Mozilla Junior Wants To Revolutionize iPad Browsing

Mozilla has revealed a new iPad browser project, Junior, which the company promises will rebuild the concept of tablet internet surfing. Described as "an iPad browser that makes browsing more fun, more ergonomic and re-thinks browser user experience from the ground up", Junior is part of Mozilla's Product Design Strategy work, aiming to cut off rivals at the pass by outthinking them in advance.

Junior pares back the navigation UI to a few simple buttons. On the left edge is a back key, floating roughly a third of the way up the screen, while a plus button on the opposite side pulls open a favorites menu as well as the address bar, search and history.

There are other more fundamental changes that go against the grain of existing browsers, such as ditching the use of webpage previews as shortcuts and replacing them with more easily-recognized site logos. "This is by far the fastest way to recognize [site shortcuts]," Mozilla's team claims. "People put thousands of dollars into their branding, and there's a reason for that."

There are already a number of third-party browsers available on the iPad, though Apple's refusal to allow any of them to be set as the default app in preference to Safari means their functionality can be limited. Mozilla hasn't said when – or indeed if – it will be launching Junior.

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