The popular open-source email client, Mozilla Thunderbird, has just launched a beta version of its Android app. This release, version 8.0b1, is available as a pre-release with a range of new features and improvements.
Here are some notable features, improvements and bug fixes in Thunderbird for Android 8.0b1 (beta) version:
1. Thunderbird for Android Branding:
This beta release introduces the official Thunderbird for Android branding, moving away from its previous identity as K-9 Mail.
2. Updated Design:
Users will immediately notice the updated design language, with a Material 3 navigation drawer and a refreshed colour scheme.It's important to
3. Migration Made Easy:
For those already using K-9 Mail or a previous Thunderbird for Android build, migrating settings to the new version is now a seamless process.
4. Under the Hood Improvements:
This beta release incorporates the Glean SDK for improved data collection and analysis. Additionally, the groundwork for supporting financial contributions through Google Play subscriptions has been laid.
5. Enhanced Security and Privacy:
When encrypting email subjects, the app now uses "[…]" for the outer subject, bolstering privacy.
6. Simplified Settings:
The "Move/copy destination folders" and "Folders to search" settings have been removed for a cleaner user experience.
7. Focus on Stability and Performance:
Significant refactoring has been done to critical areas such as the message list, accounts, and folders, improving maintainability and performance. Numerous bug fixes also address crashes and other issues.
8. Open Source and Community Driven:
Thunderbird for Android remains committed to open-source development, welcoming contributions from the community. The project uses the Apache License, Version 2.0.
9. Known Issues:
Be mindful that the settings import feature may display apps that don't yet support it, leading to unsuccessful imports.
Try Thunderbird 8.0b1 Beta On Android
Thunderbird 8.0b1 Beta is available in Google Play store and in the official GitHub project page. It is not yet available in F-droid though.
To try Thunderbird on your Android devices, you can download Thunderbird Beta on the Google Play Store. While I can't recommend directly downloading and installing APKs from outside the Google Play Store due to security risks, some of you may want to directly install the apk file. If that's the case, please follow the steps below:
- Download the APK: Visit https://github.com/thunderbird/thunderbird-android/releases/tag/THUNDERBIRD_8_0b1 and download the "thunderbird-8.0b1.apk" file.
- Enable Unknown Sources: On your Android device, navigate to Settings > Security or a similar menu and enable the "Unknown Sources" option. This allows you to install apps from sources other than the Play Store.
- Install the APK: Locate the downloaded APK file on your device and tap on it to initiate the installation process.
- Launch Thunderbird: Once the installation is complete, you can launch the Thunderbird app and start using it.
If you encounter any problems or security concerns, it's advisable to uninstall the app or revert to a previous version.
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