Firefox 4 for Android launched by Mozilla

Firefox 4 for Android - here, but no longer a Fennec
Firefox 4 for Android - here, but no longer a Fennec

Mozilla has launched Firefox 4 for Android – allowing people to use the latest incarnation of the popular browser on their handsets.

Firefox has become a standard bearer for the underdog after years facing off against Microsoft's dominant Internet Explorer on PC, but the mobile sector may well prove to be a tougher nut to crack.

Android is obviously a part of Google, which offers up a default browser that is considered one of the best - fighting it out with supremacy with Apple's offering on iOS.

"Firefox for mobile allows users to take the Firefox experience they love everywhere and minimizes typing with features like tabbed browsing, bookmarks, add-ons and Firefox Sync," explained Mozilla.

Sleek

"With a sleek new look that hides browser controls when not in use, Firefox allows users to focus on the websites they visit. Firefox Sync gives users seamless access to their browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, form data and passwords across computers and mobile devices.

"Firefox also offers thousands of ways to customize the features, functionality and look of mobile Web browsing with Firefox Add-ons.

"Firefox is up to three times faster than the stock browser on Android. Major enhancements to the JavaScript engine make everything from page load speed to graphics to overall performance snappy in Firefox."

The mobile browser tech is built on the same technology as its big desktop brother – and integrates things like HTML5.

Patrick Goss

Patrick Goss is the ex-Editor in Chief of TechRadar. Patrick was a passionate and experienced journalist, and he has been lucky enough to work on some of the finest online properties on the planet, building audiences everywhere and establishing himself at the forefront of digital content.  After a long stint as the boss at TechRadar, Patrick has now moved on to a role with Apple, where he is the Managing Editor for the App Store in the UK.