Canonical to Reveal Mystery Ubuntu-based Device at CES

Next week in Las Vegas, Nevada the giant Consumer Electronics Show (CES) rolls into town. If you've ever attended CES, you know that it is a huge, glitzy affair, where everyone from Tom Cruise to tech executives can often be seen on Vegas stages and even walking the show floor. CES features everything from expensive concept cars to new computing devices.

While there is only a small amount of information available at this time, Canonical will have a presence at CES, and will be showing a "concept device" there. We've been reporting on Canonical's plans to take Ubuntu to new devices. Could this concept be the first firm step in that direction?

The Canonical blog features this short preview of the company's CES plans:

"On display will be the latest in Desktop, Cloud and demonstrations on Ubuntu One, plus an exclusive Ubuntu concept design which will be announced during the show."

As we reported late last year, Canonical is very interested in taking Ubuntu to tablets, TVs and other new devices. It also appears that early development of an Ubuntu-based "TV interface" is underway. In fact, you can find Mark Shuttleworth's collected TV developer ponderings right here on his blog. Shuttleworth cites "reports from a team that may have a crack at implementing the TV interface," and there are allusions to a Unity-based interface for Ubuntu TV concepts.

The "concept device" that Canonical will reveal at CES could be a tablet running a version of Ubuntu, or could be a device with the new TV interface. We'll follow up next week with the details, but look for Ubuntu to arrive on new types of devices and become integrated with television over the course of 2012.