Ubuntu Edge is dead, long live Ubuntu phones

Canonical raises an impressive $12.8 million, but it needed $32 million.

Read the whole story

 

[tommaisey]

It was a hopelessly ambitious endeavour. However, they succeeded in bringing the Ubuntu phone effort to the attention of many people, which is valuable.

I, for one, have had my curiosity piqued, and I'll be very interested to get an Ubuntu phone when one comes to market. I've been thinking increasingly that for such a personal device as a phone, 100% open source is a very attractive feature. When I carry a device with me at all times, day and night, the ability to dig into the source code it's running will give me some peace of mind that it's not doing things that are counter to my interests.

 

[gypsumfantastic]

I find it hard to believe Canonical ever seriously expected they'd raise that sort of money. Which makes me wonder what their game really was.

 

[XX55XX]

gypsumfantastic[/url]":24ur9uzi]I find it hard to believe Canonical ever seriously expected they'd raise that sort of money. Which makes me wonder what their game really was.

Publicity. Now everyone knows of the Edge, and perhaps investors might be willing to back it. There is a market for such a device like this, and Canonical was trying to prove it with a fundraiser that attracted headlines from newspapers and tech blogs around the globe.

 

[killing_time]

gypsumfantastic[/url]":1h53zyd4]I find it hard to believe Canonical ever seriously expected they'd raise that sort of money. Which makes me wonder what their game really was.

from other posts i've read they say publicity.

next year though, year of the...

 

[charleski]

tommaisey[/url]":1j2mii7w]
I, for one, have had my curiosity piqued, and I'll be very interested to get an Ubuntu phone when one comes to market.

As the last paragraph pointed out, you can get one right now, and for a lot less than the $695 they were asking for. Just pick up a Nexus 4 and flash it.

 

[ChrisMin]

"We raised $12,809,906, making the Edge the world’s biggest ever fixed crowdfunding campaign."

I dunno why it irritates me so much, but it does. No, you didn't raise ~$12,000,000, you failed to raise $32,000,000. RARGH

 

[Maury Markowitz]

I think it's simply too early to try this. In another few years the transistor count of the ARM will be sufficient to run a desktop OS in a portable form factor. Combined with ARM versions of existing OS's, and work on energy efficiency, all future phones with be dock able. Given past history, I suspect that Apple would be at the forefront in this space - especially given the persistent rumours of ARM versions of MacOS.

 

[ChaoticUnreal]

Really they couldn't hit 32mil for an unproven OS on unproven hardware. I never would have guessed that.
</sarcasm>

The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out. That said I have said several times that this was just a PR stunt and was never going to get funded at 32mil.

 

[quakerotis]

The idea of Ubuntu in Mobile is compelling as maybe you would get a true Open Source in that space. This project was a trial balloon. I wish them puck. It could be something I would be interested in after the early adapters pave the way.

 

[stuffe]

TAFKAP[/url]":2k4ha3uw]Do we really need another phone ecosystem?

In a similar use case for a lot of Ubuntu systems I have tinkered with mainly, I see it as a great OS for reviving hardware that drops off the official support roadmaps. As this happens with phone OS much more rapidly than with desktops, then a lightweight OS that you can install on a variety of phones really interests me. Everyone knows what to do with an old laptop, and we all have a variety of options to extend the life of such older kit, but with phones it's more a case of "throw it in a drawer". Would be lovely to grab an old phone and be able to throw an up to date lightweight OS on top for basic stuff. Not fussed about apps, just a decent browser and sync options with all the current crop of online stuff.

So, that said, ecosystem no, OS yes, custom hardware is not required, just perhaps custom tweaks to the OS on a per phone basis for compatability and forget the app/music/books sales channels, keep it open standards based with HTML5 webapps that you can nick from the Firefox OS that is shipping now.

 

[Boskone]

I've said before that I want a phone--or tablet--that I can just drop in a dock for at least light computer use.

I'm just unwilling to shell out $700, sight unseen. Sorry Canonical. I don't have the resources to be an early adopter of unproven technologies.

 

[blueshifter]

Deus Casus[/url]":2158q5l7]The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out.

Haven't several of these (albeit Android-based) hit the market in the past? My niece had one.

 

[Paul Hill]

tommaisey[/url]":y116mihv]I've been thinking increasingly that for such a personal device as a phone, 100% open source is a very attractive feature. When I carry a device with me at all times, day and night, the ability to dig into the source code it's running will give me some peace of mind that it's not doing things that are counter to my interests.

Correction, the source code you think it's running, assuming you have enough time to go through x hundred megabytes of source looking for... what? an inform_NSA() function? Or a vulnerability that'll be exploited to run code you haven't sat down and read through?

Cos if you can find realistically find the vulnerabilities in a network and browser stack (let alone the entire OS) from browsing the source you're some kind of super-techy-wizard who should be paid millions.

 

[Umbaglo]

ChrisMin[/url]":9klsp4f1]"We raised $12,809,906, making the Edge the world’s biggest ever fixed crowdfunding campaign."

I dunno why it irritates me so much, but it does. No, you didn't raise ~$12,000,000, you failed to raise $32,000,000. RARGH

Especially since they're refunding the money. Not to mention that Star Citizen has raised over $15 mil.

 

[Danrarbc]

blueshifter[/url]":2orubnjg]

Deus Casus[/url]":2orubnjg]The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out.

Haven't several of these (albeit Android-based) hit the market in the past? My niece had one.

Motorola had one developed in house. It didn't do much though. Also before working on their own full OS Ubuntu was pitching a product that ran on top of Android.

Before either of those some netbooks used Android as their OS.

 

[Pit Spawn]

"We raised $12,809,906, making the Edge the world’s biggest ever fixed crowdfunding campaign."*


*goal not reached, money returned

 

[the_frakker]

The Edge is an example of where all smartphones are headed.

iOS, Android and Windows Phone are all moving towards the convergence of desktop and mobile (example: same kernel).

Wireless display (mirroring) is something that the industry is currently working hard at perfecting. Couple this with more powerful mobile devices that are capable of running full desktop operating systems and you begin to imagine what a personal computer will be like in 5,10,15 years. You won't even need a dock.

The operating systems will become dynamic enough to give you different options for controlling your experience depending on the devices you are connected to.

The Edge is a good idea. Ubuntu just may not be the platform that convinces the masses.

 

[Midnitte]

gypsumfantastic[/url]":ujxlpigm]I find it hard to believe Canonical ever seriously expected they'd raise that sort of money. Which makes me wonder what their game really was.

Probably to show that there is this much interest. If they could raise $12.8 million through indie, imagine what they could make through a carrier...

 

[Xavin]

Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth had told BBC that the Edge would be such a high-end device that "we would have been bringing the future forward a year or two at least."

That's absolute nonsense. The flagship phones each year are very close to the top of the tech advancement curve at this point. It's possible that a small run of phones with better specs could be made ahead of the big names, but those would cost a fortune, and they wouldn't be anywhere near two years ahead. Phone hardware specs are a race, nobody is sitting on tech.

 

[ubercurmudgeon]

Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth had told BBC that the Edge would be such a high-end device that "we would have been bringing the future forward a year or two at least."

I'm looking forward to trying Ubuntu on my Nexus device, hopefully sometime soon. However, guff like that quote really is a massive turn-off. I understand that open source has to provide simplified user interfaces, easy install methods and compatibility with popular proprietary file formats, if it is ever to genuinely appeal to the man in the street. But is the ridiculous PR horseshit really necessary too? Or is the Steve Jobs impersonation that Mark Shuttleworth puts on every time someone points a camera in his direction the price for keeping him interested?

 

[JohnnyTheGeek]

Should give them a good hint that not many care about it. I think the market proves that in reality only a couple smartphone operating systems can really survive and the rest become niche products. Even Microsoft can't fight Android and IOS very well. Let's really also look at the facts with Ubuntu as a whole. Its not like it ever garnered a lot of market share on the PC desktop. Sure maybe a couple percent of all PC's. But is Ubuntu really a household name like Google's Android or Apple's iPhone and IOS? Not even close. Plus, where is the money to market a Ubuntu phone? Does the people at Ubuntu think the cell phone companies will flip for marketing it? I highly doubt it.

 

[pavon]

Maury Markowitz[/url]":2060ihvo]I think it's simply too early to try this. In another few years the transistor count of the ARM will be sufficient to run a desktop OS in a portable form factor. Combined with ARM versions of existing OS's, and work on energy efficiency, all future phones with be dock able. Given past history, I suspect that Apple would be at the forefront in this space - especially given the persistent rumours of ARM versions of MacOS.

Why is this being voted down? It isn't offensive or trollish in the least, and more so it is right. While a lot of progress has been made in dynamic power in the last decade, we still don't have processors that can scale in a manner that can satisfy the needs of both a desktop and phone in one package. Even the beefiest ARM processor will be slow for desktop needs, and processor that is sufficient for the desktop would have horrible battery life. There is a reason that all other tablet/desktop convertibles actually contained two completely separate processors and dual booted. If the Edge had been built with today's technology it either would have been a poor phone, a poor desktop or both.

Don't get me wrong I think it is an awesome idea, but one whose time has not yet come.

 

[atu30004]

"Canonical's attempt to raise $32 million to build the Ubuntu Edge...has failed. The crowdfunding campaign...took in... $12.8 million before the deadline passed...".

"That's like being the best-dressed woman on radio."
--Robin Williams

 

[angelusSatanae]

pavon[/url]":37b2hxm3]

Maury Markowitz[/url]":37b2hxm3]I think it's simply too early to try this. In another few years the transistor count of the ARM will be sufficient to run a desktop OS in a portable form factor. Combined with ARM versions of existing OS's, and work on energy efficiency, all future phones with be dock able. Given past history, I suspect that Apple would be at the forefront in this space - especially given the persistent rumours of ARM versions of MacOS.

Why is this being voted down? It isn't offensive or trollish in the least, and more so it is right. While a lot of progress has been made in dynamic power in the last decade, we still don't have processors that can scale in a manner that can satisfy the needs of both a desktop and phone in one package. Even the beefiest ARM processor will be slow for desktop needs, and processor that is sufficient for the desktop would have horrible battery life. There is a reason that all other tablet/desktop convertibles actually contained two completely separate processors and dual booted. If the Edge had been built with today's technology it either would have been a poor phone, a poor desktop or both.

Don't get me wrong I think it is an awesome idea, but one whose time has not yet come.

Because his reference to Apple, so the apple haters crowd down vote .

I would love to own a computer with the size of a microSD someday too. Just plug it in in your 27" Monitor or you handheld , the interface will auto adapt. OpenSource would be nice.

 

[microlith]

the_frakker[/url]":bkkl2cat]The Edge is a good idea. Ubuntu just may not be the platform that convinces the masses.

Or rather, the masses simply haven't heard of it. I'd prefer it be Ubuntu, if it's iOS or Windows Phone we'll just see more crippled platforms work their way up the stack.

angelusSatanae[/url]":bkkl2cat]Because his reference to Apple, so the apple haters crowd down vote .

More importantly, he suggests that no one try now and then implies that Apple will be at the forefront. Can't have someone else beating Apple to the punch, now can we?

 

[Deleted member 1]

I was really expecting Mark to pay the difference.

Oh well. I don't know what is next but I really wanted this to succeed.

 

[Maury Markowitz]

pavon[/url]":38aa0zv6]Even the beefiest ARM processor will be slow for desktop needs, and processor that is sufficient for the desktop would have horrible battery life. There is a reason that all other tablet/desktop convertibles actually contained two completely separate processors and dual booted. If the Edge had been built with today's technology it either would have been a poor phone, a poor desktop or both.

Don't get me wrong I think it is an awesome idea, but one whose time has not yet come.

Exactly what I was getting at.

I too am a bit surprised at the votes, but the pondering a few posts down seems likely. Sad really, one would expect better of the typical Ars-itarian. Perhaps the fanboi faction has simply replaced troll posts with troll votes?

 

[Maury Markowitz]

microlith[/url]":2631x468]
More importantly, he suggests that no one try now

What I actually suggested, which I through was clear enough, is that all "phones" will be like this some day, when the price/performance/energy ratio is correct.

That day is not today.

But that in no way implies someone shouldn't try it, under even the most liberal readings. After all, MS was making tablets circa 2000, but they were simply not ready for widespread use because they were on the wrong side of that curve.

microlith[/url]":2631x468]and then implies that Apple will be at the forefront. Can't have someone else beating Apple to the punch, now can we?

Not implies, surmises.

 

[xaqattax]

I hope they or another continues thinking mobile/desktop integration. Right now Android and iOS don't translate well to the desktop and vice versa. I get the sense Microsoft is aiming that direction but I have not used a Windows Mobile device yet (or W8 desktop) although I would like to.

 

[SPCagigas]

blueshifter[/url]":1mdvun8d]

Deus Casus[/url]":1mdvun8d]The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out.

Haven't several of these (albeit Android-based) hit the market in the past? My niece had one.

Yeah, Motorola pushed a couple of docking stations for its Android phones.

 

[microlith]

SPCagigas[/url]":3lh046af]

blueshifter[/url]":3lh046af]

Deus Casus[/url]":3lh046af]The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out.

Haven't several of these (albeit Android-based) hit the market in the past? My niece had one.

Yeah, Motorola pushed a couple of docking stations for its Android phones.

The Atrix was interesting but Motorola was rather aggressive with the security and when people who were interested in playing with it beyond the default configuration, Motorola basically told them "go away, we don't want you."

So interesting things could have happened but Motorola ensured they wouldn't.

 

[atu30004]

gypsumfantastic[/url]":2v7j7lg2]I find it hard to believe Canonical ever seriously expected they'd raise that sort of money. Which makes me wonder what their game really was.

Diversion. Strictly diversion.

This is absolutely typical Mark Shuttleworth: he announces a grandstanding, show-boating new something-or-other, and before he has to deliver on his promises (which he never does), he announces a NEW show-boating, grandstanding something to divert your attention from his last great promise. He's achieved some level of success: most can't remember all of Shuttleworth 's unfulfilled promises. Which fits perfectly with Shuttleworth's strategy. Keep forgetting, folks. Shuttleworth has you right where he wants you.

 

[DexterTheCat]

microlith[/url]":hq2ls5j9]

SPCagigas[/url]":hq2ls5j9]

blueshifter[/url]":hq2ls5j9]

Deus Casus[/url]":hq2ls5j9]The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out.

Haven't several of these (albeit Android-based) hit the market in the past? My niece had one.

Yeah, Motorola pushed a couple of docking stations for its Android phones.

The Atrix was interesting but Motorola was rather aggressive with the security and when people who were interested in playing with it beyond the default configuration, Motorola basically told them "go away, we don't want you."

So interesting things could have happened but Motorola ensured they wouldn't.

I was thinking... isn't this what happened w/ tablet PC a decade ago? The concepts were there, the hardware was not.

It could be that dockable 'mini computers' of the past are good concepts, impeded by hardware and software. Maybe their time will come in the future.

 

[dlux]

ChrisMin[/url]":6cisnyom]"We raised $12,809,906, making the Edge the world’s biggest ever fixed crowdfunding campaign."
I dunno why it irritates me so much, but it does. No, you didn't raise ~$12,000,000, you failed to raise $32,000,000. RARGH

Well, you could narrow it down a little, and also say they failed to raise $12,809,907. Or, more ambitiously, they also failed to raise <dr.evil>one hundred BILLION dollars</dr.evil>.

(Hell, yesterday I failed to raise even a single dollar in the Indigogo campaign that I forgot to fill out the forms for.)

 

[ChaoticUnreal]

KeyboardCat[/url]":3iilvs80]

"But the gamble is worth it to create a single platform powering smartphones, tablets, PCs, servers, and cloud networks operating in giant data centers."

I can't wait for the day that Google/Amazon/facebook replace their data centers with a massive pile of Ubuntu smartphones...

</sarcasm>

I know your joking but the quote is not saying that everything should be running on a phone but that everything should be running the same platform (in this case ubuntu)

 

[crhilton]

blueshifter[/url]":32ys74oa]

Deus Casus[/url]":32ys74oa]The concept is good with the whole dock-able phone and one that I wouldn't mind trying out.

Haven't several of these (albeit Android-based) hit the market in the past? My niece had one.

Motorola made a phone that dual booted ubuntu and android. The Electrify (and w/e it was called on the major carriers).

 

[SPCagigas]

microlith[/url]":3qxpmnlr]
So interesting things could have happened but Motorola ensured they wouldn't.

That seems to be the story of Motorola's life over the past 15 years.