The Ubuntu Phone is set to launch this year. With more and
more major players getting on board as hardware suppliers, you can bet the
darling of Linux mobility will slowly find its way into every market
imaginable. With Android and IOS having a stranglehold on many customers, can
this new mobile platform make it? I firmly believe that the Ubuntu Phone not
only can be your next mobile device, it should be. Let’s see 10 reasons why.
1: Unity interface
From
the beginning, the Unity interface was designed and developed with mobile
devices in mind. Unity was initially released in 2010, which means it's had
four years and four major releases to get it fine-tuned for massive mobile use.
That kind of fine-tuning is unheard of prior to an initial release. Add to
this, the code base for both the desktop and the mobile iteration will be 100%
the same (upon release of the first
mobile device), so the worldwide network of open source developers who work on
Ubuntu Unity will continue to make it one of the finest interfaces you will
ever experience.
2: Updates
Unlike
the other platforms, the Ubuntu Phone will follow in the footsteps of its
desktop sister and enjoy a steady stream of updates. And most likely, you won't
suffer from the upgrade lag found in some carriers or manufacturers. Updates
will happen when they are released. Although carriers will be able to add their
own software to the base stacks, that software should not interfere with the
update process -- especially on a kernel level. If you're one of those who like
to have the latest version, the Ubuntu Phone will give you updates in spades.
3: Easy customization
All
other phones should pale in comparison to the customizations you'll have
available. And it won't be long before open source developers have their way
with the platform and different interfaces will be available. You think Android
has a lot of customization... just wait until the Ubuntu Phone platform gains
the slightest bit of traction. Currently, Android is the king of customization.
Whether the initial Ubuntu Phone can usurp that crown has yet to be seen. But
you can bet it will give it a run for its money. Once the platform has
solidified, and the developers begin doing their thing, the sky's the limit.
4: So many apps
There
are already a plethora of apps that can be crafted to work with the Ubuntu
Phone. Yes, apps like LibreOffice and The Gimp will require some magic to get
them to work with the mobile interface. But the core is there, and most of those
apps will need only tweaking to get them to work. You can bet Canonical will
work hard to make sure that along with the launch of the Ubuntu Phone, there
will be a sizable number of apps ready. And that number will grow
exponentially, as developers scramble to get their software onto yet another
platform. Who isn't ready for a mobile version of LibreOffice?
5: Security
Android
is based on Linux, so it gains a certain level of inherent security. Ubuntu
Phone is even closer to being a straight-up take on the Linux kernel -- and
that means even more security. In a time when malware and stolen data have
become key issues on many fronts, having a mobile platform as secure as the
Linux desktop will go a long, long way toward easing the minds of users.
6: Desktop integration
Most
platforms have tried it, but none has fully managed to realize a seamless
desktop integration. Ubuntu Phone should finally make this a reality. Imagine
having the same data across all devices and being able to easily (and
completely) sync your desktop, phone, and tablet without having to add
third-party software. This is the reality that will be the Ubuntu Phone. You
will also enjoy the same apps across devices. In the end, that means a
shallower learning curve for all involved. The only current hurdle is getting
Unity 8 (and Mir) released for the desktop. Once that has occurred... again,
say I, the sky's the limit.
7: Universal device UI
One
interface for all. Desktop, smartphone, tablet. Canonical started the push for
convergence and will most likely stand at the head of the crowd the second the
Ubuntu Phone is available. Even without full-blown convergence, you can enjoy
the same interface on all devices. All the core elements will be there (on all
devices): Dash, Launcher, Scopes, and more. Not only will it be easy to learn
and use, it will be incredibly efficient to support. You know one interface,
you know them all.
8: Search
With
Scopes available to the Ubuntu Phone, users will be searching with a power they
have never before experienced (unless they've already used Unity and Scopes).
If you are not familiar with Scopes, imagine having more than 100 sources in
which to search -- all at once. So when you search for an item, you will get
results from multiple locations (local storage, Amazon, Google, Wikipedia, and
much more.
9: Easy gestures
The
Ubuntu Phone will enjoy a solid gesture experience. With a full left-to-right
swipe, you'll get a list of all your currently running apps. Tap on one of
those apps to bring it back to focus. Swiping from the bottom edge of the phone
will reveal the controls for the current app. Swipe down from the top edge of
the screen to reveal your notifications. A sort swipe from the left edge of the
screen will reveal your Launcher, which holds all your favorite apps, ready for
launching.
10: Cloud integration
With
the recent announcement that Ubuntu One is shutting down, you can be sure that
the Ubuntu Phone will have some sort of cloud storage capability. Whether it's
something akin to Dropbox is hard to say. But given the nature of the Linux
platform, there will be plenty of options for cloud storage on the Ubuntu
Phone. Will it be as seamless as, say, Android is to Google? Possibly. Will it
have as many options as Android? Probably. What's certain is that the Ubuntu
Phone will play nicely with cloud storage. It's a shame that Canonical decided
to axe Ubuntu One, but the Ubuntu Phone will still be perfectly at home in the
cloud.
Are you in?
The
Ubuntu crowd is already excited about this device finally hitting the market.
Will you be jumping on the Ubuntu Phone bandwagon? What are you most excited of
in this new platform? If you won't be joining the ride, why not? Share your
thoughts with fellow blog readers.
