MWC 2013 Video: Canonical Unleashes Ubuntu For Mobile Platforms

Last week, Canonical had launched its Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview, making the popular Linux-based OS available to mobile users for the very first time.

The company had also announced that the lucky owners of Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 smartphones would be able to ‘flash’ their devices and try the system on the spot at the Ubuntu booth during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Our colleagues from Gizmodo Germany have talked to Oren Horev, lead designer for the Ubuntu Tablet project, about this unusual approach to developer phones, and the business potential of Ubuntu gone mobile.

Fast and fluid

Ubuntu on a phone, announced in January, is Canonical’s main weapon in the fight for the growing mobile market. Essentially, it is the familiar desktop OS with an interface designed for touch interaction and small screen size. The same is true for the tablet version of the OS, announced last week.

Ubuntu for phones and tablets does not feature any software or hardware buttons. Instead, it relies on interaction with the touchscreen. Swiping from various points at the four edges of the display serves as a shortcut to half a dozen commands, including access to phone settings directly from any app without quitting it.

According to Horev, the demand for ‘flashing’ has been satisfying, and the feedback from users – overwhelmingly positive.

The lead designer believes that the time when you will be able to walk into a store and buy a tablet or a smartphone running Ubuntu is almost upon us.

To find out more, watch the video below:

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