Mozilla plans Firefox for Windows 8 Metro UI

Mozilla has published its plans to create a Metro-specific version of its open source Firefox web browser for Windows 8. The project's developers say that the new version of the Gecko-based browser will be built for and integrated with the Metro environment, Microsoft's new user interface (UI) for its upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

The Mozilla development team note that, as the Metro UI is "an entirely new environment", Firefox will require a brand new front end and system integration points. Like other Metro applications, Firefox will be full screen and will focus primarily on touch interactions. It will include an Appbar with common navigation controls such as back, reload and home, as well as Mozilla's "Awesome Bar" smart URL bar and "some form of tabs".

Windows 8 will also feature a "Classic" application environment similar to that of the current Windows 7 OS. Mozilla says that supporting Classic will require only "a simple evolution of the current Firefox Windows product".

According to the non-profit organisation's roadmap for 2012, a technology proof-of-concept version of Firefox for the Windows 8 Metro experience will be available in the second quarter of this year, with alpha and beta releases to follow in the second half of 2012. Further planning information about Metro version of Firefox can be found on the MozillaWiki.

See also:

• Mozilla closes critical security hole in Firefox, Thunderbird and SeaMonkey, a report from The H.
• Firefox 10 arrives bringing CSS 3D transformations, a report from The H.

(crve)