Ubuntu Smartphone

Posting again about mobile OS. Soon, you would have the ability to carry a proper desktop operating system on your mobile phone. The firm behind the Ubuntu operating system, Canonical has announced a version of its software for smartphones. Instead of Android, now users will be able to run a very different Linux-based OS , the long-awaited mobile version of Ubuntu which comes with a new UI adapted for smaller screens.

Best part, the operating system uses the drivers and kernels from Android, which means it can be easily installed on any smartphone currently running Google's OS, and also means manufacturers won't need to change any of their hardware to support the new OS.

Ubuntu's founder, Mark Shuttleworth, said he was in talks with manufacturers for devices to be sold with the system pre-installed within the year. We must say, Ubuntu comes to the phone, with a beautifully distilled interface and a unique full PC capability when docked.

Availability

So when can you get one? Sadly not just yet. Although talks are taking place no major vendor has yet signed up to ship the device. But there is hope. Canonical are ‘confident’ a major manufacturer will ship Ubuntu for Android this year; that will be the first step. But the first pure Ubuntu  Phone devices will appear towards the end of the year. The device will be shown off later this month at the CES event.

Here's Zoom :

Low-end Phones

Unlike Android, Ubuntu Phone OS has been designed from the ground up to deliver a ‘crisper, sharper’ experience on low-powered devices – a market segment Shuttleworth sees as being key to adoption.

These ‘starter smartphone’ users will, he says benefit from a leaner, ‘less complex’ user experience than rivals. Something he says emerging markets are calling out for. (*you will be able to download and install the Ubuntu Phone OS on certain device handsets).

Although Canonical’s ‘primary market’ will be selling Ubuntu Phones via retail, and making a cut from such sales, you will be able to download and install the phone OS on certain device handsets.

So far the ‘reference’ device appears to be the previous generation of Google’s Nexus handset. While it’s entirely likely that images for other devices will appear along the line, Shuttleworth told us that retro-fitting phones is not their ‘priority’.

Specifications

So what sort of guts does it take to run the phone OS? Or, to put it another way, how ‘lean’ is ‘lean’?

This is where things get interesting.

A “low end” Ubuntu Phone will require, at a minimum:

• Dual-core A9 ARM Processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 4GB Flash Storage + SD
• 800×400 WVGA Screen
• Multi-touch

To run the phone with ‘convergence’ enabled (a fancy way of saying ‘you can dock it and it will run a full desktop) the requirements are a bit higher:

• Quad-core A9 ARM Processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 32GB Flash + SD
• Minimum of 720p screen resolution
• Multi-touch

 So, 2013 mobile OS begin the "War" :D ...