Comments on: Ubuntu phone review: first-look

By: Nak

Nak — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 06:03:48 +0000

@Kev: Python interface for app development would be waaay cool. But I understand Ubuntu for phones uses the Android kernel underneath, which could limit UI(?)

It looks like development of apps with uses QML, implying Qt underneath. That’s a bit of a disappointment, as QML is an ugly sister of HTML5/javascript, and the same well-known constructs of HTML5 and javascript syntax could have been used instead of this awkward off-shoot. And alternative python interface to javascript would be great too, of course.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:53:21 +0000

@Cyteck
“Plus Ubuntu offers access to a large repository of programs unlike Apple & MS which are free which makes Linux even more of a draw.”

Er, there’s plenty of ‘free’ stuff (however you define it) for Macs and even more for Windows – in fact there’s probably more free software available for Windows than Ubuntu! Having said that I’m not anti Linux or Ubuntu, just anti FUD!!

@Kev Partner – yes it would be great if apps could be written in Python or even, dare I say it, a modern BASIC variant! Provided of course potential performance and battery life issues could be sorted.

By: Cyteck

Cyteck — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 10:16:12 +0000

I currently use Ubuntu 12.10 Linux on one of my desktop machines & havent been very interested in smartphones before but ubuntu on a smartphone is something that starts to really interest me. Not only because Ubuntu linux is now equal to if not better than MS Windows 7 but ubuntu offers a wide range of software that Im sure could easily be ported into a smartphone format if required. Plus Ubuntu offers access to a large repository of programs unlike Apple & MS which are free which makes Linux even more of a draw. I could eventually see myself buying an Ubuntu based smartphone.

By: Kev Partner

Kev Partner — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 11:20:23 +0000

Apps may be less of a problem with Ubuntu if it is easy to modify desktop apps to the mobile platform. Linux also offers the potential to open up development across multiple languages rather than forcing programmers to use Objective-c or Java. If Python can be used to create apps, for example, this opens it up to a massive audience of developers.