Calling all Android users - Help test the new Firefox Focus / Firefox Klar

[plwt (Paul Wright)]

Hi

As some of you may remember, in the build-up to the launch of Firefox Quantum, many of us moved to use the Nightly builds to help test, file bugs and learn about the new, faster Firefox. I am writing to you today to ask for the same pioneering, bug filing, spirit to rise up and help make Firefox Focus and Firefox Klar even more awesome,

Firefox Focus (Firefox Klar in Austria, Germany and Switzerland) is a privacy-focused browser that is an easy to use solution for those quick searches you do on your mobile device. It is also the first Android product from Mozilla to be getting the new GeckoView code - and this is where we need your help.

As with Firefox Quantum, using, testing and filing bugs is crucial if Mozilla is going to deliver a great product that users will love and will help them be safe and secure online. If you wish to help out with this (and you have an Android device running Android 5.0 and above), please have a read of this page and follow the instructions there to be among the first to see the new improved Android versions of Firefox Focus and Firefox Klar:

https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-android/wiki/Release-tracks

Once you have got a pre-Release build installed on your Android device, be sure to watch out for any bugs. If you spot any, please file them here:

https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-android/issues

(Please read this guide to contributing to the project beforehand: https://github.com/mozilla-mobile/focus-android/wiki/Contributing)

This is a great opportunity to get involved in testing pre-Release software, to see new features before they are released and to help support a really awesome project.

Thank you.

[andreip]

I set Focus Dev GV as default browser. Damn, the internet is filled by EU/GDPR/spam notifications. On my Fennec Nightly I have uBlockOrigin and I don’t care about cookies. I can’t imagine how the Internet must be for Chrome users. I have Focus behind Blokada. Most Chrome users hit the Internet head on… no addons… no ad blockers… brave souls…

[cpeterson]

One warning: Google Play only allows you to install one Focus “track” (release channel) at a time (per Google Play account). So installing Focus Nightly will uninstall the regular Focus and replace it (and your settings) with Focus Nightly. If you have multiple Google Play accounts, then you can install a different Focus track in each account.

[andreip]

@cpeterson I have no such problems. I’m not a Google Play user Really glad Mozilla offers APKs

[plwt (Paul Wright)]

I am not 100% sure that the GV version of Focus Nightly will update if you sideload the .apk.

[andreip]

I am 100% sure that it will not update I update it from time to time. I have no Google Play services on my phone so unless it lands in F-Droid or gets an auto-update system like Nightly then I will download it from time to time.