Major smartphone manufacturer Samsung will release devices this year running an open source Linux-based mobile platform, as it looks to reduce its dependency on Google's Android.
The devices will run a version of Tizen, the Intel-backed platform that resides within the Linux Foundation and is designed to offer a consistent user experience across devices (say, between a PC and a mobile device). It is the successor to the now-defunct MeeGo platform.
"We plan to release new, competitive Tizen devices within this year and will keep expanding the lineup depending on market conditions," Samsung told Bloomberg, offering no additional details.
Samsung has had a vested interest in moving itself away from Android following Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of smartphone maker Motorola. However, even if Tizen manages to take off, don't expect Samsung's Android line to disappear anytime soon.
"[Android] is key to the company’s continued success in the mobile market," writes All Things Digital's John Paczkowski.
"So expect Tizen to begin as more of a regional play that could evolve into a global one if — if — it gathers the necessary momentum."
Still, for those of you thinking ahead, a Tizen SDK is available to play around with, with a final release of Tizen 2.0 expected this month.
Mark Shuttleworth has a pitch out on YouTube. It looks partially designed to court hardware manufacturers. I wonder how many people will talk to him at CES this week.
Ubuntu is also looking to take down Android on Phones: Why Mark Shuttleworth thinks Ubuntu on phones will outclass Android - http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/01/why-mark-shuttleworth-thinks-ubuntu-on-ph ones-will-outclass-android/
The pics of the Ubuntu phones are very nice. The UI looks super slick. I hope it turns out well as they will be the most open phones out of the box ever made.
Android is going to have some serious competition. I was going to get a WIN8 phone but now I am looking at a Linux phone.
This quote from the Ars article is for the programmers.
"Another advantage cited by Shuttleworth is the ability to run "native apps, whereas Android has the overhead of Java."
To me this also brings up a possibility. Steam for Ubuntu phones? I know Valve is looking at this idea. At least I hope that they are.
That's what the world needs, another Smartphone/Tablet OS. As if Windows 8 hasn't shown anyone, that there isn't need for another system, there's the expensive iOS world and there is the cost free Android world, why bother with a 3rd system?
I'd be more interested in Android if it didn't force me to write apps in java (I'm not a fan of java) but a Linux phone OS might let me write in C# (my favorite language) or at least C++ (not my favorite but a hell of a lot better then java).
@k s
Look into Xamarin(Pricey, but if you don't mind bridging Java to C# you can do most of it yourself for free), or even just the Android NDK. You can create Android apps using either C# or C++ as your primary language.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpWHJDLsqTU&feature=player_embedded
ones-will-outclass-android/
The pics of the Ubuntu phones are very nice. The UI looks super slick. I hope it turns out well as they will be the most open phones out of the box ever made.
Android is going to have some serious competition. I was going to get a WIN8 phone but now I am looking at a Linux phone.
This quote from the Ars article is for the programmers.
"Another advantage cited by Shuttleworth is the ability to run "native apps, whereas Android has the overhead of Java."
To me this also brings up a possibility. Steam for Ubuntu phones? I know Valve is looking at this idea. At least I hope that they are.
Look into Xamarin(Pricey, but if you don't mind bridging Java to C# you can do most of it yourself for free), or even just the Android NDK. You can create Android apps using either C# or C++ as your primary language.
@Tom Thanks