Mozilla previews Firefox Home for iPhone

May 27, 2010 | 10:14

Tags: #app-store #fennec #firefox #firefox-home #firefox-mobile #firefox-sync #ipad #iphone #ipod-touch

Companies: #apple #mozilla

iPhone users who have been disappointed that Firefox Mobile - also known as Fennec - won't be coming to their handsets can rejoice in the next best thing: Firefox Home.

Announced over on the official Mozilla Blog, Firefox Home for iPhone isn't a replacement browser, but an add-on to the existing browser built in to the iPhone which introduces Firefox-like features - including the love-it-or-hate-it 'Awesome Bar.'

The most impressive feature of Firefox Home is the ability - via Firefox Sync, the newly renamed Weave Sync - to hook up to a copy of Firefox running on your desktop or laptop, providing access to browsing history, bookmarks, and even the tabs you last had open.

By hooking the iPhone into the Firefox Sync system, it's possible to keep all your devices - desktops, laptops, and smartphone - synchronised, with access to all content on all devices. If you don't run Firefox as your primary browser, it's not much use - but if you do, then the ability to share browsing history and bookmarks between devices could prove a lifesaver.

Although the service hasn't gone live yet, a video of an early version is available over on YouTube - and Mozilla is quick to point out that branding and UI improvements are high on the list "as we polish this off and submit it to the App Store."

The app will be compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch, and while Mozilla hasn't offered any confirmations there's no reason why it shouldn't work with Apple's new iPad slate either.

The last bit of good news for Firefox fans with iPhones? The Firefox Home app will be free.

Does Firefox Home look like the sort of thing that you want on your iPhone, or are you still holding out for an iPhone release of Fennec? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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