Does an Ubuntu phone excite anyone?

zeta30
zeta30 Posts: 40
edited January 7 in Chit-Chat
Yesterday Ubuntu announced their new ambition of making a smart phone that runs a mobile version of Ubuntu:

http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone

They plan on releasing this sometime in 2014.

So what do you think about this? Do we need or will there be enough market for another phone OS? Do you think this is just vapor ware?

I was once a hard core Ubuntu fan until the release of 11.10. That's when I feel it started going down hill for me. While I can appreciate the technology behind Unity as well as Ubuntu being the first OS to have a HUD I just don't really care for it. The latest release, 12.10 is a complete nightmare and wouldn't even load on my computer.

I think there is a correlation as to why Ubuntu fell from being the #1 downloaded distro back when it was 10.04 to the third after 11.10, but then I'm getting off topic.

The video makes the phone interesting looking but I think it may only appeal to the geeks that want a true Linux phone.

There are so many questions too, such as, how Open the source code will remain? Although Android is based on Linux it is often referred to one of the most closed Open Source projects out there. So will Ubuntu follow suite or keep all of its code Open? Even if Ubuntu wanted to keep it open will the carriers allow this? Carriers love to put a boat load of bloatware on their phones and if the OS was Open it would not be difficult to remove the bloat that the carriers want.

Replies

  • veddar79
    veddar79 Posts: 205
    OS is interesting. Could go places. My issue is its always been free software. So will the phones be greatly discounted?
  • trojanbb
    trojanbb Posts: 1,297 Member
    The problem with linux is that the public application development and support....sucks. Extremely limited. So will this Ubuntu phone have equally terrible app selection?
  • RunDoozer
    RunDoozer Posts: 1,699 Member
    Would love it to work but I doubt it will ever become more than a grassroots movement. Too much relies on its community to build the platform rather than a cohesive company and it all just becomes a bit scattered. You have to be completely streamlined to be able to compete with the big boys these days and there is little to no margin for error.

    I love playing on linux and messing around on it and thats how i think the community is as a whole they think is nice but they still need something real. Of course besides the few hardcore users which are limited in numbers
  • T1mH
    T1mH Posts: 568 Member
    It's the next logical step. To converge PC's and phones. Microsoft is already headed that direction with windows 8. It's the only reason their mobile phones will even have a chance after so many failed attempts at mobile operating systems. Will Ubuntu make it on the phone? I doubt it. I'm sure it will have some niche of users but it won't appeal to the mainstream. Where's the money? It takes money to develop apps, where is the money in an open source platform?
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I predict it will never come to be. And if it did it would probably suck
  • JohnNull
    JohnNull Posts: 133 Member
    Canonical has not been winning many fans the past few years. The only plus I can see to it is a small way to unplug from the Goog.
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