Almost unheard of only a few years ago, Mozilla Firefox has blazed a trail in recent years, becoming the internet browser of choice for many people in search of something new from their web browsing experience. The speed, security and intuitive interface of Firefox have fuelled its popularity, which in turn has given tech journos the opportunity to labour corny ‘fire’ jokes ad nauseum.
Despite apparently being a direct competitor to Google’s own Chrome browser, the two companies have collaborated frequently in the past. Back in 2009, Mozilla alerted Google to a potential security flaw in the Google Chrome browser which was subsequently identified and rectified.
The close relationship between Mozilla and Google has seen Mozilla develop a Firefox application specifically designed for use with Google’s Android operating system for phones. The move into handheld mobile browsers took Mozilla one step closer to the world domination that any self-respecting browser developer craves. Now Mozilla are back with an updated version of the Firefox for Android App, but what exactly is new? Quite a lot according to Mozilla who touted the prowess of their new app in a recent blog post.
Mozilla’s blog post talks of a “super fast” browsing experience which takes full advantage of the prowess of the latest versions of Google’s Android mobile operating system. With smartphone processors also getting quicker and quicker almost by the day, the updated Firefox app is expected to put even these finely tuned and highly tweaked chips through their paces.
The company claim that their browser maintains its super speed even when you’re busy multi-tasking with a thousand and one other applications in this busy life that advertising executives are convinced us all have.
The new Firefox Android app will feature fast start up times, fast load times and even fast panning and zooming. Web app performance will also be – you guessed it – fast, as Mozilla attempt to keep pace with the frantic lifestyle of the modern smartphone user. If the point of their blog post was to inform us of the speed of the app; mission accomplished, Mozilla!
To be fair though, Mozilla do provide the charts and graphs to back up their claims. The blog presents us with a natty looking bar chart which relates to the different rendering speeds of competing browsers. The rendering speed is how quickly the app can reproduce graphics; the higher the frame rates the better.
The new Android app clocks in at 39.3 frames per second; nearly triple the rendering speed of the previous Android Firefox App. Opera – often the go to browser for smartphone users and usually pre-installed on the BlackBerry – manages only 21.6 while even Google’s own Chrome for Android browser falls short at only 19.6 frames per second.
We were told it was fast, now we’ve got the figures to prove it.
Improved tabbed browsing and the ability to sync form data, passwords and browsing history from your desktop or laptop version of Firefox are also welcome touches, as is the upgraded Flash player which allows for far smoother video streaming.
All in all, the handy new Firefox for Android app is well worth a download. Happy browsing.
I spend far too much time playing with mobile gadgets, love Marmite and write for Simplifydigital, the UK broadband, digital TV and home phone experts. Simplifydigital are Ofcom accredited and provide independent advice to consumers looking for the right broadband, TV and home phone packages.
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Ann
July 9, 2012 at 8:24 pm
Hi Robert,
That is great news for all the Android users. If it makes any difference, I have Firefox on my laptop and can tell you that it is by far the best I’ve every tried. May even try the Android!
Rick Sarouk
July 9, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Firefox is a good browser for the Android, however, Dolphin HD is far more superior in terms of functionality, speed and features.
Vernon Dane
July 10, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Thanks for your valuable discussion to me. Really it was need to me. Also i think, it’s inspired me for my bright future.
Alec Farell
July 10, 2012 at 10:09 pm
Thanks for the info Robert! I have installed Firefox and all I can tell at first sight is that the loading speeds are amazing and another thing that I like about it is that it has Flash integration. Awesome!
Tanmay Sawant
July 13, 2012 at 6:33 am
Its not that good as Opera mini.Opera mini rules the mobile world IMO.And even the stock browsers for high end phones are great.I personally own a Galaxy S III and I’vent downloaded any browser not even opera mini or firefox coz the stock browser runs so smooth and fast.!!