I’m pretty excited about the upcoming release of the PineTab as it’ll arguably be the primary real Linux tablet there’s ever been.
But for a Linux tablet to truly be a Linux tablet it must run a Linux-powered tablet OS. As seen with the PinePhone, the open-source community is stepping up to supply one. Ubuntu Contact Demoed at the PineTab Linux Tablet.
When the video at the highest of this post landed in my inbox I clicked play without hesitation, then rushed to WordPress to prep this post about it!
Now, Ubports took over the event of Ubuntu Touch after Canonical canned it. The team, while small, have invested their resources wisely to stay things ticking over and running on a correct Linux kernel.
It’s encouraging to ascertain that the OS runs well on the PineTab mercifully nothing just like the disastrous tablet demo of 2016 — which the relevant hardware support required for the dockable keyboard is present (though no demo of rotation support).
Many of the Unity 8-era concepts conceived by Canonical’s design team, like love handles for resizing app windows, and a “portrait” side stage (apologies if that it the iOS term) are present and dealing which is great to ascertain .
Linux on a tablet may be a really interesting area. Android tablets don’t quite hit the mark within the same way that iPads do and tons of that’s right down to the standard of software.
Ubuntu PineTab Linux Tablet-Fetures
Having at-a-touch access to powerful open source apps like GIMP, LibreOffice on a flexible form factor… Yeah, I dig it (though i’m unsure if Ubuntu Touch remains limited to running weird down-stream versions of normal repo apps as a correct browser like Firefox or Chromium would be sweet).
GNOME designers also are busy exploring what a GNOME tablet UI could appear as if . Their approach, while a piece ongoing , is incredibly intuitive and well thought out and, building out from concepts introduced with phosh for a more consistent experience.
Still, with major foundational hurdles cleared I’m hoping the Ubports team can now start to specialize in quality-of-life improvements. the type of fit and finesse that elevates the top user experience above proof of concept. Patch over the paper cuts. kill the stutters. Amp up the supply of apps.
