Make way for a Linux Ubuntu-powered smartphone

This year looms as the year when smartphone operating systems really start to diversify.

Canonical, maker of the free Linux-based Ubuntu operating system for desktop and laptop computers, has announced a version of the OS for smartphones.

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"Your phone is more immersive, the screen is less cluttered, and you flow naturally from app to app with edge magic. The phone becomes a full PC and thin client when docked. Ubuntu delivers a magical phone that is faster to run, faster to use and fits perfectly into the Ubuntu family," it said.It added the OS smartphone has "all-native core apps and no Java overhead," and can run well on entry-level smartphones.But it said one of Ubuntu's advantages is that it uses the same drivers as Google's Android."

So now it’s easy to bring a better experience to customers all over the world," it said.Canonical also said developers can "create gorgeous native apps or lightweight HTML5 apps easily with our SDK."

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"Repurpose web apps fast, so they look and work like their native cousins. With one OS for all form factors, one app can have interfaces for phone and desktop – in just one upload to one store," it said.

Canonical also said Ubuntu uses simple natural swiping gestures from the edges of the screen to make it easier to access content and switch between apps.
A separate report on TechRadar said that since Ubuntu uses the drivers and kernels from Android, which is also based on Linux, "it can be easily installed on any smartphone currently running Google's OS, and also means manufacturers won't need to change any of their hardware to support the newOS."But TechRadar said users may not be able to get hold of pure Ubuntu phone until the end of this year, or even early 2014.