The WebAPI project certainly isn’t trying to create a full-blown operating system. While Chrome OS has shown promise, it isn’t the only browser-based platform planning on entering the web app space… If Mozilla has its way, developers can use the results of their new WebAPI project to build an “HTML5 phone experience” that’s compatible across all operating systems (whether it’s Android, iOS, Windows Phone, etc).Ī report from CNET claims Mozilla has plans for the APIs to “interact with a phone’s dialler, address book, contacts list, and camera”, essentially giving you access to the same functionality of native apps but directly in your device’s browser. “We are aiming at providing all the necessary APIs to build a basic HTML5 phone experience within the next 3-6 months”

However, Mozilla hopes that web apps will soon mature to provide a comparable experience for end users and an even better alternative for developers. With the growth of the smartphone industry also came the resurgence of native apps (thanks largely in part to Apple’s App Store which still dominates the space). Support for W3C Touch Events: Firefox Beta supports standard W3C touch events in addition to MozTouch events.Īpple and Google are clearly the two front-runners competing for market share in the mobile world, which is why it’s no surprise we think of iOS and Android when we think of apps.

You can enable the feature in about:config.

Disable Insecure Content: Firefox Beta can disable insecure content on HTTPS secure websites to maintain the privacy of your communication with the website.

Retina Display Support: Firefox Beta supports Retina Display for Mac users to make Firefox even sharper when watching movies, playing games and browsing the Web.

With IonMonkey, Firefox will perform faster with Web apps, games and other JavaScript-heavy pages.

IonMonkey: IonMonkey is a new JavaScript JIT compiler that provides a more efficient way for Firefox to process JavaScript.

Firefox Beta also supports Retina Display for Mac users. This update includes JavaScript improvements that make Web apps and games perform better and support for W3C Touch Events. Mozilla released a new beta for Firefox this afternoon, featuring Retina display support that is sure to appease the Firefox devotees out in the crowd.

Mozilla for mac 2017