10 ms·

Firefox Preview 3.0

242 points by vidyesh 7y ago

anotheryou 7y ago
I just need my add-ons :) Heard there is a hack to try them already, does anyone know how?
- arthursilva 7y ago
  You probably want to follow this issue https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630
  - reyqn 7y ago
    Or those User Stories https://github.com/orgs/mozilla-mobile/projects/44 https://github.com/orgs/mozilla-mobile/projects/44
    - anotheryou 7y ago
      cool, that looks like progress!
g4d 7y ago
Can I download files with it yet without the download failing?
- TuringTest 7y ago
  Yes, they fixed that soon
- sharmi 7y ago
  Works for me on firefox preview.
- orra 7y ago
  Were you unable to download files which required authentication? That seems to have been fixed in a previous release.
cwyers 7y ago
Since it took me a little while to figure out what this was -- it's Firefox for Android.
- mkl 7y ago
  Not the ordinary Firefox for Android, though. Specifically: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fenix&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fe... "Firefox Preview marks a release of the early version for an experimental Firefox browser for Android. Built on GeckoView, Firefox Preview is a pilot for early adopters, developers, and anyone who wants to help make a better, more private Firefox for Android."
  - asymmetric 7y ago
    What’s the difference with the regular Firefox for Android?
    - chrysoprace 7y ago
      It's a rewrite from the ground up, written in Kotlin. So far I've been really liking it, they've made some quite unique design decisions like the URL bar being on the bottom, stacking tabs in a list and a type of categorised bookmark called "collections". If you like Firefox I'd give it a go. I've never been a fan of the normal Firefox mobile app, but recently switched back from Chrome so I think it's a nice alternative.
      - Kipters 7y ago
        The URL bar being at the bottom is what sold it to me. It's the single thing I miss the most from Edge on Windows 10 Mobile.
        Vinnl 7y ago
        And for those who think they'd dislike it: v3 now added an option to move it to the top again.
dbcooper 7y ago
Does it support page translation?
wldlyinaccurate 7y ago
I've been using Firefox Preview since it was announced in June and so far I'm really impressed. It's much faster than "regular" Firefox for Android, and I like the UI better. There have been a few bugs and annoyances as they release updates, and I really miss having a good content blocker like uBlock. Aside from that, I'm just happy that there's finally a fast web browser for Android that isn't Chrome.
- solnyshok 7y ago
  same here. also missing ublock.
  - Leace 7y ago
    Subscribe to this issue: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630
- gingerjoos 7y ago
  I've also found it to be faster than Chrome
jakub_g 7y ago
> Open links in private tabs by default Nice! This is why I use Firefox Focus as a default browser on Android. Would be cool if other browsers (Brave?) implemented this as well.
- xvf22 7y ago
  Firefox Klar[0] is a version of Focus for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland vthat has user activity tracking disabled by default. [0] https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.klar/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.klar/
- vidyesh 7y ago
  Me too, very glad its here. I am too used to Safari on iOS allowing that. But none of the regular Android browsers really letting us set that by default. I ended up using Firefox Focus or DuckDuckGo browser but they feel like a very basic browser.
rvoje 7y ago
I am unable to add a custom search engine even though it is listed as a feature. Anyone else tried to add one?
- abrowne 7y ago
  I personally haven't tried yet, but at least one other is saying it's not working yet: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5577#issuecomment-558564183 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5577#issuecom...
mehdix 7y ago
First impression: it's fast compared to the regular Firefox for Android.
Andrew_nenakhov 7y ago
> Open links in private tabs by default I'm not sure it's a great idea. I like having my browsing history available and synced between devices. Also, if all private tabs share the same profile, it might be kinda pointless
- vidyesh 7y ago
  Its a feature which can be disabled.
- fluidcruft 7y ago
  It's actually something I adapted to and really came to like about using Firefox Focus (and have missed since switching to Firefox Preview). The main thing about Firefox Focus is it was extremely easy to reopen a page in a different browser or app (Chrome, Firefox, whatever). So some app on your phone would send you somewhere in Focus and you would peek at a website and then decide to transfer to the "real" browser if you actually cared.
jplayer01 7y ago
Useless without add-on support. I'm going to be avoiding Fenix until I can install a proper adblocker.
jeltz 7y ago
What does it even mean to open them in private tabs by default and why is that a behavior I would want? I use private tabs as a way to keep things out of my browsing history or to check what happens to a page when it does not get any of its normal cookies.
- Acinyx 7y ago
  If you are using a different app to browse stuff you don't want in your history, say in the reddit app, this feature means clicking a link in that app will not immediately make it show up in your history.
m712 7y ago
I can't find it on F-Droid, hopefully they get it on there soon. The main repo doesn't seem to have the Pocket spyware in the app yet, at least.
- yoavm 7y ago
  "the Pocket spyware"? In what way is the Pocket integration spying on you? I'm not a fan of it either, but isn't it a little of stretch?..
- Vinnl 7y ago
  See https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/162 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/162 and https://gitlab.com/fdroid/rfp/issues/869 https://gitlab.com/fdroid/rfp/issues/869.
steveharman 7y ago
Is there a way to set the position of the address bar to the top of the screen instead of the bottom (as there is in Chrome) ?
- benji_is_me 7y ago
  Yes, there is. Settings > Toolbar > Top.
  - RandomBacon 7y ago
    I don't see Toolbar. Did they nust update it and remove it? Hmmm... About:Config doesn't work.
    - Vinnl 7y ago
      Version 3 (which this page is about) hasn't been released yet, apparently, and the option was added there. Might be that you're still on the previous version.
ajot 7y ago
How good is the baked-in ad and analytics blocking, compared to uBlock Origin?
jhoechtl 7y ago
What I sorely miss is the ability to add tags to bookmarks. Whenever I add bookmarks in mobile, I have to edit them on the desktop version.
nonbirithm 7y ago
I'm liking Preview so far on Android. Especially the bottom bar. There are few more things that would sell it for me as my only browser. - Extensions, for uBlock Origin. - Some equivalent of the most convenient features I've ingrained to muscle memory from Brave, like pull-to-refresh, tapping a word to see a search/lookup box or swiping left/right on the address bar to change tabs. - Or at least the ability to search DDG or Google from highlighted text (I've tried doing this so many times but it isn't implemented yet). - The file picker on GitHub crashes. Of course these will probably be addressed eventually.
- svnpenn 7y ago
  It doesnt have extensions? Hard pass then.
- II2II 7y ago
  > There are few more things that would sell it for me as my only browser. It is a preview, so the important question is what does Mozilla have to do to encourage people to test it? In my books, two major things need to be done: - Give it a more meaningful name. People need to know about it and remember to follow it's development until they feel it is ready for them to test. - Focus upon the distinguishing features that compel people to use Firefox instead of another browser. For example: I am waiting until Firefox Preview has add-on support prior to testing it. I would much prefer to put up with an incomplete rendering engine or incomplete add-on support than live without add-ons altogether. Add-ons would allow me to use Firefox Preview normally, switch to the release version of Firefox when needed, then submit meaningful feedback. Without add-ons, I would simply reach for the release version of Firefox by default and Firefox Preview would soon be forgotten soon after installing it. Now everyone is going to have a different must have feature. That's fine. This is a development preview, so different people are going to come on line at different times based upon what it offers. Which leads me to ... ... the name bit. I originally heard about Firefox Preview several months back, never bothered to test it for the reason stated above, then promptly forgot about it since the name did not scream, "hey, major Firefox improvements are coming down the pipe, remember me for when you're ready!" Not only is the name non-memorable, but I likely saw dozens of headlines for it in the since then and did not even realize it. Something as simple as "Firefox for Android Preview" or "Firefox for Android Technology Preview" would have alerted me that it is something that I am interested in tracking. (While I use the desktop version of Firefox, I have no interest in following articles on its updates.) Since the name didn't distinguish the product, it has been effectively out-of-sight and out-of-mind.
RandomBacon 7y ago
If anyone developing this is here: I don't like the drawer above the URL/search bar which contains the share and bookmark buttons. The bar is visually-distracting, and it's much easier to tap on the vertical three dots menu and tap on a bookmark button there. I've never been a fan of "share", but that could probably be moved inline with the URL/search bar (either the share or bookmark button, and the other button going in the menu). Is there going to be an option for the URL/search bar to automatically hide similar to how it does on Firefox for Android when you scroll? That would be a nice feature to have. (Extensions is a must-have if I'm going to switch over!) Thanks, and great job!
- abrowne 7y ago
  > I don't like the drawer above the URL/search bar When I tried Preview Nightly a few days ago, that was gone, with the options moved to the menu.
- Vinnl 7y ago
  From the linked page: > An updated browser menu has replaced the Quick Action bar So the drawer is gone when this is released. IIRC, the toolbar did auto-hide at first, but they were still running into some bugs so they've disabled it for now. It was also pretty weird with the bottom bar, given that it disappeared if you scrolled down. Extensions are on the roadmap.
svnpenn 7y ago
I dont think this has any option for "open in app" like Firefox for Android: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/4575 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/4575 So if you use NewPipe or similar, dont install Firefox Preview.
- Aissen 7y ago
  I use this open source app to solve this with any app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.audioattack.openlink&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.audioattack...
  - svnpenn 7y ago
    I dont see how this solves the problem.
    - Aissen 7y ago
      Use native Android sharing to open a link in an app that has registered it.
      - svnpenn 7y ago
        Im not installing an app just to get back functionality that was and should be already part of the browser.
Vinnl 7y ago
Apparently these are draft release notes; v3 hasn't been released yet: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/6852#issuecomment-559522175 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/6852#issuecom...
qUb5633v 7y ago
I've been using it off and on. My only complaint is not being able to use an ad blocker.
valeg 7y ago
I'll wait for addons and PWA support.
kgwxd 7y ago
If it was ported, could this run decently on a Raspberry Pi?
- kbrosnan 7y ago
  It would not make any sense to Port Firefox Preview to RPi as the project is built around the Android API and widgets. Some of the Gecko work to support Firefox Preview could help performance on low spec hardware.

Firefox Preview 3.0

242 points by vidyesh 7y ago

anotheryou 7y ago

I just need my add-ons :) Heard there is a hack to try them already, does anyone know how?

arthursilva 7y ago
You probably want to follow this issue https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630
- reyqn 7y ago
  Or those User Stories https://github.com/orgs/mozilla-mobile/projects/44 https://github.com/orgs/mozilla-mobile/projects/44
  - anotheryou 7y ago
    cool, that looks like progress!

g4d 7y ago

Can I download files with it yet without the download failing?

TuringTest 7y ago
Yes, they fixed that soon
sharmi 7y ago
Works for me on firefox preview.
orra 7y ago
Were you unable to download files which required authentication? That seems to have been fixed in a previous release.

cwyers 7y ago

Since it took me a little while to figure out what this was -- it's Firefox for Android.

mkl 7y ago
Not the ordinary Firefox for Android, though. Specifically: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fenix&hl=en_US https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mozilla.fe... "Firefox Preview marks a release of the early version for an experimental Firefox browser for Android. Built on GeckoView, Firefox Preview is a pilot for early adopters, developers, and anyone who wants to help make a better, more private Firefox for Android."
- asymmetric 7y ago
  What’s the difference with the regular Firefox for Android?
  - chrysoprace 7y ago
    It's a rewrite from the ground up, written in Kotlin. So far I've been really liking it, they've made some quite unique design decisions like the URL bar being on the bottom, stacking tabs in a list and a type of categorised bookmark called "collections". If you like Firefox I'd give it a go. I've never been a fan of the normal Firefox mobile app, but recently switched back from Chrome so I think it's a nice alternative.
    - Kipters 7y ago
      The URL bar being at the bottom is what sold it to me. It's the single thing I miss the most from Edge on Windows 10 Mobile.
      - Vinnl 7y ago
        And for those who think they'd dislike it: v3 now added an option to move it to the top again.

dbcooper 7y ago

Does it support page translation?

wldlyinaccurate 7y ago

I've been using Firefox Preview since it was announced in June and so far I'm really impressed. It's much faster than "regular" Firefox for Android, and I like the UI better. There have been a few bugs and annoyances as they release updates, and I really miss having a good content blocker like uBlock. Aside from that, I'm just happy that there's finally a fast web browser for Android that isn't Chrome.

solnyshok 7y ago
same here. also missing ublock.
- Leace 7y ago
  Subscribe to this issue: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5630
gingerjoos 7y ago
I've also found it to be faster than Chrome

jakub_g 7y ago

> Open links in private tabs by default Nice! This is why I use Firefox Focus as a default browser on Android. Would be cool if other browsers (Brave?) implemented this as well.

xvf22 7y ago
Firefox Klar[0] is a version of Focus for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland vthat has user activity tracking disabled by default. [0] https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.klar/ https://f-droid.org/en/packages/org.mozilla.klar/
vidyesh 7y ago
Me too, very glad its here. I am too used to Safari on iOS allowing that. But none of the regular Android browsers really letting us set that by default. I ended up using Firefox Focus or DuckDuckGo browser but they feel like a very basic browser.

rvoje 7y ago

I am unable to add a custom search engine even though it is listed as a feature. Anyone else tried to add one?

abrowne 7y ago
I personally haven't tried yet, but at least one other is saying it's not working yet: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5577#issuecomment-558564183 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/5577#issuecom...

mehdix 7y ago

First impression: it's fast compared to the regular Firefox for Android.

Andrew_nenakhov 7y ago

> Open links in private tabs by default I'm not sure it's a great idea. I like having my browsing history available and synced between devices. Also, if all private tabs share the same profile, it might be kinda pointless

vidyesh 7y ago
Its a feature which can be disabled.
fluidcruft 7y ago
It's actually something I adapted to and really came to like about using Firefox Focus (and have missed since switching to Firefox Preview). The main thing about Firefox Focus is it was extremely easy to reopen a page in a different browser or app (Chrome, Firefox, whatever). So some app on your phone would send you somewhere in Focus and you would peek at a website and then decide to transfer to the "real" browser if you actually cared.

jplayer01 7y ago

Useless without add-on support. I'm going to be avoiding Fenix until I can install a proper adblocker.

jeltz 7y ago

What does it even mean to open them in private tabs by default and why is that a behavior I would want? I use private tabs as a way to keep things out of my browsing history or to check what happens to a page when it does not get any of its normal cookies.

Acinyx 7y ago
If you are using a different app to browse stuff you don't want in your history, say in the reddit app, this feature means clicking a link in that app will not immediately make it show up in your history.

m712 7y ago

I can't find it on F-Droid, hopefully they get it on there soon. The main repo doesn't seem to have the Pocket spyware in the app yet, at least.

yoavm 7y ago
"the Pocket spyware"? In what way is the Pocket integration spying on you? I'm not a fan of it either, but isn't it a little of stretch?..
Vinnl 7y ago
See https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/162 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/162 and https://gitlab.com/fdroid/rfp/issues/869 https://gitlab.com/fdroid/rfp/issues/869.

steveharman 7y ago

Is there a way to set the position of the address bar to the top of the screen instead of the bottom (as there is in Chrome) ?

benji_is_me 7y ago
Yes, there is. Settings > Toolbar > Top.
- RandomBacon 7y ago
  I don't see Toolbar. Did they nust update it and remove it? Hmmm... About:Config doesn't work.
  - Vinnl 7y ago
    Version 3 (which this page is about) hasn't been released yet, apparently, and the option was added there. Might be that you're still on the previous version.

ajot 7y ago

How good is the baked-in ad and analytics blocking, compared to uBlock Origin?

jhoechtl 7y ago

What I sorely miss is the ability to add tags to bookmarks. Whenever I add bookmarks in mobile, I have to edit them on the desktop version.

nonbirithm 7y ago

I'm liking Preview so far on Android. Especially the bottom bar. There are few more things that would sell it for me as my only browser. - Extensions, for uBlock Origin. - Some equivalent of the most convenient features I've ingrained to muscle memory from Brave, like pull-to-refresh, tapping a word to see a search/lookup box or swiping left/right on the address bar to change tabs. - Or at least the ability to search DDG or Google from highlighted text (I've tried doing this so many times but it isn't implemented yet). - The file picker on GitHub crashes. Of course these will probably be addressed eventually.

svnpenn 7y ago
It doesnt have extensions? Hard pass then.
II2II 7y ago
> There are few more things that would sell it for me as my only browser. It is a preview, so the important question is what does Mozilla have to do to encourage people to test it? In my books, two major things need to be done: - Give it a more meaningful name. People need to know about it and remember to follow it's development until they feel it is ready for them to test. - Focus upon the distinguishing features that compel people to use Firefox instead of another browser. For example: I am waiting until Firefox Preview has add-on support prior to testing it. I would much prefer to put up with an incomplete rendering engine or incomplete add-on support than live without add-ons altogether. Add-ons would allow me to use Firefox Preview normally, switch to the release version of Firefox when needed, then submit meaningful feedback. Without add-ons, I would simply reach for the release version of Firefox by default and Firefox Preview would soon be forgotten soon after installing it. Now everyone is going to have a different must have feature. That's fine. This is a development preview, so different people are going to come on line at different times based upon what it offers. Which leads me to ... ... the name bit. I originally heard about Firefox Preview several months back, never bothered to test it for the reason stated above, then promptly forgot about it since the name did not scream, "hey, major Firefox improvements are coming down the pipe, remember me for when you're ready!" Not only is the name non-memorable, but I likely saw dozens of headlines for it in the since then and did not even realize it. Something as simple as "Firefox for Android Preview" or "Firefox for Android Technology Preview" would have alerted me that it is something that I am interested in tracking. (While I use the desktop version of Firefox, I have no interest in following articles on its updates.) Since the name didn't distinguish the product, it has been effectively out-of-sight and out-of-mind.

RandomBacon 7y ago

If anyone developing this is here: I don't like the drawer above the URL/search bar which contains the share and bookmark buttons. The bar is visually-distracting, and it's much easier to tap on the vertical three dots menu and tap on a bookmark button there. I've never been a fan of "share", but that could probably be moved inline with the URL/search bar (either the share or bookmark button, and the other button going in the menu). Is there going to be an option for the URL/search bar to automatically hide similar to how it does on Firefox for Android when you scroll? That would be a nice feature to have. (Extensions is a must-have if I'm going to switch over!) Thanks, and great job!

abrowne 7y ago
> I don't like the drawer above the URL/search bar When I tried Preview Nightly a few days ago, that was gone, with the options moved to the menu.
Vinnl 7y ago
From the linked page: > An updated browser menu has replaced the Quick Action bar So the drawer is gone when this is released. IIRC, the toolbar did auto-hide at first, but they were still running into some bugs so they've disabled it for now. It was also pretty weird with the bottom bar, given that it disappeared if you scrolled down. Extensions are on the roadmap.

svnpenn 7y ago

I dont think this has any option for "open in app" like Firefox for Android: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/4575 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/4575 So if you use NewPipe or similar, dont install Firefox Preview.

Aissen 7y ago
I use this open source app to solve this with any app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.audioattack.openlink&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.audioattack...
- svnpenn 7y ago
  I dont see how this solves the problem.
  - Aissen 7y ago
    Use native Android sharing to open a link in an app that has registered it.
    - svnpenn 7y ago
      Im not installing an app just to get back functionality that was and should be already part of the browser.

Vinnl 7y ago

Apparently these are draft release notes; v3 hasn't been released yet: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/6852#issuecomment-559522175 https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/fenix/issues/6852#issuecom...

qUb5633v 7y ago

I've been using it off and on. My only complaint is not being able to use an ad blocker.

valeg 7y ago

I'll wait for addons and PWA support.

kgwxd 7y ago

If it was ported, could this run decently on a Raspberry Pi?

kbrosnan 7y ago
It would not make any sense to Port Firefox Preview to RPi as the project is built around the Android API and widgets. Some of the Gecko work to support Firefox Preview could help performance on low spec hardware.