Fennec (Mobile Firefox) Alpha 1 Released

[supernova_00]

Fennec (Mobile Firefox) has reached milestone 9, which is also our first alpha! We're calling this release the User Experience alpha. The last eight milestones were building up to getting a stable browser with an easy to use interface. We really want to get Fennec in front of as many people as possible and get feedback.

As with the previous milestones, M9 is targeted at the Nokia N800/N810 (Maemo) Internet tablet. Yes, we have made great progress on Windows Mobile, but no milestone releases yet. However, in addition to the native Maemo release, we are also releasing desktop versions of Fennec. That's right, you can install Fennec on your Windows, OS X or release notes have information on a quick start, how to install, what's new, known issues and how to provide feedback. So if you're interested in getting involved with Mozilla Mobile, install Fennec and tell us what you think.

Video walk through: http://vimeo.com/1981300?pg=embed&sec=1981300

Source: http://starkravingfinkle.org/blog/2008/10/...perience-alpha/

Edit: Crap, the title should be Fennec

Edited October 18, 2008 by supernova_00

[Marshalus Veteran]

* syndicated to front page on "Around the Web"

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=683704

Was posted yesterday ;)

The browser is interesting, I'd like to see it on real hardware though, not just a window on a computer.

[+John. Subscriber¹]

If this can be successfully applied to different platforms, this is going to be a serious contender to opera's mobile browsers.

[PL_ Veteran]

It's a bit weird how sometimes you want to drag across to see more of the page, but it thinks you want to see the controls.

[MulletRobZ]

Too bad it will never be ported to the iPhone due to Apple's stringent application approval process. :( That is, unless if the device were to be jailbroken.

[ViperAFK]

Too bad it will never be ported to the iPhone due to Apple's stringent application approval process. :( That is, unless if the device were to be jailbroken.

so you are saying apps like that "i am rich" one made it on but a web browser by mozilla couldn't?

[User6060]

so you are saying apps like that "i am rich" one made it on but a web browser by mozilla couldn't?

web browsers have a language interpreter for javascript and html and whatever so it would be against the EULA, that i am rich app was just too stupid for apple's liking

[Rigby]

What kind of name is Fennec? Why don't they just call it Firefox? People would actually know what it is then.

[Pupik]

What kind of name is Fennec? Why don't they just call it Firefox? People would actually know what it is then.

In my opinion; there's nothing wrong with "small fox", as a name for a much smaller version of Firefox.

[Kirkburn]

What kind of name is Fennec? Why don't they just call it Firefox? People would actually know what it is then.

It's not without reason - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec_Fox

[mspeak]

interesting. gonna try it out on my computer, but no mobile phone to try it out on :(

[monacelli]

In my opinion; there's nothing wrong with "small fox", as a name for a much smaller version of Firefox.

Indeed. There's nothing wrong with "Mozilla Mobile Browser" or "Mozilla Mobile Firefox".

[Rigby]

It's not without reason - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fennec_Fox

Ah, well I understand the name now. So many animals I've never heard of. :laugh:

That being said I would guess that the majority of the general public may not have heard of a Fennec Fox either. Software names should be descriptive and easily understandable I think. The name Firefox is finally becoming well enough known among the public that most people recognize it as being a web browser. Why go and throw that recognition away? Firefox Mobile or just plain Firefox would have been better in my opinion, instead of a coming up with a confusing new name just to be clever.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

I don't see what's wrong with the name Fennec, it's not like Firefox was a well known term before it was released (Pheonix would have been better known)

[wellofsouls]

Ah, well I understand the name now. So many animals I've never heard of. :laugh:

That being said I would guess that the majority of the general public may not have heard of a Fennec Fox either. Software names should be descriptive and easily understandable I think. The name Firefox is finally becoming well enough known among the public that most people recognize it as being a web browser. Why go and throw that recognition away? Firefox Mobile or just plain Firefox would have been better in my opinion, instead of a coming up with a confusing new name just to be clever.

As far as I understand, Fennec is just the codename, the official name is (indeed) Mobile Firefox.

[magik]

Indeed. There's nothing wrong with "Mozilla Mobile Browser" or "Mozilla Mobile Firefox".

Yes there is. Once you start following Microsoft's naming conventions you'll spiral out of control and you'll have names like "Mozilla Mobile Firefox Browser 2009 Redux SP2 Premium" :p

I like the name Fennec. It's cute, and best of all, short. ;)

[Pupik]

Indeed. There's nothing wrong with "Mozilla Mobile Browser" or "Mozilla Mobile Firefox".

Dude, I was commenting on the name "Fennec" - which is a name of a small fox.

[thealexweb]

At the moment in terms of rendering at least this is the best browser out.

[wellofsouls]

At the moment in terms of rendering at least this is the best browser out.

Care to elaborate? I actually find quite some sites render better in Opera Mini and Mobile Safari than in Fennec Alpha. The only thing Fennec currently excels at is Acid3, but even in Acid2 it falls apart. Actually it's expected considering its alpha 1 status, and I surely wouldn't say it's currently the best in terms of rendering.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

It's failing Acid2 because scrolling is broken, if you scroll down the page yourself then you'll see it renders fine.

[tuneslover]

In my opinion; there's nothing wrong with "small fox", as a name for a much smaller version of Firefox.

I would like "Firefox Lite", "Firefox LE" or "Firefox Mobile".

Yes there is. Once you start following Microsoft's naming conventions you'll spiral out of control and you'll have names like "Mozilla Mobile Firefox Browser 2009 Redux SP2 Premium" :p

I like the name Fennec. It's cute, and best of all, short. ;)

What's about 'Firefox LE" or "Firefox Lite" ?

[wellofsouls]

It's failing Acid2 because scrolling is broken, if you scroll down the page yourself then you'll see it renders fine.

well, it also fails some other sites that worked okay in Opera Mini and Mobile Safari, the left side menu in this site for example :

http://detail.zol.com.cn/

Like I said before, this is alpha 1 and it shows, I'd surely not say it's the best in terms of rendering, not yet in its current alpha 1 state at least.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Yeah, :hover doesn't work at all (Since the mouse/finger isn't actually interacting with the page, it's interacting with an image of it)

Could be fixed by transferring the mouse events over, but some things will just have to be re-done for mobile browsers.

Edit: Good thing Opera, Safari and Firefox support media queries.

[magik]

What's about 'Firefox LE" or "Firefox Lite" ?

Those are okay, but they don't give the immediate impression that it's a mobile browser. With Fennec, it will (at least) eventually be associated with the mobile version of Firefox.

I don't know, I just like Fennec, it's creative and insightful. :)