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How to install without Android market on Toshiba AC100

  • 3 replies
  • 22 have this problem
  • 11 views
  • Last reply by Justice

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Why do we have to have this insistence on downloading via Android market ?

There are lots of devices, my Toshiba AC100 among them, which are quite capable of running Firefox, but have for various reasons no access to the Android market. Surely it's not beyond the web team to provide a link directly to the .apk ?

Why do we have to have this insistence on downloading via Android market ? There are lots of devices, my Toshiba AC100 among them, which are quite capable of running Firefox, but have for various reasons no access to the Android market. Surely it's not beyond the web team to provide a link directly to the .apk ?

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I've answered my own question (nearly) https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/Platforms/Android and for direct download bit.ly/fennecftp

But why, oh why, isn't this on the main download page ? mbrubeck has been answering this and similar questions for at least 8 months, and possibly to 500+ people, giving the answers above.

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The main reason is there is no update service in the directly installed version of Firefox mobile. So you will need to manually install updates every ~6 weeks to maintain a secure browser, get new features and the the performance enhancements we make.

Secondly the vast majority of devices that are capable of running Firefox mobile ship with the Android market.

We are examining some of the 3rd party distribution methods such as the Amazon store. Though I don't have a timeframe for Firefox mobile to appear in such a store.

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Thanks for the reply, but

> The main reason is there is no update service in the directly installed version of > Firefox mobile. So you will need to manually install updates every ~6 weeks to > maintain a secure browser, get new features and the the performance > enhancements we make.

I'm sorry, but so what, those people who end up searching for this link (like me) aren't going to be worried by having to manually update, we are already in that position. All it takes is a minor tweak to the website, adding the two links.

> Secondly the vast majority of devices that are capable of running Firefox mobile > ship with the Android market.

I think you are mistaken about the numbers, but let's not quarrel about the odd half-million or so devices that don't have the market.

> We are examining some of the 3rd party distribution methods such as the > Amazon store. Though I don't have a timeframe for Firefox mobile to appear in > such a store.

Please don't waste your time with this, the time would be better spent on adding the two links, or providing incentives to make the native flash player work in fennec. Thanks for listening.