Despite seeing record breaking numbers the Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign didn’t end up being successfully funded. But while we may not be seeing Canonical release the Edge smartphone, we are seeing the release of Ubuntu for smartphones. In fact, as we had been expecting to see, Canonical has released Ubuntu 13.10 with support for smartphones.
This is available as of today and assuming you have a compatible handset, you could be running Ubuntu on a smartphone today. The list of compatible devices is short, and in fact, it contains just two; the Nexus 4 and the Galaxy Nexus. This release, while new, is being billed as feature complete, ready for your phone and as containing everything that developers would need.
The process of installing Ubuntu on your device is likely not for everyone. In fact, we would suggest leaving this to those with a bit more experience in loading and using different ROMs. Or at the very least, leave this for those who happen to have another phone, just in case something goes wrong. With the standard warning out of the way, Canonical has Ubuntu 13.10 supporting GSM.
In other words, those carrying a Verizon branded Galaxy Nexus are going to be out of luck. Otherwise, the handset should have all the “shell and core applications” as well as the ability to make phone calls and send SMS messages. There will also be WiFi and a working front and rear-facing camera. Anyway, we suspect some will be missing the extent of apps available from the Play Store, but as it stands Ubuntu 13.10 for smartphones should have most of your needs covered.
Anyway, if you happen to have a compatible device and are looking to get playing, head to the Ubuntu for phones website where they have a detailed step-by-step walkthrough of the installation process.
SOURCE: Business Wire
I have the CDMA Galaxy Nexus and while I don’t use it as a phone, it is possible to install the fresh version of Ubuntu. You can grab the “maguro” (GSM) zip from the Ubuntu cdimage site and the armhf zip from the same place in the ubuntu touch folder.
You must then enter the maguro zip and edit META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script and edit the two instances of the word “maguro” to “toro” and then you may move both to your SD card and install them from a custom recovery like any other rom, flashing the armhf zip LAST. That zip will take a good deal of time to flash and then boot but I got to Ubuntu eventually.
It’s very cool but I don’t think a daily driver for me yet, a lot of the apps are just links to web pages and the browser doesn’t seem to be working so hot right now, and I’ve gotten two freezes that required a battery pull in about four hours. I’m sure looking forward to updates, if this gets stable and supported I’d certainly use it in favor of Android.