Canonical announced last Friday that it would be releasing the first public preview of its Ubuntu OS for mobile phones, which would be made available beginning on Thursday, February 21, but only for those fortunate enough to own a Nexus 4 or Galaxy Nexus.
The pre-launch of the OS for mobile phones will be in October of this year, and may be one of the most talked-about events in the field of smartphones. So much so, in fact, that Canonical has gotten together all the attendees of the next Mobile World Congress, which will be held this year in Barcelona, and provided them with all the tools they need to install the custom ROMs for Ubuntu Phone OS.
This pre-launch, according to Canonical, is aimed towards fans and enthusiasts, but above all towards developers so they can become familiar with the new operating system, test it out in depth, and start developing apps. The pre-launch period will end with the launch of the complete OS in October of this year.
The debut of Ubuntu Phone OS is milestone in the history of the famous operating system because it allows developers to bring the entire platform to a great variety of devices. “Our platform supports a wide range of screen sizes and resolutions. Developers who have experience bringing up phone environments will find it relatively easy to port Ubuntu to current handsets,” said Pat McGowan, the coordinator leading the effort. “We are hoping to include more devices on our list,” he added.
Ubuntu Phone OS also symbolizes the beginning of a new era for Ubuntu by creating a crossroad between devices. When the project is finished, the same packets and apps will be used on mobile phones, tablets, personal computers, and TV sets, depending on where they’re installed or what device they’re connected to. What’s more, Ubuntu 13.10, which is also set to be released in October of this year, will include the desktop version designed for smartphones.
You can find instructions for the installation process on Ubuntu’s official Wiki, which will be updated as versions for different devices are released.
Canonical has also published the first SDK development platform and a design guide for Ubuntu Phone OS apps. The utility packet includes lots of carefully developed template designs that will streamline the process of creating apps. All the native apps in Ubuntu are developed in HTML5, so developers who use this language will find it even easier to work with. Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu, said in a statement, “For developers, contributors and partners, there is now a coherent experience that warrants attention. The cleanest, most stylish mobile interface around.”
Official Website | http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone
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