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The Ubuntu Smartphone

Arthur

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Arthur

Arthur

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Stephen Fry has bought an Edge (although it's extremely unlikely he'll actually receive one).

 

http://i.imgur.com/Pg9GGhs.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/hf26sh4.png

 

http://i.imgur.com/IYkPBvo.png

  • 4 months later...
seawolf

seawolf

Posted
Posted

I don't know, a high quality Ubuntu-based phone and/or tablet are about the only things that would make me forgo the iPhone and iPad.

 

I've been given Android tablets to trial in the past and was vastly underwhelmed. I recently won a Surface RT and while it has a few nice features (keyboard mainly) and great build quality, the constant and obtrusive updates made me feel like I was still in the 90s (really, MS, I can't read a news article until I update the App? No choice in the matter...sheesh).Then, there was the Blackberry tablet that was the worst tablet ever built. No email, really? And, for the life of me I couldn't even figure out how to use the blasted things. Did anyone actually try one before they put them up for sale?

 

The iPad on the other hand (Air especially) - nothing like it for great quality and user experience. And nothing will match it or beat it for me until a fantastic Ubuntu tablet arrives. I can't wait to see them, hope the hardware companies do the OS justice.

mac_shinobi

mac_shinobi

Posted
Posted (edited)
I don't know, a high quality Ubuntu-based phone and/or tablet are about the only things that would make me forgo the iPhone and iPad.

 

I've been given Android tablets to trial in the past and was vastly underwhelmed. I recently won a Surface RT and while it has a few nice features (keyboard mainly) and great build quality, the constant and obtrusive updates made me feel like I was still in the 90s (really, MS, I can't read a news article until I update the App? No choice in the matter...sheesh).Then, there was the Blackberry tablet that was the worst tablet ever built. No email, really? And, for the life of me I couldn't even figure out how to use the blasted things. Did anyone actually try one before they put them up for sale?

 

The iPad on the other hand (Air especially) - nothing like it for great quality and user experience. And nothing will match it or beat it for me until a fantastic Ubuntu tablet arrives. I can't wait to see them, hope the hardware companies do the OS justice.

 

What about the latest revision of the asus transformer?

 

https://www.asus.com/uk/Tablets_Mobile/Transformer_Pad_Products/

 

Or the nexus 5?

 

http://www.google.co.uk/nexus/5/

Edited by mac_shinobi
seawolf

seawolf

Posted
Posted
What about the latest revision of the asus transformer?

 

https://www.asus.com/uk/Tablets_Mobile/Transformer_Pad_Products/

 

 

I'm not a big fan of these sort of compromise devices. If I were to get something like this I would go for a Surface 2 Pro.

 

 

I don't really like the current versions of Android on a phone. I think they are a bit too complicated and unintuitive on a device that you just want to work quickly and to be dead simple for making calls and messaging (that's the main function of a phone after all). There are obviously a lot of people who feel differently based on sales figures for Android phones, but each to their own.

 

I think Android works better on a tablet and if I couldn't have an iPad I would probably get a Nexus 7 to take the place of my iPad Mini. The Nexus 7 is a solid device, but since a Mini does exist I would choose it every time over the Nexus.

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rich_tech

rich_tech

Posted
Posted (edited)

I thought the potential of the convergence model of the ubuntu phone was overwhelming and was gutted when it didnt hit the funding, I read an article the other day about Ubuntu though which was quite interesting - Ubuntu's Addiction to Dual-Booting | Benjamin Kerensa dot Com

 

I dont think dual booting is the answer either and that article sums up my linux usage, where I am forced to boot windows for a few things like iTunes to name one. They do need to consider now the partnerships with larger companies if they want more mainstream usage (I know that's not really in line with the FOSS ethos though) so it isnt for everyone. Same thing with ubuntu though as Linux in general, no OS distro walking you through the changes or how the OS operates on installation, its just wham deep end for a lot of people, which is quite overwhelming for the non-technical I think and needs addressing by canonical if they want to grow even more generalist

Edited by rich_tech
seawolf

seawolf

Posted
Posted

@rich_tech

 

I don't think Canonical intends for every Ubuntu phone to dual-boot to Android. The OS is still under development and the dual-boot option allows developers or beta testers to install the OS on an Android phone without wiping Android (and likely upsetting some people). Ubuntu phone will not have the app ecosystem initially of iOS or Android, but I'd say Canonical are going to be working to get some of the big apps developed for the platform.

 

As for Ubuntu desktop, you don't need to dual-boot to access Windows apps. This can be done using Virtual box or WINE. I doubt iTunes will ever be ported to Linux, and in fact the future of iTunes is likely to be a client-less or browser-based app/cloud service. Also, I don't think Canonical wants to have the market penetration of Windows. They likely wouldn't mind having the Macs market share, but if you go much over 20% market share you have to start catering for and pandering to every feature request under the sun from users. That's why I hate some of the recent changes to iOS - they are purely consumer driven while some of the long-sought after features by us tech heads are ignored.

 

I do hope that Ubuntu improves support for the more popular apps and continues or improve the platform but I also hope that it never becomes a dumbed down OS designed to cater to billions (unless that can be easily turned off).

  • 3 weeks later...
Arthur

Arthur

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Ubuntu Touch Nexus 5 Support On Hold, Other Nexus Devices Dropped « OMG! Ubuntu!

 

Along with no dice for the Nexus 5, moving Ubuntu Touch to an Android 4.4 enablement stack has resulted in further decisions on which devices should remain “officially supported”.

 

From the end of January official builds for three of the four currently supported Nexus devices will be discontinued, affecting users of:

 

  • Nexus 10 (2012)
  • Nexus 7 (2012)
  • Galaxy Nexus

Dropping support for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus will, Ubuntu’s engineering team say, ‘ensure focus on the [Nexus 4] and emulator polish’ is completed in time for the release of Ubuntu 14.04.

 

Similarly, Tablet work is to refocus on a single device: the Nexus 7 (2013).

rich_tech

rich_tech

Posted
Posted

I could see that coming funny enough, dual booting devices is just not that attractive an option for non-technical people I think.

 

I like Ubuntu and Linux in general, I am a user of it on my home desktop, it provides everything I want out of an OS and is much more robust against AV/Malware attacks and all the horrible nasty stuff that windows attracts and lets slip in if you dont patch your system up constantly, but dual booting is a pain and needs to be the thing that is gone from Linux, but it wont happen without companies en masse getting onboard and looking at making a client for Linux for their programs or being approached with that view by people like Canonical, Valve was truly a massive thing for Linux I felt, even though I know some argue that it flies in the wrong direction against the FOSS platform and what it stands for, but people are free to use or not use what they want.

 

At least now more things like office suites and google programs are all web based to be truly inter-platform experiences, perhaps that's where the eliminating the need for dual booting lies by everything being web based ! :)

SYNACK

SYNACK

Posted
Posted (edited)
I could see that coming funny enough, dual booting devices is just not that attractive an option for non-technical people I think.

 

I like Ubuntu and Linux in general, I am a user of it on my home desktop, it provides everything I want out of an OS and is much more robust against AV/Malware attacks and all the horrible nasty stuff that windows attracts and lets slip in if you dont patch your system up constantly, but dual booting is a pain and needs to be the thing that is gone from Linux, but it wont happen without companies en masse getting onboard and looking at making a client for Linux for their programs or being approached with that view by people like Canonical, Valve was truly a massive thing for Linux I felt, even though I know some argue that it flies in the wrong direction against the FOSS platform and what it stands for, but people are free to use or not use what they want.

 

At least now more things like office suites and google programs are all web based to be truly inter-platform experiences, perhaps that's where the eliminating the need for dual booting lies by everything being web based ! :)

 

Ha, web based does not mean multi platform, almost all the dodgy web 'designers' that claim they can code end up relying on browser specific extensions anyway. I have lost count of how many 'multi platform' sites that require browser x version y to work properly. You are just trading one form of compatibility for another. If your platform is not supported by the browser or you aren't happy with having three browsers you need to update every week or so it is actually less compatible than a nice stable OS that at least admits what it is trying to be.

 

I do find it funny that even the Google loving oss crowd have admitted the 2011 nexus 7 was junk now, I cut my losses with my ones too.

Edited by SYNACK
rich_tech

rich_tech

Posted
Posted

thats a fair point, I myself am guilty of flitting between multiple browsers here, I find that sometimes Chrome will have difficulties handling websites so I switch to Mozilla for a while before returning, just I think web based stuff by the big companies seems to work well regardless of browser - Google Docs works on all, even Apples iWork Beta is decent, though MS is a bit flaky imo with non-IE browsers I find.

 

I would like Linux to go a little more "mainstream" for the average end user, which is quite a bit of hesitant thing to say I admit, I would rather stuff works without having to mess about with configs or tools like WINE, though I get that is a big part of the whole Linux ethos as it stands at the moment, though I do hope it will evolve with the times and become even more widely used.

  • 1 month later...
Arthur

Arthur

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Canonical announces first partners to ship Ubuntu phones around the globe

 

Canonical today announces it has signed agreements with mobile device manufacturers bq (www.bqreaders.com) (Spain) and Meizu (China) to bring Ubuntu smartphones to consumers globally. Canonical is working with these partners to ship the first Ubuntu devices on the latest hardware in 2014. Ubuntu has also received significant support from the world’s biggest carriers, some of which intend to work with OEM partners to bring phones to market this year.

 

[...]

 

Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Canonical and Ubuntu, adds; “The mobile industry has long been looking for a viable alternative to those that reign today. Ubuntu puts the control back into the hands of our partners and presents an exciting platform for consumers, delivering an experience which departs from the tired app icon grid of Android and iOS and provides a fluid, content-rich experience for all.”

 

^ Surely the control should be in the hands of the consumers, not the networks and hardware partners?

  • 4 months later...
seawolf

seawolf

Posted
Posted (edited)
Canonical announces first partners to ship Ubuntu phones around the globe

 

^ Surely the control should be in the hands of the consumers, not the networks and hardware partners?

 

If you are going to bring a new phone to market and aren't a hardware manufacturer yourself (as Apple is) then you have to sell the platform to telecom companies and handset manufacturers, not consumers. There aren't enough of us techno-geeks pining for an Ubuntu phone to even show up as a blip on their radar. Consumer demand will only come after there are actual phones in the hands of consumers who might then realise how great a Linux phone is. Then again, they might not. It really depends on the quality in the handsets and how well they are embraced by the providers (partners).

 

And in the end, as long as Ubuntu phone OS sticks to its OSS roots, then us users so inclined can do whatever we want with an Ubuntu phone and even fork the OS and customise it as much as we wanted.

Edited by seawolf
  • 7 months later...
Arthur

Arthur

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The first Ubuntu Phone will be available to buy next week for €169 from Spanish manufacturer BQ. It will be sold in a series of flash sales, each lasting for a limited time period (similar to how Xiaomi sell their phones).

 

 

 

www.bq.com/gb/products/aquaris-e4-5.html

 

Specs

  • 4.5-inch screen (qHD resolution @ 540×960)
  • 1.3 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex A7 (MediaTek)
  • Mali 400 GPU @ 500 MHz (MediaTek)
  • 8GB eMMC Storage
  • 1GB RAM
  • 2,150 mAh Battery
  • Dual micro-SIM

abillybob

abillybob

Posted
Posted
The first Ubuntu Phone will be available to buy next week for €169 from Spanish manufacturer BQ. It will be sold in a series of flash sales, each lasting for a limited time period (similar to how Xiaomi sell their phones).

 

It's just a shame it's so ugly.

Arthur

Arthur

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It's just a shame it's so ugly.

The bezels are definitely too large, although that's probably because the BQ Aquarius E4.5 was originally designed to run Android.

 

Also disappointing is that there isn't a desktop mode so you can't use it as a regular Ubuntu PC when connected to a monitor. :(

 

Unlike the original proposal, the handset does not become a desktop PC when plugged into a monitor.

 

It is initially being targeted at "early adopters", who developers hope will become advocates for the platform. (Source)

Arthur

Arthur

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Can you put the software onto other phones? I have a Galaxy S4 Mini I don't use...

Unfortunately not, although if you are good with Linux you could port Ubuntu Touch to the S4 mini yourself. :)

 

I think the only smartphone that Canonical currently provide images for is the Nexus 4.

 

FN-GM

FN-GM

Posted
Posted
Unfortunately not, although if you are good with Linux you could port Ubuntu Touch to the S4 mini yourself. :)

 

I think the only smartphone that Canonical currently provide images for is the Nexus 4.

 

 

Im not great with Linux I am afraid.

Gardinho

Gardinho

Posted
Posted

I think this is looking promising. Finally a good alternative to iOS & Android. When they release a better handset I'll definitely be getting one and finally ditching the iPhone.

 

I've been getting increasingly disillusioned with Apple this last 12 months. £600 for an iPhone 6 is just ridiculous. Plus they give you very little with it. The cost increase is not in conjunction with spec upgrade if you ask me.

 

Plus it would be nice to have a phone which I can actually retain an element of control over!

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