most wanted core apps to run ubuntu as daily phone OS

Bastos · 19 Apr 2017, 07:23

@CiberSheep said in most wanted core apps to run ubuntu as daily phone OS:

Oxide

What is this?

UKPhil · 10 May 2017, 03:57

I am new here, but I hope to have a bit of an input. I brought three M10 tablets for my family and I use mine every day. I also purchased a Touch phone, but shortly went back to my android phone. For me, having the same apps as Andriod or IOS has is not a priority (as I never know what all of them do anyway). The main thing I feel (and what my Ubuntu Touch tablet gives me) is the core ones. I would consider the core list of apps to be:

• Calendar (that can talk to more than just one online calendar - Google)
• Clock (with alarm, stop watch and international time zones)
• Phone
• Text messaging – SMS
• Web browser
• Contacts (that can talk to more than just one online address book - Google)
• Internet messaging (not necessary Telegram)
• Multi email client – possibly Dekko (this does need a great deal of work to bring it up to speed though)
• Camera (with all the basic functionality)
• Gallery
• Doc viewer

I know that a lot of time has been given to Telegram and as a messaging app, it is good. However, the issue that I found was that it was OK being on Telegram, but when most of the people I know were on Whatsapp, it was useless. Breaking the Whatsapp mind set is the main issue.

Also with the core apps, they need to be so polished that they are bullet proof. I use the web browser on my tablet and put up with all its issue as I love Ubuntu. However, most people will walk away and go and use something that just works. Being the underdog, you need to have a product that can at least keep you moving forward toward the guys at the front.

Aury88 · 10 May 2017, 05:33

@Phil-UK about whatsapp support why not try LoquiIM?

imho there is already a good initial range of (proprietary) services support on UT but they are hard to find or not integrated in the smartphone.

wgarcia · 10 May 2017, 06:29

@Bastos Oxide = the web browser

wgarcia · 10 May 2017, 06:33

As core apps, I agree with most of the ones suggested, plus:

The terminal

UKPhil · 10 May 2017, 22:13

@Aury88, thanks for that, I was not aware of it. I will for sure have a look at it today and see how I get on. i do like the idea of one app for all chat though.

I also agree that a terminal may also be a good idea as a core app.

flohack · 11 May 2017, 11:07

@Phil-UK The thing with WhatsApp is that they are not open source and I dont like a reverse- engineered version of some App to fail intermittently when it is a core App. So support for WhatsApp is currently not on the horizon

Aury88 · 13 May 2017, 06:52

@Flohack I 1000% agree with you. UT should have only opensource app and/or be based only on open source services by default....
neither Android is based on proprietary services/app by default (excluding google services obviously).
About the proprietary services/app the thing that we really need is a way to find easily them (for example why many user don't know about LoquiIM? it is probably hard to find)

Imho by default we need only the very basic things also for convenience reasons: the OS with the DE-GUI, with the hardware exposition to the user space and the ability to integrate the apps with the system(ie I install an app "clock-x" and "mail-y" and I want them be able to put an applet on the toppanel), the phone calls, the sms app, and a way to install anything else.

Donhammer · 13 May 2017, 20:20

Proposal: list the default apps in current version and maybe indicate which you find easy/hard to maintain. my own reason for this phone is convergence. second, i like to think, it is more safe and less surveilled.

flohack · 9 Jun 2017, 15:46

I forgot an import ant thing: Backup subsystem + GUI + Scheduler to make real 100% backups possible. I think we should work on this before any App renovating, as currently all our data is exposed to full loss in case the phone breaks

UKPhil · 15 May 2017, 03:38

@Flohack, I totally agree and as a non-user of Whatsapp myself, I could live my life without it. However, there are more than a few people out there who cannot live without it and therefore will not even consider moving away from something they know and have used for a bit, to something new and not offering them what they want and also have currently. I personally think this comes back to the new shop model; does a new shop on the high street sell what people want or what they think people want?

flohack · 15 May 2017, 06:59

@Phil-UK Yeah, see my other answer to you - Also we could try to engage with WhatsApp & Telegram on an official level, but I am not sure this will work. The have no interest in supporting us and to give away their secrets

Leppa · 15 May 2017, 14:49

Google Chrome(ium) would be nice, mostly because of syncing my Google Account & settings (and stuff).

UKPhil · 15 May 2017, 22:34

@Flohack I think my plan may have to be convert all my friends and anyone I know to Telegram, that may be easier lol. I was talking to a developer friend of my last night and he was saying that although everyone uses Whatsapp, he prefers Telegram as it has multi device support. That got me thinking that this may be a way to get more to Telegram and build up the base user numbers.

MDJ · 9 Jun 2017, 07:59

Having Nextcloud/Owncloud account integeration is paramount for myself to use UBports as a daily driver.

Phone
SMS Messaging
Calendar (NEXTCLOUD SYNC)
Contacts (NEXTCLOUD SYNC)
Tasks (NEXTCLOUD SYNC)
Mail client (Hopefully Dekko, think it's a great app)
Web browser
Telegram (I've gradually started to convert my friends from WhatsApp)
Camera
Music App (I think the Ubuntu Touch app is one of the best looking music apps out there)
Clock
Gallery

Bastos · 9 Jun 2017, 08:22

@MDJ Than you are done. Everything you mentioned is already working on my Fairphone 2

mike · 9 Jun 2017, 09:17

i allredy happy ....
terminal ---» running
nano ---» running
flashing devices are running very stable (bq5 / nexus 5 )
ok i miss elinks browser but this is not mainstream ....
basic tasks a for mobile- phone (coreapps)
calling, messages,
For my execuse....i wish the standard-image is small as possible... makes it easyer by flashing and develope to new devices. :=)

Stefano · 9 Jun 2017, 15:46

@Flohack why not add a functionality to the existing recoveries installed on our phones? Could it be done similar way as TWRP?
I do a regular backup of whole phone to my externalSD with TRRP, before I do any OS update and then I'm just a step away from restoring it the same way. After the backup flash the (ubuntu) recovery and do the update. I know it's too much hassle, but if there is a such a functionality build into the recoveries, it would be so much easier... but totally agree, backup app (GUI) is needed.

Stefano · 9 Jun 2017, 15:55

an alternative Browser
fully working email client with notifications
Libreoffice reader, writer
Flash light integrated to the system
RSS
and then just add a functionality to some existing apps, like add blocking unwanted numbers in phone and sms apps, calls recording,
The web browser needs to be improved
countdown and timer in clock
Themes, icon packs -customisation should be improved
File manager should be improved as well

Apart from that I'm happy with it.

speedracer08861 · 9 Jun 2017, 21:31

i would like to see instagram with all functions working, and a better camera app than can focus on things written