Mozilla releases Firefox 4 Browser for Android smartphones
Mozilla has released its Firefox 4 browser for Android based smartphones. Firefox is available from the Android Market and for download on Maemo devices in over 10 languages.
The upgraded version of the mobile browser hides browser controls when not in use, to release more of the screen size to view websites. Firefox Sync gives users seamless access to their browsing history, bookmarks, open tabs, form data and passwords across computers and mobile devices.
The group has claimed that its browser three times faster than the stock browser on Android. Major enhancements to the JavaScript engine make everything from page load speed to graphics to overall performance snappy in Firefox.
Other changes include a save to pdf option which can save a webpage for offline viewing later. The JavaScript engine incorporates the new J¤gerMonkey JIT compiler, along with enhancements to the existing TraceMonkey JIT and SpiderMonkey’s interpreter for faster page-load speed and better performance of Web apps and games.
Nokia annuls first MeeGo smartphone before release
If reports are to be believed, Nokia has halted development on its first MeeGo based smartphone, just a few months before its anticipated release.
According to reports, the company was expected to show off the device at this Friday’s highly anticipated investor show. Leaked photos last month had shown a Nokia branded device running the MeeGo OS for the first time.
Although bound to fuel speculation about the direction the company is heading in, with an expected switch to either Android or Windows Mobile 7, it could be simply that the company’s new CEO felt the device was too much based on “old-Nokia”, and not really suitable for releasing in the post-iPhone world.
However, shortly after Stephen Elop took the top job at Nokia last September, a senior Nokia executive in charge of the MeeGo OS, Ari Jaaksi resigned from the company, citing personal reasons.
Nokia announced the MeeGo platform last February, as a merger with Intel of their respective mobile-Linux platforms, Maemo and Moblin. The MeeGo software platform is expected to be hosted by the Linux Foundation as a fully open source project.
Nokia’s MeeGo device Chief Quits
The head of Nokia’s MeeGo device, Dr Ari Jaaksi, has resigned. According to Nokia, Jaaksi had decided to pursue opportunities outside Nokia. The company thanks him for his contribution over the years. Despite Ari’s departure, Nokia MeeGo strategy remains unchanged. MeeGo continues with its strong momentum.
Jaaksi was a Nokia experienced person, having headed up MeeGo’s forerunner, Maemo, since its first production version in 2005.
Maemo was a software platform for smartphones and Internet tablets. Maemo was based on open source code, and was developed by Maemo Devices within Nokia in collaboration with many open source projects such as the Linux kernel, Debian, and GNOME. Maemo is based on Debian GNU/Linux and draws much of its GUI, frameworks, and libraries from the GNOME project.If rumors are to be believed, Nokia intends to launch its first MeeGo handset, the N9, by the end of this year.
Nokia also continues to develop its Symbian operating system, which is a slightly more mid-range opponent to MeeGo. The next version of that OS, Symbian^4, will be the first to exercise a fully redesigned user interface since Symbian, now also open-source has became touch-enabled, and is widely seen as a final attempt for Nokia to stay pertinent in the face of competition from Android and the iPhone.
Orange partners Intel on MeeGo device support
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: To develop support for mobile data services on devices running the MeeGo software, Orange and Intel has agreed to work together wherein Orange will use Intel Atom processors. The announcement has been made by MeeGo which is a Linux platform built around Intel’s Moblin and Nokia’s Maemo systems.
According to both the companies, they will work together to increase the availability of Orange Signature Services, such as Orange TV and Orange Maps, on devices running MeeGo.
Intel and Nokia announce strategic relationship to shape next era of Mobile
Further uniting the Internet with mobile phones and computers, Intel CorporationIntel and Nokia today announced a long-term relationship to develop a new class of Intel® Architecture-based mobile computing device and chipset architectures which will combine the performance of powerful computers with high-bandwidth mobile broadband communications and ubiquitous Internet connectivity.
To realize this shared vision, both companies are expanding their longstanding relationship to define a new mobile platform beyond today’s smartphones, notebooks and netbooks, enabling the development of a variety of innovative hardware, software and mobile Internet services.
Taking advantage of each company’s expertise as leaders in their respective fields, these future standards-based devices will marry the best features and capabilities of the computing and communications worlds and will transform the user experience, bringing incredible mobile applications and always on, always connected wireless Internet access in a user-friendly pocketable form factor.
The Intel and Nokia effort includes collaboration in several open source mobile Linux software projects. Intel will also acquire a Nokia HSPA/3G modem IP license for use in future products.
