The Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview for smartphones and tablets is now available for download and is likely to be unstable at times. The final version of Ubuntu touch for mobile devices will be launched in 2014. Canonical has been pretty clear that the main purpose of this early release is to lure in developers and get them to contribute to the project. Furthermore, the video shows that there are many aspects of the OS which work fine — such as the gallery and video apps, the “side stage” and HUD features, and also general performance on the Nexus 10’s hardware.
What to expect after flashing Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview in your device..?
Not all functionality from a production device is yet available on the Touch Preview. The list of functions you can expect after installing the preview on your handset or tablet are as follows. For detailed information check the release notes.
- Shell and core applications
- Connection to the GSM network (on Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4)
- Phone calls and SMS (on Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 4)
- Networking via Wifi
- Functional camera (front and back)
- Device connectivity through the Android Developer Bridge tool (adb)
Working Apps
Being an early release there isn’t an awful lot to play with. The only ‘working’ applications are:
- Gallery
- Phone (Dialer, SMS, Address Book)
- Camera
- Web Browser
- Media Player
- Notepad
Supported devices
The images available today support the following devices:
- Galaxy Nexus
- Nexus 4
- Nexus 7
- Nexus 10
Download
If you have a Nexus device (unlocked) you can download the Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview