Canonical's Mark Shuttleworth reveals plan to ditch Unity and discontinue Ubuntu phone and tablet developments

Canonical plans to return GNOME with Ubuntu 18.04 LTS

Canonical is to discontinue Unity and ditching its effort to create a single Ubuntu product spanning desktops, laptops, tablets and phones after six years of development.

The move is a belated recognition that Unity never really took off, following a 2013 attempt to build a smartphone operating system, based on Linux, that could also provide desktop functionality when plugged into a docking station and monitor.

The move also heralds the end for the development of Ubuntu phones and tablets, which launched to a muted welcome and never really caught the public imagination, as Android continues to dominate the Linux-based mobile world.

Desktop users will be transferred back to the GNOME environment in the forthcoming Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, the next ‘long term support' edition in the cycle.

Ubuntu boss Mark Shuttleworth explained in a state-of-the-union blog post: "In the community, our efforts [on phone and tablet] were seen fragmentation, not innovation. And [the] industry has not rallied to the possibility, instead taking a 'better the devil you know' approach to those form factors, or investing in home-grown platforms.

"What the Unity8 team has delivered so far is beautiful, usable and solid, but I respect that markets, and community, ultimately decide which products grow and which disappear."

"What the Unity8 team has delivered so far is beautiful, usable and solid, but I respect that markets, and community, ultimately decide which products grow and which disappear."

Ultimately, though, Canonical was biting off more than it could chew: the Ubuntu phones that we tested were more like works in progress at best compared to their more mature rivals.

Ubuntu users have nothing to worry about, though. The desktop version will continue to flourish and Ubuntu's foothold in the enterprise market, as well as its IoT operating system, are still thriving. Indeed, Shuttleworth has admitted that the company will focus on these more profitable ventures in future.

Sadly, though, it appears that another very able outfit has had to throw in the towel on an all singing-all dancing operating system that can span multiple different devices.

Still in the race currently are Google, whose Android platform is currently being adapted for desktops by the likes of Remix OS with its Singularity project, and Windows with Continuum, which may finally see the light of day if Microsoft can get emulation between ARM and Intel processors working properly.

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