Canonical's Ubuntu smartphone OS, in pictures
Summary: Canonical has taken the wraps off its new Ubuntu OS platform for smartphones, ushering in a new generation of Ubuntu-powered devices and paving the way for the company's one-size-fits-all approach to platforms on different devices.
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Canonical has introduced its first full version of its Ubuntu phone platform, which unlike other operating systems, uses the same base software as its desktop and TV counterparts.
The announcement forms part of Canonical's desire to have one platform for all screens: television, tablet, laptop and smartphone.
Clearly looking to kick off the new year with a bang, Mark Shuttleworth, creator of Ubuntu and founder of Canonical, introduced the software in London on Wednesday evening.
"The thing that makes Ubuntu different, unique, in the world is a convergence mission," Shuttleworth said. "We deeply believe all these different types of computing - phones, tablets, PCs, smart TVs, servers, cloud, supercomputers - can in fact run off one common platform."
The OS, which Shuttleworth said treats native and web apps as 'equal citizens', is being pitched at a variety of users. For manufacturers that want to aim low-end devices at emerging or developing markets, Shuttleworth said the platform offers a cheap route to market. The Canonical founder also said the OS is simple to use, something he described as essential; Shuttleworth added that he thought Android was overly complicated in places.
Shuttleworth also said the company had chosen to work with old hardware deliberately to show that the requirements of the system are low, should manufacturers wish to take the low-end route.
However, while Canonical talked up the OS's prospects in the cheaper end of the market, it also envisages the system being used on high-end 'superphones' that offer multi-core processors and full desktop convergence.
The first handset to run only the Ubuntu OS is not likely to arrive before the start of 2014; Shuttleworth confirmed the company currently had no commitments from manufacturers or operators. (Canonical has also developed Ubuntu for Android, which should start making it to market a little later in 2013.)
At the announcement, Ubuntu was shown running on a Galaxy Nexus, pictured adove showing the welcome screen.
The welcome screen has a constantly changing and evolving pattern behind the on-screen notifications, which cycle through showing you things like missed calls, messages received and other updates.
Image: Ben Woods
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Talkback
Yawn...
After just reading about Tizen, there seems to be an emerging pattern here.
being able to plug your phone into a monitor
Meh
Choice is good
Windows Phone 8
Brand will kill this
Canonical's Ubuntu smartphone OS, in pictures
LOL, it uses icons
YOu didn't understand LD's comment
The success of this phone depends upon the ecosystem. I wonder would Google allow YouTube metadata to these guys or not is also another interesting thing to watch.
Whethere I like it or not, I would end up getting one. :)
Icons are a thing of the past
Yeah that's why it has a whopping 1% of the market
1% a year is a dream to some
What is the marketshare for Linux on the desktop in 2013? About 1%.
While os x has done slightly better, it has never grown at more than 1% a year since its introduction and is now falling.
Some would kill for a whopping 1% a year. Surface RT is seeing fantastic growth. 100% growth. Amazing.
Loverock-Davidson .......like flashing tiles really makes sense any where
Do you remember
It got so damn annoying that all browsers dropped it.
coastin...what drives me so crazy is ...if its not appt isn't lashing you
Or...
And you're wrong in that Win 8 is "crap". If you cannot figure out how to use it, that's on you. Every child with computer experience that I've shown Win 8 to realizes within minutes that a Start screen, with all your important programs visible at ONE TIME, is a vast improvement over scrolling through the Start menu from Win 7 et al. And they ALSO realize that clicking the Start orb in the bottom left corner and just clicking on the bottom left corner are the same thing. I don't understand why children get this, yet the computer ninjas that comment on sites like this can't figure it out.
It's more secure than Win 7, it manages memory better, and it's more accessible. If you are having a hard time adapting to the changes, you may not be as smart as you think you are.
And whether you like it or not, Windows IS the worldwide standard personal computer interface. It just is. As the tablet form becomes as powerful as 'fixed' computers, the tablet will be the new norm. Most people will continue the have a lap/desktop machine, but the 2nd. (or 3rd, 5th.) PC in the home AND office will be a tablet. Even if you hate Microsoft, for whatever irrational reason, you must admit they would be dumb to ignore this. Right?
Then there is Linux, which was the topic of the article. For my laptop, I find it limited, and I LIKE Windows. I've been using it since 3.1, and it's practically universal. But Ubuntu on a tablet or a phone is something I could get behind. That seems to be where it belongs. It's far and away superior to iOS and Android. Ubuntu is a real OS, not just a means to run games or check someones Facebook status.
Ubuntu on portables is a great thing. I believe it's found it's home.
Live Tiles?
And the
security issues?
Yes, comparing security issues for a given set period will be interesting. It's something i am looking forwards to. Of course most people include slow-downs, crashes and even needing to reboot as being security issues but obviously the Windows Phone can't count those because otherwise all the rest would win too easily. Just counting malware and remote attacks alone still tends to leave Windows in the dust.
However, people are quite happy to suffer all that on the desktop. Lets see how happy they are with it on smart-phones and tablets now that people are familiar with how well non-Windows runs on those sorts of things.
Regards from
Tom :)
Hope they make it available for download