Thursday, 12 June 2014

Firefox OS (Open Source Operating System)

What is Firefox OS?

Firefox OS is a Linux kernel based open-source operating system for smartphones and tablet computers and is set to be used on Smart TVs. It is being developed by Mozilla, the non profit organization best know for the Firefox web browser.

Firefox OS is designed to provide a complete, community based alternative system for mobile devices, using open standards and approaches such as HTML5 applications, Javascript, a robust privilege model, open web APIs to communicate directly with cellphone hardware and application marketplace. As such it competes with commercially developed operating systems such as Apple iOS, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Phone and Jolla's Sailfish OS as well as other community based open source operating systems like such as Ubuntu Touch.

Firefox was publicly demonstrated in February 2012, on Android compatible smartphones and again in 2013 running on Raspberry Pi. In January 2013, at CES 2013, ZTE confirmed they would be shipping a smartphone with Firefox OS and on July 2,2013, Telefonica launched the commercial Firefox OS based phone, ZTE Open, in Spain.

Benefits of Firefox OS

The lock screen looks pretty much like an Android lock screen with a clock and date information as well as quick keys to your home screen or camera app. You have the option to add a background image.

The home screen has enough space for four app icons: SMS messaging, dialer, contacts and Firefox browser.
While you can expect all the things you see in an Android phone such as home screens, dialer, galleries, maps, marketplace, connectivity options, SMS and apps, there are somethings that are unique to the Firefox OS.

What's New

An FM radio apps that looks like an old radio where you have to turn the dial to find your favorite radio station and a hidden feedback button that allows you to send the development team suggestions and criticisms.
Lastly it has a dedicated panel for everything.me, an HTML5 mobile search page that allows you to use apps without having to download them on your phone.

Difference from the Top mobile Operating Systems

Based on the Gecko Engine
Lower price
Easy to personalize

In the Near Future

With a focus on web standards and open source technologies, you could expect Firefox OS to go very far. So much so that it might the mobile operating system of choice for the future. Firefox OS makes mobile ecosystems very simple for developers and very affordable to users.

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