Firefox for Mobile makes Maemo its first home

As if you needed any more evidence of the tech supremacy of your Nokia N900 or N810, here's Firefox making its official mobile debut on the most righteous Maemo OS. Available for download right now, version 1.0 will come with a pretty sweet feature named Weave Sync, which harmonizes your bookmarks, tabs, history and passwords across devices, making for a seamless transition between your desktop computer and your mobile one. We reckon we could get used to that. Alas, Flash support is still somewhat shaky, and does not come enabled by default, though you're free to flip the switch and ride the lightning as it were. We're sure Mozilla will appreciate any crash reports you might want to throw its way as well. So come on already, download the darn thing and let us know if it improves on the already spectacular browsing experience of the N900.

[Thanks, Ross M.]

[4004 Posted Jan 30th 2010 12:34PM]

I dont think it would be better than safari(mobile cinema plugin for flash),'cause browsing expirience on a resistive screen is not atruly full experience. And those zoomings in n900 are so funny

[sr1329 Posted Jan 30th 2010 12:44PM]

@(Unverified) I'll tell you what though. Zooming on N900 is not up to iPhone or Palm Pre, but it IS better than in the Nexus One. I loved the browser on that phone but the zoom was bad.

[user47alpha Posted Jan 30th 2010 1:40PM]

@(Unverified)
And I find it funny to be forced to use both hands for zooming.

[sr1329 Posted Jan 30th 2010 1:45PM]

@user47alpha Again very ignorant. Both the Pre and iPhone have excellent double tap zoom. Also you if can make the "Okay" symbol with your fingers you can use the multitouch zoom with one hand. If you have even used what you are talking about you would know that.

[incognito Posted Jan 30th 2010 2:34PM]

@(Unverified), resistive screen on the N900 actually gives it even more edge over the competitors - try clicking a small link on a capacitive screen (and when I say small - I mean small, zoom out 2.5 times a page on iPhone to match the resolution difference and then try it). The screen is responsive almost as capacitive one, and it beats it fair and square on the precision. Best of both worlds.

[Rev Posted Jan 30th 2010 3:02PM]

@(Unverified)

Fully agree with incognito. The resistive screen is actually a real boon to the browsing experience. Resistive screen has the advantages of higher accuracy and stulys support. With high resolution and stulys, you don't usually need to zoom at all. Just browse and click on those tiny links with the stulys.

Take Engadget for example, the text wraps nicely to the 800x480 so all i need to do is scroll up and down. And even with that resolution and 3.5 inch screen, I can easily click on those comment page numbers without any zooming.

[incognito Posted Jan 30th 2010 3:56PM]

@(Unverified), also, here is one of the biggest strengths of resistive screens: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRbnn7D3qbI ... Capacitive? No thanks!

[tehslax Posted Jan 30th 2010 12:41PM]

This is great news for the platform.
I also feel the n900 is not ready for mass consumer use in the usa.
The next version of the phone will be better.
For now I'm realy happy with my N1 and it will be getting flash support soon!

[konceptz Posted Jan 30th 2010 1:05PM]

"I also feel the n900 is not ready for mass consumer use in the usa. "

"For now I'm realy happy with my N1 and it will be getting flash support soon!"

@tehslax: I understand why people are scared of the N900, but doesn't it strike you as odd that a MID with 4+ complete browsers, a GSM radio, a Phone application, 2 complete operating systems and tons of software sources is labeled incomplete or not ready?

[Schizo Posted Jan 30th 2010 1:08PM]

I have to say that N900 is amazing device. It's not for everybody. It's more like device to hack than traditional consumer device. But unfortunately I have to say that Firefox on N900 sucks. The user experience is below the horrible. And in mobile applications usability is more than extremely important.

Especially bookmarks are just a mess. Mozilla has published totally horrible browser. They have to design UI of Firefox Mobile from the scratch. To use FF Mobile is nightmare.

Luckily the original browser of N900 is excellent. I don't see any reason to switch to the Firefox. But let's hope that Firefox Mobile 2 (or 1.5) will provide us total facelift and all of the usability issues have been solved. Right now it's just early beta that is called 1.0.

[kenny goo Posted Jan 30th 2010 1:58PM]

Can I has Android nao please?

[Rev Posted Jan 30th 2010 3:39PM]

@kenny goo

I would think Android is next in release. Windows Mobile is probably getting close too. They are even developing for Symbian.

Only iPhone is left out, but I guess that is not Mozilla's fault :/

[kenny goo Posted Jan 30th 2010 4:33PM]

@Rev

Can't say I'm really in a rush. I just wanna make sure they get it out in a decent working form by the time I get my Android set, lol.

As an aside, it's really smart for them to be putting it on Maemo first. Symbian really should be their second spot too. They're probably on average, the most technologically capable out of any of the OS user bases. If there's bugs to be fixed or changes to be made, they'd be the best to help.

[Eal Posted Jan 30th 2010 2:10PM]

The real question is does this work on AT&T's 3g network. If not those of us with the iphone are still trapped =/

[microlith Posted Jan 30th 2010 5:52PM]

@Eal
The N900 works via 2.5G EDGE on the AT&T network, which is how I use it.

[Eal Posted Jan 30th 2010 6:10PM]

@microlith Is the speed ok? because i am really thinking about picking one of these up. they blow the nexus one, droid, and iphone out of the water imo.

[Rev Posted Jan 30th 2010 2:15PM]

Love the opening line. As others have said, it is not for everyone, but the potential of the platform makes me giggle like a little schoolgirl.

I do think that this site has very few readers who couldn't handle it, so if you are interested, do the research and check if it fits you. Two things I promise, it is open, there is very little that is impossible and for browsing the web it is by far the best mobile device out there.

[Iceen Posted Jan 30th 2010 4:58PM]

@Rev My grandfather how is 68 years old sat down with it. Just opened the phone and made a call. Then got out on the web tested to log in to his bank account with no problem.

He is think of using it for backgrounds (the best line out for music ever test on this kind of device) when he is out and playing music and for checking emails and stuff like that when they are at there summer house.
It's simple, but if you want it's one of the most advanced phones you find. But maybe a typical American is more stupid than a nearly 70 year old how's not that used to gadget's

Yes the original browser is still better than Firefox, the idea is great but still eating to much memory.

[Rev Posted Jan 30th 2010 5:32PM]

@Iceen

Yeah, the basic functionality is solid and easy. I am referring more to the expectations of total functionality etc. Believe it or not, there are people who had something like N97 and they are surprised and angry when N900 doesn't have all the same features and have no idea what they have gained.

I would say it is somewhat the group who is buying smartphones because they want something vague called "best", but wouldn't actually even need a smartphone with their usage. People who look at the stars in the reviews, not the features and then complain loudly about the missing MMS.

[reflexrym Posted Jan 30th 2010 2:32PM]

Here is the video browsing with Firefox v 1.0 on N900
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so4M3CGZ1Us

[Littleaton Posted Jan 30th 2010 3:20PM]

Hmm hope to see it on the android soon, as well as Flash compatibility.



Lilttleaton
http://www.littleaton.com

[Rev Posted Jan 30th 2010 3:28PM]

After giving Firefox a little spin, I would say Mozilla is doing great. It is not quite as smooth and fast as the internal browser, but that should be expected at this point. It seems to have nice innovations too, although a bit early to say about usefulness with this little use.

Not ready to jump my main usage to Firefox yet, but it is quite probable in the future.

[Pdexter Posted Jan 30th 2010 4:47PM]

it's not bad at all and kicks 95% of other mobile browsers there... just not the default N900 browser :)

[ALLurGroceries Posted Jan 30th 2010 4:57PM]

Download @

http://firefox.com/m/

[Flix C Posted Jan 30th 2010 6:43PM]

Nice :)

[timmyjan Posted Jan 30th 2010 7:42PM]

brilliant phone i have decide to buyt this stupid phone but apparantly no one wants to sell it.

where the hell do you buy this phone from i wanted one today so i have to wait untill nokia uk gets it in stock on the 8th of feb

or

wait until march for play uk to sell it wtf?

make it awailable now i want one today ....

bad nokia :(

[Loki Posted Jan 31st 2010 8:27AM]

@timmyjan If you're in the UK, it's not all that difficult. Carphone Warehouse (Birmingham) got some in at the end of December, and I was able to pick one up very easily.

[CJ Posted Jan 30th 2010 8:21PM]

I guess the "BEST BROWSER EXPERIENCE EVAR" has been derailed... three days later.

[Dale P Posted Jan 30th 2010 9:23PM]

@CJ Seriously, I am a Firefox fantard. I would love to have this on iPhone.

[RogerTHAcctant Posted Jan 30th 2010 10:21PM]

I'm pretty content with the maemo browser. I like how you can activate the mouse to hover and click, it's already awesome and has everything i want in it.

I'll still gladly download the firefox browser as a secondary one though.

[Kensai Posted Jan 30th 2010 11:21PM]

What Apple fans fail to understand about their product of choice, is the close computing experience they get theirselves into.

At Firefox for Mobile's site we read:
https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms

-----------------------------------
Firefox for iPhone
We do not have plans to build an iPhone browser due to constraints with the OS environment and distribution.

[HTCHD2 Posted Jan 31st 2010 1:57AM]

best phone

[Forphucsake Posted Jan 31st 2010 2:18AM]

Weave is excellent. I had 4 tabs open yesterday on my desktop but had to leave the house quickly. A quick weave sync and I had th esame 4 open on my N900 and continuing from where I left off. Greasemonkey is handy to have too.

It is still slower than MicroB and I only use it in the example above but its still great to have there as an option.

Now just to get the weave add on for MicroB haha (doubtful)

[christosxx2 Posted Jan 31st 2010 5:24AM]

I also tried opera mini on my nokia device and was quite....frustrated. I even prefer the instaled browser right now (no touch-screen model).
I hope firefox will build versions of its browsers for all mobile phone devices, independent of OS and UI. And I agree that Symbian has do change, right now it reminds me of another era compared to other devices. I've often argued with Nokia on their discussion site, but until now, I haven't really found anything better to suit me. I'm curious to try out an Android device, just waiting for the "perfect" one. But I surely prefer firefox than any other browser and I've tried them all on my pc.

[Interwebs Posted Jan 31st 2010 9:56AM]

They should let firefox on the iPhone or sue for harming competition!

[JamesB Posted Jan 31st 2010 11:41AM]

ANDROID VERSION !

[no6969el Posted Jan 31st 2010 11:41AM]

you know, we all have been waiting and waiting for flash and then nokia is like hey firefox.. yea lets get this shit done.. and bam.. here it is. And im still trying to get some simple ass flash on my 1.6 android. DAMN!

[pickleJar Posted Jan 31st 2010 12:18PM]

Seriously...? Flash still iffy? Why is it so hard for Flash to integrate into these devices if it is so widely used and so popular?

[max3000 Posted Jan 31st 2010 12:22PM]

As a N900 owner I don't see the point. The built in MicroB browser is way better and it's mozilla based which practically makes it two firefox browsers: an average one and an amazing one.
Still keeping it installed.. just in case. (there are some HTML5 scripts that work better in firefox)

[ChrisSsk Posted Jan 31st 2010 1:08PM]

for anyone that doesn't own a N900 but would like to see how the browser works , there are Windows, Mac OSX and Linux versions available as emulators for developers that work like the real browser.

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/mobile/platforms/