It seems that there will be a new phone competitor throwing its hat for fans in the not so distant future. Ubuntu, after producing some pretty fine OS versions for smartphones and tablets, and arguably the most outstanding Linux flavour; has finally decided to make a daring move to compete in the big leagues; the smartphone world. Choosing a very intriguing name for the yet unreleased device, Ubuntu hopes to get great recognition for The Edge from the mobile world. But it does tend to be a shocker for many of us (considering Ubuntu is a mere OS), so let’s take a look at the real picture.
Well, the question you have to ask yourself before deciding if this phone is cool or not is what’s so special about it? There are two things to talk about here:
- Ubuntu Desktop Interface
- Running both Ubuntu and Android
We know it’s hard to believe, but the truth is, The Edge will be dual-booting two OS versions, and one of which will be specifically made for achieving total desktop experience on a sleek slim smartphone. This means you get to keep the Android goodies, and at the same time use your phone as a computing device (Desktop), and it’s not going to be a prototype desktop version, we’re talking about full fledged desktop functions that you cannot achieve with a smartphone, like MS files and desktop based projects.
What more does one need when you’re getting the best of both worlds? This will hopefully break the chain of Apple-Samsung-HTC products that we\’ve become so accustomed to.
Nonetheless, we can’t only rely on dual OS compatibility and availability of desktop functions; let’s take a look at what the specs have to say.
With dual OS booting and a desktop version of the OS, we’re going to need some pretty powerful hardware to make it work. Mark Shuttleworth told us in his announcement that the phone will sport a multi core CPU and 4GB RAM. So, we can look forward to a sonic fast dual-core processor at the very least. With storage, the Edge will come with 128 GB SSD; which is quite the jaw dropper but it was not totally unexpected since it’s a hybrid phone that can also act as a desktop.
Also, we’re going to be seeing a 1280 x 720 HD screen display made from the second hardest substance known to mankind, Sapphire Crystals; so I’d say that screen durability is no issue for the Ubuntu phone. Just to give you an idea on what this means, Sapphire Crystal is also used on higher end watches as it is scratch resistant.
Coming to cameras, The Edge will be bolted with the usual 8MP rear and a 2MP front camera, but leaks say that the phone will be able to take clear crisp photos in low lighting and snapping close up photos won’t take that long to focus since it will be using the latest lenses.
You must be dying to know what the release date is and when’s the shipping going to begin; you should know there are some hurdles that Canonical needs to pass through before the phone can become a reality. In his announcement, Mark Shuttleworth said that Canonical needs to gather a total of $32 mill to start producing 40,000 units of The Ubuntu Edge. Why? Well we all know that Canonical can’t make this kind of amount from Ubuntu alone, so they\’ve given us the responsibility of funding for the Edge on Indiegogo and making this phone a reality. Plus, if we fund for the phone before the release, we get a massive discount and buy the phone for just $600, compared to the overly priced original cost of $830, but this is only if the phone is released.
But the idea of a hybrid phone is so intriguing that Canonical managed to collect $1 million in the first five hours, and three million in 24 hours. Unfortunately that was as fast as it could go. With just 12 days to go, the total amount donated is just below the 10 million mark. We are beginning to feel that the Ubuntu Edge will not be a reality after all.
