Mozilla on Thursday released a version of its popular Firefox browser for iOS, giving Apple users an additional option for browsing the Web over iPhone, iPad and iPod touch devices.
The iOS version of Firefox, which had been noticeably absent from Apple's mobile devices, syncs browser history, bookmarks and open tabs across devices. Like its desktop cousin, Firefox for iOS also features privacy-friendly functions like a Private Browsing mode and the ability to clear passwords and browsing history with a single tap.
Other features include intuitive visual tabs designed to make content easier to find, as well as anticipatory search capabilities and a robust list of shortcuts to search providers. Search is available from traditional options like Google or Bing, as well as more privacy-conscious options like DuckDuckGo.
Talks that Mozilla was finally working on an iOS version of their famed browser first started in December of last year. Previously, the company had provided an app called Firefox Home that was designed solely to sync users' history & bookmarks with their Apple devices, but that was axed in 2012.
As of October of this year, Mozilla held 9.52 percentof the overall browser market, including both computers and mobile devices, according to StatCounter. That put it in third place, behind Google Chrome at 46.7 percent, and Apple's Safari with 11.96 percent.
11 Comments
You may notice differences between this iOS version and the one on your desktop. Like all browsers for your iPhone they have to use Apple's Safari Webkit engine. Firefox would typically use Gecko.
what makes you think they are forced to use the UWebView?
You may notice differences between this iOS version and the one on your desktop. Like all browsers for your iPhone they have to use Apple's Safari Webkit engine. Firefox would typically use Gecko.
GTK, GG.... ...thnx...
Wonder if this will be a resource hog like the PC versions.
Who cares. The Desktop version is a pig. They keep pushing back the time when Gecko is done. Periodic crashes. I have more stability using WebKit2 on GTK+ than Mozilla.