WM Fennec Alpha 4 Released

wjrandon · #1 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 05:46 PM

The fourth alpha version of Fennec for Windows Mobile has been released. This release is provided for testing purposes only, intended to: Get wider feedback on our approach to the user experience, Engage Mozilla community teams, including localizers and testers. Get feedback from Web developers and encourage add-on developers to port existing add-ons and invent new ones for mobile.

New since 1.0 alpha 3:

Improved interactions with the software keyboard
Fixed painting artifacts from panning
Faster .exe installer option
More responsive "fuzzy" zoom
Option to become default browser
Opening downloads from download manager fixed
Password echoing
Improved panning/scrolling performance
Improved start-up time
Numerous bug fixes
Improved painting performance
Improved UI polish
Improved kinetic panning with directional locking
Ability to scroll frames
Improved zooming support

SOURCE and DOWNLOAD LINK:
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/fenn.../releasenotes/

nanoware · #2 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 06:06 PM

ughhhh when are they gonna get this stable? opera has like a ten year head start or some shit... opera 10 is kickin ass rigt now..

untitled · #3 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 06:29 PM

This new alpha lasted less than 5 minutes on my Imagio before I removed it. I'd just hard reset for other reasons, so I had virtually nothing else installed yet, and yet Fennec locked my device and forced a soft reset. Crapola.

nanoware · #4 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 07:04 PM

this build sabotaged my opera 10 install wtf?!!, i had to uninstall fenec to use opera 10 again.... weird...

**dschoenike** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 09:23 PM

Maybe its just me, but ive really lost interest in Fennec. Probably from all the waiting, then reading yesterday that they have no idea when it'll be released because of windows phone 7 series. Thank goodness for opera mobile, mini, and all the other browsers we have to choose from. Thanks for posting though, its still nice to see progress.
dschoenike

sprinttouch666 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2010, 05:01 AM

its sad that after all this time this browser still doesn't function anywhere near smoothly.

just glad opera is on top of it...

gcianc · #7 (**permalink**) 02-22-2010, 11:29 AM

Opera Mobile 10b3 sets a high standard. After installing alpha3 i don't intend to deal with Firefox Mobile (as much as i'd really like to) anytime soon. These coders seem disinterested or over their head.

wjrandon · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2010, 04:27 PM

I can only defend the software by saying everyone should reserve judgment until the application is at least in the beta stage. By the very definition of alpha software these kinds of problems are to be expected. Try to remember we're not granted access to alpha builds of Opera Mobile or any other propitiatory and privately owned software. Fennec is being developed by the open source community at large -- for the end user it means we can openly watch the application form and provide feedback to the developers. They did inform us this build was intended for testing purposes only. Please everyone, try to reserve your harsh criticism until the platform at least reaches the beta stage.

gcianc · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wjrandon

I can only defend the software by saying everyone should reserve judgment until the application is at least in the beta stage. By the very definition of alpha software these kinds of problems are to be expected. Try to remember we're not granted access to alpha builds of Opera Mobile or any other propitiatory and privately owned software. Fennec is being developed by the open source community at large -- for the end user it means we can openly watch the application form and provide feedback to the developers. They did inform us this build was intended for testing purposes only. Please every, try to reserve your harsh criticism until the platform at least reaches the beta stage.

You can't defend anything, only HOPE to believe it will be usable at one point in time, whatever month or year that is.

They're better off NOT releasing public alphas that are frankly UNUSABLE on top of the line WM smartphones.

That is really, really foolish...open source or not.

You often don't get chances at mutiple first impressions. Their Nokia/Symbian (ugh) first stance was particularly short-sighted too, given it's non-marketshare in the USA and the USA carriers forced "unlimited data" plans on smartphones. Many places where Symbian is relevant don't have unlimited data nor is the browser use as prevalent as in the USA (with google search & ads revenue, etc.)

So to recap their stupid-o-meter is pretty much pegged!