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Canonical Puts Ubuntu On Android Smartphones
nk497 writes "Canonical has revealed Ubuntu running on a smartphone — but the open source developer hasn't squashed the full desktop onto a tiny screen. Instead, the Ubuntu for Android system runs both OSes side by side, picking which to surface depending on the form factor. When a device — in the demo, it was a Motorola Atrix — is being used as a smartphone, it uses Android. When it's docked into a laptop or desktop setup, the full version of Ubuntu is used. Files, apps and other functionality such as voice calls and texting are shared between the two — for example, if a text message is sent to the phone when it's docked, the SMS pops up in Ubuntu, while calls can be received or made from the desktop." ZDnet has pictures; ExtremeTech has a story, too, including some words from Canonical CEO Jane Silber.
The PCPro article says "Silber said Ubuntu for Android would be released under an open source license, but that Canonical expects it to mostly be pre-installed on specific hardware." I honestly hope they don't screw this one up, it's got the potential to be huge.
Canonical already made a great job in making the Linux desktop usable for the masses for free. They need to monetize their work if they're going to keep doing it. Giving Ubuntu for Android to the community as an unsupported do-it-yourself hack, would bring zero profit and lots of users whining.
Check out my cross-platform apps
Install a terminal emulator and a copy of busybox and you can have a bash scripting environment on android.
No, the Motorola Atrix is a phone with a 4.0" screen, not a tablet. http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_atrix-3709.php