Ubuntu for tablets announced

Canonical announced today that it is working on a tablet version of the Ubuntu operating system (OS) and will make a developer preview available for Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 devices on 21 February 2013.

This comes just over a month after the company behind Ubuntu unveiled plans for a phone OS, demonstrating early builds of its new software on Galaxy Nexus smartphones.

In the press release accompanying the launch, Canonical outlined the following features for Ubuntu on tablets:

• Multi-tasking: Ubuntu will let a phone app show on the screen at the same time as a tablet app.
• Secure multi-user: Multiple accounts on one tablet with full encryption for personal data, combined with the Ubuntu security model.
• Voice controlled HUD productivity: The Heads-Up Display, unique to Ubuntu, aims to make it fast and easy to do complex things on touch devices, and to transform touch interfaces for rich applications to bring all the power of the PC to your tablet.
• Edge magic for cleaner apps: Screen edges are used for navigation between apps, settings and controls. No physical or soft buttons are required.
• Content focus: Media is presented on the customisable home screen, which can search hundreds of sources. Ubuntu pitched this as “perfect for carriers and content owners” that want to highlight their own content, while still providing access to a global catalogue.
• Full convergence: The tablet interface is presented by exactly the same OS and code that provides the phone, PC and TV interfaces.

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