The Fate of Sailfish OS: A Preview of the Future of Mobile Operating Systems

The landscape of mobile operating systems has been dominated by a few major players for years. Android and iOS have been the kings of the hill, with Tizen, Sailfish OS, and others struggling to gain a foothold. The latest development in this landscape is the upcoming release of Fuschia, a project by Google that aims to create a highly customizable operating system. But what does this mean for Sailfish OS and its future?

Decaying Alternatives

Almost all of the alternative mobile operating systems are becoming extinct. The once-hopeful efforts of Sailfish OS, Tizen, Ubuntu Touch, and Windows Phone have faded into the background. The creators of Sailfish OS, Jolla, have been facing challenges and criticism, as evidenced by an article on Engadget. Engadget pointed out that Sailfish is a small, quirky OS and suggested that Jolla should give up on their pursuit.

However, Jolla has managed to stand out among the rest. Their OS has been beating out other small-name mobile operating systems, including Tizen. While Tizen is still relevant, it is still far behind the giants Android and iOS. Even so, Tizen is no match for the enormous app ecosystem that Android and iOS possess.

A Grim Future?

With the rise of Fuschia, the future does not look promising for Sailfish OS. If Fuschia gains significant traction, it could become yet another small, quirky operating system like Tizen and Sailfish are now. This would be compounded with the existing massive app ecosystem, making both OS's even more irrelevant.

Current State and Potential

Currently, I am running Sailfish OS 2 on a Nexus 4. While it is a nice and functional OS, it is not without its drawbacks. The user interface is different enough to be less familiar to the user than iOS or Android, and access to the underlying system is less compelling on a phone compared to a desktop environment. Additionally, its app ecosystem primarily focuses on personal problem-solving, which may require a layer of Android familiarity to transition from iOS or Android.

Jolla is pitching Sailfish 3 as an installable alternative for older or low-powered phones. If this is the case, it might find a market niche. However, it is unlikely that Jolla will be successful in pitching it to phone companies. This has been a failed strategy for Mozilla and Canonical, who are now finding a second life with UBports and Google investing in KaiOS, the company that took over the development of FirefoxOS.

Strategies for Survival

For Sailfish to survive, it must find a unique approach. Both 'pure' Linux phone operating systems, like Purism and the KDE Foundation's PureOS, and Project PostmarketOS, have the potential to revive older devices. Emphasizing app web development and integration with the UI could be a viable strategy. Google's lag in achieving this with ChromeOS could provide an opportunity for Sailfish to differentiate itself.

Privacy and sustainability concerns could drive users towards alternative mobile operating systems. If Jolla can capitalize on these factors, Sailfish OS may have a chance to thrive in a crowded and competitive market.

Conclusion

The future of Sailfish OS and other alternative mobile operating systems is uncertain. With the rise of Fuschia and the dominance of Android and iOS, smaller players like Sailfish and Tizen may find it increasingly difficult to survive. However, by finding a unique strategy and tackling user pain points, Sailfish OS may yet find a place in the mobile operating system ecosystem.