Indiegogo: Ubuntu Edge

[Foxi4]

Can you run APKs on Ubuntu? Can you run a .deb on Android?

No? That's why.

It's still absolutely pointless to dual-boot those systems when it could have a unique Linux distro of its own.

As for running APK's on PC, you can.

 

[The Milkman]

It's still absolutely pointless to dual-boot those systems when it could have a unique Linux distro of its own.

As for running APK's on PC, you can.

The fact you just linked me to a guide says something. Thats like saying "Oh yeah, you can run EXEs on OSX using Wine, so theres no point to dual booting Windows 7 on your Mac."

Some times people like being able to hit a button and switch to a familiar UI, rather then having to install and configure several applications to do the same thing.

 

[Foxi4]

The fact you just linked me to a guide says something. Thats like saying "Oh yeah, you can run EXEs on OSX using Wine, so theres no point to dual booting Windows 7 on your Mac."

Some times people like being able to hit a button and switch to a familiar UI, rather then having to install and configure several applications to do the same thing.

There's nothing standing in the way of using Ubuntu as the main OS, the Android portion of it is completely pointless. This has the potential of being one of the first Smartphones with a fully-fledged Desktop-style OS, it doesn't have to Dual Boot. Both systems are Linux-based either way so there is a degree of cross-compatibility. Also the "guide" just tells you to install the Android SDK which has APK-launching tools embedded.

 

[The Milkman]

There's nothing standing in the way of using Ubuntu as the main OS, the Android portion of it is completely pointless. This has the potential of being one of the first Smartphones with a fully-fledged Desktop-style OS, it doesn't have to Dual Boot. Both systems are Linux-based either way so there is a degree of cross-compatibility. Also the "guide" just tells you to install the Android SDK which has APK-launching tools embedded.

Windows RT and Windows 8 both have a degree of cross-compatibility, Metro apps can be used on both. That doesn't mean having a tablet running Windows RT defeats the point of me owning a desktop running Windows 8.

Atleast by offering the dual-boot not only do they give users the chance to be open to wider range of applications. They also avoid the very thing that is killing WP8 and RT. Lack of apps and the unwillingness of devs to port them.

and my statement still stands, some people would rather hit a button then install an SDK to launch a fucking facebook app.

 

[Jamstruth]

It's still absolutely pointless to dual-boot those systems when it could have a unique Linux distro of its own.

As for running APK's on PC, you can.

...This is being made by the Ubuntu team as the flagship phone for Ubuntu Mobile and you think it should be running it's own unique distro separate from Ubuntu Mobile? Think about what you're saying there.

As for the Android Dual Boot that's just a ploy to get more buyers. People might be interested in the Edge but not want to risk it all on Ubuntu Mobile which has no apps for the moment. Allowing it to boot Android as well means that consumers can still keep their apps.

 

[Foxi4]

Windows RT and Windows 8 both have a degree of cross-compatibility, Metro apps can be used on both. That doesn't mean having a tablet running Windows RT defeats the point of me owning a desktop running Windows 8.

Windows RT and Windows 8 have absolutely nothing in common outside of Metro apps, this phone is running Ubuntu as-is - the desktop version. That's totally not the same situation.

Atleast by offering the dual-boot not only do they give users the chance to be open to wider range of applications. They also avoid the very thing that is killing WP8 and RT. Lack of apps and the unwillingness of devs to port them.

Again, you're missing the point that this is nothing like RT and WP8 - the phone can run Ubuntu and as such already has zillions of apps.

and my statement still stands, some people would rather hit a button then install an SDK to launch a fucking facebook app.

Reading is hard. You don't need a "fucking facebook app" because you'd be running a fully-fledged Ubuntu distro, except on a smartphone. In fact, you could embed .APK support out of the box if you really want to have it without Dual Booting. Your point does't stand because you don't have one, you're just consistently misreading what I'm actually typing.

 

[Jamstruth]

It is running Ubuntu for Phones. Yes, it uses the same kernel as the desktop edition. Other than that they have nothing in common. Look at the announcement for Ubuntu for Phones on their site. A Ubuntu Phone device can be plugged into a screen and keyboard for a full desktop environment.

Windows RT and Windows 8 have a huge amount in common btw. They use the same kernel compiled for different Architectures. RT can't use Desktop apps because none of the apps are coded for ARM whereas if they're coded for the Metro Interface they work on all.

 

[FireSeel]

I lol'd at the guy wearing Crooks and Castles in the first video.

The device itself looks decent but why Sapphire Crystal screen. Seems a bit excessive. HAS AS MUCH RAM AS THE COMPUTER I'M SITTING AT RIGHT NOW

I think sapphire glass is more scratch resistant that regular glass, but it smashes more easily.

 

[The Milkman]

Windows RT and Windows 8 have absolutely nothing in common outside of Metro apps, this phone is running Ubuntu as-is - the desktop version. That's totally not the same situation.

Source? All i've been hearing about this Ubuntu for phones is it has the same UI and runs off Linux. Nothing about it being some sort of magical OS that runs x86 based programs off a ARM processor.

Again, you're missing the point that this is nothing like RT and WP8 - the phone can run Ubuntu and as such already has zillions of apps.

Its EXACTLY like RT and WP8. A popular desktop OS that has a mobile version with a UI similar to the desktop version? NOOOOO, thats NOTHING like RT and 8. Windows 7/8 also had support for "zillions of apps" but look at RT and WP8? Wheres my zillions!?

Reading is hard. You don't need a "fucking facebook app" because you'd be running a fully-fledged Ubuntu distro, except on a smartphone. In fact, you could embed .APK support out of the box if you really want to have it without Dual Booting. Your point does't stand because you don't have one, you're just consistently misreading what I'm actually typing.

Once again, you seem to be bringing up this magical OS that can run programs made for a completely different architecture with no compatibility problems what so ever. APK support is nice and all, but you know whats nicer, giving people two fucking operating systems. It sort of guarantees you wont hear some shit about Ubuntu not running APKs as well, or the UI being shitty and hard to use. You know they would like phone companies to actually want to make hardware with their OS.

 

[KingVamp]

Sure it have slowed down, they raised more than 2 mi on the first day, that's almost impossible to.

I'm just saying it is something feasible.

If they would at least ask for 1/2 or at least built the phone anyway for the people who order it, I would have more confidence.

 

[Foxi4]

*Snip!*

I still don't quite understand why you'd even want Android while having a far superior OS on-board. You also seem to be under the impression that Ubuntu (or Linux in general) is an x86 OS when that's not the case - there are various builds of Ubuntu, it officially supports x86, x64 and ARM, there's also an unnoficial PowerPC build. What I will give you credit though is that the Edge will in fact run the mobile version of Ubuntu (which escaped my attention previously, mind you), which is far less desirable than the full-blown version.

 

[Joe88]

I think sapphire glass is more scratch resistant that regular glass, but it smashes more easily.

this

a small drop would most likely shatter the sapphire glass where gorilla glass 3 would easily survive the fall (assuming both are dropped flat and not a corner drop)
it also cost a shit ton to manufacture

at the end of the day people would rather just slap a screen protector on their phone and save their money
gorilla glass is very hard to scratch on its own, though sand is its worst enemy, nothing a screen protector or enclosed close will fix though

there's a reason why the industry never bothered with sapphire, well they probably experimented but found it unsuitable for phones
these fools seem to think otherwise though...

 

[FireSeel]

Sapphire glass is also normally found in very expensive phones too.

 

[The Milkman]

I still don't quite understand why you'd even want Android while having a far superior OS on-board. You also seem to be under the impression that Ubuntu (or Linux in general) is an x86 OS when that's not the case - there are various builds of Ubuntu, it officially supports x86, x64 and ARM, there's also an unnoficial PowerPC build. What I will give you credit though is that the Edge will in fact run the mobile version of Ubuntu (which escaped my attention previously, mind you), which is far less desirable than the full-blown version.

Im aware of the types of Ubuntu there are, I simply dont see why you find the fact they would like to ensure the user base is not shorthanded.

 

[Foxi4]

Im aware of the types of Ubuntu there are, I simply dont see why you find the fact they would like to ensure the user base is not shorthanded.

I simply think that using two OS'es for the job one OS can handle is both wasting resources and unnecessarily convoluting the whole setup.

 

[The Milkman]

I simply think that using two OS'es for the job one OS can handle is both wasting resources and unnecessarily convoluting the whole setup.

I share that view, but I also think its far from unnecessary. Differing options and what-not.

 

[jurassicplayer]

...at least built the phone anyway for the people who order it, I would have more confidence.

From what I understand, they are fine with refunding your money if this fails.
Quoting from the igg page:

• What if you fail to reach the funding target?
  
  We appreciate every bit of support we receive during the 30 days, and every backer will be welcomed into the Ubuntu community. If we don’t reach our target then we will focus only on commercially available handsets and there will not be an Ubuntu Edge. All contributions will be fully refunded.

In my own opinion, I'm actually kind of tempted and if it weren't for the fact that I was broke, I would totally try for one (maybe I'll try asking my parents for help if I still feel this way later). Granted, the latest and greatest of phone processors and 128GBs of storage are kind of lacking for a power pc, it literally isn't far off from my laptop's power either (though I'm using a 120GB ssd).

Dual-booting also doesn't really sound like a terrible idea either. They already have a supposedly full phone experience even without the Android dualboot, but by having the dualboot they can call it a perk (it's the same way I see myself dualbooting Arch/Win7). Also, IIRC their SDK is supposedly going to be able to build once for both the phone and desktop, so eventually their applications will get populated regardless if people get the phone or not and might end up making dual-booting useless in the future. So IMO it works well as a sort of transition phase (once again I look at why I dualboot...If I could get LoL and Osu running at Win7 speeds, I would probably completely ditch windows, but so far there is only wine :/).

Something else I also heard: although Canonical could probably fund the entire project themselves, it wasn't something they wanted to do because for one, that isn't exactly how one would picture an open community by having a power house be like "fuck everyone, we will release this because we want to". The crowdsourcing is for people who want to fund this project just like any of the other igg/etc sorts of projects. It also gives them a firsthand sort of look at the demand for a product like this.

Added plus, but pretty much if shit goes wrong you can get your money back on the phone (though apparently not "the cost of the return postage and packaging")

 

[KingVamp]

^Ik about the refund. That why I said make the phone anyway for people that have order rather than go for a all or nothing apporach.



As of this post- $8,207,491

 

[KingVamp]

update-

Ubuntu Edge now $695, thanks to major industry backing

$9,430,082 as of this post. 11 days left.