Mozilla has released Firefox 27 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. The update brings speed improvements, stronger security, and deeper social integration to the desktop. Firefox for Android has also been updated, with a fix for Flash on KitKat, WebRTC support, new languages, UI tweaks, and more.
What's New in Firefox 27 for Android
One of the standout advantages of using Firefox on Android has always been Flash video support. Unfortunately, that feature broke when Google released Android 4.4 KitKat. Firefox 27 fixes the issue, restoring Flash support for KitKat users.
The update also adds translations for Lithuanian, Slovenian, South African English, and Thai, along with a new default Clear Sans font and several interface tweaks. The iOS-style over-scrolling effect has been removed and replaced with a standard Android highlight. Text selection has been improved, and TLS 1.1 and 1.2 are now enabled by default, bringing better security and privacy out of the box. Web developers will also find WebRTC support among the additions, alongside the usual round of bug fixes.
Download Firefox 27 for Android
- Available free from the Google Play Store
- Requires Android 4.2 or greater
- Full release notes available on Mozilla's website
What's New in Firefox 27 for Windows, Mac and Linux
The headline addition for desktop is support for the Firefox SocialAPI. Mozilla describes it as a new API designed to make it easier for browsers to integrate with social media services. Once a provider is set up, Firefox can display in-browser controls and notifications tied to that service, all without leaving the browser.
Three SocialAPI plugins launched alongside Firefox 27: Facebook Messenger for Firefox, Cliqz, and Mixi (Japan only). Facebook Messenger runs as a persistent sidebar panel while you browse, and you can run multiple services at the same time, pulling in notifications and chat from several platforms at once.
Security and Protocol Improvements
Firefox 27 enables TLS 1.1 and 1.2 by default on desktop too. Both standards have been supported for some time but were previously left off due to compatibility concerns with older websites. The security benefits now outweigh that risk, so Mozilla has made them the default. There is no UI for adjusting this in the settings dialog. Users who want to dig into it will need to visit about:config and look for the security.tls.version.min and security.tls.version.max values.
The release also adds support for the SPDY 3.1 protocol, which enables multiple concurre