Without taking the UbuntuEdge path, Microsoft's integration path is correct.

In the past, we thought that tablet computers could not be used as computers, but Microsoft later changed it. In the past, people thought that mobile phones could not be used as computers, and later generations changed it. Maybe in the future, the computing devices we hold in our hands can implement all the functions of computers, tablets, and smartphones. When you go out, it can be connected to the Internet to meet your Internet needs. When you return home, you can connect to a computer display, mouse and keyboard to complete the unfinished work on your mobile phone, then you can watch streaming media TV and play large 3D games on the couch. I believe that this is Microsoft

In the past, we thought that tablet computers could not be used as computers, but Microsoft later changed it. In the past, people thought that mobile phones could not be used as computers, and later generations changed Ubuntu Edge.

Maybe in the future, the computing devices we hold in our hands can implement all the functions of computers, tablets, and smartphones. When you go out, it can be connected to the Internet to meet your Internet needs. When you return home, you can connect to a computer display, mouse and keyboard to complete the unfinished work on your mobile phone, then you can watch streaming media TV and play large 3D games on the couch.

I believe that this is Microsoft's vision for the future. Before, during, and after the launch of Windows 8 tablets, Microsoft insisted that the tablet is a computer and must support multiple input devices and applications. However, many people think that the role of a device should be determined by its role during use, rather than the role it sets.

Related reading:

Ubuntu Edge Mobile Phone graphic impression all metal cool black http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-08/88810.htm

Canonical seeks to raise $32 million to make a smartphone Ubuntu Edge http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-07/87760.htm

Canonical CEO Jane Silber talked about Ubuntu Edge http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-07/87898.htm in an interview with CNBC

Canonical added a new $50 specification http://www.linuxidc.com/Linux/2013-07/88128.htm In the Ubuntu Edge funding project

Before the emergence of Ubuntu Edge, Microsoft's integration of computers, tablets, and mobile phones seemed to be a little different. Microsoft's strength has proved that tablets and computers can be integrated, but Microsoft's Windows Phone smartphone ecosystem is relentlessly separated. Microsoft once vigorously promoted that Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 adopt the same kernel. The development mode and API interfaces are similar, but the other parts are completely different from the Windows 8 ecosystem.

For a long time, Microsoft has been telling developers in various ways that mobile phones and desktop operating systems provide similar API structures and other messages, but it has not yet done so at Microsoft. After the integration of the platform layer is completed, the integration of the hardware layer is much easier.

Microsoft intended to do this, but it has not been completed yet. Although the Canonical company developed Ubuntu has little experience in platform integration, it is the first company to integrate multiple platforms.

Distant dream

Canonical's Ubuntu Edge mobile phone has not completed its crowdfunding project in Indiegogo. Its estimated financing amount is $32 million as of yesterday's end, with a gap of $20 million.

Ubuntu Edge is beautifully designed and its hardware is even more amazing. If it is made, it must be a product that the high-end smartphone market is scrambling to pursue. However, what people value is not the hardware specification of Ubuntu Edge, but its usage.

Ubuntu Edge has 128 GB of built-in memory and 4 GB of running memory, which can kill all current smartphones in seconds. With 128 GB of memory, the vast majority of smartphones have not been able to achieve this in recent years. In fact, most of us do not need such a large amount of memory.

However, the concept of Ubuntu Edge is not a mobile phone, it is a fusion device, both a mobile phone and a computer. If an hdmi hd video output line is used to connect a monitor and a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard, Ubuntu Edge will become a Ubuntu computer that can run software.

Although the official version of the Ubuntu mobile operating system has not yet been released for Canonical, mobile apps and desktop software have begun to converge. For example, a mobile phone mailbox client shares an email account with a desktop mailbox client, the music software on both platforms uses the same storage folder (in fact, the Ubuntu mobile phone operating system is developed based on the Ubuntu Desktop System ).

Whether you fl the Ubuntu operating system into a tablet or mobile phone, the user interface is like the Modern interface of Windows 8 and you need to learn to use it again. Most core operations need to be included from the corner, which is somewhat similar to Windows 8.

According to the development history of mobile phones, Ubuntu Edge is not the first integrated product. Previously, Motorola was involved in this field. Motorola's Atrix mobile phone has launched a notebook base, which can be used as a notebook after being inserted. It is an Android smartphone. However, at that time, the performance of the Atrix mobile phone was simply not competent for the computing performance of the laptop, and the desktop slide would be stuck.

Coincidentally, the times have improved. Ubuntu Edge hardware is enough to support a computer and a mobile phone. It may be the first smart phone to put a computer in a pocket. Unfortunately, the crowdfunding project failed.

The failure of the Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding project has hit a lot of people who like integrated products. Consumers who have donated money are even more sad. They thought they could get a more powerful new plaything, but they didn't get a cold refund.

For Canonical, the mood is very complicated. Canonical also wants to cover up the project's failure by increasing its morale by "this is the first time the crowdfunding platform can raise so much money. In fact, the $32 million plan crowdfunding quota has reached 1/3, far exceeding any successful crowdfunding project. Consumers who dare to invest are also very bold, because they do not know what the device looks like, nor do they know what the configuration of a mobile phone can be obtained for 600-800 dollars, I don't even know what software I can use. what's even worse is that I have to wait more than a year to see the product after I pay the money. Perhaps the failure of Ubuntu Edge is a good thing for consumers of Canonical.

Although crowdfunding failed, Canonical did not give up the mobile market, but had to give up the opportunity to enter the hardware market. Canonical can continue to develop the Ubuntu mobile operating system, so that other manufacturers can come to production, so that they can have an explanation for themselves.

The failure of Ubuntu Edge does not mean that the fusion device will die. Canonical once said that any mobile phone with enough memory, CPU, and storage space can install the Ubuntu mobile operating system and enjoy the mobile phone and computer experience. However, mobile phones on the market do not have such performance to support such an operating system that integrates mobile phones and computers.

Integrated devices are not necessarily a necessity for the future. Maybe 10 years later, we are still using computers, mobile phones, tablets, e-books and smart watches. However, we still have no courage to try the integrated devices. Currently, we do not have software or hardware that integrates mobile phones and computers.

Maybe Microsoft integrated mobile phones, tablets, and computers with Windows 8 operating systems. Do you still remember the concept map of the Surface mobile phone? Microsoft's Surface RT uses mobile phone and tablet hardware. Apart from software compatibility problems, it can complete most of the computer's functions. Some mobile phones have also used Intel's entry-level X86 Atom CPU. Many entry-level Windows 8 tablets also use the same series of X84 Atom CPUs, so as long as Microsoft is willing, this allows a medium-and high-end mobile phone to be flushed into the Windows 8 Operating System (HD2 was able to flushed into the Windows RT operating system as early as last year and run successfully, its hardware level is completely waste-level now ). If the Atom processor is installed on the Surface mobile Phone and the full version of Windows 8 + Windows Phone is run, isn't it just a multi-device fusion? The failure of Ubuntu Edge will certainly give a lot of inspiration to Microsoft. From this perspective, Microsoft's path to integrated devices is extremely correct.

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