Image source: cbsistatic.com
The first Ubuntu phone is going to be released soon by Canonical, after the failed attempt to crowdfund the project. But can a new smartphone compete with the popular Android devices and iPhones?
In the following days, the first smartphone that runs Canonical’s Ubuntu operating system is going to be launched in Europe by BQ, a Spanish electronics company. The new device features a very distinctive approach towards common smartphones in terms of user interface and a very affordable price. However, we’re not very clear how the new mobile phone will stand out in a market that’s controlled by Android smartphones and iPhones.
Canonical and BQ are coming right behind Xiaomi, the Chinese mobile phone manufacturer, which sold an enormous amount of very affordable Redmi 1S phones in India last summer. For only brief intervals, the Chinese company offered its mobile phones through the online retailer Flipkart. This tactic proved to be very successful and soon Micromax, a rival company, started having similar sales through Snapdeal.com in September. It seems that fake shortages are adored by the social media.
The first Ubuntu phone comes in black and has 8GB of storage, a 1.3GHz MediaTek Quad Core Cortex A7 processor, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera and a 5MP front facing camera. The new device is dubbed Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition.
Canonical initially tried to get into the mobile phone market with the help of a crowdfunding campaign in July 2013. The company tried to raise $32 million but was only able to get $12 million, and since the company chose an all or nothing kind of campaign they had to refund all of it.
The smartphone uses a card oriented interface, very similar to Google Now. These cards in the interface are called Scopes and present content that, on iOS and Android, would be displayed in several different apps. For instance, the “Today” card shows contact information, weather information and a calendar. Users can easily swipe between cards, which is somewhat easier than opening and closing several apps.
Some of the Scopes on the first Ubuntu phone are “Video”, “Music”, “News”, “Nearby” and several others. Users may also open apps from Scopes or by selecting them from an app menu that slides on the screen from the side. This is quite a departure from the home screens found on iOS or Android devices.
Even though there is interest in this new mobile phone, it is competing in a market dominated by Android and iOS devices along other low-priced phones offered by both Windows and Android.
