My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to try the Ubuntu Tablet OS Developer preview on my Nexus 7.
Things I liked (over Android)
Quick access to apps via Unity sidebar.(Android has “sidebar” and “unity” apps)
Challenges ahead for the Ubuntu OS (in no particular order)
- Keyboard needs a lot of improvement
- Less intuitive (had trouble figuring out how the swipe gestures work)
- Show me the apps! Currently the Twitter, FB and Gmail apps are just shortcuts to the web. Nothing like native apps!
- Google integration. Yes I am a Google power user
- Switching between apps is clumsy (Android intents rock!)
- Closing apps is painful (you need to swipe up from the bottom edge, then press the “X” icon.
- Getting it to work on different screens. Some dummy apps clipped (see Game and Calculator images below)
Pictures
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| Home screen (currently it is a static and does not do anything) |
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| Recent apps (swipe up from the bottom edge) |
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| The Unity bar (swipe rightwards from the left edge of the screen) |
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| Gallery |
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| Videos |
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| Dummy Home screen |
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| Dummy Music content |
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| Dummy Call screen |
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| Home screen (downloadable content) |
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| Dummy Messages |
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| Dummy Music screen (does nothing) |
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| Game gone for a toss (does nothing) |
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| Battery panel (swipe down from the battery icon) |
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| Could not change the Date/Time (swipe down from the Date icon) |
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| “Sharing” screen |
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| People home screen |
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| Dummy Calculator (clipped, does nothing) |
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| Notes app (worst keyboard ever) |
Conclusion
Ubuntu Tablet OS has a LOT of work to do. If you are a Ubuntu Tablet OS developer, then you should stop reading this post and get back to work while I get back to flashing Android 4.2.2!