Biggest Contender In Mobile Space: Ubuntu MID
A true open source and GNU/Linux competitor for the iPhone...
Every tech company is getting its products ready for the post-PC era. While Apple seems to have taken the lead with the most innovative device (the iPhone) to date, GNU/Linux is all set to shake and stir a bit. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, has announced Ubuntu MID (mobile Internet device) Edition 8.04 as a full developers' release. It is based on the Ubuntu Desktop Edition and is now available for download. The Ubuntu MID Edition 8.04 has been built by the Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded community that is sponsored by Canonical and in co-operation with Intel Moblin.org community to take advantage of the Intel Atom Processor, the chipset that is underpinning the Mobile Internet Device (MID) category. Ubuntu MID Edition will always be an Open Source distribution and is freely available.
The release becomes notable as Intel is currently running the 'Your Move' contest where in developers can built applications for MID, using Intel's Moblin initiative. (Read: I Hate Not Being A Developer, What Is Your Move, for further details on the contest).
According to Ubuntu website, "Ubuntu MID Edition, a fully open source project, gives the full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licenced codecs and popular third-party applications."
It offers full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash, Java and more. With the outstanding media playback, you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation. It also has a suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go. And you can have a true experience of Web 2 along with access to Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Dailymotion, 3D games, GPS and maps.
To sum it up, a normal user will get: Web browsing, e-mail, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates ... and lots more.
Ubuntu MID is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu MID with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control. All you will need is to tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them or swipe a Web page to pan up, down or sideways. Playing on a mobile device was never that much fun as here you can also swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.
Ubuntu MID will start to follow the normal Ubuntu 6 monthly release cycle with the next version at 8.10. The Ubuntu Mobile and Embedded community is small right now but growing. It includes individuals and some organisations, and always welcomes new participants and partners. This release marks the start of a way for new users to experience Ubuntu and Open Source software. As the hardware becomes commonplace, it will become a very exciting place to get users experiencing applications from these communities.
The site further says, "We will be using existing open source applications where it is feasible to do so, packaging them for Ubuntu where necessary. We will fill in some of the gaps by developing new applications if nothing suitable exists. Our goal is to have a basic set of applications needed to have a useful mobile system, such as a browser, media player, system utilities, etc. The Ubuntu kernel team will be providing us with a suitable kernel build and incorporating additional drivers where necessary. This development will take place in our kernel git tree in concert with the other kernel activity underway for Ubuntu 8.04."
Intel's Atom is definitely going to add more fire to the current mobile warfare. So get ready to get your hands on Ubuntu MID, when it is out!
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