Firefox on Android?

Discussion in 'all things UNIX' started by Daveski17, Jan 17, 2016.

  1. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    Does anyone use Firefox on Android? It's been a while since I have and it has improved drastically.
     
  2. J_L

    J_L Registered Member

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    Maybe if it was more convenient syncing my Chrome browser profile. Otherwise, I can live with system-wide adblockers and bookmarklets.
     
  3. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I was impressed that I could use uBlock Origin on Firefox. I used Maxthon for two years on Android and it was really good. Recently though it has suffered a number of problems and I decided to replace it with Fx. I'm impressed so far.
     
  4. aigle

    aigle Registered Member

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    Prefer it over chrome because of adblocker extension and easy tab navigation.
     
  5. chrisretusn

    chrisretusn Registered Member

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    I've been using it since I bought my phone in 2013. I use sync to keep bookmarks synced between my desktop, tablet (also Android) and laptop, laptop. I was willing to give Chrome a shot but discovered the App does not allow addons. A real show stopper for me. I have several extensions install in Firefox, the most important one being uBlock Origin. I no complaints in the performance department either. It works.
     
  6. summerheat

    summerheat Registered Member

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    I've been happily using Firefox on Android for a long time particularly for its extensions and its more granular privacy settings. I don't use an adblocker with it as I'm running a system-wide adblocker (Adguard) plus Adaway (with several huge hosts files). The 2 extensions I'm using right now are "Self-Destructing Cookies" and "Decentraleyes".
     
  7. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I first tried Firefox when I bought the tablet nearly two years ago. My plan was to synch it across multiple OS's but it didn't work out then. I uninstalled it after only a short time and used Maxthon. Maxthon works really well on Windows but not on Ubuntu. Firefox now seems to work and synch perfectly with Windows, Ubuntu and Android. I only have one extension on the Android Firefox (uBlock Origin) and it works far better than ABP on Maxthon. I don't dislike Chrome on Android, but Firefox is looking like a keeper.
     
  8. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I don't know why I couldn't get on with it a couple of years ago. I'll take a look at "Self-Destructing Cookies" and "Decentraleyes", thanks.
     
  9. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    Yeah, that just about sums it up. I wish I'd have looked at it again sooner instead of labouring on with the slightly buggy Maxthon.
     
  10. harsha_mic

    harsha_mic Registered Member

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    Same here. However, Before uBlock Origin is available on Android, I used to use chrome.
    I cannot enough stop saying how grateful I am to gorhill, for providing such an master piece. And it is exactly the same as the desktop version in its capabilities.
    This makes firefox easily the most usable browser on Android.
     
  11. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    Unfortunately Firefox caused my tablet to freeze too much. This happened last time as well. I've decided to try Opera. Doesn't seem bad, and it doesn't hang about.
     
  12. summerheat

    summerheat Registered Member

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    Strange, I've never had any problems. Since you mentioned in another thread that also Dolphin and Maxthon were problematic I suspect that there might be a problem with your system. Have you also tried to clear data and cache in Settings -> Apps -> Firefox?
     
  13. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I can do clean ups with ES File Explorer as well. The problems with the other browsers aren't the same. Maxthon worked really well for a long time but I wasn't happy with what they've done with it recently. ABP is still in beta and buggy and the browser has a tendency to crash nowadays. Dolphin works well but has always had problems with replying in text boxes on bulletin boards effectively limiting its use. These problems have been noted by others. Firefox has always ran well on my Nexus 7 but when I installed it two years ago it created the freeze up problem which virtually disappeared when I uninstalled it. The freezing isn't that bad but after a while it can be annoying. Firefox could be conflicting with another app I suppose. Other browsers have worked well but I've not liked them. I was disappointed to lose Firefox but Opera seems to be running well. It's fast and light.
     
  14. safeguy

    safeguy Registered Member

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    I found Firefox to be slow on Android the last time I used it. I gave it multiple tries but ended up removing it and decided to stick to Chrome and Dolphin.
     
  15. summerheat

    summerheat Registered Member

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    It's funny how experiences differ from device to device. I've used Firefox on a Galaxy S4 mini and now on a S5 without any (performance) problems. As mentioned above it's biggest advantages over, say, Chrome are its privacy settings and its numerous extensions, IMO. And it's not Google.

    EDIT: Both devices were/are running with Cyanogenmod and not with the stock ROM.
     
  16. safeguy

    safeguy Registered Member

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    I have reinstalled Firefox on Android recently. It performs much better than the last time I tried it. With ublock origin, it has become my favorite browser on Android.
     
  17. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    How does it perform for you on this forum? I have troubles using it (menus won't display, using links and buttons sometimes doesn't work...). I can use it with no problems on other sites but on this forum it'a almost unusable.
     
  18. safeguy

    safeguy Registered Member

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    I face no such issues.
     
  19. zapjb

    zapjb Registered Member

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    I was an idiot about FF on Android. I finally tried it again 6 mos ago. Better than the many others I've tried.
     
  20. Daveski17

    Daveski17 Registered Member

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    I've discovered that I can now run Firefox on my tablet again. I uninstalled a load of apps I never used and Firefox works pretty well.
     
  21. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    OK, thanx. It must be something on my side.
     
  22. harsha_mic

    harsha_mic Registered Member

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    May be try resetting or reinstall.. Me too no such issues
     
  23. rm22

    rm22 Registered Member

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    I've recently run through many of the options and Firefox was easily the winner
     
  24. Minimalist

    Minimalist Registered Member

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    Today I tried again and it seems that problems is not present any more.
     
  25. SuperSapien

    SuperSapien Registered Member

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    Both me and my brother use Firefox on Android and love it.:) No major problems either.
     
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