This is a big day for Canonical and Ubuntu. Just as expected, Canonical today released Ubuntu 13.10 for both the desktop and for phones, making it the first official release of Ubuntu for handsets. Included with the release is a core set of apps made by the Ubuntu developer community, including browser, calendar, clock, weather, and calculator. Canonical is also releasing a full SDK today with tools such as templates and extensions to enable developers to create more mobile apps.

One feature of Ubuntu 13.10 for mobile that's being highlighted by Canonical is Smart Scope for Ubuntu Dash. The tool combines search results from multiple sources and learns a user's preferences to offer improved search results as time goes on.

Canonical originally launched a Touch Developer Preview for select Android-powered Nexus devices back in February, but today's release marks the first time that Ubuntu for phones is getting a full-on release side-by-side with the desktop version. The list of currently-supported Android hardware includes the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10. Anyone that owns one of those devices and wants to give Ubuntu 13.10 a go can find install instructions right here. Canonical says that it's working with unnamed partners to bring Ubuntu smartphones to market in 2014.

Via Canonical