The HTC HD2 smartphone is one that remains newsworthy due to its favoritism in the developer community due to its surprisingly open ability to be hacked. For over three and a half years, this device has been a go-to smartphone for the most intrepid developers looking to prove their might in hacking, pushing everything from Windows Phone 7 to Android to this machine where it’d otherwise only be running a relatively ancient operating system.

Here in the spring of 2013, the HTC HD2 has received a port of the internet-based Firefox OS. This operating system is otherwise known as Boot2Gecko and has been on its way to the public for over a year. Earlier this year at Mobile World Congress, a global convention for mobile devices and services, we saw the first wave of Firefox OS smartphones – now it’s time for the operating system to spread.

Of course here on the HTC HD2 with a first port of the system, not every feature of the system works right out of the box. In its first reveal, the HTC HD2 Firefox OS port had camera issues, SIM card detection breaks, and issues with the resolution of the device’s display being detected. That said, the deed remains done: the HTC HD2 now has another notch in its sword hilt, growing in versatility as it remains the developer community’s most hackable device.

SlashGear readers hoping to run this port on their own treasured HTC HD2 should follow the XDA Forum Post which details the information shared above. There a download awaits for the brave. It’s important to remember that this, like all hacks of this nature, is not a situation you’ll be wanting to present to your local mobile carrier if you’re in need of repairs in the future. In other words: hack at your own risk.

The HTC HD2 has also run Windows RT, a full version of Windows 8, and Windows Phone 7 in the past several years. It’s also run MeeGo, Android 2.2 Froyo and a few more – the list continues to grow!

This means HTML5 developers could potentially score a free handset. The device up for grabs is the Geeksphone Keon, which is the orange handset in the above image. This particular device features a 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon A1 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot and 3 megapixel rear-facing camera. The Keon normally sells for $119.

Handset specifics aside, Mozilla is looking to boost the availability of apps before the official launch. At present they have said Firefox OS phones will be available in “select” markets this summer. As part of this initiative they are looking for apps that deal with everything from tools and utilities to games as well as news, sports, travel, entertainment, social and more. Basically, just about everything.

This will be open to those who are already developing as well as those who have an idea in mind and are ready to begin the process. Regardless of the phase you are in, Mozilla has said you will need to apply for entry into the program. The application process involves sharing details about your app (or app idea) and letting them know that you have the experience to make it happen. Otherwise, Mozilla is urging developers to move fast as their ” launch dates are approaching fast.”

[via Mozilla]

In fact, it was Geeksphone’s own capability to process orders that forced the shutters down on sales on Tuesday. According to Aguera, “there is enough being manufactured in China to keep up with demand,” but the 20-strong company lacks the manpower to fulfill orders in bulk.

Geeksphone started out with 10,000 units, Aguera revealed, though “many” have been set aside for use by Mozilla’s own employees as well as the Firefox maker’s partners. The handsets are the first to reach the market that run Firefox OS, a web-centric platform that relies heavily on HTML5 and, Mozilla hopes, will proved effective in emerging markets.

The company will have some competition later in the year, however. Alcatel has already shown off its first Firefox OS device, while Sony is among others who have committed to making hardware for the OS, a list that also includes LG and Huawei.

They won’t arrive until further into 2013, and it’s unclear what sort of pricing the bigger OEMs have in mind. For Geeksphone, fresh sales are expected to continue this week, though the webstore was still offline at time of writing.

Geeksphone sold two different types of Firefox OS phones. The first phone was the Keon. The Keon is the orange-colored Firefox OS phone, and also the weaker one. It has a 3.5-inch HVGA screen, 1GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, 4GB internal storage with a MicroSD card slot for expandable storage, 512MB of RAM, and a 3MP rear-facing camera. The Keon has a price-point of $119 unlocked.

The Peak on the other hand is the white-colored Firefox OS phone, and also features some decent specs. The Peak has a 4.3-inch qHD IPS display, 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor, 512MB of RAM, 4GB internal storage with a MicroSD card slot for expandable storage, an 8MP rear-facing camera, and a 2MP front-facing camera. The Peak has a price-point of $195 unlocked.

According to Mozilla, the Keon’s specs will be similar to most of the Firefox OS handsets that are set to launch in 5 countries come June. The Peak on the other hand will be better for developers to test their apps on. Geeksphone says that while its supplies may be out of stock now, it should become available again by this Friday. Geeksphone hopes to be able to one day receive orders of up to 5,000 phones a day.

The Firefox OS handsets will eventually launch with 18 operators, with most of those operators being located in emerging markets. Eventually, in 2014, the phones will be heading to the United States, with AT&T speculated to be the first carrier to sell its phones. According to the CEO of Movile, the largest mobile services company in Brazil, phones like the FireFox OS smartphones will be the key in penetrating the smartphone market in Latin America.

[via TechCrunch]

Notes Mozilla, these two handsets are completely unlocked and run a development version of Firefox OS (which will be regularly updated), allowing developers to test things out alongside hardware in a way that is difficult to replicate with the simulator. The smartphones will be available for purchase from Geeksphone starting tomorrow, April 23.

The Keon is the orange variety of the handset featured above, offering lower-end specs and a price tag to match at €91/$118 USD (not including taxes). The handset features a 3.5-inch display with HVGA resolution. Under the hood, users will find a 1GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S1 processor and 512MB of RAM. According to Mozilla, these specs are similar to what consumers can expect in handsets that hit shelves in the coming months.

The Peak, meanwhile, is a tad more expensive with a boost in the price tag to €149/$195 USD, featuring a 4.3-inch qHD IPS display, 1.2GHz Snapdragon S4, 512MB of RAM, 4GB of storage space, and an 1800mAh battery. Says Mozilla, this handset is better suited for testing apps that are being developed for public consumption down the road.

[via Mozilla]

Kovacs says that in 2014, Mozilla plans on bringing its Firefox OS devices to the United States. He says that he’s not targeting big markets like the United States just yet because the Firefox OS devices are primarily low-end devices, and would likely not do well in a marketplace mainly interested in only high-end devices. If Mozilla is to be successful with Firefox OS, Kovacs believes that they need to target emerging markets first. He says,

“So in the short term, we’re launching in emerging markets where Firefox is particularly strong… It didn’t make sense for us to launch a version-one device around the world.”

Currently, Alcatel, Huawei, LG, ZTE, and Sony have all signed up to develop Firefox OS smartphones. All of the smartphones will be using Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. AT&T has also mentioned that it will consider including Firefox OS phones in its line-up. The Firefox OS also already has a good selection of major apps available in its ecosystem, including Facebook, Twitter, EA Games, and more.

Gary Kovacs recently announced that he will be stepping down as Mozilla’s CEO. He says that he’s proud of Mozilla and that it has a solid team and foundation to keep up its success and momentum. However, despite stepping down as CEO, he will still remain as a member of Mozilla’s board of directors. He says that he will still “guide Mozilla’s impact on the future of mobile”, meaning he will still be around to guide Firefox OS to success. Be sure to check out our hands-on with Firefox OS running on the Alcatel ONE TOUCH.

[via All Things D]

Mozilla is looking for app developers who are experienced in developing with HTML5 and JavaScript. While applying for the event, you will need to show some references to your experience with building web apps. They are mainly seeking applicants who have successfully built apps on Chrome, WebOS, or Blackberry WebWorks, or any “open web app” for mobile devices and PCs. They are also looking for developers who are able to develop apps in Spanish, Polish, or Portuguese.

Mozilla will provide the food and drinks at these workshops, as well as some Firefox goodies. Developers will also be able to get their hands on Mozilla’s Firefox OS Developer Preview phones. There will also be Firefox OS developers there to help you along the way. At these workshops, you are able to develop a new app for the Firefox OS, or port any of your existing apps to the mobile operating system.

The Firefox OS devices are set to launch this summer to over 18 operators all around the world. Several phone manufacturers, including LG, ZTE, Huawei, Sony, and Alcatel, are already in support for the upcoming operating system. Mozilla already has a good selection of popular apps available for the OS, including Facebook, Twitter, Pulse News, and more. With these workshops, it hopes to be able to launch with a decent selection of apps in order to appeal to the masses.

[via Mozilla]

Despite the fact that it is still a work in progress, Mozilla said it wanted to launch the latest version so that the community can test it out and contribute in the form of feedback and such, as well providing openness so that enthusiasts can stay updated on the company’s progress. The features that have been added to the simulator are the by-product of user feedback.

Perhaps the two biggest added features are Push to Device and rotation simulation, both of which have been extensively requested by users. Push to Device allows a Firefox OS-supposed device, you can connect it with its USB data cable and push apps to the unit from the simulator. Likewise, rotation simulation is straight-forward: you can use it to rotate the simulator for landscape and portrait.

Some other features include what Mozilla says is a basic geolocation API simulation, so developers who want to include geolocation in their app can now test it. It provides both latitude and longitude values. There’s now manifest validation to check for errors, as well as a variety of stability fixes. Those interested can grab version 3.0 now from Mozilla.

[via Mozilla]

Sony’s biggest focus is the app community, which it wants to help faciliate in creating apps for Firefox OS, something that will have a large impact on how the platform is received by consumers when launched. Users interested in flashing their Xperia with Firefox OS should head over to the announcement and check out the full guide to get started.

Said Sony Mobile Communication’s Deputy CEO and Head of Products Business Group Bob Ishida: “At Sony Mobile, we continue to evaluate innovative technologies that can help deliver the premium user experiences that Sony’s consumers expect. Our engineers are now working with Firefox OS Mobile and HTML5, evolving technologies which show great potential.”

The experimental Firefox OS was assembled by Sony’s Per Astrand and Andreas Sandblad. Says the announcement, this version of the operating system is not intended to be used as an everyday platform, and has several limitations in place that would impede on its function in daily life. There’s no radio connectivity, meaning calls can’t be made. The SD card is unstable, and the touch sensitivity is not calibrated completely.

[via Sony Mobile]

So says the folks over at CNET, reporting that word was passed down from a “high-level Samsung executive” at the ongoing Mobile World Congress 2013. This isn’t particularly surprising given the manufacturer’s rampant success as the most popular Android handset maker. Sony, on the other hand, has stated that it is in line to launch a Firefox OS device.

The Sony handset is slated for launch in 2014, with the company’s engineers working alongside Mozilla to produce the device. With that competition out of the way, Sony has a better chance of pushing its Firefox OS efforts to become the top maker of devices for the mobile operating system. No information on what the handset will be like is known, however.

Firefox OS will feature the ability to gather search results from both the Web and apps simultaneously, as well as a feature allowing users to create an app from a search term for expedited searches. Mozilla promises that the most beloved apps will be available in the Firefox Marketplace when the devices launch, including Twitter, Facebook, AccuWeather, and more.

[via CNET]

Samsung is disregarding Firefox OS because it wants to focus a majority of its efforts into developing the Tizen OS for its devices. Firefox OS and Tizen OS are two newbies looking to shake up the mobile world, and with both operating systems being backed by major manufacturers, we will be seeing a new generation of smartphones as well as a more competitive mobile market place.

The Tizen OS is moving along really well in development. The UI looks polished, and developers have just recently received access to the core features in the OS. Samsung’s gearing to launch multiple Tizen devices by the second half of this year. Firefox OS is also looking pretty good, and being HTML5 based, app development for it should be much easier for developers.

Both mobile operating systems look to have a promising future in the market place, and we’ll see how consumers like them compared to the major players, iOS and Android. With Blackberry 10 gaining traction in the market, and Windows Phone 8 going on a marketing frenzy, we should be seeing a very interesting battle of the mobile OS’s soon. What’s your take on these newcomers?

[via CNET]

Sony’s Xperia Z and Tablet Z are getting a lot of buzz among consumers. Both offer beautiful form-factors alongside great specs, making them very appealing to any type of consumer. Both devices are water-resistant, being able to be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes without any detrimental effects. Sony believes that the Xperia Z and Tablet Z will help make it a major competitor in the Android space.

With the Xperia Z and Tablet Z fighting its Android wars for it, Sony hopes that it can also create devices that will make it the top manufacturer of mobile devices for the Firefox OS. Samsung will not be throwing its hat in the Firefox OS ring because it wants to focus all of its efforts on the Tizen OS. With Samsung out of the way, Sony has a really good chance of dominating the Firefox OS space, with its only real competitor being LG.

Firefox OS looks like it will have a very promising future, especially with all of these great backers. Mozilla says that the Firefox OS will have a great app base, with many popular apps like Facebook and Twitter already available for the platform. Because of the HTML5 platform, it will also be easier for web developers to create apps for the OS. Mozilla promises that the Firefox OS devices will have affordable price tags, making them even more appealing in the eyes of the consumers.

[via The Next Web]

That chip is paired with a meager 256MB of RAM, though Mozilla has argued that Firefox OS is more resource-frugal than other platforms. You’ll probably want a memory card to augment the 512MB of user storage, though.

On the back there’s a 3.2-megapixel camera (no LED flash, though), and the whole handset is pretty chunky: you won’t mistake it for any of the current midrange Android devices that are creeping toward medium screen sizes. It’s also hardly going to be confused for an expensive device: the metallic-effect outer rim feels cheap, while the rear plastic is thin and grabs fingerprints with alacrity.

As for Firefox OS, at times it feels very much like Android, but elsewhere its been paired back into a more beginner-friendly platform. The homescreen is also the app launcher, with side-swiped panels that show up the various apps and browser shortcuts. Along the bottom there are some semi-persistent launcher icons – they appear across some of the panes, but not all of them – and you can pull down the status bar, Android-style, for more information and toggles for WiFi, Bluetooth, and the like.

Alcatel expects the ONE TOUCH FIRE to be among the first batch of Firefox OS devices to reach the market, though that’s not pegged until “later this year” across multiple carriers worldwide. No word on pricing at this stage either.

Firefox OS offers in-depth searching that brings search results from both apps and the web at the same time. For example, when you search for your favorite music artist, you’ll get search results for the artist, as well as places to purchase their music, stream their music, and options to purchase their concert tickets. You can also create a download app from a search term, allowing you to easily and quickly grab the information you want when you want it.

The Firefox Marketplace will offer a good selection of apps at launch. Firefox OS runs HTML5 apps, and there are many apps currently available, ranging from the most popular apps to local/niche apps. There is AccuWeather, Airbnb, Box, Facebook, Twitter, Disney Mobile Games, EA Games, Pulse News, SoundCloud, SporTV, and more. Mozilla believes that having apps built around web technologies will make app developing much more easier, and will enable more innovation, control, and opportunity for both developers and consumers alike.

There isn’t a specific launch date for the Firefox OS devices. Mozilla just says that they will launch “later this year”. However, if you want, you can view the Firefox Marketplace in Firefox for Android Aurora just to get a feel of what apps will be available at launch. The Firefox OS devices will offer good performance, ease-of-use, and personalization at an affordable price tag.

[via Mozilla]

As well as the dualcore chip – running at 1.2GHz – Peak also has a 4.3-inch qHD IPS display, an 8-megapixel main camera, and a 2-megapixel front camera. There’s 4GB of ROM and 512MB of RAM, along with WiFi b/g/n, triband UMTS (2100/1900/900) and quadband GSM/EDGE. Mozilla also squeezes in a microSD card slot, light and proximity sensors, a g-sensor, and GPS, along with an LED flash for the camera and a 1,800mAh battery.

In comparison, the Keon lacks a front-facing camera, though it has the same connectivity options, RAM, and ROM. Its battery runs to 1,580 mAh. Both devices will be supplied unlocked and SIM-free, ready for developers to slap their own SIM card inside and get coding.

That coding, meanwhile, may well be done at one of the Firefox OS App Days, happening this week across the world. However, Mozilla also has a Firefox OS Simulator for those wanting to code without hardware; there’s more detail on Firefox OS here.

Mozilla says the Keon and Peak Firefox OS Developer Preview Phones will begin shipping from February, though pricing for each device is yet to be confirmed.

[Thanks Al!]

Version 1.0 comes without some of the bugs users complained about in the prototype release, with the announcement stating that Linux users in particularly should find the extended support in v.1 satisfactory. For now, the simulator add-on is still branded with “Preview,” which Mozilla says is due to its newness and the fact that it’s still in development.

Firefox OS Simulator allows users to play around with Mozilla’s still-in-development mobile operating system via their Web browser. After installing, users will be presented with a dashboard (accessible via “Tools -> Web Developer”). The OS simulator pops up as an application separate from the browser. You can check it out in action via the video below.

The Simulator add-on is a fairly hefty download, falling in the 50MB to 100MB range. The simulation includes most of Firefox OS’s default applications, which is partly responsible for the large download size. Thusly, some users may experience the “Unresponsive Script” warning while it is being installed; Mozilla states that this is normal and to just click “Continue” and wait for the installation to finish.

[via Mozilla]

ZTE and Mozilla announced a partnership earlier this year, and today, a representative from ZTE said that the company is looking to Firefox OS as a way to diversify its offerings. ZTE already offers Windows Phone and Android devices, and confirmed once again today plans to release Windows Phones 8 handsets at some point in the future. Embracing Firefox OS, however, is a move to make sure that the company doesn’t rely too much on Windows or Android, which would be a smart move for any smartphone manufacturer.

Firefox OS is expected to launch first in Brazil, so it seems that the first ZTE devices supporting the OS will be releasing there too. ZTE and Mozilla have their work cut out for them though, with Android taking nearly 70% of smartphone market for itself. Apple’s iOS posts strong second place numbers too, floating in between 16% and 20% the last time we checked in. That’s going to make it incredibly hard for a new OS to get off the ground, but there is a glimmer of hope.

After all, there’s a lot of hype surrounding Windows Phone 8 at the moment, and it seems that the smartphone crowd is at least intrigued by the idea of a Firefox OS. As an entry-level smartphone maker, ZTE has been growing lately, so the company could potentially do a lot to get the Firefox OS (and Windows Phone 8 for that matter) into the hands of more consumers. We shall see, but with Firefox OS and Windows Phone 8 both on the horizon, it’s an exciting time for those who want a little diversity in their mobile OSes. Stay tuned.

The fact that all of the apps pictured are available for free suggests that Mozilla has yet to work out a pricing scheme (or payment methods) for the Marketplace, but with the OS not launching until 2013, it has time to figure that out. Naturally, a number of apps will be available for the reasonable price of absolutely nothing, but expect to see some paid apps on offer as well.

The Firefox OS Markerplace is obviously geared toward easy searching, and like most app stores, selecting an app you’re interested in will take you to a page that offers descriptions and ratings. The Marketplace looks a little rough around the edges in this early state, but for the most part it also looks like Mozilla has almost everything in place. This suggests that Mozilla is pretty far along in the production of the Marketplace, which is something to get excited about if you’re looking forward to Firefox OS.

That being said, keep in mind that the Marketplace as we see it today could change – perhaps radically – by the time Firefox OS is released. Speaking of that, we don’t have a solid release date yet, as Mozilla is sticking to an “early 2013″ release window for the first Firefox OS devices, which will be coming from Telefonica. Be sure to peruse our story timeline below for more information on Firefox OS!

Of course without a full development kit, app creators wont get all that far here in these early stage for making fun objects for the newbie OS. Mozilla’s operating system, aka boot2gecko, appears at the moment to look quite similar to what we’ve seen from Android and iOS over the past few years, with a sprinkle of MIUI for good measure. Mozilla plans on making this operating system available within a year and nightly builds are available now.

Those developers who have worked with Firefox as a web browser before will have a much easier time jumping in on Firefox OS as it works with standards-based web technologies such as HTML5 and CSS. Customizability is at the center of this release, and the look of the user interface may well change significantly before it’s released in any kind of final form.

Head over to Mozilla’s Tony Chung’s [downloads post] to get started with the desktop builds for this system, and don’t forget that you’ll need Gaia running before you do anything – also available via Chung.

Inside those phones, Firefox OS will run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon processors, though it’s not been confirmed which generation of chips will be used. Still, there should be plenty of power to keep HTML5 apps running swiftly; one of the things Qualcomm has long been pushing with Snapdragon is browser-engine performance.

Brazil will be the first country to get Firefox OS devices next year, with Telefonica signed up to offer them through its Vivo brand. Mozilla is heavily promoting the new platform’s customization options, helped by the fact that there’s none of the pesky middleware that’s usually present on smartphones.

Fully open-source, Firefox OS is based on the underlying Linux kernel modified for Android, with a ‘Gonk’ hardware abstraction layer and then the multi-platform Gecko Web browser engine to actually run all the “local” apps. There’ll also be a ‘Gaia’ UI and app suite that’s hardware-independent.

What remains to be seen is whether Firefox OS can hold its own against Android, which has already made significant inroads into the entry-level smartphone market. More on the platform in our hands-on.