wraggster
July 24th, 2013, 22:33
Operating system specialist Canonical has revealed the Ubuntu Edge - a "superphone" that doubles up as a desktop PC.
The company is seeking $32 million on crowdfunding website Indiegogo (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge) to produce the new type of smartphone, which Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth describes as "a proving ground for the most advanced mobile technologies on the horizon, a showpiece for true mobile innovation".
The Ubuntu Edge will boast 4GB of RAM, 128GB storage and a 4.5-inch display made of pure sapphire crystal. It's expected to launch in May 2014 in limited numbers.
It can connect to a standard HDMI screen and work as a desktop PC, and its dual-LTE chip will connect users online with 4G. The smartphone will dual-boot with the Ubuntu phone OS and Android.
"The phone industry today is a bit like the camera industry five years ago," said Shuttleworth. "Stuck in a mega pixel race chasing wasted resolution. What's much more interesting is colour accuracy and brightness.
"Convergence is the key idea we're exploring, so this phone needs to be a potent little PC when docked. We'll select the very latest fastest multi-core processor as we finalise the design. It's going to redefine PC portability.
"It’s desktop computing gone truly mobile.
He added: "We're not trying to get into the phone business - we're working with phone companies for your normal mid and high end phones. This project is just for us - the real enthusiasts. That's why a crowdfunding approach is perfect."
The Linux-based Ubuntu OS is currently used by 20 million users worldwide.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/video-ubuntu-edge-superphone-is-also-a-pc-seeks-funding/031473
The company is seeking $32 million on crowdfunding website Indiegogo (http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge) to produce the new type of smartphone, which Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth describes as "a proving ground for the most advanced mobile technologies on the horizon, a showpiece for true mobile innovation".
The Ubuntu Edge will boast 4GB of RAM, 128GB storage and a 4.5-inch display made of pure sapphire crystal. It's expected to launch in May 2014 in limited numbers.
It can connect to a standard HDMI screen and work as a desktop PC, and its dual-LTE chip will connect users online with 4G. The smartphone will dual-boot with the Ubuntu phone OS and Android.
"The phone industry today is a bit like the camera industry five years ago," said Shuttleworth. "Stuck in a mega pixel race chasing wasted resolution. What's much more interesting is colour accuracy and brightness.
"Convergence is the key idea we're exploring, so this phone needs to be a potent little PC when docked. We'll select the very latest fastest multi-core processor as we finalise the design. It's going to redefine PC portability.
"It’s desktop computing gone truly mobile.
He added: "We're not trying to get into the phone business - we're working with phone companies for your normal mid and high end phones. This project is just for us - the real enthusiasts. That's why a crowdfunding approach is perfect."
The Linux-based Ubuntu OS is currently used by 20 million users worldwide.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/video-ubuntu-edge-superphone-is-also-a-pc-seeks-funding/031473