Canonical’s Ubuntu OS perhaps isn’t the household name that iOS and Android are, but as each year passes, it inches closer to its dream of a fully converged platform – one that runs the same core code across all of its devices.
In part, it’s already achieved this with the launch of its latest BQ (M10) tablet, but it’s a flexibility that’s yet to be fully supported on smartphones . For this tablet, it means you get a custom-designed UI, not a stretched version of the smartphone version, and if you dock it or plug it into a monitor, the UI changes again, adapting to how the tablet is being used.
The M10 offers up a full HD 10.1-inch display, 1.5GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of internal storage, with the option to pop in a microSD card. There’s also 2GB of RAM to keep things ticking over, which won’t sound very much if you’re more used to perusing flagship Android devices, and an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and dual-flash.
This tablet, however, isn’t really designed to compete with Android or iOS. Yes, it splashes around in the same pool, but it’s not aiming at the same goals or the same potential purchasers . Shifting millions of units isn’t the measure of success Canonical is focusing on with its long-term goals and it deliberately chose not to lock its devices up with its own services, Canonical CEO Jane Silber explained to TNW.
Sales is obviously an important piece of measuring success – more devices in more hands mean a larger ecosystem of users, which in turn promotes more development, and thus more users – but Canonical’s under no illusions about competing with Samsung’s shipment numbers for the year.
Returns is another important metric for the company as it gives an impression of product fit and faults. Silber says the return rates have been “negligible” at less than two percent.
“One of the other reasons that we look at return rate is that some of our competitors, the other folks who have tried to establish a new phone platform, have really suffered in that regard,” she added. “This year coming up we will ship new devices, where the hardware allows it, they will be convergence devices, particularly on phones – we need a video out capability, and not all phones have that.”
On the phone side of the equation, Silber says that there are new devices coming to market in 2016 from its existing partners, as well as being in discussions with other manufacturers.
Crucially, 2016 will be the first time that Ubuntu’s phones are offered in carrier’s retail stores, which is a key component in the ‘mindshare’ battle between devices . Until now, Canonical has been operating a direct to consumer model with BQ and Meizu.
Whether or not it will be enough to propel the company towards its internal goals for the year remains to be seen, however. In some ways, the launch of a tablet as the size of that market is in decline is an interesting choice in itself.
Countering this, Silber notes that the devices that do still seem to be appealing to users are the ones that have more than one use, which sits nicely with Ubuntu’s convergence approach.
She added that there’s pent up demand in the US that the company hasn’t been able to tap to-date, but that the M10 is the first step on that road due to fewer technical limitations.
It’ll be on sale from Q2 this year directly from BQ at launch.
Read next: Shuttleworth says Ubuntu’s future is more exciting than space travel
Why it’s okay that Surface tablets don’t include the Type Cover
Microsoft makes the Surface better every year. But with each year, the media continues wondering about one nagging issue: why is the Type Cover an additional $129?
I was long part of that dubious camp, but the more both Surface hardware and Windows software improve, the more Microsoft’s decision to sell its main accessory separately makes sense (new Surface Book notwithstanding).
Simply put, not everyone needs it.
This revelation was triggered by good old empirical evidence; I’ve seen four Surfaces in the wild without Microsoft’s main accessory recently. All but one of these people still had a keyboard with them, but were simply using one of a myriad of Bluetooth sets instead.
That’s a small subset of Surface owners, but you simply don’t have to buy the cover if you already have a keyboard and mouse lying around somewhere as well.
You have alternatives. There are cheaper third-party keyboards , and older Type Covers still work fine on the Surface Pro 4. If you could already cope with the typing and mouse experience on the SP3 – I’ve survived the past year and a half without serious trauma – then you can save those $129 for something else, like pizza.
That’s also not to comment on the Surface’s overall price point; I do wish the tablets were a little more affordable to undercut Apple’s products, but I’d rather the tablet be cheaper on the whole than just bundled for the sake of being bundled. After all, I haven’t heard of anyone being caught off-guard ordering a Surface Pro 3 only to be disappointed to find it doesn’t come with a keyboard, and many retailers offer a Surface+Type Cover combo anyway.
The Surface mantra is more about versatility than simply being the best tablet or laptop (again, the Surface Book notwithstanding). You can use it as either, but you don’t have to use it as both. And with Windows 10 , the software lets you use your computer the way you want to, instead of forcing you into mobile or desktop interfaces.
Taken from that perspective, the Type Cover’s exclusion in the Surface package isn’t so outlandish – you choose what you want Surface to be. In any case, forcing the keyboard on users would be a sign that Microsoft is giving up on Windows 10 as a touch-friendly operating system; if Microsoft admits you need a keyboard and touch pad to use the Surface, then it would just be holding back Windows’ progress to become a competitive touch-first platform (no one wonders why the iPad doesn’t include a keyboard).
Yes, the Type Cover will likely be an added cost for 90% of users, but I like the having the choice.
Top Father’s Day gifts from TNW Deals
If you are still looking for the perfect way to treat your dad, check out these great gadget deals — they are all guaranteed to be delivered by Father’s Day if you order this week, and they all come with special low prices.
For the fun-loving dad, the Code Black is perfect. This palm-sized drone is ideal for new quadcopter pilots, with automatic six-axis stabilization. Its compact size also means it can fly indoors safely, and it has adjustable levels of control sensitivity.
With a bit of flying experience under your belt, you can start to pull the pre-programmed flips — and in this deal, you get a “Crash Pack” of spare parts to keep the Code Black flying if things go wrong. Get it now for $115 with free shipping.
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The Veho makes a great gift for the more laid-back, music-loving father. Not only does it offer six watts of beautiful sound through dual acoustic drivers, it has the classic looks of yesteryear.
The speaker also sports Bluetooth for wireless listening and hands-free calling, while the internal battery can power the Veho through eight hours of continuous playback when fully charged. Order it now for $63 and get free shipping.
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If your Dad is already the Inspector Gadget of the neighborhood, you would do well to help keep all his gizmos powered. This backup battery is surprisingly compact, but it holds enough juice to recharge your smartphone 6-7 times over.
It also has three ports, which are optimized for different USB devices and allow for simultaneous charging. You can see how much the battery has left to give via an array of indicator lights, and the built-in flashlight is useful for night-time emergencies. Get it now for $34.99 including shipping.
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The travel razor is an old Father’s Day favorite, but this one offers something a little different — it is as small as a smartphone, and it charges via a built-in USB cable.
That means it can be charged from a laptop (for instance), and it is still powerful enough to give a comfortable, clean shave. If your Dad is on the road with any regularity, the ShaveTech will be appreciated. Grab one now for $18.99 with free shipping.
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Finally, an audio-visual luxury. The Blumoo is a Bluetooth receiver that puts a universal remote on your smartphone.
The receiver has ports for virtually any home entertainment equipment — TV, Blu-ray player, TiVo and so on — and once you install the Blumoo app, you can select the device you want to control. You then get the specific controls for that device on your phone screen. No Dad could resist…get it now for $84.99 with free shipping.
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