Firefox OS/Flame

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Flame - the Firefox OS Reference Phone


The Flame reference phone offers a representative set of specs for where Mozilla is focusing core Firefox OS development in 2014 and 2015. The Flame is here to help developers build great content and experiences for Firefox OS and to simplify the development and testing of Firefox OS itself.

Status:

  • 2014-02-xx Final hardware completed.
  • 2014-04-27 Retail site and pre-orders underway.
  • 2014-06-30 Final Firefox OS 1.3 build completed (v122.)
  • 2014-07-10 Retail Flames start shipping to customers.

Main Flame landing page for developers

See the MDN Flame page for developer details such as getting hold of devices, updating software, etc.

Getting a Flame


Our strategy with Flame distribution is to start with the teams of people who can fix issues that would block the next larger distribution group, then distribute out more broadly, rinse, and repeat.

Several months ago, we began deploying Flames to core team members, about 200 people. That group discovered numerous issues and has been hard at work fixing those. With several of the key bugs fixed, we deployed another 400 or so phones to Mozillians. As it turns out, we weren't quite ready for that and had to pull many of those back in to fix a bug with the over-the-air update system. Now that we've got final 1.3 builds for the Flame, we're completing the work of distributing to the remainder of the core Firefox OS team.

If you are a core member of the Firefox OS development effort, you should already have a Flame phone. If you do not, please reach out to your leadership and ask for one.

If you are not a member of the Firefox OS development team, you could purchase one, as detailed on the MDN page, or participate in one of our "Free Flames for X" type programs. Mozilla has several of these programs underway and planned, including Free Flames for apps.

For most of you seeking Flames, you'll want to apply for an upcoming program called Flames for Feedback, aka "Foxtrot." We will deploy a couple hundred Flames to employees and other Firefox OS contributors who will agree to use the device and provide specific kinds of feedback to QA, Product, UX, etc.

Note that the Foxtrot program will have it's software release channel, based on "verified" nightly builds that will be updated about once a month. It will require an initial flash like the nightly channel (see MDN article).

Status:

  • Mozilla has received its order of ~2000 Flames
  • About 500 Flames distributed to core Firefox OS team members via team leaders.
  • Retail site launched May 27, 5000 Flames available.
  • Retail site down from June 11 - June 19. Restored as of June 20.
  • Foxtrot program still under development, applications expected to open week of June 30.

Internal Flame builds


(Mozilla employees only) early builds and instructions available at https://intranet.mozilla.org/QA/B2G_Tips_and_Tricks#Reference_Phone_.28Flame.29

FAQs

  • Q: What's the difference between the Flame and the ZTE Open C?
  • A: The Flame hardware is far more complete than the ZTE Open C. For a "reference device" we need all of the hardware in the phone that our software supports. The ZTE device does not include several critical pieces of hardware including: front-facing camera. auto-focus and flash on main camera. NFC. Dual-SIM. Software-configurable RAM (up to 1GB that's in the phone, compared to half that in the ZTE). While the ZTE Open C is a fine device, it's just not "complete" in terms of being able to support all of Firefox OS software development.
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