Canonical introduces the Ubuntu tablet interface, which will compete with Android, iOS, and Windows with its own take on multitasking and advanced security features. The launch is the next step in Canonical's quest to unify phones, tablets, PCs, and TVs, PCWorld reported.
Following Canonical's launch of Ubuntu for phones in January, the company now adds a new tablet user interface tailored for devices with screen sizes from 6 inches to 20 inches and resolutions from 100 to 450 ppi (pixels per inch), the company said.
The resolution leaves room to grow compared to today's tablets. For example, the Nexus 10's 10-inch screen packs in 300 pixels per inch.
Users can start testing the interface on Feb. 21, when the Touch Developer Preview of Ubuntu will be published with installation instructions for the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets, as well as smartphones such as the Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus. Like any cautious company, it notes that the Touch Developer Preview is a developer build and not a consumer-ready release.
The first tablets are expected to arrive at the end of the year, according to an FAQ published by Canonical.
In general, Ubuntu "is easy to enable on most chipset designs" that are currently running Android, Canonical said.
