Firefox for Android Got Updated

The mobile browsers are becoming faster and faster, with their feature range widening in every new release. And the question whether to use the mobile version to check the latest news in the bus on your way to work or via the desktop browser later is becoming more habit-dependent. Mozilla is trying hard to maintain its standards and keep up with the rest of the pack: a new Android version of Firefox is now available.

The new Android version of Firefox has also a whole bunch of new features to check out. And they seem to be working, as Mozilla made their junior Firefox work faster than any other popular Android browser: it operates at almost 40 frames per second.

Firefox for Android 14.0: Frames per Second

The most significant changes to the Android Firefox include the support for Adobe Flash, the user interface redesign, the new Start Page and reformed Top Sites, Bookmarks and History access. Besides the mentioned ones, some other minor alterations were applied involving developer's new features and bug fixes. Sadly, but several known bugs have remained unresolved yet.

What do All These Words Stand For?

Well, first of all, for us users the support for Adobe Flash means that we can now watch on-line videos, play games and interact with other flash web content on our Android devices. For example, try to play Mozilla's BrowserQuest game or watch something on YouTube and make your own opinion about the browser.
The browser now features an Awesome Screen and Awesome Bar, facilitating the use of the web search, Top Sites, Bookmarks and History access. The start page of your Firefox for Android contains the thumbnails of the top visited sites, the next two tabs give easy access to Bookmarks and History. So there is no need now to delve deep into the browser options to get to your history statistics.

Firefox for Android 14.0: Start Page

On top of this, you also get the safety of Web-surf with Do-no-track feature and the default setting for plug-ins to play on the tap.

What Was Fixed and What Still Awaits its Turn?

Mozilla's team have fixed many known bugs. So, the page reload does not provoke the zoom level to increase anymore, the full screen mode for the flash videos is displayed correctly, the text viewing errors have been amended, etc

Firefox for Android 14.0: Security Settings

However, there are still hordes of known bugs to fix, like GIF animation play issues when changing the image size, partial functional of forms, unexpected browser behavior when changing the device orientation and some other.

So, Is It Good or Bad?

All in all, This Firefox for Android is far better than the previous version. It is faster, safer and more functional. To my mind, it is worth giving a try: there's a whole lot of new features to come yet.

Picture credit: blog.mozilla.org

Microsoft Presents its New Tablet

In the middle of June Microsoft arose ambiguous emotions about their new 'toy' – Surface. A new tablet which can boast not only of Microsoft software, the hardware is created by the company as well. The product has some revolutionary bonuses: full-size ports and a 3 mm thick physical keyboard.

Thin or thick?

With 9.3 mm, the Windows RT tablet is a bit slimmer than the third generation iPad, although the Windows Pro version is said to be a bit thicker – about 13.5 mm. Yet the quite austere design plays a nasty trick on your eyes and Surface seems a lot thicker than it really is, at least in pictures. Yet the form and simplicity in the appearance of the tablet seem to be quite reasonable and logical in combination with a Metro-style operating system by Microsoft. On the other hand, compared to, say, iPad, Surface does look a bit coarse, as we have already got used to smoother lines and elegantly bevel-edged devices.

Microsoft’s Surface Side View

Yet Microsoft makes up for the questionable look with a thin (3 mm for Windows RT supporting version) multi-functional pressure-sensitive cover and a built-in Kickstand. The Kickstand is part of the device, providing safe and comfort positioning on the table. The outstanding feature of the cover is that it doubles as a fully functional keyboard with track-pad. As a result you get a two-in-one goodie: a magnetic tablet cover (feeling much like Apple's smartcover for iPad) and full-fledged touch-based keypad. However, it is still unclear whether it will it be included into the basic package or will come as a separate accessory.

Which one do you like?

What is clear is that the tablet will come in two versions – with Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro installed. The two Surface versions will have different features, the latter version being more suitable for office use. As the specs available now show, the Pro version will be a bit heavier, thicker and more powerful than its brother. Windows claims the Pro version was 'built to let you use all of the applications you want — including Photoshop', a rather resources-demanding program. The Windows 8 Pro Surface is supposed to have Full HD display, Pen with Palm Block and 64 or 128 GB memory.

Microsoft’s Surface General View

As for me, I have rather ambiguous feeling about this PC-tablet. On the one hand, it would be interesting to hold it and try to type something, test it from every side. On the other hand, I haven't made up my mind yet whether I'd be eager to buy it. There are several reasons for it. First of all, the price is still unknown. Second, and it bothers me even more, we don't know if the cover is supposed to be included into the basic package. Well, the time will show the real way of things, meanwhile let's wait.

http://www.microsoft.com