Mozilla is hard at work on Firefox 4.0 and have today taken the time to show us a mockup screen shot of the browser’s new interface.

Does the interface look familiar? It should as it bares an uncanny resemblance to that of Google’s Chrome. I’m not complaining as I’ve become quite the fan of Chrome’s interface but Mozilla seems a bit unsure.

Below is a list of positives and negatives of the new UI compiled by Mozilla:

Positives:
- Save Vertical Space
- Efficiency/Remove Visual Complexity – Right now the tabs have to be connected to something. So we are adding an extra visual element for them to connect to.
- Shorter Mouse Distance to Page Controls.
Negatives:
- Breaks Consistency/Familiarity – Moving things confuses existing users.
- Title is MIA – With the space removed from the titlebar you only get the truncated version in the tab.
- Longer Mouse Distance to Tabs – Takes longer to mouse to a tab.
- Lost Space – Sandwiched in between the application icon and the window widgets you lose some space.

So, readers, what are you opinions on Firefox’s new look? Good? Bad? Leave it in the comments.

via Mashable

Tags: 4.0, browser, Chrome, Firefox, Google, Google, internet, Mobile Software, mockup, Mozilla, software

Back in April, Skyfire was looking for Alpha users of its mobile browser. Now after that phase has been done with, Skyfire for the Blackberry announces its beta phase, oozing with enhancements from the previous alpha version.

Among the expected enhancements for the Skyfire Beta version include new keyboard shortcuts and the “Switch to Skyfire” option which is similar to the multi-tabbed browsing we see from Firefox and Internet Explorer.

Other features for the beta version include:

• Text Entry in Thumbnail view
• Contextual zoom with Camera Corners

While the Skyfire browser seems to show a lot of improvements from the alpha release, users are warned that it is still not perfect. Errors and slow performance are still being debugged so don’t set your expectations too high.

(Source) Softpedia

Tags: alpha release, alpha users, alpha version, beta phase, beta version, BlackBerry, Cell Phones, enhancements, Firefox, improvements, internet explorer, keyboard shortcuts, Mobile browser, Mobile Software, Skyfire, slow performance, thumbnail view, zoom

If you’re looking for a Windows Mobile alternative to the stock web browser, Mozilla’s recently released Fennec Alpha 2 may be of interest to you. In essence, Fennec is the mobile version of Firefox. Of course, it’s in an Alpha stage right now so expect some bugs.

Below are the improvements to Alpha 2 over Alpha 1:

• Improved panning performance
• Newly designed theme
• JavaScript error console is now built in
• Improved add-on support
• Numerous bug fixes
• Improved UI polish

Despite Fennec Alpha 1 only being available for HTC Touch Pro users, Alpha 2 has been made available for anyone and everyone running Windows Mobile 6.

Download it here.

Tags: alpha 2, Cell Phones, fennec, Firefox, microsoft, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Mozilla, software, windows mobile 6

It seems that Mozilla has gone ahead and released a release candidate to beta users for Firefox 3.5 despite any prior announcement.

Some features found in the update (which Mozilla says totals 5,000) include build-in video, a private browsing mode, geolocation to provide certain websites with the user’s location and finally the faster loading of pages including JavaScript programs.

Those brave souls who want to dive head first into the update before its officially released later this month can grab the release candidate here.

Tags: 3.5, Beta, Desktop PCs, Firefox, Laptops, Mozilla, Release Candidate, software, web browser

We have been waiting for quite a while now for the Fennec and a primitive beta is up for grabs. For those of you that don’t know it, it’s the Mozilla mobile Firefox browser.

And the beta version is primitive because it’s still an early version of the mobile browser. One that is available for now only for HTC Touch Pro owners. This version will have no support for soft keyboards, automatic version updating or plugins. Other than that, Touch Pro owners should experience the Internet the Mozilla way on their phones now. Would you take Fennec for a spin?

via WMExperts

Tags: fennec, Firefox, HTC, HTC, Mobile browser, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Mozilla, Touch Pro

While 2008 was not the best of years for the majorioty of the population, the same could not be said for Mozilla. According to information released by Net Applications, Mozilla’s Firefox now has a full 20.78 percent market share.

Just to put this in perspective, Internet Explorer, which has been out for ages, has a 70% market share, and Apple’s Safari has a mere 7% market share.

Good job Mozilla, now let’s top Microsoft!

Read (vnunet)

Tags: Apple, browser, Firefox, internet explorer, Mozilla, safari, software

Are you ready to test Firefox Mobile on your device? Sure it’s just the Alpha version but it give you a sneak peak into the future of mobile browsing. As John Lilly, Mozilla’s CEO announced before, Firefox Mobile is going to be available soon.

In the mean time we have a few screenshots of the browser in action. The browser was used on a Windows Mobile Professional touchscreen phone and it scored an 88/100 score in an Acid3 test. What do you think? Is that good enough for you?

via Gizmodo

Tags: Firefox, Mobile browser, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Mozilla

So Firefox is coming to the mobile world. Sure it’s only the Alpha version and we might be in for a longer trip to the final mobile version. But that’s the way to go, baby steps.

What’s surprising is the device that’s going to get the Alpha. It’s not even a phone! It’s Nokia’s N810 open-source internet tablet which will receive the Alpha some time next week. Firefox Mobile is based on Firefox 3 and it will have the smart URL bar and support for various add-ons. Get ready to enjoy the Alpha! The Beta is arriving in 2009. As I said, baby steps!

Tags: Firefox, mobile, Mobile browser, Mobile News, Mobile Software, software

It was only a few weeks ago when we heard that Mozilla will launch their Firefox Mobile browser sometime in 2010. We were rather surprised to hear that we’ll have to wait about two years to get a mobile version of one of the most popular Internet browsers created so far.

But it looks like those were only rumors. We have to trust John Lilly who is only the CEO of Mozilla, when he says that the Firefox Mobile Alpha is coming in a few weeks.

We want to make sure that the Web on mobile is more like the Web than what the mobile industry offers today, which is closed, separate networks and not a very good information-getting experience for the user. The first thing is to bring Firefox to mobile devices. We’re working on that, and we’ll see some alphas in a few weeks.

What more do you need? Waiting for the Alpha here!

Tags: Firefox, mobile, Mobile browser, Mobile News, Mozilla, software

Mozilla wants to go mobile with their browser but that’s a plan for the distant future. It plans to release Firefox Mozilla only in 2010. Isn’t it just a little late? I mean sure, Firefox won’t loose its appeal by then but its fans have been waiting for a mobile version for quite a while.
(more…)

Tags: Firefox, Mobile browser, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Mozilla

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 is available for download as promised for today. How long were you actually waiting for it? Do you want to help them get into the Guinness Book of Records? It’s really easy to do it. All you have to do is download it on your computer(s) today. You were going to try it anyway right?

We’ve seen a couple of trial clients before this official release and we have a pretty good idea of what this browser will be able to do. Basically it’s faster and safer. And it has a new face. Some people say Safari is way better but I tend to choose Firefox over Safari for now.

In a nutshell, here’s what the guys over at Mozilla say about how Firefox 3.0 was improved:

• Much faster load times
• Fixed memory leak problem in Firefox 2
• An “Awesome Bar” (aka smart location bar) that suggests sites you’ve visited before or bookmarked when you type a URL into the address bar.
• Better security against phishing and malware
• One-click bookmarking
• Offline capabilities
• Built-in spell-check and session restore capabilities (like Firefox 2)
• Cool zoom-in feature
• Looks better on a Mac

Why are you reading these lines instead of downloading it already?

via Mozilla

Tags: browser, Firefox, Mobile News, Mobile Software, Mozilla, Off The Topic, safari browser, Uncategorized

Firefox Mobile Concept Video from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.
This is a happy day. Mozilla Firefox is my favorite browser and I’ve gone though some while searching for a better and better one. It was time they went mobile. Why not use the same friendly browser both on your PC and your smartphone?
(more…)

Tags: Firefox, Mobile browser, mobile safari, Mobile Software, Mozilla, safari browser