Mozilla has released the latest version of its Firefox OS mobile operating system, and is also offering brave Android users a chance to take a look at how it runs.
The new developer preview is being offered as an app on Android, and when launched, it will replace the Android home screen and even offer users a set of Mozilla apps. It's basically an Android launcher with a set of apps that come with it.
It's certainly an interesting way to get the Firefox OS name out there, and there are sure to be bugs in the launcher, especially considering the fact that it's a developer preview. That said, if you're on the hunt for a new phone and don't mind trying a new operating system, perhaps give this launcher a shot to see if a device based on Firefox OS would be right for you.
There are a number of additions to Firefox OS 2.5. First up is the fact that users can choose whether they want Firefox OS add-ons to extend one app, a few apps or all apps. Firefox has also released a new privacy feature called Private Browsing with Tracking Protection, which essentially allows users to control how and when their browser activity is being tracked across websites. Last but not least is Pin the Web, which basically allows users to pin websites or pages to their home screen so that they can view them later.
It's important to note that Mozilla did use a number of workarounds to offer Android users a decent user experience, and because of that, users will find, for example, that navigation buttons are overlaid on the UI. Users won't, however, be able to use the back button because of the fact that Firefox OS only uses a single home button.
If you're interested in giving the app a spin, you can download the APK. If you like what you see, you can even flash the operating system on your device for permanent use.
Via: Android Central
