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Firefox OS makes first TV appearance on Panasonic's 4K set (pictures)

Mozilla showed off Panasonic's 4K TV running the Firefox OS at this week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. It's the first device beyond phones and PCs to which Mozilla has spread its browser-based operating system.

Stephen Shankland
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Stephen Shankland
Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
1 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

Panasonic's 4K TV uses Firefox OS, a browser-based operating system, to offer apps and configuration options. It's the first device that's part of Mozilla's attempt to branch out beyond PCs and smartphones. The 4K (aka Ultra HD) TV will ship this spring.

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
2 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

The apps section is a customizable list of online destinations, including browser bookmarks.

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
3 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

Of course, the Firefox OS TV comes with a browser.

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
4 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

Two remote controls are possible, one with a touch pad and one with an array of buttons.

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
5 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

Navigating to the devices section lets people select input ports or mirror the display to another device. It also automatically shows whatever devices it can find.

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
6 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

The main screen visible when you turn on Panasonic's 4K TV shows a user-configurable list of icons to launch various stations or services. Panasonic announced the TV at CES in January but showed it at Mobile World Congress two months later.

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV
7 of 7 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Panasonic's 4K Firefox OS TV

Interactive TVs, which let people do things like play games and browse the Web, haven't been much of a success. The top use is typically streaming video.

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