Canonical’s first Ubuntu-based smartphone has finally been released – BQ Aquaris E4.5 Ubuntu Edition is available in the European Union for €170 ($190). Chinese distribution is also underway – a date for U.S. release hasn’t yet been publicized. The technical specifications of the phone are far from exciting, especially after the much talked about Ubuntu Edge – the device that behaves like a phone until it’s plugged into a keyboard and monitor, at which point becomes a fully-fledged Ubuntu desktop. The Ubuntu Edge crowdfunding campaign failed to pique the interest of major manufacturers, but made people talk about Ubuntu Mobile. Aquaris E4.5 is a modest, mid-tier handset from Spanish manufacturer BQ, more popular for developing e-readers. The device has a 4.5-inch screen, 1GB RAM, a quad core A7 chip running up to 1.3Ghz, 8GB of on-board storage – expandable through a microSD slot, 8MP rear camera and 5MP front camera, plus a dual-SIM slot. The battery feeding the phone is a LiPo 2150mAh. Basically, it’s the same phone used by Google, but pre-loaded with Ubuntu’s mobile software. The scope of the phone is… Scopes!     Here is where things become interesting. Ubuntu has created a unique platform endowed with all a mobile experience should be: seamless, effortless, uncluttered interface between user and hardware – through Scopes. Scopes represent universal search; these are a series of themed cards that compile content and which the user swipes between to navigate through the functions of the phone, with the app icons hidden to the side of the screen, or placed together on a single Scope card. The examples used refer to ‘Today’ card – it contains info such as weather and calendar, to ‘Nearby’ card – it contains location-specific local services, to ‘Music’ or ‘News’. Basically,...