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Home , Firefox OS, Jolla, Mobile operating system, Sailfish OS

New Kids on the Block! Android, iOS, and might be hogging all the limelight, but there’s a whole new breed of new mobile operating systems that are gradually springing up, particularly in the budget segment - Preeti Gaur OS in the era of Internet of Things, where We have been hearing about Tizen since a long time and all devices are interconnected. This will be a big step for the OS is still in developmental stage. The developers are a manufacturer like who has a solid hardware working on the stability concerns and it will be available by base but is dependent on for the . Tizen next year. can free Samsung from Google’s licensing and if established, it will result in a fortune that will be generated Key features: by the revenue of apps and other media stuff. platform for multiple devices It is an open source flexible operating system (like An- Availability: The Galaxy Z is introduced with Tizen but yet droid) that will serve various smart devices such as mobile not available in the market. phones, televisions and a range of wearable devices, game consoles and even cars. OS Firefox also joins the race of the with its OS. Full support for web applications They have developed a Web platform, which is capable Backed by Samsung, and some other major players, of displaying and launching other Web apps. It’s an open Tizen is a based platform that offers the power of na- source based on Linux, open web tive application development and full HTML5 support. So, standards and ’s technology that provides a the Tizen based devices will run all web based applications reinvention of what mobile platforms can be. with good integration of videos and graphical content.

Android-like user friendly UI Samsung recently launched Galaxy Z that is backed by Tizen. The of Tizen is similar to Android and Firefox OS with similar home screens for widgets, round icons, app drawer and notification bars. Multi user profiles and high end 3D game support is also a part of Tizen eco system. The OS is open for members who wish to participate in the development process to make it a stable uniform

Key Features: Web Based OS The entire user interface is a Web app which is capable of displaying and launching other Web apps. Firefox uses standard web technologies, albeit with enhanced to the ’s hardware and services. From a product perspective, Firefox OS is Mozilla’s branding and support services on top of Boot to Gecko (B2G - the operating sys- tem product’s engineering codename). The user interface of Firefox OS is called Gaia, and includes the default apps and system functions. Although it is light weight and easy pcquest.com .com/pcquest .com/pcquest linkd.in/pcquest [email protected] NOVEMBER 2014 PCQuest 45 o v e s t o r y to operate, it doesn’t offer the back and option buttons. that combines the with mer and is written by The home button helps you to operate the phone easily, . yet you are going to miss the back button.

Adaptive OS Firefox OS understands the user behavior, analyzes the search patterns and delivers desired results instantly. You can search for popular apps, or local content using a bar that shows “I’m thinking of…”, wherein you can type the desired subject.

Secured tracking Firefox includes ‘’ feature that enables the user to block websites and apps that track user’s behavior.

Instant Access to your device In contrast to Android, here you don’t require an ID to operate or access most of the features. The user can directly access all the apps and other features, such as call, messaging, contacts etc. which are always present on Key features: the screen. Swipe based UI The user interface is based on swipes and does not need physical buttons for multitasking or switching screens. The user interface looks somewhat similar to Blackberry 10 OS that also follows a gesture based approach.

The Grid Interface The currently-running apps are revealed in a grid-styled in- terface that shows the whole window of the running apps. Just like Android widgets, users can communicate with them directly and can be accessed by swiping upwards on the screen. The task manager displays the opened apps in small windows that you can close by tapping the cross icon. The next scroll takes you to the app drawer.

Games and Apps Unified Messaging System You get instant access to the Marketplace and install apps Sailfish OS has a unified messaging system. This means Fa- directly to your phone. Popular games and apps are miss- cebook, SMS and WhatsApp can all be grouped ing with Firefox Marketplace, but WhatsApp can be con- into a single view. In fact, photos and contacts can also be nected via third party app called ConnectA2. It supports all unified with social networks that allow users to comment major social networking apps like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twit- or like the content. ter, Google+, Tumblr, Quora and Pinterest. It also consumes less mobile data as it uses web compression techniques, as Compatible with Android Apps both the devices available with OS are only. The OS comes with compatibility for Android apps. It has been achieved with the use of Alien Dalvik by Myriad Availability: Four smartphones are currently available in Group. This is a big step forward for the phone and tablet the market – Alcatel Onetouch FireC, Spice Fire One, Intex manufacturers who can immediately and effortlessly Cloud FX and Zen U105 Fire. integrate their existing devices with the Sailfish OS and still have the ability to use Android software. Sailfish OS After Firefox, Jolla smartphone running Sailfish OS has en- Availability: Jolla phones are running on Sailfish OS and tered the Indian market. Sailfish is a mobile operating system available in the market.

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