Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth • Hacker News Board

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#81

Post by listic » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 3:41 PM UTC

Calling Firefox OS "the only truly open mobile operating system" is misleading. AFAIK, it still includes proprietary bootloader and device drivers. So, if I am buying Open C http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unlocked-ZTE-OPEN-C-Firefox-OS-Andro... with Android I still have to modify bootloader to install Firefox OS and I cannot compile and install a new version of Firefox OS myself, if ZTE won't release updates (judging by their previous begaviour, they won't)

I understand that Mozilla is a non-profit with a budget uncomparable to Apple or Google. I like for Firefox OS to succeed, I really do; but wishful thinking is a wrong way to do it.

Firefox OS is not as open as I would like it or what I would call "truly open".

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#82

Post by cwyers » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 3:41 PM UTC

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #62

happyscrappy wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Job would smash this phone, at least he would only be out $35.

Most of the world lives with dumb phones and don't dissolve into childish fits. How to explain that?

That's just it, though. If a "smartphone" offers a worse webbrowsing experience than a "dumb phone" with Opera Mobile that runs well on its resource-constrained host, why buy the smartphone?

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#83

Post by bobajeff » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 3:51 PM UTC

happyscrappy wrote: post #51

rlpb wrote: post #3

There was a review the other day at http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/10/testing-a-35-firefox-... (I think this was from HN). I was interested to see how they defined "growth" in revenue figures. It's disappointing to see that they're only stating launches, rather than sales and return figures, and calling that growth. But perhaps it's too early to get real figures right now.

Ouch: The Good •Per-app privacy controls. Block an app from seeing your location, contacts, or a host of other things on your phone. •It's cheap! •No really, have you seen how cheap it is? It's $35. Off contract. That's like, really cheap. The Bad •The software—Firefox OS was a totally inappropriate choice of operating system for this hardware. There are literally zero considerations for the speed and memory of the C…

From that little snippet I'd say it doesn't sound like Firefox OS was tested very well on the hardware before this phone was released. Which is a real shame since one of the main differentiators I've been reading about is how much better it run on low-end devices than android.

If I were Mozilla I'd think about finding another selling point. Maybe they should rethink the product. I remember when they were first talking about it, it was going to be able to get around the carrier/OEM update problem that Android has using their layered software architecture. That fell through quickly after launch and now not only is OS not being updated and the browser isn't either. Meanwhile, Android is slowly fixing it's update problem and have already worked around it by putting much of the updates into the Play Services API's.

I thought the best selling point of FFOS was going to be branding control as it was originally going to be a white label product with only the code name Boot2Gecko and let all the branding be handled by manufacturers. But it looks like Mozilla gave up on that strategy. I'm guessing because carriers or manufacturers demanded a brand to sell.

I think a workable strategy for Mozilla would be to build a good App Store for Android using their FFOS runtime/API's. Really pour over the user experience. Make fans of the users. Then work with phone manufacturers and carriers on bundling it.

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#84

Post by leeoniya » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 3:52 PM UTC

mikemajzoub wrote: post #38

I am SO excited about the possibilities Firefox OS provides. I do realize it's in early stages now, and there are many hurdles for the Mozilla team to overcome for it to become a real player in the market, but I'm crossing my fingers. Specifically, I can't wait to see what local developers in developing countries create to improve the lives of people within their communities and societies. With the barrier to entry l…

i do think they're making a mistake by not providing FxOS (nightlies) for higher-end devices. they would have so much more dev talent to fill their store and help find bugs and provide feedback. i've been wanting to try it and make apps for it but there's nothing available that i can install without having to build it myself. (HTC Jewel / EVO 4G LTE)

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#85

Post by another » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 3:53 PM UTC

asadotzler wrote: post #71

dscrd wrote: post #31

Is there some technical detail in Firefox OS that makes it a good choice for cheap phones? I've come to understand that it's not particularly lightweight, but am I wrong?

Firefox OS can run in 128MB or RAM. It runs better in 256MB RAM. Android requires 512MB RAM.

We can argue about "require", but Android phones exist at the same price point that also operate with only 128 MB of RAM, e.g.:

http://www.amazon.in/Jivi-JSP-20-Black/dp/B00NOV3NQU

(Android phones with 256 MB of RAM are quite common.)

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#86

Post by happyscrappy » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 4:01 PM UTC

Mikeb85 wrote: post #78

happyscrappy wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Save $5 and get a phone that actually works. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B004ZLV4JG/ref=sr_1_1... Edit: I want FFOS to succeed, pretending that this phone is usable will not help that goal.

That phone sells for 500+ in the third world...

Sounds like a business opportunity.

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#87

Post by darklajid » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 4:01 PM UTC

listic wrote: post #81

Calling Firefox OS "the only truly open mobile operating system" is misleading. AFAIK, it still includes proprietary bootloader and device drivers. So, if I am buying Open C http://www.ebay.com/itm/Unlocked-ZTE-OPEN-C-Firefox-OS-Andro... with Android I still have to modify bootloader to install Firefox OS and I cannot compile and install a new version of Firefox OS myself, if ZTE won't release updates (judging by the…

Buy a Flame and have a better device that you can flash every night if you wish. Building is a single command, flashing a simple second one.

Works fine for me.

(Sure, the drivers are still binary blobs, but .. otherwise it's as open as is feasible, I guess)

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#88

Post by themechanic » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 4:09 PM UTC

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #62

happyscrappy wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Job would smash this phone, at least he would only be out $35.

Most of the world lives with dumb phones and don't dissolve into childish fits. How to explain that?

Most of the 3rd world lives with dumb phones that work well for the tasks they are designed to perform which are to make calls and send text messages. The device in question is not able to perform any of the above named tasks without running into problems. This would frustrate anyone no matter where they live

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#89

Post by JoeAltmaier » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 4:17 PM UTC

themechanic wrote: post #88

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the world lives with dumb phones and don't dissolve into childish fits. How to explain that?

Most of the 3rd world lives with dumb phones that work well for the tasks they are designed to perform which are to make calls and send text messages. The device in question is not able to perform any of the above named tasks without running into problems. This would frustrate anyone no matter where they live

If the 'problems' are lag and failure to multitask (as listed) then they are only problems of patience, as I mentioned. This does not frustrate anyone; it frustrates folks who feel entitled to the best.

Re: Firefox OS Shows Continued Global Growth

#90

Post by techpeace » Thu, Oct 09, 2014, 4:38 PM UTC

mikemajzoub wrote: post #38

I am SO excited about the possibilities Firefox OS provides. I do realize it's in early stages now, and there are many hurdles for the Mozilla team to overcome for it to become a real player in the market, but I'm crossing my fingers. Specifically, I can't wait to see what local developers in developing countries create to improve the lives of people within their communities and societies. With the barrier to entry l…

Well said! Congrats indeed to Mozilla for making this happen.

Does anybody know of a good resource for asking folks that work in/with developing countries what apps would make the most difference in the lives of the folks living there? Is there a StackExchange site that might fit the bill?