Sony begins exploring Firefox OS, dares Xperia E owners to experiment with new ROM

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Sony begins exploring Firefox OS, dares Xperia E owners to experiment with new ROM" data-src-height="340" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/sonyfirefoxe-1361986500.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Well, that didn't take long. A mere couple of days after announcing it, too, would be jumping on the Firefox OS bandwagon, Sony's now let it be known that it's making an "experimental" ROM available to devs (or any common, daring owner) with an Xperia E device. According the company's <i>Developer World</i> blog post, this developmental version of Mozilla's fresh mobile software is being released in order to show the current progress of the OS project, as well as in hopes of receiving feedback that'll be beneficial toward the finished product. Folks interested in tinkering with the Firefox OS ROM can hit the source link below to see what it all entails, while those only looking for a quick peek will find just that in the video situated right after the break.</div></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/7x2bO769KDs?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe></div>

Sony begins exploring Firefox OS, dares Xperia E owners to experiment with new ROM

Well, that didn't take long. A mere couple of days after announcing it, too, would be jumping on the Firefox OS bandwagon, Sony's n...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Huawei, LG pitch tents in growing Firefox OS camp

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="Huawei, LG set to join growing Firefox OS camp" data-src-height="412" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/mwc2013huaweifirefoxmain.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> While we doubt Huawei or LG were singing "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date..." at MWC this year, in hindsight they likely would have enjoyed sharing what arguably became the biggest deal of this show. Unfortunately the two handsets we caught up with at Telefonica's booth were behind glass and no amount of reason was going to see them sprung. Obviously the Huawei offering isn't close to ready as it is running on an Android set, though, the LG while powered off certainly looked like a complete housing featuring the requisite home button. So it would seem Firefox OS has become a waiting game as we sit and tally what other manufacturers feel it's safe to jump on board. Short gallery of the two devices under glass are just below.</div></div>

Huawei, LG pitch tents in growing Firefox OS camp

While we doubt Huawei or LG were singing "I'm late, I'm late for a very important date...

مزيد من المعلومات »

ZTE Open Firefox OS phone announced at MWC 2013, we go hands-on

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/zteopenhandsonlead01.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Alcatel wasn't the only one to flash some Firefox OS hardware at Mozilla's big MWC event. ZTE was also showing off two shades of its new smartphone, the Open. The device will launch in orange and blue in global territories starting in Q2. It has a very handy 3.5-inch screen, meaning there's no issues holding it in one hand but there's not a lot of premium feel going on here. The plastic shell felt like any low-end Android device, though we won't fault the grippy finish here.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Other specs (that we've already snuck a peek at) include a Cortex-A5-based Qualcomm processor that could be clocked at either 600MHz or 800MHz -- we're trying to get a confirmation on that. There's also 256MB of RAM, 512MB of expandable storage and a humble 3.2-megapixel camera on the back. The 480 x 320 screen itself is nothing to shout home about. Again, it feels like a flashback to those sub-$150 smartphones that did the rounds back in 2011 and while it's not the flashiest spec sheet, ZTE (and Firefox) are pitching this at those millions of future smartphone users that haven't already plumped for a mobile OS. However, the search function looks pretty pervasive, able to tap into apps, the web and more in search of the answer you're looking for. Specific carriers will be able to add in their own apps (pre-installed or not) for its customers. We got a glimpse at a data monitoring app that could pull together your data habits and respective carrier plans -- even if there's no word on a US release beyond some time in 2014. There's a quick hands-on after the break.</div></div>

ZTE Open Firefox OS phone announced at MWC 2013, we go hands-on

Alcatel wasn't the only one to flash some Firefox OS hardware at Mozilla's big MWC event. ZTE was also showing off two shades of its...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Mozilla CEO: looking at a 2014 time frame for a US Firefox OS release

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /> <div class="copy post-body" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"> <div class="image-container" style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/mozillamwc13-0079-02-24-13-01.jpg" /></div>With a number of other countries already in line to get their hands on Mozilla's Firefox OS, it's pretty clear that the company doesn't have the States at the top of its list of priorities. While attending its press conference at MWC today, however, we just had to ask: when will we be getting a turn at the mobile operating system? CEO Gary Kovacs assured us that the US is indeed on the list (albeit a bit further down), and his company has both plans and partners lined up for what looks to be a 2014 release time frame for the low cost operating system.<br /> </div></div>

Mozilla CEO: looking at a 2014 time frame for a US Firefox OS release

With a number of other countries already in line to get their hands on Mozilla's Firefox OS, it&...

مزيد من المعلومات »

Alcatel One Touch Fire joins the Firefox OS cuddle party, we go hands-on (video)

<div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><hr dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" /><div class="image-container" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Alcatel One Touch Fire" data-src-height="358" data-src-width="620" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2013/02/alcatel-one-touch-fire.jpg" /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">ZTE may have had a head start in the Firefox OS race ahead of MWC, but Alcatel's also got something similar to ride on the waves of some "500 million Mozilla users." Suitably dubbed the One Touch Fire, this entry-level phone is basically a rehash of the budget One Touch T'Pop announced back at CES, packing a 3.5-inch HVGA TN display, a 1GHz processor, 256MB RAM, 512MB storage and a 3.2-megapixel camera. There are also the usual bunch of radios: WiFi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, FM radio and UMTS 900/2100 and 850/1900/2100 (up to 7.2Mbps for download and 5.76Mbps for upload). Underneath the removable 1,400mAh battery you'll find a microSD slot that'll take anything up to 32GB (a 2GB card is included), as well as a slot for an old-school Mini-SIM card.</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">We got the chance to play with the Fire earlier today and while the glossy plastic body -- in either orange or pink -- felt solid enough, the performance wasn't quite there yet: the touch and software response were significantly sluggish, as you'll see in our hands-on video after the break. On the brighter side of things, the surprisingly large loudspeaker on the back produced some punchy bass, but don't expect too much from its audio quality. Alcatel has a few more months to grease up the phone before its June launch across Latin America and Europe, so we'll be able to give it a proper score then. Press release after the break.</div></div><iframe frameborder="0" height="349" id="viddler-1af9a2ab" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/1af9a2ab/?f=1&offset=0&autoplay=0&secret=67225493&disablebranding=0&view_secret=67225493" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="545"></iframe></div>

Alcatel One Touch Fire joins the Firefox OS cuddle party, we go hands-on (video)

ZTE may have had a head start in the Firefox OS race ahead of MWC, but Alcatel's also got something similar to ride on the waves of som...

مزيد من المعلومات »