Saddening news from Canonical...? - Ubuntu Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

This information was grabbed from:
http://www.muktware.com/2014/05/canonical-stops-ubuntu-android-development/26527
It seems that Canonical has stopped the development (all together) for Ubuntu Touch devices, due to lack of partnership with other huge corporations. In responce to this report, I would like to confirm if this is even remotely accurate or not?

The title of the article says: Canonical stops ‘Ubuntu for Android’ development. Ubuntu for Android is a separate project from Ubuntu Touch. It says that in the body of the article.
The Ubuntu for Android project was launched in early 2012 with the aim to merge Android Mobile and Ubuntu Linux desktop. According to Canonical, the project has been shelved for now and is not under active development.
Ubuntu for Android was an innovative project which would allow Android Mobile users to dock their smartphones to desktop, and boot up Ubuntu Linux from the device making the setup a full fledged Ubuntu PC. The data would be stored on the smartphone and shared between both the operating systems.
It seems, canonical was not contented with sharing the smartphone space with Android and instead wanted their own standalone operating system. Thus, Ubuntu Touch was born in January 2013, when canonical announced that they were expanding their mobile efforts to include their own smartphone OS.
Ubuntu for Android’s current development status came into view when a bug report was filed and Canonical’s Matthew Paul replied with the following statement:
The website] describes Ubuntu for Android as “the must-have feature for late-2012 high-end Android phones. Ubuntu for Android is no longer in development, so this page should be retired, along with [the features section].
Official statement from Canonical states that, their current priority is Ubuntu Touch OS for smartphones, and they would like to concentrate all their efforts in that direction. However, Ubuntu for Android is not dead yet and they are happy to work on it if they find prospective partners to work with.
We are very happy with the reception of both the Ubuntu 14.04 LTS desktop, and the early Ubuntu phone images. We think these development show a desire in the market place for Ubuntu, and an Ubuntu for Android (U4A) solution would be a good way for it to reach users.
We still believe that U4A is a great product concept and that consumers would welcome the feature. The development within Ubuntu for U4A is complete. To take the development further requires a launch partner in order to make the necessary modifications on the Android side.
We are currently not in concrete discussions with launch partners, but we are still very much open to such a partnership. We are focused on Ubuntu for Phones at the moment, therefore we are not actively pushing for Ubuntu for Android.However, if a prospective partner steps forward, we are very much open to launching Ubuntu for Android.
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Did ya even read the thing??? :silly:

androidiphonehacker said:
This information was grabbed from:
http://www.muktware.com/2014/05/canonical-stops-ubuntu-android-development/26527
It seems that Canonical has stopped the development (all together) for Ubuntu Touch devices, due to lack of partnership with other huge corporations. In responce to this report, I would like to confirm if this is even remotely accurate or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. - Hope this helps

Wait, Lgrootnoob, you quoted the Original Post verbatim for the Original Poster to read and you hope it helps them how exactly???
Should I even make intelligent comment here? Is this whole thread a put on?
Think about it for two seconds...
Canonical is pushing Ubuntu Touch, Canonical is pushing Convergence (all form factors from wearables > phones > tablets > laptops > desktops > televisions > automobile infotainment > etc > ad nauseum all having the identical Operating System - namely Ubuntu), Canonical is pushing to put desktop capability when docked inside of Ubuntu Touch, Canonical is pushing for their own dedicated devices to be manufactured, Canonical is pushing to gather users in the mobile marketplace...
Why would Canonical continue supporting Ubuntu for Android? That system allows for Android on the phone and desktop capability of Ubuntu when docked. They don't want to share the mobile stage with Android. They want to replace Android.
They want to free up the resources going into U4A and channel them into desktop capability when docked for Ubuntu Touch. It doesn't weaken UT, it strengthens it. It won't take anything away from UT, it will add to it.
What part of this is unclear?

RumoredNow said:
Wait, Lgrootnoob, you quoted the Original Post verbatim for the Original Poster to read and you hope it helps them how exactly???
Should I even make intelligent comment here? Is this whole thread a put on?
Think about it for two seconds...
Canonical is pushing Ubuntu Touch, Canonical is pushing Convergence (all form factors from wearables > phones > tablets > laptops > desktops > televisions > automobile infotainment > etc > ad nauseum all having the identical Operating System - namely Ubuntu), Canonical is pushing to put desktop capability when docked inside of Ubuntu Touch, Canonical is pushing for their own dedicated devices to be manufactured, Canonical is pushing to gather users in the mobile marketplace...
Why would Canonical continue supporting Ubuntu for Android? That system allows for Android on the phone and desktop capability of Ubuntu when docked. They don't want to share the mobile stage with Android. They want to replace Android.
They want to free up the resources going into U4A and channel them into desktop capability when docked for Ubuntu Touch. It doesn't weaken UT, it strengthens it. It won't take anything away from UT, it will add to it.
What part of this is unclear?
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This post is not a "put on". This is a logical question. After all, I don't really believe that Ubuntu Touch is necessarily "all there" just yet. I definitely support their development and admire those who put their effort in to developing for UT; but even they know that the Ubuntu Touch phone market isn't ready yet. Honestly it wouldn't be that surprising if Canonical were to cut the process for a while.

androidiphonehacker said:
This post is not a "put on". This is a logical question. After all, I don't really believe that Ubuntu Touch is necessarily "all there" just yet. I definitely support their development and admire those who put their effort in to developing for UT; but even they know that the Ubuntu Touch phone market isn't ready yet. Honestly it wouldn't be that surprising if Canonical were to cut the process for a while.
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But there is nothing in that article quoted to support saying Ubuntu Touch Development is being scaled back. Just the opposite. Ubuntu for Android (an older project) support is being dropped. Wouldn't you suppose the personnel working on U4A are then shifted to Convergence and, by extension, to Ubuntu Touch???
I'll admit that Canonical has slowed press release of UT news. They have dropped a few devices from the official support list as well. Don't forget they need to focus to push out Unity 8, Ubuntu Trusty LTR and work behind the scenes getting their first dedicated UT device(s) ramped up for manufacture by partner OEMs...
It's apparent to most they have to do more work and less talk. http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014...ntu-touch-14-04-coming-along-but-miles-to-go/

Ubuntu for Android is a separate project from Ubuntu Touch. They are stopping that project because Touch is going to be their focus for mobile. I think this is a solid decision so that they can turn Ubuntu Touch into a polished product.

CMDann said:
Ubuntu for Android is a separate project from Ubuntu Touch. They are stopping that project because Touch is going to be their focus for mobile. I think this is a solid decision so that they can turn Ubuntu Touch into a polished product.
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Yes, and as idiotic as this may seem, I merely skimmed over the article I was reading and didn't mean to start a little flame war in the earlier posts, some xda members can get a little visious haha. Excuse me for that. Yes, I'm very glad to see that they've shifted their focus from U4A development into UT development all together.

Ubuntu for Android is a great concept. It would be nice to see follow through from Canonical. I was really hoping they would follow through.
I suppose that such a product probably only penetrates a niche market, and their vision seems to want that Ubuntu be adopted in more widespread contexts.
UbuntuOne would have been great for them to carry on with too. And it would be nice to see viable, quality mobile applications for programs that end up being used with Ubuntu, like an awesome mobile app for the Libreoffice suite for example. Most of what they are offering in this regard seems mostly desktop viable, many of their desktop programs are awesome.
Actually offering such cross platform, including Android versions for example, seems like a wise way in which to make people find an inclination to use other offered products.
Has anyone tried to compose, edit, and save an odt file on a mobile device? The options all seem second class. Andreoffice ported it to Android but it is not optimized for mobile. And it is things like this that do matter when it comes to mass product adoption.
If they are not going to see to issues like this, then scraping projects like Ubuntu for Android makes little sense.
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Related

Windows 8 on the Prime; Goodbye Android

I'm not gonna lie, Once an ARM release for Windows 8 gets released, I will put it on the Prime ASAP. Why?
I have been following the Build of Windows 8 for some time. I must admit, I am whole-heartily impressed at the awesome features that are coming. The developer tools that Microsoft released will also make it easy for developers to port their apps to x86 and ARM. The marketplace will open up a store that half a billion people could potentially look at.
Windows is the behemoth of the computing age and they are charging directly into mobile computing. I choose Windows over Android because I want more than what Android has to offer.
I want good browsers, application support, enterprise support, and a desktop OS with Metro integration.
If you want to see why I am excited for Windows 8, don't listen to me!
Watch the first Keynote and you will be wowed at what's coming:
http://channel9.msdn.com/events/BUILD/BUILD2011/KEY-0001
Also, here is the Build Blog, where Microsoft is actually taking advice on creating Windows 8.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/
I hope everyone is as excited as I am for what's coming. Remember this: Even if you hate Windows-everything, you should be excited for it. Windows 8 will force Android and iOS to really push harder in creating a full-fledged mobile OS.
The Prime is the perfect tablet for both Android, and Windows 8.
xTRICKYxx said:
I'm not gonna lie, Once an ARM release for Windows 8 gets released, I will put it on the Prime ASAP. Why?
I have been following the Build of Windows 8 for some time. I must admit, I am whole-heartily impressed at the awesome features that are coming. The developer tools that Microsoft released will also make it easy for developers to port their apps to x86 and ARM. The marketplace will open up a store that half a billion people could potentially look at.
Windows is the behemoth of the computing age and they are charging directly into mobile computing. I choose Windows over Android because I want more than what Android has to offer.
I want good browsers, application support, enterprise support, and a desktop OS with Metro integration.
If you want to see why I am excited for Windows 8, don't listen to me!
Watch the first Keynote and you will be wowed at what's coming:
http://channel9.msdn.com/events/BUILD/BUILD2011/KEY-0001
Also, here is the Build Blog, where Microsoft is actually taking advice on creating Windows 8.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/b8/
I hope everyone is as excited as I am for what's coming. Remember this: Even if you hate Windows-everything, you should be excited for it. Windows 8 will force Android and iOS to really push harder in creating a full-fledged mobile OS.
The Prime is the perfect tablet for both Android, and Windows 8.
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how much is it going to cost to buy windows 8 for the transformer? if its anything like the current windows, you will have to pay for upgrade and all that.
jblah said:
how much is it going to cost to buy windows 8 for the transformer? if its anything like the current windows, you will have to pay for upgrade and all that.
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That's a good question. Just like every other Windows release out there, if you are too poor; Piracy is just too easy. But I don't think I will resort to that. Something I have noticed is the lack of mentioning toward different versions of Windows 8. If feels as if there will be the consumer, server edition, and ARM edition(?).
I don't know.
Why don't you just wait and get a Windows tablet, if you want a Windows tablet?
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench!
StuMcBill said:
Why don't you just wait and get a Windows tablet, if you want a Windows tablet?
Sent from my Amiga 500 using Workbench!
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Because why wait? Windows 8 works great on the Tegra 3 chip! 1GB of RAM is plenty as Windows 8 uses less memory than Windows 7. Also, I love the Transformer. I'm sure Asus will release the Prime for Windows variant, but I love Android as well.
In my opinion Ms has missed the train and that they did it twice,the first one being when they left the WM unsupported and went to WP7 there by giving up the lead to the emreging OSs with a very big margin,and now another grave mistake will be if x86 apps will not run on the ARM version,which will need a couple of years to develop new ones,well I can imagine the IOS and android with there aliready big advantage where will they be by than!!.
hagba said:
In my opinion Ms has missed the train and that they did it twice,the first one being when they left the WM unsupported and went to WP7 there by giving up the lead to the emreging OSs with a very big margin,and now another grave mistake will be if x86 apps will not run on the ARM version,which will need a couple of years to develop new ones,well I can imagine the IOS and android with there aliready big advantage where will they be by than!!.
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Microsoft is making a painful transition. They are working hard at porting their full Windows OS onto ARM. I believe they see that ARM architecture will be the future of low-power, high performance computing. They will certainly support Windows 8, but what they will struggle with is convincing all x86 developers supporting the Windows platform to port their applications over to ARM as well. It is not Microsoft's fault that ARM will not run x86 applications; it is a necessity and Microsoft cannot afford to wait much longer.
ive actually been thinking about this. i love android and wouldn't replace it on the prime for the world but would it be possible without breaking some laws? i remember when the hd2 got wp7 there was a few threads in the evo forum saying that since we have the same hardware can we get it to. and apparently it violated "warez" or something so we couldn't. so... if this does come to the prime then it would be sweet but idk if it ever will... (p.s. i could be wrong so if anyone has anything to correct me on then please feel free)
I'm definitely interested in dual booting later.. hopefully win installation will be viable in some way.
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
PhxkinMassacre said:
ive actually been thinking about this. i love android and wouldn't replace it on the prime for the world but would it be possible without breaking some laws? i remember when the hd2 got wp7 there was a few threads in the evo forum saying that since we have the same hardware can we get it to. and apparently it violated "warez" or something so we couldn't. so... if this does come to the prime then it would be sweet but idk if it ever will... (p.s. i could be wrong so if anyone has anything to correct me on then please feel free)
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I could be wrong about this, but I don't think it's the same case. WP7 is proprietary to Microsoft, which doesn't distribute it freely like Google does with Android. I also don't think consumers can buy a license for WP7 to put on any device, so if the phone doesn't come with it natively, it would be illegal to put it on a non-WP7 phone.
Windows 8, on the other hand, is purchasable buy consumers, so one could legally buy it and put it on whatever device they chose to.
Smyc151 said:
I could be wrong about this, but I don't think it's the same case. WP7 is proprietary to Microsoft, which doesn't distribute it freely like Google does with Android. I also don't think consumers can buy a license for WP7 to put on any device, so if the phone doesn't come with it natively, it would be illegal to put it on a non-WP7 phone.
Windows 8, on the other hand, is purchasable buy consumers, so one could legally buy it and put it on whatever device they chose to.
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While i fail to see why you would WANT Windows 8, keep in mind that Microsoft may very well not release a purchasable version of Windows 8 ARM to consumers.
mtmerrick said:
While i fail to see why you would WANT Windows 8, keep in mind that Microsoft may very well not release a purchasable version of Windows 8 ARM to consumers.
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Yes, that's a very good point. But still, it was a legitimate answer to the question posed. But you're right that we shouldn't assume that Windows 8 will be purchasable.
Good luck on installing win8 on the transformer. My guess is that it wont be possible without heavy developer effort.
Just wait for the official win8 transformer and install android on it (dual boot):way easier i think
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Tempie007 said:
Good luck on installing win8 on the transformer. My guess is that it wont be possible without heavy developer effort.
Just wait for the official win8 transformer and install android on it (dual boot):way easier i think
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
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Perhaps. Tegra 3 'Kal-El' is the flagship processor for Windows 8 ARM. I think installing Windows on the Prime will be quite easy as its hardware matches what Microsoft has been demonstrating. I think the hardest thing would be getting the Keyboard Dock functioning.
Tempie007 said:
Good luck on installing win8 on the transformer. My guess is that it wont be possible without heavy developer effort.
Just wait for the official win8 transformer and install android on it (dual boot):way easier i think
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
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Agree. Unbelievably "heavy developer effort"... add the fact that WinRT on ARM does NOT include the Win8 Desktop stack.
Consider the Microsoft developer effort to:
(1) Port Office and any(all) other applications to WinRT so it can be used on ARM - nothing Win7 nor WP7 will directly port to WinRT except maybe hello world and trivial apps. Without Office on the ARM tablet who cares.
(2) Port WinRT to the Windows Phone replacing WP7.
(3) Perform a COMPLETE UX rewrite of any required applications to Metro touch to run under WinRT on ARM.
(4) Build, support, maintain developer tools for all the above.
(5) A million other things.
Unless Microsoft has infinite resources, I do NOT think they will be competitive with Android nor Apple for years (if ever) in the mobile space. This comment usually causes Microsoft zealots much discomfort and denial.
Without Office-Touch Version on WinRT the WinRT platform will FAIL worse than WP7 is failing now. Office on Windows 7 touch is an abortion, e.g. Samsung XE700t1a with Windows 7. It is a catch-22 for Microsoft to make WinRT Office run on ARM platform because that may not generate the *required* Windows 8 Ultimate Home Premium Standard Business Suite Server license revenues.
So, today, Microsoft has not seriously accomplished anything competitive in the mobile spaces. In the future, there is infinite work to accomplish any logical road map but no road map has been announced. The Windows 8 Desktop and WinRT bits from BUILD (and after) are pre-Alpha stage.
In the meantime, Android merged tablet & phone OS to version 4.0, and Apple is also busy with hundreds of million mobile phone and tablet customers.
Waiting for Microsoft to finish something is a great suggestion, but version 1.0 is a huge risk too. Maybe waiting until version 3 of the Microsoft phone and tablet? LOL
xTRICKYxx said:
Perhaps. Tegra 3 'Kal-El' is the flagship processor for Windows 8 ARM. I think installing Windows on the Prime will be quite easy as its hardware matches what Microsoft has been demonstrating. I think the hardest thing would be getting the Keyboard Dock functioning.
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Click to collapse
Nope, everything regarding drivers must be written, kernel, sound, video, wifi, 3G if data version...one tegra 3 machine does not mean another loads. They must be done for each machine. Oh, I forgot touchscreen also. You just can't load it..it must be developed for it.
life64x said:
Nope, everything regarding drivers must be written, kernel, sound, video, wifi, 3G if data version...one tegra 3 machine does not mean another loads. They must be done for each machine. Oh, I forgot touchscreen also. You just can't load it..it must be developed for it.
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Yes. Windows 8 would most likely be an OEM-only OS. HOWEVER, The Eee Pad Transformer series will most likely have Windows 8 variants making this hell of a lot easier.
Not gonna like, the metro UI and thus WP7 can go die in a fire, and I mean a REALLY DEADLY one! The blocky TILE interface, with no respect for the ability to get lost in menu's/programs... really sad... I stopped helping friends/family with their WP7 devices after the second week they got them... thankfully most are on Android / Blackberry now... my hate is for the Metro UI, not necessarily the underlying CORE for Win8 and WP7 (the only hate that surpasses that which I have for the MetroUI is the iPhone OS/Software, because the iPhone 4/4S hardware is pretty premo)
However, to give you a counter balance for my above rant, I am currently running the Windows 8 Developer Preview on my desktop, as my ABSOLUTE HATE for Metro UI, it is indeed disabled, and no, that's NOT all there is to see in the Win8DP!
Besides MetroPOS, I love the rest of what they have done with Win8, AND to that effect I WILL be looking forward to DUAL booting (if possible), BUT only if some of the main programs I use see an ARM port since there will be no x86 emulation or back porting! Else the only thing that would even mildly interest me in Dual Booting is the bragging rights to say I have a desktop/laptop OS on a tablet...
So, to sum it up!:
Love Win8
Love DualBooting
Love Android
Love Transformer Prime
Love thought of Win8/Programs running on tablet device
HATE METROPOS (er i mean UI...)
i was thinking more on the line of having both android and windows 8 on the transformer with a dual boot option and when u boot up u pick ur poison
Further to my previous comment, I have been thinking about this, and I think if the opportunity to Dual-Boot came along, I would go for it.
Purely for a full Microsoft Office suite on the Tablet. Then I could leave my laptop at home and take my tablet only!

Welcome Back webOS (well, kinda)

http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/09/hp-webos-to-live-on-through-open-source-hardware-lineup-still/
When HP abruptly announced it was discontinuing the TouchPad and ceasing work on any future devices running webOS, we took that to mean the underdog operating system had died a premature death. But when the company ousted bumbling CEO Leo Apotheker and replaced him with Meg Whitman, we had to wonder if webOS might have some life in it yet. Well, the company just came back with a final verdict: the company will continue to develop webOS, as promised, but with the help of the open source community. In other words, webOS as a platform will live on, and developers both inside HP and out will spruce up the OS for interested OEMs (whoever they may be), along with people who already own webOS devices. Says Sam Greenblatt, CTO of the outfit's advanced technologies division: "We looked at all the various options we have on the table. We think this option is the best for the tech industry and HP."
Still, if you were hoping Whitman would resurrect the TouchPad and Pre 3 beyond just another fire sale, we hate to be the bearer of disappointing news. The bottom line: HP's webOS hardware lineup is still dead -- for now, at least. Greenblatt emphasized that HP might later choose to build devices running webOS, the same way any other OEM would evaluate any other operating system. In an interview, company representatives were also quick to say that with the help of developers outside HP, webOS could become a more attractive choice for devices other than phones and tablets (printers, anyone?). Still, though Greenblatt says there has been a "great deal" of interest from companies eyeing the software, it remains unclear which manufactures, if any, will decide to give the OS a more immediate home.​
So how long would we have to wait until we see AWESOME webOS hit the forums?
Oh and here's there Press Release...
HP to Contribute webOS to Open Source
HP to enable creativity of the community to accelerate the next-generation web-centric platform
PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2011 – HP today announced it will contribute the webOS software to the open source community.
HP plans to continue to be active in the development and support of webOS. By combining the innovative webOS platform with the development power of the open source community, there is the opportunity to significantly improve applications and web services for the next generation of devices.
webOS offers a number of benefits to the entire ecosystem of web applications. For developers, applications can be easily built using standard web technologies. In addition, its single integrated stack offers multiplatform portability. For device manufacturers, it provides a single web-centric platform to run across multiple devices. As a result, the end user benefits from a fast, immersive user experience.
"webOS is the only platform designed from the ground up to be mobile, cloud-connected and scalable," said Meg Whitman, HP president and chief executive officer. "By contributing this innovation, HP unleashes the creativity of the open source community to advance a new generation of applications and devices."
HP will make the underlying code of webOS available under an open source license. Developers, partners, HP engineers and other hardware manufacturers can deliver ongoing enhancements and new versions into the marketplace.
HP will engage the open source community to help define the charter of the open source project under a set of operating principles:
- The goal of the project is to accelerate the open development of the
webOS platform
- HP will be an active participant and investor in the project
- Good, transparent and inclusive governance to avoid fragmentation
- Software will be provided as a pure open source project
HP also will contribute ENYO, the application framework for webOS, to the community in the near future along with a plan for the remaining components of the user space.
Beginning today, developers and customers are invited to provide input and suggestions at http://developer.palm.com/blog/.
LOL, have you seen the HP web OS guys business card... Here it is
From Google currents:
Here Is the Absolute Saddest Business Card in the World
John Kneeland does not have an easy job at the moment. John Kneeland is probably nervous about his career every morning. John Kneeland is probably w...
Source: http://goo.gl/mag/ZS3fL
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Shot from my sharp shooter in 3d
cleanrom2.9.5
Looks like the EVO3D is already running webOS
http://mobile.theverge.com/2011/12/...r-htcs-evo-3d-a-proof-of-concept-for-the-time
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wow no one cares for webOS? I was so ****in stocked i thought this thread would get stickied ahah wow.
LOL, I think its good stuff anything out of the ordinary is cool
Shot from my sharp shooter in 3d
cleanrom2.9.5
This is a whole new operating system for us and the dev at webOS has a 3d and already got it booted I believe. I'm ****ing stoked
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The EVO 3d boot is 3 months old. But um looking forward to this.
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I also am looking forward to this. I think it would be quite fun to run on BootManager. If they could figure out how to make the android market and apps compatible with webOS that would make even more tempting for many people. I for one am very much so in love with webOS.
It's the only viable option to Android. Seeing it Open Source is such good news.
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[POLL] Arch Linux on the Photon 4G- Interested?

Hellooo~!
I'm a tad new to the world of Android Development, but have plenty of programming history. I'm going to be starting a project to get Arch Linux running on my Photon 4G, and am contemplating making this public. My end goal is to get it working on the Photon, with a working on-screen keyboard, decent battery life, and lapdock/HDMI/peripheral support.
If you're a bit skeptical, know that there is a distribution of Arch Linux that supports ARMv5-v7 processors.
So before I begin my journey, I want to know:
Is anyone interested in this?
Sounds interesting. It appears you may be doing something different than the typical chroot method? As an Archlinux desktop user, a phone version would be cool.
Best of luck with your project. If you need testers, I would be willing to try to help.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
jahildebra said:
Hellooo~!
I'm a tad new to the world of Android Development, but have plenty of programming history. I'm going to be starting a project to get Arch Linux running on my Photon 4G, and am contemplating making this public. My end goal is to get it working on the Photon, with a working on-screen keyboard, decent battery life, and lapdock/HDMI/peripheral support.
If you're a bit skeptical, know that there is a distribution of Arch Linux that supports ARMv5-v7 processors.
So before I begin my journey, I want to know:
Is anyone interested in this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mighty ambitious! Im definitely interested in this. Arch is one of my favorite distributions. I'm concerned about the usability of it though. What desktop environment would you aim to use? Are there any that I'm unaware of that that are geared toward mobile phones?
jbaumert said:
Sounds interesting. It appears you may be doing something different than the typical chroot method? As an Archlinux desktop user, a phone version would be cool.
Best of luck with your project. If you need testers, I would be willing to try to help.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to see you're interested!
As far as getting Arch on the phone, I want to the phone to boot straight into the Arch environment without the Android system in the background. This may not be possible due to the phones bootloader, but if anything I'll have an extremely minimal version of Android acting as a crutch for Arch, helping it to boot up and perform other operations. The system should be 90% Arch Linux.
Please don't take this the wrong way but as long as it has nothing to do with the current chroot/VNC method I'm all for it. The chroot method lacks access to the phone's hardware so things like audio, USB host don't work.
If chroot/VNC is what you are trying to avoid then you may want to look at Gentop2 and kholk's original Gentop project. This should give you an idea as to how they achieved framebuffer and hardware access. If you want to provide support for Tegra2 Moto's you'll need to keep the install below 755MB for Atrix support unless a webtop2sd type method will be used.
Another thing you may want to consider is that the upcoming ICS update and AOSP lack the needed framebuffer/HW access. You may need to hack and kang a far bit to get ICS and AOSP support.
Acvice said:
Mighty ambitious! Im definitely interested in this. Arch is one of my favorite distributions. I'm concerned about the usability of it though. What desktop environment would you aim to use? Are there any that I'm unaware of that that are geared toward mobile phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahah, I was just thinking about that myself. As per my knowledge, there are ZERO DE's geared towards phones. We could come pretty close to the mobile-phone experience using a tablet/netbook-oriented DE, similar to Unity. Unity is capable of running on Arch, but I don't know if it's ARM compatible, or how smoothly it would run on a small processor like the Tegra 2. If anything I could just configure an Xmonad environment that runs entirely off of mouse/touch gestures.
jahildebra said:
Hahah, I was just thinking about that myself. As per my knowledge, there are ZERO DE's geared towards phones. We could come pretty close to the mobile-phone experience using a tablet/netbook-oriented DE, similar to Unity. Unity is capable of running on Arch, but I don't know if it's ARM compatible, or how smoothly it would run on a small processor like the Tegra 2. If anything I could just configure an Xmonad environment that runs entirely off of mouse/touch gestures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unity can run on ARM and is pretty but fairly resource heavy. Canonical has Ubuntu 12 running on an Atrix2 but have no intention of releasing source at this time. I would suggest staying with a lightweight "Unity like" enviro. This will free up resources for other things.
Might I suggest OpenBox? Extremely lightweight and easily configurable to suit the needs of a small screen. Desktops and windows are easily manageable from a single bottom bar, all application categories pop up in a menu when taping on any part of the 'desktop', all with gradients and transparency as needed so to still be slick looking. My mental imagine of the setup would be similar to that of Webos and easily achievable and user friendly. A particular distribution that i've been using for a while whom has really made the flexibility of Openbox shine is Crunchbang. The dude who runs the distro has developed many little GUI utilities that are made to configure Openboxs' script-based setup. So if you decided to use it, a lot of work is already done so to speak. Check it out and see if you get any inspiration!
Acvice said:
Might I suggest OpenBox? Extremely lightweight and easily configurable to suit the needs of a small screen. Desktops and windows are easily manageable from a single bottom bar, all application categories pop up in a menu when taping on any part of the 'desktop', all with gradients and transparency as needed so to still be slick looking. My mental imagine of the setup would be similar to that of Webos and easily achievable and user friendly. A particular distribution that i've been using for a while whom has really made the flexibility of Openbox shine is Crunchbang. The dude who runs the distro has developed many little GUI utilities that are made to configure Openboxs' script-based setup. So if you decided to use it, a lot of work is already done so to speak. Check it out and see if you get any inspiration!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion! I've never used OpenBox before, but I've heard its customizability is similar to Xmonad's.
I'll check it out!
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
What's your intended target user base? Will it Linux n00b, average linux user or linux power user?
Lokifish Marz said:
What's your intended target user base? Will it Linux n00b, average linux user or linux power user?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mainly average/power users. Arch Linux is definitely not for the weak hearted.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
Lokifish Marz said:
What's your intended target user base? Will it Linux n00b, average linux user or linux power user?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, generally speaking, Arch is most certainly not for Linux noobs
::edit::
Haha, totally didnt see there was a page 2. Jahildebra already said it.
The reason I asked is that I agree that Arch "out of the box" is more "power user" than say Ubuntu Desktop but not much more so than most server distros. It would really depend on what extras are put in. Arch running Gnome with all the bells and whistles could be very n00b friendly if set up with them in mind. Then again my perspective may be a little off as I still remember Mandrake coming on floppies with only a command line installer.
Lokifish Marz said:
The reason I asked is that I agree that Arch "out of the box" is more "power user" than say Ubuntu Desktop but not much more so than most server distros. It would really depend on what extras are put in. Arch running Gnome with all the bells and whistles could be very n00b friendly if set up with them in mind. Then again my perspective may be a little off as I still remember Mandrake coming on floppies with only a command line installer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah I get what you're sayin. As long as you hook people up with multimedia codecs, a good package manager, and some necessary apps i think even noobs would be happy. And I havnt heard anyone mention Mandrake in many years since Mandriva. I popped into the linux scene around Ubuntus dapper drake release. Ever since Ive ran debian.
Well, it seems like there's interest aplenty.
I'll be starting the project as soon as possible.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
More interest will arrive when some solid progress is made im sure. I do have a question though.. Im a little unsure of how you plan to get sms, mms, data and such working on this. Or maybe i missed the point entirely. Is it not meant to be a fully functional replacement of android?
Acvice said:
More interest will arrive when some solid progress is made im sure. I do have a question though.. Im a little unsure of how you plan to get sms, mms, data and such working on this. Or maybe i missed the point entirely. Is it not meant to be a fully functional replacement of android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That will be one of the biggest challenges, alongside getting Arch to boot initially and having the phone be usable even without a physical keyboard. I plan to at least have 3G working, but I don't quite know how that will play out. None of the devices Arch Linux ARM has a release for have a 3G radio in the first place, so we have no examples to follow, and we'll have to figure this out on our own.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
What utility does Ubuntu and other desktop distro's use to accept usb tethering from any android phone? I'm guessing netcfg (it's all I know in that department) is the norm, if so there may be a way to point it at the radio internally and then play around with settings for data and possibly calls. Webtop may still be running acual Android but it still has configuration files just like everything else in linux. We should be able to figure this out over time.
Interested? Not as such... More like curious.
I'm new to Linux and have never really been able to gain a foothold. I'm still kicking myself for building a gaming PC and thus tying myself to Windows. With Steam announcing support for Linux... If Bethesda joins them and support for the Fallout games and Skyrim comes to Linux... bye bye Windows. But for now Ubuntu 12.04 doesn't like my computer. And Arch isn't Ubuntu, but I'm willing to learn.
Would this support the phone parts? I understand that Arch has ARM builds, and they support a Tegra 2 device very similar to the Photon/Electrify, but that device doesn't have a CDMA radio in it, and possibly other components. Does it have Bluetooth? In any case, you'd need drivers for the hardware specifically in the Photon/Electrify, and Motorola hasn't been very forthcoming with community support.
As for keyboards, anyone in America at least can get a physical keyboard for $16. Newegg has a mini keyboard like an iMac's for $15 shipped, and Amazon has a USB OTG cable for under a buck. The two won't work for me on my phone under a couple CM10 ROMs, though. I read for drives it's a matter of power, but a keyboard shouldn't draw any (surely the 100mA the phone puts out over the micro USB should be enough for the caps/num/scroll lock LEDs). But the software on the phone has to support a keyboard that way; I don't know that Android knows to expect input that way.

Ubuntu for phones on our hardware?

What are the chances we'll see the new Ubuntu for phones os running on our hardware anytime soon?
As far as I understand it it should be just a matter of compiling for our specific soc, making a flashable rom and then flashing, right? They say it can run on android kernels so there shouldn't have to be any hardware interface work that needs to be done, right?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
If you don't mind me asking, how would this make any difference to us?
rangercaptain said:
If you don't mind me asking, how would this make any difference to us?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would enable us an alternative operating system choice, allowing application developers to create processor native applications (rather than using a java virtual machine that's quite resource intensive than running apps on the bare metal) thus using less system resources, enabling faster multitasking, greater compatibility with preexisting applications, enhanced security, and the desktop mode that they are touting is quite nice as well. connect an hdmi dongle and use a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to turn the phone into a desktop computer... there are lots of uses for a bare metal operating system on a hardware platform with restrictive system resources.
there's really nothing wrong with android per se, she's a great OS, but there are a wide number of other approaches to building os's and user experiences. I would consider this pretty similar to choosing to install ubuntu on a PC, or windows on a mac for that matter. it's a matter of widening the variety of application approaches and compatibility. a matter of choice.
I really want to know if this is possible after seeing the demo of it on engadget this morning I'm convinced that this is one os I'd be willing to flash and possibly leave on over android, as amazing as Android is this just better though out in terms of where everything is and speed of access
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
It may take off, if someone is able to best the entire android community as a whole, but the odds of that are "0"...
We would be better served if google took it over, and incorporated the OS into a handful of smart phones. Beyond that prospect, a port for us would be nothing more than a pet project.
This idea is not new, and mention of it can be found in virtually ever forum on this site, and a few devs have met with success on getting a bootable Android device running Ubuntu, but it was a short lived event, as support for the OS is simply not there ATM.
I do agree that a different OS is a good idea, but as a dedicated Android user, I would not be willing to switch at this point, as a stable, functional OS is months or even years away.
Likely the OS would fall the way of RIM, and other OS platforms, albeit, ahead of it's time.....g
gregsarg said:
It may take off, if someone is able to best the entire android community as a whole, but the odds of that are "0"...
We would be better served if google took it over, and incorporated the OS into a handful of smart phones. Beyond that prospect, a port for us would be nothing more than a pet project.
This idea is not new, and mention of it can be found in virtually ever forum on this site, and a few devs have met with success on getting a bootable Android device running Ubuntu, but it was a short lived event, as support for the OS is simply not there ATM.
I do agree that a different OS is a good idea, but as a dedicated Android user, I would not be willing to switch at this point, as a stable, functional OS is months or even years away.
Likely the OS would fall the way of RIM, and other OS platforms, albeit, ahead of it's time.....g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I strongly believe that everyone is entitled to their opinion, the fact of the matter is that it's already running on the quintessential android test bed for the current generation of phones (the galaxy nexus) which means that it should be very easily ported to other, similar hardware (which is most of the android devices out there right now.). if they made this completely open source (which i'm pretty sure they'd have to given that most of the components of the OS are built on open-source licenses), and allowed the already very good and very diverse linux community expand it's functionality, write good apps for it, I think it has some pretty great promise.
my personal standpoint however, is that operating systems for mobile should work exactly like they do for PC's (and macs for that matter). you should be able to install whatever, whenever, without the approval of the company that happens to make the hardware, and without the approval of the company who provides the data and telephone services for the device... it's a pocket computer, not a dumb phone designed for one thing.
I thought Android was Linux and Ubuntu was Linux. Why is one type better than the other? And to run native, wouldn't hardware manufacturers have to write a butt load of drivers? Like the fiasco of upgrading from win2000 to win7.
Ubuntu won't be released til 2014, will older phones like our note1 be supported?
Keep in mind that by 2014 the note1 would be considered old in mobile years.
rangercaptain said:
I thought Android was Linux and Ubuntu was Linux. Why is one type better than the other? And to run native, wouldn't hardware manufacturers have to write a butt load of drivers? Like the fiasco of upgrading from win2000 to win7.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hardware drivers always run on the bare metal anyway (usually as part of the kernel, or occasionally as a background daemon service). the point is that android applications are built on top of the java environment which is a virtual machine - it's processes are abstracted and emulated which requires much more system resources than writing in something like c++ for the underlaying hardware. the only compatibility that this would break is that binaries don't work across cpu platforms. if something is compiled for the arm9 architecture for example (what most modern smartphones use, including our note), it wouldn't run on android for x86 or another java virtual machine like bluestacks. in order to get it to run on a different hardware platform you'd either have to emulate a complete device (like the iphone and android sdk simulators), or recompile it for the platform you want to run it on (only useful if you have the source code). the latter method is how linux distributions have been doing things for years. there are virtually identical linux distributions that can run on intel, arm, powerpc, sparc, motorola 68k, etc. etc. they can all run pretty much the same applications (because of the hardware abstraction layer present in the kernel), but in order for it to work, those applications must be recompiled for the appropriate underlaying processor architecture, as the output of a c(++,#) compiler is code that is cpu architecture specific.
also, windows 2000 and windows 7 were designed for the same (or similar) underlaying hardware problems. windows 2000 to windows 7 was mostly a piece of cake. whereas the move from windows 98 to windows 2000 or windows 98 to windows xp was difficult because windows 9x and windows 2000/xp use a different variety of hardware abstraction layer and thus different drivers must be written as drivers designed for one HAL won't work with another. (same thing for major linux revisions. the HAL in the 2.4 series of kernels is different from the one in 2.6 series of kernels which means one has to rewrite device drivers in order to get some less-than-standard hardware working.
So cp....
your a smart guy...
Get it going for us.....
you've got the skills we need to pull it off....g
gregsarg said:
So cp....
your a smart guy...
Get it going for us.....
you've got the skills we need to pull it off....g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, If i had access to the sources (that by all rights should be open thanks to the way the gpl is designed), I'd be happy to build a rom and help with the development efforts. I'm pretty decent at optimizing linux distributions for arm hardware. we should all petition canonical to release the code post haste.
I would love to see ubuntu ported over to phones. I almost fell off my chair when I heard of the idea that your phone could just connect to a monitor/keyboard/mouse to become a fully fledged desktop computer. This would literally replace almost all of my gadgets into one device. I wouldn't need a laptop, an ipod, a dvd player, or even a gaming console possibly as well.
I've been using ubuntu for a number of years and would be overjoyed to see almost all of my electronics and computing essentially made into one pocket sized device. The possibilities are so great for this kind of leap in technology and it almost seems to be the inevitable succession in personal computer technology. This could possibly be the beginning of the end for laptops, desktops, tablets, and netbooks/ultrabooks. All data would be transmitted using flash memory or transmitted OTA instead of spinning disks or other media.
If the source code is released, and I'm sure it will since Canonical has done a decent job of running Ubuntu lately, I hope someone brings it to the i717 because then I would probably sell a lot of electronic equipment
The release will never happen to allow a single, all inclusive device.
Ubuntu or not, there are too many hands in the pie, and billions of dollars on the table.
The apples, and Samsungs of the world will go at it until the day we die.
They all want the biggest piece, and will squash anyone that gets in their way.
Ubuntu would need a home run piece of code that emulates a magic carpet if they ever hope to slay the beast.
And if they did, I'm not so sure that people would embrace the one stop shop mentality for a single device anyway.
It simply stinks of yet another apple type monopoly in the making.
I support the idea, but it's the logistics that kill the deal, money driven logistics of course.....g
gregsarg said:
The release will never happen to allow a single, all inclusive device.
Ubuntu or not, there are too many hands in the pie, and billions of dollars on the table.
The apples, and Samsungs of the world will go at it until the day we die.
They all want the biggest piece, and will squash anyone that gets in their way.
Ubuntu would need a home run piece of code that emulates a magic carpet if they ever hope to slay the beast.
And if they did, I'm not so sure that people would embrace the one stop shop mentality for a single device anyway.
It simply stinks of yet another apple type monopoly in the making.
I support the idea, but it's the logistics that kill the deal, money driven logistics of course.....g
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too true, it's all about the money in the end, even with free stuff.
Now that you mention it, it does sound a lot like some sort of Apple type ploy to get you to buy their things... either way I hope it happens someday

Ubuntu is HERE!!!

Finally Ubuntu for the tablets is here. That's Right!!! This Thursday for the nexus7 and 10. Here goes the official video http://youtu.be/h384z7Ph0gU
hit the thanks... been a while
Almost here ,.....
Sent from my HTC Droid Dna Venom Rom using Tapatalk 2
horatiob said:
Finally Ubuntu for the tablets is here. That's Right!!! This Thursday for the nexus7 and 10. Here goes the official video http://youtu.be/h384z7Ph0gU
hit the thanks... been a while
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just the developer preview right now it looks like, I thought it was the full release for some reason. Anyone planning to jump in head first just for fun?
I think I'm going to wait a little bit, conceptually it seems great but I would initially like to "dual-boot" if that is in any way possible - does it actually install a grub like pre-loader where I could choose to boot to my SentinalROM instead? How about Google Play store integration, any news on that? The biggest hurdle for myself would be losing access to all my Play Store games/books.
Astriaal said:
Just the developer preview right now it looks like, I thought it was the full release for some reason. Anyone planning to jump in head first just for fun?
I think I'm going to wait a little bit, conceptually it seems great but I would initially like to "dual-boot" if that is in any way possible - does it actually install a grub like pre-loader where I could choose to boot to my SentinalROM instead? How about Google Play store integration, any news on that? The biggest hurdle for myself would be losing access to all my Play Store games/books.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh absolutely. I plan on downloading it as soon as it goes live.
Sent from my GT-N7100
Astriaal said:
Just the developer preview right now it looks like, I thought it was the full release for some reason. Anyone planning to jump in head first just for fun?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep
Astriaal said:
Just the developer preview right now it looks like, I thought it was the full release for some reason. Anyone planning to jump in head first just for fun?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to give it a try on my Nexus 7.. That's my entertainment/screw around with my own builds tablet.. I'm really not privvy to testing "development previews" of an alternate OS on a $500 tablet.. I'll at minimum wait a bit to feel it out on the Nexus 7 first and hear back from those who did try it on the Nexus 10.
Can this be dual booted?
I already backed up my tablet's data on pc. Ready to install it on both nexus 7 and 10!
tawfiqmp said:
Can this be dual booted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't read detail on it yet, but I did see a note indicating that it can be set up with dual boot -- needs a custom recovery, but it appeared pretty straightforward when I glanced at the description. Dual boot would certainly make me more receptive to giving it a try.
I'm not much of a developer but I'm all over this. Been waiting for over a year for this.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Dual boot is mandatory for me to do this
SayWhat10 said:
Dual boot is mandatory for me to do this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
agreed. dual boot or no go!
if there is ubuntu for android where you have access to your android apps. Why cant we do that with our nexus 10?
I dont care for dualbooting if I can have access to android apps from within ubuntu.
horatiob said:
if there is ubuntu for android where you have access to your android apps. Why cant we do that with our nexus 10?
I dont care for dualbooting if I can have access to android apps from within ubuntu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know you do not have access to your android applications you simply have ubuntu.
Sent from a SGS3 GT-i9305
Loving this. You know they're turning this loose for the imaginative dev/hacker community to get great ideas for a full release on their own devices. It will benefit all in the long run. Google better embrace this as the future, I hope.
Sent from my LT28at using XDA Premium HD app
fredphoesh said:
As far as I know you do not have access to your android applications you simply have ubuntu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well that sounds like............it sucks. smh
i mean all these people happy to that ubuntu is about here, that they would give up all their android apps? really????????????????
Recon Freak said:
Loving this. You know they're turning this loose for the imaginative dev/hacker community to get great ideas for a full release on their own devices. It will benefit all in the long run. Google better embrace this as the future, I hope.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's great seeing this kind of development, but I'm not yet clear that it's something that would help Google or necessarily benefit the majority of the user community...at least not in the near term. Google's been working hard at gaining market acceptance for Android, and a significant component of this will likely be, increasingly, the availability of Android as an internally consistent ecosystem that spans phone and tablets. Ubuntu is pushing the same idea, i.e., a single ecosystem that encompasses phones, tablets and PC's -- and that's great. But unless there's interoperability between OS's, it may be a while before the consumer market is ready to embrace yet another mobile OS in a big way, as appealing as Ubuntu may be.
My Android phone (Galaxy Nexus) and tablets (N10 and N7) work so well together these days that I really wouldn't want to replace any of them with a device running an OS and aps that didn't "connect" with my other devices as well and seamlessly as they all work together now. I'm also not about to replace all 3 devices right away, and start fresh finding apps that mimic the functionality of the 100+ Android apps that I have installed.
Android and Ubuntu are both based on Linux at the lowest levels, so they can take advantage of common hardware drivers. But at the app level, they're based on different languages and runtime systems - so far. At the moment, Android apps can't run on Ubuntu in any kind of native mode and vice versa. While Google is working to gain broad acceptance of Android, what incentive would they have to throw another OS in the mix at this stage of the game?
jonstrong said:
Android and Ubuntu are both based on Linux at the lowest levels, so they can take advantage of common hardware drivers. But at the app level, they're based on different languages and runtime systems - so far. At the moment, Android apps can't run on Ubuntu in any kind of native mode and vice versa. While Google is working to gain broad acceptance of Android, what incentive would they have to throw another OS in the mix at this stage of the game?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I meant to quote and managed to thank you - While they are based on different levels I do recall hearing that there would be a dalvik vm built into ubuntu to allow for android applications to run inside the system as well - as long as you have the apk and such. Similar to BlueStacks for W8 and Windows desktop.
omac_ranger said:
Well I meant to quote and managed to thank you - While they are based on different levels I do recall hearing that there would be a dalvik vm built into ubuntu to allow for android applications to run inside the system as well - as long as you have the apk and such. Similar to BlueStacks for W8 and Windows desktop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the thanks, however inadvertent
As far as I've read, Canonical doesn't plan on creating a Dalvik JVM for Ubuntu any time soon. The statement from them suggested that they recognize that native compiled apps (the dev ecosystem on Ubuntu is primarily HTML5, QML, C++) will run faster and more efficiently than code running within a JVM -- this was part of the comment when asked if they were planning to incorporate a Dalvik emulator in Ubuntu. There's nothing to prevent someone from developing one, but making this work properly will also require cooperation between the Dalvik implementation and the security framework in Ubuntu -- certainly possible, but I'm guessing it could be a year before anything comprehensive along those lines is likely to make it to market.
There's also another question nagging at me: how will Google evolve Android over the next couple of years? With an increasing number of apps rolling out for Android, it's conceivable that multiple windows (such as Samsung already offers) may become a regular feature, apps will become increasingly powerful -- and the distinction, at least for many people and many applications -- between PC and Android device -- will become vanishingly small for many purposes. If that happens, my guess is that this would further reduce any incentive for Google to somehow tie Ubuntu in with Android.
Of course I could be 100% wrong, and this just be the kind of thinking that happens after a 12 hour day without enough coffee... I personally love the evolution of hardware and software, and look forward to seeing how this all pans out. Fun to speculate in the meantime.
jonstrong said:
Thanks for the thanks, however inadvertent
As far as I've read, Canonical doesn't plan on creating a Dalvik JVM for Ubuntu any time soon. The statement from them suggested that they recognize that native compiled apps (the dev ecosystem on Ubuntu is primarily HTML5, QML, C++) will run faster and more efficiently than code running within a JVM -- this was part of the comment when asked if they were planning to incorporate a Dalvik emulator in Ubuntu. There's nothing to prevent someone from developing one, but making this work properly will also require cooperation between the Dalvik implementation and the security framework in Ubuntu -- certainly possible, but I'm guessing it could be a year before anything comprehensive along those lines is likely to make it to market.
There's also another question nagging at me: how will Google evolve Android over the next couple of years? With an increasing number of apps rolling out for Android, it's conceivable that multiple windows (such as Samsung already offers) may become a regular feature, apps will become increasingly powerful -- and the distinction, at least for many people and many applications -- between PC and Android device -- will become vanishingly small for many purposes. If that happens, my guess is that this would further reduce any incentive for Google to somehow tie Ubuntu in with Android.
Of course I could be 100% wrong, and this just be the kind of thinking that happens after a 12 hour day without enough coffee... I personally love the evolution of hardware and software, and look forward to seeing how this all pans out. Fun to speculate in the meantime.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why does Ubuntu have to do anything with Google?
The developer preview is being made for Nexus devices but that's only because they are readily available and open to hacking.
I don't think Canonical realistically thinks Ubuntu will be the lead platform for Phones and Tablets but that's okay. They're currently trying to fill a niche with their tablet OS which is the enterprise market. This is one place where Android hasn't made a ton of inroads and it happens to be where Canonical makes their money(albeit still not profitable).

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