Firefox Mobile + Geeksphone = Awesome

[Sam Tuke]

"This week we are announcing our new Firefox OS developer preview
phones because we believe that developers will help bring the power of
the web to mobile. These developer phones are being developed by
Geeksphone in partnership with Telefonica and Geeksphone."

This is a very interesting development for Free Software!


Details:

https://hacks.mozilla.org/2013/01/announcing-the-firefox-os-developer-preview-phone/


Get the ROM:

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Firefox_OS/Building_and_installing_Firefox_OS


Get the simulator:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/firefox-os-simulator/


Buy the Firefox Geeksphone (soon):

http://www.geeksphone.com/


Best,

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org

[Fabian Keil]

Post by Sam Tuke
"This week we are announcing our new Firefox OS developer preview
phones because we believe that developers will help bring the power of
the web to mobile. These developer phones are being developed by
Geeksphone in partnership with Telefonica and Geeksphone."
This is a very interesting development for Free Software!

I agree that it's a somewhat interesting development, but I'm not
so sure about the "awesome" part.

Post by Sam Tuke
https://hacks.mozilla.org/2013/01/announcing-the-firefox-os-developer-preview-phone/

There don't seem to be any details about which parts of
the system are actually free software.

Commenter "Pravin" asks:
"I dont understand the details about what is open source and what is not."

To which "Robert Nyman" who seems to be some kind of authority "answers":
"Basically everything on the phone ? UI, apps etc ? are based on open
standard technologies, HTML5, CSS & JavaScript. This is different from
the other major smart phones out there."

Even Internet Explorer is "based on open standard technologies,
HTML5, CSS & JavaScript". It's still a proprietary product
so the answer doesn't seem particular helpful to me and I
doubt that this is an accident.

Fabian
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[Sam Tuke]

Post by Fabian Keil
Even Internet Explorer is "based on open standard technologies,
HTML5, CSS & JavaScript". It's still a proprietary product so the
answer doesn't seem particular helpful to me and I doubt that this
is an accident.

I also have concerns about the lack of detail, but I also have high
hopes for Mozilla, which, up until now, has never developed
proprietary software to my knowledge. I wouldn't surprised if they
include proprietary drivers from 3rd party manufacturers, but I am
optimistic that everything non-hardware related will be Free.

How they label the 3rd party proprietary apps in their app store
however, is a different matter.

I guess we need to wait and see.

Best,

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org

[Sam Tuke]

Sony To Launch Firefox OS Smartphone In 2014

http://www.muktware.com/5287/sony-launch-firefox-os-smartphone-2014

Getting serious :)

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org

[Jelle Hermsen]

It's great to see this many companies showing interest in Firefox OS. The main website already shows a nice list of partners:?www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/partners/#

Keeping my fingers crossed :)

Jelle




-------- Original message --------
From: Sam Tuke <samtuke at fsfe.org>
Date: 27/02/2013 17:54 (GMT+01:00)
To: discussion at fsfeurope.org,manchester at lists.fsfe.org
Subject: Re: Firefox Mobile + Geeksphone = Awesome

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

Sony To Launch Firefox OS Smartphone In 2014

http://www.muktware.com/5287/sony-launch-firefox-os-smartphone-2014

Getting serious :)

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org
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[Jelle Hermsen]

It seems Sony has already released a Firefox OS ROM for the Xperia E:
thenextweb.com/mobile/2013/02/27/sony-releases-experimental-firefox-os-rom-for-xperia-e/

Jelle

-------- Original message --------
From: Jelle Hermsen <jelle at fsfe.org>
Date: 27/02/2013 18:41 (GMT+01:00)
To: discussion at fsfeurope.org
Subject: Re: Firefox Mobile + Geeksphone = Awesome

It's great to see this many companies showing interest in Firefox OS. The main website already shows a nice list of partners:?www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/partners/#

Keeping my fingers crossed :)

Jelle





-------- Original message --------
From: Sam Tuke <samtuke at fsfe.org>
Date: 27/02/2013 17:54 (GMT+01:00)
To: discussion at fsfeurope.org,manchester at lists.fsfe.org
Subject: Re: Firefox Mobile + Geeksphone = Awesome


-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

Sony To Launch Firefox OS Smartphone In 2014

http://www.muktware.com/5287/sony-launch-firefox-os-smartphone-2014

Getting serious :)

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org
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YMf/aws5FNlnBzfqVTABAJhRrTnvxnppfPLU3gVdsscg7rXhvAIwktCGl1hBbeNJ
=MKuN
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[Andreas K. Foerster]

Hello,

i think, it would be great if Firefox OS gets adopted.

One aspect, that I don't like however, is the choice of the name.
It uses Linux as it's kernel, and which libc does it use? The GNU libc?
Well, it was always unfortunate that most people don't mentioned GNU.
Now they stop even mentioning "Linux". They call it "Android", "ChomeOS",
"Firefox OS"... whatever.

Even large distros like Ubuntu and even Debian stopped to name it on their
frontpage!

Most people think GNU/Linux is an odd system, because barely anybody uses it,
they think. However that is not the reality. GNU/Linux is almost everywhere.
The real problem is not that it is barely used, but that those, who use it,
very often are not aware that they do.

I think, what we really need is, a better "marketing" for GNU/Linux.

[Sam Tuke]

Post by Andreas K. Foerster
Even large distros like Ubuntu and even Debian stopped to name it
on their frontpage!

Check this out:
http://linuxlock.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/happy-sitting-at-kids-table.html

'"Why does Google refuse to reference that Android or Chromebooks are
Linux-based?"

...

Because Linux Users can't be trusted to behave if they are taken out
into public.'

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org

[Sam Liddicott]

Post by Jelle Hermsen
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Post by Andreas K. Foerster
Even large distros like Ubuntu and even Debian stopped to name it
on their frontpage!

http://linuxlock.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/happy-sitting-at-kids-table.html
'"Why does Google refuse to reference that Android or Chromebooks are
Linux-based?"
...
Because Linux Users can't be trusted to behave if they are taken out
into public.'

I don't believe Microsoft refer to their kernel much these days either.

Sam
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[Jelle Hermsen]

Yeah, I don't expect there will be much GNU in Firefox OS. Personally I would love to see a mobile GNU distro that stipulates software freedom, but compared to the utter jail that is iOS and the mirky grounds of Android/Linux I can only praise Mozilla's efforts.?

They might be talking about the "open web" instead, which is somewhat conflicting with the Free Software point of view, but their take on apps do give the opportunity to give the users the freedom they deserve. I could for example host my own apps, licensed under the AGPL and there won't be any shitty App Store rules preventing this.

But still, I would love to have a GNU in my pocket :)

Jelle

-------- Original message --------
From: "Andreas K. Foerster" <list at akfoerster.de>
Date: 27/02/2013 19:33 (GMT+01:00)
To: discussion at fsfeurope.org
Subject: Name of the system (was: Firefox Mobile + Geeksphone = Awesome)

Hello,

i think, it would be great if Firefox OS gets adopted.

One aspect, that I don't like however, is the choice of the name.
It uses Linux as it's kernel, and which libc does it use? The GNU libc?
Well, it was always unfortunate that most people don't mentioned GNU.
Now they stop even mentioning "Linux". They call it "Android", "ChomeOS",
"Firefox OS"... whatever.

Even large distros like Ubuntu and even Debian stopped to name it on their
frontpage!

Most people think GNU/Linux is an odd system, because barely anybody uses it,
they think.? However that is not the reality.? GNU/Linux is almost everywhere.
The real problem is not that it is barely used, but that those, who use it,
very often are not aware that they do.

I think, what we really need is, a better "marketing" for GNU/Linux.

[Alexander Stephen Thomas Ross]

Post by Jelle Hermsen
But still, I would love to have a GNU in my pocket :)

If you want a GNU/Linux pocket computer other than a OpenPhoenux GTA*,
there is some discussion on the Qi-Hardware mailing list about a Nano
Note #2.

http://lists.en.qi-hardware.com/pipermail/discussion/2013-February/010024.html

[Sam Tuke]

Post by Jelle Hermsen
Yeah, I don't expect there will be much GNU in Firefox OS.
Personally I would love to see a mobile GNU distro that stipulates
software freedom, but compared to the utter jail that is iOS and
the mirky grounds of Android/Linux I can only praise Mozilla's
efforts.

+1. However I really, really wish that their app store would practice
what they preach and state proper licenses, instead of implying that
all apps are licensed the same (all rights reserved).

https://marketplace.firefox.com/app/pasjanssolitaire/

Maybe they will add meaningful license info in future.

Sam.

- --
Sam Tuke
Campaign Manager
Free Software Foundation Europe
IM : samtuke at jabber.fsfe.org
Latest UK Free Software news: uk.fsfe.org
Is freedom important to you? Join the fellowship.fsfe.org

[Jelle Hermsen]

Post by Sam Tuke
+1. However I really, really wish that their app store would practice
what they preach and state proper licenses, instead of implying that
all apps are licensed the same (all rights reserved).

Yeah, license info would be nice, now you can only look at the privacy
policy. I might be a bit cynical however, but I doubt they will change
this. It's not all that uncommon to shed some idealistic feathers in
order to promote adoption. But still, I do hope, and think, that the web
is the way out of this mobile sinkhole most companies create for their
users. The AGPL, and initiatives like LibreJS might be the way out.

Post by Sam Tuke
If you want a GNU/Linux pocket computer other than a OpenPhoenux GTA*,
there is some discussion on the Qi-Hardware mailing list about a Nano
Note #2.
http://lists.en.qi-hardware.com/pipermail/discussion/2013-February/010024.html

Looks interesting, will need to get bigger pockets though :)

Cheers,
Jelle

[Federico Bruni]

Post by Jelle Hermsen
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Post by Jelle Hermsen
Yeah, I don't expect there will be much GNU in Firefox OS.
Personally I would love to see a mobile GNU distro that stipulates
software freedom, but compared to the utter jail that is iOS and
the mirky grounds of Android/Linux I can only praise Mozilla's
efforts.

+1. However I really, really wish that their app store would practice
what they preach and state proper licenses, instead of implying that
all apps are licensed the same (all rights reserved).
https://marketplace.firefox.com/app/pasjanssolitaire/
Maybe they will add meaningful license info in future.

I'm quite optimistic about that.
Firefox extensions website now provides license information, but it
didn't use to do so some time ago.
IIRC that was one of the reasons why Icecat project was started.