Hi everyone, Mozilla is going to make a Vietnamese version of Firefox 3.1, if anyone can download and test this version it would be great! (I am testing this myself too)
You can download it from: http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/latest-mozilla-1.9.1-l10n/ ---------- Forwarded message ---------- On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 3:26 PM, Gen Kanai <gen at mozilla.com> wrote: > > Jason, > > It is a pleasure to meet you. If I may ask, please tell me more about > BarCamp Hanoi. Mozilla was a co-sponsor of BarCamp Bangkok last fall. > > http://www.barcampbangkok.org/event/3 > > I have signed up for the BarCamp Hanoi mailing list. I went to the website > but I don't see any information about an event in March. > > Kevin, > > Thank you again for the valuable information and perspectives. > > Indeed, as your students said, we believe that the Vietnamese Firefox will be > important for people who are less comfortable with English. As more > Vietnamese learn how to use computers and then the Internet and web, > localized operating systems and software, including browsers, will become > more important. > > We have a Vietnamese browser for testing on all 3 platforms, Windows, Mac, > and Linux: > > http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/latest-mozilla-1.9.1-l10n/ > > If you scroll down you can see the various versions: > > firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.langpack.xpi > firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.linux-i686.tar.bz2 > firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.mac.dmg > firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.win32.installer.exe > firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.win32.zip > > Firefox uses few OS level hooks, so I do not believe it is a requirement to > have a Vietnamese operating system in order to have a Vietnamese-localized > Firefox. If your students could test the Vietnamese builds, we would very > much appreciate any feedback. If your students wish to file the bugs > themselves, in order to learn how open source bug reporting works, they can > do so at Bugzilla. I am happy to help anyone who needs help filing bugs or > can file the bug on behalf of someone if they do not wish to file themselves > as we know that Bugzilla is very hard to use for a newcomer. > > https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/ > > For the mobile browser, we do not plan to have a version for Android. Google > has prepared a WebKit-based browser for Android, so Mozilla is more focused > on other platforms, Linux, WinMo, and Symbian. > > We would love to hold some kind of event in Vietnam this year. Perhaps a > Hackathon, perhaps co-sponsoring another event. We are open to various > options. The goal would be to promote the new Vietnamese Firefox, and see if > there are anyone who would want to volunteer with Mozilla (localization, bug > reporting, fixing bugs, etc.) > > You have mentioned that Vietnamese programmers do not work for free. I can > believe you as this is fairly common across much of Asia, but we have had > significant contribution by some Vietnamese volunteers to prepare the > Vietnamese Firefox 3.1(beta.) However, I can appreciate that programmers > often do not have time to donate to OSS projects. > > I hope that your students can try out the Vietnamese builds and provide some > feedback. There is still time to make changes before the final release (and > of course we can make changes after should there be a need to do so.) > > Sincerely, > > Gen > > > > On Feb 5, 2009, at 4:03 PM, Kevin Miller, Jr. wrote: > >> Hi Gen Kanai: >> >> I posed this question with my middle and high school students. They said >> they would not use it since they prefer English but they did feel that the >> Vietnamese outside of Saigon in the provinces and villages would use it. >> They seemed positive and normally I consider them a good gauge for IT in >> Vietnam. >> Next week I will test the language pack with my Vietnamese students. They >> are using Ubuntu on their laptops/netbooks. I think they will have to >> localize their laptops for vi support, is that correct? I will test it >> first if I have time this weekend. >> >> Do you have a Windows version as well? My middle school students have not >> moved to Linux yet. >> >> I will try to Mozilla browser on my Nokia N800. Is it available in Android >> as well for my G1? >> >> As for your questions: >> >> 1) What do you think are the most important Internet/web-related events in >> Vietnam this year? If Mozilla was to plan to speak at or perhaps co-sponsor >> an Internet-related event, what would you recommend? Our focus is both on >> developers (web and web application), as well as end users of the web. So >> it could be a FOSS event, or maybe a blogger summit, or maybe something else? >> >> There was a Google DevFest last year. They may come again next year. If >> you could sponsor a hackathon, I can help set it up with some friends. You >> would need some Vietnamese translators though. Barcamp Saigon 2 will be >> held in September. Barcamp Hanoi 2 should be next month. Definitely speak >> there. I ccd Jason Vu who is helping with Barcamp Hanoi 2. He also set up >> the Google DevFest and another Hackathon up in Hanoi. >> >> Every year the Hochiminh Computer Association holds it annual ICT Fair and >> conference. Definitely contact them for their next event. >> >> I know with VinaConsulting, we are thinking of hold a FOSS event this year. >> Let me talk to them about it again. >> >> There have not been any blog summits here yet. >> >> 2) You mentioned that the FOSS community is very small. I can appreciate >> that. As you know, Mozilla is a FOSS project, largely run by volunteers. If >> we wanted to look for people who would be interested in helping us in >> Vietnam (programmers, testers, localizers, community marketers) know that we >> cannot pay any money, where would you recommend that we look for these >> people? Are there events where programmers gather? BarCamp? How about >> bloggers? >> >> HanoiLUG is active up in Hanoi. The FOSS community is Saigon is not active. >> We meet once in a while. FOSS is still too new here. There is a Hacker >> Happy Hour in Saigon but I have not attended them yet. Most of the people >> who attend are new programmers but it is a group that really new to IT in >> general. Many of the good programmers are too busy to attend any events. I >> know a couple. >> >> Vietnamese programmers, I will warn you, will not work for free. You will >> have to look at the Vietnamese programmers more in the US and France for >> that. The open source spirit is not here yet. >> >> 3) From your perspective, what are the biggest/most important Vietnamese >> Internet businesses? I'd like to start learning more about the Vietnamese >> consumer Internet market. >> >> Phu and Jason will know more here. HR is very important with VietnamWorks >> being the leader. Online games are big as well. VinaGames leads here. I >> can refer you to them as well if you want. Newsites are plentiful but they >> are not making any money. >> >> Ok, got to get back to my students :) >> >> Kevin >> >> On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 4:54 PM, Gen Kanai <gen at mozilla.com> wrote: >> Kevin, >> >> Thank you for your email. Thank you also for the introduction to Mr. Duong. >> >> Thank you for the information about Firefox in Vietnam. As we do not yet >> have the Vietnamese version, of course users in Vietnam only have the >> English. However, we hope that the upcoming Vietnamese Firefox will appeal >> to more average Internet users in Vietnam and users will have a choice. >> Early adopters can keep using the English version but Internet users who may >> be less comfortable with English menus can choose to use the vi version. >> The vi version will also be customized with Vietnamese search services, etc. >> >> You are welcome to try the localized builds we have in development here: >> >> http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/latest-mozilla-1.9.1-l10n/firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.linux-i686.tar.bz2 >> >> Or you can add the vi langpack to the English version: >> >> http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/latest-mozilla-1.9.1-l10n/firefox-3.1b3pre.vi.langpack.xpi >> >> Information on how to use language packs is here: >> >> http://kb.mozillazine.org/Language_packs >> >> Indeed, we are aware that many popular web services are localized into >> Vietnamese already, both from Vietnam and from outside of Vietnam. However >> we do believe that as more Vietnamese start using the web, it will be more >> and more important to have a Vietnamese-localized web browser that can work >> on any operating system (Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Solaris, etc.) for free. >> If there is any research from Vietnam about web browser market share (for >> instance in the US, we often see Net Applications, or in Europe Xiti >> Monitor, etc.) I would love to know more about trends in the usage of the >> Internet in Vietnam. >> >> With respect to FOSS in Vietnam, I'm very grateful for your perspective. I >> am not surprised by your statements regarding the government's strategy to >> use Linux as pricing leverage against Microsoft. It is certainly a common >> tactic. I am disappointed to hear how small the Linux community is in >> Vietnam, however. >> >> Regarding mobile, I am not sure if you are aware or not but Mozilla has a >> mobile browser, code-named Fennec, in development at this time. It is >> currently available for Maemo Linux, and we are preparing Alpha builds for >> Windows Mobile (HTC Touch). Symbian will come later this year. We have >> more information on this here: >> >> https://wiki.mozilla.org/Mobile/ >> >> You can download the latest alpha release here: >> >> http://www.mozilla.org/projects/fennec/1.0a2/releasenotes/ >> >> We have versions for desktop Windows, linux and Mac OS as well for testing >> purposes. >> >> I have a few questions for you if you would not mind advising me. >> >> 1) What do you think are the most important Internet/web-related events in >> Vietnam this year? If Mozilla was to plan to speak at or perhaps co-sponsor >> an Internet-related event, what would you recommend? Our focus is both on >> developers (web and web application), as well as end users of the web. So >> it could be a FOSS event, or maybe a blogger summit, or maybe something else? >> >> 2) You mentioned that the FOSS community is very small. I can appreciate >> that. As you know, Mozilla is a FOSS project, largely run by volunteers. If >> we wanted to look for people who would be interested in helping us in >> Vietnam (programmers, testers, localizers, community marketers) know that we >> cannot pay any money, where would you recommend that we look for these >> people? Are there events where programmers gather? BarCamp? How about >> bloggers? >> >> 3) From your perspective, what are the biggest/most important Vietnamese >> Internet businesses? I'd like to start learning more about the Vietnamese >> consumer Internet market. >> >> I look forward to the chance to meet you in person, >> >> Gen Kanai >> >> >> >> >> >> On Feb 4, 2009, at 12:13 AM, Kevin Miller, Jr. wrote: >> >> Hi Gen Kanai: >> >> Sure, no problem, I can help out. About 5 years ago, I remember helping >> some Vietnamese IT friends install Firefox in the internet cafes. It grew >> in usage quite fast within the year. IE is still popular though. >> >> >> Let me introduce you also to Mr. Phu Duong from the Vietnam Investments >> Group (ViGroup). They are a low-key private equity firm in Vietnam. One of >> their directors was a Board Member for Microsoft, David Do, which you should >> have heard of. ViGroup tends to be one of the first firms IT companies, >> such as Google, and prominent investors visit while in Vietnam due to their >> directors reputation. That said, I would like to CC Phu in this discussion. >> >> >> Phu made a good point about browsers. Yahoo and Google already localised >> their services to Vietnamese. MS software and some FOSS are localised >> already as well. Yet none of the browsers have been localised into >> Vietnamese including IE. I doubt there is really a need for this since >> everybody is using IE and Firefox in English. I know Chrome is localised in >> Vietnamese but from what I have seen, people just use the English version. >> Maybe Phu and I can do some research on this. >> >> >> I know some new social networks have been localised into Vietnamese but they >> are still not as popular as their English versions. Take Yahoo 360 and >> Facebook as examples. Even Twitter is more popular than it's Vietnamese >> clones. >> >> >> Hacao Linux, which is the first Vietnamese language distro was discontinued >> I heard. The reasoning was that the Vietnaemse translations for everything >> was too long. You had a desktop cluttered with Vietnamese words below their >> icons. That is one problem with the Vietnamese language, I guess. There >> are just too many Vietnamese words for one English word. When I had my past >> Web Content Editor localise the Wear a Helmet website, >> http://www.wear-a-helmet.com to Vietnamese, we had a lot of problems when >> working on the navigation bar on the translated site, >> http://www.doimubaohiem.com/. The drop-down menu was written entirely in >> XHTML and CSS and we were limited in space. She had a tough time and we >> could not abbreviate Vietnamese words. It will be tough :-) >> >> >> As for FOSS in Vietnam. This is not the first time the Vietnamese >> government advocated open source. They had a plan about 6 years ago but it >> failed. This new regulation was meant only for government agencies but at >> the moment, Vietnam lacks the know-how and people to deploy/migrate Linux >> and FOSS. I am just a handful of Linux instructors in Vietnam. I do not >> know any other teacher teaching Linux and open source in public schools. >> Only 2-3 professors teach Linux and open source in the universities. The >> new Linux community are primary Ubuntu users who configured their Linux >> systems to run just like Windows. The LUG communities have failed in Saigon >> though the LUG in Hanoi seems active. >> >> >> My feelings is that the government is using open source to leverage >> Microsoft to give highly discounted licenses. It worked in Indonesia :-) >> >> Open source on mobile phones is a different story. The iPhone is popular >> here. G1 as well. Many phones run Linux though people do not know them. >> The Netbooks have also become popular here. Linux is definately in many of >> the embedded devices as well. The majority of ADSL modems and wifi access >> points in homes are running Linux. >> >> >> Well, sorry the long email. I hope Phu can give some inputs. If you need >> help on your visit to Vietnam, just ask us. ViGroup has invested with one >> travel company so they can help getting a good rate for a visa and hotel >> room. >> >> >> Feel free to ask some more questions. I noticed we added each other on >> Twitter already. >> >> Have a good week, >> >> Kevin >> >> Hi Kevin, >> >> My name is Gen Kanai and I work at Mozilla focusing on Asia. I have a >> Mozilla-blog here: >> >> >> http://blog.mozilla.com/gen/ >> >> I'll be focusing on Vietnam this year for Mozilla as we plan to have our >> Vietnamese-language Firefox ready later this spring (with the launch of >> Firefox 3.1 most likely.) >> >> >> I was hoping you might be willing or interested in starting a discussion >> about open source in Vietnam, and the possibilities for Mozilla in Vietnam. >> There has been news recently about the Vietnamese government's stance on OSS >> and I'd love to get your perspective on the situation. >> >> >> I do plan to visit later this year and hope to get a chance to meet you as >> well. >> >> Looking forward to hearing from you, >> >> Gen Kanai >> gen at mozilla.com >> >> http://blog.mozilla.com/gen/ >> >> >> >> >> Gen Kanai >> gen at mozilla dot com >> Mozilla Corporation >> http://www.mozilla.com >> >> >> >> >> > > > > > Gen Kanai > gen at mozilla dot com > Mozilla Corporation > http://www.mozilla.com > > > > -- :(){ :|:& };:
