Fennec (Firefox Mobile) to drop for N900 by end of ’09. Windows Mobile and Android versions in 2010.
If you were beginning to lose hope in Fennec, Mozilla’s venture into the mobile browser world, have I got a juicy treat for you. Like many of you out there, I was beginning to feel as if Fennec was months upon months away from an actual release. Such long spans of time are torturous for us “gotta have it now” folks. At least one small niche group of users will soon be able to start rocking an official Mozilla Fennec web browser. Thanks can be sent to Jay Sullivan, Mozilla´s Vice President of Mobile Division. It was he who mentioned yesterday that Fennec RC1 would be available by the end of the week with an official final version dropping by the end of the year. Think of it as a nice “Happy New Year” from Mozilla.
Now for the bad part. While many users across various platforms would love to spend some one on one time with their mobile devices, exploring everything that Fennec has to offer, for the initial launch set for end of ’09 anyway, Nokia’s N900 will walk away as the one and only supported device. Now don’t confuse Fennec’s initial support being solely for the N900 as it is actually more for Maemo 5. It just so happens that the N900 is the only device with Maemo 5 that supports Fennec for the time being. Confused yet?
Now don’t get too upset. Put the pitchforks and flamethrower down. Jay followed up the RC1 statement saying that the Fennec beta version currently available for Windows Mobile will also get a more legitimate option come 2010. Maemo 5 users won’t be the only ones getting to have all the fun.
Wait just one more second, don’t you go running off yet as I saved the best for last — according to Jay, they have begun work on an official Android version of Fennec. Can you say hellz yeah!? Dolphin is ok and all as a second Android browser, but even seeing videos and accounts of Fennec’s beta product already have me convinced a final product will blow away the competition, Android or not.
2010 is already lining up it’s fair share of big stories and highlights. It’s going to be one hell of a year.
Author: Mike Norris
visit my websiteGadget lover, smartphone collector, and beer connoisseur. I've been writing about gadgets for three years now and loving every minute of it. Outside of the digital landscape, I enjoy being active outdoors. I'm always up for a good conversation, so feel free to drop me a line!
