you know an Ubuntu-powered smartphone is coming your way, don’t you? it won’t be ‘just round the corner’, but for enthusiasts, you’d be glad to know that it will be arriving, at least by 2014. so here’s something to get you excited about first: the Ubuntu Edge Dual Boot Smartphone has hit crowdfunding platform INDIE GOGO and is looking at a whopping $32,000,000 (that’s 32 million) to fund the development. billing itself as a superphone, Ubuntu is making the Edge the Formula 1 of the smartphone industry, where it will be the “proving ground for the most advanced mobile technologies on the horizon, a showpiece for true mobile innovation.” we are wary of big words which are usually nothing more than marketing mambo jumbos, but still, we hope it could true to really excite the geek in us.
you might have already noticed from its namesake (not the official name though), the Edge will be a dual boot smartphone that’s capable of booting to Android OS, as well as Ubuntu’s own mobile OS. on the hardware aspect, it is designed with a 4.5″ HD display with sapphire crystal display – a material that’s far superior than any glass (and used in luxury device like the Vertu Ti) and driven by “fastest multi-core” processor and 4GB of RAM. other highlights include 128GB onboard storage, 8MP low-light rear shooter complemented by a 2MP item at the front, stereo speakers with HD audio, dual-mic recording, active noise cancelation, MHL support, and it will come packed with a Silicon-anode lithium-ion battery. naturally, it will get today’s standard suite of radios and connectivity including support for dual-LTE, dual-band 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS and the usual sensors (you know; stuff like gyroscope, proximity sensor, barometer and the likes).
also worthy of mention is its hardware design, which will be crafted from one-piece textured amorphous metal, presented in a clean form with rakishly chamfered edges. Ubuntu maintains that 4.5″ is the “ideal” screen size for “comfortable control” with one hand (sounds familiar?). last but not least, the ultimate star would be its ability to convert into a full integrated Ubuntu desktop PC when docked which brings about the true convergence of mobile and PC – a true PC in a pocket experience, if it all holds true. at this point, the one-day only $600 special price has reached its cap, so if you looking to grab one, you are looking at a cool $830 for the device and expect a wait till May 2014 for it to reach your doorstep. for that price, you get free shipping within the U.S. and U.K. while international folks will be expected to shell out 30 bucks for shipping. scroll down for a product teaser clip and a pitch video.
