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Ubuntu phone, what do you think?

V

vmachiel

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Feb 15, 2011
1,777
1,445
Holland
Hi forum,

I've just now looked into ubuntu phone. It looks very cool to me, but it may be a bit.. too much for a phone:) Like the pull down shortcuts for example. But then again, it does look cool.

who knows, maybe it's take off. What do you guys think?
 
Never take off. The ultimate "niche" product.

vmachiel said:
Hi forum,

I've just now looked into ubuntu phone. It looks very cool to me, but it may be a bit.. too much for a phone:) Like the pull down shortcuts for example. But then again, it does look cool.

who knows, maybe it's take off. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...
 
I think it looks great. I hope it takes off, but it's really up to the carriers and the hardware manufacturers. There are two huge OS's right now, and two other very big ones, I don't know how much room there is for a fifth.
 
b166er said:
I think it looks great. I hope it takes off, but it's really up to the carriers and the hardware manufacturers. There are two huge OS's right now, and two other very big ones, I don't know how much room there is for a fifth.
Click to expand...

Well, if there is one thing U.S. carriers like to do is customize things. Ubuntu seems great for that:)
 
Likely not something I'm gonna use. I like the Ubuntu desktop OS though. I just don't want it in a phone. iOS and Android have me covered.
 
It's like linux in general, it'll never catch on and never will have the same polish as closed software.
 
Software/apps thats what it will need to be a succes; ios and android have it going on and thats way they own in the phone & tablet market.
 
Ultimately lack of apps will sorely let it down. If you don't really use apps then it might be good for you.
 
Looks; cool but I think with us already having Android it isn't going to take off much. I would happily be wrong though. I use Ubuntu on my laptop, def my favorite Linux Distro. I am honestly more interested in the Firefox OS being almost entirely based on web technology.
 
D-a-a-n said:
It's like linux in general, it'll never catch on and never will have the same polish as closed software.
Click to expand...

Canonical has hired an interface/graphics designer. If you follow OMG! Ubuntu! you will see the many interface changes to come.

IMHO Ubuntu and Unity desktop is FAR nicer than Windows. It comes second to OS X. In fact, if I couldn't run OS X it would be Ubuntu. Fortunately I have a few Macs and an OS X compatible PC.

What Linux, more specifically Ubuntu, lacks is native applications. Ubuntu doesn't even have its own browser, calendar, or email client. Instead, Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird are default. Ubuntu is also missing a consistent UI. Most developers of that platform aren't really innate designers, and there really isn't any policies set in place.

Perhaps this will change with the new designer and the Ubuntu phone underway.

Another distro to look at is Elementary OS. They have developed UI policies. They are also very mac-like, developing apps specifically for their OS that integrate with each other.
 
I'm looking forward to loading it on my Galaxy Nexus.

Maybe it'll give it another year or two of life.
 
SlCKB0Y said:
Fair enough :D I just think there are major usability issues with that.
Click to expand...

Actually I think that opposite.

Full desktop apps will be compatible with just about any device.

For example, think of all the latest smartphone and tablets running a desktop Windows OS. Basically every app would be able to be installed and ran on whatever device. Any compatibility issues would be the same issue as with using differ desktops. Like certain games and intense apps with high requirements.

Also, I would love a REAL desktop browser which no mobile browser can compared to. I run Linux on a low spec netbook and use Firefox and Chrome. Why can't I have that full browsing power on a smartphone that has triple the specs?
 
Would be on life support as soon as its launched, then the plug pulled shortly after that. No chance!
 
SlCKB0Y said:
I was more thinking of terms of UI interaction... very small touch targets on a small screen.

Also, are you even sure that the Ubuntu phone OS will run the desktop software?
Click to expand...

Well that's what I gathered from the Ubuntu video introduction.

Also here is this ........ http://blog.canonical.com/2013/01/02/its-official-ubuntu-now-fits-phones/

By using the new QML-based Ubuntu SDK, it’s possible to develop a native app in such a way that makes it available for both the desktop and the phone – not to mention any further form factors we address in the future. As long as you create the right interfaces, you can deliver an app for all Ubuntu form factors, but build once and upload once to the same single store, the Ubuntu Software Centre. It’s this point that I hope really enthuses the developers in the Ubuntu community – not to mention all those developers around the world who work on the web or in mobile and who already use Ubuntu on their desktops.
Click to expand...
 
LIVEFRMNYC said:
Well that's what I gathered from the Ubuntu video introduction.

Also here is this ........ http://blog.canonical.com/2013/01/02/its-official-ubuntu-now-fits-phones/
Click to expand...

By using the new QML-based Ubuntu SDK, it’s possible to develop a native app in such a way that makes it available for both the desktop and the phone – not to mention any further form factors we address in the future. As long as you create the right interfaces, you can deliver an app for all Ubuntu form factors, but build once and upload once to the same single store, the Ubuntu Software Centre. It’s this point that I hope really enthuses the developers in the Ubuntu community – not to mention all those developers around the world who work on the web or in mobile and who already use Ubuntu on their desktops.
Click to expand...

The way I read that is that you can develop an app which runs on multiple devices/form factors but if it runs on a phone, it runs with the phone interface, not desktop. When the same app runs on the desktop, it runs with a desktop interface.
 
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