Fennec, the codename for the mobile version of the Firefox web browser, now has its first extension. The browser, which launched into alpha last month, has always allowed for extendibility through add-ons, but none had been ported over until recently. The first extension to arrive in Fennec is one that makes perfect sense for mobile browsers, too: URL Fixer, a handy add-on that corrects typos in URLs typed in the address bar.
Chris Finke, the developer of the URL Fixer add-on, posted in his weblog last week that the extension is now fully Fennec compatible. He noted that a typo-correcting tool like this may be even more useful in a mobile browser than it is on a computer with a full-size keyboard.
Installing The Fennec Extension
Shortly after Finke created the mobile-ready version of URL Fixer, the addons.mozilla.org web site was updated to include support for the Fennec browser. When Fennec users visit the site, it will recognize that they’re coming from the mobile browser and will offer direct installation via an “Add to Fennec” button.
After a required browser restart, users will see the new extension available from the Fennec Add-ons Manager, where it’s also possible to access preferences and disable or enable add-ons.
Mobile Add-Ons Are Fennec’s Killer Feature
The idea of being able to use add-ons in a mobile browser is definitely going to be a huge selling point for the Fennec browser when it goes to launch as it will be the first to support third-party extensions. It opens up a world of possibilities that take advantage of the new platform, too. Is it possible we’ll see add-ons that allow you to interact with your phone’s functions itself like “click-to-all” or “copy to my contacts”? That may depend on the mobile phone itself and how locked down it is. Still, we imagine that developers will soon be thinking of all sorts of unique add-ons that work best in a mobilized environment.
What sort of add-ons would you want to see in a mobile browser? Let us know in the comments.
Screenshots courtesy of Madhava Enros and Mark Finkle
