Mozilla recently announced Firefox Preview which was released to a few individuals in the Fenix Nightly Google Group but now the app has entered public beta and can now be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Firefox Preview is Mozilla having another go at a new Android app as it plans to retire off the current Firefox for Android – it has since entered the maintenance phase. Mozilla has halted development on its other app, Firefox Focus for Android too.
Firefox Preview is a new strategy by Mozilla in a bid to increase its market share on mobile and catch up with its desktop counterpart that comes second after Chrome. Firefox Preview is modelled after Firefox Focus especially its privacy and high-performance features and will also give users full-fledged mobile browsing experience.
What Firefox Preview brings
- Just like the new Firefox for desktop, Firefox Preview comes with trackers blocked by default and promises faster browsing and less intrusive and annoying ads
- Collections: This is a new feature that will allow users to save, organize and share a collection of their favourite sites. THey’re customised to tasks such as travel planning, shopping lists or morning
- Overhauled design: There’s a minimalist screen, a bottom URL bar and tab button plus a dark theme. A toggle for “Desktop sites” and a built-in QR code reader is also present.
- GeckoView mobile rendering engine – GeckoView first implemented on Focus is being used on Firefox Preview a sit allows easier integration of Focus’ privacy features. Mozilla is ditching Google’s BlinkView that most mobile browser apps use to give it more independence from the search giant. GeckoView comes with a faster and more efficient interface.
Firefox Focus and Firefox for Android will be replaced by Firefox Preview which will be officially launched later this year as it packs features from both apps into one to match the functionality and privacy of the desktop version.
Users are welcome to share their feedback to imprive the app before going live.
