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Firefox OS: The New Mobile Operating System

Firefox OS: The New Mobile Operating System

February 15, 2013

Via: featured
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Mobile technology is developing so fast. Smartphone and tablet are a few mobile technologies that reach the height of glory. But the power of Smartphone and tablet is not just located at the hardware. The impressive thing from these technologies comes from the software too. With the mobile operating system, Smartphone and tablet can run the better mobile application. Even it looks like operating a portable personal computer. But mobile operating system still controlled by Android and Apple’s iOS. These operating systems are the popular mobile operating system in this time. But it will not last forever. Based on the latest news, Mozilla is developing their mobile operating system too. Even it will be released soon.

The mobile operating system project from Mozilla will be known as Firefox OS. This operating system is Linux based and open source. The interesting thing from this operating system is the capability to allow HTML5 application to run directly by the device. And to run the HTML5 application, this operating system will use JavaScript.

This operating system will produce the new web standard. Even it will free the mobile platform from the rules and restrictions from the existing platform. In Firefox OS, it will be collaborated OEMs and carriers directly. It gives more influence to get the specific needs of users and market. The users of developers are not stuck in one platform. So everyone can access their information and use the application across the multiple devices. This is the freedom of the new mobile platform.

In Google’s Android developer can get some freedom especially in developing the Android application. But in Firefox OS they can get more. OEMs and operator can provide the content and service to the entire portfolio. Even they can customize the user experience too. Manage the app distribution can be made better too. In Firefox OS, developers can get the new chance to develop the application too. In this operating system, developer can develop application with HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. Beside it, developers can develop the app with the new Mozilla APIs and make the amazing experience. With the presence of Firefox OS, developer will not need to learn or develop the platform specific native APIs anymore. And for customer, they can get more freedom even the real freedom. For people who use this operating system, they will never lock in one platform. In Firefox OS, website is the platform itself. For this, there is no more platform restriction.

Actually there is Smartphone that powered by this operating system. That smartphone has known as Keon and Peak, developed by GeeksPhone, a Spanish company specialized in the development of open source mobile telephony solutions, and will be available on this February. But until now still no word yet on how much the price of this devices as stated on their page “…at a price you could never have imagined“.

Also keep in mind that these Smartphone are not for end user, as GeeksPhone said them as “developer preview devices”. So that mean that these are just for developers. But if you want to know about Firefox OS, you can find out sooner from these Smartphone.

For Keon Smartphone, it powered by 1GHz processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB ROM storage and 3.5 inches touch screen. Here’s the full specifications of Keon as provided by geeksphone.com:

  • CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 7225AB 1Ghz.
  • UMTS 2100/1900/900 (3G HSPA).
    GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (2G EDGE).
  • Screen 3.5″ HVGA Multitouch.
  • Camera 3 MP.
  • 4 GB (ROM) and 512 (RAM).
  • MicroSD, Wifi N, Light & Prox. Sensor, G-Sensor, GPS, MicroUSB.
  • Battery 1580 mAh.
firefox-os-smartphones-keon

Keon
(img © geeksphone.com)

And for the Peak Smartphone, it is equipped with the latest Snapdragon S4 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB ROM storage and 4.3 inches touch screen.

Specifications of Peak:

  • CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 8225 1.2Ghz x2.
  • UMTS 2100/1900/900 (3G HSPA).
    GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (2G EDGE).
  • Screen 4.3″ qHD IPS Multitouch.
  • Camera 8 MP (back) + 2 MP (front).
  • 4 GB (ROM) and 512 (RAM).
  • MicroSD, Wifi N, Light & Prox. Sensor, G-Sensor, GPS, MicroUSB, Flash (camera).
  • Battery 1800 mAh.
firefox-os-smartphones-peak

Peak
(img © geeksphone.com)

When you look at the specification, it looks same with the other Smartphone specification. From here, it can be concluded if Firefox OS work in the normal hardware specification. Even it can run on 512MB of RAM too.

In Firefox OS, people can install any app from any domain. So it looks like the other Linux desktop. People can select the specific domain for free. If you compare it with iOS, course you will find more freedom in here. And the other interesting feature from Firefox OS is about the web activities. In here people can add the specific control in an app. Even users can make a callback based on the success and failure activities too.

For those of you who are curious and want to try it, why not to try installing the Firefox OS Simulator on your Firefox browser. Here’s how to install the Firefox OS Simulator which is pretty simple, but before that, make sure you’re using the latest version:

Firefox OS Simulator Add-on

  • Click on “Add to Firefox“, the add-on will be downloaded into your PC.
  • When the installation process begin, maybe you’ll get a warning or a confirmation box, just click the “Install now” button. Since it’s been reviewed by Mozilla’s Add-ons staff so it’s quite safe to install.
  • After installation finished you can run the simulator instantly since this add-on doesn’t need to restart the browser. To do that, go to: Tools > Web Developer > Firefox OS Simulator.
  • You will be landed on Simulator Dashboard. Now launch the simulator by clicking the simulator button on left sidebar, the button will be changed from “Stopped” to “Running”.
  • The simulator will be launched as a separate window. That’s it!

Or you can also follow the video guide here created by Mozilla web developer: