ubuntu

The elusive third great mobile OS

There's no better illustration of the intense competition in the wireless industry than the race to establish another legitimate operating system behind Android and Apple -- where else is third place considered a lofty goal for so many major players?

Yet that's exactly what nearly a dozen companies are trying to achieve. While this year's Mobile World Congress wireless trade show was light on blockbuster smartphone and tablet announcements, it was heavy on burgeoning operating systems and new ways of thinking about mobile devices.

Mozilla's FireFox OS made a big splash at the show, as did … Read more

Why more mobile OSes are good for you

commentary How do you feel about Firefox as an operating system? Or Ubuntu on your phone or tablet? Is Windows Phone 8 worth switching to? BlackBerry 10 means that the company formerly known as RIM isn't dead yet, right? And what the heck's a Tizen, anyway?

Depending on the OS, these questions and more will begin to plague mobile phone reviewers, phone providers, and consumers at large within the year at the most, and probably sooner.

Some people think this is a bad thing.

Yesterday's IDC report that smartphones will overtake feature phones in global sales this year … Read more

Pandora limits free mobile streaming

CNET Update teaches you how to say Ubuntu:

Thursday's tech news roundup has bad news for Pandora addicts. Free music streaming on Pandora apps is limited to 40 hours a month -- but there's no limit for desktop users. Pandora is bringing back limits just as Spotify evolves: it's making changes to be more social, just updated its iOS app, and is going to be available on Ford's Sync AppLink. Another streaming cousin, TuneIn, also updated its site and iPad app to offer live listening recommendations.

And as Mobile World Congress coverage wraps up, we're … Read more

Samsung, Intel's Tizen OS makes splashy intro at MWC

BARCELONA, Spain--It's Tizen's turn for the spotlight.

The upstart mobile operating system, shepherded into development by Samsung Electronics and Intel, made a splashy debut at an event at Mobile World Congress.

The operating system is seen as a potential alternative to the dominance of Android, and has been driven in part by demand by carriers for a more open OS that they can tinker with.

Beyond the two key players, the night was a celebration of other partners, including Huawei, which is joining the steering committee of the Tizen Association, and European wireless carrier Orange. Orange said that … Read more

Ubuntu Touch OS heading to slew of smartphones, tablets

The Ubuntu Touch operating system is being ported to more than 20 types of smartphones and tablets.

The developer preview of the Linux-based OS was released for the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4 smartphones and Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets last week.

And developers are working to port the OS to a far greater range of devices, including the Asus Transformer series, HTC One handsets, the LG Optimus 4x HD, the Motorola Xoom, the Samsung Galaxy Note and S series, and Sony Xperia phones. They're also working on ports for the Nexus S and Nexus One devices.

The … Read more

Canonical cracks the slate code, brings Ubuntu to Nexus tablets

Today Canonical, makers of the Linux-based Ubuntu OS, unveiled Ubuntu for tablets. Specifically targeting those of the Nexus variety. The OS will be available for the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 beginning Thursday.

Owners of the Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus smartphones will receive access to the OS on the same day and the OS will be featured at Mobile World Congress next week.

Canonical is looking to unify interfaces across phones, TVs, tablets, and PCs. Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu and Canonical, says "Our family of interfaces now scales across all screens, so your phone can provide tablet, … Read more

Dell's thin, high-res XPS 13 laptop does Linux

Ubuntu just went 1080p on Dell's sleekest laptop.

The 2.99-pound XPS 13 Developer Edition -- started as a project to create an open source developer laptop -- is now available on Dell's site for $1,549.

Those specifications, with the critical exception of the Ubuntu Linux, are identical to the 1080p XPS 13 for Windows 8. … Read more

Like mobile model, a new Ouya every year

Thursday's CNET Update is brought to you by the letter "U" and the number 261,543:

Stories from today's tech news roundup:

- Get ready for another smartphone choice this Fall. Ubuntu OS hitting stores in October.

- The Ouya game console is following the ways of mobile and launching a new model every year.

- Microsoft pushes Outlook.com, warns users to not get "Scroogled" with Gmail.

- Hundreds of thousands of people wait their turn to access the new iPhone Mailbox app.

Watch CNET Update in the video above, and subscribe to … Read more

Ubuntu OS smartphones to hit stores in October

It's been said that Ubuntu's open-source operating system would be available on smartphones by the end of the year, and now it's confirmed that consumers can get their hands on such devices in October.

Ubuntu is made by Canonical, and according to the Wall Street Journal, the founder and CEO of Canonical Mark Shuttleworth said that Ubuntu OS smartphones will be available in October and app developers will get access to the OS later this month.

It's not yet clear which smartphones will run Ubuntu's OS, but app developers will be able to work with … Read more