ZTE Open Firefox OS

[Em3bbs]

I don't have any experience with very low powered Windows phones. I'd be very surprised if the OS / basic apps performed as well as the FF OS ones. But there would be a better range of apps on windows phone (for now).

I guess it depends what the priorities are.

Even the low end Windows Phone 7 devices perform a lot better. I get what people are saying about the WP8 devices, but things like the W1 are double the price. WP7 is still very relevant as there is still a large install base that developers won't ignore. Firefox on the other hand has hardly any apps and I can't see that changing that soon (he says while preparing a second Firefox app submission ).

 

[eddyc]

Firefox on the other hand has hardly any apps and I can't see that changing that soon (he says while preparing a second Firefox app submission ).

I really hope it changes. I think one of the key factors will be whether any other platforms adopt the Mozilla APIs meaning that Open Web Apps will become apps for all devices and not just Firefox OS / Android (with FF installed).

There has been talk that Tizen / Ubuntu Touch might support OWAs. It would make a hell of a lot of sense for them to support them because even though there might not be many apps in the FF Marketplace there are more than there are for Ubuntu or Tizen.

It would also be great if Chrome OS supported them. No reason why not. The apps for Chrome OS are already very similar and I know that Mozilla worked with Google when they were designing the APIs.

Once OWAs are supported across multiple platforms the case for developers working on them becomes a lot stronger.

But even before that happens I have hopes. If the devices sell well in emerging markets then I don't see why app developers wouldn't support the platform. Maybe not the big players at first but eventually.

Also amazing job working on an app! What is it?

 

[eddyc]

Update:

I installed a software update on the ZTE Open and now get word suggestions on the keyboard. Very helpful.

Also looks like whatsapp might be on the way: http://firefoxosguide.com/firefox-o...app-messenger-new-firefox-os-smartphone.html/

 

[Em3bbs]

Also amazing job working on an app! What is it?

The first one was for a live event, some audio streaming and embedded videos - I've removed it now as the event was in August. It was mainly so I could test the app submission/review process to document it.

The second one is for an app for University students, I'm helping a friend with it in my spare time.

 

[eddyc]

Cool. Sounds fun. How are you finding the development process?

I've been thinking about trying to build a London Journey Planner app. Basically cloning the functionality on the mobile site here: http://m.tfl.gov.uk/mt/journeyplanner.tfl.gov.uk

The data is available via their API (http://www.tfl.gov.uk/businessandpartners/syndication/16493.aspx) but I don't really know where to start.

I've got basic HTML but that is about it. Is there a lot of help available online?

 

[eddyc]

Also I think there is currently a bit of an app discovery issue where people don't seem aware that you can install things like google maps via the adaptive app search.

For fun I've started a blog with a few of my favourite apps. Any suggestions for apps to include would be welcome.

Firefox OS - App of the Week