The latest version of Ubuntu Touch is out and, among other things, it brings official support for three more devices: the Fairphone 3, Volla Phone X23, and F(x)tec Pro1 X.
Ubuntu Touch 20.04 OTA-2 can also be installed on a number of other phones from Fairphone, OnePlus, Volla, Google, and Xiaomi.
Ubuntu Touch is a mobile Linux distribution that was originally developed by Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu for desktop PCs and servers. But after Canonical scrapped plans to bring its operating system to mobile devices, the independent team of developers at UBPorts picked up the project and continued development.
The OTA-2 release is the second stable build that’s based on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS. And in addition to adding support for a few more devices, it includes:
- Option to adjust sensitivity of edge gestures
- Support for using physical camera buttons to take pictures
- Ability to delete custom background images
There are also a number of bug fixes and other small updates, including improvements to the Settings menus.
Users who are already running Ubuntu Touch 20.04 will be able to update to OTA-2 from the System Settings -> Updates screen, while folks looking to install Ubuntu Touch for the first time can find instructions at devices.ubuntu-touch.io.
Note that the UBPorts team also supports the PinePhone, PinePhone Pro, and PineTab. But those devices are updated separately and won’t receive an update labeled OTA-2.
You can find more details in the release announcement.
Now if only we could use it here in the US 🥲
For those not in the know Ubuntu doesn’t support VoLTE and since carriers here turned off 2G and 3G towers Ubuntu Touch can’t make calls or texts.
I am in the USA andhave a Google Pixel 3a XL which according to Bard “can work properly on Ubuntu Touch even though VoLTE is not supported because Ubuntu Touch uses a different method for making calls. Instead of using VoLTE, Ubuntu Touch uses 2G/GSM for voice calls. This means that you will not be able to use VoLTE features, such as HD voice or better call quality, but you will still be able to make and receive calls.
There are a few reasons why Ubuntu Touch uses 2G/GSM for voice calls. First, VoLTE is not yet supported by all carriers. Second, VoLTE requires a more complex modem, which can increase the cost of the phone. Third, VoLTE can drain the battery more quickly.
The UBPorts team is working on implementing VoLTE support for Ubuntu Touch, but there is no ETA for when it will be available. In the meantime, if you need to use VoLTE, you can use a different mobile operating system, such as Android or iOS. You can also use a VoIP service, such as Google Voice or Skype, to make calls over Wi-Fi.
VoLTE support is sort of on a per device basis. I know the pinephone(s) and librem 5 for example can do it on an extremely short list of carriers. Not necessarily under Ubuntu Touch though but I’ve made calls on a pinephone running mobian.
Although now that I think about it, I don’t remember if that was VoLTE.
Is Canonical involved in Ubuntu Touch at all?
So what’s the current leading non-Android Linux based OS now? Or any of them at least not considered experimental/for developers?
There is no leading one. There are several ones that are of some quality, including this one, Postmarket OS, and there’s always Salefish if you’re willing to put up with its combination of open and closed source and limited compatibility. None are anywhere close to the dream of general device compatibility. Probably none of them will ever get there. There are various other options out there, and if you’re also interested in the options that are nowhere near adoption, check the lists for the two models of the PinePhone. Those can be used if you have one of those, but mostly they’re a source of packages that might eventually be adopted into one of the more successful versions rather than viable options in their own right.
I have to disagree, on my google pixel 3a xl all functions work 100% perfect you could not ask for a better implementation
But is it non android? What is it running?
Sailfish Os is good, but needs sony devices and pay €50 for licence. Xperia 10 III looks nice with Sailfish.
How’d the F(x)tec Pro1 X go? Last time I looked them up they were having a hard time manufacturing/shipping especially in the middle of the pandemic and lock downs.
I wonder if they’re planning on making a new more modern specced keyboard slider with official Ubuntu Touch and other Linux distro support.
Too bad it is based on Ubuntu and its proprietary Snap-spyware. People should eternally ridicule Ubuntu to discourage other Linux distributions from repeating such violations. I don’t care if Ubuntu/Canonical corrected its behavior, which I doubt.
If you want to use a spyware OS smartphone then you might as well use Android or IOS which at least have superior UI and hardware as they watch you while you poo.
Take your meds, schizo. Your rant doesn’t even apply to Ubuntu Touch since it doesn’t use Snap.
I don’t care if doesn’t currently use Snaps. If the project chooses to bear the Ubuntu name then the automatic ridicule of Ubuntu still applies.
People should eternally ridicule Ubuntu to discourage other Linux distributions from repeating such violations.
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