Aside from the app void and the questionable value of Scopes, Ubuntu Phone is a bit of a nightmare to use the majority of the time. Something’s often refreshing in the background, causing the phone to slow down. Apps take longer to load than they should, and even then you’re probably waiting on a web app. The gesture-based navigation is unrefined; there are bugs and glitches all over the place; and in general, many core experiences are severely lacking in polish. Despite years of development, Ubuntu Phone still feels like an early beta, and I think Canonical needs to think long and hard about the implementation of Scopes and bump native apps up the agenda. There’s nothing wrong with trying to be different, but there’s a reason Android/iOS are so popular. Ignoring the headway they’ve made in refining the mobile experience is, in my mind, setting yourself up for failure.
It’s taking Canonical way, way too long. If the much further along Sailfish and Jolla can’t really make a serious dent into anything, it’s easy to imagine this won’t go anywhere either.
It’s just like desktop Ubuntu, but for your phone. Just what I’ve always wanted!
haha. I probably shouldn’t volunteer outright what my ex used to refer to ubuntu as -(if I say u*untu – you can but imagine).
regarding Thom’s use of the word “too” – I could just about bring myself to disagree – the are absolutely taking way, way…long.
but not perhaps as much as Haiku – but with far more resources. However – as long as they’re not in a massive hurry and view it as a long term non-core project – they can take their sweet time to be honeest. I’d rather they didn’t push (at all) for anything mass market or prime time until it’s really ready.
If this take 10+ years – of course they’re chances of take up will be super low.
5 ish years – could be a longer term success if they bring to a slow boil.
We’re all too urgent. Most of the time
The unpolished nature at the moment is unfortunate. And I can’t see myself jumping ship to this in the next year or three. But it’s still nice to see real OS competition. Things are pretty much settled and boring on the desktop. So having one area where things are still at least a little bit active is nice.
I am afraid it is DOA. The mobile market has matured around Android and iOS. Even MS with headstart (in comparison to Canonical) and loads of money has failed to gain significant marketshare for WP. Anyway, who is aware of mobile Ubuntu besides people interested in technology? Canonical has neither time nor resources for this battle. While hybrid approach might be appealing for certain customers, Ubuntu is not alone in this game: Google converging Android with ChromeOS, MS toying with Windows 10 dual nature (docking mobile as desktop). Another thing is dwindling relevance of the desktop itself. I mostly need desktop for work and high-performance gaming, the rest is served well by browser and cloud.
I think you are right unfortunately.
But I hope you are not.
Both Apple and Google are milking our behaviour by tracking what we do. I really hope people start to vote with their feet and abandon IOS and Android or at least install software to counter ads.
Maybe Linux can do the same for phones (in 5 years): be better than Windows in every respect (be better than Android more or less), I think it will happen but it will take another 5 years
But I am actually quite sure the same will happen the same as Linux vs Windows i.e. Linux will win.
Go back to 2005 and substitute the words Symbian and Blackberry.
Looking forward I wouldn’t be surprised if Android and iOS are minor players in 2025.
Edited 2015-07-26 04:42 UTC
There’s a huge difference between Android/iOS and Symbian/BBOS. The latter two where never willing to change for a changing market. Both Android and iOS have been shown to be quite flexible platforms in their own ways. Sure, neither OS will ever be as flexible as e.g. Maemo, but most users will never care. They want something which has the same applications as their friends and family. They don’t care about proper multitasking, built in terminals, etc.
For anyone to even put a dent into Apple and Google’s market shares, they have to offer something really unique and ground braking. Something which the established players will not be able to emulate. Good luck with that.
In my humble opinion, the best mobile phone OS:s were ,and still are Meego Harmattan and BlackBerry 10, but they both lack the applications I need. Applications are what drives people to modern platforms. Why get an Ubuntu phone if you can’t run Whatsapp, Viber, Instagram, turn-by-turn navigation, the latest and gratest dating app, etc?
Edited 2015-07-28 06:17 UTC
Sorry, it’s just not good and it’s not even near to being any good. Not even close.
In the meantime, this meaningless project has led Canonical to do a lot of stupid decisions such as ignoring Wayland in favor of their own Mir, or simply stop paying much attention to the desktop.
I know they have most likely realized PC sales are shrinking, but that said it’s a huge, huge market. I wish they would make it back the main focus.
I’m using Ubuntu phone as my primary device and it’s pretty great after the latest updates.
http://www.itworld.com/article/2952189/linux/kde-community-announce…
Personally have never been a KDE user, but maybe they are on the right track ?
So far it seems the only contender making any inroads in this game is Tizen.
Their pilot device sold well in its test market and the platform recently managed to attract big name apps (Facebook, Instagram).