RSSMozilla Looks to Bring Web Apps to Desktop
By Ed Oswald | Published October 26, 2007, 12:00 PM
Mozilla is working on a new application called "Prism," which will help to blur the line further between applications for the web and the desktop.
Prism lets popular Web services such as GMail and others be used just like a normal desktop application, without a need to open the Web browser. Prism itself will be built on Firefox, meaning any Web technology Firefox supports could also be used within Prism.
"Unlike Adobe AIR and Microsoft Silverlight, we're not building a proprietary platform to replace the Web," Mozilla Labs wrote in a blog post. "The first of these experiments is based on Webrunner, which we've moved into the Mozilla Labs code repository and renamed to Prism."
In addition to supporting common web technologies, the company is also working to give Web applications access to further computer functionality, such as offline storage and access to 3D graphics hardware.
Mozilla's latest creation may not necessarily be an entirely seperate application; instead, the Labs team is looking into ways to integrate the functionality into Firefox itself. Thus, when a user sees a Web application they would like to run as a desktop app, it would only take a few clicks to create new Web-desktop application mashups.
While Prism will eventually be available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux, currently the team only has an early build for Windows available (builds for other platforms are said to be on the way).
"Prism is just the first of many experiments we hope to conduct around improving the usability of Web applications," the team wrote.
I have found the solution for all of the problems of the world. All you have to do is phenelomorphin the spignits!
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|Mozilla cannot win anyway. They use maxthon in china and Microsoft is going to buy Maxthon for 300 million dollars.
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|...and the benefit to running a made-over IE to Firefox would be??
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|Actually if you observe Mozilla's track record they will prevail. Also there will be newer and better technology way before M$ ever decides to release IE8! Financial terms Mozilla.org is backed by not only Google, but now also Sun and America Online/ Time Warner. Remember AOL purchased Netscape, and the latest release is on the Gecko browser based on no other than Firefox. Now even M$ understand this a force to reckon with that why IE7 follows same concept. Only ff extensions make life simplified compared to pluggins they need purchasing or considered lite before making payments to 3rd party vendors.
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|Neither AIR or silverlight are designed to "replace" the web. I'm an AIR developer and AIR simply brings the web to the desktop whereas silverlight's a whole different can of worms designed to compete against Flash and has absolutely nothing to do with competing against AIR.
This project is clearly destined for failure before it has begun. They don't even know what competing applications are and hence have no idea who they're competing against. Furthermore, Mozilla doesn't haven't the financial backing to support this type of project whereas Adobe and Microsoft both do.
Maybe Mozilla should focus on fixing FireFox and it's memory problems before it commits valuable financial assets it doesn't have to a technology they know absolutely nothing about.
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|Furthermore, Mozilla doesn't haven't the financial backing to support this type of project whereas Adobe and Microsoft both do.
There's this little company you may have heard of called "Google". They back these folks. It's rumored that they have some capital as well...
/sarcasm
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|I must say a breach of decorum has been found here.
1. You must never criticize FireFox - it is the Holy Grail of browsers and in no instances should you mention any real or perceived flaws. Only speak in glowing terms.
2. When discussing an MS product, please point out every glaring fault of the product, even down to font choice if nothing truly aweful can be found.
3. Also, when referring to MS, please be sure to use the M$ as we all know that MS (pardon me - M$) is a greedy corporate monster whose only purpose is to make more money and that Google & Mozilla are altruistic companies who do not seek to make money, but try to make life for everyone just a little better. (And Google can prove this by showing you your search history and telling you what you really need to buy in order to make your life complete).
4. Random bashing of those who are in support of such technologies from M$ are not required but are often looked upon as a favorable trait and will often garner "you said it" - "tell the troll" remarks. We never have enough of those.
Sorry - just having a poopy day and couldn't resist. :)
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|Some days suck.
Some days people suck.
Some days life itself sucks.
But hey, At least we have FireFox and Google. ;)
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|Speaking about google... where is goggle gears?
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|gears.google.com
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|Wait... hold on a minute.
Someone took the time to post a Google related question, instead of Googling it? If you search "Google gears" it's the first result.
Shame.
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|I keep getting googel.
Sometimes it's just easier to ask... Typing porepr selplnig is jsut too mcuh stmoeimes. ;)
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|Good call on Mr. Airhead developer up there =)
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|I agree-gree, I just googled you
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|The internet would SUCK if it was for Firefox and Google.
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|When Microsoft buys Google they will discontinue Mozilla though for Maxthon.
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|Betanews...
Slashdot...
Techdirt...
...and a few others.
Really the only places I use this handle.
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|If it ain't on Google, it hasn't been done. Google is the new AOL.
10 points to anyone who actually gets that last statement.
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