Firefox OS, soon to take over the market......

We are aware of quite a lot of Operating Systems for phones and tablets, and none of them comes free with the phone, the charge gets incurred along with the system. Android, Windows 8, iOS etc to name a few, falls under the category of known Operating systems, on which the people of India are widely based. But there is another operating system that came up, called Firefox OS. Its a product of the non-profit making organisation Mozilla. Its gradually getting under the notice of the common mass other than the technocrats, and those who have got hold of a system running on the same, got to know well how cool it is and how advantageous it is over other available OS's..

Lets get to know what exactly firefox OS is, and its specifications and architecture.

Firefox Operating system is a linux based OS for Smart Phones and Tablets. It's an Open Source project named Boot to Gecko by Mozilla Community, which is a non-profitmaking organisation. The project has been initiated as an open source project so that many developers around the globe could develop the same for betterment. And since it is an open source stuff it would be available for free and thus the gadgets that would have Firefox OS would be of low price than that having other OS such as windows or android.

Firefox OS allows the user to enjoy the dual booting option, which is an added advantage that it provides. Since it is based on Gecko technology, it allows user to use open web standards to develop and run application at the same time. Its not a proprietary platform. Since its based on HTML 5 its an open platform. The idea to Open Web was the primary focus in creating such OS, according to the community. Their intent was not to create an ecosystem for Mozilla but to make the user and developer get benefited by the open web standards. Firefox OS is not meant to be compared with the other OS's like android or iOS, unless in case of the price, as its purpose is entirely different. For developers, the use of open Web standards like HTML 5, JavaScript and CSS means you can build web apps that can access device functions previously only to available native apps, for instance wifi and camera functions. This is an interesting development for emerging markets for which Firefox OS based devices are mainly intended. It would catalyze the app development within the community of developers. Finally, they can code mobile apps that could be platform independent, as because they would be coding it off in HTML 5 standard. So, no more working on more than one versions of the same app.

I feel that Firefox OS is not meant to get the other Operating systems out of market, but to provide a cheaper alternative that would bring in comparable if not better performance. The main unique feature that this OS is having is its customizability. With Firefox Os , you only got to have basic Web Development tools and skills. If one is quite familiar with HTML and CSS, then the user could customize the system in whichever he/she wants without taking any bit of heck.

Primarily considering the Web standards and open source technologies, its pretty much expected that Firefox OS would go a long way. So much that it might be the mobile Operating system of priority for the future. Firefox OS makes mobile ecosystem quite simple for them who have got a keen interest in developing and is very affordable for users as well. It might even force other Operating systems to shatter their self created silos and start working collaboratively, very much similar to how Mozilla's Firefox browser got IE, Netscape Navigator and the other Web browsers to work together.

 

[Dhruv Bindhani]

The provided text introduces Firefox OS as an alternative mobile operating system, a product of the non-profit organization Mozilla. It positions Firefox OS as a cool and advantageous option compared to existing mobile operating systems like Android, Windows, and iOS, especially in terms of its cost-effectiveness.

Here's a breakdown of Firefox OS, its specifications, architecture, and potential impact as described in the text:

What is Firefox OS?

Firefox OS is a Linux-based open-source operating system designed for smartphones and tablets. Its project name within the Mozilla Community was "Boot to Gecko" (B2G). Being an open-source initiative, it encourages global developer contributions, which in turn means it's available for free, leading to lower-priced gadgets compared to those running proprietary OS like Windows or Android.

Specifications and Architecture:

• Linux-based: It utilizes a modified version of the Linux kernel as its foundation (referred to as "Gonk" in technical descriptions, which acts as the hardware abstraction layer).
• Open Source: The entire project is open source, fostering community development and ensuring its free availability.
• Gecko Technology: Firefox OS is built upon Mozilla's Gecko rendering engine, which is the same engine used in the Firefox web browser. This allows users to leverage open web standards to develop and run applications.
• Open Web Standards (HTML5, JavaScript, CSS): A core tenet of Firefox OS is its adherence to open web standards. All applications on Firefox OS are essentially web apps built with HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS. This means developers can create apps that can directly access device functions (like Wi-Fi and camera) that were traditionally only accessible by native apps on other platforms.
• Not a Proprietary Platform: It contrasts with proprietary platforms like iOS and Android by being an open platform.
• Focus on Open Web: Mozilla's primary intent in creating Firefox OS was not to build a closed ecosystem but to benefit users and developers through open web standards. The article argues that it's not meant to directly compete with Android or iOS on features, but rather to offer a different purpose and, crucially, a cheaper alternative.
• Dual Booting Option: An "added advantage" mentioned is its support for dual booting.

Advantages and Impact:

• Affordability: Due to its open-source nature and free availability, devices running Firefox OS were intended to be significantly lower in price, making them attractive for emerging markets.
• Platform Independence for Developers: Developers can write mobile apps using HTML5, making them inherently platform-independent. This eliminates the need to create multiple versions of the same app for different operating systems.
• Customizability: The OS is highly customizable. Users with basic web development skills (HTML and CSS) can personalize the system to their liking.
• Catalyst for App Development: By leveraging open web standards, Firefox OS aimed to catalyze app development within the developer community, making mobile app creation as accessible as web development.
• Simplicity of Mobile Ecosystem: It simplifies the mobile ecosystem for developers and offers a very affordable option for users.
• Potential to Drive Collaboration: The author speculates that Firefox OS might even "force other Operating systems to shatter their self created silos and start working collaboratively," drawing a parallel to how the Firefox browser influenced cooperation among web browsers like IE and Netscape Navigator.

The author's perspective is that Firefox OS was not designed to eliminate other operating systems but to provide a cheaper alternative with comparable, if not better, performance. Its customizability and reliance on open web standards and open-source technologies are seen as strong indicators of its potential for longevity and even future priority in the mobile OS landscape.

Current Status (from external knowledge, beyond the provided text):

It's important to note that Firefox OS was officially discontinued by Mozilla for smartphones in 2017. While the project aimed to bring an open web-based platform to mobile, it struggled to gain significant market share against the established Android and iOS ecosystems. Elements of its underlying technology (like Gonk and Gecko) continued to be used in other Mozilla projects, particularly for connected devices like smart TVs (e.g., by Panasonic) and later in research for IoT. However, as a smartphone operating system, it is no longer actively developed or supported by Mozilla. The optimism presented in the text reflects the aspirations during the OS's active development phase.