Ubuntu Phone Featuring Slick Linus Tech Tips CES 2013
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Description
More options is rarely a bad thing for consumers, and there's a new game in town when it comes to mobile OS!
The video presents a hands-on CES 2013 demonstration of the Ubuntu phone experience, delivered by Slick from Linus Tech Tips at the Ubuntu Booth. The host introduces the device’s welcome screen, clarifying that it is not a mere port but the same Ubuntu operating system that runs on desktops and in the cloud, including the Unity-based launcher and a gesture-centric interface. A key feature shown is the infographic welcome screen that visually represents user data sourced from social feeds, with color intensity shifting to reflect the user’s activity. The demo moves through the home screen, where the Unity launcher and dynamic lenses organize frequently used apps, missed calls, new media, and installed software, and highlights a dedicated app store button. The device emphasizes a gesture-based paradigm with no physical or soft buttons; actions are performed via edge swipes to launch apps, switch between running tasks, and access top-edge settings, all while keeping the content front and center. The host explains multitasking via edge interactions, describes how to return home with a simple gesture, and notes that the current model is not Android, with potential hardware partnerships and upcoming handsets planned for later in the year, including references to a development device built on the Galaxy Nexus. Overall, the segment conveys a fluid, responsive user experience focused on gesture navigation, a unified ecosystem across desktop and mobile, and Ubuntu’s strategy to bring a complete Linux-based phone interface to market through collaborations with manufacturers.
Topics · technology · mobile technology · linux · operating systems · consumer electronics · product demonstrations · software UI
Questions answered
- What is unique about the Ubuntu phone interface shown in the CES 2013 demo?
- The Ubuntu phone uses a gesture-based interface with no physical or soft buttons, relying on edge swipes to launch apps, switch between running tasks, and access settings, while the home screen features Unity lenses that adapt to usage and social activity.
- Is the Ubuntu phone shown here running on Android or a different OS?
- It is not based on Android; Ubuntu Phone runs the same Ubuntu OS as on desktop and cloud, with its own Unity launcher and UI concepts.
- What hardware is the demo device based on?
- The development device referenced is based on the Galaxy Nexus, with plans for additional handsets from other manufacturers later in the year.