New Firefox OS App Workshops & Other Updates

Here in the virtual headquarters of Mozilla’s geo-distributed tech evangelism team, we always have bags packed and traveling shoes on. Today we’re happy to announce a couple of new Firefox OS App Workshops for web developers: we’ll be in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Saturday, October 26, and we’ll be in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday, November 23.

Who should apply

Remember, these are full-day hands-on technical workshops for developers who are already working on building or porting mobile apps for Firefox Marketplace. You must apply to participate and we will give a preference to developers who can show us a Firefox OS app in progress or a listed HTML5 web app that’s ready to port. Try to arrive at the Workshop with app code already running in the Firefox Simulator.

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At the workshop, you’ll spend the day working on your app with help from our team, with breaks for meals and snacks. Our first activity will show you how to send your app from the Simulator to the Geeksphone Keon Firefox OS Developer Preview device. At the end of the day, there’s a chance to demo the app you’re working on. After the workshop, the Geeksphone is yours to keep, to complete your Firefox OS app and continue to use. Our goal is to help you finish your first app and see it listed in Firefox Marketplace. We’re especially interested in apps built in your language, for people in your location.

Firefox OS App Workshop, October 26, Guadalajara, MX: Apply here.

Firefox OS App Workshop, November 23, Budapest, HU: Apply here.

How to prepare

Getting started with Open Web Apps – why and how will help you get started. Once you’ve installed the Firefox OS Simulator, and spent a little time reading the documentation, there are many other useful articles about Firefox OS on the Hacks blog. On the Mozilla Developer Network, you’ll find abundant documentation for app developers.

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Update: Phones for app ports

Thanks to everyone who applied for our Phones for app ports program. Submissions to this program are now closed. We share your enthusiasm and look forward to seeing all your apps listed in Marketplace. We hope to finish reviewing all submissions this week, so please be patient just a little bit longer if you haven’t heard from us. Please note: If your proposal is not accepted, you will not receive a notification.

If your proposal is selected, you will receive an acceptance email from Mozilla, followed by a notification from the shipper with more information. Once your phone is shipped and your app is in progress, someone on our team will contact you and be available if you need help to get your app done and listed. We are probably a week or two behind on shipping phones, so again, please bear with us. In some countries, we are working through some specific shipping issues. Thanks everyone for your patience. We regret that we can’t respond to every email inquiry.

Special kudos to those app developers who’ve already received phones and gotten their apps ported and listed in Marketplace. We are super-proud of you and we know there are more of you every day. Together we can build the open mobile web. Thank you!

About Havi Hoffman

Content wrangler & cat herder on the Developer Relations team. Also Mozilla Hacks blog editor and Mozilla Tech Speakers program co-founder.

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