Fennec Milestone Release for Windows Mobile
02.10.09 - 08:40am
On behalf of everyone who have been tirelessly working towards this goal, I would like to announce that our first milestone release of Fennec for Windows Mobile is now available for download.
This release is pre-alpha, and intended to get the product into the hands of early adopters in order to get feed back and bug reports. In order to focus our efforts on getting this release out, we have targeted only one device, the HTC Touch Pro. This has a number of user interface implications, including graphics designed for a 300 dpi screen, control layout intended for a vga screen and reliance on a hardware keyboard for text input.
Installation
You can install this on your HTC Touch Pro by navigating to the cab installer with your existing browser. This will download the cab file and kick off the installation process.
Alternatively you can download the cab file to your desktop and transfer it to your device via activesync. Once the cab file has been copied to you device, navigate to it using file explorer (on the device) and click on the cab file to launch the installer.
Please note, its been brought to our attention that some carriers are filtering web traffic to preclude downloading cab files. If this is the case with your carrier, you’ll either have to download to your desktop and transfer by activesync, or be connected by wifi if you download directly to the device.
Status
Our focus to this point has been to have a working, usable browser. To get there in a hurry we have punted in a few places, and I’d like to point a couple of them out. First is the update mechanism (both for the browser itself and for extensions). After installing this release, you will not be offered updates automatically, so please stay tuned for follow up releases. Also, we have disabled plug-in support. This is one of our high priority items going forward. Finally, as I mentioned before, there is no soft keyboard support. On an HTC Touch Pro, you’ll have to slide out the keyboard to enter a url.
Besides the release, we marked another major milestone yesterday when the final patch to NSPR landed and we were able to build for Windows Mobile off Mozilla’s trunk for the first time ever. I say the first time because minimo was built from branches of both NSS and NSPR.
“leaks”
Over the last week and half there have been several blog posts and “news” articles floating around the internet about leaked Windows Mobile Fennec builds. This has been fairly entertaining to those of us working on the project for a couple reasons. First, the builds that these posts have pointed to are the builds that I pointed to on twitter. They were intended to be used by the developers working on the project (or anyone else willing to deal with really buggy software) to find bugs before we pushed anything out to the general public.
Also, the concept of secret, leaked builds flies in the face of how Mozilla operates. Our source code is out there for everyone to see. We have a bug reporting system that anyone can (and is encouraged to) access to file new bugs or track the progress of existing bugs. The majority of our discussion around the project is entirely public on irc, our wiki or our meetings and conference calls.
I have been working for Mozilla for 16 months now. At first its a bit of an adjustment to having everything you do or say out there in the public. But after overcoming that initial shock, its a point of pride. This project goes to extraordinary lengths to be open and transparent. If you are going to write about Mozilla, take advantage of that. Read our meeting minutes, hop on irc to ask a question or even dial into the weekly status meeting. Its all out there, just look.
Well done. I’ve been watching this with anticipation. Now to find someone with an HTC to help me test.
Re the leaks comment. I have also been surprised by some of the negative feedback I’m getting, personally I’m really excited about Fennec, especially what it can do for localisation, language and access in Africa. But many of the tech savy people I speak to are highly negative and critical. Mostly centred around comments like – too little too late, webkit is better (and probably now that I’ve mentioned that word a number of people will say just that on your blog), opera is great, what it doesn’t run on symbian, etc.
The concept of this being alpha software seems to be lost on everyone. Perhaps you guys shouldn’t have made it look so cool, who knows.
I think in terms of perception there is a lot of work that still needs doing and we can throw our arms up in the air or we can think about how to correctly address those and challenge them.
Since it was designed for use with a hardware keyboard, would this work on a non-touchscreen Windows Mobile device? And is there any timeline yet on support of other resolutions? I’m just eager to get my hands on Fennec for my phone!
On my device (Mio PDA with Windows Mobile 5) the installation success, but the executable file show the following error –
Please fix. I hate using Pocket Internet Explorer on that device.
P.S. – You should change or remove the ‘Comment Policy’ box from your blog template.
I am glad that you guys are working on the mobile side of things especially with the new generation of phones, but I do not believe this should be put up for download just yet. I know it is a beta, but when the application is unable to load up or display a webpage, there really isn’t much to see. I tried installing this on both, the device and storage card on my Sprint Touch Pro, but received the checkerboard on both test runs. It did however load a bit quicker on the device than the card. I personally think the download should be taken down for now, until pages can be displayed and the user can actually play around a bit. The only thing I had running in the background was the TouchFlow feature that comes with the Touch Pro. Again, I am excited that you guys are working hard on the project, but feel that this is not ready even as a beta for users to play around on.
Well, it starts but you can’t open any webpage – you can’t type in the url without a hardware keyboard. (Tested with Touch Diamond)
@Niraj – The interface is designed for touch screens, so you’ll be pretty broken if you don’t have one.
@Tomer Cohen – There are a couple security configurations that windows mobile phones can ship with. Most of them ship with either “One-tier Prompt” or “Two-Tier Prompt” which means that if software isn’t signed with an installed cert, you’ll get a warning message that you can click through. However, it sounds like your device is “One-tier” which means if the software isn’t signed with an installed cert, you can’t run at all. You may be able to change your security configuration using this tool from microsoft:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7E92628C-D587-47E0-908B-09FEE6EA517A&displaylang=en
@PsychoticLad – I’m sorry its not working on your phone. Dougt and I have been testing on unlocked HTC touch pro’s and can’t reproduce the issue you’re seeing. Bug 477956 has been filed on the issue, and it should block the next release.
@Marc – Software keyboard support is blocking the next release. I have a patch but didn’t think it was ready yet.
@Everyone else – Thanks for the comments and thank you for trying out the build.
“I know it is a beta, but when the application is unable to load up or display a webpage, there really isn’t much to see”
Well firstly, its not a beta, its a pre alpha release for developers to test and play around with.
Secondly it is also mentioned the on screen keyboard is not functional yet – you must use a hardware keyboard in order to navigate.
Personally, I’m glad to see that Mozilla is activley getting involved in the mobile browser market. Minimo was good but I often found it just took too long to initially open and took up far too many resources. Maybe the final release of Fennec will address this!
It’s a beautiful, uh, checkerboard. This is on a Touch Pro on Sprint, installed to main memory using the cab you linked to. From the PPCGeeks forums, this is what almost everyone is getting. Oh well, maybe next ‘milestone’.
/Kevin
Mine opens slowly, and with the exception of the top bar (windows button, time, bars, etc..) my screen is a checkerboard of black and grey squares. Odd.
i have the htc pro and i downloaded and installed fennec successfully,however, when i open it up the screen becomes filled with gray and black little squares.
Love the checkerboard!!!!!!!!
seems like most of the checker box comments are from cdma touch pros They are testing on gsm touch pros
I am so excited for this. Mainly for feedback, I too, am not able to look at any websites with Fennec. I eagerly await the next build. I’ve converted at least a 100 to Firefox and want to do the same with Fennec. Stock Sprint Touch Pro here.
HTC Touch Pro on Sprint with current CAB. Yes, the checkerboard is there. Keying in a URL doesn’t display the page, though it appears that it might be attempting it as the box that you enter the URL changes and displays what may be the title of the page? (e.g. http://m.facebook.com displays in the box “Facebook | Welcome to Facebook” and the ever popular checkerboard display. http://m.cnn.com displays “CNN”. At the CNN website, tapping the icon to the left of the address bar displays a box “This web site does not supply identity information. Your connection to this website is not encrypted”. And that’s about all I can see that works or displays anything (except for the empty display when tapping the bookmarks icon)
installed on internal memory of a sprint touch pro. fennec opens….sometimes….mostly just after a restart. Once its open it will open small web pages…too much on the page and it just freezes. It looks great btw (i love the slide to see tabs feature).
Been waiting for fennec and am very hopeful about the experience. thanks for the work.
I’ve got an att tilt (htc kaiser) running winmo 6.1, from the device (not the storage card).
I get the same checkered screen on startup for about 15 secs but then i get the welcome “about” screen. I went to google and fennec established with the url, but the timer wheel continues to spin, never rendering the page and showing the checkered background.
For mozilla.com Fennec never completed the connection and the timer wheel is stuck at 3/4.
I realize that this isn’t the intended device, but wanted to let you know how it operates on the htc tilt.
I’ll look for the next milestone release or, i’ll jump back in during beta.
thanks again.
Great. I wanted to test fennec on Windows Mobile since I heard about it.
So now my experience with this build on a XDA Terra (HTC Herald):
The installation was no Problem, took kinda long(more than 2minutes).
But no i cannot start fennec, there is no error message or fennec opening.
Since the XDA Terra has a hardware keyboarder I though it might have worked.
So long
Sebastian
I have an AT&T Fuze (GSM Touch Pro), with a custom rom from XDA-Developers (the Elite RC3). It normally runs OK, so can’t explain what my issue is here.
I am finding that the checkerboard is displayed, even after trying different websites.
@Yibrushn – I am noticing that too and I’m trying to get a hold of a sprint device to be able to reproduce the bug.
@Sebastian – I suspect that the 64Mb of RAM on your device would be insufficient in our current state.
@kschaffer (and everyone else who has tried) – Thanks for the feed back
Sprint Touch Pro – Checkerboard. Ran it first thing after a soft reset, same thing. I was hoping for a browser.
Just Installed it on SonyEricsson X1 – installation finishes fine and i can start fennec
about:firstrun ist displayed well,
Gesture finger right to show tabs is working,
Gesture finger left to show controls is also working fine,
Settings can be opened and changed as well..
switching from closed to open mode is working very fast
after i was so excited i was going to write this comment *with* the X1… unfortunately fennec crashes repeatably..
first time crash immediately, 2nd time it loaded the page title
Opening google.com, entering “fennec” and displaying the results (including the images) is working fine
Sorry – But it doesn’t work ob htc harald with window mobile 6.
I can install fennec, but starting is not possible. Not even a status symbol is showing.
Is there an solutions to fix them?
Sprint Touch Pro – Checkerboard as well. Tried soft, and hard reset.
Thank you so much.
Fennec runs on my Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 (after restart). Could open Facebook, but after switching to Wikipedia it seems friezed.
However, its great and I’m waiting for the next alpha release.
Tino
Some minutes ago I read the news and installed it my Nomad. After clicking on the icon, nothing happens. In the command box: no messages. Is there any commandline option, logfile or so to bring Fennec to say what it doesn’t like on my gadget?
I’d like to have a better browser on my gadget
Maybe the next release…
FYI It doesnt work on the Treo 750. (Not that I expected it to, but I was hoping)
Too bad the device security configuration changer you mentioned in Comment #6 is Windows-only download. How it is that other software, such as Skype, Opera Mobile and even MiniMo just works, while Fennec require some changes in the operating system in order to work? Are we going to ship it that way or this will be changed in the future?
Thanks for the feedback on the fennec aalpha. Hope the developers focus on a alpha series for the LG Incite. Very eager to sample the first generation. Do anyone know which mobile browser that I can use st fancast.com? I’m running win. mobile 6.1 LG-C810. Tanks again for the hard work.
Another Sprint Touch Pro user getting the checkerboard. I tried swiping and found what seems to be a settings page, with a “Content” menu (including the “Enable Plugins” joke). And I can see the “Get Add-ons” / “Extensions / “Themes” bit above a gray window, but that page extends past the right-hand side of my screen. Very slow response to swiping, tapping, opening and closing the keyboard.
Looking forward to this in the next release!
Exists a roadmap for other Win Mobile Devices? My device is a Samsung SGH-i620 (Win Mobile).
yeah, but why did these secret builds leak to the public?
(scnr)
.~.
Lovely! I’ve been waiting for Mozilla on my phone for sooo long! Thanks! =D
Just an idea: Would it be hard to code in the cut/copy/paste functions of WinCE in Fennec? Using this function will atleast make us “regular” touch users without HW keyboard being able to paste in URLs written anywhere else on the phone
BTW, testing on a HTC Touch HD, and seems to work. I do get the checkerboard, but by scrolling up, I can find the URL-field. And by scrolling left, i do find the tabs-menu. So I’m good to go once I can paste som URLs =)
German HTC Touch Pro (T-Mobile) also checkerboard here – webpage seems to load properly as title gets viewed correct but the graphics is missing
Interface however works, at least something xD
Take it easy and take your time, next release will be better
Verizon Touch Pro (CDMA), unlocked, stock ROM
~40MB program memory free before launch
Same checkerboard result as many other posters.
Looking forward to resolution on #477956!
/Andrew
Didnt work on my Samsung i600 with windows 5
How can I install fennec on Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator?
Is it possible to install this build on Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator?
Reply for comment 6 –
I’ve installed the security tool from Microsoft you said that will help, and the device was indeed one-tier. After updating the device and restarting it, I can see that I now have two-tier device, but still unable to get the program start. I think it has connection with the fact that the program has no icon on my device. Please advice.
@bijaer – You cannot run this release on the emulator. The binary is built to target ARMv6 and the Microsoft emulators can only emulate ARMv4 or ARMv5.
any chance of getting soft keyboard support so us Diamond owners can get Fennec up and testing?
The checkerboard is displayed _sometimes_ for me, too. Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 (HTC Kovsky). When that isn’t displayed, Fennec is hardly usable because it either doesn’t completely load pages or gets uncontrollable after loading them. That might be a problem with my phone though since it’s generally strangely slow.
One moment! How can I know which version of ARM I own? Is is possible to get binaries for older ARM processors, in case enough people will request it?
It took much time to install this pre-alpha. And it does not work well on Japanese HTC Touch Pro…orz
I’ve got an T-mobile branded Touch Pro (MDA Vario IV)
i have troubles opening any site. fennec displays just the black/white block background and nog the site content. (althoug i see the title change tot the website’s title)
So not working on a Dutch Touch Pro yet
There is a little problem with the user agent sent to the server (through HTTP header), or displayed by the DOM : it doesn’t contain as of today any information about the device, which makes difficult for websites that need that information to provide the right content (see the WURFL open source project about that).
I can help you if you need some code to get that information.
Using a Sprint HTC Touch Pro here. I took got the checkerboard, but with messing around was able to get to the configuration pages. I tried to load igoogle, but it just sat there. You can definitely tell this is an Aplha release. It also took a very long time to load after tapping the icon. I hope to see the Beta soon, but I think there is a long way to go.
Thanks for the work guys, I am really looking forward to this because I HATE Opera, and Mobile IE is lame.
On an Australian 3g Touch I got the checkerboard but can swipe up to the address bar and across to the other buttons.
Hi. I installd fennec on a Xperia X1i, and was og Google.ch. Great Job.
How can I install fennec on Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator, too?
i.m on a sprint touch pro and as others before
me i too got the checkerboaard pattern.
after a lenghty install and a lenghty
start up too.
i did manage to scroll to the sddress bar, which was very clear and tried entering a url. it stayed there and displayed no page i could see.
i am running a custom rom also
It’s a useful thing… the checkerboard. Thx
I love this Fennec release, few bugs but I’m excited about what is to come.
It is really amazing – loving it!
How do you install this? I tried and failed…
This is really nice release. Thansk folks.
Thanks for the work guys.
Great release, some bugs fixed, I like it a lot.
few bugs but I’m excited about what is to come.
The concept of this being alpha software seems to be lost on everyone. Perhaps you guys shouldn’t have made it look so cool, who knows.
I am glad that there are new releases coming. Thanks.
New versions, new bugs, same as usually with everything
I am glad that there are new releases coming. Thanks.
Personally, I’m glad to see that Mozilla is activley getting involved in the mobile browser market. Minimo was good but I often found it just took too long to initially open and took up far too many resources. Maybe the final release of Fennec will address this!
Looking great as always guys!
Yep, awesome stuff
Mozilla is gaining in popularity on the internet. We hope it will be free forever.
Yes, it is free now and in the future. We just need to keep it alive by supporting the software developers.
Interesting.. I have the htc pro and i downloaded and installed fennec successfully,however, when i open it up the screen becomes filled with gray and black little squares.
mostly just after a restart. Once its open it will open small web pages…too much on the page and it just freezes.
Great release, some bugs fixed, I like it a lot.
Using a Sprint HTC Touch Pro here. I took got the checkerboard, but with messing around was able to get to the configuration pages. I tried to load igoogle
i did manage to scroll to the sddress bar, which was very clear and tried entering a url. it stayed there and displayed no page i could see.
On an Australian 3g Touch I got the checkerboard but can swipe up to the address bar and across to the other buttons.
The concept of this being alpha software seems to be lost on everyone. Perhaps you guys shouldn’t have made it look so cool, who knows.
I took got the checkerboard, but with messing around was able to get to the configuration pages. I tried to load igoogle, but it just sat there. You can definitely tell this is an Aplha release. It also took a very long time to load after tapping the icon.Thanks a lot for ur info sir
I took got the checkerboard, but with messing around was able to get to the configuration pages. I tried to load igoogle, but it just sat there. You can definitely tell this is an Aplha release. It also took a very long time to load after tapping the icon
My friend installed it sucesfully,and I can’t.We bought htc at the same time,same models.What can be the problem?
Yeah,same problem here
Thanks for the work guys.
Is it possible to install this build on Windows Mobile 6.1 Emulator?
I love Mozilla and tell all my friends to switch. I only have IE because some sites I visit require it but those are getting fewer and fewer.
The installation was no Problem, took kinda long(more than 2minutes).
But no i cannot start fennec, there is no error message or fennec opening.
Since the XDA Terra has a hardware keyboarder I though it might have worked.
We have to support our developers, I think it is natural thing to do.
Nice if you could provide some screenshots.
I heard Fennec Alpha 1 for Windows Mobile 6 is available for download by developers and testers. But I am sure the Fennec project aims to bring the Firefox experience to mobile devices. The mobile browser market is highly competitive and there are some compelling alternatives to Fennec that are already available for Windows Mobile users, even Microsoft is gearing up to deliver a decent mobile browser to replace its disgracefully useless Pocket Internet Explorer. Lets see what Fennac can do!
Great work guys, I am very glad that there are new releases coming, perfect
Good information, now i am going to digg this site.
Now i did it: I installed the new build of fennec. Al right, the last one was really a very early one, but this seems to be usefull. Thanx, Michael.
Yep, awesome stuff
Folsk, we definitely have to support these developers.
I’m glad to see that Mozilla is activley getting involved in the mobile browser market. Minimo was good but I often found it just took too long to initially open and took up far too many resources. Maybe the final release of Fennec will address this
I am so excited for this. Mainly for feedback, I too, am not able to look at any websites with Fennec. I eagerly await the next build. I’ve converted at least a 100 to Firefox and want to do the same with Fennec. Stock Sprint Touch Pro here.
Great stuff very helpful tips thanks
It is not so awesome as you all claim. It could be far better. CPU optimisation is terrible. Why are you insist on the same crappy,not optimized kernel? Why don’t you finally listen to community and make something that don;t overload CPU with lines and lines of code?