Mozilla and KaiOS Technologies on a partnership aimed at updating the browser engine used in the KaiOS mobile platform. continues to of the Firefox OS mobile platform and is currently used on approximately 120 million devices sold in over 100 countries. The problem is that KaiOS an outdated browser engine corresponding to , which was where the development of B2G/Firefox OS stopped in 2016. This engine is outdated, does not support many current web technologies, and does not provide adequate security.
The goal of the collaboration with Mozilla is to migrate KaiOS to the new Gecko engine and keep it current, including ensuring regular publication of security patches. The work also involves optimizing the platform's performance and its related services and applications. All changes and improvements will under the free MPL (Mozilla Public License).
Updating the browser engine will enhance the security of the KaiOS mobile platform and implement capabilities such as support for WebAssembly, TLS 1.3, PWA (Progressive Web App), WebGL 2.0, tools for asynchronous JavaScript execution, new CSS features, an extended API for hardware interaction, support for WebP images, and AV1 video.
As a foundation, KaiOS the developments of the (Boot to Gecko) project, where enthusiasts unsuccessfully tried to continue the development of , creating a fork of the Gecko engine after components of B2G were removed from the main Mozilla repository and Gecko engine in 2016. KaiOS uses the Gonk system environment, which includes a Linux kernel from AOSP (Android Open Source Project), a HAL layer for using drivers from the Android platform, and a minimal set of standard Linux utilities and libraries necessary for the operation of the Gecko browser engine.
The user interface of the platform is formed from a set of web applications. The package includes programs such as a web browser, calculator, calendar-scheduler, webcam application, address book, interface for making phone calls, email client, search system, music player, video viewer, interface for SMS/MMS, configurator, photo manager, desktop, and an application manager with support for multiple display modes (cards and grid).
Applications for KaiOS are built using the HTML5 stack and an extended application programming interface , which allows applications to access hardware, telephony, address book, and other system functions. Instead of providing access to the actual file system, programs are confined within a virtual FS, built using the IndexedDB API and isolated from the main system.
Compared to the original Firefox OS, KaiOS has undergone additional platform optimization, redesigned its interface for use on devices without touchscreens, reduced memory consumption (256 MB of RAM is sufficient for the platform), ensured longer battery life, added support for 4G LTE, GPS, Wi-Fi, and launched its own OTA (over-the-air) update delivery service. The project supports the KaiStore app catalog, which hosts over 400 applications, including Google Assistant, WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Google Maps.
In 2018, Google $22 million in KaiOS Technologies and enabled integration of the KaiOS platform with Google Assistant, Google Maps, YouTube, and Google Search services. Enthusiasts are developing a modification , offering an alternative firmware for Nokia 8110 4G phones shipped with KaiOS. GerdaOS does not include pre-installed programs that track user actions (Google programs, KaiStore, FOTA updater, Gameloft games), adds an ad-blocking list based on host blocking via and sets DuckDuckGo as the default search engine.
To install programs instead of using KaiStore, GerdaOS suggests using the included file manager and the GerdaPkg package installer, which allows installing software from a local Among the functional changes, a task manager for simultaneous work with multiple applications is highlighted, along with support for screenshot creation, root access via the adb utility, an interface for manipulating IMEI, and bypassing the restrictions imposed by mobile operators for hotspot mode. ).
Source: opennet.ru
