Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

Summary: Firefox for Android will be familiar to those using Firefox on the desktop.

By Adrian Kingsley-Hughes for Hardware 2.0 | August 31, 2011 -- 04:18 GMT (21:18 PDT)

The Mozilla Mobile team has unveiled some of the user interface design decisions that it made in developing a version of Firefox for tablets.

Mozilla UI designer Ian Barlow takes us on a tour of the UI.

First there's theming, making Firefox look at home on Android 3.0 while retaining the familiar look, feel and visual elements of Firefox on the desktop. Notice the forward/back buttons, bookmarks button and reload button ... look familiar?

Next up - the Awesomebar. Love it or hate it, the Awesomebar is a core feature of the modern Firefox, and Firefox on the tablet will feature this one-stop-shop for bookmarks and history items.

Finally, tabs. Mozilla is adopting two techniques here, depending on when the the tablet is held in landscape or portrait orientation. In landscape mode the tabs will be persistent in the left-hand bar )I hope this can be switched for left-paws - I'm not a left-paw, but I still think about those who are!) and hidden under a single tab icon when in portrait mode.

So, Mozilla has a beta of Firefox for Android handsets out already, and a tablet version is in the pipe.

[poll id="674"]

Topics: Browser, CXO, Hardware, Laptops, Mobility, Tablets

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RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

i cant believe this,me and my friend just got two i-phones for $43.78 each and a $25 gift card for $4the stores want to keep this a secret and they dont tell yougo here <a href="http://grabpenny.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://grabpenny.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://grabpenny.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://grabpenny.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://grabpenny.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><a href="http://grabpenny.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://grabpenny.com</a></a></a></a></a></a>

HankDejesus
31 August, 2011 06:12

Reply Vote
- RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'
  
  @HankDejesus Oh but I CAN believe!!! I believe you and, in fairies, and Jesus, and Santa Claus!!!
  
  blueskip
  31 August, 2011 16:07
  
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  jywhy888
  8 March, 2012 00:13
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

great

HankDejesus
31 August, 2011 06:14

Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

Its pretty good, but I don't use it now because:

1) Its slower than Dolphin or the native stock browser.

2) It does not support flash.

I want to use it because I use Firefox on the desktop and I like the link syncing feature.

txscott
31 August, 2011 06:43

Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

Why?

rberman
31 August, 2011 09:32

Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

...and iPad, please?

bargeemike
31 August, 2011 11:16

Reply Vote
- Nope
  
  Firefox won't use Webkit, which is what the iPad browsers must stick with.
  
  Michael Alan Goff
  31 August, 2011 12:29
  
  Reply Vote
  - RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'
    
    @Michael Alan Goff I'm lovin' it. :D
    
    blueskip
    31 August, 2011 16:08
    
    Reply Vote
- RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'
  
  @bargeemike Uhmmm...NO. Go away.
  
  blueskip
  31 August, 2011 16:09
  
  Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

Yikes! Has the ignorance of ZDNet authors sank this low? The expression if "southpaw", not "left-paw"!!!

mejohnsn
31 August, 2011 16:49

Reply Vote
Coming Soon...?

What are they waiting for? I don't own any of the 1st generation tablets (and will never buy an iPad), but I thought Firefox would have already had a presence. What the heck is taking so long?

jpr75_z
31 August, 2011 18:35

Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

I would be interested if I wasn't just now abandoning Firefox for their stupid fast release schedule.

pwcdr
31 August, 2011 23:34

Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

I'm very interested in Firefox for tablet that I could sync with my PC. But alas, I'll be going with Windows 8 instead of Android.

But if only Mozilla could release Firefox for LG Optimus V smartphone, which I'd love to have since I can't afford the Motorola Triumph for Virgin Mobile.

Grayson Peddie
1 September, 2011 03:46

Reply Vote
RE: Firefox for Android tablets 'coming soon'

We'll just have to see how it measures up to Opera.

hornkt
1 September, 2011 04:06

Reply Vote