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> My refrigerator, toaster, TV appliances, and washing machine are all relatively locked down as well Yes, but you don't generally install new software on thos
by lambda 14y ago
> My refrigerator, toaster, TV appliances, and washing machine are all relatively locked down as well
Yes, but you don't generally install new software on those. They might as well have everything implemented in hardware.
The concern is that Apple and Microsoft are retaining a monopoly on the ability to install new software on your machine. They can install new software (or give you permission to), but no one else can. It's not that much of a problem if something isn't extensible at all; it's the drastic imbalance of power, in which they hold all of the cards, that is the problem
Android is much better, but it's still not perfect. It's based on Java and Google's own APIs, which they fully control. Google controls the play store, and many carriers sell locked phones that prevent you from installing your own software outside of the play store, as well as limiting what software you can install from there.
So, Mozilla does support Android, by releasing their browser on it. But they also believe that they can do better; create something that's more open, more hackable, more accessible than Android. Can they? I'm not sure. There are lots of frustrating things about the Web platform as well, I don't know if it's going to be better than Android's Java based platform. And Mozilla doesn't have the same resources as Google, so may not be able to deliver Nexus-style phones and tablets. But I do appreciate that they're putting in the effort, to try and innovate and provide an alternative experience.
- gte910h 14y ago>Google controls the play store, and many carriers sell locked phones that prevent you from installing your own software outside of the play store Which is exactly what's going to happen if Moz makes an OS. Additionally, I'm pretty sure you can always sideload an APK even on the locked phones (may be wrong there). Don't buy those phones. Buy a nexus if software freedom is what you want. Me personally? I think the iOS strictures make a store I like more than a control I despise (and jailbreaking is both legal and pervasive for those who want a bit more there). I kinda like (as a consumer) there aren't monthly subscription apps, even if it makes certain concepts not viable. As a developer, I feel pain every time X can't release Y and they really really really want to. I'll take that for not having to worry about malware(yet: http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Android-Malware-Antivirus-Protection-Scan,18709.html http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Android-Malware-Antivirus-P...) and a couple other pieces of chrome consistency. Firefox for me should be dumping buckets of cash into performance instead of this sort of project. It feels like the dumpy stepsister to chrome these days (and yes, I do download new versions from time to time).
- lambda 14y agoI do. I have a Nexus One, and I'm thinking about upgrading to a Nexus 4. I have never worried about Android malware. I don't install apps from sketchy unknown sources, nor sketchy unknown developers on the Play Store. But I am interested in seeing what Mozilla comes up with. It may not be what I'm looking for, but I think it's valuable for them to try.