UBports has released the Ubuntu Touch OTA-7 for all supported "Ubuntu Phone" devices.
Ubuntu Touch OTA-7 new release
The work of UBPorts on the development of Ubuntu Touch is proceeding well. Ubsport is releasing new Ubuntu Touch releases more frequently.
Ubuntu Touch OTA 6, was released not long ago and now after just over a month Ubports is preparing to release the new version: Ubuntu Touch OTA-7.
Ubuntu Touch OTA-7
Ubuntu Touch OTA-7, will roll out over the next five days completing on Sunday, January 13 2019.
Ubuntu Touch OTA 7 brings a number of fixes and improvements to Ubuntu Touch, focused on bug fixes and stability improvements.
Now let's go and discover the new features and the corrections that have been made to Ubuntu Touch with this new OTA.
New Keyboard themes
The keyboard has undergone major design updates.
Kugi Eusebio contributed support for keyboard theming in this cycle. This improvement enables users to change the color scheme of the keyboard. Now there are nine preset themes in a range of light or dark, bordered or flat.
To choose the themes, simply follow this path:
Settings >> Language & Text >> Keyboard theme
Also is present the shortcut to Language and Text by long-pressing on the "Language" button on the keyboard and then selecting Settings.
New Ubuntu Touch Keybord themes
Morph Browser
The web browser Morph still received the attention of the devs.
The developer Chris Clime has contributed to improve the Morph Browser.
In particular, the following problems have been fixed:
Fix problem where closing a single browser window would close the browser: ubports/morph-browser#131
Fix problem where closed windows would be reopened in new browser sessions: ubports/morph-browser#131
Add ability to close the current tab from the tab switcher view: ubports/morph-browser#131
Prevent the device going to sleep while a video is playing: ubports/morph-browser#132
Fix desktop mode not being respected in first tab: ubports/morph-browser#120
Add options for default and per-page zoom: ubports/morph-browser#89
Fix issues for Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 2013
With UbuntuTouch OTA-7, problems with the installation of Ubuntu Touch on Nexus 7 2013 (only Wi-Fi) have been fixed. The problems were due to a new memory chip introduced during the hardware revision of the Nexus 7 2013, for the release of Android 5.1.
The Nexus 4 also had a fix to enable kernel modules which were not included with OTA-5 and 6. This means that more cryptographic ciphers are now available for use on the Nexus 4.
Ubuntu Touch OTA-7 presents a new updated Libhybris.
Libhybris is the tool that UbPorts uses to "translate" between Android drivers and a GNU libc-based user space. This allows developers to quickly make new fixes to stability and performance improvements. Now UbPorts have another important tool, the new "N" linker for Android, which allows Ubuntu Touch to use most of the drivers from Android 7.1 devices.
Also in OTA -7, the new Android-caf Mir platform was introduced. which allows Mir to use Qualcomm video drivers on Android 7.1.
The abovementioned changes make it easier to port Ubuntu Touch to new devices using Halium.
How to download Ubuntu Touch OTA-7
Users of Ubuntu Touch will receive the OTA-7 update via the System Settings Updates screen.
If you want to download the latest Ota-7 release, you can enable ADB access and enter the following command on the adb shell:
sudo system-image-cli -v -p 0
The device will download and install the new release.
You will find instructions for installing Ubuntu Touch on your device at devices.ubuntu-touch.io.
Ubuntu Touch supported devices
UBports has released the Ubuntu Touch OTA 7 for all supported "Ubuntu Phone"devices.
Phone:
OnePlus One
Fairphone 2
Nexus 5
Nexus 4
Meizu Pro 5
Meizu MX 4
Bq E5
Bq E4.5
Moto G 2014
Tablet:
Nexus 7 2013 WiFi
Bq m10 FHD
Bq m10 HD
All Ubuntu Touch OTA-7 changes
Below is a list of all the changes made with Ubuntu Touch OTA-7, from contributors:
Add themes to on-screen keyboard: ubports/keyboard-component#57 and ubports/system-settings#117
Fix issue with mobile network dropping after a call on Pro 5: ubports/telepathy-ofono#3
Fix a problem where low-RAM devices (Bq E4.5 and E5) would run out of memory, killing Unity8: ubports/lxc-android-config#20
Fix issue causing Swiss-French keyboard not to load: ubports/keyboard-component#61
Add Lithuanian keyboard layout: ubports/keyboard-component#55
Switch online account logins to use QtWebEngine, breaking Oxide dependency: ubports/ubuntu-system-settings-online-accounts#6
Upgrade to upstream Libhybris: upborts/libhybris#7
Add support in Mir for Android 7 on Qualcomm phones: ubports/mir#12
Morph-browser
Fix problem where closing a single browser window would close the entire browser: ubports/morph-browser#131
Fix problem where some closed windows would be reopened in new browser sessions: ubports/morph-browser#131
Add ability to close the current tab from the tab switcher view: ubports/morph-browser#131
Prevent the device going to sleep while a video is playing: ubports/morph-browser#132
Fix desktop mode not being respected in first tab: ubports/morph-browser#120
Add options for default and per-page zoom: ubports/morph-browser#89
Fix an issue where some drivers and cryptographic ciphers weren't available on the Nexus 4: ubports/ubuntu-touch#996
Enable installation of Ubuntu Touch on those Nexus 7 2013 Wi-Fi handsets which shipped initially with Android 5.1: ubports/ubuntu-touch#300
The issues still present
Many users, even with the new release, will encounter these problems
The viewfinder on the Nexus 5 freezes when taking pictures in succession. Similar issues have been reported on the Oneplus One and Nexus 4.
Workaround: Pictures can still be taken while the viewfinder is frozen. Switching apps and then going back to Camera restores the viewfinder.
On larger screens (such as the BQ M10 and Nexus 7), the browser will close after opening a selection box while in landscape mode.
Workaround: Either move the browser to a side stage (press with three fingers and drag to the right) or hold the device in portrait mode.
When switching between text boxes in the browser, the input type of the keyboard is not updated (for example, when going from a numbers-only text field to a URL field).
Workaround: Dismiss the keyboard before changing text fields. This can be done by swiping the keyboard downward or tapping on the page in an area that is not a text field.
In the browser, selection boxes open in a new window. This is expected to continue until a newer version of Mir is used (expected in OTA-8), which will allow for drawing tooltips within the surface that created them.
In some apps, dialog boxes will fly off the screen when the keyboard appears. A fix has been proposed but it can't be merged until tests are passing on the UITK.
Next Ubuntu Touch releases
For Ubuntu Touch, last releases OTA-6 and OTA-7 have represented incremental stability and performance improvements. Ubports has introduce some high-impact features, such as those enjoyed by the Morph Browser and on-screen keyboard. These ensure that every release is better than the last. Thanks of the improvements, Ubports been able to improve to Ubuntu Touch release architecture, allowing OTA-6 to be released in six weeks and OTA-7 in only four weeks. The next release OTA-8 is still planning to release it within six to eight weeks. Ubuntu Touch OTA-8 will include Mir 1.1 and Canonical's last version of Unity8. Next OTA-8, will introduce the App Launcher and the complete removal of Scopes. However, if this plan won't be completed in four to six weeks of development, we will instead make OTA-8 another stability improvement release including changes contributed to the code you're using today.
What is Ubuntu Touch?
Ubuntu Touch (also known as Ubuntu Phone) is the mobile version of the Ubuntu OS. Originally developed by Canonical; after the abandon of the project in the April 2017, the mobile version of Ubuntu has been adopted and developed by the UBports community ( an international community of volunteers across the world). Ubuntu Touch offer a mobile experience different to the other most popular operating systems on the market. Designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, this adapted version of Ubuntu is capable to run in a mobile, touch-screen environment but it can also functioning as a desktop computer while in "desktop mode".
Convergence
The underlying theme of the development of Ubuntu Touch is the covergence, the goal of merging into a unique experience mobile devices (smartphones and tablets), laptops, desktops and TVs, through Ubuntu Touch. The idea of Convergence is to always have with it a mobile device that can connect with another desktop in your pocket. Ubuntu Touch focuses on minimalism and hardware efficiency. The advantages of the Convergence are, for example, reduction of landfill waste, money saving, greater security and the convenience of real mobile computing.
Is Ubuntu Touch safe?
Ubuntu Touch is a more secure system that respects your privacy: nobody can spy on you anymore. Ubuntu Touch protects you because most of the unsafe parts are locked by default. Since Ubuntu is an open source operating system, anyone can have access to the source code and change it, distribute it or copy it. This makes it impossible to install software backdoors. Ubuntu Touch OS does not depend on the cloud and is free of viruses and other malware.
Previously Ubuntu Touch OTA
Ubuntu Touch OTA-5
On October 13th UBports released Ubuntu Touch OTA-5.
Ubuntu Touch OTA-5 has given greater stability to the system, introduced new features and left much hope for the growth of the OS. Ubuntu Touch, thanks to the AX-5, is now based on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS (Xenial Xerus).
Ubuntu Touch OTA-6
The roll-out of the AX-6 will be completed by December 12, as confirmed in the official announcement by UBports.
Ubuntu Touch OTA 6 brings a number of fixes and improvements to Ubuntu Touch, focused on bug fixes and stability improvements.
The Morph web browser will be able to retrieve the last card open at startup, web apps will be able to access locally saved files on the device, there will be support for ReCaptcha, themed scrollbars and much more. A new Event dialog will be introduced in the calendar, and the Welcome Wizard will be updated.
OnePlus One can change the volume during a phone call, with the new Ubintu Touch OTA 6.
Ubuntu Touch OTA-6 is also synonymous with bug fixing for different apps and greater overall stability: it is a recommended update for all users.
Ubuntu Touch is far from being comparable to OS as Android or iOS, but it's nice to see the constant progress made by the developers of UBport.
What apps are available for Ubuntu Touch? Ubuntu Touch comes with a basic set of pre-installed apps useful to that cover your daily needs (everything you expect from a phone, such as a dialer, contacts and calendar). Since it's Linux family, the Ubuntu Touch OS comes with a fully-featured file browser and the terminal. Thanks to a extremely vast app list available via OpenStore, you can customize the OS with every type of application that you need: apps for communication, messaging, music, navigation, tools, games and a many other.