Canonical takes to Indiegogo to fund Ubuntu Edge smartphone

Shawn Knight

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Canonical, the group behind the Ubuntu Linux distribution, has launched a campaign on Indiegogo in order to fund a smartphone project called Ubuntu Edge. The company has some pretty lofty ambitions with a target of raising $32 million over the next 31 days but thus far, the project is off to a solid start.

Unlike traditional smartphones and mobile operating systems that simply look to complement the desktop, the Ubuntu Edge aims to make the device the central component of a desktop PC. The hardware itself will consist of a single piece of textured metal with a 4.5-inch screen under a piece of sapphire crystal. It will operate at 1,280 x 720 and is said to focus on color accuracy and dynamic range over pure pixel density.

The handheld will be powered by the “fastest available” multi-core processor that runs alongside 4GB of RAM and a whopping 128GB of storage. Furthermore, there will be a dual-LTE chip for greater compatibility across wireless carriers and a battery that should be able to keep pace. The company says the device will redefine PC portability and if they are able to pull it off, that could very well be an accurate statement.

Interested parties will need to invest at least $600 (price jumps to $830 after today) to secure an Ubuntu Edge handset at launch. Shipping is free in the US and UK but if you live elsewhere, you’ll need to come up with an additional $30. At present, more than $300,000 has been pledged toward the Ubuntu Edge but there’s still a very long road ahead.

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So they need "kickstarter" money for the phone, then what bout apps? More "kickstarter" money? Oh its a computer tower on your pocket? Three words: niche market = fail. Can't you get a Windows 8 tablet for $830?
 
So they need "kickstarter" money for the phone, then what bout apps? More "kickstarter" money? Oh its a computer tower on your pocket? Three words: niche market = fail. Can't you get a Windows 8 tablet for $830?

Wow you should stop jumping to the impossible, this isn't a company backed by billions following a company profiting billions its a company with millions following a OS that is free and open source stop acting like this is microsoft making a phone.

You can buy a PC for $5.6k if you want but a windows fail tablet for $830 is too much and this is a phone packing serious power that doesn't have the size of a big tablet...
 
Looks like a great phone with a great dev team backing it up.
I agree. This is most likely the future of the phone. Smartphones are stuck in a rut at the moment with no new innovations on the horizon and this could be the boost they need. At the moment all they're doing is trading on their displays to wow consumers and that can only go so far. The latest & greatest smartphones can't do anything today that a 2 year old mid range smartphone can't either. In this case the old saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same" holds true.
 
The more competition the better, so far this phone seems to be pretty cool and highly competitive the linux based os is gonna be great its a shame im already on a contracg as I would definately shell out to get one of these!
 
So they need "kickstarter" money for the phone, then what bout apps? More "kickstarter" money? Oh its a computer tower on your pocket? Three words: niche market = fail. Can't you get a Windows 8 tablet for $830?

If you want a phone where Google (some aspects of Android are still there), MS, and Apple are not involved, this is for you xD.
 
So they need "kickstarter" money for the phone, then what bout apps? More "kickstarter" money? Oh its a computer tower on your pocket? Three words: niche market = fail. Can't you get a Windows 8 tablet for $830?

If you want a phone where Google (some aspects of Android are still there), MS, and Apple are not involved, this is for you xD.

I have to agree. I hate Unity and wish to any god listening that Canonical would get their heads out of their arses and offer choice like they used to, but this is certainly going to be better than the big three on my phone. I'm willing to give it a look.
 
I can picture Kevin O'Leary tearing this guy apart on Shark Tank.

Kevin: What is stopping your (hardware) competitors from crushing you like the bug that you are? Nothing about this phone is proprietary! It doesn't even exist.

Mark: Our OS is proprietary.

Kevin: I didn't see much of your OS in your video. All I saw was you going on about hardware, and you said you don't want to get into the phone business. I'm confused.

Mark: Well our screen will have the best colour accuracy, and can't be scratched.

Kevin: Can't be scratched? *laughs* What is this Sapphire going to do about cracks?
All I saw was you going on and on about some over the top hardware specifications. How much are you asking for?

Mark: 32 Million dollars.

Kevin: .........................................

Barely showed the OS
Mentioned no patents, or proprieties....


"Learn from what you see... and what you don't see"
 
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