Ubuntu Linux heads to smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs article tells that Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, plans to take on Android, iOS and Windows on the smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. Their short term plans are to make Ubuntu 12.04, the next long term support (LTS) of their Linux distribution business ready. After that Canonical will be expanding its popular Linux desktop to all computing devices. Ubuntu’s Unity Linux desktop looks like a quite suitable candidate for tablet devices. Shuttleworth said that he expects a fully-baked and ready to go Ubuntu for all devices will appear in Ubuntu 14.04-April 2014.
There has been earlier trials on running Ubuntu on Mobile devices like Ubuntu Mobile Internet Device Edition. There has been also demos to run Ubuntu on different mobile devices. Ubuntu hits HTC’s Touch Pro2, is any Windows Mobile handset safe? (video) article gives a nice example video on that:
What do you think?
21 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/11/23/ubuntu-linux-losing-popularity-fast-new-unity-interface-to-blame/
Don’t panic Ubuntu fans but your favorite desktop Linux distribution has fallen to fourth place in DistroWatch’s latest ranking.
Ubuntu has been overtaken by Fedora, Mint, and openSUSE.
One reason behind this reversal of fortune for Ubuntu could be the change of default interface in version 11.04 or “Natty Narwhal”, released in April 2011. With the new Ubuntu came Unity, an interface previously seen in Ubuntu Netbook Edition, and Gnome was relegated to an option.
There has been quite a bit of controversy surrounding Unity.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu penguins build Linux TV challenge
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/11/28/ubuntu_tv/
Ubuntu TV seems to have its sights slightly set higher, with multi-player gaming and tighter integration between TV and the web. The window is the Unity interface, introduced rather controversially earlier this year, which cleaned up the desktop and opened up Ubuntu to touch-based input, instead of relying on the traditional mouse and keyboard.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu TV Finally Gets a Close-Up
http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/01/09/0214224/ubuntu-tv-finally-gets-a-close-up
Canonical has unveiled the first screenshots and details of Ubuntu TV. Plans for versions of the Linux distro for tablets, smartphones and TVs were unveiled last year, and now the television is — perhaps surprisingly — the first of those to arrive. ‘It’s a simple viewing experience for online video, both your own and routed over the internet,’ Jane Silber, Canonical’s CEO told PC Pro.
Ubuntu TV unveiled
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/372040/ubuntu-tv-unveiled
Canonical has demonstrated Ubuntu TV for the first time, as the company moves to broaden the reach of its open-source OS beyond the PC.
The company is showing off the first Ubuntu TV at CES in Las Vegas, and Canonical expects the first Ubuntu-powered television to be on the shelves by the end of this year.
Read more: Ubuntu TV unveiled | News | PC Pro http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/372040/ubuntu-tv-unveiled#ixzz1iyEIr7mE
Looking at the screenshots, it looks like it’s running MythTV with a custom theme. This is well within the rules of free software though, so it doesn’t really matter what Mythbuntu folks think.
There are though some marketing challenges ahead..
I can’t imagine anyone going to an electronics store and saying “I want to buy an Ubuntu TV.” No, they’re going to ask for features or for a name-brand.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu Linux shop reveals ‘TV for human beings’
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/09/canonical_tv_concept/
CES 2012 Canonical is pitching a TV-of-the-future concept maximising its touch-based Linux distro and Ubuntu cloud.
The idea behind Ubuntu TV, Canonical says, is to deliver TV as it was intended: no cables, boxes or hassles.
Ubuntu had been closely associated with PCs and servers – although Canonical last year moved into cloud services with the launch of its Ubuntu One service.
Canonical’s old rallying cry had been “Linux for human beings”. The motto for Ubuntu TV is “TV for human beings”.
Everything – TV, Blu-ray or web – will be controlled via a single, Ubuntu-powered handset or device, according to Canonical. We are promised the device will also have the ability to search, record and play programmes from different cable and satellite providers, too.
Everything will be played and displayed using the Ubuntu Unity interface, while Ubuntu TV will support ARM and x86 chip sets.
Everything – TV, Blu-ray or web – will be controlled via a single, Ubuntu-powered handset or device, according to Canonical. We are promised the device will also have the ability to search, record and play programmes from different cable and satellite providers, too.
Everything will be played and displayed using the Ubuntu Unity interface, while Ubuntu TV will support ARM and x86 chip sets.
Companies licensing an Ubuntu-branded commercial device will have to pay a per-unit price covering engineering, maintenance, quality assurance, third-party licensing and consulting costs, Canonical said.
“Canonical shares post-purchase services revenue from the sale of content, applications and subscriptions through Ubuntu TV products with OEMs and distribution/channel partners,” the company said.
Dave Wilchek says:
So if i make az index for phones, and an index for computers. How can i ordered my site to open the mobile version if it is detect a mobile phone? (sorry, im from hungary) i using Adobe Dreamveawer..
tomi says:
Here are some links on detecting the mobile phone type on web pages:
How to Detect Mobile Devices: Redirect Mobile Devices to Mobile Content or Designs
http://webdesign.about.com/od/mobile/a/detect-mobile-devices.htm
Detect mobile device / phone with javascript
http://ajaxhistory.com/other-scripts/detect-mobile-device-phone-with-javascript/
jQuery.browser
http://api.jquery.com/jQuery.browser/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu 12.04 To Include Head-Up Display Menus
http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/01/24/1421236/ubuntu-1204-to-include-head-up-display-menus
Ubuntu is set to replace the 30-year-old computer menu system with a ‘Head-Up Display’ that allows users to simply type or speak menu commands. Instead of hunting through drop-down menus to find application commands
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu Wants to Replace Menus with a HUD
http://siliconfilter.com/ubuntu-wants-to-replace-its-menus-with-a-hud/
Today, the project’s founder Mark Shuttleworth announced that the next major version of Ubuntu, 12.04 LTS, will feature a replacement for the menu bar.
Ubuntu 12.04 will still feature traditional menus, but introduce the HUD as an alternative to the current design.
Ubuntu has been widely criticized for its move to the relatively non-standard Unity interface. This announcement today will surely have its critics as well, though I have to give Ubuntu some props for trying relatively radical new things.
This article includes a video that shows how this HUD thing works.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Canonical Pulls Kubuntu Personnel Funding
http://news.slashdot.org/story/12/02/07/0143224/canonical-pulls-kubuntu-personnel-funding
Canonical is pulling funding for in-house developers to work on the KDE-based Kubuntu flavor. Canonical now seems committed to its single vision of a GNOME-based Unity as a desktop and other Ubuntu flavors will now have to rely on community support and some infrastructure from Canonical
Tomi Engdahl says:
Canonical reveals Ubuntu for Android
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/119031-canonical-reveals-ubuntu-for-android
Canonical is making good on its promise to bring its popular Ubuntu flavor of Linux to a broader range of devices by announcing Ubuntu for Android, a release that will enable a full desktop computing experience on a docked Android smartphone. More than just a virtualized app that behaves like Ubuntu, the developers have melded together the Ubuntu architecture with the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) AOSP build at the kernel level.
The result is, from what we’ve seen, a harmony between the two platforms that could make a lot of sense for demanding mobile users.
Ubuntu for Android isn’t: it’s not a new mobile OS.
Canonical instead chose to build a package that leverages the popularity of Android. This means Canonical is building on top of the world’s fastest growing mobile platform as a value-add. It’s a move that allows Ubuntu to augment the Android experience as opposed to attempt to replace it. This new release is best understood as a convergence between your mobile and desktop computing environments.
When you are using your Android phone that has Ubuntu installed as well, it will behave in exactly the same fashion it does now. nothing will change there
When you arrive to your office however, your phone can become your desktop. You will simply plug the HDMI-enabled device into its dock, and you have a the full Unity experience on your big screen.
ou have access to all your emails, SMSes, and contacts, as well as the ability to make and receive calls. Additionally, you will be able to do tasks like edit and display pictures, as well as view videos that you have taken with your mobile device.
Your phone is literally your computer, not just acting as a browser that can interact with web applications.
Ubuntu on Android is limited to handsets with HDMI out. In addition, the hardware requirements to run this flavor of Ubuntu relegates it to the higher end of the smartphone spectrum. You will need a dual- or quad-core ARM processor with at least 512MB of memory installed.
Realistically, Ubuntu for Android has been developed for future handsets that are going to have the horsepower to push everything the software is going to require.
While Ubuntu is open source, Canonical plans to control the release of this version.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Features and specifications
A complete Ubuntu desktop for docked Android phones
http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android/features-and-specs
Ubuntu for Android provides a full desktop experience, including office software, web browsing, email and media applications, on Android phones docked to a screen and keyboard. Thanks to tight integration with the Android service layer, the transition between the two environments is seamless, making it easy to access the phone’s services from the desktop when docked.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2012/02/google-patent-clearly-eying-the-desktop-market-for-android.html
A recent patent filing by Google surprisingly indicates that they’re seriously eying the desktop and notebook markets for Android. Interestingly, the patent seems to focus on similar capabilities now found in Apple’s Multi-Touch Trackpad and Magic Trackpad. In many ways that’s understandable considering that Google is working on the Android for x86 project along with a serious list of other Intel-Android related projects.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How to use the Galaxy Nexus as a desktop replacement
http://www.extremetech.com/computing/119069-how-to-use-the-galaxy-nexus-as-a-desktop-replacement
Phone makers have been toying with HDMI output for the last few years, but the functionality has been limited. You might have been able to stream some video to a larger display, but controlling the device still meant touching the screen. Starting with Honeycomb on tablets, and continuing with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich (ICS), Google has started adding the features to Android for it to be a desktop replacement.
Asus has taken advantage of native mouse and keyboard support with the Transformer line of devices, and HDMI-out connectors are becoming more and more common on phones. With a few cables and some peripherals, you can run a desktop-like experience from the Android 4.0 phone that rides around in your pocket.
There are two ways to get HDMI output on your Android smartphone. Some devices have mini-HDMI ports that only require a HDMI-to-mini-HDMI cable or converter.
If your device has mini-HDMI, just plug in your cable, and the video should be up. Make sure you plug the charger into the device as well to mitigate the battery drain from powering the larger display.
Other phones make use of the micro-USB port for video out through a technology called Mobile High-definition Link (MHL). his has become the more common method as it doesn’t require a second plug in the device. Because there is nothing externally different about an MHL-enabled USB port, many users don’t know their device has this capability.
MHL devices like the Galaxy Nexus require you to attach the adapter, plug in the HDMI cable, and plug your power cable into the MHL adapter itself.
Android 4.0 devices should need no configuration to get video up on a monitor or TV.
The Android user interface automatically rotates, and orients itself for easier use on a large screen.
When you tether a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, Android will instantly recognize them as input devices, and integrate them into the software.
When you tether a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, Android will instantly recognize them as input devices, and integrate them into the software.
You’re not going to completely replace a desktop system with this solution, but an Android phone can take over a lot of traditional computing tasks in a pinch. Word processing and web browsing are great, as is video playback. There are times when the interface just feels awkward, like when you have to swipe with a mouse click.
Tomi says:
Canonical believes Windows XP stragglers hold the future for Ubuntu
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2154895/canonical-believes-windows-xp-stragglers-hold-future-ubuntu
Silber’s point rests on the well known fact that many users, especially large businesses, are still running Windows XP. Microsoft has supported the operating system for over a decade, but the Redmond, Washington software house has said that it will end support for Windows XP on 8 April 2014.
Silber said, “What we are seeing there, particularly with enterprise customers with large desktop deployments in the tens of thousands, [is that they are] taking the opportunity to move to Ubuntu at that point, and they are, in some cases, not even evaluating future Windows desktop operating systems.
Tomi says:
Ask Slashdot: How Do You Install Ubuntu On 30 Laptops and Keep Them In Sync?
http://linux.slashdot.org/story/12/02/26/1730239/ask-slashdot-how-do-you-install-ubuntu-on-30-laptops-and-keep-them-in-sync
US Store: Online Shop for all products from top brands. says:
US Store: Online Shop for all products from top brands….
[...]Ubuntu Linux for Smartphones « Tomi Engdahl’s ePanorama blog[...]…
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu now fits your phone
http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone
Introducing the superphone that’s also a full PC
Backed by Canonical
We provide hardware enablement services to the world’s biggest PC OEMs and,
as a result, Ubuntu now ships pre-installed on many of the world’s new PCs. With staff and offices all over the world, we have the resources you need to deliver Ubuntu on smartphones.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu phone OS announced, first devices shipping in early 2014
http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/2/3827922/ubuntu-phone-os-announcement
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ubuntu smartphone goes on sale and promptly sells out
First batch of £125 handsets get snapped up in hours
By Carly Page
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2394743/ubuntu-smartphone-goes-on-sale-but-wont-ship-until-march
THE FIRST UBUNTU SMARTPHONE, otherwise known as BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, has gone on sale.
The first batch of Ubuntu-powered handsets will be made available through a series of flash sales, and the first was announced via Twitter on Wednesday.
However, just a few hours after it went on sale, the Ubuntu smartphone has already sold out
The BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition was announced last week as the first phone to be powered by a mobile version of Canonical’s operating system.
As the price tag suggests, it hasn’t got too much going for it in the specs department.
The handset doesn’t run the latest ‘Snappy’ version of Ubuntu either. It does come with a UI called Scopes, however, which consists of subject-based visual home screens, rather than menus, and reflects the web-app basis of the phone.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fair Phone is a smartphone, which has not been used in the manufacture of ethically dubious raw materials and which, after its useful life is fully recyclable. Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress presents Fairphonen 2 version. The device owner may also choose the Ubuntu operating system.
The Ubuntu community is UBPorts says that it would launch a new operating system Fairphonelle, because it wants to combine the ethics of sustainability device open platform. Normal operating system in a new Fiarphone2 for Android 5.1.
Source: http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/5823-eettinen-alypuhelin-osa-2-toimii-myos-ubuntulla
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
Canonical will discontinue its Unity desktop interface, focusing on GNOME instead, and will shutter its mobile projects — Ubuntu phones and tablets are dead, but the desktop, server, and cloud live on. — Six years after making Unity the default user interface on Ubuntu desktops …
Ubuntu Unity is dead: Desktop will switch back to GNOME next year
Ubuntu phones and tablets also dead, but the desktop, server, and cloud live on.
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/04/ubuntu-unity-is-dead-desktop-will-switch-back-to-gnome-next-year/
Six years after making Unity the default user interface on Ubuntu desktops, Canonical is giving up on the project and will switch the default Ubuntu desktop back to GNOME next year. Canonical is also ending development of Ubuntu software for phones and tablets, spelling doom for the goal of creating a converged experience with phones acting as desktops when docked with the right equipment.
Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth explained the move in a blog post Wednesday. “I’m writing to let you know that we will end our investment in Unity8, the phone and convergence shell,” he wrote. “We will shift our default Ubuntu desktop back to GNOME for Ubuntu 18.04 LTS,” which will ship in April 2018.
Growing Ubuntu for cloud and IoT, rather than phone and convergence
https://insights.ubuntu.com/2017/04/05/growing-ubuntu-for-cloud-and-iot-rather-than-phone-and-convergence/