Ubuntu Phone
Ubuntu Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Canonical Ltd. and the Ubuntu community. It is designed for smartphones and tablet computers and is open-source. Key features include integration with Ubuntu desktop OS, scopes for content aggregation, and convergence across
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Ubuntu Phone: Mobile Operating System for Smartphones & Tablets
Ubuntu Phone is a mobile operating system developed by Canonical Ltd. and the Ubuntu community. It is designed for smartphones and tablet computers and is open-source. Key features include integration with Ubuntu desktop OS, scopes for content aggregation, and convergence across different device form factors.
What is Ubuntu Phone?
Ubuntu Phone is a Linux-based, open source mobile operating system developed by Canonical Ltd. in partnership with the Ubuntu community. It shares the same codebase and foundation as the Ubuntu desktop operating system, allowing seamless convergence across smartphones, tablets, and laptop/desktop computers.
Some key features and capabilities of Ubuntu Phone include:
- Unity 8 interface optimized for mobile devices, with scopes to aggregate online content and apps and enable secure multi-tasking
- Ability to dock smartphone into a monitor or desktop shell and use it as a full Ubuntu PC
- Full Linux environment capable of running desktop apps in a windowed mode
- Secure application lifecycle with apps confined through AppArmor for safety
- Tight integration with Ubuntu One cloud services for messaging, storage, syncing
- Developer-friendly with support for HTML5, Qt 5, and Scopes APIs for third party app creators
While adoption has been limited, Ubuntu Phone aims to provide a convergence-focused alternative mobile OS to Android and iOS for Linux and open source enthusiasts. Its vision is a unified cross-device experience with the freedom and customization of Ubuntu.
Ubuntu Phone Features
Features
- Unity 8 touch interface optimized for mobile
- Full Linux environment allowing access to vast array of tools and applications
- Scopes provide easy access to online content and services
- Convergence across desktop, mobile and embedded environments
- Strong focus on privacy and security
Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
Pros
Very customizable and open ecosystem
Seamless integration with Ubuntu desktop environment
Scopes offer unified access to apps, media and web content
Convergence enables single OS across devices
Greater user control over privacy and security
Cons
Limited app ecosystem compared to Android/iOS
Discontinued in 2017 so no ongoing development
Convergence required developer support which was lacking
Limited device availability
Privacy/security focus meant less data collection
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