Meizu Pro 5 with Ubuntu coming soon? [Archive] - maemo.org

handaxe

2016-02-01, 21:46

The main appealing feature the Ubuntu phone had that made me pledge during the indiegogo campaign, was the possibility to use the phone as a desktop (with a docking station). I haven't followed the latest developments, will this be a feature they are going to implement or is it already possible?

It fast is becoming a reality - there are multiple videos on google+ of convergence on the nexus4 using what is known as the rc-proposed channel.The nexus4 device is MHL enabled and connectable to a monitor, thus it is best at showing where things are at. The more capable Mx4 lacks MHL 😞

Bq has announced a convergence 10" tablet for later this year.

HtheB

2016-02-17, 16:39

It's been confirmed now:
Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition
https://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/02/17/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-launches-globally

handaxe

2016-02-17, 17:14

It's been confirmed now:
Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition
https://insights.ubuntu.com/2016/02/17/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-launches-globally

Yup, this too is a convergence capable device, with video out....

Dave999

2016-02-17, 18:17

This can be the device that puts UT in the spotlights of the hands of real users, not only fanboys and devs. Competitive specs, great screen size that can compete with androidsiOS. Probobly OK price and above all shipment world wide.

Interesting!

Edit...seems that the first report was false :( not world wide.

colin.stephane

2016-02-17, 18:32

There is also some information's here :

- Say Hello To The Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition Smartphone - OMG! Ubuntu! (http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-specs-price)

A++

marmistrz

2016-02-17, 18:45

Hell, will we see a hwkb Ubuntu phone device ever? :P

billranton

2016-02-17, 20:17

There is also some information's here :

- Say Hello To The Meizu PRO 5 Ubuntu Edition Smartphone - OMG! Ubuntu! (http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-specs-price)

That is really a very impressive spec, especially for something not running a heavy Android VM. It doesn't look like it has any video out though, so I assume it won't be able to do the desktop-transformation thing.

handaxe

2016-02-17, 20:18

Hang on. I am catching up on things and it seems OMG-Ubuntu may have jumped the gun on the Mx5 Pro and convergence. Questions have been asked and info amended. Will add here later....

Later: It will have an usb-c connector and whether that can provide MHL depends on other hard-ware. And the phone likely will not have that. Bah, humbug!!!

impeham

2016-02-22, 00:10

This finally looks like a possible alternative to the N900. i couldn't find any really opened device to work with until now and the N900's performance & memory are really beginning to be a problem for me...

as i understand it can fully run as root - no user per app thing - is that true?

any advantages for maemo compared to this version of ubuntu?

salyavin

2016-02-22, 03:08

modem specs? What bands?

salyavin

2016-02-22, 03:09

any advantages for maemo compared to this version of ubuntu?

Maemo can multitask for one. Maemo also has more applications for it.

salyavin

2016-02-22, 03:53

See Is it possible to use Python with the Ubuntu SDK? I don't think that the current status is different:

pyqt might not be the best choice in terms of licensing commercial applications

And taken from the ubuntu-phone mailing list archive:

While PyOtherSide may work, it's not a supported language or platform for the Ubuntu SDK, so we can't guarantee that it will always work or work properly. I would encourage you to use Javascript instead of at all possible.

Bundyo

2016-02-22, 05:27

Since Ubuntu also uses libhybris, the device will be a viable port for Sailfish. The onle problem for me are the 5.7" :)

marmistrz

2016-02-22, 07:36

How is it with multitasking on Ubuntu Touch?

Dave999

2016-02-22, 07:56

How is it with multitasking on Ubuntu Touch?

Not that good. Not like jolla. But I think Samsung got the best multitasksolution right now even I know that many wont agree :D multiwindow and splitscreen is more important than true multitasking for the simple reason that the user can execute several tasks in parallel.

marmistrz

2016-02-22, 07:57

something concrete? will ubuntu touch kill an inactive app as Android does and as N900/desktop not?

impeham

2016-02-22, 10:09

Maemo can multitask for one. Maemo also has more applications for it.

can you explain? i couldn't find a source of info about this. does it use the annoying "application freeze" for saving battery of background applications like in android?

shouldn't it behave like in the desktop ubuntu?

nodevel

2016-02-22, 11:11

can you explain? i couldn't find a source of info about this. does it use the annoying "application freeze" for saving battery of background applications like in android?

shouldn't it behave like in the desktop ubuntu?

I am amazed it is 2016 and people still are surprised by this. Ubuntu Touch started as a multitasking OS, but they had hard time with optimization of the system (and still do, according to user experiences here on TMO), so they killed the multitasking pretty early in the day.

This blogpost (https://samohtv.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/application-lifecycle-model-policies/) by one of the developers sums up their attitude and it was published all the way back in 2013. The title "Running, Stopped, Killed? A user shouldn’t care" says it all.

I don't get why people think that Ubuntu Phone could be a replacement for N900. Jolla or N9 are not even close to replacing the N900, but are still light years ahead of Ubuntu Phone as a Maemo replacement, as they at least feature full multitasking, have the same roots (and a sane UI, but that's subjective).

Even BB10 is closer to Maemo than Ubuntu Phone in this sense.

Dave999

2016-02-22, 11:15

What about this hack?

http://askubuntu.com/questions/629376/does-ubuntu-touch-multitask-like-a-desktop-ubuntu-would

However you can't drag the window around on the phone since the top bar of the window is hidden :D

handaxe

2016-02-22, 12:23

Yes, you can switch to windowed mode and multi-task sensu-stricto.

BUT, there is no swap at the moment, so you might get the backgrounded process killed due to OOM management, unless you fiddle "nice"ly. I am part guessing here but I do not see how this would not be the case.

The "user shouldn't care" comment is about plain vanilla phone users. Indeed, they shouldn't care in principle, if the phone provides what they are looking for. By and large it does (lamentable lack of apps aside). BUT there are some notable shortfalls: for eg. you can only capture a GPS trail by keeping the screen active, otherwise the app goes to suspend. Canonical devs are WELL aware of criticisms of this and the issue is discussed.

Thing is - and I believe people generally underestimate this point - the official dev team is pretty small and they struggle with the balance of delivering new features and bug fixing. At present, convergence gets most love and there are some VERY frustrating issues on the back-burner (Meizu (and BQ?) battery levels, anyone?).

This point is crucial if one's expectations of UT are to be realistic. What I don't know, is if and how Canonical are going to get that point across to prospective purchasers in order to be fair to them. The hype behind the state of readiness somewhat exceeds reality. Not by much but IMO enough to piss some (many?) buyers off. At least, that is what I saw in the previous round of (first) releases.

Go here (http://www.mail-archive.com/ubuntu-phone@lists.launchpad.net/index.html) and read if you will, the general tenor of exchanges between devs and between devs and power-users and the topics covered. Keep in mind that it is not a support forum.

One other thing: the inputs on the ubuntu forums about Ubuntu Touch are rather sparse and lacking. The forums seem not to have captured much interest of phone users.

impeham

2016-02-22, 16:58

Guess i'll wait for the next jolla device...

Dave999

2016-02-22, 17:37

You can pre-order during MWC if you like: http://www.meizu.com/en/products/pro5ubuntu/summary.html

ajalkane

2016-02-22, 18:25

How is it with multitasking on Ubuntu Touch?

Non-existent to pitiful.

something concrete? will ubuntu touch kill an inactive app as Android does and as N900/desktop not?

Applications are freezed when they are not active. This includes when screensaver goes on.

does it use the annoying "application freeze" for saving battery of background applications like in android?

shouldn't it behave like in the desktop ubuntu?

I guess many people have the expectation it would behave like desktop Ubuntu. But it doesn't. The people responsible for this part of behavior have time and again used the "iOS does it like this and look how successfull it is" excuse. Ubuntu Touch is looking at copying iOS in many aspects because they see it as successfull and what users want and need, and there doesn't seem to be much room for trying to do some of these things better.

I've watched UT development from the start and participated in it. And many parts of it (not all, mind you) makes me feel like they're just content on copying iOS on many important aspects - an open-source version of iOS to simplify it.

Despite my seemingly scathing words I'd like to still empathize that it is still open-source - much more than SailfishOS for example. So even though they have made choices that I strongly detest, you could modify even those parts if you were determined enough.

So I do nevertheless support Ubuntu Touch and wish them well, even though at it's current state I see little reason to use it myself.

salyavin

2016-02-22, 18:45

I expect there are thousands of people who do not know Ubuntu Touch does not multitask like Ubuntu Desktop, it's not like it is prominently advertised. You hear the name Ubuntu you think typical desktop or server Linux and expect multitasking. I would expect some buyers may be disappointed who expect multitasking. Average joe phone buyer without Linux background and not being a power user may see it as like any other phone and not be bothered at all. Average joe phone buyer would instead be disappointed by the number of apps

Dave999

2016-02-22, 19:07

Yeah, their Phone looks OK nothing special. But have you seen the tablet. That is cool. You cant complain about the multitask...

Can only find spanish videos but go check it out...definitely got potential.

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/bq-m10-ubuntu-tablet-hands-on-video

ajalkane

2016-02-22, 19:50

Yeah, their Phone looks OK nothing special. But have you seen the tablet. That is cool. You cant complain about the multitask...

Why not? That video showed nothing about multitasking. The best case scenario is that when tablet is docked it allows multitasking (and that's not enough at least for me). But even that is not given in the video shown.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the convergence potential given that video, but it told nothing about multitasking.

Dave999

2016-02-22, 19:56

Why not? That video showed nothing about multitasking. The best case scenario is that when tablet is docked it allows multitasking (and that's not enough at least for me). But even that is not given in the video shown.

I'm cautiously optimistic about the convergence potential given that video, but it told nothing about multitasking.

So you don't think it's cool? What other tablets can do that, not that many. I think it's it's great first step and hope more OS and vendors will try the same or do it better.

impeham

2016-02-22, 21:00

Non-existent to pitiful.
I guess many people have the expectation it would behave like desktop Ubuntu. But it doesn't. The people responsible for this part of behavior have time and again used the "iOS does it like this and look how successfull it is" excuse. Ubuntu Touch is looking at copying iOS in many aspects because they see it as successfull and what users want and need, and there doesn't seem to be much room for trying to do some of these things better.

The true multitasking of a desktop OS is mandatory for me to replace my N900 - the absence of it makes ubuntu touch totally irrelevant - i might as well just buy an android phone.

I think i'll wait for the next jolla phone - hopefully it'll be better than the existing one in terms of resolution, memory, CPU and a larger external SD card support.

i wonder if their wireless chip supports monitor/sniffing mode.

handaxe

2016-02-22, 22:52

Why not? That video showed nothing about multitasking. The best case scenario is that when tablet is docked it allows multitasking (and that's not enough at least for me).

I think you are right. As an undocked tablet it will behave as does UT at the moment, unless you override and place it in windowed mode and then just OOM considerations apply.

salyavin

2016-02-23, 00:35

I think i'll wait for the next jolla phone - hopefully it'll be better than the existing one in terms of resolution, memory, CPU and a larger external SD card support.

Well Jolla supports very large SD cards, mine has a 128GB in it, you just need to format it a format like ext4 or btrfs or install exfat fuse support. I use ext4 on my card. I suspect it can support up to 2TB. The reason they cannot advertise it is they did not pay a license to Microsoft for the exfat support as required by spec so they can only claim to suppor the fat32 cards and below.

salyavin

2016-02-23, 00:37

One comment on Android, if it is Google Android (play support and all that) there are privacy concerns so one thing Ubuntu Touch and Sailfish has is perhaps less tracking of everything you do. If that is interesting to you then that would be a reason to get UT over Google Android. That said you can of course get Android without all the Google stuff.

theonelaw

2016-02-23, 01:14

...Despite my seemingly scathing words I'd like to still empathize that it is still open-source - much more than SailfishOS for example. So even though they have made choices that I strongly detest, you could modify even those parts if you were determined enough.

So I do nevertheless support Ubuntu Touch and wish them well, even though at it's current state I see little reason to use it myself.
Thanks for this insight,
- I was left wondering exactly this after using UT for awhile - if sailfish would be a viable alternative - and there is simply no way I would use something less open.
Ubuntu is a borked cadaver infested with webfarts
crawling around pretending to be actual programs,
but yes, apt-get on UT still works.
The only use for apt-get are console programs but that still beats nothing at all by a huge margin.
.
Still,
even then wiping Ubuntu Touch
and trying to shoehorn Nemo is beginning to seem to be
potentially more attractive than continuing to suffer this
suicidally depressive Ubuntu Touch.

A tablet with Ubuntu Touch sounds like a
cutting board with led background.
Useful, perhaps,
for chopping onions

Dave999

2016-02-23, 06:17

MINKIN2

2016-02-23, 10:11

The price has been.announced http://http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-buy-price

Dave999

2016-02-23, 10:36

The price has been.announced http://http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-buy-price

Link is Broken. Its a scam?

Too many http for My tastes...

colin.stephane

2016-02-23, 12:31

The price has been.announced http://http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-buy-price

Correct Link (http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/02/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-buy-price)

A++

handaxe

2016-02-23, 13:00

As of right now I see this tablet as the best option if you want to support something open-source, since Jolla failed big time with the tablet I don't exclect another try for a while and other OSes don't have the power to make a name to get enough support to make it work.

I don't get everything I want but atleast I get something. :D

If it can be set to dual/multi boot - Android/UT that would suite me. I caanot buy a tablet that does not support Minecraft PE... Sorry, I would not be forgiven.

MINKIN2

2016-02-23, 15:13

Link is Broken. Its a scam?

Too many http for My tastes...

Please excuse me, posted from my Jolla ;)

mscion

2016-02-23, 15:56

Looks nice but correct me if I'm wrong:

Yet again another phone that does not get 4G/LTE data in US...

robthebold

2016-02-23, 16:13

Looks nice but correct me if I'm wrong:

Yet again another phone that does not get 4G/LTE data in US...

Might not even do 3G in the US -- maybe on T-Mobile.

MINKIN2

2016-02-23, 19:34

Engadgets review is up http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/23/meizus-pro-5-ubuntu-hands-on/#

Dave999

2016-02-23, 19:48

Engadgets review is up http://www.engadget.com/2016/02/23/meizus-pro-5-ubuntu-hands-on/#

Hope this will come to phone too soon.

https://youtu.be/fiEkCaA_P7c

Bundyo

2016-04-26, 09:38

Now available:

http://en.jd.com/1104324.html
http://www.jd.ru/1104324.html

mscion

2016-04-26, 11:48

Now available:

http://en.jd.com/1104324.html
http://www.jd.ru/1104324.html

Might be nice to play with and would consider but, unless I am mistaken, the best it will get is 3G in US.

robthebold

2016-04-26, 13:43

Might be nice to play with and would consider but, unless I am mistaken, the best it will get is 3G in US.

Looks like maybe if it's the "Global" model of the Pro 5, it might work at 4G LTE on Sprint and its resellers. Every other carrier it's no service or 2G at best.

ed: source is WillMyPhoneWork (http://willmyphonework.net/)?

mscion

2016-04-26, 14:17

Looks like maybe if it's the "Global" model of the Pro 5, it might work at 4G LTE on Sprint and its resellers. Every other carrier it's no service or 2G at best.

ed: source is WillMyPhoneWork (http://willmyphonework.net/)?

Is there a global version?

EDIT: Yes! Not sure how broad the coverage but an encouraging sign!

https://www.frequencycheck.com/models/OY6YX/meizu-pro-5-ubuntu-edition-m576-dual-sim-td-lte-32gb-meizu-niux

robthebold

2016-04-26, 14:37

Is there a global version?

That's the five-dollar question, I guess. WillMyPhoneWork lists two sub-versions of the Pro 5, the M576 (Global) and the M576U (China). Whether the Ubuntu version is one of these or a third version isn't obvious to me from what I've read. The jd.com web page doesn't mention anything about model number. But it does call it dual-SIM.

Me, I'm excited to try the improved "daily plugging-in experience".

mscion

2016-04-26, 14:43

It comes down to how good is band 41 coverage in US by Sprint. Anyone have experience with this carrier?

robthebold

2016-04-26, 15:50

It comes down to how good is band 41 coverage in US by Sprint. Anyone have experience with this carrier?

Here's what Sprint says regarding BYOD:

Bring your device to a Sprint store or call us at 866-789-8292 . We'll check if it'll work on our network and help you get it activated.

Also:

Eligible devices include: iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 5s (Verizon only), iPhone 5c (Verizon only), Motorola X Pure Edition (16, 32 & 64 GB – all colors), Nexus 6 (32 & 64 GB – black and white), Nexus 5 (16 & 32 GB – black, white and red), Nexus 5X (all versions), Nexus 6P (all versions), HTC One A9 (Sprint version only), iPad Air 2, iPad Air (Verizon only), iPad mini 4, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 2 (Verizon only) and iPad Pro. Some devices may be eligible, but could have network band limitations that would result in a subpar experience. Some devices that may not be eligible. Devices must be unlocked domestically by your current carrier before switching. We will not accept lost/stolen devices. Features and network experience may vary based on original device carrier. Restrictions apply.

Love the fact that compatibility of some phones varies by color. Reminds me of the Car Talk radio guys getting stumped by a question and asking what color the car is to give them time to think (or think up a joke).

Sprint also says no prepaid BYOD plans. :(

juiceme

2016-04-26, 16:33

Love the fact that compatibility of some phones varies by color. Reminds me of the Car Talk radio guys getting stumped by a question and asking what color the car is to give them time to think (or think up a joke).

Just like N9 software versions, there exist different download of EMMC & rootFS based on the memory model (16G/64G) and the color of the device; except that all the downloads for a given country variant are exactly the same file when downloaded from Nokia servers... :D

richie

2016-06-02, 18:29

Interesting update from Ubuntu, convergence on Meizu Pro 5, video here (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NUiEnTLFFdk)

bluefoot

2016-06-03, 00:55

Interesting update from Ubuntu, convergence on Meizu Pro 5, video here (https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NUiEnTLFFdk)

It's potentially great.

On SD820 or equivalent chipsets, this can be really quick (though the Exynos 7420 is no slouch). Though I'd much prefer a wired solution (MHL).

Still not sure why people aren't using the MX4 / MX5 Pro for Sailfish ports. The libhybris adaptation work has already been done on them. It ought to remove a lot of the headaches. 2 years on, the Nexus 5 port (most mature) is still being adapted and bugfixed ...

handaxe

2016-06-03, 08:40

bluefoot

2016-06-03, 18:36

Regarding the Pro 5 and mira/aethercast, there have been queries about display resolution; apparently it is streamed 720 then up-sampled by the dongle. So yes, MHL / DisplayPort is preferable (such as the Bq M10 tablet). I imagine that the next iteration of UT phones will have that too.

Apparently OTA-15 is intended to be a big milestone ... and I know Sony are still actively assessing UT.

Fingers crossed there'll be more later in the year.

handaxe

2016-06-03, 21:22

Apparently OTA-15 is intended to be a big milestone ... and I know Sony are still actively assessing UT.

Fingers crossed there'll be more later in the year.

I hope so too. But, unless the dev team gets enlarged, I fear they never will get to present a polished experience. There is loads happening, really exciting stuff, but still the UI stutters. I showed my Mx4 to a programmer, busy learning to code for IOS. Swipe right, swipe right. "That is stuttering" was the spontaneous comment

Now, I could care less about that. But just about every review of UT from the first BQ phone to the 5 Pro has commented the same. Crap PR. Improvements of load times and paging between scopes are promised. I really hope so, and before the next generation of devices.

bluefoot

2016-06-05, 03:54

I hope so too. But, unless the dev team gets enlarged, I fear they never will get to present a polished experience. There is loads happening, really exciting stuff, but still the UI stutters. I showed my Mx4 to a programmer, busy learning to code for IOS. Swipe right, swipe right. "That is stuttering" was the spontaneous comment

Now, I could care less about that. But just about every review of UT from the first BQ phone to the 5 Pro has commented the same. Crap PR. Improvements of load times and paging between scopes are promised. I really hope so, and before the next generation of devices.

IIRC a major overhaul of animations and some UI elements (together perhaps with some rendering back end) is meant to occur soonish.

But yeah, the dev team is tiny, and a huge amount of their time is spent on getting everything working with the stuff added upstream in the full desktop distro.

Still, they're getting a lot done, and Canonical not devoting too many resources before they have a solid base is probably a good thing.

My main concern is with Scopes ... they've been harmful to the whole project, IMO. They should have pushed native app development and the SDK much harder.