987663 - [kn] Search engine setup for Firefox Mobile for Kannada

Status: RESOLVED FIXED

(Mozilla Localizations :: kn / Kannada, defect)

Description

[Jeff Beatty [:gueroJeff]]

We want to ship Firefox Mobile with a good list of search engines for Kannada.

We're going to work towards this in three phases. First, the localization team and the l10n drivers will look at the market for the language and come up with a good set of search providers. Omshivaprakash, we'll need your input on this, the guidelines for making recommendations are on <https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Mobile/Productization>.

For en-US, we currently use this set, to which we can fall back in the case of lacking localized alternatives:

> Google (mobile version), Yahoo, Bing, Amazon, Twitter, Wikipedia (slightly different to desktop, 32x32 icon)

We may also want to go with just a subset of the en-US engines, if that's more appropriate for the local market.

Once we decide to use a particular search engine (and we test it on a mobile device), l10n drivers will contact the owner and ask for permission, and for specifics like proper search flags. Omshivaprakash, we'll likely need your help to at least get the contact information.

For search engines that we already ship with on desktop and that you would like to include in mobile as well, the permission is not needed. Consider using a mobile version of the engine if one is available. Also, please make yourself familiar with instructions regarding the <Description/> element at <https://wiki.mozilla.org/L10n:Integrated_Search_Instructions>. For mobile, we'll want 64x64 size images, too.

Once we have a specification on what the search engines for Kannada should look like, flod (Francesco Lodolo) and the localization team will work on an implementation on that. flod will create and attach patches for the desired changes and get them reviewed. After a successful review, flod will land them. Omshivaprakash, if you're interested, you could create the patches, too. You'd ask flod for review on those before landing.

Please don't commit any modifications in browser/searchplugins to the hg repository without a patch reviewed by flod, Stas, Axel or someone else appointed by the l10n drivers. The data here is sensitive to users and our search partners, thus the extra care here.

The Kannada team and flod will be driving this bug to completion.

Comment 1

[Omshivaprakash H L]

Jeff & Flod, I can help out with this. 

Following en_US subset holds good for moblie. 

> Google (mobile version), Yahoo, Bing, Amazon, Twitter, Wikipedia (slightly different to desktop, 32x32 icon) 

I think Amazon India search might be more opt. Similarly, Wikipedia should connect to Kannada Wikipedia if possible. If this search engine can change based on the location of the user, we can use either one of these.

Comment 2

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

I'm looking at desktop
http://transvision.mozfr.org/productization/?locale=kn&product=browser

You already have a wikipedia-kn searchplugin, so no problem there.
I'll have to check about amazon.in, in particular if we need specific parameters.

I'll assign this bug to myself so I won't forget. I'll also have to check if region.properties look good (being Pootle based, you should have en-US defaults).

Comment 3

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

Joanne, do we need something specific to use amazon.in instead of amazon.com for this locale, or just replace the domain in search URLs?

This is the current en-US searchplugin on mobile
http://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/file/c69c55582faa/mobile/locales/en-US/searchplugins/amazondotcom.xml

Comment 4

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

Note that we have a similar request for Tamil to use amazon.in

Comment 5

[Joanne Nagel]

I'm not aware of the backend issues, only the business ones - adding Mike Connor.

Comment 6

[H P Nadig]

Google provides something for Kannada like this:
https://www.google.com/?hl=kn
Not sure whether the Google (mobile version) switches to this based on locale? 

Adding Flipkart isn't a bad idea either as most Kannada users end up searching for books or media there. (http://flipkart.com)
Amazon.in is still pretty new in the market. 

Not sure whether a dictionary search can be added here? Could be an useful addition for most users using the product. 
There are dictionaries like:
http://www.shabdkosh.com/kn/translate/
http://www.baraha.com/kannada/
that provide dictionary search. 

Also, from http://transvision.mozfr.org/productization/?locale=kn&product=browser, the Kannada store search seems to be down.

Comment 7

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

Talked with Mike on IRC, using amazon.in is good for now.

Comment 8

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

So, the current list would be

Google
Yahoo (yahoo-in?) 
Bing
Amazon (amazon-in?)
Twitter
Wikipedia-kn

A popular choice for dictionary seems to be Wiktionary for Indic locales. Also eBay-in seems to be a common choice for eCommerce.

All the other proposals (flipkart.com, shadkosh.com, baraha.com) require to get in touch with the respective owners, get an authorization to ship a searchplugin, get details on how to build the searchplugin.

Comment 9

[Omshivaprakash H L]

Yes, we should use -in extensions for Amazon & Yahoo. Wiktionary for Indic locales would be a plus! 

We can get in touch with Flipkart and others. Please share some info on how to take this forward.

Comment 10

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

OK, consider also that we need to limit the number of searchplugins we ship. Usually we'd like to stop at 7, we have some exceptions with 8. So, let's say the current list is

google
yahoo-in
bing
amazon-in
twitter
wikipedia-kn
wiktionary-kn

That leaves us with one free spot. From the list above, probably only Flipkart would be useful. We can also set up this set of searchplugins, and try to add Flipkart later, so we are not blocked here.

Jeff, do you have any template for getting in touch with search providers? Thoughts on the list?

Comment 11

[Jeff Beatty [:gueroJeff]]

(In reply to Francesco Lodolo [:flod] from comment #10)
> OK, consider also that we need to limit the number of searchplugins we ship.
> Usually we'd like to stop at 7, we have some exceptions with 8. So, let's
> say the current list is
> 
> google
> yahoo-in
> bing
> amazon-in
> twitter
> wikipedia-kn
> wiktionary-kn
> 
> That leaves us with one free spot. From the list above, probably only
> Flipkart would be useful. We can also set up this set of searchplugins, and
> try to add Flipkart later, so we are not blocked here.
> 
> Jeff, do you have any template for getting in touch with search providers?
> Thoughts on the list?

The list looks good to me. Rajesh has attempted multiple times to get in touch with Flipkart for Hindi without receiving a response. I'm not sure what more can be done to get in touch with them. I would recommend filing a separate bug to add Flipkart to this locale later, and then collaborating with Rajesh to get in touch with them.

Comment 12

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

Attachment: bug987663.patch

region.properties
Same values of en-US + feed handlers shipping on Desktop, handlerversion moved to 3 (change in 30 boxes)

searchplugins
Usual Indic versions of Yahoo, Amazon, plus locale specific Wikipedia/Wiktionary

Searchplugins available for testing at
http://l10n.mozilla-community.org/~flod/testsp/

Please let me know if the list is OK, so I'll set the review flag for Pike.
Also, if you have an Android device, please test the searchplugins from your locale using the link above.

Comment 13

[Omshivaprakash H L]

Yes, list looks good.

All plugins are now tested and they work great!

Comment 14

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

Comment on attachment 8410236 [details] [diff] [review]
bug987663.patch

Review of attachment 8410236 [details] [diff] [review]:
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks, off to review then.

Comment 15

[Francesco Lodolo [:flod]]

Landed
http://hg.mozilla.org/releases/l10n/mozilla-aurora/kn/rev/f4896f09d7a3
http://hg.mozilla.org/l10n-central/kn/rev/f4896f09d7a3