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Ubuntu Touch

Ubuntu Touch is a mobile operating system developed by the UBports community. It is primarily designed for smartphones and tablets, providing a unique user interface based on Qt. The system was originally developed by Canonical Ltd., a company founded by Mark Shuttleworth, before transitioning to community maintenance under UBports in 2015.

History and Development

The journey of Ubuntu Touch began with Canonical Ltd., which announced the Ubuntu platform for phones on January 2, 2013. The objective was to create a convergent platform where the same software libraries would operate across different devices. A developer preview was released on February 21, 2013, and the official beta version, Ubuntu Touch 1.0, was launched on October 17, 2013. This version coincided with the release of Ubuntu 13.10, primarily supporting devices like the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4.

Following Canonical's decision to halt direct development, the UBports community, led by Marius Gripsgård, took over the project. The UBports Foundation now oversees the project, focusing on collaborative development and promoting Ubuntu Touch's use.

Features

Ubuntu Touch is notable for its distinctive user interface and design philosophy, emphasizing a gesture-based navigation system. Unlike traditional Android and iOS interfaces, Ubuntu Touch leverages edges for system navigation, creating a more fluid and intuitive user experience.

Key features include:

  • Scopes: A unique content discovery mechanism that aggregates information from various sources, displaying it directly on the home screen.
  • Lomiri: Formerly known as Unity8, Lomiri is the graphical shell that provides the desktop environment for Ubuntu Touch.
  • Convergence: The ability for a mobile device to transform into a full desktop PC experience when connected to an external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, leveraging applications like LibreOffice and Mozilla Firefox.

Supported Devices

Initially, official support was provided for several Google Nexus devices. However, community efforts have extended its compatibility to numerous other devices. Notable handsets that have run Ubuntu Touch include the BQ Aquaris and the Meizu Pro 5.

Related Topics

Ubuntu Touch remains a significant player in the niche market of open-source mobile operating systems, showcasing the power of community-driven development in the software industry.