From last year onwards, Mozilla is silently working on their browser only operating system, Boot to Gecko. They started this year with a bang by showing their creation on a live hardware, the Samsung Galaxy S2. According to Mozilla, all the Android users with unlocked boot loaders will be able to gear this operating system on their phone.
Features revealed
The demo included messaging system, dialer settings, system preferences and off course the Mozilla Marketplace. Initial impression of B2G was quite good because the users were able to swipe through various screens, apps, videos, games and browsing. Sideways scrolling home screen large square launch icons looked beautiful, colorful and attractive. It was hard to believe that we were looking on an entirely web based operating system but once we checked the source code, there was no other way left. Although, the operating system hanged while navigating through the apps and settings, but ended when the phone was restarted by pulling out the battery. This happened only once, but this freezing tells us that the OS is not completely ready for the prime time. Right now, this is a project, not a complete product.
About the OS
Running on Linux Kernel, Boot to Gecko is an open source web based operating system for mobile devices, which is entirely JavaScript, CSS and HTML5 based, but you will not even know that you are simply looking at a browser. Once you start the phone loaded with B2G, everything you see is based on HTML5. Even the dialer is web based and uses Mozillaâs telephony API. You will not see any native apps but only a series of impressive bookmarks. Its architecture removes the need for apps to be built on platform-specific native APIs. Developers can use HTML5 to create amazing apps without any restrictions of closely controlled platforms. Based on a Qualcomm chipset, Mozilla, Qualcomm and Telefonica are working together to deliver a prototype platform loaded with features. Apart from these two companies, Deutsche Telekomâs Innovation Labs will join Mozilla to develop Boot to Gecko.
Talking about the positive aspects, the interface of the OS is remarkably well designed and its booting time is very less, it loads and starts within two seconds. According to Mozilla, once completed B2G can run faster than Android or iOS, even on a low-end hardware.
Price and release
When it comes to cost, B2G will be ten times cheaper than an iPhone, meaning that it can offer smartphone level performance on a budget phone. It has the same web-rendering engine as Mozilla Firefox browser that makes it very lightweight when compared to iOS or Android. Boot to Gecko is expected to hit the market by yearâs end. Mozilla may also be locked with an OEM partner for the production, but there is nothing official yet. There are rumors that the OEM can be LG. Regardless of the manufacturer, all the phones running on B2G will come bundled with Mozilla marketplace where you can buy apps, similar to Android apps market.
