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Idea #23527: Sub Distribution for Tablets and Touchscreens

Written by Selfish_Meme the 31 Jan 10 at 00:24. Related project: Ubuntu mobile edition. Status: New
Rationale
I am proposing this idea because I am thinking that Tablet PC's are going to be a very fast growing segment of the overall PC market, just like netbooks. In fact I can see netbooks and netbook/tablets replacing traditional formats more and more.
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Solution #1: Sub Distribution
Written by Selfish_Meme the 31 Jan 10 at 00:24.
Distribution light enough for most sub Netbook Mobile Devices. Its apt Repository should only be for main system functions and not most normal applications. This is to keep it small and light. Mostly a browser and desktop.
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Solution #2: Minimal chrome interface
Written by Selfish_Meme the 4 Feb 10 at 00:30.
Every OS Application and or System UI should have minimal chrome and be optimized for mobile devices. This is to ensure usability for touchscreens.
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Solution #3: No Menus
Written by Selfish_Meme the 4 Feb 10 at 00:45.
Homescreen/Desktop should have no menus with all functions reached through desktop icons, widgets and docks. This is for usability for touchscreens and small devices where menus become cramped and unusable.
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Solution #4: Light App Download Page
Written by Selfish_Meme the 4 Feb 10 at 00:57.
WebOS style 'apps' that are light single feature applications downloaded from a Web based app repository. I think this type of ecosystem is vital for mobile devices.
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Solution #5: UNR for tablets and cellphones
Written by pererik87 the 17 Feb 10 at 20:06.
Make better touch screen and "cellphone keyboard" support for UNR and others.

The technology is moving so fast, making the entire repo as it is in UNR is much wiser. The cellphones have 564 + ram and 400 mhz ++. processors. Soon it will be more. Adams tablet is fully capable of running heavy kubuntu when it comes out, whilst a lighter desktop environment is advised.
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Solution #6: Large is better for touchscreen
Written by hitham the 15 Feb 10 at 21:42.
I suggest to make the main panel a little bit larger to make Ubuntu easy to use with people who are using devices with touchscreen feature , I think size 30 pixel Is good . Thank you all
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Solution #7: NBR for Touchscreens
Written by pererik87 the 17 Feb 10 at 14:23.
Create a similar project as NBR but optimised for Touch screens. Flipping pages functions, click and drag functions.
Perfect for Adams notion ink. Android has no repository yet, and if Ubuntu makes a move it will own the market, with its giant repository.
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Solution #8: Scaling ability for main panels
Written by C.H.E.W.S. the 28 Feb 10 at 00:18.
This not to get rid of NRB for touchscreens idea but to complement it. See the screen magnifier does not always work for me so I have to lower the resolution for my Grandma witch blurs the panels. Making the panels and every thing else easily scale able it would make it more useful on a touch screen but also more customizable for special needs. Plus some may prefer the default interface and in linux we are all about choice!
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Solution #9: Focus Efforts on MeeGo & Android instead, and Desktop Ubuntu
Written by tebibyte the 2 Jan 11 at 06:38.
Why reinvent the wheel? MeeGo is Linux's best shot at being truly open. Android is also Linux based, but Google has it on a leash called Android Market.

The market is over-saturated with tablet OS's. Another tablet OS will confuse consumers even more. Manufacturers will be unlikely to adopt it.


Blackbery+ Windows Mobile 7 + Android + IPHONE+ symbian+palmos+meego = too much competition and confusion


Propose your solution

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Comments
tntricker wrote on the 31 Jan 10 at 04:19
"app repository with web apps like Web OS for widgets"

Why is this needed for tablet and not any other machine?

"It should be very cut down with a minimal chrome interface"

What makes Ubuntu Netbook Remix an invalid candidate for this? It's already icon and tab driven and is specifically targeted for mobile and small screen devices, which most tablets are.

Selfish_Meme wrote on the 3 Feb 10 at 03:32
I am thinking this would be targeted at machines of Intel Atom type of power.

We could do the base OS mostly using the normal app repository.

When it comes to other types of apps though we might want to encourage use of light single purpose apps. Instead of having another complex repository maybe just a web 'store' like the Mozilla add-ons pages.

This could help people keep their system 'light' and easy to use.

Unfortunately the Netbook Remix is mostly normal Ubuntu with a UI overlay.

The touch system provides the means for a new input method that the netbook remix is not explicitly aimed at. Touch screens benefit from clear space around contact points, the netbook remix is designed to be used with a mouse.

cheesehead (Brainstorm admin) wrote on the 3 Feb 10 at 08:00
Please separate you different solutions:
- Separate remix for tablets
- Minimal chrome-like interface
- Home screen without menus
- Separate repository

tntricker wrote on the 4 Feb 10 at 02:10
"Intel Atom type of power"
a large marketshare of netbooks have the same Atom chipset

"Unfortunately the Netbook Remix is mostly normal Ubuntu with a UI overlay"
How much of the OS are you thinking of rewriting? theme? gnome? xwindows?

"Instead of having another complex repository maybe just a web 'store' like the Mozilla add-ons pages"
Isn't this fulfilled by the software centre?

"Touch screens benefit from clear space around contact points, the netbook remix is designed to be used with a mouse"
I haven't seen any good software released for a touchscreen yet, so what do you have in mind?

fizyk wrote on the 4 Feb 10 at 16:37
http://soltesza.wordpress.com/2010/01/28/apples-ipad-vs-notion-inks-adam-tablet -with-ubuntu-battle-of-two-worlds/

Selfish_Meme wrote on the 8 Feb 10 at 02:40
Lighter weight processors, and touchscreens are here to stay and for a good touchscreen experience a proper touchscreen UI is needed, and for slower processors a light weight OS is needed.

Selfish_Meme wrote on the 8 Feb 10 at 02:42
And its already been done - thanks fizyk

jordan wrote on the 10 Jun 10 at 01:21
Should also include RDC/VNC/other thin client technologies. Biggest advantage would be use as a monitor/psuedo-thin client to a local computer. Use it as a monitor at your desk with a bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Pick it up and use your home computer on the john, in the garage or the kitchen. Take it to the office and use your work computer through it. Go the coffe shop use it as a standalone tablet.


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