[pharcycle]

Anyone planning to try native ubuntu on their phone when its released later this month?

I think it will be compatible with various Samsung phones and presumably you won't have to root it first seeing as they seem to be working together on it.

 

[Bit_reaper]

That totally depends on the software support. If it was x86 I would be far more interested but as far as I know its not. Also quality navigator software is a big selling point for me, nokia maps being the key reason I have not yet jumped ship for android.

 

[Rothen]

Doubt it will work well on my phone, but if I could I would flash it to see how it works. However, Ubuntu will need to get developers and a good app market if they expect to compete with the big competitors, like Apple, Google (and Microsoft).

As much as it sounds like a great concept, I don't see Canonical managing to find a niche. Android is already open source and Linux, so what does Canonical have to offer?

However, one thing that would be good to see is better open source driver support for ARM devices like phones. Maybe Canonical can contribute in that area. However, it isn't going to make them any money.

 

[Kainn]

i have a stratosphere, if it will work, hell yeah, imo the strato's os is unbelievably horrible.

 

[Rothen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kainn

imo the strato's os is unbelievably horrible.

It's android gingerbread. It isn't as bad as you think. Root it, get a new launcher (like one of the eclipse ICS launchers), get Google Play if you don't have it, remove unnecesary bloat ware, and there you have a pretty good (looking) system going. Yeah, there are things you will be without like Google Now and Chrome, but really you don't need them. They are just some extra bells and whistles that don't give your phone any more functionality.

Personally, I don't think Ubuntu Phone is going to be any better than what you have. It will lack applications, big time.

EDIT: Also the specs won't run it. It probably won't run on mine either.

 

[Rookie1337]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharcycle

Anyone planning to try native ubuntu on their phone when its released later this month?

I think it will be compatible with various Samsung phones and presumably you won't have to root it first seeing as they seem to be working together on it.

The idea is great..I mean it really is what everyone whether they admit it or not knows the direction of computing is going besides the "cloud" (isn't it funny how server terminals get a cool name and suddenly they're hip again?). But, like MeeGo...it will just end up derelict and abandoned because Canonical I doubt has the marketing budget to get it a consumer base and even then it would serious support from OEM/ODM partners and Samsung themselves have hinted they are in the process of making their own phone OS (as they've hired/pay for the Enlightenment chief dev and his work IIRC).

Basically, I would do it if there were actual hardware makers that at least tried to make it painless to do. I would love to be able to consolidate my mobile devices into one while still being able to do things without the damn "cloud". That's the big potential as you could connect the phone to any monitor/screen and some other peripherals and have yourself a modular and miniature computer. If Canonical had gotten together with Asus and their Padfone that would have been the new thing to beat. You would have basically killed all individual markets of pad, phone, and dekstop/laptop with that.

Maybe if I get a "smartphone" I'll check this out but I fear it won't work well or that by the time I get a phone for it this will be one of those long forgotten projects of "what could have been".

 

[pharcycle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit_reaper

That totally depends on the software support. If it was x86 I would be far more interested but as far as I know its not. Also quality navigator software is a big selling point for me, nokia maps being the key reason I have not yet jumped ship for android.

No, its going to be Arm based sadly... but, hopefully its just a compiler option to enable Arm support so the standard apps should start to trickle out... wishful thinking perhaps! Somewhat off topic but I was mighty impressed with Apple Maps navigation software, just discovered it the other day and it works as well as a TomTom. Didn't take me to any made up towns either!
Quote:

Originally Posted by Rothen

Android is already open source and Linux, so what does Canonical have to offer?

Well, Android is sort of open source... as far as I'm aware you can't just compile your own version of it to run and they keep a lot of it locked down. This is one reason I'm hoping the Ubuntu solution truly is open source.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Rookie1337

(isn't it funny how server terminals get a cool name and suddenly they're hip again?) [ .... ] That's the big potential as you could connect the phone to any monitor/screen and some other peripherals and have yourself a modular and miniature computer. [ .... ]

Maybe if I get a "smartphone" I'll check this out but I fear it won't work well or that by the time I get a phone for it this will be one of those long forgotten projects of "what could have been".

Even Canonical admit that its unlikely to be popular beyond hardware enthusiasts but we'll see.

I'd like the ability to run mythtv on it so it can connect to my home media network properly and I'd hope they keep the option of encrypting a home directory to provide real data security. None of the current phones provide any real way to secure your data that can't be bypassed using JTAG or other tools.

Biggest problem for me is maintaining it... none of my linux machines are particularly critical so I can just wipe the OS if I get in a mess and start again. Not sure I'd like to have to do that with a phone and risk losing contacts, messages, diary appointments etc.

Anyway, hopefully more info later this month and probably by the end of the year we'll know if its a turkey or not!

 

[Plan9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit_reaper

That totally depends on the software support. If it was x86 I would be far more interested but as far as I know its not.

Why on earth would anyone want x86 on a phone?
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit_reaper

Also quality navigator software is a big selling point for me, nokia maps being the key reason I have not yet jumped ship for android.

Android's turn by turn navigation is pretty awesome in my opinion.

 

[Bit_reaper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

Why on earth would anyone want x86 on a phone?

So I can run x86 software on it of course

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

Android's turn by turn navigation is pretty awesome in my opinion.

It might be in some parts of the world but here in Finland its still very buggy and limited. Another thing I like is how well nokia maps work in offline mode.

 

[kenpachiroks]

Why not dual boot

I'd love to have the option. It would at least get people to try out other operating systems

 

[Plan9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit_reaper

So I can run x86 software on it of course

You mean all that open source software that's also available for ARM?

Personally I'd rather see more variety in chipsets and do away with both our dependence on Intel's monopoly and x86's ageing architecture.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit_reaper

It might be in some parts of the world but here in Finland its still very buggy and limited. Another thing I like is how well nokia maps work in offline mode.

Well I guess you'd expect Nokia to have pretty good coverage of Finland - though I do wonder how much of a biased spin you're putting on things given that Nokia is one of your local industries. Nokia maps (even in offline mode) performed lousy for me (WP7) in comparison to it's Android counterparts. But anecdotal evidence is pretty worthless so we might just have to agree to disagree on this one

 

[Bit_reaper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

You mean all that open source software that's also available for ARM?

Personally I'd rather see more variety in chipsets and do away with both our dependence on Intel's monopoly and x86's ageing architecture.
Well I guess you'd expect Nokia to have pretty good coverage of Finland - though I do wonder how much of a biased spin you're putting on things given that Nokia is one of your local industries. Nokia maps (even in offline mode) performed lousy for me (WP7) in comparison to it's Android counterparts. But anecdotal evidence is pretty worthless so we might just have to agree to disagree on this one

Don't know about the windows version but on my old symbian phones navigation is quite reliable (though the search function could be better). I'm sure google maps turn by turn navigation will get up to scratch eventually but last time I checked it was still "we're working on it". Interestingly enough there is also TOM TOM drive for android but with a price tag of 40€ I'm not exactly thrilled to get a new phone and then drop another 40€ just for a navigation app.

 

[Plan9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bit_reaper

Don't know about the windows version but on my old symbian phones navigation is quite reliable (though the search function could be better). I'm sure google maps turn by turn navigation will get up to scratch eventually but last time I checked it was still "we're working on it". Interestingly enough there is also TOM TOM drive for android but with a price tag of 40€ I'm not exactly thrilled to get a new phone and then drop another 40€ just for a navigation app.

I have a dedicated TomTom and use Google Navigation on my phone instead of the dedicated bit of kit.

My experiences with Nokia Maps maybe a little jaded, I hated everything about WP7. It was truly a revolution in bad design.

 

[Bit_reaper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plan9

I have a dedicated TomTom and use Google Navigation on my phone instead of the dedicated bit of kit.

My experiences with Nokia Maps maybe a little jaded, I hated everything about WP7. It was truly a revolution in bad design.

Oh yes don't get me wrong the nokia maps are only great in terms of reliability and accuracy. Basically its all good after you get your destination punished in and don't need to touch it. Then its smooth sailing with some handy extras like accurately marked speed cameras and speed limit displays. The symbian versions UI is horrid and it has only got worse with updates

I was under the impression that the windows version was much better but I guess even it falls short.

 

[sanitarium]

Ill be all over a more Linux like Linux based phone os like .. Something inappropriate for this forum.

 

[Plan9]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanitarium

Linux like Linux based phone os like

Try saying that after a few beers.