Firefox OS journey, next step tablets

If you don’t know what Firefox OS is than this is probably your first visit of this blog (in that case, welcome!).

So what’s Firefox OS? It’s a new operating system from Mozilla and it comes with a mix of excitement, fear and vision. Why Firefox OS? Because we need open alternatives to closed sourced systems. We need freedom for smartphones.

Firefox OS is still very young, it’s only one year on the market. Currently Firefox OS is available in 17 countries around the world with more to come soon. Next month we are releasing a cheap smartphone based on Spreadtrum chip that makes it all possible for just 25$!

At first Firefox OS was targeted for mobile devices. But the momentum of first open operating system build with Web technologies quickly spread across different devices. You can now buy cheap computers powered by Firefox OS operating system build by APC.

APC Rock

and APC Paper.

Panasonic also announced that they will make smart TVs which will use Firefox OS. Merwan Mereby, Panasonic’s US Vice President said that “There are no other alternatives that are truly open” and that’s the reason why they decided to use Firefox OS for their TV devices.

We are also working on streaming device similar to Google’s Chromecast which is also powered by Firefox OS.

While Google has an SDK for Chromecast (with limitations about the types of apps), Firefox OS device is based on Open Web technologies, that don’t have such limitations.



We have also just started a new project that aims to accelerate the development of Firefox OS devices on tablets. Firefox OS on tablet is currently not the top priority. Why? Well simply because we have a limited resources.

So let’s take a look at some of the numbers. Mozilla is often compared to Google. So let’s take a look at number of employees for example. WolframAlpha is great tool for quick stats.

The stats for Mozilla are a little outdated but we can still see the huge difference. But it’s one thing that Mozilla has and Google does not have - community with active contributors that are willing to spend their time to support the mission and to deliver open operating system based on Open Web technologies. Project that aims to bring Firefox OS to tablet form factor will be entirely community based, out in the open for everyone to see. This project is called TCP (Tablet Contribution Program).

For the development of Firefox OS on tablets we need a reference device to work on. Mozilla partnered up with Foxconn. Foxconn is a major manufactured that has catered to such companies as Apple, Dell, HP, Motorola, Nintendo, Nokia and Sony. The new iPhone 6 will be made by Foxconn (you might also read this).

First Firefox OS Tablet has the following specifications:

- Processor: ARM Cortex A7 Quad-Core 1.2GHz

- RAM: 2GB

- Storage: 16GB

- Screen: 10.1"



More detailed info about tablet will be posted in the following days.

But let’s not stop here! I’ll just use this quote from Jan Jongboom: “What about a Firefox OS based doorbell system over bluetooth? A jacket tracker with GPS in case you go out and your jacket gets jacked? A small device that tracks how much you drink during a party? Home surveillance using a network of phones and a bluetooth speaker for an alarm?”

A lot of exciting new projects that could be build using Firefox OS.

Till next time…

Cheers, Nino Vranešič