1428403 - Firefox for iOS should prompt user about network when in airplane mode (like Safari, other apps)

Status: NEW

(Firefox for iOS :: Browser, defect, P5)

Description

[Haik Aftandilian [:haik]]

Attachment: safari-firefox-airplane-compare.png

When trying to load a page in Firefox when the device doesn't have network connectivity due to wifi and/or mobile being disabled, the browser should prompt the user about it and direct them to preferences like Safari and other applications. See screenshot comparing Safari and Firefox's when started in airplane mode.

The behavior of the browser differed in airplane mode depending on whether or not a page was already loaded (from the last browsing session). Displaying the prompt about connectivity would improve usability in both cases.

1) When Firefox is opened while the device is in airplane mode and no page was already open, trying to visit a website hangs while waiting for network (presumably eventually timing out.)

2) If a page was already loaded when Firefox is started while in airplane mode, Firefox immediately displayed a network error. 

The prompt might also apply to the case where Firefox is set to not use mobile data (in iOS preferences) and then Firefox is run with wifi disabled.

Comment 1

[Yevhen]

Attachment: Airbnb app No Network popup example

Comment 2

[Yevhen]

This is good idea in general to inform users upfront about network status.
However, I would consider different UX; alerts are annoying.

Maybe some gentle popup, like Airbnb does for example (attached).