Brings add-ons, tabbed browsing and more to N900 users

Jan 30, 2010 08:29 GMT  ·  By

Mobile phone users that own a Maemo-based handset from Nokia have now yet another reason to rejoice, as the final version of Firefox for their handsets has just emerged on the web. Following a long line of beta and release candidate flavors, now Firefox for Maemo 1.0 is here for them, providing an experience similar in many respects to the one that the desktop iteration of Firefox can deliver.

One of the main feature of the web browser is that it comes around with support for add-ons, something that no other solution offers to users. The add-ons enable any Maemo-based device owner to customize the browser via the over 40 add-ons that are already available for download on Mozilla's website. Among them, we can count popular solutions like AdBlock Plus, URL Fixer, TwitterBar, language translators, or geo guides. The Add-ons Manager allows for an easy installation of such solutions, and Mozilla recommends for the YouTube Enabler add-on be installed.

The features that Firefox for mobile comes with to Maemo-based phones should be already familiar in a way to those who use the browser on their desktop computers: - Awesome Bar – Go to your favorite sites in just a couple of keystrokes with intelligent and personalized searching - Weave Sync – Sync your Firefox tabs, history, bookmarks and passwords between your desktop and mobile device for a seamless browsing experience - Add-ons – Customize your Firefox by adding small pieces of functionality, like games and news readers, that help make the mobile Web browser your own - Location-Aware Browsing – Get maps and information relevant to your location - Tabbed browsing – View open tabs as thumbnails to easily identify and select the Web page you’d like to go to next - Safe Browsing – Get an Instant Web Site ID and easily access and edit security settings - Available in more than 30 languages and counting

At the same time, the browser also enables developers to create rich applications. Web technologies like HTML5, CSS and JavaScript are available for those devs interested in customizing or modifying the browser. Nokia’s Maemo5 platform is the mobile operating system that currently enjoys Firefox for Mobile 1.0, yet other platforms should also taste it in the near future. Those interested in downloading the browser for their Nokia N900 should head over to firefox.com/m on their devices and will get it in no time.

“Bringing Firefox to mobile devices is the next step toward fulfilling Mozilla’s mission of providing one Web that everyone can access, regardless of device or location. Secure, powerful, and customizable, Firefox is the most modern mobile Web browser available and is optimized for a mobile experience. Key design principles are at the heart of the mobile browsing experience including minimal typing, seamless synchronization with desktop Firefox and the ability to take your Firefox with you, to name a few,” Mozilla's Erica Jostedt notes on the company's website.