14 DAY TRIAL // Firefox OS, Mozilla's answer to the Android and iOS, is finally here. It's been technically "here" for a while and, at the same time, it's not exactly "done" either. But the first phones running Firefox OS are available in stores, meaning that Firefox OS has been officially launched.
These low-cost phones may be a great entry into the world of smartphones for those that haven't owned one until now, but most existing smartphone users won't be making the switch for one very simple reason, apps, or rather the lack of them.
This is why Mozilla is, once again, highlighting just how wonderful Firefox OS is for developers and how easy it is for them to get started creating apps for the new mobile platform.
While Mozilla's encouragements are self-serving, they are mostly true – developing for Firefox OS, particularly for those already working with web technologies such as HTML, CSS or JavaScript, is a lot easier than getting started with Android or iOS.
And it's about to get even easier with the upcoming release of Firefox OS Simulator 4.0. The Firefox OS Simulator is essentially a Firefox add-on aimed at developers which transforms the browser into a testing environment. It comes with all the Firefox OS APIs and can run Firefox OS apps in a dedicated window.
Firefox OS Simulator 4.0 isn't ready yet, it's landing in a couple of days, but Mozilla is highlighting some of the new features and improvements to expect:
– New Connect Button, to have a developer toolbox connected to your specific app(s) – Remote Style Editor, enable remote style editing – Hidden Feature: Shift + Ctrl/Cmd-R, refreshing the app and clearing persistent data (AppCache, – localStorage, sessionStorage, and IndexedDB) – Updated Dashboard Design, reduced clutter and improved usability – Touch Events, integrating Gaia’s touch events simulation, so interacting with the Simulator using a mouse now generates real touch events