Ubuntu Phone Announced Today
http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone
Thoughts? Impressioons? Is it possible to make a free software phone based on Ubuntu powered by Trisquel?
The problem are drivers and firmwares. Probably non-free. =(
Thoughts? Impressioons?
I like one thing:
"With the arrival of the Ubuntu SDK, apps can be written to work on all Ubuntu form-factors: it’s the same Ubuntu OS on the desktop and on the phone, so a single native application can work on both. Which means you re-use most of the app when you add support for a new form-factor."
The SDK main language will be QML. It may be open to others.
Is it possible to make a free software phone based on Ubuntu powered by Trisquel?
The other problem remains the same. Manufacturers decide whether they will lock the bootloader or not. I still don't know if it affects derivatives like Trisquel. You still can, theoretically, run Trisquelizing scripts yourself on it.
Another thing: Most ARM devices have proprietary GPU code. A phone without 3D won't be of much use. Nobody will like transitionless touch interfaces.
The move to HTML5 apps in favor of Java not only makes it easier for web heads like myself to develop for it, but hopefully bridges the gap in other phones as well. Still, I highly doubt Apple and Microsoft will go HTML5 for apps since they want to keep you locked in to their app ecosystem and programming languages.