Mozilla's Web-Only Operating System Layer
Essentially a stripped-down browser, the Mozilla web-only operating system layer has much in common with Google Chrome.
Signaling what may be a new front in the browser wars, Mozilla has released a prototype of a web-only operating system layer called the Webian Shell. Like Google's Chrome operating system, the entire interface of the Webian Shell is essentially a stripped-down browser. The only applications and services that can be accessed through the Webian Shell are web-based. However, while the Webian Shell has some things in common with Google Chrome, there are some significant differences. While Chrome is a complete operating system that can be installed on bare-metal systems, the Webian Shell is, as the name implies, a shell that runs on top of existing operating systems such as Apple OS X, Linux, and Windows. But probably most significantly, Mozilla's Webian Shell is a very early prototype with extremely limited functionality, while Google Chrome is much further along and already coming to market in new Chrome-based devices.
Released as a very early experimental prototype, Mozilla's Webian Shell displays as a very stripped down browser interface. Currently, the Webian Shell is lacking in quite a bit of functionality, not only when compared to Google Chrome but also when compared to standard browsers such as Mozillas's own Firefox. Keyboard shortcuts failed to work, along with right mouse context menus within the browser. And a number of websites would not display properly, including Google Apps and Twitter. However, this release is meant to simply display some of the ideas behind the Webian Shell; we should expect to see more advances in the near future.
The lower left-hand section of the Webian Shell displays open tabbed windows, a plus sign for opening new tabs, and a Home icon that does not work in the same way as standard browser home icons.
Clicking the Home icon brings users to a sparse launch page for the Webian Shell. Besides access to tabbed windows, the only unique function of this screen was the power off button in the upper right-hand corner.
The upper bar in the Webian Shell provides forward and back buttons, the address bar, a reload button, and an X icon to close the open tab.
While a number of websites failed to load in the Webian Shell, some types of functionality did work, including Flash-based movies and animations.
While a number of websites failed to load in the Webian Shell, some types of functionality did work, including Flash-based movies and animations.
Signaling what may be a new front in the browser wars, Mozilla has released a prototype of a web-only operating system layer called the Webian Shell. Like Google's Chrome operating system, the entire interface of the Webian Shell is essentially a stripped-down browser. The only applications and services that can be accessed through the Webian Shell are web-based. However, while the Webian Shell has some things in common with Google Chrome, there are some significant differences. While Chrome is a complete operating system that can be installed on bare-metal systems, the Webian Shell is, as the name implies, a shell that runs on top of existing operating systems such as Apple OS X, Linux, and Windows. But probably most significantly, Mozilla's Webian Shell is a very early prototype with extremely limited functionality, while Google Chrome is much further along and already coming to market in new Chrome-based devices.
Released as a very early experimental prototype, Mozilla's Webian Shell displays as a very stripped down browser interface. Currently, the Webian Shell is lacking in quite a bit of functionality, not only when compared to Google Chrome but also when compared to standard browsers such as Mozillas's own Firefox. Keyboard shortcuts failed to work, along with right mouse context menus within the browser. And a number of websites would not display properly, including Google Apps and Twitter. However, this release is meant to simply display some of the ideas behind the Webian Shell; we should expect to see more advances in the near future.
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