ubuntu canonical

Canonical turns to crowd funding for its Ubuntu Edge smartphone

video

I am often found saying that Android has reached a sort of plateau. Faster processors, larger displays and more RAM memory are good to see on the latest devices, but manufacturers need to focus on more than that to impress us at this point. In comes the Ubuntu Edge, a device that surpasses all Android devices in specs and features.

As the title mentions, this device can dual-boot both Ubuntu Phone OS and Android. It’s the perfect device to those who want to experiment and test a new mobile OS while staying safe and having access to the power of our beloved Android.
We saw Ubuntu Phone OS at CES this year and it looks great, but it will take a long time before it can match the amount of apps Android has. It’s good Canonical is allowing us to dual-boot on both OS’s a move we have seen no other company pull. Not to mention, it’s one sexy-looking smartphone.

Ubuntu Edge Specs

Fastest multi-core CPU
4GB RAM
128GB storage
4.5in, 1280×720 HD sapphire crystal display
8 MP low-light rear camera
2 MP front-facing camera
Dual-LTE, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, NFC
GPS, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer

The Ubuntu Edge is not just a phone, it’s a computer. The Ubuntu Edge has specs that are simply unheard of. 4 GB of RAM on a phone? 128 GB of internal storage? Why would any phone need this much? Because it’s not just a phone, guys. The Ubuntu Edge is designed to be a full-on computer, and that’s what it will become when docked to a monitor.

Aside from dual-booting Ubuntu Phone OS and Android, the device runs full Ubuntu Desktop OS when docked to a monitor. In short, it can literally replace your desktop computer. Using the Linux-based Ubuntu desktop OS may take some getting used to, but the benefit of having your computer on your pocket at all times is simply amazing.

We first heard of this feature in early 2012. Canonical was hoping Android manufacturers would partner with them to bring this to Android devices. We have heard nothing else about it since then, so odds are Android manufacturers are not betting on this capability just yet. I can’t wait to test it, though, and am very excited about it.

Wrap-Up

As I mentioned earlier, it will take more than awesome specs to impress me (and many of you) at this point. Before the Ubuntu Edge, the last device that really got my attention was the YotaPhone. It is these unique and innovative devices that will drive the future of mobile technology.

The Ubuntu Edge has great specs, it looks like a very well-built phone, it dual-boots Android and even serves as a desktop PC. And it can be yours if you back the project on Indiegogo.

There is a special 24 hr deal going on at this moment, which let’s you get your hands on the Ubuntu Edge for $600. If you miss the window, you will have to pocket out at least $830. I am very tempted to just sign up for one – are you?

 "Think Linux"

ubuntu for android

Ubuntu for Phones

In every dual-core phone, there’s a PC trying to get out.

What is Ubuntu for Android?

How would you like a PC that fits in your pocket? For the lowdown on Ubuntu for Android, in terms your grandma could understand, watch this short video. And for news on Ubuntu for Android products, watch this space.

The full PC desktop for multi-core Android phones

Now multi-core Android phones can be PCs too. Ubuntu for Android enables high-end Android handsets to run Ubuntu, the world’s favourite free PC desktop operating system. So users get the Android they know on the move, but when they connect their phone to a monitor, mouse and keyboard, it becomes a PC.
Benefits for network operators

Deliver the enterprise next-gen desktop in a single device
Drive adoption of 4G handsets, as online apps like Google Docs shine with low-latency connections
Expand your service portfolio from the smart phone to the smart desktop by delivering productivity desktop apps, including managed Windows apps as a service on your network
Satisfy demand for first PCs to families in emerging economies with no legacy wired connectivity

Benefits for handset makers

Drive sales of multi-core phones with faster CPUs, more cores, more RAM and high-end graphics
Target lucrative markets for thin client in the enterprise and first PCs in emerging markets
Integrate easily with Android phones already in development
Accessorise with docks, cables, keyboards and displays

The number one free desktop on the number one open phone
With over 20 million users, Ubuntu is the world’s favourite free operating system – and Ubuntu for Android is the first complete solution for office productivity on a phone. It lets Android and Ubuntu share the same Linux kernel, so they can run at the same time – Android for the phone experience and Ubuntu when docked. Which means one address book, one set of bookmarks, one place for text messages and one inbox for mail. And thanks to careful integration between the Ubuntu desktop and Android, user’s have access to the phone’s functions when it’s docked– including making and receiving calls.

Secure full-featured web

Sit back and enjoy a full desktop browser for multi-tab, multi-window web productivity. Ubuntu supports both Chromium and Firefox, the world's fastest browsers, and is naturally resistant to web malware, which is why enterprises and governments are adopting Ubuntu on desktops.
Surf on the move with the Android browser, then dock to continue your session on the desktop. You get the same web pages, the same bookmarks and the same browsing history, with all the real-estate of a desktop. Using web applications with a full keyboard and mouse is so much better than a tablet when you're at a desk, even in a hotel.

Technical specifications

Ubuntu for Android requires minimal custom hardware enablement, allowing fast and cost-efficient core integration. It requires a core based on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or any subsequent version.
Ubuntu and Android share the same kernel. When docked, the Ubuntu OS boots and runs concurrently with Android. This allows both mobile and desktop functionality to co-exist in different runtimes.
Shared services and applications are delivered using a Convergence API module which ensures the tight integration between desktop and mobile environments. Work is balanced across the cores of the phone. When the handset is not docked, both CPU cores transfer their full power to Android.

• Automatic security updates
• Defence against viruses
• Anti-phishing
• File encryption
• Password protection
• Built with security in mind

Just cause for more cores

Ubuntu for Android gives mobile workers a compelling reason to upgrade to multi-core handsets with more RAM, more storage, faster GPUs and CPUs. It’s not just a phone they are buying, it’s a desktop too. While mid-range phones can deliver a perfect Android experience, it takes high-end horsepower to drive a phone and a desktop at the same time. Newer multi-core processors are up to the job, and Ubuntu is the killer app for that hot hardware. It’s the must-have feature for late-2012 high-end Android phones.
A built-in desktop is also a driver of LTE, which offers higher bandwidth for productivity apps and lower latency for business users. Cloud apps like Google Docs are best used with a full desktop, and shine with LTE. The phone has traditionally been a slower, less productive tool. When you’re at a desktop, you want to get things done, quickly. So you appreciate the difference between 3G and 4G. Adding a desktop to the phone justifies the extra cost of newer network technologies for business customers.

“Ubuntu is thekiller app for multi-core phones in 2012”