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Canonical announces Ubuntu for smartphones, we go hands-on
This is no ordinary Galaxy Nexus. Instead of Android, it's running a very different Linux-based OS -- the long-awaited mobile version of Ubuntu -- which comes with a new UI adapted for smaller screens. We've played with the phone briefly and we'll have a proper hands-on video for you shortly, but in the meantime there are a few salient features to report. First and foremost, the UI relies heavily on edge swipes instead of buttons -- much like Windows 8 on a tablet or indeed other mobile OS's like MeeGo, although here each swipe has its own Ubuntu-esque functions. Beyond that, the icons along the top have some interesting features, which we'll explain after the break. We're also told that voice control is in attendance, and that an app store is in the works, with a mix of both web apps and native apps -- with the latter type being able to make better use of the hardware.
Speaking of hardware, here's where you might get a twinge of disappointment: there are no immediate plans for actual Ubuntu phones, and no carriers have been signed up yet -- although we're told that the OS will run on any new phone built for Android, should a manufacturer see merit in installing Ubuntu instead. Rather like Ubuntu for Android, this is still an idea looking for a device -- but as ideas go, our initial impression is that it looks like a bright one, especially if you dig Linux and open source. Check out the press release after the break and stay tuned for more in depth coverage imminently. http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget....nds-on-620.jpg http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/02/u...r-smartphones/ |
Re: Canonical announces Ubuntu for smartphones, we go hands-on
Ubuntu on an Android Device
Jolla BB10 Wow my device palette for this year seems quite full now itself :D But yeah Ubuntu on phone may be nice... |
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btw do you feel UbuntuForAndroid can be ported / adapted to our favorite platform N9
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looks not bad, but i think jolla will bring something better and will be more successful ;)
canonical has created ubuntuTV and ubuntu for android, but none of these can be used actually. i hope it's not the same with ubuntu phoneOS |
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The Harmattan fans who dwell around here will jizz in their pants when they see all the swipy menus.
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Does this give me anything my n900 running easy debian doesn't give me? no.
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Come on its great. Seems like an easy way to get rid of android problem on Android phones.
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Lot of OSes that are announced these times, but sadly I see nothing on the hardware side. By nothing I say : no recent smartphone with gorgeous specification AND an hardware keyboard.
Ubuntu, Jolla, Tizen look fine, but what I really want is an N900 with newer hardware... :( |
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Do you think this thing could work in my beloved N900?
I would love it would!! |
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IMO
rpm > deb qt > gtk so Sailfish > Ubuntu. |
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I really liked some things they had there. Especially the design and execution of the "status bar" looked really nice. Definetly something I will be looking for closely
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They didn't show us multitasking though
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Really excited. Now bring me one with a hardware keyboard please.
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Yees!
What's the last Android phone I can rememberr with a hardware keyboard?Eeeerm...Xperia x10 Mini heheheh...heh. |
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Have several android laying around waiting for this :D Give it to me.
Much faster than sailfish and tizen. Ubuntu rules... Lets see how it's working for end users. |
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2013, year of the mobile Linux... finally?
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I think nokia should use ubuntu on newer devices B)
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Canonical said this was targeted at "lower-end phones". I wonder whether we can port this to the N900?
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N900 isn't a "lower-end phone".. Whatchu talking about willis?
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Not sure what they mean with low end. Check out the lag on galaxy Nexus. It's still dev, but still. Did they use different builds or was it just better hw during main demo?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=kXWnMTm7We8#! He refer to n9 as well :) |
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Hopefully this will be ported to N9!
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why not n900 :(
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Ubuntu 12.04 and 12.10 already work on n900, I doubt their mobile cousin will be hard to port. The question is - does it make sense.
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Oh this is nice, I may have to pick up a nexus after all.
I wonder if it possible to use a docking function (ala Motorola Atrix) with ubuntu mobile? |
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Sorry but the launcher bit from the left seems utter balls - wont be useful apart from pinning a few most used apps.
The multi-tasking views is cards, 3 wide so thats OK. The notifications is cool, but its gonna be difficult to use one handed as even with two hands, the folk struggled when moving between notification tabs. I know its alpha/beta software but judging how powerful these droids are, it is ridiculously laggy. Sorry but to this day, even after jolla's swipe concepts - harmattan is just SIMPLE and easy to use - they really were onto a winner but we all know what happened... |
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That was quite promising looking. The performance on the demo left lots to improve, but otherwise I liked what little I looked at.
It's going to be interesting times ahead in mobile, with Jolla, Ubuntu and to lesser extent also BB10... perhaps even Firefox OS will give something interesting, though I have my doubts about that (seems Tizen-y). The delicious problem becomes which platform to choose! It's been quite a while in mobile arena when there's been such a nice selection for open source enthusiast / walled-garden-hater to choose from. |
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jolla sucks
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So basically these are two different things: ubuntu for Android and ubuntu phone OS.
Ubuntu for Android is more like a live CD for locked devices. And if so would it be possible run as an application like the rest when we are talking ubuntu for Android(home button back to android) Ubuntu phone os is only for unlocked(or manufacturer approved) devices. Do you also look at it this way? |
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Well they said this can be run on any Android device. The OS can use the same kernel as Android. To my knowledge Jolla/Meego/Maemo/Moblix can't do that. This is far more useful than other linux oses because it takes advantage of what is already there. Drivers won't be an issue the way they are with other oses. It is still true linux so native linux applications can be run on it. Even if manufacturers won't adopt this it is possible for it to become popular with the modding and flashing crowd.
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http://i.imgur.com/iMw5p.jpg
This is what they are presenting for partners/oems... Intresting 32 gb next year? http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone/operators-and-oems |
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Heh, when has hardware requirements ever stopped the N900?
If we hobbled along using Unity on the N900, we'll hobble along well into the next decade, with more swapping! All that remains to be seen, is whether the Ubuntu Phone stack is open or not. |
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i feel better am getting a nexus 4lool
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AFAIK since Linux 3.3, merging of Android code to the main line was re-established. That means, Android's kernel should be the same as the standard one. So, it's not Canonical's work - they are just using the latest kernel and enjoying the advantages. Naturally Jolla and others can do the same thing. For example: right now I'm running Linux 3.6 on my laptop, so 3.3 isn't that bleeding edge... Sources: http://www.osnews.com/story/25457/An...nux_3_3_Kernel http://www.zdnet.com/blog/open-sourc...g-system/10625 |
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