In this video from the 2013 CES in Vegas, we go hands on with the upcoming Ubuntu Phone OS running on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus Android smartphone. “Ubuntu for phones” is not to be confused with Canonical’s two-in-one “Ubuntu for Android” solution, which allows users to run the Android OS on their handset while on the go and the Ubuntu desktop OS when it’s connected to a monitor, mouse and keyboard to deliver a PC experience at home. The Ubuntu Phone OS essentially replaces the Android operating system you know and love with what you see in the demo above. Keep in mind, the mobile OS is still in its infancy, early alpha stages to be exact, so it will likely evolve by the time it’s ready for release in Q4 2013 or Q1 2014. [Direct YouTube Link]
According to Canonical, Ubuntu for phones is designed to make all your phone content easier to access and your apps more immersive – every edge has a specific purpose, making all your apps, content and controls instantly accessible, without navigating back to the home screen every time. They also claim the Ubuntu phone offers a “uniquely, beautifully converged experience” that fits perfectly into the wider family of Ubuntu interfaces, alongside the PC and TV. High-end phones running the Ubuntu Phone OS also have the ability to run the Ubuntu desktop software as well.
Entry Level Ubuntu Smartphone System Requirements:
- 1Ghz Cortex A9 processor
- 512MB – 1GB of RAM
- 4-8GB eMMC + SD storage
- Multi-touch
High-end Ubuntu “Superphone” System Requirements:
- Quad-core A9 or Intel Atom processor
- Min 1GB of RAM
- Min 32GB eMMC + SD storage
- Multi-touch
- Desktop convergence
Note: be sure to check out our full video lineup from CES 2013.