Mozilla’s Boot To Gecko Not Targeted At All Mobile Devices

There is not much we know about Boot To Gecko, Mozilla’s thin layer OS platform that will enable mobile devices to boot to a web interface that leverages open source APIs. CTO Brendan Eich recently revealed a bit more about the software that is scheduled for first demos in the first quarter for next year.

Boot To Gecko (B2G) is kept relatively low key at Mozilla these days. Information is scarce, the functionality of the platform is largely speculation in public and judging by the data published on the B2G Wiki, it will take some time until we get a first look at the user interface, which Mozilla refers to as “Gaia”. However, Brendan Eich just discussed the general approach Mozilla takes with B2G, which reaches from the philosophy behind the OS, to the software foundation and competitive thoughts all the way to the realization that B2G will not run “well” on all mobile devices.

Mozilla’s basic idea is to break out of the locked-in operating system that dominate the mobile world today, iOS and Android. Eich indicated that Mozilla will be using the Android Linux kernel or a kernel that is similar to it, which will provide fast access to web technologies such as JavaScript, which will also interface with key mobile applications on a high level such as USB, a camera, the phone as well as near field communications. There will be no proprietary technology in B2G.

When B2G is released, Firefox’ Gecko rendering engine will be “dissolved” into the OS, as Mozilla is apparently interested in interoperability between Gecko and Webkit inside B2G. In his speech, Eich refers quite a bit to Google’s Chrome OS and Android, which indicates that Google’s direction is influencing B2G and its final shape. However, there are some thoughts about Apple as well and Mozilla might be thinking to take some cues from the success of iOS as well. “We won’t run equally well on every device, but we will pick devices that we think are likely to be popular, that are well executed hardware, that, you know, can actually give Apple a bit of a run for its money,” Eich said. He noted that Mozilla has seen “sweet hardware” and has apparently been focusing on Samsung’s Galaxy II-S, and the Galaxy Tab 10 inch. While B2G isn’t running on those devices yet, the executive noted that there is hardware Mozilla “likes a lot”.

We have to speculate here, but Eich appears to be saying that B2G won’t be the best idea for every mobile device out there. Instead he hopes that the software will “be really awesome on certain well designed hardware.” Mozilla’s strength is openness and reach. It cannot afford substantial restriction on mobile hardware.

Daniel Bailey in Business Products on October 21