809642 - Create a dedicated sub-page for the Firefox OS Simulator

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Marketplace Graveyard :: Developer Pages, defect)

Description

[Daniel Buchner [:dbuc]]

We need a dedicated page that highlights the simulator with screenshots, descriptions of features, and a call-to-action for installation.

Comment 1

[Fred Wenzel [:wenzel]]

I believe this is a duplicate of bug 807397. Do you agree?

Comment 2

[Bram Pitoyo [:bram]]

I think that this is a separate bug. Bug 807397 handles the creation of the documentation’s content. This bug will handle the design of the landing page for Firefox OS simulator.

But it’s good to reference that bug, because that’s where I will take my contents from.

Comment 3

[Bram Pitoyo [:bram]]

Attachment: Firefox OS simulator page

Firefox OS Simulator

Get cozy with Gaia from the comfort of your desk

Firefox OS Simulator is the easiest way to try out apps and verify how they’ll look on Firefox OS before submitting to the Marketplace.


* Easy to install: works like a Firefox add-on, no need to pull and make from source
* Easy to update: auto update to the newest release every 24 hours
* Easy to install apps: copy and paste URL to the site or the manifest, or use autocomplete
* Comes with APIs that aren’t available on Firefox, like Contacts and Settings


Download
Windows   Mac OS X   Linux


Get Support
* Introduction blog post
* Report problems on GitHub
* Mozilla Developers Network: Using the B2G desktop client
* Mozilla Developers Network: Using the B2G emulators

Comment 4

[Fred Wenzel [:wenzel]]

Very nice, Bram! Dbuc, what do you think?

Questions:
- "get cozy with..." I like it, but might be a tad generic. Perhaps something like "Develop for Firefox OS without a phone"? We probably want to consult with Kevin etc. to get that messaging straight. CCing him.
- "Easy to update" is good, but are we really pointing to the Nightlies there? I thought it'll land on AMO soon and we'll point there?
- related: Windows / Mac OS X / Linux does not make sense if we point to the AMO details page from here, only if we point to the xpis directly.

Do you all think we should mention that you can develop both hosted and packaged apps with it?

Comment 5

[Bram Pitoyo [:bram]]

Fred, all of your points are good:

* I want to make sure that the messaging is great, so let’s talk to Kevin and any copywriter we have

* The point I wanted to communicate about “easy to update” is the fact that the Simulator works like an add-on, so it’d update automatically. I reckon that it’s a pretty big benefit

* Related: I agree with you that Windows/Mac/Linux would only make sense if user would be able to download the xpi directly. I didn’t design the download button with any particular scenario in mind, but am of the opinion that user would appreciate it if s/he doesn’t have to go through AMO first to download the simulator. So I included the three buttons. But the design spec did call for a “call-to-action for installation”. So the final call is up to us.

* If hosted and packaged is a significant benefit that user will care about, let’s put it on the page.

Comment 6

[Fred Wenzel [:wenzel]]

Not blocked, per comment 2.

Comment 7

[Kevin Dangoor]

Looks good overall!

I'll note that the Simulator has been delayed. We're targeting 12/5 right now.

While I agree that it may be nice to not have to go through AMO first, I'm not sure how well that works in practice (whether the links to Windows/Mac/Linux are guessable, etc). The nice thing about linking to AMO is that you just get one "Install" button once you get there. I'd imagine it's pretty easy to have just one install button even on this page (probably just a small amount of JS to detect the user's OS, right?)

I don't know if we have any copywriters available for this kind of work, but it would be good if we do.

I agree with Fred's point about the subhead being something along the lines of "Develop for Firefox OS on your computer" or "Develop for Firefox OS without a phone"

Here are some alternate thoughts about phrasing for the bullet points. (Take these simply as alternative ideas and not a prescription :)

Easy to install: just a couple of clicks, no need to fire up a command line

Updates automatically: update check is run every day, as with any Firefox add-on

Easy to install apps: quickly get apps into the Simulator from your local drive or any URL



I'm looking forward to this page! It'll be a good landing page for the Simulator

Comment 8

[Bram Pitoyo [:bram]]

Hi Kevin,

I agree with all of your suggestions. Two comments:

1. While I’m not opposed to linking to AMO, having an “Install” button on this page would be better for the UX. When we have that button, though, let’s eliminate the “Download” heading.

2. The subhead and bullet points suggestions are good. Anything that demystify what the simulator does, and phrase things in terms of what the user wants to achieve, is good in my book!

Comment 9

[Kevin Dangoor]

(In reply to Bram Pitoyo [:bram] from comment #8)
> 1. While I’m not opposed to linking to AMO, having an “Install” button on
> this page would be better for the UX. When we have that button, though,
> let’s eliminate the “Download” heading.

That sounds fine to me, assuming whoever needs to implement this can make it work :)

Comment 10

[Fred Wenzel [:wenzel]]

Let me summarize this so we can close this bug.

---
Firefox OS Simulator

Develop for Firefox OS without a phone

Firefox OS Simulator is the easiest way to try out apps and verify how they’ll look on Firefox OS before submitting to the Marketplace.


* Easy to install: just a couple of clicks, no need to fire up a command line
* Updates automatically: update check is run every day, as with any Firefox add-on
* Easy to install apps: quickly get apps into the Simulator from your local drive or any URL
* Comes with APIs that aren't available on Firefox Desktop, like Contacts and Settings


[ Install the Firefox OS Simulator add-on ]

Get Support
* Introduction blog post
* Report problems on GitHub
* Mozilla Developers Network: Using the B2G desktop client
* Mozilla Developers Network: Using the B2G emulators

---

Bram: 
- does this look all right?
- Do you have URLs for the bottom links?
- shall we link to its AMO page too?

I filed implementation bugs for this page and the install button, and we should close this bug by the end of the week to unblock the next step. Thanks!

Comment 11

[Bram Pitoyo [:bram]]

> - does this look all right?

Yes. This looks good!


> - Do you have URLs for the bottom links?

The URLs for the bottom links are:
* Introduction blog post: https://hacks.mozilla.org/2012/11/announcing-the-prototype-firefox-os-simulator/
* Report problems on GitHub: https://github.com/mozilla/r2d2b2g/issues?state=open
* Using the B2G desktop client: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Boot_to_Gecko/Using_the_B2G_desktop_client
* Using the B2G emulators: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Boot_to_Gecko/Using_the_B2G_emulators



> - shall we link to its AMO page too?

If we cannot link directly to the downloadable .xpi for each platform, then we should link to the AMO page.

Comment 12

[Jen Fong-Adwent [:ednapiranha]]

Bram, do you have a graphic for the Simulator as per the mock?

Comment 13

[Jen Fong-Adwent [:ednapiranha]]

Also, should this be created on MDN or is this a page hardcoded on zamboni?

Comment 14

[Bram Pitoyo [:bram]]

Attachment: Firefox OS simulator screenshot

This is the graphic that was asked on comment 12.

Comment 15

[Mark Giffin [:markg]]

I have added a FxOS Simulator documentation page on MDN here:

https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Boot_to_Gecko/Using_Firefox_OS_simulator

It gives instructions and more data than the devhub page. This page should probably be one of the top links from the devhub page described above.

Also I request your technical feedback on this page.

Comment 16

[Fred Wenzel [:wenzel]]

(In reply to Jen Fong-Adwent [:ednapiranha] from comment #13)
> Also, should this be created on MDN or is this a page hardcoded on zamboni?

Zamboni. It seems you figured that out by now :)