Thousands of users were let down when the "over-the-top" Ubuntu Edge failed its crowdfunding campaign goal. But now the Ubuntu Phone is back and for real, thanks to a small spanish manufacturer that is well known in Europe: BQ is bringing the first Ubuntu Phone to market, the Aquaris E 4.5 Ubuntu Edition.
Looks like reality is finally bringing down the highly regarded Ubuntu Edge funding project. The goal of $32 million seemed quite high, but a meteoric first week that reached $7 million made many think that this project might actually make it. However, after the initial hype, that's when the funding starts to really show how it's going.
To put things in perspective, while the Ubuntu Edge campaign got $7 million in roughly 7 days, since then it has struggled for days to make it to the $8 million mark. Not a good sign if you consider that it should be making at least $1 million per day (in average) in order to make it to the desired goal. It's still a lot of money pouring in each day, but not nearly enough to make it to the $32 million goal.
Some still think that Canonical and/or its partners will jump in and save the day at the very last moment, to make this project real, if needed. But on the other hand, we're talking about less than 3000 buyers at this moment - a far cry from the volume needed to make such a project viable. You just need to take a look at devices from Apple, Samsung, and others, that sell millions in a the first couple of days after reaching the stores. A few thousands is nothing but a small inconsequential "blip" that goes unnoticed.
Let's see how this Ubuntu Edge turns out... but even though I've backed it right from the very beginning, I'm afraid this is more likely to end up as being one of the most well played vaporware campaigns of all times.
Canonical is pushing hard to make its Ubuntu one of the contenders for the future of mobile platforms, and now that is coming to smartphones and tablets, they also want to have a "crown of the jewel" device similar to Google Nexus - or, more likely - Microsoft's Surface tablets. This Ubuntu Edge is a high end device, with some features that will make you gasp: like having 4GB RAM and 128GB Flash; and although its screen is just a 4.5" 1280x720 screen, it's covered with ultra hard (and costly) Sapphire Glass.
It couldn't be cheap, but the most important part is that Canonical has decided to turn it into a crowdfunding campaign - which in a sense is quite logical, because it would ensure that, should the project go forward, it will automatically be a success (unlike risking the development and production of a device that no one will buy - like MS's Surface RT).
The tricky part is figuring out if there are enough people out there willing to shell out $830 for a device that will run a yet unfinished system (though you can get it for "just" $600 if you're quick enough - and it also runs Android, should you prefer to use it that way).
When we first saw Ubuntu Phone, the concept looked nice but one couldn't help but wonder if it would have any real chance on the market should it take another year or so to become available to the general public (and each passing day making it harder anda harder to compete with iOS and Android). Now, Canonical shows us it's really pressing the fast forward button on the Ubuntu Phone, and it hopes to have it in a fully workable state by month's end - where "workable" means, it will be enough to be usable as a daily device.
This means:
You can make and receive phone calls
You can make and receive sms messages
You can browse the web on 3g data
You can browse the web on wifi
You can switch between wifi and 3g data
The proximity sensore dims the screen when you lift the phone to talk on it
You can import contacts from somewhere, and you can add and edit contacts
When you update your phone your user data is retained, even if updating with phablet-flash
Looks like Ubuntu Phone might be joining the mobile party sooner than expected... and as long as its webapps work alongisde Firefox OS web apps (we don't need any more fragmentation heading to the "web devices" do we?)... I think it may really have a fighting chance, at least for all those not currently satisfied with the existing platforms.
It's most likely a coincidence, but if you don't believe in those, it's certainly intriguing that both HTC and Ubuntu have chosen the exact same day and time to unveil something new. In less than a couple of hours we'll know what they're up to, and see if there is anything related in these announcements... or not.
In case of Ubuntu, we can be sure that after their Ubuntu Phone they'll now show off their Ubuntu for tablets (probably running in a Nexus 7 and/or Nexus 10).
As for the HTC, while some say we might see a Ubuntu powered device, I think it's safer to assume we'll get to know the new "M7" high-end smartphone that is expected to come to market within a couple of weeks and that will mark the beginning of the super-maxi-phone wars for this year - we'll see how it fares comparing to the likes from Sony, LG, and of course... Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S4 which is still under wraps.
I just hope that, in the race for these amazing mobile devices, manufacturers don't forget that we still need high-end smartphones in more portable formats. These FullHD 5"+ screens might be impressive... but I still think there are a lot of people out there that are unwilling to carry those around in their daily life.
How do you see these upcoming monsters? Are you willing to sacrifice a bit of "pocketability" for the chance to have a FullHD screen in your smartphone?
We all knew Ubuntu has prepping up something for today... and here it is: Ubuntu for smartphones. Looks like Canonical doesn't want to miss out on the mobile train, and they might be on to something.
This Ubuntu for phones is still a long way out - there are currently no manufacturers attached to this project, and we might not get to see an actual Ubuntu smartphone until 2014. But that doesn't mean we should disregard it completely. This Ubuntu mobile seems to have learned from all the available mobile platforms, and added a few shiny features of its own on top.
For the interface, they've taken a hint from Windows Phone 8, removing most interface clutter and giving content full-screen space. You navigate by accessing different panes that you can easily slide out from the left, top, bottom, etc. And this means you get access to most things you want with a single gesture - check out the video below.
You also get unified search results, from multiple online and local sources; fully featured web apps that have access to things that usually are only available to native Apps; and you also get voice commands not only for system wide operations, but for app operation as well. That's a nice touch... (though, if we're still a year away from it, I guess iOS and Android might very well beat them to it in the real world).
The real question is: is the market ready to have yet another mobile operating system?
We have Android, iOS, Windows Phone 8, the upcoming Firefox OS, Tizen, and now this Ubuntu... do you really think there's enough room for all? I sincerely don't think so... But I do think there's a chance web app centric OS'es, like Firefox OS, and this Ubuntu in part, might have a real chance - provided web apps become the universal Apps we hope them to become, and free us from closed platforms.
It might sound strange to hear Ubuntu is working on making a more usable user interface for keyboard users, in a time where most people are flocking around touch devices which lack a keyboard; but indeed it is what it's doing. With version 12.04 LTS Ubuntu will offer a overlayed Head Up Display (HUD) which claims to make life easier for users tired of navigating through endless menu levels.
I don't if this will appease all those users that are highly critical of the Unity interface... But at least is seem like something different that might appeal for keyboard power users (though much of what it does can already be accomplished today using 4rd party programs).
If you feel Android Honeycomb doesn't yet cut it for your needs, but you do love the idea of having a compact netbook that can turn into a tablet in a moment's notice, you'll love to hear that you can get Ubuntu running on the Eee Pad Transformer!
As usual, this isn't something for the faint of heart - meaning, you should really know what you're doing should you decide to proceed down this road. But, no one can deny that the prospect of running Ubuntu and having a full fledged Linux netbook that can "transform" back and forth to tablet, at a more than reasonable price, is something you can't overlook.
Maybe we'll even have Asus offering a Ubuntu Eee Pad Transformer soon... ;)
Tired of all the things you can't do with your Android? (I admit, there's not a lot you can't do with it, but...) How about running a "complete" Linux OS in your Nexus One?
Best of all, you're not letting go of your Android, it will still work as always, for all intents and purposes, it will act just like another App... but giving you access to the full power of Ubuntu.
While Ubuntu (and Linux, in general) allows for endless customization ability, sometimes it's not easy for a newcomer to find the right settings to change.
Now, if you're using Ubuntu, you can do it in a much easier and friendlier way, simply by using this Ubuntu Tweak.
With regular updates and a busy development cycle, this is one tool you'll want to keep in your Ubuntu system.
Here's an interesting video comparing boot times using different 64bit operating systems in the same machine (Vista, Windows 7, Ubuntu 9.04 and 9.10) :
This book guides you through a default Suse Linux installation and provides detailed walk-throughs to show you how things work - probably the easiest way to get the hang of it.
Just take a look at PortableUbuntu, and see how you can have Ubuntu ready to run even on a Windows computer.
(That being said, I still recommend you install Ubuntu by default, and use Windows inside a virtual machine, or dual boot to use that odd windows-only program, or game.)
I'm surprised to see HP pull a stunt like this... but I'm glad they're doing it!
Their HP Mini 1000 now comes with a revamped user interface over the traditional Ubuntu install, and it looks promissing.
Considering they're launching lots of computer models with touchscreens, I guess they dont' want to be left behind in this field.
If you want to try it out yourself you just need to add HP repositories to your Ubuntu and install the glassy-bleu-theme.
Ubuntu 8.10 is here and you can download it now! :)
If you haven't heard about what's new, here are some of the improvements:
GNOME 2.24
Ubuntu brings you the newest GNOME 2.24 desktop environment with tons of bug-fixes and new features, some of which include:
Nautilus file manager has tab support (by Christian Neumair) and Eject icons for removable drives in Places sidebar (by Stefano Teso, Cosimo Cecchi, Christian Neumair, and others).
File Roller archive manager now supports ALZ, RZIP, CAB, TAR.7Z file types also (by Paolo Bacchilega and Changwoo Ryu).
X.Org 7.4
X.Org 7.4, the latest stable version of X.Org, is available in Intrepid. This release brings much better support for hot-pluggable input devices such as tablets, keyboards, and mice. At the same time this will allow the great majority of users to run without a /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. A new failsafe X is introduced, to give better tools for troubleshooting X startup failures.
Two of the older nvidia binary drivers are not available for X.Org 7.4 yet, so users of these drivers will be automatically switched to the corresponding open source drivers.
Linux kernel 2.6.27
Ubuntu 8.10 RC includes Linux kernel 2.6.27, a significant release with better hardware support and numerous bug-fixes.
Encrypted private directory
The ecryptfs-utils package was recently promoted to Ubuntu main, with support for a secret encrypted folder in your Home Folder (by Michael Halcrow, Dustin Kirkland, and Daniel Baumann).
You can help test this new feature by going to Applications → Accessories → Terminal and typing:
sudo aptitude install ecryptfs-utils
ecryptfs-setup-private
Guest session
The User Switcher panel applet (package fast-user-switch-applet) now provides an extra entry for starting a Guest session (by Martin Pitt). This creates a temporary password-less user account with restricted privileges: the account cannot access any users' home directories, nor permanently store data. This is sufficiently safe to lend your laptop to someone else for a quick email check.
Network Manager 0.7
Ubuntu 8.10 RC ships Network Manager 0.7 (by Dan Williams and others), which comes with long-expected features, such as:
system wide settings (i.e., no need to log in in order to get a connection)
management of 3G connections (GSM/CDMA)
management of multiple active devices at once
management of PPP and PPPOE connections
management of devices with static IP configurations
While we're all waiting for Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex," which is expected in late October, work has already started on its successor:
Ubuntu 9.04 "The Jaunty Jackalope."
The priorities for next year's Ubuntu are going to be lighting fast boot and resume times and seamless integration with web apps.
People grew used to waiting 1 minute (or even more) for their computers to boot - but that will soon be a faint memory from "older" times. We want to get to a working environment as quickly as possible. With the popularity of small mobile computers (like the netbooks) that we can carry at all times, we need to be able to use it without wasting precious time waiting for it to boot or resume from a suspended state.
As for web apps, soon we won't be able to tell the difference between local installed apps and web based ones.
But I guess we'll have to wait till April 2009 to see that for ourselves. :)
Today is all about Ubuntu.
While we're all waiting for Ubuntu 8.10 "Intrepid Ibex," which is expected in late October, work has already started on its successor:
