Overview of Ubuntu Phone OS for mobile devices

Today, iOS and Android hold the top positions in the world of mobile operating systems, but are there other systems that can compete with them on equal terms? Is there an operating system with Linux kernel for smartphones and tablets? We answer - there is, it's called Ubuntu. Now it can be officially installed on such devices: Nexus 4, Nexus 7 2013 (WiFi only), Nexus 10, BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition, Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition and BQ Aquaris E5 Ubuntu Edition.

It was recently revealed that the OS for Nexus 10 is more updated, however, a Nexus 5 version is coming soon. To install Ubuntu Phone on these devices, you just need to download an Ubuntu image and write it in a special way to your smartphone or tablet using an OTG cable.

Installing Ubuntu on a smartphone

To begin with, we want to warn you - all actions you do at your own risk, so if you are not sure of your own abilities, it is better to abandon this venture.

First of all, connect the universe repository and install the necessary packages:

sudo apt-get install ubuntu-device-flash phablet-tools android-adb-tool android-fastboot-tool

Execute the command to go install Ubuntu touch on a smartphone, all data will be erased:

ubuntu-device-flash touch --channel=ubuntu-touch/stable/ubuntu --bootstrap

Ubuntu Phone review

The installation will take some time. We suggest doing a little overview of Ubuntu Phone. Once the installation and setup is complete, you will see a screen like this:

So, Ubuntu is installed on your phone. It's not at all like the desktop version, but rather like Android. The main idea behind Unity 8 is motion and gestures. The workspace is divided into four sides. The Unity Launcher can be invoked by tapping the left edge of the screen:

You can add or remove apps from the panel:

Swiping your finger from the right to the left edge of the screen will show you all the running apps:

You can download not only standard applications, but also additional applications from the Ubuntu Store, to do this, find the desired application and download using a special button:

If you swipe from top to bottom, you can see recently installed applications

Swiping your finger from bottom to top, you will see the status bar, Wifi GPS, date and time. Here you can manage notifications, as well as adjust the brightness.

In addition to the standard applications, you can download additional ones from Ubuntu Store, to do this, find the desired application and download using a special button:

In Galleria you can manage your photos and images. There is a small video player. Video player Ubuntu Phone, for now does not support subtitles, but there is a codec x264. There is also a pretty good music player.

I am glad that Ubuntu Phone has a nice-looking terminal. It has everything you may need, and it is much more convenient than the Android terminal emulator.

It is also nice that there is a file manager, which is quite good. A settings manager is also provided, where you can change anything you want. It's a shame, but such browsers as Chrome or Firefox are not supported, but there is a built-in browser, although it is a little slow, but it is enough to surf the Internet or chat in Facebook. There is also a document viewer with which you can open PDF, ODF and TXT files:

So, Ubuntu Phone is not a bad operating system, but it still has some issues. But its biggest drawback is that many of the existing applications contain some bugs.