Firefox OS powered mobile phones

In case you are not aware, Mozilla recently released the Firefox OS for mobile phones under their Boot to Gecko (B2G) project. This operating system uses a Linux kernel and boots into a Gecko-based runtime engine. This should be a blessing to developers (and amateurs alike) as users can run apps developed using HTML, JavaScript, and other open web application APIs.

Anyway, Keon and Peak, the first phones running the Fierfox OS were built by Spanish startup Geeksphone have already sold out.

It should be noted that these phone were meant only for developers as the OS is still in it's early stages - which really makes it exciting. I would love to get my hands on one as well.

Happy 10th anniversary Wikipedia

Wikipedia, the World's largest and most popular free online encyclopaedia celebrates it's 10th anniversary today.

I am a Huge fan and have been contributing articles since March 2004. I haven't added any new articles recently but making minor and major corrections and additions to several articles.

A number of academics look down on it as a reference source and I once wrote a post in defence of Wikipedia in my University blog.

Lets contribute and make it even bigger and better.

Happy anniversary Wikipedia.

Google and bar codes

Don't be surprised if you went on the Google page and thought that you had gone to a wrong place. Google has changed it's logo today to a bar code. I guess it is to commemorate the fact that today is the 57th anniversary of the first patent on the bar code (source).

Apparently, it just says "Google". Were you expecting anything else?

Anyway, I also found out that Google has a open source barcode project of it's own called ZXing which it says is pronounced "zebra crossing". They also have an online QR code generator.

Oxite - the new blogging platform from Microsoft

Just got to know about Oxite - an open source blogging platform from Microsoft. Yes! We thought we would never see the day but Microsoft does give away software for free.

Check out the numerous open sources projects on Codeplex - their Open Source community site. Oxite is in Alpha, meaning that it is still in the Internal Test stage. Hopefully they shall have a Beta version out soon ready for public testing. Not sure how it's going to compare to Wordpress but it would definitely need to have more features if they are going to compete against the World's most favourite blog platform. From what I read, they might position it as a full fledged Content Management Systems like Joomla rather than just a blogging platform.

Google Browser

Looks like the latest Google product to be added to their long list of products is a browser. It's called "Google Chrome". Just downloaded it and trying it out now.



There was an prank April Fool's day post on the "Google Operating System Blog" in 2006. Well, it looks like Google has been working on an open source browser all this while.

Read the official statement from Google about the browser: "A fresh take on the browser". Also check out the online comic about Google chrome.

Wonder what this means for Firefox.

Download the Beta version of Google Chrome here.

Firefox breaks World record

Firefox, the popular open source web browser has set a set a new Guinness World Record for the most software downloads in 24 hours.

It was downloaded 8,002,530 times on "Firefox Download Day" June 17, 2008. However it may have been even more if you consider the fact that it was also downloaded from sites such as Download.com

Really proud that I helped set the record.

Google phone ?

It ultimately turns out that all the rumors were wrong. Google is not going to come out with a Google phone to rival Apple's iPhone. Rather, it's strategy is to take over the mobile phone software market, much like Microsoft did with the computer market.

In case you have your head buried in sand, Google just launched Android, an open source operating system for mobile phones. This follows Google's quiet acquisition of 22-month-old Palo Alto based startup Android Inc.

Google has also formed the Open Handset Alliance with 32 other partners, comprising Mobile Operators, Handset Manufacturers, Semiconductor Companies, Software Companies and Commercialization Companies. Their aim:

to accelerate innovation in mobile and offer consumers a richer, less expensive, and better mobile experience.

According to the website, the explicit goal of Android was:

to be the first open, complete, and free platform created specifically for mobile devices.

Anyway, listen to what the creators of Android have to say: