Firefox for iPhone and iPad Launches on App Store

[MacRumors]

Following a soft launch and months of testing, Mozilla has released Firefox for iOS on the App Store for free. The WebKit-based web browser for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch features a Firefox-like design, Intelligent Search, Firefox Accounts, Visual Tabs, Private Browsing mode on iOS 9 or later and more.

The web browser's features are best suited for users that also use Firefox on Mac or PC:
Intelligent Search: Suggested search results and list of search options, including Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Twitter, Amazon and WordPress
Firefox Accounts: Firefox browser history, passwords and open tabs synced between Firefox on the desktop and your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch
Visual Tabs: A card-based grid of intuitive visual and numbered tabs easily let you find content for future reference
Private Browsing: Firefox won't remember any of your history or cookies, but new bookmarks will be saved
Mozilla Firefox was once a leading desktop web browser for PCs and Macs, but it has lost significant market share since Google launched its own Chrome web browser in late 2008. Firefox is now the fourth most popular desktop browser in many countries, trailing behind Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.

Mozilla was initially opposed to releasing Firefox on iOS because of Apple's policy that requires third-party browsers to use its own WebKit framework and JavaScript engine, but the company eventually reversed course and announced plans to release an iOS app in December 2014.

Firefox for iOS is free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch and requires iOS 8.2 or later. The app is written in Swift 2.0 and open source on GitHub.

Article Link: Firefox for iPhone and iPad Launches on App Store

 

[Dilster3k]

...just use Safari?

 

[BeSweeet]

Not sure who on their design team thought it was a good idea to put important buttons at the very top of the screen, such as the options button and new tab button. Went back to Safari very quickly, as much as I'd like proper password and bookmark syncing.

 

[OneMike]

So far looks good. Glad to see them finally get into mobile. Maybe they can finally bounce back.

 

[JosephAW]

Working fine with iOS 8. Hopefully they will support iOS 8 for a while as Apple has already dropped support and updates for iOS 8.
Unable to update to iOS 9 because of lack of support on OS X desktops newer than Windows XP.

 

[JosephAW]

Now we need Mozilla plug in support for ad blocking.

 

[Sleaka J]

I don't see anything "Firefox-like" about it.

Regardless, I won't use it as my primary browser (Safari with content blockers), would only use it as a secondary browser, but it doesn't support split-view.

 

[Mackinjosh]

...just use Safari?

Except Safari on Mac sucks, so why would I use it on iOS when using Firefox carries over all my info from the desktop version?

 

[b.inazawa-fan]

Except Safari on Mac sucks, so why would I use it on iOS when using Firefox carries over all my info from the desktop version?

Oh, you must be mistaken. Safari doesn't suck on OS X, Firefox is the one that does.

 

[rsbacon]

No adblocking, no bookmark suggestions. Pass for now, although I use the OS X version everyday

 

[teslo]

Oh, you must be mistaken. Safari doesn't suck on OS X, Firefox is the one that does.

nah - if someone even thinks of the word 'Chrome' most nearby macs will fire up and raise the room temp by 10 degrees in seconds flat.

 

[appledefenceforce]

Except Safari on Mac sucks, so why would I use it on iOS when using Firefox carries over all my info from the desktop version?

I don't know what you drink but I want none of that. On Apple's products there are no web browsers that come close to Safari in terms of performance. And please, there's a reason why people have been dropping Firefox consistently.

 

[H2SO4]

...just use Safari?

One of the most ridiculous posts ever? Tell you what I need a word processor, instead of buying M$ Office, I’ll just use text Edit.
Instead of a………How about people like choice?

I don't know what you drink but I want none of that. On Apple's products there are no web browsers that come close to Safari in terms of performance. And please, there's a reason why people have been dropping Firefox consistently.

It appears that you’re drinking the high proof version of what he is.

 

[appledefenceforce]

One of the most ridiculous posts ever? Tell you what I need a word processor, instead of buying M$ Office, I’ll just use text Edit.
Instead of a………How about people like choice?

It appears that you’re drinking the high proof version of what he is.

True people should have choices. However it should be informed and well-grounded choices not based on false statements such as "Safari sucks".

And not all choices are good choices. Firefox sucks in terms of performance. It's a fact. And FYI I'm drinking fruit juice.

 

[skinned66]

I've had it for a while now. Still not ready for prime time.

Features it needs:

• Bookmark syncing (it does do tabs and sessions)
• Activities/extensions - this is the primary reason it can't be my daily driver yet. Specifically: 1Password
• AdBlocker functionality would be a nice to have.

Otherwise I like it and look forward to future updates. Hopefully I can have one go to browser everywhere again someday.

 

[Pakaku]

This just in: The best web browser is your favourite one.

 

[Sasparilla]

I use Safari and Firefox on OS X. Not sure what to think of Safari with a Firefox skin on iOS.

I wish Apple would relent and allow other browser engines on iOS now that it has such a strong marketshare position for mobile - from a security standpoint, having a browser engine mono-culture for something that covers this big a part of the marketplace (not a concern 5 years ago) isn't a good thing. When some inevitable critical Safari browser engine security issue pops up its good to be able to switch to something else till its fixed.

 

[macmanwa]

One of the most ridiculous posts ever? Tell you what I need a word processor, instead of buying M$ Office, I’ll just use text Edit.
Instead of a………How about people like choice?


It appears that you’re drinking the high proof version of what he is.

Or not... Safari beat Chrome and Firefox on the Sunspider and Kraken JavaScript benchmarks. The only one it didn't win was Octane 2.0 which Chrome won. Firefox didn't beat them on any of those common speed/performance benchmarks.

http://www.digitaltrends.com/comput...lorer-vs-chrome-vs-firefox-vs-safari-vs-edge/

 

[2457282]

...just use Safari?

Unless Apple allows me to change the default browser in iOS, there is no point in any browser app. I am okay with Safari, but for all those that prefer firefox or chrome (why?), Apple should allow users to download and install them as defaults so that it integrates with mail, and other apps.

 

[204353]

I've had it for a while now. Still not ready for prime time.

Features it needs:

• Bookmark syncing (it does do tabs and sessions)
• Activities/extensions - this is the primary reason it can't be my daily driver yet. Specifically: 1Password
• AdBlocker functionality would be a nice to have.

Otherwise I like it and look forward to future updates. Hopefully I can have one go to browser everywhere again someday.

Just FYI, this release includes bookmark syncing via Firefox accounts.

 

[Jesse1414]

Except Safari on Mac sucks, so why would I use it on iOS when using Firefox carries over all my info from the desktop version?

Too bad it doesn't.

 

[tranceking26]

There is a loyal fan base for firefox (maybe not that big any more) so plenty of people will use this.

For me, I'll stick to safari and adblocking.

 

[Carlanga]

Except Safari on Mac sucks, so why would I use it on iOS when using Firefox carries over all my info from the desktop version?

What? lmao. Are you sure you own a mac?
I like safari, its not the best but works better than others.
Chrome is the most universal and my secondary browser for anything that doesn't work in safari.

 

[Carlanga]

Except Safari on Mac sucks, so why would I use it on iOS when using Firefox carries over all my info from the desktop version?

What? lmao. Are you sure you own a mac?
I like safari, its not the best but works better than others.
Chrome is the most universal and my secondary browser for anything that doesn't work in safari.

 

[AdonisSMU]

One of the most ridiculous posts ever? Tell you what I need a word processor, instead of buying M$ Office, I’ll just use text Edit.
Instead of a………How about people like choice?


It appears that you’re drinking the high proof version of what he is.

Choice for choices sake meh.... In iOS it's all Safari under the hood.