Panasonic Introduces 4K Ultra HD Life+ Screen TVs Powered by Firefox OS

Mozilla, the mission-based organization dedicated to promoting openness, innovation and opportunity on the Web, today announced new developments that show the power and flexibility of Firefox OS and the Web platform across device categories and user experiences.

Firefox OS is the first truly open mobile platform built entirely on Web technologies, bringing more choice and control to the mobile industry and delivering an unparalleled level of customization that empowers developers, operators, hardware manufacturers and even consumers to create customized and innovative, connected experiences.

Firefox OS Powers New Category of Devices

Panasonic today announced its 2015 lineup of next-generation Life+ Screen 4K Ultra HD Smart TVs powered by Firefox OS at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

Mozilla and Panasonic collaborated to create a new innovative, interactive and customizable user interface powered by Firefox OS, which will be available on Panasonic’s new Life+ Screen TVs starting this spring. Through the collaboration, Panasonic’s 2015 TV user interface has advanced significantly from last year, making it even easier for users to quickly access their favorite content – including live TV, applications, websites and content on other devices. Also, for the first time, these Panasonic TVs powered by Firefox OS will allow TV on-screen notifications from applications, and, in the future, from compatible connected appliances.

“We’ve made it easy to find your favorite content and applications or customize the user interface on our Life+ Screen 4K Ultra HD Smart TVs, powered by Firefox OS,” said Yuki Kusumi, Director of the Home Entertainment Business Division of Appliances Company of Panasonic. “Firefox OS uses open Web technologies, which allow us to maximize compatibility with other devices like smartphones and laptops to send content (such as your favorite photos or videos) to your TV.”

The Web is the Platform

Firefox OS unlocks the power of the Web as the platform and enables devices and experiences to be connected to each other. We’re excited to create the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects all types of devices using open Web technology and enables many new innovative and customized applications and products to be created by hardware manufacturers and developers for consumers to use across these connected devices.

For example, Matchstick (who recently announced the world’s first open software and hardware streaming TV device with Firefox OS inside), today announced new partnerships with Philips/AOC and TCL to create more devices with Firefox OS inside.

With Panasonic TVs, Matchstick streaming TV devices and other Firefox OS powered devices, users can enjoy a custom and connected Web experience, taking their favorite content (apps, videos, photos, websites) across different form factors (smartphones, tablets, computers and even big screen TVs) without being locked into one proprietary ecosystem or brand.

Newest, Most Powerful Firefox OS Smartphone Yet

Firefox OS continues to expand its reach to more devices and more countries, with the recent KDDI announcement that Fx0 is on sale in au stores across Japan. Fx0 is the most powerful Firefox OS smartphone yet with the latest Firefox OS update inside, and was designed to make sure the openness, freedom and transparency that are core to the Mozilla mission and values of Firefox OS, are shown in the device.

The new Firefox OS update includes support for innovative technologies like NFC, LTE, WebRTC and more, making Fx0 the first Firefox OS phone to include many of these features.

These announcements demonstrate the momentum of Firefox OS, which is now available with our partners in nearly 30 countries on 16 smartphones.

“Firefox OS powering everything from smartphones to a new category of devices like TVs and streaming devices proves the flexibility and power of the Web as the platform,” said Andreas Gal, Mozilla CTO. “We’re excited about the collaboration with Panasonic to offer the first TVs powered by Firefox OS because it offers consumer and developers a customized and easy to use way to take their Firefox Web experience across devices.”

Images of Life+ Screen TV with Firefox OS