As most of you probably know, Apple does not allow competing browsers into the App Store. As such, browser makers are forced to come up with inventive solutions to still get their name out there among iPhone users, and after Opera’s successful attempt, Mozilla is going to take a stab at it too. Their solution is different, but no less interesting – especially if you’re already a Firefox user.
The application is called Firefox Home, and isn’t so much a browser – it’s more of a companion to your regular desktop Firefox installation. It hooks into said installation by copying your browser history, bookmarks, and the open tabs from your most recent browsing session onto your device. Add some Awesome Bar sauce on top, and you’re done. Pages themselves are rendered by the WebKit engine that’s part of the iPhone OS.
“Firefox Home for iPhone is part of a broader Mozilla effort to provide a more personal Web experience with more user control,” writes Ragavan Srinivasan, product manager at Mozilla, “For devices or platforms where we’re unable to provide the ‘full’ Firefox browser (either technically or due to policy), we aim to provide users with ‘on the go’ instant access to their personal Firefox history, bookmarks and open tabs on their iPhones, giving them another reason to keep loving Firefox on their desktops.”
Mozilla plans to submit Firefox Home to the App Store in the coming three weeks, and from the looks of it, there appears to be little reason for Apple to reject it. It most certainly looks like a welcome mobile companion for Firefox users.
I guess that’s the real reason for Weave. Next up: Chrome.
Yes, Chrome 5 with built in native flash support. Google trying to get that into AppSore, would certainly be something worth watching.
…is the mother of invention. Whoda thunk evil Apple’s draconian position would lead to clever new ideas
Actually I’m wondering what license they will use for this app, as it seems GPL is incompatible with the AppStore (see the recent action from the FSF with respect to the iphone port of GnuGo)
How about the Mozilla Public License they use ever since the Mozilla project was founded?
Even GPLv2 isn’t incompatible with the App Store policies. Only v3 is, because it requires that receivers of GPLv3’ed software are able to install modified versions.
Actually the second part is not true. The appstore adds restrictions beyond the GPLv2 (you are only allowed to install on a limited number of devices and some others), however you are not allowed to add restrictions to the GPLv2. Thus the appstore is not compatible with GPL, and I’m not sure about the MPL, I don’t think you’re allowed to add restrictions to the MPL either.
This is just another confirmation for me to believe that there is NO good reason for using an iPhone if you want to, you know, run the apps that *YOU* want to run. Seriously, WTF? A “browser” that is not even a browser, but just a method of syncing data from a PC and then allowing quick access to your bookmarks through the iPhone’s Apple-blessed webkit rendering engine? What a joke. I’ll never get an iPhone.
You start your article off with a lie, “As most of you probably know, Apple does not allow competing browsers into the App Store.” but then end it with an explanation of the lie? Dude, really?
What planet are you from?
Apple has clearly stated that no app capable of replacing system features will be allowed. And they included browsers too. Now, the policy is so subjective that some apps that fall into that category (like dialers) are allowed but other apps aren’t.
What do you think the Opera count up timer was for?
If you’re better informed than all of us here, please educate us.
Thanks for sharing. I learnt a lot from your site. I would also like to share some very useful information with you all.
http://furniturepackagesbulgaria.co.uk“ Furniture Packages Bulgaria
Make sure you check it out.
This is a wonderful opinion. The things mentioned are Great and needs to be appreciated by everyone.
[url=”http://furniturepackages.eu“]Furniture Packages[/url]
Edited 2010-06-01 22:06 UTC