The Firefox browser has been available on Android for a few years now but Apple and Mozilla had a little dispute that prevented an iOS version for some time.
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Mozilla’s new offering also incorporates private browsing ensuring the software doesn’t remember any of your browsing history or cookies.
Visual tabs allow you to manage multiple tabs on the same screen, something that neither Chrome in Lollipop or Safari in iOS offers, and search suggestions are configurable to the search engine of your choosing.
Mozilla Firefox OS Senior Product Manager, Peter Dolanjski said that, ” If you’re curious to see what Firefox OS is all about, or just interested in testing out new features, the Firefox OS 2.5 Developer Preview app makes it very simple to get started with very little risk involved”, according to his post in Mozilla Hacks. Since the iOS version of Firefox relies on Apple’s own JavaScript and rendering engine, Mozilla had to completely rewrite the web browser for Apple’s operating system, unlike its versions for other operating systems, reports Apple Insider.
But market share has tumbled for Firefox, and availability on iOS can shore up its share. It changed its mind after claiming it “saw an opportunity with the latest improvements and tools in iOS 8”.
However, after Apple loosened previous restrictions on third-party developers with the release of iOS 8 past year, Mozilla chose to create a version of its browser that would work on iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch devices.
Those that like it have the option of flashing Firefox OS onto their devices.
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Nguyen said users can make Firefox easy to reach on their devices by adding it to the docks on the bottom of their home screens. “(E)xpect to see much more from us soon as we are going full speed ahead on continuously delivering new features”.
