Ubuntu running on Android phones

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reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#97927 22-Feb-2012 09:15

just came across this

http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android

basically you will able to dock your phone with a monitor, keyboard and mouse and run ubuntu from it, which is tightly integrated with your phone (shared contacts, photos, calendar etc), you will be able to call, txt while using ubuntu.

really really cool idea, i dont see apple ever doing anything like this. windows might do something similar with what i know about their tablets.

but this is kind of a no brainer, makes complete sense, would make me switch from iphone.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#585099 22-Feb-2012 11:58

Can already do the interface side of things with SGS2 via a MHL-->HDMI adaptor & using a bluetooth mouse/keyboard.

@KnightNZ

kiwitrc

4123 posts

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Inactive user

#585108 22-Feb-2012 12:10

reven: just came across this

http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/android

basically you will able to dock your phone with a monitor, keyboard and mouse and run ubuntu from it, which is tightly integrated with your phone (shared contacts, photos, calendar etc), you will be able to call, txt while using ubuntu.

really really cool idea, i dont see apple ever doing anything like this. windows might do something similar with what i know about their tablets.

but this is kind of a no brainer, makes complete sense, would make me switch from iphone.

That is indeed very cool!

DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585138 22-Feb-2012 12:53

Wow! I wondered where Ubuntu was going when it was mooted that they'd left the desktop environment.

I like it, I like it a lot.

Bit confusing on how it would be implemented. Seems it would need to be pre-installed by the manufacturer.
Or by directions scribbled on the back of a cigarette packet by an XDA developer on a rooted phone.

With Ubuntu OS, guessing that means access to printer drivers and maybe ...just maybe USB external DVD/BD player and etc.

It is 'rumoured' that Android Jelly Bean 5.0 will have dual boot capability and that its companion OS would be ChromeOS.
If the device didn't have Ubuntu pre-installed and was running Android 5.0, it'd be pretty cool if you could just boot up Ubuntu.
BUT this is "PURE SPECULATION" and dreaming out loud at this time.

If Windows mobile 8 running on a phone could be docked and then just bring up Windows 'desktop' 8.....

It is true you can dock an Android phone today, but that's just it, you're docking any Android phone designed primarily for a sub 4" screen.

Ubuntu is designed at it's core for a 10"+ screen and windowing, how much of that is seen in an Android/Ubuntu dock is anyones guess.

Bee

732 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585142 22-Feb-2012 12:57

Just wondering how you accomplish network connection with this setup? Does it have to be WiFi or is there some way to connect to Ethernet?

If so it could be the office of the future... BYO hardware is already becoming a popular idea - bring your own laptop and connect into a work network, BYO android phone would be even better!

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585152 22-Feb-2012 13:27

Bee: Just wondering how you accomplish network connection with this setup? Does it have to be WiFi or is there some way to connect to Ethernet?

If so it could be the office of the future... BYO hardware is already becoming a popular idea - bring your own laptop and connect into a work network, BYO android phone would be even better!

It'll just use WiFi. However it is possible a 'hub/dock' could provide other network services.

HDMI 1.4 does have a spec for Ethernet channnel which is in effect 100Mb Ethernet via HDMI.

Who knows what the future holds.

Disrespective

1925 posts

Uber Geek

#585258 22-Feb-2012 17:12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gUXUjjg9qQ0

^ Vid of features.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#585264 22-Feb-2012 17:16

Several Android devices already support USB host mode, i.e. the ability to connect keyboards, mice and most other standard USB HID devices directly to the USB port via a microusb -> USB adaptor and a powered hub.

Unfortunately, you can either use USB host, _or_ the MHL adaptor, not both, so it'd still mean that keyboards etc. would need to be bluetooth based. Vendors may be able to make something that'll handle both in the future, which I think might be what the Ubuntu folks are getting at.

Given that 1.4Ghz quadcore phones are on the horizon, they should be actually powerful enough to be comfortably usable as a desktop PC.

Pretty exciting, it'll be fun to see who steps up and implements this first in an "official" form.

@KnightNZ

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#585607 23-Feb-2012 11:13

stevenz: Several Android devices already support USB host mode, i.e. the ability to connect keyboards, mice and most other standard USB HID devices directly to the USB port via a microusb -> USB adaptor and a powered hub.

Unfortunately, you can either use USB host, _or_ the MHL adaptor, not both, so it'd still mean that keyboards etc. would need to be bluetooth based. Vendors may be able to make something that'll handle both in the future, which I think might be what the Ubuntu folks are getting at.

Current Sony [Ericsson] XPERIA range of phones with HDMI and USB via a dock, support USB keyboard/mouse and HDMI monitor/TV.
Don't even need to turn Bluetooth on for those devices.
It's the Sony Ericsson dock that provides the USB keyboard support, leaving HDMI free to connect to a monitor.
Sony Ericsson Arc, Pro, Neo and Sony XPERIA S are all examples of phones that can dock with a USB keyboard/mouse and HDMI monitor today.

USB Host mode is supported on the Sony phones, but not the Sony Ericsson phones (natively).

Other manufacturers have gone for the MHL combo interface which doesn't always provide the widest KMV connectivity options at the moment.

Using Android on a 40" HD-TV is... well... limited. It's still one application covering the whole screen at one time.

The Ubuntu docking option is more about having the Ubuntu OS with it's windowing, multi-tasking interface and drag and drop features on a large monitor/TV.

Maybe Microsoft will pip them all with an Uber Windows mobile 8 platform, that when docked will give you Windows 8 desktop OR even Apple could do something similar.

stevenz

2802 posts

Uber Geek

#585630 23-Feb-2012 11:43

Well, they have just started restricting supply of the AppleTV, maybe the replacement device will be a dock for the iPhone4 which does the same thing, and then they can do their usual "Look at this thing that we've done which NO ONE has ever thought of doing before!" routine.

Given that they're pushing OS X and iOS more and more towards each-other, the eventual convergence of something like that isn't impossible, plugging a phone in and having it just "work" as a desktop computer would be pretty cool.

I'd rather stick to Android & avoid paying any more Apple tax than necessary though. (My jailbroken AppleTV is marvellous though ;)

@KnightNZ

CruciasNZ

879 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#585634 23-Feb-2012 11:52

I hope Canonical patent this, would be nice to see them have something that is theirs alone and sets them alone and above Windows and OSX

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DrStrangelove

368 posts

Ultimate Geek

#588117 29-Feb-2012 02:34

This is an interesting "little" bit of kit.

Runs Android and/or Ubuntu(?).

FXI Cotton Candy

And with 1.2GHz dual-core processor and Mali-400MP GPU, it should be able to output a decent 720p picture.

Note to self. Buy one.