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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04/19, 3:50pm
Launch expected by late 2012 or early 2013
The first handsets to be powered by Mozilla's Boot2Gecko OS, which we tried out at Mobile World Congress, will reportedly arrive in Brazil via Telefonica as early as the end of the year. Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs made the timing announcement today in São Paulo, confirming that the platform will make it past concept development and into the retail smartphone market.
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04/09, 3:15pm
Firefox nightlies to support WebRTC for video chat
Mozilla is gearing up to allow a plugin-free approach to video chat in upcoming versions of Firefox. A demo at the IETF 83 conference caught by TechCrunch showed off the implementation of WebRTC, an HTML5 component that will allow two-way voice, video, and file swaps. As shown, it would sign in with Mozilla's Social API.
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04/03, 5:20pm
Previews looks for webpages and blogs
Mozilla developers have posted their latest progress update for their efforts to create a working prototype for Firefox running on Windows 8. In it, for the first time, they have hinted at what the app could ultimately look like under the new Microsoft operating system. The team acknowledges that there is still a lot of work to do, but has said nothing altering their schedule to develop the proof of concept.
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04/02, 1:20pm
NetApplications shows second big increase for IE
New NetApplications data has shown that Internet Explorer might be on a sustained, if slight, recovery in web share. Microsoft's browser gained almost exactly one point to hit 53.83 percent of browser use online. The gain roughly mirrored one from January and saw IE at its highest position since October.
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03/21, 10:55am
Spike sees Chrome get one-day browser lead
A brief if historic milestone in web browsers occurred this weekend as Google Chrome temporarily overtook Microsoft's Internet Explorer in usage, StatCounter found Wednesday. For one day, March 18, Chrome had 32.71 percent of traffic to IE's 32.5 percent. A rise in share from Brazil, India, and Russia was credited for the sudden position swap.
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03/19, 1:55pm
Mozilla loses Blizzard to California start-up
Chris Blizzard served his last day as Mozilla's director of Web platform this past Friday, March 16, he revealed on his blog. He will move on to a "very small startup" based in Palo Alto, though didn't go on to name it. Blizzard would only say the work involves the intersection of systems, compilers, and web-scale problems.
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03/15, 6:05am
Mozilla lists all Firefox enhancements for 2012
Mozilla has detailed its 2012 Firefox roadmap. As with 2011, Mozilla plans on maintaining a rapid update schedule. Users can expect updates coming frequently so that features and fixes are rolled out quickly. However, instead of causing users to experience ‘update fatigue’ with the rapid update cycle, updates will happen ‘silently,’ downloading and installing in the background.
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03/14, 4:05pm
Mozilla may add H.264 to Firefox after all
Mozilla research director Andreas Gal has proposed a rare change of heart that could see Boot2Gecko, and possibly Firefox, adopt H.264 playback. The mode would let HTML5 pages use the video tag for in-page H.264 as long as the OS underneath already supports the codec. At least in theory, it would let Mozilla officially keep active support only for open formats like WebM while acknowledging the reality of H.264's much wider reach.
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03/13, 8:25pm
Browser adds Chrome migration, add-on sync
As expected, Mozilla has released the final build for its Firefox 11 browser. The major update brings several new features, expanding migration support to enable Chrome users to transfer their bookmarks, history and cookies. The browser also adds the ability to synchronize add-ons across multiple devices.
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03/12, 10:20pm
Final release expected tomorrow
Mozilla has reportedly posted a near-final Firefox 11 build, which was initially misinterpreted as the final edition. The major update brings several new features, including add-on synchronization across multiple platforms, faster page loads using the SPDY protocol, and the ability to import bookmarks, history and cookies from Chrome.
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03/09, 7:25pm
Developers will be posting weekly updates
Last month, Mozilla announced that it would be developing a version of its browser software that had the look and feel of Microsoft's Windows 8 Metro user interface. This week, the browser's developers provided a status update. Work has begun on the project, and some details of the institution's efforts have emerged.
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03/01, 8:10pm
NetApplications sees Apple grow widely in February
Apple saw an unusually widescale, comprehensive growth in its share of the web in February, NetApplications showed on Thursday. On the desktop, it bounced back to near an all-time high at 6.9 percent, a level seen in October. Its mobile share followed suit, going up almost exactly seven points to 60.6 percent.
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02/27, 2:55pm
Project finally nearing completion
(Update: Telefonica details) Mozilla is finally showing off its Boot 2 Gecko operating system that is completely based on web standards. The company brought Samsung's Galaxy S II to Mobile World Congress, however the Android OS was stripped away to allow the device to boot Gecko and run apps based on HTML5, JavaScript and CSS.
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02/24, 12:30am
Mozilla Marketplace basis of Android alternative
Mozilla, which will be launching its own open-source app storefront in the forthcoming Firefox 13, may use this weekend's Mobile World Congress to launch a smartphone made by LG that runs its own mobile OS, known as Boot2Gecko. The new OS is truly open, as opposed to the partially-open nature of Android or the "walled garden" of iOS, and may prove attractive to carriers who have seen much of their control removed by Apple and Google.
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02/23, 12:10pm
Mozilla BrowserID will be transitioned to Persona
Mozilla this week announced a change to its BrowserID online identity system. Initially just a rebrand, the service is now called Mozilla Persona, which Mozilla believes is better suited to user identity. To go with the name change, however, Mozilla does have feature and interface changes in development.
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02/22, 4:25pm
Mozilla Marketplace to use HTML5, custom API apps
Mozilla revealed on Wednesday that it will begin accepting web app submissions at MWC next week. The web apps will be based on HTML5 and some Mozilla-proposed APIs, and work in both the company's Firefox browser as well as platforms that support HTML5. Mozilla promises to give developers easy development, direct user feedback, and allow for flexible billing
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