Nokia tablet first to get Firefox Mobile

Posted October 10, 2008 at 07:24 AM by JG Mason

Section: Communications, Smartphones, Mobile, Computers, Software / Applications, Wireless, Gadgets / Other, Web, Downloads, Web Browsers

Firefox Mobile Concept Video from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.

Rumored to be “soon” or even next week, Firefox Mobile Alpha will be released onto the Nokia N810 internet tablet.  Sure to be the first of many releases, the new web browser designed for mobile devices is sure to mix things up a bit.

One major difference is controls.  Unlike the minimalist Safari for the iPhone and iPod touch, Firefox for Mobile uses the extreme edges for access to special menus.  Just a swipe of the finger off the page to port or starboard brings up controls that were previously hidden.  It is a neat way to get at controls.  Just my opinion?  No, Mozilla calls this the “awesome bar” which I thought existed only in Times Square, NY.

Also new in the alpha version is some geo-location inputs allowing the browser to become aware of your location and offer catered services.  This is becoming more and more commonplace for software to be sensitive to location.  For example, you could just type in “pizza” and the phone would use your location to provide suggestions on where you could get some.

The software itself is built on Gekko, which powers the desktop version so many of us enjoy.  Gekko was also employed to build the Nokia N810s built in browser.  A beta version of Firefox Mobile is expected in 2009.  Further, I’d expect an Android compatible version out of the gates.

Source: [PC Advisor]