Canonical seeks crowd funding for Ubuntu Edge 'superphone'

Canonical, the company behind the free Linux-based Ubuntu operating system, is seeking crowd funding for the first batch of its Ubuntu Edge "superphone."

In a post on Indiegogo, Canonical likened the Ubuntu Edge project to Formula 1, as a testbed for new technologies that can later be applied to the mobile phone industry.

Highlighted in the Ubuntu smartphone is the ability to connect to any monitor and function as a desktop Ubuntu PC.

"This beautifully crafted smartphone is a proving ground for the most advanced mobile technologies on the horizon, a showpiece for true mobile innovation. And at the heart of it all is convergence: connect to any monitor and this Ubuntu phone transforms into an Ubuntu PC, with a fully integrated desktop OS and shared access to all files," it said.

As of Tuesday morning (Philippine time), the project had raised $2.462 million out of its $32-million goal. Canonical has until Aug. 21 to raise the $32 million.

Canonical said it is "fascinated" by converged computing, where "the smartphone in your pocket can also be the brain of the PC on your desk."

"The Ubuntu Edge is our very own superphone, a catalyst to drive the next generation of personal computing," it said.

The superphone uses a high-resolution display protected by pure sapphire crystal, which Canonical described as tougher than the glass in present smartphones.

It said the sapphire crystal is "so hard only diamond could scratch it."

On the other hand, it said the battery will use silicon-anode technology, "so we can squeeze more energy into the same dimensions."

"With that kind of muscle, this phone can be your main PC anywhere—and we really do mean anywhere. You can use the desktop wherever you can find a standard HDMI screen, and the dual-LTE chip will get you online with 4G even when you’re travelling abroad. It’s desktop computing gone truly mobile," it said.

As for the Ubuntu OS, it said a user can navigate by swiping over an edge of the screen and open apps on the left edge, and switch between open apps from the right.

Dual-boot

Canonical said its superphone can dual-boot between Ubuntu mobile OS and Google's Android, and can become a fully integrated Ubuntu desktop PC when docked.

It will sport a multi-core CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage, a 4.5-inch 1,280 x 720 HD sapphire crystal display, an 8-megapixel low-light rear camera, and 2-megapixel front camera.

The phone will feature dual-LTE, dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4, NFC, GPS, accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, stereo speakers with HD audio, dual-mic recording, and Active Noise Cancellation.

A separate article on TechHive.com said Canonical plans to build 40,000 of these superphones.

“We’ll use crowdfunding to see if there is a real market,” said Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth.

Ubuntu said potential users of Ubuntu Edge include early adopting consumers and the organizations that wish to use the product as a combined smartphone and a thin-client device. — VC, GMA News