I now introduce to you

[saptech]

Ubuntu Linux enters the smartphone wars | ZDNet

I wonder how this will pan out?

 

[Liamo_210]

Looks to me like a bit of a copy of android and windows 8.

 

[BigCiX]

I just don't like the swipe it takes to access everything.

 

[nickdalzell]

i never did like Ubuntu as a desktop OS, so the idea of it on a mobile platform is a no-go for me personally. Ubuntu is Linux but it tries to make too many rules--1, you cannot be permenant root, 2, it has some weird security that doesn't let certain things happen, and 3, like Windows, it has a lifecycle that stops getting new apps and updates when a version is deemed too old (this can be months, like in Maverick Meerkat there is no more support, apps don't update, and the repos are crippled)

 

[mikedt]

i never did like Ubuntu as a desktop OS, so the idea of it on a mobile platform is a no-go for me personally. Ubuntu is Linux but it tries to make too many rules--1, you cannot be permenant root,

You can enable root login if you want, it's quite easy. I might be missing something here, but why would I want be permanent root? Any application can be made to run with root privileges from a normal user account anyway. "sudo".

KDE running as root....a subtle hint and reminder...be very careful or BOOM!!!

I believe this was Mandrake or Mandriva.

2, it has some weird security that doesn't let certain things happen,

Don't know what those might be. Can you provide some details about this please.

and 3, like Windows, it has a lifecycle that stops getting new apps and updates when a version is deemed too old (this can be months, like in Maverick Meerkat there is no more support, apps don't update, and the repos are crippled)

"repos are crippled?"

Every 6 months there's a new release, You want long term support and updates, use the LTS(Long Term Support) releases. 12.04 LTS "Precise" is supported until mid-2017. Non-LTS releases are supported for about two years. You can always upgrade a running install anyway, without having to delete and completely re-install the whole OS.

 

[MoodyBlues]

i never did like Ubuntu as a desktop OS, so the idea of it on a mobile platform is a no-go for me personally.

Kubuntu is my preferred Linux distro. It's absolutely beautiful--and it works the way *I* want it to.

Ubuntu is Linux but it tries to make too many rules--1, you cannot be permenant root,

At the risk of sounding like a broken record [I've touched on this subject in multiple other threads already], YOU'RE WRONG.

I am a 3-decade *nix user. I know *nix. And I know--because I do it EVERY SINGLE TIME I install *buntu (or any Linux distro)--that it's a SIMPLE matter to set up a root login. Period. End of discussion. Just because someone doesn't know it can be done, doesn't mean it can't be done.

2, it has some weird security that doesn't let certain things happen

I don't know what you're referring to, but I'm guessing that, as above, you're unaware of how to do whatever it is. That doesn't mean it can't be done.

3, like Windows, it has a lifecycle that stops getting new apps and updates when a version is deemed too old (this can be months, like in Maverick Meerkat there is no more support, apps don't update, and the repos are crippled)

Well, my mom's computer is still running Kubuntu 9.04 because I'm too lazy to upgrade it. Oh, it still notifies when there are updates that I should apply, but I rarely do.

But I digress. UNLIKE windows, you're not PAYING for new versions of *buntu, so who cares that its life cycle eventually comes to an end? Unless you're running some really ancient hardware, newer versions probably won't force you to buy new machines--you know, like windows does. If you're really set on sticking with ancient hardware, and then your *buntu version dies, no problem! Find a distro that's less resource intensive. I've recently discussed having settled on Bodhi Linux for a 6-year-old laptop that was CRAWLING after I upgraded its Kubuntu version one too many times. Now it's flying like it did when it was brand new!

 

[h4x0rj3ff]

I've ran Linux (Ubuntu) for a while and I was kinda excited to see this! Will be interesting to see how things work out with this

 

[nickdalzell]

being a once big time Linux user, the concept of product lifecycles and expiry dates was dipping into Microsoft waters. Linux shouldn't be taking any cues from that 'other' system.

not sure what exactly it was but there was some weird security feature that disabled apps that required certain things. it's been a while, but that and being unable to login as root were deal breakers. oh sure i could modify it to force root login and even go to the CLI instead of X but still...should have had the option from the get-go.

as far as distros go i prefer more pure distros, the kind that don't default to X, or GDM, that allow you to toy around. Ubuntu seems like a distro for Windows converts. my preferred distros are Slackware and Debian based, with default CLI logins and use. if i want X, i startx

 

[MoodyBlues]

being a once big time Linux user, the concept of product lifecycles and expiry dates was dipping into Microsoft waters. Linux shouldn't be taking any cues from that 'other' system.

You've got it backwards--it's that other [so-called] operating system that's been taking cues from *nix for decades, starting with its [idiotic] implementation of its DOS file system. They tried to copy UNIX, but did it like imbeciles...and changed slashes to backslashes.

not sure what exactly it was but there was some weird security feature that disabled apps that required certain things. it's been a while

Well, I've used, *buntu since its first version, and I have *NO* idea what you're talking about.

but that and being unable to login as root were deal breakers. oh sure i could modify it to force root login

There's no FORCING involved. FOUR keystrokes. Done.

and even go to the CLI instead of X but still...should have had the option from the get-go.

Like I've said, it's a simple matter. A one-time change of four keystrokes, and you're good to go.

as far as distros go i prefer more pure distros, the kind that don't default to X, or GDM, that allow you to toy around.

I've used Linux since its first release in 1991--and still have the 3-1/2" disks to prove it!--and have yet to find a distro that doesn't, or can't, do what you're asking.

Ubuntu seems like a distro for Windows converts.

I wouldn't know. I don't do windows. I've used *nix since 1985, when there was nothing but the command line, and *buntu suits me just fine.

my preferred distros are Slackware and Debian based

Debian based, eh? Kind of like...*buntu!

with default CLI logins and use. if i want X, i startx

I do it the other way around. I start up with KDE, and I always have a terminal running, but when I REALLY feel the need for hardcore, old-fashioned CLI, I hit [ctrl][alt][Fx] and I'm there!

 

[saptech]

I don't know why alot of people say some Linux desktop environments look like Windows 7 or 8. Linux was looking like that while Windows was on 95!

Ubuntu is a pretty good distro but I do believe it is trying to be Linux of all Linuxes. Sometimes that can be good and bad.

If I had to choose, I would take Debian over Ubuntu. Though I currently run Mageia & Salix OS. An RPM based distro and Slackware based distro!

 

[breadnatty08]

The Verge has a hands on video if anyone is interested:
Hands-on with Ubuntu's brand-new, gesture-based phone OS | The Verge

 

[breadnatty08]

The Verge has a hands on video if anyone is interested:
Hands-on with Ubuntu's brand-new, gesture-based phone OS | The Verge

Wow is that thing slow! Granted it's running on some old hardware (Gnex), but mine doesn't lag that bad on Android.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I can't imagine that this will gain much traction at all. I'm not sure the smart phone world is big enough for another OS TBH. Hopefully this will silence the linux weenies (and I say that with love) who seem to argue quite often that there is HUGE pent up demand for full fledged Linux on the smart phone and that the first one who releases it will see gigantic success.

 

[mikedt]

I can't imagine that this will gain much traction at all. I'm not sure the smart phone world is big enough for another OS TBH. Hopefully this will silence the linux weenies (and I say that with love) who seem to argue quite often that there is HUGE pent up demand for full fledged Linux on the smart phone and that the first one who releases it will see gigantic success.

There's been a few Linux smart-phones in the past, like the Nokia N900 with Maemo. Could a pocket sized smart-phone run a full environment like KDE or Gnome or Mate or LXDE, along with proper Linux applications like Libre Office or Gimp? Difficult to see how that could be done with a 4 or 5 inch screen.

 

[pbf98]

Seems like it will be a nice phone, I like the integration they are doing with the desktop, yes it has been done before but, it seems like they are emphasizing it more.

Question is, how many patents will Apple sue over

 

[A.Nonymous]

There's been a few Linux smart-phones in the past, like the Nokia N900 with Maemo. Could a pocket sized smart-phone run a full environment like KDE or Gnome or Mate or LXDE, along with proper Linux applications like Libre Office or Gimp? Difficult to see how that could be done with a 4 or 5 inch screen.

I vividly remember a rather heated discussion (I forget who with) that came out when Nokia killed it's OS in order to partner with Microsoft. I can't remember the name of the OS (Meego maybe???) but the argument the other poster made was that Microsoft paid off Nokia because they were terrified that a Linux phone would smash iOS, Android and, of course, WP7 into the dust and rule the market with ease. They would rather compete against iOS and Android because they felt they could make in roads there whereas if there was a Linux phone in the mix, they would be up a creek with no chance.

 

[mikedt]

I vividly remember a rather heated discussion (I forget who with) that came out when Nokia killed it's OS in order to partner with Microsoft. I can't remember the name of the OS (Meego maybe???) but the argument the other poster made was that Microsoft paid off Nokia because they were terrified that a Linux phone would smash iOS, Android and, of course, WP7 into the dust and rule the market with ease. They would rather compete against iOS and Android because they felt they could make in roads there whereas if there was a Linux phone in the mix, they would be up a creek with no chance.

Maemo became MeeGo, which subsequently became something called Tizen.
https://www.tizen.org/
Apparently supported by the Linux Foundation, but I don't think there's any actual products using it yet though, e.g. smart-phones.

BTW I know all about MeeGo...
http://androidforums.com/lounge/661032-how-samsung-competing-apple.html#post5311612

"Talk about a dumbed down OS, it put me in mind of Fisher Price and Teletubbies. Linux for toddlers. Sufficed to say, it was awful."

 

[A.Nonymous]

I think there is one phone that is actually running it that was released. Can't recall though. I think it was rolled out with no support at all and shockingly, sold poorly.

 

[zuben el genub]

He says not - but I'll bet that's the Amazon phone. The Ubuntu one is supposed to debut soon. One or the other won't fly and since Canonical has added Amazon to its Dash ----

 

[saptech]

If I remember correctly, these where some Linux phones up to around 2007.

Nokia N810, Openmoko, and the Motorola ROKR E8

 

[MoodyBlues]

I had read about this a while back on the Ubuntu site; at that time, it was only for developers, but you could leave your info if you wanted to be contacted when the phone became available to consumers. There was also info about Ubuntu for Android.

As I recall from looking over its info, it looked good! I like the idea of a *buntu phone...but I don't feel very inclined to dump Android. What to do, what to do...

 

[nickdalzell]

Linux was able to (for a short time) be installed on Sony PlayStation 3 consoles with the 'otherOS' feature but Sony eventually killed it. the later patches removed the functionality and it was never available period on the slims. from what i read however, it was super slow on the thing. i can only imagine what a full Linux distro would do on a phone, given that the PS3 had a very well-spec processor.

still running VectorLinux 6.x on an old laptop i only wish there was a way to make two games that require me to force myself to run Windows to play work in Linux. i've tried everything but Wine just crashes. the games are Star Trek Online and Microsoft Flight Simulator X. they just do not work in Linux

 

[argedion]

I think it will be interesting to see how other distro's respond. Could we see a red hat phone in the making? How about puppy linux? Will Gnome and KDE scale down and start smart phone development?

I think we are at a road that anything is possible but what is really probable? I think it will be neat to have a linux distro create a smart phone how long before its just another ROM you can Flash? I'm not a buntu user but still looks like we could be seeing more choices in the near future.

 

[nickdalzell]

Pardon my ignorance but isn't Android a Linux distro of sorts? Why do we need two?

 

[MoodyBlues]

Pardon my ignorance but isn't Android a Linux distro of sorts?

Yes, Android is Linux.

Why do we need two?

Because that's the great thing about Linux! The more distributions, the better!

No, but seriously, why not? What Ubuntu may bring to the smartphone market might be better/different/whatever than what Android brings. Choice is good for consumers, so why not have multiple Linux distros on smartphones?