Since its inception, I’ve been covering Mozilla’s Boot to Gecko project at every opportunity possible. Not only is it an good Linux-based alternative to Android, but it is also a fairly good looking and promising mobile OS in itself. Of course, one major downfall of the project is that there is no official supported hardware yet, meaning that potential users will have to settle for unofficial alpha builds on the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II. However, if ZTE has anythingto say about it, that won’t be a problem next year.
According to the Wall Street Journal, ZTE is planning to launch a Mozilla based smartphone along with a plethora of others in its first half releases. It isn’t specified whether the device will be aimed at the low or high end markets, but ZTE has previously stated that it plans to bring higher end phones to market as well as expand into the US. It has managed to produce some decent hardware for the US, but hasn’t really made much of a breakthrough yet. Perhaps Boot to Gecko will help it get started, although I don’t know why it isn’t already using Android.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad to see manufacturers picking up Mozilla’s OS. Simply for the sake of curiosity, I want to use a Boot to Gecko device in the real world, and perhaps even own one. So, I know that there will be at least one person actively anticipating a ZTE/Mozilla announcement sometime next year.
[WSJ]
Interesting how the screenshots look like a highly skinned version of Android.
Do we really need another OS? I understand that competition is better, but common, if your going to make something, at least make it stand out!
As John said, this looks simply like a skinned version of Android. Yet, without all the apps and support that Google provides.
Does not look very impressive graphics-wise either. Reminds me slightly of touchwiz.
Agreed that the screenshots posted above look like Android just skinned/themed. Hopefully they have something up their sleeve to help them stand out, otherwise they will be just another failed OS.
I guess diversity is good. but I agree if this is too similar to android, this won’t be going anywhere.
Necessity is the mother of invention. We surely need another OS.