No More Firefox For Windows Mobile 226
angry tapir writes "Mozilla has decided to stop development of a version of its Firefox mobile Web browser for phones running Windows Mobile. The reason is that Microsoft has closed the door to native applications on smartphones running its new Windows Phone 7 Series software. More reasoning can be found in a blog post by Stuart Parmenter, director of Mobile Engineering at Mozilla."
Re:Microsoft versus Sun's Java and JavaScript (Score:2, Informative)
-5, very completely wrong.
Oracle bought Sun, not Microsoft. I can't even imagine a reason for Microsoft to buy Sun other than to let a raving DEVELOPER throw chairs at Java until it was utterly destroyed.
And Java and JavaScript are completely unrelated. JavaScript is to Java as fish is to phishing. They sound similar but are in no way the same thing.
Mozilla running JavaScript threads? Srsly?
Let me fix that:
-10, truly most completely wrong.
Re:Preemptive Strike (Score:3, Informative)
Given that Microsoft has a closed app store model for Windows 7 (just like the iPhone) the chances are good Microsoft would not allow Mozilla to run anyway, even if they wanted to make a nice Silverlight based browser...
We don't know the exact rules for store approval process yet, but all information on that so far only mentioned malware and stuff such as "indecency" as reasons for rejection, and nothing even remotely similar to Apple's "no compete" clauses.
That said, it still sucks big time. There are rumors that there will be a "non-publicized" way of uploading apps directly via USB, circumventing Marketplace, but somehow I suspect this is really only about SDK debugging tools - not exactly something you expect a non-developer (even a power user) to be prepared to tinker with.
Re:So basically (Score:4, Informative)
It's my understanding that most rooted Android images also disable auto-updates from the provider. Certainly the rooted Droid images do.
How sure are you? Microsoft says otherwise. (Score:3, Informative)
Microsoft will not have a closed app store model for winmo7 (although they will have their own app store). You can get an SDK and emulator right now - for free - and make XNA/Silverlight apps that can be downloaded to a winmo7 phone.
Oh really? [mobilemag.com]
Like Apple and Google, Microsoft has also thrown their hat into the ring and launched an application store called Windows Phone Marketplace. The marketplace won't be empty at launch because Microsoft has a list of impressive development partners such as EA, Foursquare, Namco and Sling to name just a few. But it will indeed be a closed system, similar to Apple's iTunes App store, being the only vehicle where the end-user can download software to their smartphone.
Am I sure? Pretty sure. [engadget.com]
Though there's no way for end users to purchase and install apps outside of the Marketplace, Microsoft is naturally working on a solution for trialling apps on a limited number of devices; if we had to guess, it'll be something akin to Apple's ad hoc installation mode, but Charlie Kindel has said that it won't be available in the first release of the platform. For now, the only way to do it is to unlock devices one at a time through the developer portal, and Microsoft isn't talking about how many devices you'll be able to unlock on an account right now.
The iPhone is totally open as well if you count the ability to develop whatever you like and deploy it - it just costs a little more, but once you have paid you can put anything on the phone.
If you want to be an good Apple fan you should try not to spout nonsense - your ignorance makes Steve look bad.
The thing that really amuses me about the whole Windows vs. Mac thing, is how often the Mac people end up knowing so much more about both platforms than the people who only really know Windows. And so the trend continues it would seem.
If you have other details illustrating the degree of openness for Windows Mobile Series 7 that you claim, by all means share them with the group.
Windows Mobile 7 Series has app review process too (Score:5, Informative)
I think it's safe to say anyone will probably be able to release anything they please.
I'm not sure how you missed the news if you have been paying attention to WIndows 7 Phone Series at all but... not so [engadget.com]:
We just got out of a meeting with Microsoft's Todd Biggs, who dropped a little bombshell on us: the only official way to get apps on a Windows Phone 7 Series device will be to download them from the just-detailed Windows Phone Marketplace. That means developers will have to abide by Microsoft's technical and content guidelines in order to make it in, with the very real possibility of rejection - sound familiar? Todd told us Microsoft plans to avoid Apple-style submission headaches by making the process transparent and predictable, with a group of Microsoft execs regularly meeting to examine edge cases and refine the guidelines as needed, but even the best intentions can be led astray by a sexy app or two.
Re:Oh thats a shame... (Score:4, Informative)
Nokia N900. Can replace the kernel and root FS out of the box without the need for hacks. Nice beefy hardware.
If Nokia sold an N900 with OVI Maps for Australia bundled with the phone (like they do now with various Symbian phones) and with 2100/900 3G bands for Vodafone Australia, I would seriously jump on it as my next phone.
Conversely, if someone made an Android handset with Google Navigator for Australia (especially if it integrated with Google Transit so I could say "I want to from where I am now to this location, tell me what transport options to take") and that was as hackable as the N900, I would go that route.
But since it doesn't look like any manufacturer plans to release a phone with the combination of "really hackable" and "GPS navigation that doesn't cost big bucks", I will stick with my Motorola Z6.
Re:Preemptive Strike (Score:3, Informative)
Nokia N900.
How about the Nokia N900? (Score:3, Informative)
I actually miss Windows Mobile. To use the phone to its fullest capacity (yes, including capacity), I had to do no hacks, no low level patches. Just install the right program and go.
Funny, that's exactly what I've experienced with my Nokia N900.
Heck, even better than that, on day one I install code I had contributed to Simon Tatham's puzzle collection, file bugs against it, and start looking at how to develop for this mean ass machine.
I don't have to pay corporate overlords (for what, gcc? ^_^), no one is going to say "no, you can't have that software"; I'm free to play and build, and turn my phone into exactly what I want it to be. And other people want to do the same thing, so it's not like I'm all alone :-)
It has its warts, so look into reviews and troll posts on maemo forums, and decide if they sound like you can live with them. But Nokia loves you and wants you to play. /* I'm not paid to write this, I just evangelize to what I assume is an eager audience (of at least one person) */