LG Launches Its Firefox OS Phone Fireweb for $200

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LG Launches Its Firefox OS Phone Fireweb for $200

Posted by Unknown on Wednesday October 23, 2013 @04:50AM from the mozilla-prepares-to-eat-google dept.

SmartAboutThings writes "LG has launched the Fireweb Firefox OS smartphone in a joint event with the Telefonica Vivo carrier. The Fireweb Firefox OS smartphone will be available for around $200 and will join the Alcatel One Touch Fire which Telfonia is launching in Brazil, starting today. Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay are the next countries to get it. The Fireweb smartphone is LG's very first Firefox OS device and it increases the small number of OEMs that have released Firefox OS devices on the market. The smartphone has a 4-inch screen with a 480 x 320 display, a 1GHz Qualcomm processor and 4GB internal storage that can be expanded with the microSD card slot by up to 32GB. It has a 5-megapixel cameras that comes with both autofocusing and an LED flash, which is a first for Firefox OS phones." Hopefully an OEM releases a Firefox OS phone with beefier hardware, but you can't argue with the price.

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I can argue with the price. by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-23 04:56 · Score: 1

Because I got a Moto X for $199 (no contract)
1. Re:I can argue with the price. by Stormwatch · 2013-10-23 05:49 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  That's Brazil for you: everything electronics is insanely expensive down here. $200 is just slightly above the low-end class of Nokia Asha and Samsung Wave.
  
  --
  Circumcision is child abuse.
2. Re:I can argue with the price. by Zaatxe · 2013-10-24 04:46 · Score: 2
  
  Not to mention the US$1850 Playstation 4, of course...
  
  --
  So say we all
Re:old but old by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-23 05:01 · Score: 1

You've misspelled "ten".
Re:old but old by mcgrew · 2013-10-23 05:02 · Score: 1

Indeed, my Kyocera Android has the same size screen but is 720p, and the phone is waterproof. Since it's Android there are lots of apps (are there any at all on FF?).
And my phone costs half as much. Why would anybody buy this??

--
Free Martian Whores!
Expense for the Hardware by Luthair · 2013-10-23 05:02 · Score: 2

The hardware is significantly worse than that of the Nexus 4 from a year ago which was available for $299. Personally I'd expect either better components or a significantly better price.
1. Re:Expense for the Hardware by mspohr · 2013-10-23 05:26 · Score: 1
  
  The ZTE Open has similar specs and Firefox OS and is only $75 (on eBay).
  The high price in Brazil is probably due to taxes and import duty (which are crazy high in Brazil).
  
  --
  I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
2. Re:Expense for the Hardware by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-10-23 05:27 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  "Personally I'd expect either better components or a significantly better price."
  To a large degree, you're paying for both freedom and lack of subsidies.
  
  Android and iOS environments are full of apps that track you and your behaviors behind your back. Despite the lip service Apple and Google give to the practice, both of those OSes were fundamentally designed to allow that. (Otherwise, why isn't there finer-grained control over what information those applications can access? That would be pretty easy to do.)
  
  Firefox OS is different. The company is independent, it is non-profit, it is dedicated to freedom, choice, privacy and security.
3. Re:Expense for the Hardware by mythosaz · 2013-10-23 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  The hardware is significantly worse than that of the Nexus 4 from a year ago which was available for $299.
  ...and which is available now for $199
  https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb
  I think we're all in agreement that a moron wrote the "can't argue with the price" thing.
  A 320x480 Android 4.0 phone is under $50 at Deal Extreme - albeit with less memory.
  http://dx.com/p/mini-7100-android-4-1-gsm-smartphone-w-3-5-capacitive-screen-quad-band-and-wi-fi-black-226619
4. Re:Expense for the Hardware by X.25 · 2013-10-23 07:16 · Score: 1
  
  ...and which is available now for $199
  https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_4_8gb
  I think we're all in agreement that a moron wrote the "can't argue with the price" thing.
  And whole world lives in the USA, of course.
$80 of phone and $120 of tax by tepples · 2013-10-23 05:03 · Score: 4, Interesting

The CPU is very poor, also, for $200. The same phone for $80 is almost reasonable.
Blame Brazil's prohibitive import duty. It might be $80 of phone and $120 of tax.
1. Re:$80 of phone and $120 of tax by ChunderDownunder · 2013-10-23 12:06 · Score: 1
  
  Does Brazil even make smartphones? duties are designed to make the cost of imported goods prohibitive when compared to a local product. But if said local product doesn't exist, it's just a tax grab.
  A golden opportunity for a local Brazilian to assemble phones awaits. Get the parts made in China, ship them duty free via a China-Brazil free trade agreement and assemble them in Brazil. Designed in Brazil and assembled in factories using cheap Brazilian labour should pass the locally made test, no?
2. Re:$80 of phone and $120 of tax by tepples · 2013-10-23 12:21 · Score: 1
  
  I think Brazil wants the parts to be made in Brazil too.
3. Re:$80 of phone and $120 of tax by ChunderDownunder · 2013-10-23 13:04 · Score: 1
  
  Easier said than done. The majority of the world's electronics components are made in Asia.
4. Re:$80 of phone and $120 of tax by tepples · 2013-10-23 13:18 · Score: 1
  
  Why were the fabs set up in east Asia in the first place, and what precludes additional fabs from being set up in east South America?
5. Re:$80 of phone and $120 of tax by Lennie · 2013-10-23 22:43 · Score: 1
  
  Money and maybe expertise. It's expensive to built multiple of the same things.
  If you want to build the only fab in Brazil, you possibly need to import more expertise and other goods from suppliers in Asia.
  
  --
  New things are always on the horizon
6. Re:$80 of phone and $120 of tax by tepples · 2013-10-24 01:00 · Score: 1
  
  Then let me rephrase: How did the expertise get to Asia in the first place? At some point, someone built the only fab in Asia and had to import the expertise from the United States.
Re:old but old by gmuslera · 2013-10-23 05:17 · Score: 3, Insightful

NSA free? Or at least, harder to get in unnoticed than in some bundled google/apple app, or even 3rd party, installable apps. Specially, for Brazil.
Sounds great, let me check out the apps for it! by Anonymous Coward · 2013-10-23 05:18 · Score: 1

(tumbleweed)
Re:old but old by Ralph+Wiggam · 2013-10-23 05:20 · Score: 1

The Samsung Galaxy 1, launched March 2010, has a resolution of 800 x 480.
Re:I can argue about the price by tbuddy · 2013-10-23 05:20 · Score: 2

$299 you mean.
Re:old but old by CRCulver · 2013-10-23 05:22 · Score: 1

NSA free?

It was revealed this month that the NSA was tracing Tor users by exploiting Firefox. I think the NSA is pretty savvy at finding holes in Mozilla products.
Ha ha by denmarkw00t · 2013-10-23 05:23 · Score: 1

And our QA department was finally getting settled into a somewhat stable set of devices and OSes to test against - suckers.
I have $68 Huawei phone in my pocket, love it! by kawabago · 2013-10-23 05:23 · Score: 1

A 480x320 resolution screen? Is it Braille?
If you are going to compare prices, do it right by no_go · 2013-10-23 05:25 · Score: 4, Informative

Phones in Brazil are more expensive than in the US.
In Brazil the price for the nexus 4 would be between 300 and 600 USD , according to this:
http://www.tudocelular.com/LG/precos/n2361/LG-Google-Nexus-4.html
According to this http://tecnologia.ig.com.br/2013-10-22/sem-alarde-lg-traz-primeiro-smartphone-com-firefox-os-para-o-brasil-por-r-129.html
The Fireweb phone costs about 205 USD. If acquired via contract , it goes down to 60 USD.
Apples to apples, oranges to oranges, on the right market....
1. Re:If you are going to compare prices, do it right by mythosaz · 2013-10-23 06:02 · Score: 1
  
  I assume Brazil has some sort of crazy border-inspection tax system that prevents just ordering from any other country on the planet?
  A genuine question.
2. Re:If you are going to compare prices, do it right by no_go · 2013-10-23 06:12 · Score: 1
  
  I don't know the specifics about the Brazilian Customs, but most countries' postal systems (and courier/distribution companies) go through customs, and you end-up paying the relevant local taxes.
  If on top of that you have to deal with the red-tape it generates, and paying the processing fees (which when you import in bulk are diluted across the final price of the goods imported), some times it is just not worth it to go that route, or just marginaly so.
3. Re:If you are going to compare prices, do it right by xvan · 2013-10-23 06:17 · Score: 1
  
  It doesn't if you order by EMS, but if you get caught you need to pay your taxes + the trip and time lost at the customs office + the shipping (assuming its not free)+the risk buying online.
  
  It's a gamble that depends on lots of thing. It's easier to pass a phone without charger.
4. Re:If you are going to compare prices, do it right by vbraga · 2013-10-23 06:20 · Score: 1
  
  Yes, by law, the Brazilian equivalent of the IRS (literally, Federal Revenue Secretariat) has the right to inspect shipments at border control points. Sometimes they inspect, sometimes they don't. You usually get a note in the mailbox 'Your package is awaiting for collection at XYZ street, import duties R$ (obscene number here) must be paid'.
  
  --
  English is not my first language. Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
Re:old but old by davester666 · 2013-10-23 05:36 · Score: 1

I'm surprised it doesn't have "BlackBerry" engraved into it, other than the fact that they would have trouble crippling the browser enough to ship with the legendary "BlackBerry" quality.

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Re:old but old by narcc · 2013-10-23 05:49 · Score: 1

Are you from the past?

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Required reading for internet skeptics
GeeksPhone Peak+ by marienf · 2013-10-23 05:53 · Score: 1

http://shop.geeksphone.com/en/phones/8-peak.html
CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 8225 1.2Ghz x2.
UMTS 850/1900/2100 (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 1 GB (RAM).
MicroSD, Wifi N, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, Radio FM, Light & Prox. Sensor, G-Sensor, Compass, GPS, MicroUSB, Flash (camera).
Battery 1800 mAh.
What I would pay for a phone with those specs by neo-mkrey · 2013-10-23 06:10 · Score: 1

$99 retail, or FREE with a 2 year contract with dataplan. Do that and you'll have an early adopter.
1. Re:What I would pay for a phone with those specs by narcc · 2013-10-23 08:49 · Score: 1
  
  You'd have to pay me to have a phone with a 320x480 screen. Hello 2006!
  June 2009: iPhone 3GS - 600mhz, 256mb ram, 480x320 screen, "revolutionary".
  How soon we forget...
  
  --
  Required reading for internet skeptics
Re:old but old by JazzLad · 2013-10-23 06:22 · Score: 1

Aren't we all?

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Re:old but old by davester666 · 2013-10-23 06:27 · Score: 1

Sorry. BB now would have a 600x400 display.

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How does iOS not offer fine grained control? by SuperKendall · 2013-10-23 06:38 · Score: 1

Otherwise, why isn't there finer-grained control over what information those applications can access?
What exactly did you have in mind? iOS already offers fine grained control over application access to things like contacts, your camera, location, etc. Also you are asked at the time the application wants to use each resource, not up front when you install the appâ¦
So just what do you have in mind that it does not do already? In fact iOS is very much designed around fine-grained access to system resources and sensor data.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
1. Re:How does iOS not offer fine grained control? by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-10-23 08:03 · Score: 1
  
  "What exactly did you have in mind? iOS already offers fine grained control over application access to things like contacts, your camera, location, etc. Also you are asked at the time the application wants to use each resource, not up front when you install the app"
  Pardon me. You are correct, although it did not start out that way. Apple added that control later. So it was still originally designed in such a way as to allow intrusion.
  
  And Android still hasn't gotten it straight.
Re:I can argue about the price by gl4ss · 2013-10-23 06:39 · Score: 1

Because the much more powerful Moto X is only $199 (without contract) at Republic Wireless

...I was unable to find info, is it simlocked to republic wireless sim? contract or no contract that's kinda important tidbit...

--
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Re:old but old by LifesABeach · 2013-10-23 06:47 · Score: 1

rotate 90 degrees, then remeasure?
Re:Obsolete already by no_go · 2013-10-23 06:51 · Score: 1

You are looking at the wrong market.
The features you talk about (local applications, copying files to the phone) are , mostly for "power users".
This is a basic phone, with capabilities to interact with the web/cloud/etc..
The people who will be looking to this phone are those that aren't able (or willing) to spend the 300 to 600 USD that a Nexus 4 costs in Brazil, and still need to check their e-mail or interact with services (banking, government, etc...).
Also, keep in mind that income in Brazil is much lower that what you may be used to, and for some this phone could be the first real interface to the web that a lot of people would be able to afford. I would guess, that for a lot of people, even the 60 USD that this phone costs on contract will be steep.
If you change Brazil for any number of nations that are developing their infra-structure but still need a cheaper mode of access to (the growing number of) services that are available online, you have a huge market ( India, Indonesia, Philipines, all of Africa, etc...).
App Ops for Android 4.3 by tepples · 2013-10-23 07:00 · Score: 1

Otherwise, why isn't there finer-grained control [in Android] over what information those applications can access?
There's an experimental control panel called "App Ops" buried in vanilla Android 4.3 that allows turning individual permissions on and off for individual applications. It's not the folder- or file-level capability system that I'd prefer, but it is a step toward what various Android mods have been doing all along, and Android 4.3 users can download App Ops from Google Play Store.
1. Re:App Ops for Android 4.3 by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-10-23 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  "There's an experimental control panel called "App Ops" buried in vanilla Android 4.3 that allows turning individual permissions on and off for individual applications."
  Sure. But Google is only allowing that due to customer demand... it is contrary to their Android business model. And it still isn't in wide use... as of today, most phones won't run Android 4.3.
2. Re:App Ops for Android 4.3 by TheSeatOfMyPants · 2013-10-23 16:53 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, but that doesn't help most Android owners (like me), as the carriers/providers can't be bothered to release updates, and Cyanogenmod/AOSP/etc. only cover a small percentage of the market. Google doubtless could come up with *some* way to upgrade older versions of Android, but has opted for the short-term profit of forcing users to buy new phones and increasingly converting Android to closed source so nobody else can offer them updates, either.
  FWIW I'm a fan of Android, just a very frustrated one.
  
  --
  Now mostly at Usenet:comp.misc & SoylentNews.org (it's made of people!)
When import duty costs a brazillion percent by tepples · 2013-10-23 07:01 · Score: 1

A 320x480 Android 4.0 phone is under $50 at Deal Extreme
Plus how much more to get it out of Brazilian customs?
Offline web applications by tepples · 2013-10-23 07:05 · Score: 1

The application needs to be running on local computer.
Offline web applications do run on the local computer. They just run inside the JavaScript virtual machine, just as Android applications run in the Dalvik virtual machine. For more info, put these keywords into your favorite web search engine: CACHE MANIFEST, localStorage, IndexedDB.
Re:old but old by Ralph+Wiggam · 2013-10-23 07:11 · Score: 1

I swapped it so it would be an apples to apples comparison with the 480 x 320 resolution mentioned in the submission.
Re:old but old by narcc · 2013-10-23 07:15 · Score: 1

You're impressively misinformed!

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Required reading for internet skeptics
Re: old but old by gmuslera · 2013-10-23 07:30 · Score: 2

The exploit was on the old version of Firefox that had the Tor Bundle. And Firefox OS seem to have a good push for upgrading it.
Open source security advantage in this is not being bug free (nor is closed source one), but that is auditable. Backdoors are harder to slip in and also more visible (so if you sneak one in a system that you use too, it can be used by others against you, something that you as a government don't want)
Re:I can argue about the price by guises · 2013-10-23 08:48 · Score: 1

No contract, but a locked bootloader. Republic Wireless requires you to run their software and route your call over wifi when you're at home.
"launch on a carrier"? by stenvar · 2013-10-23 08:49 · Score: 1

Why can't you just walk into a store and buy it?
Re: old but old by CRCulver · 2013-10-23 08:54 · Score: 2

While the Tor Browser Bundle exploit was old, it is worth assuming that with the NSA's resources, they can find exploits in any new version of Firefox before they are discovered publicly and patched by Mozilla.
Still not right by SuperKendall · 2013-10-23 09:32 · Score: 1

Pardon me. You are correct, although it did not start out that way.
That is incorrect. It always asked you about access to GPS from third party apps. Over time they added more permissions (like contacts and photos) but right from the start the system was designed so that access to some resources was protected. It's only the scope that has changed.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
1. Re:Still not right by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-10-23 12:10 · Score: 1
  
  "That is incorrect. It always asked you about access to GPS from third party apps. Over time they added more permissions (like contacts and photos) but right from the start the system was designed so that access to some resources was protected. It's only the scope that has changed."
  They ALL, ALWAYS have asked about gross GPS access. The discussion here was about "fine-grained control" over various kinds of location data.
Re:Obsolete already by narcc · 2013-10-23 09:53 · Score: 1

The application needs to be running on local computer. User needs to have full control of files without any "cloud" integration or any "social network" integration.
You get all of those things with packaged open web apps; stored locally, runs locally, has access to local resources. It's just like any other app. No network connection, "cloud" or "social network integration" required. You can find out more on Mozilla's website.

Just give a simple and plain operation where user can copy files as wanted and where wanted.
The level of control you get with FFOS should easily exceed your expectations.
Remember, it's not about this low-spec phone or even about FFOS, it's about *standards*. Mozilla wins when they force big players adopt important new standards. Mozilla wins if they get Android or iOS, or WP to support packaged web apps. Mozilla wins when their efforts make any impact on the market that benefits consumers.
This isn't unprecedented. Mozilla won against IE in the same sense. They're well behind IE and Chrome in marketshare, sure, but that wasn't what mattered.
I'll pitch support behind them because they're working toward a better mobile future for everyone. They're not out to build their own gulag next to MS, Apple, and Google, they're out to force them to unlock the gates.
Really, it doesn't matter what OS you prefer, it's well-worth backing Mozilla here. Their success can only benefit you in the long run, even if you never touch a FFOS phone.

--
Required reading for internet skeptics
I can argue with the price, I got a Nexus 4 by YesIAmAScript · 2013-10-23 10:38 · Score: 1

It's a heck of a lot more phone than that thing and it was $250 (I got the one with the big storage, 8GB units were $200).

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Re:old but old by IANAAC · 2013-10-23 11:47 · Score: 1

480 x 320 display, are you kidding me? Looks like a phone launched 3 years ago.
Actually, this phone could work well for some prepaid markets in the US, too. Well, I should say it *could have* worked. I think it's too late now, but not by much - less than half a year.
I have an LG 840G that's roughly the same specs on tracfone for when I'm at my cabin. Tracfone seems to be the only thing that works consistently in the middle of the woods. Anyway, tracfone could have added that to its line of phones and I bet it would have sold like hotcakes. But as of last month, tracfone now offers a couple of low-end android phones for half the price (ZTE and Samsung) with better specs.
Still wrong by SuperKendall · 2013-10-23 12:40 · Score: 1

They ALL, ALWAYS have asked about gross GPS access. The discussion here was about "fine-grained control" over various kinds of location data.
The original post was not about location. It was about personal data, period, from a variety of sensors. Just what is finer grained than "your location"? How exactly would you break it out beyond that and ask the user in a way that made sense?
I have, all along, asked for examples of what you or anyone else is thinking of when they use the term "fine grained access", so far I have seen zero examples.

--
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
1. Re:Still wrong by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-10-23 13:13 · Score: 1
  
  The original post was not about location. It was about personal data, period, from a variety of sensors. Just what is finer grained than "your location"? How exactly would you break it out beyond that and ask the user in a way that made sense?""
  All right, if you want to nitpick:
  
  It was about access to data, from sensors, in a fine-grained manner, AFTER the app was installed.
  
  I might not have stated "after" specifically, but I felt it was pretty clear from the context. iOS and Android have always asked permission beforehand, so if that isn't what I meant, there would have been no point to my comment.
2. Re:Still wrong by Jane+Q.+Public · 2013-10-23 13:18 · Score: 1
  
  "I have, all along, asked for examples of what you or anyone else is thinking of when they use the term "fine grained access", so far I have seen zero examples."
  The context should already have been clear to you. Do you see anybody else asking me to explain?
  
  But, just for you, here are some examples:
  
  Allowing GPS location access, but not cell-tower or wifi location access.
  
  Allowing wifi access but not cellular data access (this one could be especially helpful to people on limited plans).
  
  Allowing accelerometer or gyro (position) access without location access.
  
  Allowing access to contacts, but no other access. Or vice versa.
  
  Etc. There are many combinations, because there are so many devices and services on a modern phone.
Jiayu G3 by Roman+Mamedov · 2013-10-23 16:18 · Score: 1

but you can't argue with the price.

Maybe not me, but they can.
Re:$200? by TheSeatOfMyPants · 2013-10-23 16:22 · Score: 1

Bush expanded 'Lifeline' to cellphones, and it's only for really poor people. You really should do a little research at Snopes before echoing a stupid political meme...

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Now mostly at Usenet:comp.misc & SoylentNews.org (it's made of people!)
Re: old but old by Lennie · 2013-10-23 22:41 · Score: 1

I've seen people from Mozilla mention they wouldn't mind better a better cooperation between the Tor developers and Firefox developers.
The Tor developers have always showed a lot of interest to do so.
So this could help improve things and get Tor to be able to use with a newer version or more easily port to newer versions.
I've even seen one of the top people at Mozilla mention, maybe Firefox needs a Private Browsing mode that has Tor built-in.

--
New things are always on the horizon
Google Play Services by tepples · 2013-10-24 01:05 · Score: 1

Google doubtless could come up with *some* way to upgrade older versions of Android
I thought that's what Google Play Services package was for: a way to offer new libraries even to users of devices whose manufacturers refuse to issue updates past FroYo. It takes bootloader access to upgrade the kernel, and a lot of manufacturers aren't very willing to give bootloader access to the public for implied-warranty or radio regulation reasons, or they're bound by agreements with major U.S. carriers.

and increasingly converting Android to closed source
In what way? Are you again referring to Google Play Services?
Only Brazil? by markhb · 2013-10-24 01:31 · Score: 1

Any sign of a Firefox OS phone for a USA carrier yet?

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