Mozilla Firefox is one of the most popular web browsers for desktops and has been gaining traction amongs mobile users. Despite having just released the final version of Firefox 19 and having other major projects, Mozilla won’t be spending much time sitting on their hands or taking a break from developing their mobile browser further with the beta for Firefox 20 now released on the Google Play.
The new version of Firefox will bring new improvements and features including per-tab private browsing. No longer will you need to close the application and start it up again to enter incognito mode, now you’ll be able to create private tabs, making the whole process more efficient and giving you greater control over your personal data and your online privacy.
Customizable home screen shortcuts will be another feature that will become available in version 20, which means you’ll be able to pin your favorite webpages, such as Android Headlines on your home screen, so we’ll never be more than one press away. That means you no longer need to open the app, then look through your bookmarks or type in an address, just press the shortcut on your home screen and you’ll be instantly on the site you wish to be viewing.
The most important addition is the support for older ARMv6 devices. This added support means the minimum requirement to run Firefox is now a 600 MHz processor, 384 MB of RAM and QVGA resolution (320 x 240), which according to Mozilla will increase the number of support devices by roughly 25 million. New devices that will now be supported include the Samsung Galaxy Next, Q and Pop as well as the HTC Aria and Legend. The support for older legacy and budget devices is important because it not only draws a larger audience, but most people with these older budget devices barely use them more than dumb phones and the inclusion of an optimized web browsing experience should increase Android’s mobile browsing usage, an area where Apple is fairly dominate.The lower hardware requirements may also be a sign of further optimization being done to the software, so for those of you with high-end devices, expect a slightly faster and smoother browsing experience.
You can try it the new beta of Mozilla Firefox at the Play Store now. Also leave in the comments below, what is your browser of choice and will the new features offered by Firefox change it?