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Check out Ubuntu on a phone with the BQ Aquaris E4.5 (pictures)

Meet the smartphone software that swaps apps for "scopes".

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1 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

The BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition is the first phone to showcase the mobile version of the popular open source operating system.

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2 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

The Aquaris E4.5 is an existing Android phone made by Spanish manufacturer BQ. The Ubuntu Edition adds new software but the phone remains almost unchanged.

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3 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

The volume and power buttons are the only physical buttons on the phone.

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This is the phone locked. To wake it, swipe on the screen.

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5 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

The first scope is a home screen that compiles useful information about your day, like the weather and your appointments.

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Swipe in from the left to see a list of apps.

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Pressing the orange Ubuntu logo takes you back to your "today scope", the default home screen.

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Pullling down from the top reveals the notifications and settings, similar to most mobile operating systems.

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9 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

Swiping in from the right reveals the apps and scopes you have open in a nifty carousel animation. Keeping your finger on the screen and scrolling back and forth moves through everything open, while flicking your finger quickly hops back to the last app you used.

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10 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

Swiping up from the bottom lets you manage your scopes.

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The news scope pulls in the headlines from various news sources, which you can choose and re-order to see the things that matter to you.

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The video scope shows you videos from YouTube and Vimeo.

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The music scope combines the music saved on your phone and online sources like YouTube or Soundcloud.

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The music scope also includes music-related services and sources like Songkick, which shows you nearby gigs and tours. Oh look, Elbow are playing.

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Tapping on an item takes you to a dedicated scope for that source, service or publication. So here we see that Elbow gig in the Songkick scope.

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The photo scope shows you photos taken on the phone, and other places you have photos saved, like Instagram.

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17 of 21 Rich Trenholm/CNET

The nearby scope shows you different information depending on your mood or status. If you're on the move, it shows you traffic updates.

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If you're hungry, restaurant reviews pop up.

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This scope compiles the apps you have on your phone.

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The camera looks like any smartphone camera. There's no physical button, so you have to take pictures by tapping the screen.

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Speakers and a standard micro-USB socket for charging.

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