I was Thinking aout the future of computer...

And i can see it happening, for the consumer the smart phone and the PC will be one of the same. (Mac) OS X is getting more like iOS and iOS is becoming more capable. Windows 8 looks a hell a lot like Windows Phone.

This leaves me think what about Linux and Android?

That got me thinking, how hard would it be to port the android user area to Linux to run on top of it. Android uses a very heavily modified Linux kernel with a java based user space on top. So I wonder how hard would it be to put this user space on top of a Linux environment with a few kernel modules to handle the added APIs and communications.

It could play like this, a Android/Linux phone, you see the Android GUI, then ether A) pop it in to a tablet and see a Tablet based Android GUI or B) placed into a dock that runs a Linux GUI (Gnome, KDE, etc.). Both Desktop Apps and Android Apps would be able to run side by side and maybe even linked together so that when in he Android GUI it would use the Android App (lets say Firefox) but when running on Desktop GUI it would run the The Desktop App (full fledged Firefox). The Apps could even be packaged together.

This could all be integrated in to a cloud service (For the average consumer) and maybe a open source DIY cloud server (for the advance user) and sync multiple systems. This would be for convenience. I already run a few servers so for me this would be extremely welcome to mange both system from the same point.

I am no developer (other then Web) and i am only just getting in to the nitty gritty of Linux (just setup my first Arch Linux install). But i love getting others to use linux (i have converted 3 people so far) and something like this would make linux compete with the future (Mac) OS X/iOS and Windows 8 (if M$ does not die off first ) in the consumer ring.

Drivers would have to be written, and power management vastly improved. (Hey If google gets in on this Linux could get a boost from them, who knows ) It would basically make Android an extension of linux, something the runs on top of it.

I just wanted to get my idea out there and see what you guys thought.

 

I have been using computer so long I'm about bored of them. As a tool they work fine, as a hobby I find them becoming mundane.

I think something needs to be done to take computers to the next level. I am tired of staring at the tired old desktop, I am tired of installing Linux and thinking I can configure my way into this awesome desktop that can only be customized so far.

So to answer your question, I think anything that can change things up a bit and make things a bit more interesting and out of the norm is a good thing.

 

This is already happening. See Android drivers to be included in Linux 3.3 kernel - The H Open Source: News and Features

I think this is precisely the type of computing paradigm that Ubuntu is shooting for. I can't really comment beyond that since I don't own a smartphone and I don't believe things like "systemd" or "/usr unification" are good for Linux.

 

Thats cool about the drivers.

I tried getting x86 Android to load in a chroot environment, was having trouble with the android side, so i gave it a brake. might try it again some time.

Ya i heard of the Ubuntu/android setup they showed off.

I have done some research and i think i know how they got the GUI to switch, they just load one os in VT1 and the over in VT2 with a script to switch them on set events (like plugging in to the dock).

 

Why would I want to run a less-functional, part-closed-source Linux distro?

If my hardware is Linux capable, why not run a full-featured desktop distro?

 

It would be more for the consumer people, plus convenience.

 

I know my tablet, the transformer prime can run both Android ICS as well as Ubuntu, although Ubuntu is still is progress and thus far, there is no way to dual boot. This tablet can dock to a keyboard that adds battery and port expansion. Asus also has a padphone in the works (possibly being released soon) that allows you to dock a phone into a tablet-size platform. Those two combined seem to be in the direction you're thinking, so it may not be too far off.

 

ya i have seen that and that uses the same idea (chroot) but i am trying to get android to run on top. in other wards full linux system with a little android sprinkles on top (see what i did there ).

 

With the road map for the kernel (particularly 3.4) this may just have gotten closer. With this merge of the android kernel and the main line, it may be possible to transfer the android user space to linux and even integrate it in to existing WM/Dekstops.

Would love to set that up with arch and put it in a in-car-computer, Google Nav and Full linux, makes the perfect car system.

 

Interesting, but I don't think there will be enough benefit that Google would be willing to work closely with the Linux kernel developers. Most likely, they'll continue to evolve in parallel.

Besides, I think it's probably better to spend more effort improving the existing interfaces that we have like, Gnome/KDE.

 

Without all the advance configuration tools and developmental tools IMO you are nerfing its full power.

 

I would never use the android interface on anything but a phone and maybe a tablet. But with Gnome (dont know KDE very well, dont really use it) a shell extension could be add to put in the android only elements and the apps could be in the same menu.

Which tool?? i dont really understand what you getting at, with a full linux os there is all the linux tools, and with android, they can be ran as well.


There is one thing google really needs to focus on and thats the Java VM they use, they really need to slim it down, its a bit of a heavy weight, which may not have an effect on a modern PC but there phones could really benefit from it, which would also help with a project like this.

 

I think the problem he's getting at is the fact that GNU tools (used in almost all Linux distros) are different from the tools in Android. I'm not sure if they'll work nicely with each other.

 

had not thought of that. but considering that the only part of android that would truly need to be moved over are the APIs and the Java VM and maybe a few other things, but most of the basics are being integrated in to the kernel. how ever i guess we would have to find out if/when someone tries to move it all over.

 

iOS and android are on the same level of unusability. They both need to do ALOT of growing in order to function anywhere near the level of a traditional OS.

As for linux it will always have its place in this world and to be quite frank there are tasks that I would NEVER use a windows box for, just as there are tasks I would never use a linux box for.

As for OSX and windows 8 becoming more mobile like, well the only thing I see as beneficial is the arm version of windows 8. Changing the UI to function more like a tablet is a gimmick and a few steps backward for a full blown OS IMHO (plus that UI functionality can be turned off in windows 8). But the ability to function and run with 100% transparency between a tablet and desktop is a bunch of steps forward.

I dont want a mobile OS to do more and I dont want a full blown OS to do less. I want seamless transfer of utility from my tablet to my workstation and currently I can only say that MS is the only one stepping forward in this aspect. Then again I cannot make any statements of the functionality of linux on tablets, but I can say the days of using linux as a main OS on my non server rig are done for now. I reserve linux to servers and VMs with the tasks I can ONLY trust linux to do. So it will always have a place, just not the flashy main stage main OS rather the more important server that makes it all work.

 

Ya the Tablet GUI is a gimmick for the most part, but if it is needed to get them to move forward eventually then so be it, as long as you can turn it off.

What i want to see is a full blown Linux OS running on my phone/tablet, then have a android layer on top that can function for when im restricted to a small display, but plug it in to a dock or what have you and i can get a full OS. Now i would go as far as have some apps running in a terminal like layer as well, to add performance to them, but thats just me.

They "smartphone" OSs do need to grow but they are getting there. there is potential but it has not been taped yet. a lot of companies could save money by switching to a setup that all they have to do is hand out a phone/tablet, then have a full os when docked, but they would need management tool, system administration tool, but right now all they have are OSs that act like over powered toys.

 

There's already a phone essentially running Linux/Debian: Nokia N9 with Meego Operating system.

I bet it would be easier to use meego as a basis for your idea than Android

 

Im using linux for the basse not android, android is running on top (hopefully).

Also the n9 is a bit underpowered compared to many phones, and you know more power is always good

 

Android is more then powerful enough for cell phone tasks. For me a more powerful OS on a cell phone would only be for bragging rights and nothing more. Now tablets on the other hand need a more grown up os and thats why I sold my transformer.

Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk

 

Ya android is more then enough for a phone, but what i would like to do is use it for a main linux machine, just plug it in to a dock or something and have a full Linux OS that would fill my needs. Now it would be nice to have multi-monitor and things like that but that probably wont happen for a bit .

I would also have to have a bit of a terminal style of setup to get more kick out of a few apps, and it would nice to be able to remote run a few windows apps with high end 3d graphics but thats another project al together.