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Talking about Mozilla, the first thing that comes to mind is the Firefox Browser, powered with Gecko Engine, smooth rendering, and fast browsing capabilities. But that’s not all; Mozilla has been spending 15 years in developing what would perhaps become the next generation of smarter phones. Although not as prominent as Android OS or iOS, this would certainly let the ‘low-spec’ world touch the higher hierarchy of the mobile world. Unlike major mobile operating systems, which were designed based on Linux codes, Mozilla created their Firefox Os (project name: Boot to Gecko) on an HTML platform, more precisely HTML 5. Meaning; light weight and cheaper Smart Phones. Basing around HTML 5, Firefox intended to provide an alternative system to mobile devices, so that the applications used by users can directly communicate with the cellphone hardware. Despite aiming for low-budget handsets, Mozilla intends to compete directly with commercially developed operating systems such as Apple's iOS, Google's Android, Microsoft's Windows Phone as well as other community-based open source systems such as Ubuntu Touch.
Considering the world of Internet, only one-third of the entire population has access to Internet or is online. This means that two-third of the world population cannot access to the world-wide-web, either because the connectivity is expensive or else the inability to afford a device that would ensure that accessibility. Even if Internet is made cheaper, the devices that support proper Internet activities aren’t going to be cheaper. And even if a device has been managed, the next issue that arises is the feasibility of a cheap handset towards web applications which are often resource consuming – in terms of available Storage and RAM. To bridge this gap it is essential for a system to exist that can cope up with low-end devices and has the capability to equally render web based features, keeping in mind that neither the Internet provider nor the device itself ask further investment from the user.
The idea that emerged was to bring web activities before the population that wouldn’t simply be able to afford smart phones, which lead Mozilla to design an OS that would bridge this gap, and hence targeting the low-spec devices. The OS and the applications used by the OS are entirely based on HTML 5 code, keeping the apps very small in size compared to their equivalence at Android or iOS stores, meaning lower data-transfer and hence cheaper maintenance.
Another good thing; since there are more HTML experienced work-force than there are for Linux or iOS, it is presumable that there could be greater collection of applications compared to Android store. Firefox OS’ unique feature to run web-based apps will provide openness that’s not present in the mobile-technology ecosystems where localized aspirations surround Android and iOS, especially. In those latter two environments, tight links binds the operating system, online services, app stores, and apps together, making it harder for people to use alternatives once they’ve lodged and invested. But with the iOS and the Android dominating the market today, programmers are lavishing resources on building apps that run natively in the platform instead of web versions that run everywhere. But a positive feature of the Firefox oriented apps is that, the applications being HTML5 and JavaScript based makes them a few KB in size. This ensures lower RAM usage and lower data cost. Besides, once you have downloaded the apps, these apps are readily available to all the devices you manage under the Firefox OS. A superior feature compared to synchronizing all the heavy application in the proprietary operating systems, and think of all the data and time they would consume.
Although the UI relates to Android and iOS to some extent, it differs in concept and purpose of the OS. The App screen specifically relates to iOS, user interactions and interface behaviors are very similar to that of iOS. Even the ‘Home’ button operates the very same way; you click it, and any app you are running closes down and takes you to the app screen. You’ll also see the iOS-like scrollwheel interface for picking dates and time. Although Mozilla has their own browser that has its own fashion and interface, interestingly, the browser in the Firefox OS has a similar ‘Top Sites’ feature as in Safari. Perhaps, the Mozilla guys wanted their OS to be more of a replacement to iOS than Android. But the good news is, anyone who loves, or used, or wants to use an Apple iPhone, will find this in their dexterity and at much affordable rate. And yet, it doesn’t mean a total similarity, as I mentioned earlier, the interface relates to both iOS and Android – the notifications bar works like a cross between Android and the iOS7.
The one unique feature you could point is the Search Bar. Often in proprietary systems, swiping to the leftmost screen opens the search bar for your device, but in the Firefox OS the search bar opens for the Firefox App Store. And when you type ‘Youtube’, instead of bring the YouTube app, it also brings other apps that are related to YouTube or are linked to it. This is interesting especially when you want more info or want a drifted idea from what you are actually looking for. You can even save the search as ‘Smart Collection’ – one of their new features, so you can head back to your search list like clicking an app for search results.
To talk about the apps, these are not composed interfaces that bring everything from the site before you as in other major platforms. Instead, the apps directly link to the webpage, that is, since native apps in this OS are built on HTML5 and JavaScript, a well-designed mobile site will look and behave as if they are apps. This feature comes in handy when certain apps like Facebook and Skype do not portray the potentials as they do in desktop versions or even the mobile versions. Furthermore, why glitch your phone with an app that doesn’t provide any additional feature compared to its web-version? And Mozilla is adopting new web technologies that will enable the advanced features in Firefox OS, which will blur the distinction between a native app and a mobile site even further.
I must agree it isn’t well built and lacks a lot of user-friendliness in its design, only because we are accustomed to slick responses and tech-feel of the iOS and Android, besides Blackberry OS, Windows, and even the Symbian OS. But it is just beginning; they are constantly adding improvements and let’s hope the best would come from them.
I have it off by default so I get a lot of messages like that. If I can see the content I want, I just ignore them.