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Ubuntu is getting touch support, but it's for smartphones.After teasing the web community with a countdown timer to its secret touch reveal, Canonical on Wednesday spilled the beans about what's coming next for Ubuntu: smartphones. Like Windows 8, Ubuntu is trending towards a single operating system for multiple devices, though not necessarily with identical interfaces. In fact, Ubuntu for smartphones will sport a "distinctive" interface that makes use of all four edges of the screen for a more immersive experience.
Canonical is thinking big right from the get-go. The company is taking aim at two core mobile segments: the high-end superphone and the entry-level basic smartphone. In terms of the former, users will be able to plop their Ubuntu-powered superphone into a dock to turn into into a full PC or thin client device.
"We expect Ubuntu to be popular in the enterprise market, enabling customers to provision a single secure device for all PC, thin client and phone functions. Ubuntu is already the most widely used Linux enterprise desktop, with customers in a wide range of sectors focused on security, cost and manageability," said Jane Silber, CEO of Canonical. "We also see an opportunity in basic smartphones that are used for the phone, SMS, web and email, where Ubuntu outperforms thanks to its native core apps and stylish presentation."
The handset interface is what's most interesting here. According to Canonical, Ubuntu for phones will feature thumb gestures from all four sides, a global search function for apps and content, voice and text commands in any application, native and web or HTML5 apps, and evolving personalized art on the welcome screen.
Unfortunately, you can't run out and buy an Ubuntu phone today, tomorrow, next week, or even next month. However, Canonical says it's ready to start working with partners, with the goal of launching phones before the end of 2013. The company also plans to demo early phones at CES next week and again at MWC in February.
Comments are closed on this article
zepolnavi
January 04, 2013 at 6:32pm
nudagaga,marynancy,........Shut your fvck1ng mouth,and get to work decently as normal people.....
nudagaga
January 04, 2013 at 1:34pm
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zepolnavi
January 03, 2013 at 5:17pm
looks good and I think it is far superior to Windows phones, by just only seeing it ..... ubuntu has a great future in smartphones, and definitely have my money .... linux works better than windows, but the people still do not know much about linux...
trevywankenobi
January 03, 2013 at 4:20pm
This is ridiculous, Its almost the exact same thing as Windows Phone 8. the controls for the app coming from the bottom and swiping up, the start screen/ app list, the cloud integration and the connectivity info at the top. Don't get me wrong, I think it looks great, but don't you think that this is taking cues and or copying Windows Phone 8? I have to agree though that the cross between the desktop and phone was put together a bit better than Windows 8/ Windows Phone and if Microsoft could tweak Windows 8 they would kill. I'm not trying to be a Ubuntu hater, but It just seems as if this is already done
Cregan89
January 04, 2013 at 1:55pm
Omg thank you! I can't believe more people aren't realizing this!
Add to your list, swiping from the side to switch to the last app, and that home/lock screen personalization feature is quite similar to Windows 8's Live Tiles.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is a bad thing. It looks to be taking a lot of the best interface ideas from Windows (Phone) 8 and fine-tuning them. Microsoft should take a couple notes actually. But anybody that is saying "Windows 8 sucks" but then turn around and say that this amazing, is a complete hypocrite.
wumpus
January 08, 2013 at 11:30am
Judging from the ground Canonical laid with Unity (essentially Metro years before Win8), it isn't that far out to claim that MS is copying Canonical (I can't imagine MS consciously copying Canonical. They would bust their arrogance glands before considering such a state)
Peanut Fox
January 03, 2013 at 5:37pm
I think they may do a better job than what Microsoft has been able to do so far, but I think this has been Microsoft's end goal, and that they've laid quite a bit of the ground work to make it happen.
tony2tonez
January 03, 2013 at 9:29pm
I think you are right. Microsoft made the next step in a OS development, touch. They might not have worked all the bugs out yet but they are onto something .
For most power users this might not be ideal. But like pc hardware, the power user is a very small market.
Its all about apps, web browsing, and taking your content anywhere for probably 95% of people out there.
Had this been Apple it would have been hailed as a innovation.
TrollBot5000
January 03, 2013 at 2:37pm
Go ahead and make fun of me but I'm one of the few people that still don't own a smartphone. I have a ATT F160 basic 3mp camera phone. Yes go ahead and laugh. Seems like waiting might just have paid off. Granted my buddy has the galaxy SIII and it's very intuitive but now that this is on the horizon I'm thinking this is going to be the phone for me. I still don't like Unity or Gnome 3 as a desktop environment but a touch version might just be what I'm looking for in a phone. I'm sure at launch there will be some bugs just like every distro in the first couple weeks or so leaving room to usher in all the idiotic ubuntu hate "ubuntu sukz it crash on me it no work right derrrr". I'm hoping the update manager is the same. That's one linux strong point is the awesome updating process so any bugs could be fixed with just a couple of clicks.
TrollBot5000
January 03, 2013 at 7:11pm
I couldn't see the edit button right now so I'll just reply to myself. I'm watching the video right now. I never watch embedded videos on webpages I prefer to go to youtube and download them so after watching this I am very pleased with what I saw. So this isn't just Ubuntu 12.04 on a phone like the Nexus 7 I saw running it this is an actual Ubuntu mobile OS and a much more abitious project than I was expecting. I thought this was just baby steps in getting Ubuntu to run on current phones. I really hope they do polish this before being pressured during the 2013 holiday season and get it right. Like I said in my first post an update manager like the desktop or soemthing similar would be nice. Other than that I don't have anything else to add on what features I'd like to see implemented because it looks like they thought of everything. I'll will 100% be an early adopter of this phone.
AFDozerman
January 03, 2013 at 4:46pm
No making fun. It's all cool. I'm still rocking a blackberry torch, so you aren't the only one behind!
Cy-Kill
January 03, 2013 at 12:09pm
I think it's a little to late for Canonical (Ubuntu), Jolla (Sailfish), and Samsung (Bada) to go against Android, I think all three of them should just put in fully with Android and be done with it, don't compete against it!
bigrigross
January 03, 2013 at 9:38am
My question is, is this something that we can use on our current smartphone, or will it have to be an x86 processor? I would love to try this out on my HTC one X and if its for ARM, it would be a fun thing to ROM my phone with.
EDIT: I apologize asking this if its answered in the video, I am at work and we have videos blocked for the entire office.
AETAaAS
January 03, 2013 at 9:57am
The phone they are demoing it on is the Galaxy Nexus which is ARM. Unless they somehow managed to crowbar an Atom in there. :p
edit: A little more proof of an ARM Ubuntu. :)
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Nexus7/Installation
Thrill
January 03, 2013 at 8:19am
Mark Shuttleworth couldn't be bothered to shave before filming this?
TrollBot5000
January 03, 2013 at 2:40pm
That's nothing compared to Richard Stallman picking his toenail and eating it during a conference.
Peanut Fox
January 03, 2013 at 9:06am
I was thinking the same exact thing while studying his neck beard, and he get's a lot of face time in this video.
Peanut Fox
January 03, 2013 at 2:35pm
No. It should also be noted that you have an iconic beard beard. Obviously a difference ;)
AFDozerman
January 03, 2013 at 8:17am
I was originally setting sights on the may release of a slider BB10 for my next phone, but this looks reeeaaalllyy interesting.
tony2tonez
January 03, 2013 at 11:24am
same. I was eying the BB10. I love my rooted Android but BB10 and this looks very promising.
Peanut Fox
January 03, 2013 at 7:43am
Once you get past the first five minutes of self praise, they present a lot of good design ideas. Especially the single platform idea that Microsoft didn't quite bring into furition with Windows 8.
I'm interested to see what the final product is, and how it stacks up in hardware and in price.
