1034832 - Community branding for community builds of Boot2Gecko

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Firefox OS Graveyard :: General, defect)

Description

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Boot2Gecko_BootAnimation.png

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/35.0.1916.153 Safari/537.36

Steps to reproduce:

I build Boot2Gecko for an unsupported device.


Actual results:

The Firefox OS branding was not present (naturally) however there is not any alternative 'community' branding that can be used. instead we are presented with a generic globe in place of any branding.


Expected results:

Alternative branding is especially important for this project, as it involves building an entire operating system. It is not possible to switch between official and unofficial variants like with a desktop browser, and for unsupported devices there will _never_ be any official builds.

A complete set of community branding should be created for these unsupported devices. Fortunately there already exists a suitable candidate that has already been used 'unofficially' as a Boot2Gecko logo - the gaia 'gecko+globe' logo.

This logo can already be found in gaia so it is presumably a Mozilla owned asset. https://github.com/mozilla-b2g/gaia/blob/master/apps/communications/test/unit/media/gaia.png

It can be used as a drop-in replacement for the Firefox logo due to its similar shape and content. It is recognisably Mozilla yet still completely distinct from the Firefox logo.

Assuming Mozilla expects demand for Firefox OS to increase as it becomes a success, then Mozilla should also expect demand for community builds to also increase (see Android community for precedent). Providing this branding now will prevent (or at least reduce) issues of community developers distributing builds of Boot2Gecko with the Firefox OS branding.

I have attached a hopefully inspirational image to start this conversation.

Comment 1

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Splash screen

Comment 2

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: FxOS Logo

Comment 3

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

New logo idea: use the latest nightly globe, the rocket from the 'Spark' background, and the tail from the Firefox logo as the rocket exhausts.

Comment 4

[:gerard-majax]

(In reply to Adam Farden from comment #1)
> Created attachment 8653509 [details]
> Splash screen

I like this! With the animation on the rocket's flame that would be very nice.

Can we get some UX feedback?

Comment 5

[Patryk Adamczyk [:patryk] UX]

Attachment: wallpapers.zip

Hey Guys, I'd advise against the current proposal as it feels more like several icons stitched together and not a cohesive idea. Also for Firefox OS branding we tend to use the orange cartoon fox or its blue outline for devs.

What might be a good idea is to use the graphics (or a variation on the theme) we created for the foxfooding devices since they are not going to be used in the official releases. 

NI me if you have any questions.

Comment 6

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

@patryk I've heard UX is pretty stretched and you're probably busy, but I think you've missed the point of this bug.

I want to release unofficial builds for Xperia devices as part of the FreeXperia Project. I've been warned that I can't use any of the Firefox OS logos because Mozilla is defensive about those. I know I can already use those wallpapers, but I can't use the orange cartoon fox or its blue outline.

Specifically, I would really like to release my builds with a browser icon that isn't just a generic blue globe. This is my main concern and top priority. I know I could fork and make my own branding, but then my builds would lose the connection with Mozilla, and I would probably lose any motivations I have to release to the public.

I'd much rather see an officially approved icon that will benefit the whole developer community, especially as I hear there is an interest in getting more people from the community involved.

Don't take my proposal seriously, It was meant as a suggestion for actual Mozilla UX guys to get ideas for something more official.

Comment 7

[Dietrich Ayala (:dietrich)]

(In reply to Patryk Adamczyk [:patryk] UX from comment #5)
>
> Hey Guys, I'd advise against the current proposal as it feels more like
> several icons stitched together and not a cohesive idea. Also for Firefox OS
> branding we tend to use the orange cartoon fox or its blue outline for devs.

The status quo is *less* than several icons stitched together, and is not even close to a cohesive idea.

Adam's splash screen is *far* better than the default unbranded experience we have today.

Perfect is the enemy of good. Let's shoot for "better" within the constraints of an unbranded experience.

I recommend we use some variation on what Adam has done, at least until a cohesive community branding experience can be designed. We could even take out the "fxos" if that's skirting too close to branded. Just having the rocket and "Mozilla" wordmark in the splash screen alone would be a huge improvement over the current "powered by" image.

I've contacted the branding and legal departments, starting a conversation about how to create a community build experience that is Firefox OS without compromising the official release experience that is Firefox OS. However, I do not see that happening in a short period of time.

Comment 8

[Patryk Adamczyk [:patryk] UX]

Hey Adam, didn't realize you'd be releasing the builds not Mozilla (officially).
Can you tell me exactly what you need? Is it just a splash screen image for the Xperia Z3 Compact (720x1280)? We can make you a "community" splash screen.

Comment 9

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

It's not just one device, it's all of them! This means 480x854, 540x960, 720x1280 and 1080x1920. We have tablets too, but we can ignore those for now.

Also it's not just the splash screen, it's _everything_ which means the main Browser app icon and the boot animation too. The Browser app icon is (naturally) the Firefox icon and the boot animation features the same icon as well as the cartoon fox, which is why we need replacements for these too.

Here's another of my icon ideas, but this may be too busy.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bzpy-m9nH6TmTFRudTdxWXdjMm8

If you could help us with some creativity on the icon, that would help us the most. The splash screens will be easy once we've got that. Thanks!

Comment 10

[Patryk Adamczyk [:patryk] UX]

Hey Adam, I'll work with Dietrich and Brand team to come up with something suitable, especially since it affects the browser icon. So hang in there, but we'll likely do something unique and not reuse iconography used for currently established branding programs. So stay tuned.

Comment 11

[:gerard-majax]

(In reply to Patryk Adamczyk [:patryk] UX from comment #10)
> Hey Adam, I'll work with Dietrich and Brand team to come up with something
> suitable, especially since it affects the browser icon. So hang in there,
> but we'll likely do something unique and not reuse iconography used for
> currently established branding programs. So stay tuned.

Thanks Patryck. I'd like to emphasize the need for multiple resolutions assets, especially boot animation and Gaia loading splash screen. The biggest one is the Z3 Tablet Compact that has a screen of 1920x1200px.

Comment 12

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Could we at least merge the current Firefox Nightly logo into B2G? This would still be an improvement.

Comment 13

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Since we'll be lucky to get something by Christmas 2016, I'll be replacing Firefox OS with this:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Bzpy-m9nH6TmLTB1UGhRUy1TYUk

Comment 14

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Here's my article informing users about why there won't be any Firefox logos in the builds they will download: http://fxpblog.co/2015/09/18/something-hot-is-still-coming.html

Dietrich may find it interesting reading.

Comment 15

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Foxfooding Logo

Logo for builds from FXP

Comment 16

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Foxfooding on Homescreen

Looks good to me.

Comment 17

[GitHub Autolander Bot]

Attachment: [gaia] AdFad666:1034832 > mozilla-b2g:master

Comment 18

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Gaia PR

Comment 19

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Gonk PR

Comment 20

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Video of 1st boot experience

Comment 21

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Forgive the poor quality video, but it adequately shows the branding differences.

New boot animation, new splash screens, new logos. Everything has been updated to replace the current poor unofficial branding, and add missing parts.

Comment 22

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Boot animation GIF

Comment 23

[Ronald Claveau [:sousmangoosta]]

Hey Adam,

That's a real great work !!!
I like the brands, but the bootanimation give me a headache.
I think would be better if the rocket doesn't move, and just have a flame animation, and foxfooding name on the right.

Comment 24

[Dietrich Ayala (:dietrich)]

(In reply to Adam Farden from comment #18)
> Created attachment 8663324 [details] [review]
> Gaia PR

Overall, nice work on the rebrand patch Adam!

* The sandstone and dark blue backgrounds of the various screens is good, both contrast well with the icon and foxfooding text.

* I think it would be cool to have the "based on Mozilla technology" there underneath the foxfooding logo somehow, but maybe reworded. Foxfooding itself doesn't say enough. I'd love to have Mozilla in there, and convey that it's powered by *the Web*. No need to figure this out before landing this as-is though.

* I'm a bit concerned that the rocket-over-grey-planet logo doesn't say "browser" as much as the blue planet. However, that just may be my own problem having looked at that blue planet for soooo many years.

* I agree with Ronald that the animated rocket is maybe too much, so let's hold off on landing that for now, and maybe just put the regular Foxfooding boot image?

Overall, I'd be ok with landing as much of this as possible for now, and then making another round of changes later once the branding team can come with a cohesive set of guidelines for allowing us to put more Firefox-ness into this, and the visual designers can work on implementing a new unbranded look and feel.

You'll need a r+ probably from timdream I think in order to land the Gaia bits, and Alexandre or Mwu for the Gonk bits.

Please also email dev-fxos list to let people know this is going on.

Comment 25

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Just based on initial dev chatter the new logo has been well received by those who have seen it.

My typical UX testing is to give the device to my girlfriend and see how she reacts. She had no problem to realize the rocket was the browser (to give you an idea of her technical 'abilities' she simply calls it the "Jello Phone" due to the bounce animation) so I don't think there's much reason for concern.

It is for sure reinforced by the fact that the boot animation, splash screen and setup process all have the same logo used everywhere, so it's not a new icon by the time the user gets to the home screen.

Luckily the boot animation is a separate patch. If timedream has no immediate issues with this we can merge the logo and splash screen without any change. I can play with the design and submit a follow up patch with additional Mozilla branding later.

Comment 26

[Tim Guan-tin Chien [:timdream] (please needinfo)]

I think it is great if we could update the unofficial branding graphics etc. but I disagree the use of the word "Foxfooding". The project is named "Boot 2 Gecko" [1] and the branded product is named "Firefox OS" (a trade mark owned my Mozilla Foundation). It is unclear to me "Foxfooding" should be used in this context other than the name "Boot 2 Gecko" and dropping that name into the source tree will likely cause confusions.

However, it's a fact that the Project doesn't have a official logo and only the Product has an all-right-reserved Firefox logo. Given the fact, I think it make sense to use the rocket-over-globe icon as a very pretty placeholder.

Thanks!

[1] https://wiki.mozilla.org/Booting_to_the_Web

(This is not a defense to the name "Boot 2 Gecko" but simply saying we should not changing the name in the source tree without actually change the project name officially.)

Comment 27

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Thanks for the comments. I was a bit concerned that Foxfooding could be considered as renaming the project, but "Boot 2 Gecko" is a name highly unsuitable for general public distribution.

Would you accept Foxfooding as an additional alternative branding that is selected at build time, instead of replacing the current unofficial? This would effectively give the project three branding variants, "official", "foxfooding" and "unofficial" so that:

* official is built with MOZILLA_OFFICIAL=1
* foxfooding is built with MOZILLA_FOXFOODING=1
* unofficial is still the default.

I could even update the unofficial branding splash images to match the common style of Firefox OS and Foxfooding (blue logo and "Boot 2 Gecko" wordmark centred on the screen).

Comment 28

[Tim Guan-tin Chien [:timdream] (please needinfo)]

(In reply to Adam Farden from comment #27)
> Thanks for the comments. I was a bit concerned that Foxfooding could be
> considered as renaming the project, but "Boot 2 Gecko" is a name highly
> unsuitable for general public distribution.
> 

Why? "Foxfooding" doesn't sound right to general public either (without understanding the "eat your own dogfood" geeky reference). "-ing" grammar suffix would probably get us into trouble in terms of internationalization too -- this will not be a name look right in every European language. 

How about "B2G"? It is a meaningless abbreviation and does represent the OS.

> Would you accept Foxfooding as an additional alternative branding that is
> selected at build time, instead of replacing the current unofficial? This
> would effectively give the project three branding variants, "official",
> "foxfooding" and "unofficial" so that:
> 
> * official is built with MOZILLA_OFFICIAL=1
> * foxfooding is built with MOZILLA_FOXFOODING=1
> * unofficial is still the default.
> 

That's a bit complex but I there isn't a downside to it (other than "it's a bit complex"). It would take some time to update build script to process the triplet value.

> I could even update the unofficial branding splash images to match the
> common style of Firefox OS and Foxfooding (blue logo and "Boot 2 Gecko"
> wordmark centred on the screen).

I am totally for updating the unofficial branding splash images. Plzzzz update them. As of the branding if the only way for us to agree to disagree is to create three branding variants, then I think we should do it, as stated above.

Comment 29

[Dietrich Ayala (:dietrich)]

I think we should not use "B2G" in any visual way. It's meaningless to anyone besides a small set of core developers initially involved with the creation of the project.

We want our default branding to look good, and say "web" and "Firefox" as much as possible, while also saying "not a production build".

IMO even something like "Web Device" would be better than either Foxfooding or B2G. And the branding team is meeting about looking into a way that we can use some form of the Firefox logo in the default branding, so we may have more latitude soon.

For now, I think Adam's changes are, while not the ideal end state, an improvement on the status quo.

Comment 30

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Foxfooding is the 'brand' so there's nothing to translate, (we're not going to put "Foxfoodování" in Czech builds for example).

I settled on Foxfooding for several reasons: the Fox part has a clear reference to Firefox, but is not too close to trigger the lawyers, it's used within Mozilla as a specific technical term, and it's a real word that people can say in conversation (B2G is way less language friendly, are Czechs supposed to pronounce /bi:du:dzi:/ or /bedvage/ ?).

Furthermore the to/two homophone is completely lost on most other languages, B2G is effectively meaningless. A real word is preferable to an acronym with numbers, it's generally easier for other languages to borrow and pronounce at least similarly.

Perhaps you haven't followed the conversation but I'm pushing this because I wish to distribute builds of B2G for Sony devices to the public. B2G as a brand is simply not suitable for that.

I can work on the triple branding this week. :-)

Comment 31

[[:fabrice] Fabrice Desré]

Naming is hard, bikeshedding is fun!

My $0.02:
- don't add a 3rd branding.
- I'm not a huge fan of "Foxfooding" either but I can live with it.
- What about "Community Edition" ?

either way, let's land the gaia patch and iterate. As Dietrich said, this is much better than what we have now.

Comment 32

[:gerard-majax]

Comment on attachment 8663325 [details] [review]
Gonk PR

Good for me

Comment 33

[:gerard-majax]

Comment on attachment 8663324 [details] [review]
Gaia PR

Autolander already attached it :)

Comment 34

[Adam Farden [:adfad666]]

Attachment: Foxfood Community Edition

Another iteration, -ing doesn't seem to be popular, how about just a noun?

Comment 35

[:gerard-majax]

https://github.com/mozilla-b2g/gonk-misc/commit/7e0fe55ac52323eace5a6119ab2b911fc4f64495

Comment 36

[:gerard-majax]

https://github.com/mozilla-b2g/gaia/commit/ffaa85063079aa2a8f537a3ab3cbd6ae797a0ba5

Comment 37

[Tim Guan-tin Chien [:timdream] (please needinfo)]

(In reply to [:fabrice] Fabrice Desré from comment #31)
> Naming is hard, bikeshedding is fun!
> 
> My $0.02:
> - don't add a 3rd branding.
> - I'm not a huge fan of "Foxfooding" either but I can live with it.
> - What about "Community Edition" ?
> 
> either way, let's land the gaia patch and iterate. As Dietrich said, this is
> much better than what we have now.

You are very welcome to dismiss others' opinion as bikeshedding. I am pretty sure this project won't go afar with attitude like this.

Unofficial branding is a very real and important issue -- I would rather we promote a community brand that we *all* love than stick to what we feel acceptable at the time.

Don't ask me for a review next time.

Comment 38

[Tim Guan-tin Chien [:timdream] (please needinfo)]

FWIW, after checking [1] I do agree "Foxfood" is better than "Foxfooding".

(This comment does not counts as an r+)

[1] https://github.com/mozilla-b2g/gaia/pull/31932/files

Comment 39

[eyome]

I would propose "Foxy" as a name:

As my english->french says, foxy could mean "smart" or "sexy" for a woman.
Foxy could also be seen as the little brother of Firefox...

Comment 40

[Dietrich Ayala (:dietrich)]

Tim, I didn't take your comment as bikeshedding - I hope that came through in my comment above about why I thought B2G isn't the right community branding solution.

This is an incremental improvement over what we have now - it's just a start. I don't want perfect to be the enemy of good. Especially because this isn't shipping to production channels.

I'm hoping this incremental change gets us onto the pathway towards a better community branding. We'll get there eventually, but need to start somewhere, and hopefully have some fun experimenting with what works and doesn't :)

Comment 41

[Théo Chevalier]

(In reply to eyome from comment #39)
> I would propose "Foxy" as a name:
> 
> As my english->french says, foxy could mean "smart" or "sexy" for a woman.
> Foxy could also be seen as the little brother of Firefox...

I'm pretty sure there are plenty of brands that could sue us for copyright infringement. And if you know Mozilla history, we've been pretty bad at this game. Also IMO, if we want to brainstorm about this name, we shouldn't do that in Bugzilla, it will become very noisy if everyone throws his ideas here.
Side note, do you really want the brand to suggest "sexy"? :)

Comment 42

[[:fabrice] Fabrice Desré]

I don't have much to add at this point. I would just note that on desktop we simply brand the nightly builds... "Nightly", and that cyanogenmod does the same (see http://download.cyanogenmod.org/).