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Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

paulrouget.com

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Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#11

Post by jlongster »

mcot2 wrote: post #7

This is going to be great. Should be far easier than Objective-C, Java and whatever Windows Phone 7 uses for simple apps. I'm still not totally convinced about large code bases being developed in JS but I would say that MOST iOS and Android apps don't need "programming in the large" features. But, I could also see some kind of compile-to-javascript language like CoffeeScript making this easier. I hope this stays up t…

Several carries are already interested, and Telefonica has already partnered up with Mozilla to create a real phone in the next year.

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#13

Post by yobbobandana »

jlongster wrote: post #11
mcot2 wrote: post #7

This is going to be great. Should be far easier than Objective-C, Java and whatever Windows Phone 7 uses for simple apps. I'm still not totally convinced about large code bases being developed in JS but I would say that MOST iOS and Android apps don't need "programming in the large" features. But, I could also see some kind of compile-to-javascript language like CoffeeScript making this easier. I hope this stays up t…

Several carries are already interested, and Telefonica has already partnered up with Mozilla to create a real phone in the next year.

Telefonica press release for those who missed it:

http://saladeprensa.telefonica.com/jsp/base.jsp?contenido=/j...

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#14

Post by thekingshorses »

programminggeek wrote: post #6

I like the idea of Boot2Gecko, but it's 100% pointless as a project. We had a shot to have a pure web based OS with webOS, and absent awesome hardware and marketing nobody bought it. Mozilla building their own Firefox version of webOS is not going to make this kind of thing successful. Great devices are a marriage of hardware and software. Focus too much on one at the peril of the other. Shipping an OS to basically c…

I went to their boot2geco meetup, and their goal is to make sure that apple, google and microsoft implements browser friendly apis like dialer, phonebook, etc. Nokia and Samsung already pushing webkit and MS to implement device apis based on Mozilla's implementation.

Mozilla is betting on Javascipt and open web. They think that is the future and I agree with them.

Google is already restricting how much manufacture can customize with latest android versions, and this opens a new door for them.

Mozilla is already working with manufacture to make sure they can build boot2geko devices on existing product line without adding additional cost.

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#15

Post by otoburb »

daa wrote: post #8
programminggeek wrote: post #6

I like the idea of Boot2Gecko, but it's 100% pointless as a project. We had a shot to have a pure web based OS with webOS, and absent awesome hardware and marketing nobody bought it. Mozilla building their own Firefox version of webOS is not going to make this kind of thing successful. Great devices are a marriage of hardware and software. Focus too much on one at the peril of the other. Shipping an OS to basically c…

I think the real trick isn't convincing hardware makers -- they do what the operators ask them to (at least in the non-Apple world). Operators like Telefonica are interested. See e.g. http://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2012/02/27/mozilla-in-mobile-th...

Mobile operators spend a lot of management cycles trying to figure out how to avoid becoming 'dumb pipes' like their broadband counterparts.

They know they have unique infrastructure capabilities and, to their credit, want to create additional value to end-users. In conjunction with their current purchasing power and influence over hardware vendors, forward-looking mobile carriers can definitely view B2G as a possible competitive edge if they can figure out how to bring one to market in the most cost-effective (read: cheapest and least disruptive) way possible.

It's a breath of fresh air considering the capabilities and branding that Mozilla has. I would love to be a fly on the wall in those discussions.

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#16

Post by yobbobandana »

One thing I hope this promotes is a good interface for accessing device hardware via HTML. In particular i had a hard time trying to access a webcam feed to embed in a webpage when i tried it a while ago. The ability to simply capture images/audio/video for use in a web app, from your phone or your webcam, would be tremendously fun.

As far as i'm aware the current solution for this is still to use Flash, or a native application. I'd be happy to be wrong. In any case making a phone entirely controllable via web standards will ensure that such capabilities are avilable and proven.

If anyone has more info on webcam integration with HTML5 video, this stackoverflow post could use some love: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1318834/whats-the-status-...

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#17

Post by moondowner »

programminggeek wrote: post #6

I like the idea of Boot2Gecko, but it's 100% pointless as a project. We had a shot to have a pure web based OS with webOS, and absent awesome hardware and marketing nobody bought it. Mozilla building their own Firefox version of webOS is not going to make this kind of thing successful. Great devices are a marriage of hardware and software. Focus too much on one at the peril of the other. Shipping an OS to basically c…

Well Mozilla partnered with Telefonica on this one: http://www.openwebdevice.com/

So I guess only a hardware vendor is missing?

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#18

Post by tankenmate »

moondowner wrote: post #17
programminggeek wrote: post #6

I like the idea of Boot2Gecko, but it's 100% pointless as a project. We had a shot to have a pure web based OS with webOS, and absent awesome hardware and marketing nobody bought it. Mozilla building their own Firefox version of webOS is not going to make this kind of thing successful. Great devices are a marriage of hardware and software. Focus too much on one at the peril of the other. Shipping an OS to basically c…

Well Mozilla partnered with Telefonica on this one: http://www.openwebdevice.com/ So I guess only a hardware vendor is missing?

Technically you don't need a hardware vendor on board as it uses firmware from android; hardware support is there already.

Re: Boot2Gecko demo & quick hack

#20

Post by joelanman »

programminggeek wrote: post #6

I like the idea of Boot2Gecko, but it's 100% pointless as a project. We had a shot to have a pure web based OS with webOS, and absent awesome hardware and marketing nobody bought it. Mozilla building their own Firefox version of webOS is not going to make this kind of thing successful. Great devices are a marriage of hardware and software. Focus too much on one at the peril of the other. Shipping an OS to basically c…

As far as I understand, B2G feel that their USP is performance on lower-spec phones, for use in the developing world. Yes, you can get cheap Android phones, but they generally run like crap. I think B2G are aiming for sub $100 smart phones that actually run the web and web apps/games well. Good luck to them - its an admirable aim.
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