On Tuesday, Gmail dropped offline support for Chrome, Internet Explorer 9 (IE9), Firefox 4, Safari and Opera. Until Google restores offline support to Gmail with HTML5 this summer, Google recommended that users switch to IE8 or Firefox 3.6. This announcement leaves us to wonder why other browsers but Google’s own Chrome have access to offline Gmail? Not a good strategy according to us.

June 1, 2011
Firefox 4 Beta 5 , now released for Android

The latest beta of the world famous browser is now available on your favorite device- the price is free!. The beta comes packed with the usual — preferences, downloads, add-ons, bookmarks and Firefox Sync. The browser seems fast and efficient supports pinch to zoom as well as kinetic scrolling, has a dev mode as well. start porting your plugins for the mobile version.

February 25, 2011