Firefox OS looks genuinely interesting

[desura]

IMO is more interesting than Android (which is less interesting than iOS, and iOS is the most interesting of all).

reason: apps can be cross-searched. So if you type like "stumptown" into the phone, you can get the web results, the results from the Yelp app, and the results from the maps app.

They're also installable from websites, so instead of having to search the app store to see if your favorite website has a custom app available, you are simply given the option to save the website to your phone when you arrive.

This is a big deal IMO. Like, on the iPhone, if you installed all of your favorite websites apps to the phone, you'd have like 12 apps, and you'd have to quit and exit complete applications every time you hopped between them. Firefox OS is looks like when you type in your favorite site to the webbrowser, if you chose to install the custom part of the website locally to your phone, you get the increased features + you can hop between sites easily.

It's slow now, but with tech improvements in processor speed it shouldn't matter within 3 years.

 

[Red Storm]

Android can and has done both for a while...

 

[desura]

Android can and has done both for a while...

No...

For instance, slate.com has a slate app in android.

if I type in "slate" into the search bar of android, it will ask if I want to complete it in a browser. The browser then takes me to the standard website.

That's a concrete example. I anticipate that in firefox OS, if I typed in "slate", in the browser, it would take me to the slate "app."

 

[ControlD]

No...

For instance, slate.com has a slate app in android.

if I type in "slate" into the search bar of android, it will ask if I want to complete it in a browser. The browser then takes me to the standard website.

That's a concrete example. I anticipate that in firefox OS, if I typed in "slate", in the browser, it would take me to the slate "app."

I just tried it. If I type in 'Slate" my Note II gives me the choice to launch the Slate app or go to slate.com. Seems like the best solution to me.

 

[rcpratt]

Android has the capability to search *for* apps. Don't think it has the ability to search within them...?

 

[ControlD]

Android has the capability to search *for* apps. Don't think it has the ability to search within them...?

Aha. Yes, that is an entirely different animal.

 

[desura]

I just tried it. If I type in 'Slate" my Note II gives me the choice to launch the Slate app or go to slate.com. Seems like the best solution to me.

Eh, I'm on Samsung galaxy tab and I'm only getting the option to run a web search.

But what I'm talking about is if you're in the web browser and type "slate.com", I believe that in the firefox OS you'll get an enhanced site from the locally installed content, while in the other mobile OS's you'll either get the mobile site or the desktop site.

 

[Red Storm]

Go to your Android phone search settings. As long as the developer utilizes it, you can check mark individual apps so that basic searches also include results from within those apps.

And Android has done the installing over the web thing for a while now, with the additional advantage of being able to download apk files to transfer and store for safe keeping.

I think Firefox OS is interesting, I mean at the very least the more competition the better. But I think Android has done by far the best job of creating a true mobile OS (non-walled garden).

 

[desura]

Go to your Android phone search settings. As long as the developer utilizes it, you can check mark individual apps so that basic searches also include results from within those apps.

And Android has done the installing over the web thing for a while now, with the additional advantage of being able to download apk files to transfer and store for safe keeping.

I think Firefox OS is interesting, I mean at the very least the more competition the better. But I think Android has done by far the best job of creating a true mobile OS (non-walled garden).

I honestly don't see the setting.

If I head over to slate.com, I get slate.com. I don't get an option to install a local enhanced version of the website onto my device.

Of course, just because slate.com doesn't offer anything doesn't mean that it's not possible.

 

[rcpratt]

I honestly don't see the setting.

If I head over to slate.com, I get slate.com. I don't get an option to install a local enhanced version of the website onto my device.

Of course, just because slate.com doesn't offer anything doesn't mean that it's not possible.

I don't see the setting either actually (GS4) - although, like I said, I can search for any app that I have installed on my phone.

edit: Found it, go to the search app -> menu -> settings. It's not in the general Android settings. The apps that can be searched are definitely limited.

The main difference here seems to just be the fact that this integrated search is executed in the browser (which makes sense, considering this is Firefox OS). Android executes its integrated searches directly through the search app.

 

[Red Storm]

I don't see the setting either actually (GS4) - although, like I said, I can search for any app that I have installed on my phone.

The main difference here seems to just be the fact that this integrated search is executed in the browser (which makes sense, considering this is Firefox OS). Android executes its integrated searches directly through the search app.

Go to Google Now, then go to Settings, and you will see an option for Phone Search. In there you will see the toggles for each app that can incorporate Google Search.

 

[swanysto]

Umm yes, Android certainly does this, and it has done it ever since I can remember. I can even click on link in my browser and it will ask me if I want to use the app or the browser to view it. For instance, if you click a link from redfin, it will ask if you want to view it in the redfin app or the webpage. I can do that from anywhere, including emails.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Aren't the "apps" for Firefox OS the same as the iPhone 1 (ie web apps)?

 

[desura]

Hmm, so I just tried out the firefox OS simulator. It doesn't work anything at all like what I envisioned.

It's really...no different from the iphone. For instance, you can d/l the "wikipedia" app on the mozilla store. But once d/l'd, typing "wikipedia" in the browser just takes you to the web version.

 

[jacktesterson]

Eh, I'm on Samsung galaxy tab and I'm only getting the option to run a web search.

But what I'm talking about is if you're in the web browser and type "slate.com", I believe that in the firefox OS you'll get an enhanced site from the locally installed content, while in the other mobile OS's you'll either get the mobile site or the desktop site.

Mine doesn't - Asks me.

 

[Insomniator]

I don't see the need or space for another mobile OS. The layouts and overall functionality are great for both camps. I'd just like little things polished like better copy/paste.

 

[Ravynmagi]

IMO is more interesting than Android (which is less interesting than iOS, and iOS is the most interesting of all).

I found I was unable to read anything after this first sentence. My head literally exploded all over the monitor. Gooey brains bits dripping down the walls.

 

[OneOfTheseDays]

The biggest selling point is that all apps are HTML5. Should make it very accessible to developers. Hope it catches on.

My main concern is performance. I suspect there is going to be major lagginess compared to the competition.

 

[ChronoReverse]

The biggest selling point is that all apps are HTML5. Should make it very accessible to developers. Hope it catches on.

My main concern is performance. I suspect there is going to be major lagginess compared to the competition.

WebOS (and early iOS) has pretty much demonstrated that this selling point is marginal if it even exists at all.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The biggest selling point is that all apps are HTML5. Should make it very accessible to developers. Hope it catches on.

Can't developers make HTML5 apps for Android and iOS as well?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Can't developers make HTML5 apps for Android and iOS as well?

Yes, and there have been some. And they are slow compared to native iOS and Android apps. Like I think the first Facebook app on both were in HTML5 and people complained until they were converted to native apps.

 

[mikegg]

Yes, and there have been some. And they are slow compared to native iOS and Android apps. Like I think the first Facebook app on both were in HTML5 and people complained until they were converted to native apps.

Sencha remade the Facebook App in HTML5 and showed Facebook developers how to properly code a fast HTML5 app:

http://www.sencha.com/blog/the-making-of-fastbook-an-html5-love-story

 

[s44]

Android has the capability to search *for* apps. Don't think it has the ability to search within them...?

It does, you just have to enable it per relevant app.

I found I was unable to read anything after this first sentence.

Well, at least he established his lack of credibility at the start.

 

[ImDonly1]

http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/01/firefox-os-hands-on-alcatel-onetouch-fire-and-zte-open-video/

UI looks like something from android 1.8 or 2.0 days. Doesn't really look modern at all, but it's still new/beta.

 

[SunnyD]

The biggest selling point is that all apps are HTML5. Should make it very accessible to developers. Hope it catches on.

My main concern is performance. I suspect there is going to be major lagginess compared to the competition.

So what you're saying is that they're not apps, they're web pages? That's what the web is for. I prefer actual apps. /ignorancemodeon