Tag: mozilla

Firefox OS 2.5 Comes To Android Phones

After having announced an iOS App, Mozilla Firefox now announces the launch of a Firefox OS 2.5 developer preview for all Android devices.

There are a couple of highlighted features that arrive with the app such as add-ons, private browsing with tracking protection and ‘pin the web’.

The add-ons are a feature that will allow users to use an extension of one or more apps along with the system app itself; the private browsing feature is exclusive to Mozilla’s Firefox version which allows you to browse through the web with a tracking protection; last but not the least is the ‘pin the web’ feature that removes artificial distinction between web pages and websites so that you can pin any website to your home screen.

Obviously, the app is still being tested out, and you can click here to check out the ‘developer’s preview’. Oh, just one more thing, the app runs without needing to flash the operating system over your current Android OS.

November 16, 2015
The Mozilla Firefox iOS App Is Finally Available On the App Store

Mozilla had been testing an iOS version of its browser for a while now, and it has finally launched a Firefox version for iOS. This app will now be available on the Apple Store on all iOS run devices ranging from the iPhone to the iPod Touch.

Firefox had previously held a stance against developing software for Apple’s app store, but has clearly moved on since then. The first iOS Mozilla tester had rolled out in May this year, following another one in September, before going live with the final version.

This app is being introduced amongst much competition in the sphere of web browsing, especially with iOS owned Safari already in the picture. This new app will allow Firefox loyalists to continue using the web browser even on their Apple products. Let’s all hope that Firefox is able to gain some new customers whilst keeping its old ones too.

Here is a link for you to download Mozilla Firefox on to your Apple devices. Just make sure your device runs the iOS 8.2 or above.

November 16, 2015
Firefox Disables Adobe Flash Over Security Issues

Can’t play Candy Crush Saga on Firefox? In light of recent security flaws found in Adobe Flash, Mozilla has disabled Flash by default. For the past few days, Flash has been scrutinised for having security flaws, which was revealed when a leak of files of size 400GB happened during a hack on the Hacking Team, a spyware company.

In a tweet by Mark Schmidt, the head of the Firefox support team at Mozilla, the browser has disabled Flash version 18.0.0.203, meaning that Flash-based content will not work unless Adobe issues a patch to fix the security flaws. Users can of-course, enable it manually in the Settings menu.

http://twitter.com/MarkSchmidty/status/620783674561327104/photo/1

Adobe has now released a new version for Flash, 18.0.0.209, in which the security flaws have been fixed.

The dislike for Flash isn’t new. Just yesterday, Facebook’s new chief security officer asked Adobe to announce a “kill date” for Flash. In a tweet he said, “It is time for Adobe to announce the end-of-life date for Flash and to ask the browsers to set killbits on the same day. Even if it is 18 months from now, one set date is the only way to disentangle the dependencies and upgrade the whole ecosystem at once.”

Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was also known to dislike Flash. In an open letter published in 2010, Jobs asked for the discontinuance of Flash, citing performance and security issues with the platform. He also named it the number one reason for a crash in various Mac systems.

A few months back, Google announced an updated version of its Chrome browser that would intelligently pause Flash. YouTube, which has supported it for a long time, dropped it in January in favour of HTML5.

It is only a matter of time before Adobe decides to drop Flash, considering that it already stopped the development of the mobile version back in 2011.

July 14, 2015
Tech Giants Collaborate to Build a Program That Speeds Up Browsers by 20 Times

Top minds of the tech industry are making collective efforts to construct WebAssembly. Known as ‘wasm’ in short, WebAssembly is a new intermediate representation for safe code on the Web, being prepared by Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Mozilla. The new bytecode enhances the speed of the browser by 20 times, therefore, decreasing the computing time of the content to milliseconds. In simple words, bytecode is a set of instructions read by computers that helps browsers load faster.

Currently, the conversational language of browsers is JavaScript, through which they interpret codes and flash content on any website. Mozilla’s asm.js has been in use since long, which decreases the loading time of a webpage, but WebAssembly bytecode makes the browser even faster. It is more efficient for both desktop and mobile browsers than the full source code of a Web page or app.

JavaScript creator and former Mozilla CEO Brendan Eich said in a blog post:

asm.js is great, but once engines optimize for it, the parser becomes the hot spot — very hot on mobile devices. Transport compression is required and saves bandwidth, but decompression before parsing hurts.

The project aims at providing features of JavaScript’s low-level subset asm.js that produces optimized JS code, and improves its range to other programming languages, like Microsoft’s C#, Google’s Go, and Mozilla’s Rust. Some sources state of it administering the complex data visualizations, Web-based animations, and large JS-driven Web or mobile apps.

The collective project is under development stage and there is no mention of when the project will conclude. But this is sure to be a norm in the recent future.

[tw-button size=”medium” background=”” color=”blue” target=”_blank” link=”https://brendaneich.com/2015/06/from-asm-js-to-webassembly/”]Source[/tw-button]

June 19, 2015
Mozilla Brings Out Firefox v35 with a Cool New Conversation Tool

Mozilla has launched the new version of its internet browser called Firefox Version 35 Final which will be followed by Firefox for Android 35.0 in the coming days. The latest version comes with various new features including new room-based conversion tool for Firefox Hello, improved geolocation tools and an integrated download manager for Android.

The new room-based chat model allows users to organise different conversations and contacts in groups, making it easy to keep track of old chats and start new ones with your contacts. The new version has also simplified the chat process by removing certain steps.

Now, when you start a conversation, a window opens showing a self-view until the person you have invited clicks on the link and joins you. When they do, you’ll be notified with an audio alert and the Hello icon will turn blue. According to Mozilla, Firefox Hello is the world’s first global communications system built directly into a browser.

Second important iteration in the Firefox v35 is the Firefox Marketplace for the desktop, however, it is currently in Beta. The marketplace is already available on Firefox OS and Firefox for Android, now the company is testing apps on Windows, Mac, and Linux with the help of selected users.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEPq4xFGzG0

Next up is the soon-to-release Android-build version with the promise of improved opt-in geolocation service with the help of your Wi-Fi and cellular signal. Along with this, Bing Search will provide secure search via HTTP and will be integrated with the Android download manager as well.

All of the aforementioned features will be available in Firefox toolbar and in the Customize mode. The v35 is already available for Windows, Mac and Linux as free, open-source download fon Firefox.com while the Firefox Version 35 for Android will be available shortly.

January 14, 2015
Yahoo Steps Into the Shoes of Google as Default Search Engine on Firefox

Of course, Google is the ultimate king of internet search engines and there is no doubt in it. With almost all the popular browsers using Google Search as their default search engine, the American internet giant enjoys a monopoly in the social-networking arena.

Well, Yahoo is trying to revive its lost glory and has taken a major step to challenge the supremacy of Google over internet search. Starting in December, Firefox will use Yahoo as its default search engine in the United States on mobile and desktop.

“I’m thrilled to announce that we’ve entered into a five-year partnership with Mozilla to make Yahoo the default search experience on Firefox across mobile and desktop,” Yahoo Chief Executive Marissa Mayer wrote in a Wednesday blog post. “This is the most significant partnership for Yahoo in five years.”

It is estimated that Google has been paying Mozilla around $100 million for the privilege of being the default search engine used in the Firefox browser. That deal, last renewed for a three-year period in 2011, has come to an end and will not be renewed as Yahoo has grabbed the contract for the next five years.

“Our teams worked closely with Mozilla to build a clean, modern, and immersive search experience that will launch first to Firefox’s U.S. users in December and then to all Yahoo users in early 2015. The interactive and integrated experience also better leverages our world-class content and personalization technologies.” Mayer wrote. She further talked about the company’s vision saying, “At Yahoo, we believe deeply in search – it’s an area of investment and opportunity for us.”

Market leader Google accounts for 67% of searches from US desktop computers. That compares to about 20% for Microsoft and 10% for Yahoo, according to research firm comScore. Let’s see how much popularity this American multinational giant gains with this deal.

November 20, 2014
Mozilla and Intex Launch India’s First Firefox OS Smartphone

Back in June, Mozilla announced that it was bringing the Cloud FX to Indian and Indonesian markets at this year’s Mobile Asia Expo. Now, the Firefox maker, has launched India’s first Firefox OS smartphone dubbed as ‘Cloud FX’.

The device is a fruitful result of the partnership between Mozilla and Intex. Touted as the cheapest smartphone in the country, the handset was first introduced to India at the Mobile World Congress in February.

[quote text_size=”small” author=”Keshav Bansal” author_title=” Intex Technologies Director (Marketing)”]

This dual SIM-handset is for those looking to upgrade from feature phones without worrying about the price or complexity of a smartphone. We are confident that it will find great traction, especially in tier II and III towns

[/quote]

Bansal also added that the company is targeting rural areas and small cities. The company is aiming to sell more than 5 lakh units in the next three months.

In terms of specs, the smartphone is nothing special. A 2 megapixel camera, 128 MB RAM, a 3.5-inch screen. It’s got a 3.5-inch capacitive touchscreen with 480×320 pixels resolution. Intex has packed in a 1GHz Spreadtrum processor along with 256 MB total memory. It is also got dual SIM support.

However, this is a 2G-only phone with support for Wi-Fi. The Cloud FX takes in microSD cards, but support is limited up to 4GB only. It comes with a 1250mAh battery. The company is clearly not offering a dream phone; Firefox and Intex are targeting an audience that is buying their first smartphone.

“The positive consumer feedback from other markets tells us that people like the unique user experience and openness we’re building with Firefox OS,” Mozilla President Li Gong said in a statement. “Firefox OS smartphones in the ultra-low-cost category will redefine the entry-level smartphone and create strong momentum in Asia.”

The Intex Cloud FX is priced at Rs 1,990 and will be exclusively available on Snapdeal. Intex has also teamed up with Aircel to provide Aircel users who buy the phone 1GB Data free for two months.

August 26, 2014
Mozilla Will Include Ads In Its Firefox Browser

Ads are coming to the New Tab page of Mozilla Firefox. The company announced the new move, Tuesday, during the annual meeting of the Interactive Advertising Bureau in California.

This is a slight paradigm shift for sure, considering how New Tab pages have remained ad-free before. Darren Herman, Mozilla’s VP of Content Services, says the content in the new Directory Tile program will include “pre-packaged content for first-time users. Some of these tile placements will be from the Mozilla ecosystem, some will be popular websites in a given geographic location, and some will be sponsored content from hand-picked partners to help support Mozilla’s pursuit of our mission.”

Darren says that Mozilla is “excited about Directory Tiles because it has inherent value to our users, it aligns with our vision of a better Internet through trust and transparency, and it helps Mozilla become more diversified and sustainable as a project. While we have not worked out the entire product roadmap, we are beginning to talk to content partners about the opportunity, and plan to start showing Directory Tiles to new Firefox users as soon as we have the user experience right.”

The revenue opportunity is significant, as Mozilla sees 100 billion tile impressions in the U.S. alone each year, according to a company spokesperson.

February 12, 2014
Mozilla Firefox 22 Launched With Web Video Calls, 3D Gaming

Mozilla this week launched the latest version of its Firefox 22 browser seeking to woo users with new features including 3D gaming and video calls.

Support for video calls, voice calls and file sharing are also available without the need to install additional software or use third-party plugins.

Mozilla said it and Ericsson demonstrated this at Mobile World Congress, to show how Firefox can integrate seamlessly with a users’ mobile phone “and make voice or video calls and share files.”

Mozilla demonstrated its new 3D capabilities in a blog post, by offering first-person shooter ‘BananaBread’ in a bid to lure developers. The technologies behind Firefox 22 include WebGL, Emscripten, asm.js and WebRTC.

Mozilla has been working on integrating the WebRTC protocol, which eliminates the need for separate browser plug-ins to enable those rich functions, for some time.

And asm.js, the new JavaScript protocol, is “a supercharged subset of JavaScript” that loads quickly and enables Firefox 22 to run intense applications such as games and photo-processing in real-time without the need for plug-ins.

It’s all part of Mozilla’s plan to “unlock the power of the web.”

“Firefox allows developers to create amazing high-performance Web applications and enables video calls and file-sharing directly in the browser, all without the need for plugins or third-party software. What has been difficult to develop on the Web before is now much easier, faster and more fun,” Mozilla said.

At the Game Developer Conference in San Francisco, the companies showed off Unreal Engine 3 applications running natively in Firefox using JavaScript.

June 26, 2013
Mozilla, Epic Games Team Up To Bring Unreal Engine 3 To The Web

For the longest time, HTML5 was far behind Flash in terms of game development as it didn’t offer a native experience. Mozilla and others have been bridging that gap over the last year, however, and the non-profit’s latest move inspires more hope that HTML5 can deliver native gaming experiences sooner rather than later.

Mozilla and Epic Games announced at GDC that Unreal Engine 3 is now available to HTML5 developers. This was made possible through Mozilla’s work in developing “a highly-optimized version of JavaScript” that allows game developers to bring graphically intensive content to the Web.

Epic had already ported the engine to Flash and there have been a few other attempts at building or porting a 3D game engine to JavaScript, but nothing approaching the size and scope of Unreal Engine.

Epic’s port is based on a very new piece of technology, asm.js and the OdinMonkey JavaScript engine module for Firefox. In essence, asm.js enables code that’s been automatically ported to JavaScript from C/C++ to run almost as fast as the same code compiled as a native app. OdinMonkey adds support for asm.js, which is a subset of the JavaScript spec, to Firefox.

With Firefox OS and the Firefox Marketplace launching later this year, this is a significant win for Mozilla. No, the porting of Unreal Engine 3 doesn’t mean that Mass Effect 3 is going to find its way onto sub-Rs 6000/- Firefox phones, but it does mean that mobile hits like Infinity Blade and Dungeon Defenders will. It should also mean that we’ll see more developers offering up browser-friendly versions of their mobile hits — particularly if the porting process is relatively painless and offers an additional revenue stream.

March 28, 2013
Mozilla Marketplace brings web apps to Desktop mode

An early version of the Mozilla Marketplace is live, users of Firefox 16 Nightly build some 100-plus apps to install, including Evernote, Jolicloud and Springpad. These apps will be able to run in Desktop mode, and they show up as if they were installed in the main Windows.

Presently this only works with Windows.

[Liliputing]

June 13, 2012
Firefox gets updated to 9, faster Javascript and Lion compatibility added. links

Firefox browser has been updated to version 9. This version offers better compatibility on Mac computers running on Mac Lion 10.7, and a faster and juiced up Javascript handling. This is set to improve overall browsing speeds on the browser. Mozilla is claiming a overall 30% boost in performance post the JavaScript optimizations. Firefox 9 also improves theme integration and swipe navigation for Mac OS X users. Want to take it for a test spin ? Download your version below

[Mozilla Windows]

[Mac]

[Linux]

December 20, 2011
Google Chrome eating IE and Firefox’s share of the Pie, Now at 20.7% of Total Market

StatCounter reports suggest, Google’s Chrome web browser now has a 20.7% share of the web browser pie, An increase of seven times over just two years. This also means that highest competition Internet Explorer’s Share is now only 50% of the total pie and Firefox has a 28% share which has come down from 30%.

StatCounter gathers its data from more than 3 million websites with more than 15 billion page views.

July 6, 2011
The Mozilla Seabird Concept

The Mozilla Seabird is a concept device which promises to herald in a future where we have to carry just one device for all our technology needs. It threatens to replace traditional desktops, laptops and even tablets. The device was conceptualized a few years ago, and it seems that the base technology to run this magical device is finally catching up. You never know when your next Android phone might pop out a projected keyboard from the sides. Watch the video above.

May 2, 2011
Firefox 4 Beta 5 , now released for Android

The latest beta of the world famous browser is now available on your favorite device- the price is free!. The beta comes packed with the usual — preferences, downloads, add-ons, bookmarks and Firefox Sync. The browser seems fast and efficient supports pinch to zoom as well as kinetic scrolling, has a dev mode as well. start porting your plugins for the mobile version.

February 25, 2011