Ubuntu Touch set to get Apps Collection, add yours now

Ubuntu Touch set to get Apps Collection, add yours now

What is Ubuntu Touch, you ask? Touch is a super ambitious project sponsered by Canonical to get Ubuntu on mobile devices--you know--the phones and tablets kind. It's the OS that will power the upcoming Ubuntu Phone. If you haven't already, watch this longish viral video on Ubuntu Phone, explained in detailed by Mark Shuttleworth himself. Ubuntu Touch's first installable preview was released was released on 21st February, and is up for grabs to be installed on a limited set of devices. Ubuntu Touch is slated for an end-2013 or early-2014 release.

Michael Hall, of Canonical, announced on his blog their plan for inclusion into the next Ubuntu Touch Preview image a collection of functional and usable apps developed for Ubuntu Touch by third-party developers.

So Alan Pope (popey) and I have kicked off what we’re calling the App Collection, which are apps being developed outside of the scope of our Core Apps project, but that we still want to support, promote, and  guide through the process of getting them ready for deployment to Ubuntu devices.

It is interesting to note that a set of Core Apps for Ubuntu Touch is already under active development, and this App Collection will feature apps in addition to the ones in the Core Apps bundle. And it is a good opportunity for interested developers to get their own app featured in App Collection. As Michael concluded:

This is a great opportunity for you, as a developer, to get your app in the hands of a large number of early adopters.  It’s also a great opportunity for us, being able to promote off our platform and how it is being used by the app developer community.

App development on this new platform is possible using Ubuntu SDK, and developers can use either of QML--JavaScript-based declarative language--(for native apps) or HTML5 (for webapps). Exciting times ahead!