[PCWorld]

Post your comments for Ubuntu for Android Will Bring the Desktop to Your Phone here

[RobinLim0bf7]

It is something different, and useful. Different type of docking stations could make this very interesting. LCD TV and keyboard at home, Motorola type lapdock on the road, giving you a Linux laptop. Nice one.

[agrippa]

so can you port this to a current phone? or do yo have to buy a new phone with it pre installed ?

[JonathanWongalap]

Ubuntu coudl do this to save desktop computing because its practically taking your entire desktop with you! Brilliant!

[linuxrants7xpg]

Very, VERY cool.

[WayneWard]

amazing - this is the future

[CalcProgrammer1]

This seems like more of Ubuntu's lovely marketing hype than anything. Ubuntu can already run on ARM-based systems and this isn't a new idea at all. The issue comes down to manufacturers allowing you to boot more than just Android as well as the chip manufacturers providing drivers that work with the desktop Linux systems rather than just Android. I've been working on the HP TouchPad Ubuntu port, it runs well on the device but it is entirely separate from Android. There is no 3D acceleration because Ubuntu doesn't support the Adreno 220 graphics core that the TouchPad has, but 2D video does work enough to be usable. Bluetooth and WiFi work after much hacking, as does the touchscreen.

While I don't dislike the idea of a dock, using a dock as a switch to determine operating mode is a REALLY DUMB IDEA. Some people want to use Android in the dock, some people want to use Ubuntu on the phone, and some people want to charge their phone without it switching out on them. Let the user choose with a menu/button/reboot/bootloader, not only via the dock. Also, don't try to integrate Android and Ubuntu together, you'll end up with a bloated mess, just make an open bootloader and dual-boot.

Also, Unity still sucks on a touchscreen, and it really shows of mediocrity when it is designed for tablets and lacks a worthwhile onscreen keyboard. Onboard does look nicer than others, but it lags and doesn't size to the screen well.

[Colinv84i]

I've said it before and Ill say it again... Most people dont think that Linux is ever going to get as big as Windows or Apple, but the average (beginner) computer user is going to evolve to be an intermediate > advance user in today's terms. Once this happens, They are going to want something else other than Windowz and Apple; And we will see a boom in Linux Users. And Ubuntu is in a great position for that. It has to be exciting over there at Canonical.

[rokky]

It will be more interesting if it can be added onto existing tablets/phones - I have a Dell Streak 5 that I would love to see this on (even have a dock with HDMI). I am not buying a new phone just for this. Better yet, let us also have the option of a replacement for Android (tired of all the politics re privacy and Apple/Oracle suits) - I thought that was the idea of the Unity desktop that is otherwise so pathetic for "normal" PC usage.

Let this replacement have the underpinnings to also run Android apps ala BlueStacks on Windoze and RIM's Playbook OS 2.0 that is just now available, and it would be a killer!

[blafouille]

Linux find the missing link.....

[AdrianWechner]

it's just awesome. best docking-concept that i've seen so far! Ubuntu rules! so when do we see the first Ubuntu Store?

[EvanPetzoldt]

Ubuntu for Android + Asus Padfone = future

[Colinv84i]

EvanPetzoldt, on 21 February 2012 - 11:14 AM, said:

Ubuntu for Android + Asus Padfone = future

Interesting thought

[MichaelPfeiffer]

I don't own an Android device, but I use Ubuntu at home on a secondary computer. I will now become and Android user, with a Samsung Galaxy S2 and have Ubuntu on it (only when the OS comes out on Android).

[Raulm095]

ok, i was going to but a phone this week, maybe i will wait a few months to see any manufacter jump in.

[linuxrants7xpg]

A pretty cool video showing it in action (if you can get over the jerky camera action):

http://youtu.be/gUXUjjg9qQ0

This post has been edited by linuxrants7xpg: 21 February 2012 - 03:29 PM

[LokifishMarz]

It nice to see this is being done with Canonical support vs those of us that have to hack our phones and void warranties to achieve this.

[dominichasford]

CalcProgrammer1, on 21 February 2012 - 10:35 AM, said:

This seems like more of Ubuntu's lovely marketing hype than anything. Ubuntu can already run on ARM-based systems and this isn't a new idea at all. The issue comes down to manufacturers allowing you to boot more than just Android as well as the chip manufacturers providing drivers that work with the desktop Linux systems rather than just Android. I've been working on the HP TouchPad Ubuntu port, it runs well on the device but it is entirely separate from Android. There is no 3D acceleration because Ubuntu doesn't support the Adreno 220 graphics core that the TouchPad has, but 2D video does work enough to be usable. Bluetooth and WiFi work after much hacking, as does the touchscreen.

While I don't dislike the idea of a dock, using a dock as a switch to determine operating mode is a REALLY DUMB IDEA. Some people want to use Android in the dock, some people want to use Ubuntu on the phone, and some people want to charge their phone without it switching out on them. Let the user choose with a menu/button/reboot/bootloader, not only via the dock. Also, don't try to integrate Android and Ubuntu together, you'll end up with a bloated mess, just make an open bootloader and dual-boot.

Also, Unity still sucks on a touchscreen, and it really shows of mediocrity when it is designed for tablets and lacks a worthwhile onscreen keyboard. Onboard does look nicer than others, but it lags and doesn't size to the screen well.

More lovely marketing hype? You speak as if this is a trend of empty promises, when Ubuntu has me focused on the desktop and server market since it's creation. The fact that a company is trying to innovate is not marketing hype, they have concrete development already invested into the project. Never before has a full Linux desktop been paired along side Android in such a seamless fashion. Yes there have been similar for factors, notably from Asus and Motorola, but no where the same. You are so uneducated in your statements, it is funny to read actually. "Chip manufacturers providing drivers that work with the desktop Linux systems rather than just Android"? Both Android and Linux are utilising the same Linux Kernel, meaning whatever drivers make Android run will also run Ubuntu once the phone is docked. All necessary patch work shall be accomplished by Canonical and the device manufacturer. What you don't seem to understand is that previously Ubuntu and Android used two separate Kernels, which made running Ubuntu on an Android very difficult. This however has changed, they will very soon be using an identical kernel.

Your opinion isn't fact, because you think something is dumb doesn't mean it is. "Some people want to use Android in the dock", now that is stupid. Why would I want to dock my phone to use it? It is portable. You are bending the whole concept of the product. It's not to have Ubuntu on a phone, it's to offer a full desktop experience that you take with you. They already have videos demonstrating the product, it is by no means a bloated mess. This might come as a surprise to you, but Canonical has better programmers than you working on Ubuntu. Just because you couldn't make the product work, doesn't mean they can't.

[OlafGeibig]

linuxrants7xpg, on 21 February 2012 - 03:29 PM, said:

A pretty cool video showing it in action (if you can get over the jerky camera action):

http://youtu.be/gUXUjjg9qQ0

Would love to see your video but it's private...

[OlafGeibig]

This is AMAZING. This is a brilliant idea - probably really the best since sliced bread (at least for digital things). The same kernel - this just solves everything. Finally Ubuntu uses it's Linux and UX expertise to make a bold move towards a truly revolutionary concept. If this is going to work out smoothly it is THE way to seamlessly integrate our mobile and desktop computing needs. Now I clearly see that it's not exaggerated that the current mobile OS wars are really about nothing less than the future of personal computing. I guess in Redmond and Cupertino they're about to come up with similar things. Dammit, I can't wait to see it in action.

Under the premise that the technology works fine my only doubts are about that manufacturers could be afraid of cannibalizing their low-end notebook / netbook market. Maybe that might be also a reason for Apple to not offer something similar. On the other hand such dual use could really boost sales of high end phones. Hmmm... we will see.

@CalcProgrammer1: you completely missed the boat. It's not about switching OSes and run Ubuntu on the touch screen. When docked, Android and Ubuntu will run at the same time using the same kernel (so drivers won't be a problem). I guess they'll just spawn a vitualised Ubuntu instance with a lot of bridges to the running Android like using it's internet access, phone capabilities and access to data like calendar, phonebook etc. This is frickin brilliant.

This post has been edited by OlafGeibig: 22 February 2012 - 02:20 AM