Ubuntu on Android becomes real


Recommended Posts

This, folks, is Ubuntu on Android. An honest-to-goodness, not janky or VNC'd, full build of the Linux distro powered by an Android smartphone.

We'll let that sink in.

ubuntu-1.pngCanonical -- the company behind Ubuntu -- today announced that it's bringing the full Ubuntu experience to multi-core Android phones in the same way that Motorola has attempted to extend its hardware to a more traditional computing experience with Webtop. That is, you'll connect your phone to a keyboard and display, and from there have full control over a proper Ubuntu experience, all powered by the phone. Because your Android smartphone is already running a Linux kernel, the marriage between your phone and Ubuntu is darn near seamless. The Ubuntu build actually shares the kernel from your phone and boots in parallel.

Canonical gave us a walkthrough of the experience, and it really couldn't be more simple. Dock the phone, and Ubuntu Unity fires up. Photos and videos are instantly available in the desktop experience.

But photos and videos are chump change. You've got full Chromium and Thunderbird apps. VLC. The Ubuntu Music Player. If it's on Ubuntu, it can be on your phone.

But the real power is in the ability to launch your Android apps within that desktop experience. Same goes for contacts. Or your network settings. Or your notifications. It's Android within an Ubuntu experience. And it's pretty slick.

As for hardware requirements, you'll need a dual-core smartphone with at least a 1GHz processor and 512MB of RAM. You'll need 2GB of storage free as well, plus USB host mode and HDMI out (MHL adapters will work, Canonical tells us), plus video acceleration. Older phones need not apply, basically.

It's worth repeating that this is your phone powering Ubuntu -- not the Ubuntu desktop on your phone. We're going to get a close look at Mobile World Congress next week in Barcelona, Spain. Stay tuned. For now, we've got Canonical's full press release after the break.

More:

Ubuntu

Ubuntu for Android at MWC - world?s first full-featured desktop on a docked smartphone

Carry less, do a lot more. All the productivity and apps of the full Ubuntu desktop, built into your Android phone.

London, 22nd February, 2012: Canonical today unveiled Ubuntu for Android, bringing the world?s favourite free desktop experience to multi-core Android smartphones docked with a keyboard and monitor. Use Android on the phone and Ubuntu as your desktop, both running simultaneously on the same device, with seamless sharing of contacts, messages and other common services.

The phone experience is pure Android - it?s a normal Android phone. When the device is connected to a computer screen, however, it launches a full Ubuntu desktop on the computer display. It?s exactly the same desktop used by millions of enterprise and home users on their Ubuntu PCs, and includes hundreds of certified applications, from office productivity to photography, video and music.

All data and services are shared between the Ubuntu and Android environments, which run simultaneously on the device. So Android applications such as contacts, telephony and SMS/MMS messaging are accessible from the Ubuntu interface. Indeed, all data on the smartphone can be accessed at any time, docked or not.

Ubuntu for Android gives mobile workers a company phone that is also their enterprise desktop. Government and private institutions have embraced Ubuntu on the desktop because of its ease of use, security, manageability, superb range of native applications and excellent support for web browsers like Chrome and Firefox. The desktop can also include Windows applications, using thin client and desktop virtualisation tools. Today?s IT departments commonly support a PC and at least one desktop phone for every employee. Many also provide and manage mobile phones. Ubuntu for Android presents a compelling solution to IT complexity by reducing that burden to a single device.

The first PC for the next billion knowledge workers could be a phone - but they won?t just want to use it as a handset. They will want all the flexibility and productivity of a full desktop, as well as the convenience of a smartphone on the move. Ubuntu for Android represents the first opportunity for handset makers and network operators to address this growth opportunity in emerging markets.

?The desktop is the killer-app for quad-core phones in 2012? says Mark Shuttleworth. ?Ubuntu for Android transforms your high-end phone into your productive desktop, whenever you need it?

Manufacturers targeting the corporate phone, as well as the next-generation enterprise desktop and thin clients can easily add Ubuntu for Android to their smartphones. The customized version of Ubuntu drops in cleanly alongside the rest of Android, and the necessary Android modifications are designed for easy integration. Hardware requirements include support for HDMI and USB, standard features in high-end handsets planned for late 2012.

Ubuntu for Android justifies the cost to enterprise customers of upgrading to higher bandwidth 4G connections and contracts. Cloud apps like Google Docs work best with a full desktop, and shine with the lower latency of LTE. Network operators can deliver their own branded applications and services as part of the Ubuntu desktop, in partnership with Canonical.

Canonical leads the traditional Linux ecosystem in support for the ARM architecture, having co-founded Linaro (linaro.org), the consortium dedicated to the unification of Linux on ARM and the simplification of Android integration and delivery. That industrial experience, combined with Canonical?s long-standing leadership in desktop Linux and deep relationships with global PC brands enables Canonical to deliver an ARM-optimised desktop tightly integrated with Android, on silicon from a range of ARM vendors.

http://www.androidce...btop-experience

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/1059366-ubuntu-on-android-becomes-real/
Share on other sites

it's not "ubuntu on android." that would imply that ubuntu is being emulated on top of the android OS. it's simply Ubuntu running on a smart phone.

Technically, "Ubuntu running on an Android-based smartphone." Considering it integrates with it.

Pretty neat, though my phone wouldn't be able to handle it. :(

it's not "ubuntu on android." that would imply that ubuntu is being emulated on top of the android OS. it's simply Ubuntu running on a smart phone.

"The Ubuntu build actually shares the kernel from your phone and boots in parallel."

I think the boots in parallel means just like a virtual machine... so i believe Its Ubuntu on Android

"The Ubuntu build actually shares the kernel from your phone and boots in parallel."

I think the boots in parallel means just like a virtual machine... so i believe Its Ubuntu on Android

It is Ubuntu on Android -- Ubuntu Phone is a separate thing.

And my god this looks amazing.

EDIT:

Just saw this:

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

WE IN DA FUTURE NOW. I just came a bit.

Looks sweet but going by that video I'm slightly disappointed by how some of it works. It'd be nicer if the information it got from android. (Texts/contact info) opened up in native ubuntu apps instead of opening a very wonky android view which wrecks the flow of the ui altogether.

^ Well, it's Linux, it depends on when the source code gets released and if anyone's willing to do the work.

Btw, just how awesome was the end of the video when he plugged it in the TV and it switched to the Ubuntu TV interface? On a side note, that's how it should be done, similar interface, not the exact thing on all devices *cough* Windows 8 *cough*

^ Except not at all. Windows 8 looks and behaves simple on both phones and desktops, but so far the option to dock your phone to a screen and use a full Windows 8 hasn't been announced.

Btw, The Verge has a hands on: http://www.theverge.com/2012/2/21/2812424/ubuntu-for-android-hands-on

Really awesome.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Microsoft faces shareholder lawsuit over masking AI costs and slowing Azure growth by Karthik Mudaliar Microsoft is facing a class action lawsuit from shareholders who allege that the company intentionally overhyped its artificial intelligence initiatives to distract from slowing cloud revenue and an exploding infrastructure bill. The complaint was filed in a Seattle federal court by the Michigan-based City of St. Clair Shores Police and Fire Retirement System. The plaintiffs argue that Microsoft’s leadership painted an overly optimistic picture of its Copilot rollout and complex OpenAI partnership. They say that the company did this while downplaying the harsh reality that building the data centers required to power these next-generation tools requires a huge amount of capital. Back at the company's Q2 2026 earnings report from late January, Microsoft revealed that its flagship Azure cloud growth had slipped to 39% (down from 40% the prior quarter) and guided investors to expect a further deceleration to 37% or 38% for the first three months of 2026. Now, under normal circumstances, a slight percentage point drop in cloud growth is a minor operational hiccup. But the Redmond giant paired that guidance with $37.5 billion in quarterly capital expenditures. This figure, which is a 66% year-over-year surge, blew past any analyst estimates at that time. Much of this amount went into buying high-priced GPUs and custom silicon that were required to train and run large language models. This is why the market reacted violently and just a day after its earnings call on January 29, the company's stock plummeted 10%, and wiped out $357 billion of capital in just a trading session. Microsoft is doing better now, though. Its Q3 2026 results showed its run rate from its AI business was hitting $37 billion, proving that enterprise demand for its infrastructure is very real and continuing to scale. Microsoft isn't the only company pouring billions into infrastructure for the AI boom. We've seen most Big Tech companies, including Amazon and Google, also get the results of these **** with stronger-than-ever growth and increased income. via Reuters
    • Firefox 152.0 by Razvan Serea Firefox is a fast, full-featured Web browser. It offers great security, privacy, and protection against viruses, spyware, malware, and it can also easily block pop-up windows. The key features that have made Firefox so popular are the simple and effective UI, browser speed and strong security capabilities. Firefox has complete features for browsing the Internet. It is very reliable and flexible due to its implemented security features, along with customization options. Firefox includes pop-up blocking, tab-browsing, integrated Google search, simplified privacy controls, a streamlined browser window that shows you more of the page than any other browser and a number of additional features that work with you to help you get the most out of your time online. Firefox key features Enhanced Tracking Protection (ETP) – Blocks trackers, cookies, cryptominers, and fingerprinters by default. Private Browsing Mode – Deletes history, cookies, and temporary files when closed. Lightweight & Fast Performance – Optimized memory usage with efficient page loading. Cross-Platform Sync – Sync bookmarks, passwords, history, and open tabs across devices. Customizable Interface – Toolbars, themes, and extensions can be tailored to user needs. Strong Privacy Controls – Options to manage cookies, permissions, and site data easily. Reader Mode – Strips away clutter for distraction-free reading. Pocket Integration – Save and read articles offline with Pocket built into Firefox. Picture-in-Picture (PiP) – Watch videos in a floating window while multitasking. Extensions & Add-ons – Vast library for productivity, security, and personalization. Built-in PDF Viewer – No need for external software to view PDFs. Firefox Monitor – Alerts users if their email is part of a known data breach. Multi-Account Containers – Isolate browsing sessions (e.g., work, personal, shopping). Performance & Resource Efficiency – Uses fewer system resources than some competitors. Open Source & Community-Driven – Transparent development with global contributions. Download: Firefox 64-bit | Firefox 32-bit | ARM64 | ~70.0 MB (Freeware) Download: Firefox for MacOS | 145.0 MB View: Firefox Home Page | Release Notes Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • Microsoft Visio 2024 Professional for Windows is still at 90% off by Steven Parker Created by ChatGPT Today's highlighted Neowin Deal comes from our Apps & Software section of the Neowin Deals store, where you can save 90% on Microsoft Visio 2024 Professional for Windows [Digital License]. Microsoft Visio: Turn Complex Ideas into Clear Visuals Microsoft Visio 2024 is a robust diagramming software designed to empower individuals and businesses to visually represent complex data, processes, and workflows. With a host of advanced features, it caters to professionals from various industries, including IT, engineering, business, and architecture. Visio 2024 makes it easy for individuals and teams to create and share clear, professional diagrams that simplify complex information. It offers updated shapes, templates, and styles, along with a new search bar to improve your experience. Visio 2024 also has a fresh design that matches other Office apps you use. Create stunning diagrams Extensive Diagramming Capabilities: Visio 2024 offers a wide array of diagram types, including flowcharts, process maps, floor plans, network diagrams, and organizational charts. The software comes with a comprehensive set of pre-built templates and shapes, making it easier to get started on projects quickly. Professional Templates and Shapes: The software includes over 250,000 shapes across multiple diagram types, ensuring that users from any field-whether creating a simple flowchart or a complex engineering design-have the tools they need to represent their ideas visually. Data-Linked Diagrams: One of the most powerful features of Visio 2024 is its ability to link data to diagrams, allowing users to visualize real-time data directly within their diagrams. Whether you're pulling data from Excel, SQL Server, or other databases, the software ensures that your diagrams are automatically updated as data changes, giving users better insights and control. Advanced Formatting Options: Visio 2024 comes equipped with a range of formatting tools to create highly customized diagrams. These include shape formatting, text adjustments, and the ability to apply various themes, ensuring diagrams not only serve their functional purpose but also look professional. Enhanced Visual Styles: This version of Visio includes new visual styles and layouts that make complex diagrams easier to interpret. Whether you're designing an IT network, a business process flow, or a floor plan, the enhanced visual options improve clarity and presentation quality. Easy, secure collaboration Real-Time Collaboration: With Visio 2024's improved collaboration tools, multiple users can work on the same diagram simultaneously from anywhere, with changes being tracked in real-time. This makes it a highly efficient tool for teams working remotely or across different locations. Mobile and Cloud Access: Users can view and edit diagrams on the go with the Visio web app. This ensures that even when you're away from your desktop, you can access and make critical changes to diagrams via mobile devices. Integration with Microsoft 365: Visio 2024 integrates seamlessly with the Microsoft 365 suite, allowing users to easily embed diagrams into PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, or Teams chats. You can also store diagrams in OneDrive or SharePoint for easy sharing and access from any device. Security and Compliance: Built with enterprise-grade security, Visio 2024 ensures that your diagrams are protected. Microsoft's trusted cloud infrastructure means that your data is encrypted and safeguarded, with compliance with international standards. Good to know Length of access: lifetime Redemption deadline: redeem your code within 7 days of purchase Access options: desktop Bound to account - Limited to one device activation at a time Only available to existing and new users Version: 2024 Updates included Click here to verify Microsoft partnership Microsoft Visio 2024 Professional for Windows normally costs $579.99, but it can be yours for just $39.97 for a limited time, that's a saving of $520 (90%). For terms, specifications, and license info please click the link below. Microsoft Visio 2024 Professional for Windows for $54.97 (was $579.99) Although priced in U.S. dollars, this deal is available for digital purchase worldwide. Support queries If you have queries or need support for any of the Neowin Deals, please use the contact form here. Neowin Deals are managed and sold by StackCommerce who represent Neowin on an affiliate basis. Why we post these deals We post these because we earn commission on each sale so as not to rely solely on advertising, which many of our readers block. It all helps toward paying staff reporters, servers and hosting costs. So for those that keep moaning and complaining, be thankful we're still online for you to even do that. Other ways to support Neowin Whitelist Neowin by not blocking our ads Create a free member account to see fewer ads Make a donation to support our day to day running costs Subscribe to Neowin - for $14 a year, or $28 a year for an ad-free experience Disclosure: Neowin benefits from revenue of each sale made through our branded deals site powered by StackCommerce.
    • I totally disagree. Very little good comes out of governments all around the world manipulating everything they can and usually the people are not the benefactors. What you say about being restricted and expensive sounds almost like the arguments against firearms and why banning them will protect people as if making something illegal somehow will prevent the criminals from having and using them. AI being far less mainstream could simply mean the average person will not benefit, but "big brother" and the corporations will benefit, which is almost for sure NOT a good thing.
    • I do apologize to the author Mr. Sen for my rude comment, questioning his knowledge of the subject. It is I whom lacked knowledge of the subject. Sorry!
  • Recent Achievements

    • Week One Done
      Jeroen Wilms earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      rolfus earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Month Later
      Leroy Jethro Gibbs earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Conversation Starter
      flexorcist earned a badge
      Conversation Starter
    • One Month Later
      AndreaB earned a badge
      One Month Later
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      500
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      201
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      127
    4. 4
      Steven P.
      81
    5. 5
      ATLien_0
      76
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!