Ubuntu does what Microsoft couldn't?

Ubuntu for tablets revealed with split screen multi-tasking, preview for Nexus slates coming this week

This is very different to what Windows offers, for example, with its separate WP8, RT and Windows 8 versions. In fact, Mark Shuttleworth claims to have "cracked this one in a way that has eluded Microsoft," not least because Ubuntu's approach means that smartphone- and tablet-sized apps can run side-by-side on the same device in split screen mode. For example, you could have the Skype phone app running at the same time as a tablet document editor. This feature will be called "side stage," and judging from the video -- which is all we have to go on at this point -- it looks like a nifty approach to multi-tasking, and perhaps slightly more flexible that Samsung's multi-window solution in TouchWiz.

Ubuntu for tablets revealed with split screen multi-tasking, preview for Nexus slates coming this week

I think there will be interesting times ahead.
 
Yes, wondered how long that would take to arrive.

A Nexus 10 at $300 equipped with that looks interesting indeed.

They might even get something out in 7 inch at a very low price.

2014 is quite a wait, though.
 

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Sooo......it's essentially the Desktop.
 

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A not so wise man once said:
It's not what Windows can do for you, but what you can do for Windows

Curious to know who said: 'I'm trying to help Microsoft.'
 

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And I have to say this, I read the article and what peaked my interest was the fact you can have Skype going right at the same time you have the document editor open. Ummmm....this is literally what Windows 8 does. Snap the Skype app next to the Desktop that has Word 2013 going. Not that big of a deal.

I don't know, I don't really believe in taking the same UI from one operating system and just plastering it on to another screen. Like ios on the iphone to ipad or android on the smartphone form factor to the tablet. Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 are two different things. Windows 8 will take better advantage of the form factor and screen size than Windows Phone. You have similar UI designs but are interacted with differently as you interact with a tablet or PC differently than you would with a smartphone. For example, Windows Phone has a speech service called TellMe where you press and hold the Start button to sound off certain commands that you would need to easily do, like when you're driving and need to make a call or sound off a text message. Windows 8 doesn't have that. It has a Speech Recognition feature that allows FULL control of the UI through speech. You scroll horizontally on Windows 8 with the Start Screen, you do this vertically on Windows Phone as that's designed on how you hold and interact with the device. Differences are subtle, make the distinctions between devices and OS's.
 

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From the video, it sounds like you can run the phone app within the desktop and run all phone apps while desktop programs are running as well, and move them around. This is something that I've been saying that Windows 8 should have been able to do from the outset.
 

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Ok, I will be watching this very closely.
MS may just have a run for it's money.

I am not against this stuff, just want to know that it's actually a functional desktop experience on a tablet.

There just may be a battle ahead. And if this and Windows Tablets take off at all, Ipad and Android are in even more trouble.

I also agree with Ray8 on the whole phone thing. If Ubuntu is able to create a super experience, (which I have already stated, Microsoft did not in how it presents Apps, however, that is not a slam on Win8, I am just very interested in the Desktop for Tablet experience.), and it appears that Ubuntu has taken my idea of making the apps run windowed rather than full or 1/4 screen, but can also run that way. This is what should have been done in the first place.

Anyway., this will be a very curious exciting time ahead.
 

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From the video, it sounds like you can run the phone app within the desktop and run all phone apps while desktop programs are running as well, and move them around. This is something that I've been saying that Windows 8 should have been able to do from the outset.
This can be done with android apps and BlueStacks, but to me, I don't really know if having small smartphone sized windowed apps on Windows 8 would be the greatest thing in the world. Maybe if you are using a mouse exclusively, but in the whole big picture of things, that on a Surface Pro or other touch enabled PC seems iffy. It's not really, how you say, Microsoft really wants to do as that's not a real rebuild of Windows for touch and tablet. Also, Windows Phone apps, if they were to run in the Windows 8 style, just wouldn't work or look very great as again, those apps were designed for the form factor of Windows Phone, not a Windows 8 tablet. This is why when a developer builds a WinRT app, they have to spend a few more weeks to get it on Windows Phone as the UI needs to be changed as there aren't Charms in Windows Phone and such.

I'd rather personally see that route exploited however. An app needs to be able to adapt to the form factor of the device its running on, versus just running the app in a small window. It's about user experience quite frankly.

Actually, I'd like to use VLC player in this example. The development team of VLC are working on a WinRT app for Windows 8 and Windows Phone and of course, Windows RT. They are taking EVERY single bit of the Desktop app and building all those features into a WinRT app. Some of those developers hate WinRT coding as it's different and therefore more complex than Win32. They weren't planning on a Windows Phone 8 app, but seeing as how the APIs and development environment of Windows Phone and RT are so similar, not building the app for it would just be lazy. So they will be releasing the WinRT app within a few months for Windows, and then probably a month later for Windows Phone 8.
 

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I'd rather see Ubuntu powered smartphones and tablets over android smartphones and tablets. At least Ubuntu is more of a proper OS so to speak. Like, it's not like how android is where a smartphone and tablet don't do much over each other. It's more like Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, both built out of the same guts but work on their appropriate form factors, except Windows does it better I find. Windows against Ubuntu, the classic war of elder days of Windows against Linux.
 

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Interesting. Uses the four sides for menus. Perhaps this is what Blue or 9 is about....
 

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This was just for you Bill, just so that you don't have a boring day. I note also that you still can't ignore my posts, I'm deeply embedded in your head, aren't I?

However, if you took off those blinkers, you'd realise that this has a lot to do with Microsoft. It's clear that others can see beyond the simplistic view that you take to most posts.

Tell us again how many Android and Apple products you have and how terrible they all are.
 

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This was just for you Bill, just so that you don't have a boring day. I note also that you still can't ignore my posts, I'm deeply embedded in your head, aren't I?

However, if you took off those blinkers, you'd realise that this has a lot to do with Microsoft. It's clear that others can see beyond the simplistic view that you take to most posts.

Tell us again how many Android and Apple products you have and how terrible they all are.

You know I have a lot, and they're quite good at what they do, even good, but they're not Windows. I want Microsoft to succeed in their quest with bringing everything together, there's no denying that.

My vision is the same as theirs, one ecosystem, it just makes sense.

What I have at the moment is a mishmash of tech that doesn't do well together, I would like to see it do weller.
 

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Well, I am dual booting win8 laptop with Ubunutu 12.10
Time to start learning some ubuntu just incase.

And I know I have already broken it and need to reinstall. But that's another story.

With the way things are going, it's not a bad idea to get caught up on this stuff, cause let's be honest, it's a very real thing that Ubuntu could catch on with the devices coming from them, if Windows 8 (if we are being honest) while a good idea and the concept is half there, doesn't flesh out better, like I hope it does (lots of changes are actually needed, not bashing cause I like the ideas for Tablet), Ubuntu Devices could be the next rage thing.

If that's the case, some of us should (who are not) be ready.

The last time I really looked at Ubuntu was a couple of years ago. But, looking at it now, things have come a ways.
 

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Linux still has issues, there are still lot's of shortfalls, but as I said some time earlier, I think it is now getting an infusion of money on the quiet and could start to become a serious contender. I don't think this is Microsoft's doing at all, but Androids; however, Microsoft is possibly acting somewhat as a catalyst in its desire to be an Apple or Google. That leaves the door wide open for a not so newcomer.
 

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I wanted to try Ubuntu a while ago, so I installed it on my Dell. Wi Fi was broken, Ubuntu didn't support the wireless drivers. Fail. I tried my wife's newer, better Dell. Same thing. It looks interesting, but its not made to just work. I'm not going through the painful process of using the terminal to manually fix the OSs shortcomings.
 

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Good find Ray.
Interesting times ahead :)

Keep well and regards
 

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