First look: Ubuntu OS smartphones

Feb 07, 2013 13:29pm

In an attempt to get a foothold in the smartphone market which is already dominated by Google's Android, Canonical Ltd is soon going to release its Ubuntu OS for smartphones.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, smartphones running Ubuntu OS are on their way and will be available to customers in October this year.
Mark Shuttleworth, the founder and CEO of Canonical, said that app developers will get access to the OS later this month.
Though the comapny has not made it clear that which all smartphones will be seen running the Ubuntu OS, but it has been made clear that application developers will get to play with the operating system on Samsung's Galaxy Nexus.
CNET reports, the Ubuntu OS, which is being ready for small screens, will use the same drivers as Android smartphones; it will also be able to run on entry-level smartphones.
"Ubuntu for phones will use native apps, which means that developers can create a single app for both the desktop and the PC. This will let users easily move between devices. The OS also favours swiping gestures to reveal navigation strips and overview pages," reports CNET.
With all-native core apps and no Java overhead, Ubuntu is claimed to run well on entry-level smartphones %u2013 yet it uses the same drivers as Android.
According to the Wall Street Journal report, carriers are interested in the smartphone, but it's still not clear that who all are planning to partner with Canonical for the Ubuntu OS.
Ubuntu uses natural swiping gestures from the edges of the screen to make it easier than ever to access your content and switch between apps.
Every edge of the phone is used, letting you move faster between apps, settings and content.
A short swipe from the left edge of the screen is all it takes to reveal your favourite apps.
Ubuntu lets you switch faster between running and favourite apps than any other phone.
Page either left or right from the home screen to see the content you use most.
A full left-to-right swipe reveals a screen showing all your open apps, while a swipe from the right brings you instantly to the last app you were using.
Ubuntu uniquely enables a new category of convergence device %u2013 phones that dock to become full PCs and thin clients %u2013 enabling enterprise IT departments to replace phones, thin clients and laptops with a single secure corporate device.
Ubuntu is a Linux-based operating system for computing. Operators have room to enhance Ubuntu with their own services, content, apps and branding without breaking compatibility with the broader Ubuntu app ecosystem.