A computer OS running on a smartphone is not a new concept. We have all seen the Windows Phone OS in action and we will see the Windows 8 in few months, also the Android OS developed by Google on the Linux platform, are all derived from a desktop OS. But now, some new and ambitious projects are trying to go even further and accomplish something new: a transition from the PC operation system to the smartphone. The same OS working on a smartphone! If these projects succeed, they will bring the smartphone and computer worlds closer than they have ever been.
The XDA Developers Team
You might have heard about this new project, one that promises even greater features on our much loved Android smartphones. Installing Linux on any Android device seems really cool and gives you access to lots of cool features and of course, all the productivity that Linux offers. This ambitious project was started by Zac Powell from XDA Developers and now has gathered momentum, with a bigger team that manages to push apps and updates every few days, and also language packs, so that anyone can use it on their smartphones.
What do they offer?
The team has managed to bring us the Debian Installer, Ubuntu Installer and Backtrack Installer (more information on this topic can be found on the XDA Forum), complete with programs and the possibility to install any Linux program that is not based on a PC architecture. Their progress can be monitored via their website: Linux On Android, where you can also download the latest updates and see additional information on the project. If you are interested in the project and you can give them some help, they also accept new members to the team or accept donations in the form of paid apps of the Play Market.
What do you need to run Linux?
If you are interested in trying out the Linux installer on your smartphone, know that the team has successfully managed to run it on a number of devices. A full list of supported devices can be found on their website. Keep in mind that if your device is not on the list, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it doesn’t work, they probably hadn’t had the chance to try it. If you are interested in trying out the Linux Build, here are some recommended tech specs:
Root
1 GHz Processor
SD card over 4 GB (for the full installer)
What they are trying to do here is amazing, apart from the obvious benefits of having Linux OS installed on your smartphone or tablet, the thing that impresses the most is that this team is closing the gap between smartphones and computers, uniting them under one banner, the Linux banner.
To install the Linux OS on top of your Android OS, all you need to do is download the app from the Google Play Market and run it. After going through the wizard, you are all set. Now you can enjoy the full potential of the Linux OS directly on the screen of your smartphone!
The Ubuntu Developers Team
A second project (that has been covered more extensively in another post) that tries to close this gap is led by the Linux Ubuntu Team themselves. Ubuntu is loved by many, it has great graphics, multiple apps and it’s a very stable platform. Now, with the advances that smartphones are showing, the possibility or sunning a OS like Ubuntu on a pocket device has never been more realistic.
As you all know, Ubuntu was always free and it will be free forever. That is why it’s a very good idea to use it as a OS for your smartphone. The Ubuntu team are trying to install Ubuntu on any Android device and via a docking station, connect it to a computer monitor.
How to run it?
This is the best part of this project: with a simple USB and video cable, you can have Ubuntu up and running on any screen, from your smartphone. You will need a dual core device to run it, but nowadays smartphones come with even bigger processors than that.
I am amazed to see a full size computer fit in the palm of your hand, and when the project is completed, you can enjoy the benefits of Ubuntu anywhere you go. If you are interested in this project, you can get in touch with the Ubuntu Team, via their website, where you can also get much more information about this project.
Recommended specs:
Dual Core Processor
Docking station with USB and micro HDMI cables
All you have to do now is to try it out for yourself! The projects are up and running and with each passing day, they are getting closer and closer to their final state: a universal OS. Of course, this is far fetched, but it’s not hard to imagine a OS running on all our devices in the near future. Ubuntu has already been installed on tablets, so it won’t be long until it will be available for smartphones also.
As for the Ubuntu Team’s project, it is still in the development stage, but by the look of things, it won’t be long until you will be able to use your Android Smartphone as a computer with Ubuntu OS
[via] XDA Developers
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