Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration

Prism is an open source cross-platform prototype of functionality that lets users split web applications out of the browser and run them directly on the desktop.

Today we’re releasing a major update to Prism that includes the first prototype of browser integration along with new desktop integration capabilities and simpler installation.

As previously announced, Prism is part of a series of Mozilla Labs experiments into bridging the divide in the user experience between web and desktop apps and exploring new usability models as the line between those kinds of apps continues to blur.

Philosophy

We believe that the Web is a powerful platform for innovation, and our goal with Prism is to drive the development of enhancements to that platform that bring the advantages of desktop apps to the Web. To that end, Prism is not a new platform or product but rather a vehicle for Mozilla Labs to experiment with new technologies to extend the capabilities of the Open Web. Web developers shouldn’t have to lift a finger to desktop-enable their web applications (although they can specify settings to enhance the experience), while users have the choice to use their favorite web apps in their browser, on their desktop of choice, or in both places.

Major New Features and Updates

Today we’re releasing a major update to Prism that includes new desktop integration capabilities and simpler installation. With this update, you can now get Prism simply by installing a small extension to Firefox 3. With the new Prism extension for Firefox 3, users can now split web applications directly out of Firefox without needing to install and manage a separate Prism application. Just install the extension, browse to a web app, then select Tools > Convert Website to Application.

Other new or improved features include:

• Pick an icon to represent a web app on the desktop: Prism can use the web app favicon or the user can pick a custom image to represent the web app.
• Run each web app in its own profile: Prism now places each web app into its own process/profile so they don’t interfere with each other, which also makes it possible to install a web app twice and use it simultaneously with two different user accounts.
• Badge the dock icon: Initial support for adding a badge to the desktop icon has been added. Currently, this can be done through a custom webapp.js file. We’re working on creating and reusing web standards to expose this to content without requiring custom scripts.

Roadmap

While Prism still supports .webapp and site-specific webapp.js files as a way to install, customize and launch Prism, we’re working towards removing the need for those files in favor of leveraging and extending existing web conventions for exposing site configuration, like <link> and <meta> tags.

See bug 420878 and bug 420661 for some of those discussions.

Mark Finkle also has a post with more information.

Get Prism for Firefox

Install Prism for Firefox v0.2 for Firefox 3.0b3pre or greater, Windows/Mac/Linux.
The standalone version of Prism v0.9 is also available for Windows (installer, archive), Mac and Linux.

Warning: This is an early prototype. Use at your own risk.

Getting Involved

Prism is just the first of many experiments we plan to conduct around improving the usability of web applications. It’s open source, like everything we do, and we’re interested in hearing from and working with anyone interested in developing these concepts further.

• Discuss, debate, and add to the design in the forum.
• Learn more about it on the wiki.
• Report bugs in Bugzilla.
• Get the source code and extend it or fix bugs.

The project lead for Prism is Mark Finkle. Contributors include Cesar Oliveira, Matt Gertner, Fredrik Larsson, Wladimir Palant, Sylvain Pasche, Alex Faaborg, and Myk Melez.

I dare to bet this will become the most favorite extension to Firefox. It’s the innovation that crosses desktop/web apps bridge. I’m looking forward using it.

[...] 0.9 has finally been released. Getting platform specific features to work on 3 platforms really is harder than it looks. A big [...]

[...] esse é o teor do anúncio do Laboratório Mozilla acaba de divulgar. A primeira grande notícia é que o Prism pode ser instalado como um complemento [...]

Mozilla Labs » Blog Archive » Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration…

Major New Features and Updates Today we’re releasing a major update to Prism that includes new desktop integration capabilities and simpler installation. With this update, you can now get Prism simply by installing a small extension to Firefox 3….

Prism 0.9 et une extension pour Firefox en prime…

La publication officielle de Prism 0.9 est enfin annoncée. Plein de détails en anglais sur le blog Mark Finkle. Beaucoup de nouveautés au menu ! Un créateur de lanceur (raccourci) très simple d’utilisation La gestion des extensions Plus…

I’m getting an invalid file hash when I try downloading/installing the extension.

I’m getting an invalid hash on OS X as well when I try to download the extension.

Yes, I was also failing to download and install from AMO, but it seems to be working now. Caching issue?

What is the setting to enable the title of the app to just be the title of the webpage?

I have a google reader prism and the app title is “Google Reader” instead of “Google Reader (10)”, where it shows the unread count in parens like it does in firefox.

[...] 2007 sprachen wir über Prism (Prism. Hip oder Hype). Jetzt wurde Prism in einer neuen Version veröffentlicht. Bereits jetzt kann aus jeder Internetseite eine “Webapplikation” gebastelt werden [...]

[...] has released an updated version of Prism, an application that lets open web applications like Gmail, Google Docs, or Zoho Writer in a [...]

the standalone version 0.9 for mac works only with the intel macs? i ask it because my G5 refuse to run it, it tell’s me that it’s an intel only application

ehm….. the Firefox extension is nice but…. in my G5 the only thing thai it doe’s when i click ok in the settings windows is freeze itself. also the extension is only for intel macs?

[...] you follow Rich Internet Applications, the latest Prism rev is one that you’ll want to check out. Among other functions, it allows users to turn the web [...]

I used many time to try to config font in Thai Language, problem like Firefox. (= =”)

I just write article about Prism in my Thai blog.
http://arthuran.net/node/34/mozilla-prism

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[...] estamos haciendo para un cliente (uso interno de escritorio) y se libera Prism 0.9. [...]

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@nikaro: I’m getting the same problem on my Macbook, so it’s a problem on Intel, too. When I select to create a shortcut (anywhere) and click “Ok”, nothing happens. If I don’t choose to create one, I get a JavaScript error telling me to choose a location and try again.

So sadly, I still can’t use Prism :(

[...] With this update, you can now get Prism simply by installing a small extension to Firefox 3. Read more. addthis_url = [...]

[...] vous voulez transformer un site en application-like (lisez les explications sur Prism si vous ne voyez pas de quoi je parle) il suffit alors de créer un prism de ce site via le menu [...]

[...] ha reso disponibile un "major update" per Prism, progetto destinato a sfocare la linea di confine che separa [...]

[...] -L’anonce officielle de la sortie de Prism 0.9 sur Mozilla Labs; [...]

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hope mozilla can consider to let Prism suppot POW-Plain Old Webserver(Firefox Extensions)
https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-CN/firefox/addon/3002
And make POW can read offline site data which packed in .webapp files.

Server Switcher can be supported with Prism,too
https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-CN/firefox/addon/2409
Maybe Added sync function for Prism.

If other Firefox Extentions can be supported for Prism will be great in under list.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5817

https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-CN/firefox/addon/3896

https://addons.mozilla.org/zh-CN/firefox/addon/684

If can’t optimize for Prism, maybe atleast let it can install them.

If Prism can use POW, it will be get a whole web app platform, just like google gears and AIR

[...] Prism 0.9 (prototips); [...]

@nikaro: Sorry, Prism is Intel only for now. I’ll look into making a universal build.

@Datrio: Prism should work fine on an Intel MBP. We build on those machines. Please file a bug so we can figure out the problem. Remember to include the URL you were trying to convert.

The interesting thing would be: “select Tools > Convert Application to Website”. ;-)

[...] 两天没开电脑，今天看到Mozilla Labs说Prism出了升级了。想起来昨天在RIAMeeting的讨论会上我身边的一位开发者说他们正在用AIR做他们网站的桌面版。 我不认为用Adobe AIR做一个相当于浏览器的东西会有什么好处。 [...]

[...] Here Download: Here (Must be Firefox: 3.0b1 – 3.0b5pre) Standalone Download: Windows | [...]

[...] Mozilla Labs » Blog Archive » Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration [...]

How can you import a root certificate such as CACert.org’s or at least make it so that Prism doesn’t error when encountering a certificate that isn’t signed by Verisign or similar? Now that each window uses its own profile, it’s harder now to do that. Before I’d just make an application for CACert, import their root cert, and then run my own application.

I like the Firefox integration feautre.

However, the title of the page is no longer showed as the title of the Prism window.

Example: With Prism 0.8 I could see how many unread emails I had in my Gmail, now it just says “Gmail” or “Google Reader”. Was this changed on purpose, or will I be able to view the page title as the Prism window title in the next version?

All the best,
// Lars

[...] Mozilla Prism has just released a new version that shows off Firefox integration: [...]

[...] version of Firefox. Eventually WebRunner was renamed to Prism, and thus was born a great tool. Prism 0.9 is the latest release, and it is really starting to evolve into a handy little [...]

[...] Labs announced the 0.9 release of their Prism project today. I’ve mentioned it a few times, but for those new to Prism, [...]

[...] Prism has just released a new version that shows off Firefox integration: Today we’re releasing a major update to Prism that includes new desktop integration capabilities [...]

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[...] Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration - [...]

On Windows, how about the option to have the taskbar button disappear when minimized, leaving only the system tray icon? Keep it out of the way, and let the tray icon indicate activity, eg, new mail in Gmail or new message in Meebo?

Great stuff, keep it up.

Would be great if you could support Powerbooks as well. Prism .8 worked fine on my G4…

thanks!

[...] Mozilla Prism has just released a new version that shows off Firefox integration: [...]

[...] viernes se anunciaba nueva versi�n de Prism (v�a), con una novedad interesante: extensi�n para Firefox (solo funciona con la beta 3 de Firefox [...]

On the mac, it still seems pretty rough around the edges.

I noticed a good deal of improvement to how it renders pages in version 0.9.

However, when it loads from the doc, it loads as a generic app icon along with a firefox icon. Besides that, in the new app dialog, it asks for an icon - an image. It would be nice to have a way to select an icns file, which contains various sizes of images depending on the use for the app. Also various companies create icons for the mac and you can download them but they are distributed as folder icons - so even for the mac based fluidapp, one has to copy and paste the icon from that folder to the new app.

Great job though, I’m excited about this project!

[...] disponible depuis quelques heures. Des informations complémentaires sont disponibles sur le site labs.mozilla.com. Cette nouvelle version est disponible sous forme d’extension Firefox (version 0.2) pour Firefox 3 [...]

Would be awesome to be able to use extensions and greasemonkey in the web apps. I can’t use Gmail with my RememberTheMilk extension and a few key greasemonkey scripts. But if those were supported I would be in heaven.

Please be able to hide into the system tray

[...] list, this would come 2 weeks later). Congratulations to everyone who helped push this release. Mozilla Labs did a good job of outlining the features, though only briefly mentioned one of the most valuable [...]

[...] Firefox3b4 and download the new Prism add-on, or download the stand-alone Prism. (Visit the Labs to get the low down on [...]

[...] Labs has released a new version of Prism, a Firefox-based application that aims to make web applications fit better [...]

[...] http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/03/major-update-to-prism-first-prototype-of-browser-integration/ [...]

[...] has released an updated version of prism, the stripped down web launcher. Prism is practically a naked version of Firefox, with no plugins, [...]

[...] găsisem această însemnare în Google Reader. M-a pus pe gânduri şi m-a făcut curios de cum o să fie viitor. Vor mai [...]

[...] Read more about Prism Download Prism add-on. [...]

“Bringing web applications to the desktop”…

I’m not sure what you guys are using to browse the web, but i browse it with Firefox… on my … desktop.

Whats the big drive to bring the webapp into another desktop application?

[...] arrived on the scene. But then Fluid came out and I realized how un-polished Prism was.  However, Prism 0.9 is quite a large step [...]

[...] I suggest you give it a try - DOWNLOAD HERE [...]

I second Matt on this very important (and easy) point:

“On Windows, how about the option to have the taskbar button disappear when minimized, leaving only the system tray icon? Keep it out of the way, and let the tray icon indicate activity, eg, new mail in Gmail or new message in Meebo?”

I personally wouldn’t even need the icon to update, it would be fine for my uses if it stayed the way it is showing up now, and just hid the app in the taskbar.

I’m trying to replace the IE based web app runner “Bubbles”, but having the web apps remain in my taskbar is not going to work for me.

Am I missing something?

Hi and kudos for for prism.
This is kind of off the cuff of my head, but
now that Web2.0 has transformed the www from documents and pages to DOM objects as webapps, how about splitting the perception of FF into both (a) a web browser and (b) a generic application launcher that lets its extensions control all the chrome and window attributes.

This way, if i want to run a particular webapp that is associated with an extension i can simply run a separate instance of FF (./firefox –browser –extension=flickr)
Now, the extension should have the capability of rendering the webapp analogous to kaipowertools say, really cool chrome and effects.

IMHO, this is what will transform the browser into a full-fledged application engine with the look and feel akin to natively compiled apps.

TIA

[...] Labs has cranked out an updated version of Prism, the company’s platform for integrating web apps into your desktop. Prism allows you to run [...]

프리즘 0.9, 파이어폭스 확장기능으로 변신…

모질라 재단은 작년 10월에 웹 사이트를 독립된 프로그램으로 만드는 프리즘(Prism)이라는 소프트웨어를 만든 바 있습니다. 주소 표시줄과 메뉴 없이, 창 하나에 웹 페이지만 보여주는 프로그…

[...] Enlace: Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration [...]

[...] Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration - [...]

[...] has released an updated version of Prism. This is a desktop application, that opens web applications like Gmail, Google Docs, or Zoho Writer [...]

[...] Details: Prism for Firefox - More Info by Mozilla Labs [...]

I have no doubt that this extension will become very useful. I haven’t yet tried it, but will be shortly. I love the convert website to application feature. Nice work guys

Sounds interesting. Look forward to seeing the final product.

[...] the release of Prism 0.9 two weeks ago, the project now comes with a Firefox extension that makes creating a [...]

[...] two weeks late, I finally noticed that Mozilla Prism has been updated. Mozilla Prism is a “One Site Browser”, which is to say a browser started from your [...]

[...] excellent post over on TechCrunch got me looking once again at Mozilla Prism. For those of you new to it, Prism is an open source cross-platform prototype of functionality that [...]

[...] last week I stumbled across some good news: Prism has been updated — it’s now at version 0.9. This version has a few new features, and a few bugs have [...]

[...] Mozilla Labs » Blog Archive » Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration Prism is an open source cross-platform prototype of functionality that lets users split web applications out of the browser and run them directly on the desktop. [...]

[...] 2週間前にリリースされたPrism 0.9は、専用のFirefoxエクステンションに組み込まれて提供される。このエクステンションではユーザーがFirefox3を利用してサイトをブラウズ中にクリック1回でそのサイト専用のSSBを生成することができる。たとえばGmailを開いてFirefoxのメニューから「Convert to Application〔アプリケーションに変換〕」を選択するとGmailのアイコンを表示したショートカットがユーザーのデスクトップの上に現れる。アイコンをクリックすると専用ウィンドウの中にGmailが現れる。ここでDock用バッジだとか、システムトレイアイコン、ポップアップ通知など非常に多様なカスタマイズのオプションが提供される。Prismを利用するとウェブ・デベロッパーは、コードに特別のフックを埋め込んで、ユーザーがアプリをデスクトップ上にインストールした場合に、こういった便利な機能が自動的に含まれるようにすることができる。Prismは依然として開発途上のプロジェクトだが、すでにいくつか初期の成功を収めている。たとえばYahooが買収したZimbraだが、人気のあるウェブ・ベースのメールクライアントのデスクトップ版にPrismが採用されている。 [...]

[...] the recent 0.2 release announcement: Prism is an open source cross-platform prototype of functionality that lets users split web [...]

[...] 关于Prism的介绍，除了官方网站的英文介绍之外，还可以参考中文的Nelson的游乐场，主要就是一个以Firefox为基础的Web离线应用，可以在输入网址后，将WebApp转为应用程序，但是dcat这边分析地很好，如果只是将网站搬下来，的确是有点跛脚的方式。 [...]

Did anyone build a macppc (G4) version of prism 0.9?

Mark, this is looking great and I’m yet more convinced it will have accessibility uses, e.g. simplified access for PWLD.

I just checked accessibility access to an encapsulated gmail with accerciser and as expected all looks fine so screen readers etc will all work.

Cheers

[...] 相关网站：http://labs.mozilla.com/2008/03/major-update-to-prism-first-prototype-of-browser-integration/ [...]

[...] 关于Prism的介绍，除了官方网站的英文介绍之外，还可以参考中文的Nelson的游乐场，主要就是一个以Firefox为基础的Web离线应用，可以在输入网址后，将WebApp转为应用程序，但是dcat这边分析地很好，如果只是将网站搬下来，的确是有点跛脚的方式。 [...]

I’m confused, you do realize all you are doing is becoming IE don’t you? How many times do you have to re-invent the wheel? Just use HTA files instead of reinventing technology that’s been around for over 10 years. Oh wait, I see cross platform, want something that works on the smaller niches too. It might be quicker and easier just to use Flash and AIR, or JAVA or widgets, or

[...] este momento Mozilla está impulsando dos nuevos proyectos: Prism y [...]

[...] big news, I realise - Google Gears is already laying that road, and Mozilla is doing its part with Prism. But nothing is quite seamless as of yet: you either need to install an extension, or run a [...]

[...] saw this article on Webware about Prism, which is technology for extending applications beyond the browser. Yes, there are times when the [...]

teşekkürler

thanks

[...] Read the full post on Mozilla Labs Filed under Firefox having Leave a Comment [...]

[...] Prism is Mozilla’s shot at busting apps out of the browser. Part of the Prism project is making the browsing core available to apps developers so they can build products like Zimbra Desktop (review) that are essentially Web apps, but that don’t look like it. [...]

Quick question,… is this project related in any way to the dashboard productivity tool that is developed by sisense ? (also called Prism)

[...] Prism è una applicazione che dovrebbe permette l’esplorazione off-line del web. Il concetto che sta alla base di questo progetto è di rendere qualsiasi sito e di trasformarlo in una applicazione da poter eseguire anche quando non si è connessi. Tutto questo dovrebbe essere possibile quando sarà pronto HTML 5. [...]

[...] Prism è una applicazione che dovrebbe permette l’esplorazione off-line del web. Il concetto che sta alla base di questo progetto è di rendere qualsiasi sito e di trasformarlo in una applicazione da poter eseguire anche quando non si è connessi. Tutto questo dovrebbe essere possibile quando sarà pronto HTML 5. [...]

[...] Prism è una nuova tecnologia orientata al desktop che darà all’utente la possibilità di poter utilizzare i servizi web-based direttamente off-line. Finalmente, si avvererà il sogno di poter usufruire, ad esempio, della vostra web-mail senza dover accedere alla rete. Inoltre, combinando insieme la potenza di Prism ed il prossimo standard HTML 5, servizi come Google Gears o Silverlight diventerebbero immediatamente obsoleti. [...]

[...] favorite web apps in their browser, on their desktop of choice, or in both places,” revealed Mark Finkle, Mozilla Platform [...]

[...] Prism è una applicazione che dovrebbe permette l’esplorazione off-line del web. Il concetto che sta alla base di questo progetto è di rendere qualsiasi sito e di trasformarlo in una applicazione da poter eseguire anche quando non si è connessi. Tutto questo dovrebbe essere possibile quando sarà pronto HTML 5. [...]

[...] in der Tat eines Tages auf gleicher Augenhöhe mit Google stehen. Erste Ansätze mit Prism und an den künftigen Plänen mit Firefox sieht man bereits, wo es langgehen könnte. [...]

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[...] Prism is Mozilla’s shot at busting apps out of the browser. Part of the Prism project is making the browsing core available to apps developers so they can build products like Zimbra Desktop (review) that are essentially Web apps, but that don’t look like it. [...]

[...] Prism is Mozilla’s shot at busting apps out of the browser, turning it into an app that can run directly from the desktop. [...]

[...] Plus d’explication Ici … [...]

[...] has released an updated version of Prism, an application that lets open web applications like Gmail, Google Docs, or Zoho Writer in a [...]

[...] Prism is Mozilla’s shot at busting apps out of the browser, turning it into an app that can run directly from the desktop. [...]

[...] Prism, Mozilla Labs’ browser integration experiment. Prism, based on the Firefox web browser, lets [...]

[...] Prism è il tentativo di Mozilla di portare fuori dal browser le applicazioni, trasformandole in applicazioni che operino direttamente dal desktop. [...]

ok, how do i compile svn trunk?
there is no instructions or configure file, so what is up with that?

make does not work
[ make Makefile.in
make: Nothing to be done for `Makefile.in'. ]

[...] development, you can download the standalone program and a Firefox 3(beta) plugin version from the Mozilla Labs site. « CDFreaks releases PerfectRip for audio [...]

[...] Major Update to Prism, First Prototype of Browser Integration [Mozilla Labs] Add new comment [...]

[...] Mozilla projects include Prism - the ability to make sites such as Google Mail behave like desktop applications, launched with [...]

thanks for the news

[...] dos características más laureadas son la incorporación de Prism y [...]

[...] Mozilla projects include Prism - the ability to make sites such as Google Mail behave like desktop applications, launched with [...]

[...] close, you should start creating site-specific browsers.  The fine folks at Mozilla have created Prism, which runs on the same engine as their fantastic Firefox browser.  Prism is available for [...]