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Mozilla Launches Firefox OS 3.0 Simulator

Posted by samzenpus on from the try-it-out dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Mozilla on Thursday announced the release of Firefox OS Simulator 3.0, polishing all the features in the preview release as well as making a few more improvements. You can download version 3.0 now for Windows, Mac, and Linux from Mozilla Add-Ons. The following features included in the simulator are now functionally stable, according to Mozilla:
  • Push to Device
  • Rotation simulation
  • Basic geolocation API simulation
  • Manifest validation
  • Stability fixes for installation and updates to apps
  • Newer versions of the Firefox rendering engine and Gaia (the UI for Firefox OS)."

4 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Mozilla needs to explain ... by SolitaryMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So that we can have truly Free mobile OS?

    --
    May Peace Prevail On Earth
  2. Re:Mozilla needs to explain ... by SuilAmhain · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's fairly obvious what they are hoping to do. Same bloody thing they did to the web.

    Try this tagline for size:

    "Hi we are Mozilla and we aim to knock down walled gardens and remove the need to whore every last bit of your privacy just so you can call your mother every now and then"

  3. Re:Mozilla needs to explain ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Mozilla have an interest in expanding the open web ecosystem. Webkit has a monopoly on mobile (very few mobile devs test on anything more than Android/iOS native browsers), and apps compete directly with web technology for users (Android/iOS rely on non-web or proprietary frameworks).

    Now it could be said that people need the proprietary or non-web platforms to accomplish tasks, but remember that asm.js and webgl and many other technologies are coming to Firefox OS. There's always an argument for not changing, and there's always an argument for legacy, but encouraging open standards and web tech for users is an important goal for Mozilla.

    For users: Because Firefox OS targets lower-spec mobiles than iOS/Android so it will be cheaper (indeed, Mozilla aren't targetting conventional markets).

    For developers: because it uses web technology everywhere (it's like every app is a Phonegap/Cordova app) it will be easier for most developers.

    https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Firefox_OS/Introduction

  4. Re:Mozilla needs to explain ... by epyT-R · · Score: 5, Insightful

    android is riddled with closed binaries for drivers and shell environments. the shells are one thing as they can be replaced, but the drivers truly hamper maintenance and development on hardware.