New Firefox Will Use Accelerometers
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: Firefox, Accelerometer, Mozilla, Rotate, Browser | Themes: The Internet, Software
Mozilla's Firefox 3.6 will take advantage of accelerometers.
This post over on Mozilla's "hack" site reports that Firefox 3.6 will be able to detect whether a laptop or mobile device is horizontal or vertical by using--if installed--their built-in accelerometers. Currently Safari does this on the iPhone and iPod Touch, enabling Web surfers to view the Internet vertically or horizontally.
Mozilla's Christopher Blizzard also uploaded a video demonstration on how this will work, rotating a laptop on its side while the objects within the browser remain stationary horizontally and vertically in relation to the viewer. Frankly, we're not sure why anyone would want to browse with the laptop sitting on its side, but the effect is cool nonetheless.
"Originally built as something that we would include for our upcoming mobile browser release, we’ve made it available on desktop systems as well," he said. "Many modern Macbooks and Thinkpads contain devices and drivers that expose this information. We’ve added support for Linux, Macs and some Thinkpads where drivers and devices are available."
Mozilla's Paul Rouget also added that the latest "trunk" of Firefox already has the orientation feature. Web pages must insert a special "event listener" in order for the browser to utilize the device's accelerometer.
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It must be uncomfortable typing on a laptop while its on its side...
It's the title, you spelled it wrong in the title, for the love of Pete!
I need this for when I go into space.
I supose if your typing or reading forums it is nice to have it vertical
Finally, there's a way to think different using your Mac.
Yes well I can't see too many web developers adding these event listeners to their sites, interesting that Macbooks have accelerometers in them though (why?).
OMG no way..I cant believe they are giving me this option for my laptop..Now when my lap top falls I will be still able to read what on the screen...Oh oh and Now imuh start typing sideways..THis will make things so much more convenient.
Yes well I can't see too many web developers adding these event listeners to their sites, interesting that Macbooks have accelerometers in them though (why?).
Usually they are to sense if the laptop is on it's side or fallen to protect the HDD, think some even have a little program that shows the orientation of the laptop.
This is firefox thanked for apple tablet!
Sometimes i try to use my ipod touch in bed laying on my side...i can't -_-
Umm, this is useful not for regular laptops but for slates and devices like the iPhone. Regular laptops don't usually have accelerometers other than to turn of spinning HDs in case of a drop.
it's useless if you don't have the hardware to tell the software there's movement. and the sensor should be attached to the display and not the desktop cpu box. what next? infrared sensors to track our eyeballs movements. if you're straining to read these comments, the sensor will tell the browser to increase the fonts automatically.
how's that? boy how hard is it to press control+ keys by ourselves?
Is the title pronounces aklerometers?
But seriously, this could be useful for tablets or for people who might want to display a long webpage vertically--there are desktop LCD monitors with a swivel feature to do just that.
Though there should be a snapping feature to keep small movements from shifting the page and possibly moving some content out of the viewable area.
Great, now we'll have folks using their laptops in their car, with a downloaded Firefox plugin that tells them how fast their car is going.
OK cool and all, but Why? also the reason why macs have acclerometers is so you can download a free app to make lightsaber swoosh sounds with your laptop
What if you're on the other side of the equator?
This would be used for tablet style laptops. One of my friends uses a tablet with a touch screen that she often turns on its side and has a program that lets her write notes on like a piece of paper. With this feature she could switch windows to Firefox quick to check something without having to turn her tablet back and forth.
I see Firefox team is working on some brilliant ideas to make FF bloated with semi usefull shit.
To all those who want to know what purpose the sensors serve in notebooks...hard drives. If the computer detects movement, shock, etc etc etc, the drive will change how it reads. I see this very often as for some reason the New Toshiba laptops tell you every time the computer reacts to these sensors. Bring up a pop-up window, horrendously annoying.
You would be amazed how little movement it takes to set them off, like hitting the left or right mouse clicks just ever so slightly.
Or opening the CD-Rom drive, or closing the lid, movement in anyway really. I cease to wonder why laptop drives die so much faster.
I've got a convertable notebook/tablet from HP, but it already auto-corrects the screen when it is in tablet mode (at the video driver level, no need for the capability in an app to turn it yet AGAIN). Plus there's a rotate button right on the monitor for when I want to use it like an e-reader
Oh Kevin....you don't even try do you?
Oh Kevin....you don't even try do you?
Stupid double posts....when will Tom's fixed these blasted comments sections?!?!?
To all those who want to know what purpose the sensors serve in notebooks...hard drives. If the computer detects movement, shock, etc etc etc, the drive will change how it reads. I see this very often as for some reason the New Toshiba laptops tell you every time the computer reacts to these sensors. Bring up a pop-up window, horrendously annoying.You would be amazed how little movement it takes to set them off, like hitting the left or right mouse clicks just ever so slightly.Or opening the CD-Rom drive, or closing the lid, movement in anyway really. I cease to wonder why laptop drives die so much faster.
Thats one use for it, yet.
You can disable that piece of hardware to stop it reporting etc within windows too.
As for faulty hdd's in notebooks - its because of higher densities, movement and the fact that there usually running in tight spots and without any sort of cooling etc - more ware etc
michaelahess: they don't have spellchecker and obviously no QA team. This is afterall his personal blog site.
yeah i had a mac prog where when you tilt the screen, the water on the screen moves back and forth. wow! then i quickly discovered that you can do the same thing with real water in a pan. i was quickly unimpressed with my mac's abilities..
I occasionally browse with my computer on its side. A long vertical screen is perfect for reading manga or for long narrow columns of text.
" Currently Safari does this on the iPhone and iPod Touch, enabling Web surfers to view the Internet vertically or horizontally."
I think my Samsung i900 also does that. Ohh yeah, it does! So do many HTC phones. Others phones as well. Lots of phones actually.
I think the point is made. (Is Toms being PAID to include apple in everything?)