Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview for Nexus devices released

Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview for Nexus devices released

Ubuntu Touch – the same developer preview of the Open Source mobile platform that we showed you in a video sometime ago has just been released ass Developer Preview for the Galaxy Nexus range of devices. Owners of Nexus devices can now flash Ubuntu Touch Developer Preview onto their devices, as Canonical today made available the preview ROMs of Ubuntu’s mobile version. While the preview doesn’t run all of the expected features, you can still make phone calls, text messages, connect to the Internet over Wi-Fi, use both the front and rear cameras, and mess around on your phone on ADB (Android Developer Bridge).

The devices officially supported for the developer previews are the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7, and Nexus 10. You can check out an in-depth, step-by-step installation guide on the Ubuntu Wiki.

Alongside the developer preview, Canonical has also released the alpha version of the SDK for Ubuntu Touch. While the SDK has been in development for quite some time, the new features added in the latest version impressed the developers enough for it to warrant a release.

One of the biggest features of the SDK is remote app deployment, which lets you execute apps you create straight from the IDE. Applications developed with Qt Creator can now be transferred and executed to a device through a simple shortcut.

You can check out more information on the SDK on the Ubuntu Touch page.

Ubuntu Touch Features

Ubuntu Touch for Tablets is said to be able to run a phone app to run on the screen at the same time as a tablet app. Among the most notable features offered by Ubuntu for Tablets is a new capability Canonical calls “side stage” multitasking, which aims to enable efficient multitasking and improve the usability of phone apps on tablets.

The interface will allow multiple user accounts on one tablet with full encryption for personal data, combined with Ubuntu’s security model. Canonical claims that Ubuntu for Tablets will have the power of the PC in a tablet thanks to a Heads-Up Display that will make it fast and easy to perform complex tasks on touch devices.

Ubuntu will feature a streamlined way of getting into apps and settings that won’t require buttons. Swiping the screen from one of the four sides will bring up apps, settings and other controls, completely eliminating the need of the home and back buttons.

Based on the Unity UI, the same UI which powers the current build of the Ubuntu OS,  it features a side-pane that lets you multitask and pin apps for easier access; a feature reminiscent of Windows 8 OS. Switching between apps is easy as the UI is based on gestures. The UI makes use of all the edges of the screen to minimise navigation.