02/23, 2:00pm
Reference phone, tablets and developer tools at heart of announcement
Firefox OS is expanding rapidly, according to claims made at Mobile World Congress today. Mozilla, the company behind the widely-used web browser, outlined some of the finer points of the expansion of the separate Firefox OS in devices reaching out globally -- including a move into new high- and low-end consumer devices, new reference devices and tools for developers to port applications.
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02/12, 5:40am
Advertising would appear for new users on empty New Tab page
Mozilla plans to add advertisements to the Firefox browser, the company announced at a recent Interactive Advertising Bureau meeting. The new advertisements will take the form of "Directory Tiles," items on a page when a user opens a new, empty tab, and will apparently only affect new users of the browser rather than those who have used it for some time.
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02/09, 12:15pm
Browser changes Sync and UI, Accounts adds cloud account connections
Mozilla has announced the next beta version of the Firefox browser, Firefox Aurora, has been released with updates the Firefox Sync and a new customizable user interface. Along with the changes to Aurora, the company has also unveiled Firefox Accounts, a service to bring history, user accounts and browser tabs across devices in a centralized secure account.
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02/07, 7:58am
Pinch to zoom, swiping navigation added to beta Firefox version
Mozilla has released a beta version of its Firefox browser, for use with touch-enabled Windows 8 systems. Teased by the company in early 2012, Firefox for Windows 8 Touch Beta is said in a company blog post to be optimized for the operating system's Metro user interface style, with the main focus of the release being its usefulness for owners of touchscreen computers, notebooks, and tablets.
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02/06, 8:02am
Context-aware launcher to offer personalized search, homepage for Android users
Mozilla is working with EverythingMe on a Firefox launcher for Android, the company revealed yesterday at the InContext Conference. The launcher is said to be a contextually-aware version that will automatically update to show apps and search for items relevant to the user depending on a number of factors, such as location or time of day.
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02/04, 12:49pm
Social API gains simultaneous notifications
Mozilla has released Firefox 27, an update to its browser for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. The desktop apps have been given an updated Social API, allowing for multiple notifications at the same time. Until today, Firefox would only show notifications for the social network indicated in a user's toolbar. Mozilla is also supporting two new networks, Delicious and Saavn.
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02/03, 10:38pm
Mozilla testing simplified system for synchronizing Firefox content
Mozilla has started testing a username and password approach to Firefox Sync. Sync allows users to access browser content across multiple computers and mobile devices, and previously required typing a "pairing code" shown on one browser into another. Mozilla's username-password authentication for syncing is now available in the nightly build of Firefox, and will be included in more stable versions of Firefox soon.
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12/10, 12:07pm
Firefox 26 brings click-to-play, MemShrink
Mozilla has announced the release of version 26.0 of its popular Firefox browser. The update adds a number of new features, and it is one of the more significant updates to the browser in some time. Chief among these updates is the ability to exert greater control over plug-ins and memory usage, including the ability to have plug-ins only begin playing when a user chooses directly to have them do so.
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10/23, 7:58am
Four-inch display, 5MP camera with flash, autofocus on Firefox OS smartphone
LG has launched its first Firefox OS smartphone, with the mobile device going on sale in Brazil starting today. The entry-level LG Fireweb running the fledgling open operating system touts a four-inch, 480x320-resolution display, and though it goes on sale after the Alcatel One Touch Fire and the ZTE Open, the Fireweb offers a few marginal improvements.
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09/17, 2:51pm
Android app gains WebRTC, NFC sharing
Mozilla has released Firefox 24, an update of its web browser for Windows, OS X, Linux, and Android. The desktop apps have gained a "Close Tabs to the Right" option, found within the contextual menu when right-clicking on a tab. The Mac app uses a new scrollbar style, and people using Firefox's social features can tear off chat windows.
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08/12, 6:40am
Auction site to be first sales venue for Firefox OS smartphone in US
ZTE is putting its Firefox OS smartphone on sale in the United States and the United Kingdom, though not through retail stores for the moment. The ZTE Open will be available to purchase through eBay, with customers able to get the budget handset via "Buy it now" for $80 in the US and £60 ($93) in the UK.
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08/06, 12:42pm
Share function allows quick sharing of any link
Mozilla has released Firefox 23, an update of its web browser for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. The desktop apps have gained several important features, most notably a Share button, which ties into Mozilla's new Social API. The button lets people share virtually any content on the web without having to use buttons built into a website.
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07/09, 11:26am
ZTE Open on sale in Spain for 69 euros, new Firefox OS simulator due July 11th
Firefox OS smartphones have gone on sale to the general public, with the first batch of devices being sold through Telefonica. The launch in Spain of the ZTE Open, delayed until today following last week's announcement, is accompanied by news that Mozilla has turned on the Firefox OS payment systems, allowing developers to earn through app sales and in-app purchases.
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07/01, 8:53am
Alcatel One Touch Fire, ZTE Open to initially launch in limited markets
The first two smartphones running on Firefox OS will soon be available to purchase by end users, with customers of Deutsche Telekom and Telefonica being among the first to get the devices. The ZTE Open and Alcatel One Touch Fire, both running Mozilla's open-source mobile operating system, will go on sale in Spain later this week, with the ZTE Open being sold by Telefonica for 69 euro ($90) tomorrow.
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06/03, 12:31pm
Foxconn manufacturing five devices for unnamed OEM
Foxconn has signed a deal with Mozilla to put the Firefox OS mobile operating system onto a number of mobile devices. The smartphones, to be manufactured by Foxconn on behalf of an unnamed OEM, are also accompanied by the companies showing off a prototype tablet, one that was hinted at in a report last week.
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05/28, 3:17pm
Reveal of Firefox mobile device on day before Computex show
Foxconn is going to reveal a new mobile device alongside Mozilla on Monday, one that will apparently run on Firefox OS. While the event on June 3rd before Computex will showcase a new device of some description, neither Foxconn nor Mozilla have hinted at what it could be, but rumblings suggest it could end up being a tablet instead of a smartphone running the new mobile operating system.
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05/03, 8:49am
Mozilla updates Firefox OS simulator to 3.0, adds rotation, geolocation
Mozilla has rolled out a new version of its Firefox OS simulator, in order to help with application development. The emulator update to version 3.0, surfacing just after the first developer devices started shipping, adds a number of features, including rotation simulation, basic simulation of a geolocation API, newer versions of the Firefox rendering engine and Gaia UI, Push to Device, and a number of other bug fixes. The simulator is available to download as a Firefox desktop browser extension.
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04/07, 3:54pm
New API to help pay for goods through credit cards, carrier billing
Mozilla has introduced a new web payment system for devices running on Firefox OS, as part of the company's pitch to foster carrier adoption of the software. The JavaScript API titled navigator.mozPay() will allow for the payment of digital products online, with users charged either through a credit card or via their carrier in a phone bill.
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04/03, 1:44pm
New browser engine designed for modern hardware, Android, ARM
Mozilla and Samsung will be collaborating on an "advanced technology Web browser engine." Servo will be the two company's attempt at rebuilding a web browser that works with modern hardware in mind, with the initial construction efforts of the browser engine focussed on Android and ARM-based systems.
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03/11, 9:41am
Nothing in development, says executive
Mozilla won't be bringing Firefox to iOS so long as Apple maintains its currently policy towards third-party browsers, according to the company's VP of product, Jay Sullivan. The executive made the comments over the weekend as the ongoing SXSW gathering in Austin, Texas. He added that the company isn't currently building a Firefox iOS app, and isn't planning to. The problem, Sullivan noted, is that App Store rules prevent Mozilla from porting its rendering and JavaScript engines to iOS.
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02/28, 1:05pm
Non-conforming devices barred from using Firefox name
Smartphones running Firefox OS must meet a set of minimum requirements in order to carry the Firefox branding, in future. Manufacturers wanting their device to be an official Firefox product will need to have the Firefox browser and official marketplace installed, as well as agreeing to a basic list of specifications and other similar requirements.
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02/25, 11:49am
ZTE and Alcatel target emerging markets
High-end smartphones typically dominate the news at Mobile World Congress, leaving us surprised by the amount of attention garnered by Mozilla's Firefox OS. Earlier this week we checked out Alcatel's One Touch Fire, and today we had a chance to try out ZTE's Open. Both are geared for emerging markets, focusing on maximum features from basic hardware via an operating system built from web standards.
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02/24, 4:34pm
One of first phones with Firefox OS
Mozilla was one of the first companies to hold a Mobile World Congress press conference, where the developer focused on its Firefox OS for mobile devices. Electronista had a chance to try out Alcatel's One Touch Fire, one of the first production devices to embrace the platform. The handset is clearly an entry-level smartphone, seated in a market suited for the fledgling OS.
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02/24, 1:19pm
No device manufacturers announced, devices expected in 2013
At the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today, Mozilla made several announcements about Firefox OS, including a preview of the first commercial build of its open mobile ecosystem, new details on new Firefox OS operator rollout plans, and the launch of Firefox Marketplace. The first Firefox OS phones are expected later this year, mostly in European and South American markets.
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02/19, 4:46am
Downloads made available earlier than official launch
Mozilla has made Firefox 19 available for download, ahead of a launch scheduled for later today. The new version of the browser, available through Mozilla's FTP server, introduces built-in PDF support through its own PDF.js JavaScript engine, instead of relying on a plug-in from Adobe, as well as other performance and bug fixes.
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01/31, 7:49am
MWC press conference to show new phones
ZTE is planning to reveal two smartphones at Mobile World Congress next month. The Grand Memo is an 5.7-inch device running on Android, which also appears to be similar to the previously leaked P945, while a second device is expected to be the manufacturer's first smartphone that will run the new Mozilla Firefox OS.
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01/22, 1:14pm
First devices using HTML5-based apps for native app functions
Mozilla has shown off two "developer preview" smartphones running its mobile Firefox OS. Named the Keon and Peak, the pair of unlocked mobile phones have been make in partnership with Geeksphone of Spain, and are designed to give developers a platform to create and test apps for the new mobile operating system.
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01/08, 3:42pm
Implements first support for WebRTC
Mozilla has released Firefox 18, a fresh update of its multi-platform web browser. The new code is most relevant to MacBook Pro owners, as it adds support for the ultra-high resolutions on Retina displays. Performance is another focus of the update though, as it smooths out tab switching, boosts JavaScript speeds via the IonMonkey compiler, and improves image quality through a new HTML scaling algorithm.
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12/03, 4:58pm
Messenger takes advantage of Mozilla's new Social API
Facebook and Mozilla today announced the release of the new Facebook Messenger for Firefox, which builds access to messaging on the social network directly into Mozilla's browser. The new Facebook integration requires an update to the most recent version of Firefox, but can be activated afterward simply by visiting the Facebook Messenger for Firefox page.
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11/26, 4:36pm
Also adds IonMonkey, W3C touch technology
Mozilla has released a new beta of Firefox, its multiplatform web browser. The code makes several significant changes, most notably adding Retina display support for the MacBook Pro. It also implements the IonMonkey JavaScript JIT compiler, which is said to speed up JavaScript-heavy webpages, such as web apps.
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11/20, 1:02pm
Thunderbird, now discontinued, also gets security and bug updates
Mozilla today made available version 17 of its Firefox desktop browser, bringing a number of functionality fixes and security upgrades. The upgrade brings an improved Awesome Bar experience with larger icons, revision of the Social API and support for Facebook Messenger, and click-to-play blocklisting to prevent vulnerable plugin versions from running without user permission. The version update brings one major exclusion, though: it drops support for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard.
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10/21, 8:00pm
Android beta users can get early look at Firefox apps
The app marketplace that will supplement Mozilla's Firefox browser and Firefox OS is now accessible by users of the Android Firefox Beta browser. The fledgling marketplace shows off a number of the apps, games, and utilities that will be available on Mozilla's forthcoming mobile operating system when it debuts next year. The marketplace is still in a beta stage and only accessible on Android mobile devices.
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09/03, 10:12pm
Minimalist style with mostly free apps so far
The first mobile units running Mozilla's forthcoming Firefox OS aren't scheduled to debut until early next year, but images of the app marketplace for the mobile OS have leaked to the Internet. Engadget has acquired shots of the Firefox Marketplace, which is still in development; images that show a largely minimalist design that seems to show more focus on categorization and quick app discovery than do Apple or Google's app marketplace offerings. For now, the Marketplace appears to be largely populated by free apps, but that may change depending on how successful Mozilla and its partners are in gaining market share once their devices launch.
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08/28, 3:37pm
Variants posted for mobile and desktop platforms
Mozilla has released Firefox 15 for desktop platforms and Android devices, along with its Thunderbird 15 e-mail client. The company has finally brought its redesigned Android browser to tablet devices, adding a tablet-optimized UI with a redesigned "Awesome Bar," a new tabs experience that supports swipe-to-close, and many of the performance enhancements that recently arrived on the smartphone edition.
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07/19, 9:17pm
Pics hint at major game, app compatibility
More images of Mozilla's forthcoming Firefox OS appear to have emerged, showing off more of the operating system's capabilities. TechWeekEurope UK got ahold the new images, which show what looks to be a relatively mature OS that has all or most of the features that have become standard in the smartphone sector. The screens also appear to show a number of popular games being compatible with Firefox OS, which could prove a strong selling point when the platform enters the crowded smartphone market early next year.
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07/18, 8:48pm
Antitrust investigation to see whether Windows 8 is unfair
Regulators in the European Union are looking into whether Microsoft's browser policy for the forthcoming Windows 8 constitutes a violation of antitrust rules to which Microsoft had previously agreed. As Ars Technica reports, the investigation is but one of two in which European regulators are taking Microsoft to task over the browser policies on its Windows platforms.
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07/17, 4:06pm
Improvements also for Awesome Bar and developer mouse control
Mozilla has made Firefox version 14 available for download. The update introduces auto-completion of URLs typed into the Awesome Bar, along with encrypted Google searches enabled by default, to shield personal details from parties collecting data through the network infrastructure. The Pointer Lock API has also been added, allowing developers to improve mouse control for games and Internet applications.
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07/06, 10:30pm
Program shifting to curated security releases only
Mozilla's Thunderbird email client has reached the end of active development, according to a blog post from Mozilla Foundation Chair Mitchell Baker earlier this week. Thunderbird is going to be split into two releases: Thunderbird ESR, which will be released in final form in November; and vanilla Thunderbird, which the Mozilla Foundation intends to be advanced by users of the product.
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07/06, 4:50pm
Firefox OS said to run similar apps faster than Android
Telefónica has been showing off a prototype phone running Mozilla's recently revealed Firefox OS for smartphones. The Spanish telecom gave TechWeekEurope UK a peek at the prototype device, saying that it's well positioned to make an impact in the mobile sector among developing markets.
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07/02, 1:05pm
Sprint, Telefonica, ZTE, Alcatel on board for HTML5 phones
In a post today on The Mozilla Blog, Mozilla confirmed that next year will see the launch of a number of phones powered by its Firefox operating system. The new operating system, built on Mozilla's "Boot to Gecko project," will run HTML5 apps and is aimed at furthering the development of that standard while providing a low-cost operating system for smartphones aimed at developing markets. The browser maker has teamed with a number of telecoms, including Sprint, Smart, and Telefica, as well as device manufacturers Alcatel and ZTE.
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06/22, 7:07pm
Mozilla tweet teases Firefox update next week
Mozilla looks to be getting ready to make a major announcement regarding Firefox on Android next week. A tweet from the Firefox team at Mozilla hints at new developments for the Firefox browser on Google's mobile operating system. The tweet, released early Friday evening, simply tells readers that "something BIG" is coming to Android next week. It is accompanied by an image of a mobile phone with the Firefox logo on the screen and the Android mascot peeking out from behind the phone.
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06/18, 2:45am
New browser built from ground up for touchscreens
Mozilla is working to re-imagine the web browser for tablet interfaces, with the apparent aim of grabbing a significant share of the iPad browsing market. The company has been showing off "Junior," the code-name for a prototype tablet browser that developers have been crafting for the past several months. As The Verge detailed, Junior would represent Mozilla's first big step into the iOS sector, where the company currently has only an iPhone-optimized companion app that syncs tabs from a desktop but relies on Safari for actual browsing functionality.
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06/08, 1:47pm
Google deal presumed to influence Mozilla decision
Mozilla will replace Yandex with Google as the default search engine in Russia for the next version of Firefox. Local favorite Yandex has been the default option for the Russian version of the browser since 2009, but will be replaced earlier than the end of the year as previously stated, according to The Next Web. The Russian search company will continue to offer its own Yandex-branded version of Firefox, however, until the end of the year.
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06/04, 4:10pm
Firefox 13 available for download with more Chrome-like features
Mozilla has now released the full version of its Firefox 13 web browser, the first beta version of which came out at the end of April. Those who didn't get the beta will be able to download the latest software on Tuesday. The most prominent changes include a new home and tab screens, along with the newfound compatibility of the Google-backed SPDY protocol.
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05/14, 4:30am
Mozilla says lack of browser choice takes users back to dark ages
The Mozilla Foundation, maker of the Firefox web browser, is calling out Microsoft for anticompetitive practices with regard to browser capabilities on the upcoming Windows RT. In a blog post, Mozilla's General Counsel Harvey Anderson takes Microsoft to task for programming decisions that will limit the power and feature set of non-Internet Explorer browsers in the next version of Windows.
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05/02, 12:24pm
New design aims for consistent experience
Mozilla is working to introduce a standard Firefox user experience that will carry across desktop, smartphone, and tablet form factors. A slideshow from Mozilla's recently-combined desktop and mobile design teams shows how the teams plan to carry a "soft, friendly, and human" design approach across a number of platforms.
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05/02, 10:00am
CISPA has broad and alarming reach, says Mozilla
Mozilla has taken a stand against the Internet security bill CISPA. In a statement to Forbes, Mozilla's Privacy and Public Policy lead says that the CISPA bill had “a broad and alarming reach that goes far beyond Internet security.”
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04/27, 2:45pm
Firefox 13 to support SPDY, gets New Tab feature
With Firefox 13 due out in about six weeks, Mozilla has made an early version of the browser available to download from the company's beta release channel. The browser will get a new look WebMonkey reported, with a redesigned home page and a New Tab feature. The latter gets links to the most recently and frequently visited sites, with the option of pinning favorite sites and a button to reject sites that the user doesn't want to see.
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04/24, 4:05pm
Mozilla changes look of favicons for security
Mozilla has revealed on Monday that its Firefox web browser got a change in its latest Nightly build. The change relates to the favicon to the left of the website address in the address bar, with sites that don't have SSL certificates or host mixed content now getting a generic globe. Sites with SSL certificates with Extended Validation will get green padlock icons, while gray padlocks will be reserved for SSL sites without validation.
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04/24, 3:20pm
Firefox 12 final ready to go
Mozilla has posted the finished release of Firefox 12. The browser has a key update each for Mac and Windows users. Windows' update is most conspicuous and doesn't need the user to confirm the update in a User Account Control prompt on Vista or 7. Mac users see a lift, as Mozilla has fixed slow WebGL graphics performance on some hardware.
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