Look out Android, here comes Ubuntu Mobile!
Anyone that’s dabbled with Linux in the past few years will know of the distribution, Ubuntu. It’s widely regarded as one of the most user friendly and easy to use distributions out there and is used by millions of people around the world on both desktop computers and servers. Soon you’ll also be able to boot up your smartphone and be welcomed by Ubuntu’s home screen. Why’s this? Well, Canonical (the guys behind the Ubuntu project) have announced that they will be releasing a version of their operating system specifically for use on smartphones, allowing them to replace the often stock, outdated versions of Android (Google’s own Linux based operating system) most users are running now. An additional feature that users will be able to make use of is it’s ability to double up as an Ubuntu based PC when the phone is connected to a TV/PC Monitor and with the latest smartphones often being on par / more powerful than basic laptops these days, it’s a huge step in mobile computing.
Ubuntu’s creators themselves claim that it will be faster and easier to use than Google’s Android system and it includes some nifty touch screen gestures that do look interesting (a full list with examples can be found here – https://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone/design). It also boasts the ability to utilise full desktop applications on your phone, although this has come under criticism from certain people as they want to know if people really want to be able to do that on a mobile device that for the vast majority of its life, will be in someone’s hand, not docked to a TV or PC screen.
When exactly can you get your hands on the mobile OS is the big question, though! Canonical have announced that in October this year (2013) they will begin shipping mobile devices with the OS pre-loaded and ready to go. If you’re an app developer though and looking to get on board early, they’ll let you begin your work with the OS later this month (February, 2013). On the subject of apps though, the interesting thing with Ubuntu is that you can develop an app for use on the smart, mobile device and then have it work flawlessly on the desktop version too, offering seamless integration between the two. The first device to get the Ubuntu Mobile OS treatment will be the Samsung Galaxy Nexus which is still a great phone and will no doubt show the world what the OS is all about!
Can Ubuntu really challenge Android though in the grand scheme of things? Personally, I don’t think so. I feel it’s going to be much the same as the Desktop OS situation where Ubuntu will be used more by the tech-savvy users that already know of it and of Linux operating system. Canonical pushing this to mobile phone networks/carriers will be a big step in getting the name out there and I even with my reservations, I hope that a new wave of users decide to pick it up and give it a try as there are a lot of exciting things happening with Ubuntu at the moment!
If and when a release is available for the Samsung Galaxy S3, I’ll be loading it up and giving it a shot so expect a hands-on review of the OS in the future!