You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
We’ve crossed paths with Firefox OS before, but today marks the first time we’ve played with handsets running the final build of Mozilla’s mobile software. The Alcatel OneTouch Fire and ZTE Open you see above are the same hardware we saw at MWC earlier this year — in fact, the latter just launched in Spain on Telefónica for €69 ($90) contract-free including €30 ($39) of airtime for prepaid customers. We took both phones for a brief spin and immediately noticed a slight improvement in performance. Unfortunately, there’s still a significant amount of lag in the UI, especially when scrolling through web pages and navigating the app tray. Websites also take a while to load, even when connecting over Wi-Fi. Then again, what do you expect for €69? Check out the gallery below and hit the break to watch our hands-on video.
Note: the ZTE Open we handled was destined for Movistar (a Telefónica brand) and is launching today for €69 (not €63 as mentioned in our video).
Gallery: Firefox OS hands-on
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
When Mozilla said devices running Firefox OS would be cheap, we didn’t know they’d be this cheap. Telefónica has just tweeted that the ZTE Open will be launching in Spain tomorrow for €69, which translates to around $90 and is a good $30 less than the cheapest developer unit we’d seen until now. And here’s where it gets pretty wild: that price includes €30 ($39) of airtime for prepaid customers. When we played with the Open back in February at Mobile World Congress, we weren’t exactly blown away by it, but we’re arguably not the target demographic. The real question is whether Spaniards will be willing to sacrifice access to Google’s services and ecosystem with devices like the Vodafone Smart Mini now selling for as little as €49 ($65).
Filed under: Cellphones
Source: Telefonica Digital
In between the packed schedule at Computex earlier today, our brethren over at Engadget Chinese managed to sneak into the joint event held by Foxconn and Mozilla. As you may have already heard, the former company has signed on to become the 19th member of the latter’s Firefox OS alliance, and it’s already working on at least five devices. That said, it’s unclear whether these include the first-ever Firefox OS tablet (pictured above) that was present at the event. And no, we weren’t allowed to touch this mysterious device.
The two groups will also cooperate on the software side, and Mozilla took the opportunity to indicate the healthy growth in its app ecosystem, with well-known apps like AccuWeather and SoundCloud jumping on board. But will that be enough? We’ll see how the developing countries react to the first Firefox OS phones when they come out in the summer. Press release after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Engadget Chinese
In a Chinese invitation we received earlier today, Foxconn Technology Group and Mozilla confirmed an upcoming press conference that will detail and make their Firefox OS partnership official. The event will take place in Taipei next Monday (just a few days before Computex truly kicks off), and it’ll see Mozilla welcome the 19th partner to its Firefox OS alliance. There isn’t much meat in the email, though we did spot a little hint in the rundown that says one or more of the “latest” Firefox OS products will be on show. Whatever they may be, we shall keep an eye out for them as soon as we land in Terry Gou’s back garden next week.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: Focus Taiwan
Attention HTML5 virtuosos: Mozilla is thirsty for your talents. So much, in fact, that the outfit is baiting developers with a free smartphone in the hopes they’ll return the favor with fresh Firefox OS apps. In order to qualify for a device, you’ll need to submit a proposal to Mozilla outlining the app you wish to build or port to its new mobile platform. If your pitch is accepted, the company will hook you up with a free Geeksphone Keon to thank you for your labor. Sure, the device’s 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, 512MB of RAM and 3-megapixel rear-facing camera are entry-level at best, but remember you’re getting this handset gratis. The program is set to close at the end of the month or when supplies run out, whichever comes first. So, if you’re interested in adding “Firefox OS developer” to your resume, hit up the source link to apply.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Mozilla
If you’ve yet to dabble around with Firefox OS, today would be a good opportunity to remedy that, because Mozilla has released the final version of Firefox OS Simulator 3.0. Building off of the preview release from mid-March, this version has been slimmed down with a smaller download size, faster startup time and plenty of bug fixes. The finalized release also contains newer versions of Firefox OS and the Gaia UI, and best of all, it’s really easy to install — merely add the extension within Firefox and you’re off to the races. As a hint, you can switch between the four primary home screens by clicking and dragging, and from there, you’ll realize there’s plenty to play with. Think of it as the poor man’s version of buying a new phone.
Filed under: Software
As promised, Geeksphone is offering both of its Firefox OS smartphones starting today. While the Firefox orange-tinged Keon will set you back $119, the slightly more upmarket Peak is priced at $194 — check out both of them in action after the break. The online retailer is willing to send both developer devices to anywhere in the world, so if you’re looking to be part of the next billion smartphone users, place your order at the source.
[Thanks, Kyle]
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Geeksphone
Spanish e-tailer Geeksphone already made it known that its Firefox OS handsets would be available (as developer previews) starting early next. So, it comes as no surprise to find the Keon, the lower-end of its two white-labeled devices, has just passed through the FCC’s labs. From a fully fleshed user manual to product shots and RF reports, most everything about the 3.5-inch bright orange-backed handset is available for public consumption. Bearing model number C8666GP, the meager Keon reps an HVGA display, 1,580mAh Li-ion battery, 1GHz single-core Snapdragon S17225A processor and support for GPRS/GSM/WCDMA 850MHz and 1900Mhz bands, making this global handset usable in the states on AT&T should you opt for an import. It’s expected to cost around €91 (about $120 USD) when it lands, so if you care to take a low-cost crack at Gary Kovacs’ newly minted OS, you know where to look.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile
Source: FCC
Two days ago, Mozilla CEO Gary Kovacs reinforced what we already knew: Firefox OS will launch in four to five countries in Europe and South America by summer. Today, a newsletter from Spanish e-retailer Geeksphone fills in a few more details. According to the email, the Keon and Peak smartphones we saw at MWC will hit its site next week — albeit as developer preview units. Still, Geeksphone says the two handsets “will be available for dispatch anywhere on earth.” The lower-end Keon will cost €91 plus taxes, while the mid-range Peak will set you back €149. Early adopters can subscribe to the mailing list to stay updated; click through to the source link.
[Thanks, William]
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
Source: Geeksphone
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