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The Engadget Interview: Richard Collins, head of Ubuntu mobile products

Posted by slacker_mike on · 6 comments
http://www.engadget.com; By Sharif Sakr 		Mail this story
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Don't ask, don't get. That's why we rang up Canonical and requested an early build of Ubuntu for the Galaxy Nexus. (Politely declined.) Next, we asked if maybe the company could speed up development of its dual OS solution for Android, since we're really looking forward to it. (Funny looks.) Finally, we wondered if there was any possibility of dropping by the London HQ and interviewing someone in charge. ("Come on over!") We promptly found ourselves sitting across a desk from Richard Collins, who left the Symbian Foundation 18 months ago to work at Canonical, and who has a very firm grasp of how Ubuntu is going to be hauled into the mobile era. He explains everything after the break, so if you have a big OS-shaped gap in your belly, or if you're just intrigued to hear the proposition of a new player, read on.

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Comments (6)

r_a_trip ·
Our strategy includes giving carriers and manufacturers ways of delivering services in conjunction with us -- we plan to give them more influence.

More cr@pware, more lockdown. Might as well go iOS. At least that is lockdown sans the cr@p.
Jeff91 ·
Hope you don't use anything Android if you feel that way r_a_trip

The truth of the matter is that the ENTIRE mobile market is a sh#t hole freedom/software wise.

~Jeff
slacker_mike ·
Personally the idea of an Ubuntu phone which would integrate seamlessly with a Linux desktop would be appealing to me. While I have doubts that Canonical can get a true foothold in the mobile market I hope it happens.
r_a_trip ·
Hope you don't use anything Android if you feel that way r_a_trip

Incidentally, I'm on an android phone, but it certainly isn't running Samsung's Touchwizz. CyanogenMod removes most of the headaches, but yes, while Android is the most open platform, it is extremely far from ideal.

Giving carriers and manufacturers more leeway with Ubuntu Phone will probably make it worse than Android right now. Canonical better think it thoroughly through what they want Ubuntu Phone to be and take appropriate measures. If they just build it and then let the barbarians, sorry mobile business partners, lose on it, I'm afraid of the monsters it might produce.
CFWhitman ·
It generally seems like if you want an uncluttered phone, you have to root and reflash it to an alternative firmware or buy a developer aimed unlocked version (usually at somewhat of a premium price). The phone I have right now belongs to the company I work for, so there is no altering the base system (of course the upside is there is also no bill).
caitlyn ·
I've stuck with Blackberry so far. If I felt that I could get a FOSS phone I probably would try it. As Jeff points out the Android implementations I've seen are anything but free. Blackberry 10 looks very promising indeed, as in some unique features and all the security Blackberry is known for. I honestly hope it succeeds in the marketplace. If we're going to have close software phones let's at least have plenty of competition.

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