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Firefox for Nokia N900 Release Notes

v.1.0.1, released April 13, 2010
The world's best Web browser has gone mobile.

Learn how we're bringing the Firefox experience to mobile devices. Check out the features, known issues and frequently asked questions about the first version of Firefox for the Nokia N900. As always, you’re encouraged to tell us what you think, either by using this feedback form or by filing a bug in Bugzilla.

What's new in Firefox 1.0.1 for the Nokia N900

Firefox 1.0.1 for the Nokia N900 fixes a critical security issue that could potentially allow remote code execution (see bug 552216).

You may also be interested in Firefox 1.0 for the Nokia N900 Release Notes for a list of changes in the previous version of Firefox.

System Requirements

Before installing, make sure your phone meets the system requirements.

Downloading

Download Firefox for Maemo by visiting Firefox.com/m on your Nokia N900. You can also go to Firefox.com/mobile and send an SMS text message that contains the download link directly to your Nokia N900. If you don't have an N900 you can download a build of Firefox for mobile to your desktop in order to test, provide feedback, and build add-ons. Desktop builds are for development purposes only and don't have full functionality:

Add-ons

There are currently over 40 Firefox add-ons available. View the catalog here, or search for and install add-ons directly from the Add-ons Manager. Extensions installed in the Firefox for Maemo 1.0 may require updates to achieve full functionality. Please report any issues to the maintainer of the extension. You will receive an alert to update if a particular add-on has been updated. We encourage you to install the recommended add-ons viewable in the Add-ons Manager.

Known Issues

  • Initially, Firefox for N900 does not support browser plug-ins. Due to performance problems using Adobe Flash within Firefox on many websites, especially those with multiple plug-ins on them, we have disabled plugins for Firefox for Maemo 1.0. We plan to provide a browser add-on that will enable you to selectively enable plugins on certain sites, because some sites, like YouTube, work well.
  • While a Web page is loading (the page info icon will display as a turning circle), interaction with the Web page such as panning and zooming has limited responsiveness.
  • Firefox is intended for use on the Nokia N900. It can also be run on the Nokia N810 and N800 Internet Tablets, but these devices are significantly less powerful, and performance will degrade accordingly. We don't recommend Firefox for these devices.
  • We provide desktop builds (Windows, OS X, Linux) of Firefox for mobile devices to support localizers, add-on developers and others who want to experiment, but don't have access to supported devices. These builds are not intended for general use.
  • Add-ons built based upon earlier beta releases may depend upon interfaces that have been deprecated, and therefore may not install properly. Add-on developers are encouraged to check that their add-ons work with the Release Candidate build.
  • After panning down to the bottom of the page and tapping on "Full Site" on www.facebook.com. the top and bottom bar are 2/5's the width of the viewable browser window and the bottom bar still floats (bug 540667)
  • When zooming out with the an image on the screen, we've observed white grid lines during the fuzzy portion of the zoom (bug 539276)

Frequently Asked Questions

My mobile device is not a Nokia N900 or N810. When can I expect to use Firefox on my phone?
Firefox for the Windows Mobile platform is in Alpha and we could really use your feedback! Learn more and download it. We’re also investigating development for Android. We will continue to investigate and consider other platforms that can support the full Firefox experience.
Is it called Fennec or Firefox?
Fennec is the codename of Mozilla’s mobile project, however, the official product name is Firefox. Enjoy the same Firefox experience that you’ve come to know and trust on the desktop, now available for mobile.
How will Firefox keep me safe while I browse on my mobile?
Mozilla’s open source process leverages the experience of thousands of security experts around the globe, and Firefox includes features like instant Web site ID that checks on suspicious sites to ensure they’re what they claim to be. Customizable security settings to manage passwords, cookies, loading images and installing add-ons give you complete control over your browsing experience. Learn more.
How do I use the Firefox user interface to browse the Web?
To save space on your phone’s display, Firefox browser controls are stowed away to the sides of the screen. Swipe right to access your tabs on the left side of the screen. Swipe left to view one-touch bookmarking, back and forward, and access your browser tools. To let you see more of the Web site, your browser controls and Awesome Bar get stowed away out of view. when you scroll down a Web page, but they instantly reappear if you pan to either side.
How do I zoom in and out?
Double tap the screen with your finger to zoom in. Double tap again to zoom out. Also, on the Nokia N900, Ctrl-up and Ctrl-down arrows will zoom in and out.
How do I bookmark a Web page?
Go to the site you wish to bookmark. Touch the bookmark “star” button on the right side of your display.
How do I open a new tab?
Touch the new tab "plus" button on the left side of your display screen to open a new tab. Tabs appear as thumbnails so you can easily see which page you’d like to select.
What are Firefox Add-ons and how can I get them on my mobile device?
Add-ons let you customize your Firefox by adding features and customizations that help make your browser your own. Select the Preferences “gear” button on the bottom right-hand side of your screen, then choose the add-ons “puzzle piece” button and search for and install the add-ons that are most useful to you directly from your phone.
How can I share my Firefox bookmarks, history, tabs, and passwords between my PC and my mobile?
The Weave Sync add-on brings your Firefox experience to your mobile phone. First, create a Weave Sync account on your PC. Then go to Firefox on your mobile and search for and install the Weave Sync add-on. When you enter you Weave Sync account info and sync, your Firefox preferences, history and more will be shared between your PC and your mobile.
Do I need to get the Weave Sync add-on to use Firefox on my phone?
No. Although we think that syncing Firefox between your PC and mobile with Weave Sync is highly useful, it is an optional service that you can choose to use or not. You will still be able to break in your Firefox mobile Web browser with the Awesome Bar, which remembers where you go and how often, getting to your favorite sites very quickly.
What is Location-Aware Browsing? Is Firefox tracking where I am?
Location-Aware Browsing saves you time by allowing websites to ask you where you are. If you choose to share your location with a website, it can use that information to find nearby points of interest and return additional, useful data like maps of your area. It’s all optional – Firefox doesn’t share your location without your permission. Learn more about Location-Aware Browsing.

Developer Questions

Will a Firefox add-on I built for the PC work on mobile? If not, do I need to change it?
Although Firefox for the desktop and mobile are built on the same platform, there are small differences that will require developers to make changes to their add-ons. These changes are usually straightforward, visit the Develop for Mobile page to learn more.
What browser engine does Firefox use?
The desktop and mobile versions of Firefox both use the Gecko rendering engine. The mobile version of Firefox uses Gecko version 1.9.2, which is the best performing browser engine Mozilla has ever released and includes exciting features such as radically improved JavaScript performance, geolocation support, worker threads, and much more.What JavaScript engine does Firefox use? Firefox includes the new “TraceMonkey” JavaScript engine, an advanced JIT (“just in time”) compiler using tracing technology. The TraceMonkey engine makes Web applications faster by compiling code as you execute it, allowing many types of CPU-intensive applications to run at near-native speed.
How do I develop a Location-Aware website for Firefox?
Firefox has implemented the first public draft of the Geolocation specification from the W3C. An overview on how to develop Location-Aware websites here.
Does Firefox on my mobile support HTML 5?
HTML 5 is the next major revision of HTML. The HTML 5 specification is an ongoing work, but there are several HTML 5 and related features that will enable Web developers to create more innovative websites and applications. Firefox includes important features like Location-Aware browsing, the <canvas> and <svg> tags, Web workers and offline storage.
Does Firefox on my phone support plugins?
Support for plugins in Firefox for Maemo has been disabled. On most Web pages that use the Adobe Flash plugin, the performance of the plugin didn't meet our standards, and the interactivity and performance of the entire Web page was negatively impacted. This was especially felt on pages with multiple instances of the plugin. Advanced users can enable plugins for experimentation and testing purposes only. We plan to provide a browser add-on that will enable you to selectively enable plugins on certain sites, because some sites, like YouTube, work well.
How can I get involved?
Check out our Develop for Mobile page to learn more about how you can contribute to Mozilla’s mobile project. If you’d like to learn more about you can get involved in other mobile-related initiatives, check out our Get Involved page. As always, your input is welcome. Please provide your feedback using Firefox for mobile.