Ubuntu presents the first tablet: It can be used as a desktop
Canonical raises the curtain on the first tablet Ubuntu, the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition , produced by Bq Spanish. It will go up on stage at the Mobile World Congress 2016, and will reach the market in the second quarter of 2016.
The conventional tablet market has been steadily declining, but that of detachables, hybrid models or otherwise able to offer a user experience in some ways similar to that of the PC is bucking and continues to show attractive growth signals. Starting from this premise, the attempt that Canonical performs making official the arrival of the first Ubuntu tablet is not altogether inappropriate.
The device presented in today, specifically the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition company product Bq Spanish, has the peculiarity of being able to be used, either as a conventional tablet, both, in combination with external devices (displays, keyboards and mouse), offering a user experience that is typical of a desktop system based on Ubuntu platform.
Canonical stresses that it is the first of a series of devices, arriving in the coming months, with a specific focus on the concept of ” convergence ” between the mobile experience and the desktop.
A result obtained, in the first place, thanks to the flexibility of the operating system Ubuntu, born as OS open source computer and, subsequently, integrated in other types of products. The same portfolio of Bq includes the Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition versions and E5 HD.
The approach to the development of the OS, to be clearer, more closely resembles that used by Microsoft Windows 10 that the road followed by Apple characterized by the separation of the mobile platforms iPhone and iPad and those of fixed systems based on OS X.
The advantage of the Aquaris M10 Ubuntu Edition compared to conventional tablet is inherent in devices that allow the user interface to be quickly adapted for use with a mouse and keyboard when the tablet is connected to an external display.
Apps go from full-screen mode, perfect for interaction through a touch screen, the classic playback window. Canonical has also planned a special split-screen mode, called Side Stage, which allows you to combine two apps on one screen use in tablet mode.
The Canonical, reading move (not too) between the lines, it is functional to the expansion of the ecosystem Ubuntu following a logic that other top players in the market have followed (you can go back to citing the example of Microsoft). To capture the attention of developers, offering an OS that can adapt to as many devices is undoubtedly a road passable.
In greater detail the technical specifications, it shows the presence of only WiFi connectivity (there is no one model equipped with SIM data) and hardware that faithfully replicates the counterparty based on the Android operating system.
The first Ubuntu tablet will be available for purchase in the second quarter of 2016 at the online store at Bq a price yet to be reported. To have a benchmark, it is recalled that Aquaris M10 with FHD display and Android operating system is proposed at a price of 279.90 euro.
The full prospectus of the technical features include :
BQ Aqaris M10 Ubuntu Edition
| Operating system | Ubuntu |
| SoC | MediaTek MT8163A@1.5 GHz |
| Display | 10.1″ FHD |
| Storage | 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB eMMC expandable via microSD up to 64 GB |
| Camera | 12 megapixel back with dual LED flash |
| Ports and connectivity | Micro HDMI Micro USB (OTG) WiFi 802.11 b / g / n Bluetooth 4.0 GPS |
| Audio | Front speakers |
| Sensors | Brightness Accelerometer, Digital Compass |
| Battery | Li-Po 7,280 mAh |
| Dimensions | 246 mm x 171 mm x 8.2 mm |
| Weight | 470 grams |
