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Mozilla Handing Out Free Firefox OS Developer Phones To Bolster App Marketplace
MojoKid writes "Is the world really ready to shift from native apps to HTML5 Web apps? Probably not, at least not in North America yet, but developing nations may see it differently. That's the hope with Firefox OS, a web-based operating system that's (in theory) a lot more open. Of course, one needs only look at Microsoft's battle to get Windows Phone into a place of competition to realize that gaining market share is no easy task, which is why Mozilla will soon be handing out Firefox OS developer phones in order to bolster that. The company's goal is to get app builders to build for Firefox OS, so Mozilla is sending out free Preview handsets for folks to tinker with."
why don't they just use python for the high level stuff. Its a great stable, fun, easy to program, powerful language.
heck its already cross platform, it runs on windows, osx and linux, with native support for just about all interfaces and toolkits.
I'd love to see more diversity in this space but I think that Google is winning the battle. Chrome as a browser is pretty cool and Android as an OS is huge. I'd be surprised if Firefox can fight them off.
Frankly, I have no faith at all in the security of HTML5.
Come back to me in 5 years when it has had enough cycles of exploitation and repairs, but today it's just in a state of "Let's bring back all the security problems of ActiveX and the first five years of Flash, but we'll pretend they're fine because it's an open language (though subject to implementation variances)."
Do you know of any other languages that start with a "P"?
Something like "Python" perhaps?
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Great, let's choose the least performant language, with code that can be mangled into failure by copy and paste problems. That would be a great idea.
Javascript ain't perfect. But what is?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Now now Larry we talked about this - the irony of a Google exec posting anonymously will hurt the stock if the press gets wind of it.
This seems a bit unnecessary since there's enough demand to keep Geeksphone sold out.
Maybe those aren't getting into the hands of developers, but given that the phones are definitely sub-par for someone who just wants the latest and greatest, I would expect most are going to the people they are intended for.
very soon, when it gets some traction, goog will hav its presence with the ominous search box
More importantly, will we have the ability to prevent IMEI from accompanying cookies, and the ability to remove cookies selectively? Ideally, the various Firefox add-ins which automate deletion would be installable, such as BetterPrivacy, DoNotTrackMe, Facebook Blocker, and Self-Destructing Cookies and so forth; not just the ad blockers like AdBlock Plus and its ilk. Ideally, these add-ins for the Firefox browser would work at the phone level for Firefox OS, not merely for a single browser. The Google search box need not be such a bad thing, if you don't allow cookies (and can prevent IMEI and suchlike from accompanying cookies).
Maybe the Flashblock plugin would not be needed, if the Firefox phone also does not support Adobe's Flash abomination.
Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. - Voltaire
code that can be mangled into failure by copy and paste problems.
That's a feature to prevent terrible copy-paste programmers from soiling the community. As it's apparent, it works.
By the way, languages aren't more or less "performant", there are just faster and slower implementations. Pypy is easily at the level of V8.
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why don't they just use $_MY_FAVOURITE_LANGUAGE for the high level stuff. It's a great stable, fun, easy to program, powerful language.
And would that be Python 2.7.4, or Python 3.2.4, or Python 3.3.1?
systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
http://www.zdnet.com/firefox-os-puts-a-good-50-smartphone-within-reach-7000015212/
You're not alone.
Though, I also like FirefoxOS on its own merit. It's a great idea and it has a great interface. I also refuse to spend over $250 on a phone so it's also great to have my budget catered for.
I really want a phone that gives me CalDAV and CardDAV out of the box with no app in-between (ala Android). I looked in the simulator and CalDAV is already there - just give it the URL, user name and password and Bob's your aunty. I would even help implement CardDAV support if I wasn't so busy with uni work. I haven't check out the email client yet.
On the subject of privacy: it's sad that people assume that if you want privacy you're a conspiracy nut or a criminal/terrorist.
I don't know what's so great about Python. And I use it daily.
Same here. A major drawback of javascript is lack of strong typing. Python is just as bad.
Javascript is better for snippets.
Python is better for scripts.
Neither is ideal for large, robust applications.
Yes...let's use the cripple the project with the shittiest language currently in existence.
But enough about JavaScript...
Funny reading all these comments on how great FirefoxOS will be and how everyone will get access to sub $200 smartphones and how great it will be having an open phone, blah, blah, blah.
People were singing the praise when Google was doing the same thing and look how that turned out. Unless Mozilla or whoever is backing this endeavor can be like Apple and make/distribute their own hardware along with control the underlying OS and how it is bundled with the hardware it will fall the same way as Google did. Telco providers will just implement their own draconian limits on the device (with regards to updates/services) and you all will be no better than you were before.
By the way, languages aren't more or less "performant", there are just faster and slower implementations. Pypy is easily at the level of V8.
Oh good. One incomplete implementation that only works on x86 and x86-64 (the architectures where performance matters least, since you tend to have so much of it in modern machines) is easily at the level of a can of spiced tomato juice. You really showed me.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
I'll ross my hat in the ring as well.
I currently use android, and that's pretty much out of necessity. They have the apps I need, its rooted and unlocked.
I really like the idea of FirefoxOS. I hope that when i do get my hands on it, it is as stable as my experience with android has been.
I am concidering picking up the Nexus 4. I hope that I can get FirefoxOS loade up on it.
GTalk, Chrome all of them install Windows Services. Why does a browser or a chat application need a Service running all the time? I uninstalled both when I realized this.
Never heard of IMEI in cookies, is that in IOS, Android, others? What is you use Firefox on Android or some other browser?, and why can applications read IMEI in the first place.
Honest question, I don't have a smartphone. Can a website read that IMEI, store it themselves and then give it to a three-letter-agency or a local dictatorship's secret police?
why don't they just use python for the high level stuff. Its a great stable, fun, easy to program, powerful language.
heck its already cross platform, it runs on windows, osx and linux, with native support for just about all interfaces and toolkits.
Because Python != Java Script. I don't even know that Python runs in Firefox, but I could be wrong...
I showed you how you were incorrect when describing languages as "performant", which was all I wanted to point out.
But in any case: http://morepypy.blogspot.pt/2013/05/pypy-20-alpha-for-arm.html
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