Hands-on with Ubuntu for phones and tablets (pictures)

Ubuntu is coming to smartphones and tablets. Let's take a look at the software that hopes to challenge Android. It launches on new phones like this one some time this year. Here's Ubuntu for phones and tablets running on a Google Nexus 5 phone and Nexus 7 slate, ahead of the arrival of the first phones, the Meizu MX3 and BQ Aquaris. The OS was previously known as Ubuntu Touch.

Ubuntu is based around souped-up home screens called "scopes."

Some scopes look familiar, like this gallery app gathering your videos.

Here's the photo gallery.

Scopes are sort of a cross between a home page, an app, and a widget, and can be themed like this soccer-celebrating World Cup scope.

You can scroll through embedded carousels and tap to see more. Other possible uses include a scope made by your network or carrier to put your account profile, your bill, and useful links in one place.

Here you can see your apps, with recently used apps at the top for quick access.

Swipe in from the left for the app launcher, packed with your favorite shortcuts.

Swipe up from the bottom when you're in an app for the app's menu.

Swipe in from the right to scroll back and forth through your currently open apps with this multitasking carousel.

The multitasking carousel doesn't disappear when you take your finger off the screen, so you can come back to it if you're interrupted.

Swipe down from the top to see your notifications and status updates.

As you swipe down, scroll sideways to see useful stuff such as recent messages or your network or battery status.

Settings are also in the pull-down tray.

Here you can see how long your battery is going to last.

Ubnutu is designed to be the same on phones and tablets.

One unique tablet feature is this multitasking window.

Pull the multitasking window in from the right and you can use the app without leaving the main app, perhaps doing a quick calculation or checking a message.

Ubuntu on tablet.

The first two phones to bring Ubuntu to consumers will be the Spanish-made BQ Aquaris, pictured on the left, and the Chinese Meizu MX3.