Must Read: Sorry, but bringing back the Start menu won't help Windows 8

Topic: Smartphones

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.

Ben Woods

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Canonical has built functionality into each side of the screen so that swiping from any edge performs an action. For example swiping left to right (pictured) brings up a list of the most recently used apps, whereas swiping from right to left returns you to whatever you were doing last, similar to the way in which the back button works on Windows Phone.

Swiping down from the top shows any notifications you have in the bar and allows you to switch between areas of the phone like contacts, dialler, messages etc, whereas swiping up from the bottom brings up a list of options for any app that you have open.

Image: Ben Woods

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Topics: Smartphones, Mobile OS, Mobility, Open Source, Ubuntu

About

With several years' experience covering everything in the world of telecoms and mobility, Ben's your man if it involves a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or any other piece of tech small enough to carry around with you.

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46 comments
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  • Yawn...

    Another uninspired user experience...so late in the game.
    After just reading about Tizen, there seems to be an emerging pattern here.
    TheCyberKnight
    Reply 2 Votes

    • being able to plug your phone into a monitor

      and have a full desktop OS pop up is pretty inspired IMO
      theoilman
      Reply 3 Votes

      • Meh

        So the full desktop OS pops up and you have no keyboard, mouse nor touch monitor. Pretty much like having netbook with dead keyboard attached to a giant monitor. Does not look impressive to me. Maybe a good idea on paper though.
        paul2011
        Reply Vote

  • Choice is good

    Up till now there are really only three choices Android, Apple, or Blackberry. These are the only valid choices anyways, but seeing this it would be worth checking out.
    Troll Hunter J
    Reply 6 Votes

    • Windows Phone 8

      Windows Phone 8 is actually an option worth looking at. I love the Android platform, but am really loving WP8 as well. No, its app store is not as large as Android or iOS, but it does have everything that most of use (I don't need a fart or beer app). It is, however, very easy to use and learn, and looks damn nice in my very humble opinion.
      NordyJ
      Reply Vote

  • Brand will kill this

    I cannot see this launching successfully. Too many backed deals with carriers and an OS that doesn't seem to have enough differentiation to get people to give up on more mature mobile Os's. also- that Brand name has got to change.
    flyguy29
    Reply 1 Vote

  • Canonical's Ubuntu smartphone OS, in pictures

    LOL it uses icons. Too cramped, they tried to put too many features into the phone and its going to be a huge failure. The OS looks ugly because of it. Can't wait to hear about those security reports that will be coming out for this.
    Loverock-Davidson
    Reply 4 Votes

    • LOL, it uses icons

      I suppose you look at a car and think, "LOL, it uses wheels". In case the past thirty years or so has escaped your notice, icons have been the main manner in which one used an OS. That is, until Microsoft's designers decided that big ugly tiles were MUCH better.
      Iman Oldgeek
      Reply 3 Votes

      • YOu didn't understand LD's comment

        Do you? His intention was since Ubuntu uses icons, wait for the patent litigations from Apple to Ubuntu's OEMs. Yes, left side launcher bar reminds the ugly look of Samsung's tired (tried) Omnia (original ones) running with Windows Mobile circa 2007 and 2008. The launcher bar made the screen look busy. I know Ubuntu is powerful, and I use it regularly on one of my laptops at home and work, but this UI is definitely eye tiring. Could it be the Ubuntu's default color choice or placing too many icons with left side launcher bar. Even though I liked my Omnia during 2007 and 2008, I hated its look and feel especially the left launcher bar and had bought HTC Advantage.

        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. :)
        Ram U
        Reply 2 Votes

      • Icons are a thing of the past

        Live tiles like whats found in Microsoft Windows Phone is the new UI.
        Loverock-Davidson
        Reply Vote

        • Yeah that's why it has a whopping 1% of the market

          It's catching on like wildfire, one percent a year.
          toddbottom7
          Reply 4 Votes

          • 1% a year is a dream to some

            What was the marketshare for Linux on the desktop in 2000? Less than 1%.

            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.
            toddbottom3
            Reply 2 Votes

        • Loverock-Davidson .......like flashing tiles really makes sense any where

          Flashing tiles are for a kiddies mind set............ not for a person trying to accomplish something ..........oh I forgot you probably are just a kiddie.....
          Linux_Lives
          Reply 3 Votes

          • Do you remember

            flashing text in HTML in the mid 1990's?
            It got so damn annoying that all browsers dropped it.
            coastin
            Reply 1 Vote

          • coastin...what drives me so crazy is ...if its not appt isn't lashing you

            you must be out of step with the times .....mark my words.....everyone will get so so so tired of plashing tiles that they willl totally ignore every flashing ad.....Metro is turning into a piece of dung because of all those flashing adds.....thank goodness I have W8 in a dual boot and get away from those stupis flashing tiles and I glad I went with a dual boot...........W8 is crap
            Linux_Lives
            Reply Vote

          • Or...

            On one hand, you're right. Active tiles that convey useless information are, well, useless. I've uninstalled all the 'apps' that came with Win 8 for this reason. A NY Times app? I read their website every day. Why would I need an app? But the Start screen is very customizable, so it can be arranged to your liking. Have you tried that?

            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.
            pishaw
            Reply 1 Vote

        • Live Tiles?

          OH! You mean Microsoft's version of widgets, right?
          benched42
          Reply 2 Votes

        • And the

          MS shilling begins....
          coastin
          Reply 1 Vote

    • security issues?

      HI :)
      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 :)
      Tom6
      Reply Vote

  • Hope they make it available for download

    Got an old iPhone 3GS lying around somewhere, would like to try and put this on the phone to get an idea of how good / bad it is. Will be nice to play around with none the less :)
    nicopretorius
    Reply 4 Votes
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