Android's Kiwi Browser will follow Chromium releases more closely soon
Kiwi Browser is a third-party Chromium-based web browser for Google's Android operating system that packs a lot of features. Probably the most noteworthy is the browser's support for Chrome extensions; while not all extensions will install on Android, it is one of the few browsers that is based on Chromium that supports extensions on Android.
Kiwi browser comes with an integrated ad-blocker and some other features, but it is extensions support that may appeal the most to users.
The browser is developed by a single developer, and this meant in the past that releases were infrequent. Considering that hundreds of developers are working on major browsers for Android, Chrome, Edge, Vivaldi, Opera or Brave, it is clear that Kiwi development is at a disadvantage in this regard.
With Chromium moving from a 6-week to a 4-week release cycle, things could get even worse in the future.
The developer of Kiwi Browser has been working on Kiwi Next for some time now to address the issue and make Kiwi Browser follow Chromium releases closely.
Kiwi Next uses automation tools and scripting to keep up with Chromium's 4-week release cycle.
Chromium releases may include new features or changes, but they include security updates and bug fixes usually. Getting these quicker to the Kiwi Browser population improves the security of users, improves stability of the browser, and will improve compatibility on the Web as well.
Previews of Kiwi Next are available, but most Kiwi Browser users and those interested in the mobile browser, may check out the latest version of the current release. A recent update has updated it to the Chromium 93 base, introducing security and stability updates, as well as other changes regarding stability and compatibility.
Users who have used the vertical tab switcher in the past can't use it anymore in the new version as it has been removed entirely. An alternative has been added to the Settings by the developer of Kiwi Browser.
Closing Words
It is almost impossible for a single-browser project to follow a 6-week release cycle. The change to a 4-week release cycle puts even more pressure on developers, considering that security updates, stability fixes and other bug fixes are part of these updates.
The Kiwi Browser developer plans to use automation to speed up development. If this works out, Kiwi Browser will see more frequent releases, which will make it more secure, stable and compatible. Add the extra features, especially extensions support, and you could see the browser reach new heights in the coming years.
Now You: have you tried Kiwi Browser in the past? (via XDA Developers)
Thanks for the tip Martin.
It is for these kinds of posts that I follow GHacks.
What’s up with the generic comment, are you a bot?
2G?
Where on the planet is that still in use? I was forced to give up using my RAZRV3 years ago because 2G was phased out by AT&T.
Everywhere 3G has been turned off and you don’t have LTE coverage, and believe me there are many developed countries where this is the case and if it weren’t for 2G you wouldn’t even be able to make a phone call.
Maybe I missed it, but I don’t believe tha term “2G” is in the article. Perhaps you are referring to “AGM G2”??
@Martin
Your website has gone insane.
When I the post button I then saw my comment posted on a different article page. When I opened this article again, it is here.
@Tachy @Martin Brinkmann
” Your website has gone insane. ”
Same here. Has happened several times.
@Tachy,
@Martin P.,
For over two weeks now,
I’ve been seeing “Comments” posted by subscribers appearing in different, unrelated articles.
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572991
https://www.ghacks.net/windows-11-update-stuck-fixed-for-good/#comment-4572951
For the time being,
it would be better to specify the “article name and URL” at the beginning of the post.
@tachy a lot of non-phone devices with a sim in them rely on 2G, at least here in europe.
Usually things reporting usage or errors/alarms on something remote that does not get day to day inspection in person. They are out there in vast numbers doing important work. Reliable, good range. The low datarate is no problem at all in those cases.
3G is gone or on its last legs everywhere, but this stuff still has too much use to cancel.
Anyhow, interesting that they would put that in. I can see the point if you suspect a hostile 2G environment (amateur eavesdroppers with laptop, ranging up to professional grade MITM fake towers while “strangely” not getting the stronger crypto voip 4G because it is being jammed, and back down to something as old ‘stingray’ devices fallen into the wrong hands).
But does this also mean that they have handled and rolled out a fix for that nasty 4G ‘pwn by broadcast’ problem you reported earlier this year? I had 4G disabled due to that, on the off chance that some of the local criminals would buy some cheap chinese gear, download a working exploit and probe every phone in range all over town in the hope of getting into phones of the police.
>”While most may never be attacked in stingrays, it is still recommended to disable 2G cellular connections, especially since it does not have any downsides.”
The downside would be losing connectivity. I spend a lot of time way out in the countryside where there’s often no service or almost none. My network allows 2G, and I need it sometimes. I have an option on the phone to disable 2G, I may do that when I’m in the city and I have good 5G connectivity, but not out in the country.
I would imagine that the stingray exploits, like most of the bad things in this world, are probably things you will run into in the crowded big cities.
I stopped using it in a mobile (Wi-Fi line) environment, so I’m almost ignorant of the actual situation,
But the recent reality in Japan makes me realize that “the infrastructure of the web is nothing more than a papier-mâché fiction”.
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/17/google-chrome-to-enable-https-first-by-default-for-all-users/#comment-4572402
It is already beyond the scope of what an individual can do.
What we should be aware of is the reality that “governments and those in power want to control the world through the Web”, and efforts to counter (resist and prevent) such ambitions are necessary.
Why do you want people to disable the privacy features? Hmmmmm?
Now You: do you plan to keep the Ads privacy features enabled?
I’d like to tell you, but apparently if you make a post critical of Google, you get censored. * [Editor: removed, just try to bring your opinion across without attacking anyone]
@Martin
You website is still psychotic. Comments attach to random stories.
@Martin please do fix the comments, it’s completely insane commenting here! :[
@Martin
The comments are seriously messed up on gHacks now. These comments are mixed with the article at the below URL.
https://www.ghacks.net/2023/08/18/android-how-to-disable-2g-cellular-connections-to-improve-security/
And comments on other articles are from as far back as 2010.
What does this article has anything to do with all the comments on this article? LOL I think this Websuite is ran by ChatGPT. every article is messed up. Some older comments from 2015 shown up in recant articles, LOL
The picture captioned “Clearing the Android Auto’s cache might resolve the issue” is from Apple Carplay ;)
How about other things that matter:
Drop survival?
Screen toughness?
Degree of water and dust protection?