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Expect Ubuntu smartphone to ship to customers in October 2013

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Expect Ubuntu smartphone to ship to customers in October 2013
Things look to be running a bit ahead of schedule at Canonical. Things are on track to have Ubuntu OS available for developers later this month and Canonical expects to have a consumer device in “two large geographic markets” by October rather than early 2014 as was previously announced.

Mark Shuttleworth, founder and CEO of Canonical, did not commit that the United States or North America would be one of those markets, but did say that North America is a “key market for Ubuntu.” Shuttleworth also noted that there is carrier interest in the platform, though did not mention which carriers or manufacturers will be partnering up for the Ubuntu rollout later this year.  Samsung's Galaxy Nexus has been the hardware being used to optimize the platform.

Ubuntu will be a wholly gesture based experience, no lock screen, no home button, meaning a completely new user experience is in store for us. Think of the content being the interface. The experience is inspired by some basic tenants of Japanese architecture where a balance between space and objects is strived for. Gestures from the outside-in allow access to most used apps, controls and the operating system itself.

While gesture based interfaces are not ubiquitous, the learning curve is usually very short and those gestures develop quickly into muscle memory. Ubuntu, as an open-source code, would seem to be an invitation for all sorts of “wild west” activity of hacking and customization of the design the Canonical is putting into it. However, Canonical believes that the open-source environment will only lead to even greater designs.

The promise of what Ubuntu could be once it is available looks and sounds great, but once October rolls around, that is when the real challenge begins. Interest and intrigue will be important to have in full swing, since that time of year usually involves all manner of other product and platform releases in preparation for the holiday shopping season.

Check out the pictures below of how the user experience is shaping up. Is Ubuntu in your future?

sources: The Wall Street Journal and Co.Design via The Verge


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1. valapsp posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:04 5 3

Love the UI. Especially the CLOCK. The whole thing looks promising.

6. PhansMuneeb posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:42 3 1

The UI is Looking Hot....Tooooo Hot

2. emadshiny posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:15 7 2

beware IOS and Android. you're getting a real rival.

4. rusticguy posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:31 4

JAVA in any case is a big Resource Hog.

8. cezarepc posted on 07 Feb 2013, 03:31 3 5

Their real rival would be WP. It's just a matter of time before we see the real effects of shared core.

9. emadshiny posted on 07 Feb 2013, 03:38 2

i think the prosperity of this OS depends on the fact that which company will choose it for their devices.

3. rusticguy posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:22 1 1

Waiting for this ... and it would be a nice thing to happen. One needs to wait and see how much of this would be lifted by "some other company" and patented as their own.

5. shuaibhere posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:39

Love this...but we indians should wait a bit long to get this....

7. daftastic posted on 07 Feb 2013, 02:50 1 1

Simpler than BB10, they're the ones who should watch out. Just waiting for Jolla Sailfish to show its chops.

10. rallyguy posted on 07 Feb 2013, 04:13 4 1

I wonder on what grounds Apple will sue to stop it from being imported.

11. MC1123 posted on 07 Feb 2013, 07:25

I think it's more confusing than BB10..but anyways competition is always welcome!!

it is truly the year of Linux on mobile!!

12. Gaijin_Xiao_Pao posted on 07 Feb 2013, 11:16 1

Looks better much better than Android, that's what I think. :)

13. NateAdam8 posted on 07 Feb 2013, 12:40

Agreed

14. fur0n posted on 07 Feb 2013, 16:06

This will be the best thing to happen to phones since android!

15. BomberXL posted on 07 Feb 2013, 21:21

Neato

16. jroc74 posted on 07 Feb 2013, 22:19 1

Welp....time to break some uBuntu on the desktop....

Someones gonna be gone if this takes off.... I wonder if Nokia is looking at this OS...

17. Deacon_Jo posted on 10 Feb 2013, 08:24

Very interesting and eye-candy UI

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