Mark Shuttleworth has announced "Ubuntu for Android", which brings Ubuntu to multi core Android phones.
Ubuntu for Android is a phone but also your own portable computer that you can plug in to any monitor to get a fully featured desktop:
Carry just the phone, and connect it to any monitor to get a full Ubuntu desktop with all the native apps you want, running on the same device at the same time as Android. Magic. Everything important is shared across the desktop and the phone in real time.
And it's not just a computer, Ubuntu TV is integrated into Ubuntu for Android so when you connect it to a TV, you don't get the Ubuntu desktop interface but the Ubuntu TV interface.
Ubuntu for Android will use Unity, along with applications (or web apps) you're already familiar with, like: Chromium, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Thunderbird, Gwibber, VLC, PiTiVi, "Ubuntu Music Player" (looks like Rhythmbox) or Ubuntu Photo Gallery (Shotwell). This is possible because Ubuntu and Android will share the same kernel.
Contacts, photos, music etc., will be available on both the phone and the desktop interface.
Contacts, photos, music etc., will be available on both the phone and the desktop interface.
Ubuntu for Android will work on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) or newer and will require the following hardware:
- Dual-core 1GHz CPU
- Video acceleration: shared kernel driver with associated X driver; Open GL, ES/EGL
- torage: 2GB for OS disk image
- HDMI: video out with secondary frame buffer device
- USB host mode
- 512 MB RAM
Mark Shuttleworth also says that this isn't the Ubuntu Phone (which is still in the pipeline).
Ubuntu for Android will be demoed at the Mobile World Congress next week. For more information, see Mark's post and the official Ubuntu for Android page.
Update: check out this Ubuntu for Android video.
Update 2: Ubuntu for Android will be offered pre-installed by manufacturers and won't be available to download for regular users for now
screenshots via Ubuntu for Android and Extremetech
