Firefox, the browser that was once an indispensable tool for those who took web browsing seriously, has tried to squeeze itself down to size to fit on mobile platforms, but performance and stability were always causes for concern. Mozilla, the guys who make Firefox, have announced a new beta for their Firefox for Mobile browser that they say fixes past issues and is faster than even the stock browser Google bundles with Android. From startup time to page rendering speeds, this new Firefox browser is supposed to rock our socks, because unlike the stock browser it features a more clever user interface, the ability to install extensions, and most importantly the ability to sync tabs, bookmarks, browsing history, and more. To download it just point your Android device to firefox.com/mobile/beta and follow the simple instructions.
If you want more choice then you can also grab the latest Opera Beta for Android, but to be honest we’ll just stick with what Google gives us. Time and time again Google has proved that they’ll update their software to bring their performance levels up to whatever the competition brings to the table, and in more cases than not they even surpass the best of breed browsers, including Safari on iOS. Choice is always a good thing however, and we’re not going to complain about the multitude of options available to consumers. Part of what makes Android so attractive is that it’s so customizable that you can tailor your device to be absolutely perfect for the way you prefer to use a mobile device.
Note that Firefox for Mobile doesn’t support Adobe’s Flash, so if there are sites you visit often that have interactive content, you may want to stick to what the big G gives you out of the box. Let us know what you think about Firefox in the comments below after you’ve installed it and tried it out on a few of your favorite websites.