Ubuntu for Android will be offered pre-installed by manufacturers and won't be available to download for regular users for now

against the likes of WP7? Restricting distribution to OEMs only is not enough. Sources have to be closed, roots have to be locked, and the "experience" controlled. Have they bribed any manufacturers yet?

It'd be easier for Canonical to simply sell android gsm unlocked phones w/ UbUnity, while still offering the above 'pre-installed for manufacturers'.

Quoting:against the likes of WP7? Restricting distribution to OEMs only is not enough.

How they are going to do it doesn't matter, they will find and implement all possible avenues to accomplish their control. What is important is how to counter such threats.

Canonical is following Google's approach. It is not as bad as the approach that is being taken by the various Android based devices, but I personally consider it a dangerous threat, which ultimately will lead to controlling FOSS/Linux in the larger IT market.

The Spark, KDE tablet which was recently announced by the KDE team, is the first effort to counter such threats. It is very important and needs to be supported to make it a success. It could be a huge success, not in the hands of the techies only, but also in the hands of the average users when more resourceful and advanced units are announced. Otherwise, we will end up with a new set of monopolies, not as bad as the monstrous current desktop monopoly, but never the less monopolies that will limit customer freedom and strengthen control over handheld devices and consumer information.

This code will need to be released at some point under GPL. If it isn't Canonical will face a world of hurt. The guy from Canonical on the video was spinning this as home users cannot get everything up and running properly because it is hardware specific. I don't buy that as a complete explanation. Sounds more like an excuse to gain a commercial advantage.