Though Mozilla has long been a proponent of WebRTC for plugin-free video and voice chat, it hasn't been ready to enable the full protocol in Firefox as a matter of course. It's more confident as of this week: the newly available Firefox 22 beta turns on complete WebRTC use by default, allowing for both live web conversations and peer-to-peer file swaps. There's more to the release as well, depending on the platform. Windows users receive support for HiDPI displays, like that of the Kirabook; every desktop user also gets gaming-friendly OdinMonkey JavaScript tuning, a web notification API and a font inspector. Android users won't have WebRTC and other upgrades for now, but everyone can experiment with the latest Firefox beta at the source links.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software

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Via: Mozilla (1), (2)

Source: Firefox Beta, Google Play

If you like the internet, especially updating things from the internet, today is a good day for you. Mozilla has released not one but two major versions of its Firefox browser, the first being the increasingly social Firefox 21 on the desktop. The browser's integration with Facebook is now extended to include other partners including Cliqz, Mixi and msnNOW -- a trio that doesn't quite offer the same recognition of that first network. However, an open Social API holds the promise for others to follow suit. Facebook 21 also has better support for Do Not Track settings and includes the Firefox Health Report, which has the ability to track crashes and make recommendations for boosting performance.

Firefox for Android was also updated, offering new open-source fonts, better HTML5 support, an improved UI and the ability to save media files by long-tapping. That is available for download now, as are the various versions for desktop operating systems. Choose your favorite flavor below.

Filed under: Software

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Source: Firefox for Android (Google Play), Firefox

Attention HTML5 virtuosos: Mozilla is thirsty for your talents. So much, in fact, that the outfit is baiting developers with a free smartphone in the hopes they'll return the favor with fresh Firefox OS apps. In order to qualify for a device, you'll need to submit a proposal to Mozilla outlining the app you wish to build or port to its new mobile platform. If your pitch is accepted, the company will hook you up with a free Geeksphone Keon to thank you for your labor. Sure, the device's 3.5-inch HVGA display, 1GHz Snapdragon S1 processor, 512MB of RAM and 3-megapixel rear-facing camera are entry-level at best, but remember you're getting this handset gratis. The program is set to close at the end of the month or when supplies run out, whichever comes first. So, if you're interested in adding "Firefox OS developer" to your resume, hit up the source link to apply.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Mozilla

Mozilla wants to quell any doubt that its Unreal Engine 3 Firefox port works well, so it's just released a demo browser version of Epic Citadel so you can see for yourself. The game was ported to Javascript using the technology, and will run in HTML5 on most browsers without any plugins -- though using the latest nightly build of Firefox is recommended. Epic says that the performance of such games "rivals native" with "stunning" visuals, and in a short test, we managed to get about 16fps on a reasonably equipped PC. Mozilla wants to recruit more developers to the new platform as part of its Emscripten project (see More Coverage link), but meanwhile you can grab the game at the source or see the video after the jump -- just don't count on wreaking any havoc, as the demo's strictly a scenic tour.

Filed under: Gaming, Internet

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Source: Mozilla (blog)

If you've yet to dabble around with Firefox OS, today would be a good opportunity to remedy that, because Mozilla has released the final version of Firefox OS Simulator 3.0. Building off of the preview release from mid-March, this version has been slimmed down with a smaller download size, faster startup time and plenty of bug fixes. The finalized release also contains newer versions of Firefox OS and the Gaia UI, and best of all, it's really easy to install -- merely add the extension within Firefox and you're off to the races. As a hint, you can switch between the four primary home screens by clicking and dragging, and from there, you'll realize there's plenty to play with. Think of it as the poor man's version of buying a new phone.

Filed under: Software

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Source: Mozilla, Firefox OS Simulator (Firefox Add-ons)