Mozilla delays Firefox's 'return to the dark ages' on Windows 8

Firefox for Windows
The tile-based Windows 8 UI is front and center in Firefox 26

The Metro-style Firefox release has been pushed back from December to January, according to Mozilla.

In the online notes from its latest meeting (why issue press releases when you can publish raw bullet points?), Mozilla revealed that a "decrease in average team velocity" has caused the Firefox for Windows delay.

Firefox 26 for Windows is being designed specifically for Windows 8, with the system's touchy-feely, tile-based UI at the forefront of the browser's look and feel.

That's despite Mozilla's claims from last year that Windows 8 marked a "return to the dark ages."

T-t-touch me

The new, multitouch-friendly, "modern" Firefox was pegged last month for a Dec. 10 release, but the latest Firefox notes make it clear that the tiled browser will appear next year at the earliest.

This version of Firefox for Windows features a boxy, tile-based interface and features designed specifically to play nicely with Microsoft's newest OS, including versions on touch devices.

The exact reason for the delays is unclear, but this special version of Firefox has already been in development for at least a year - preview builds appeared as early as 2012.

Not much in the Windows 8 world has changed since then, though Windows RT is looking less and less relevant and Windows 8.1 will be out in mid-October.

Via Engadget

Michael Rougeau

Michael Rougeau is a former freelance news writer for TechRadar. Studying at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Northeastern University, Michael has bylines at Kotaku, 1UP, G4, Complex Magazine, Digital Trends, GamesRadar, GameSpot, IFC, Animal New York, @Gamer, Inside the Magic, Comic Book Resources, Zap2It, TabTimes, GameZone, Cheat Code Central, Gameshark, Gameranx, The Industry, Debonair Mag, Kombo, and others.


Micheal also spent time as the Games Editor for Playboy.com, and was the managing editor at GameSpot before becoming an Animal Care Manager for Wags and Walks.