Ubuntu Edge: 3 things to think about

[WoodPeckr]

As always the 'bleeding edge' technology is being done on Linux. Here's the latest example of where things are headed.....:thumb:

Ubuntu Edge: 3 things to think about

The cross-over Android device wants to break through barriers and smash records. TechRepublic's Jason Hiner boils down the three key takeaways.

"This could be the mobile device that finally has enough power and moxie to replace a PC, because it can act just like one. With the Ubuntu Edge, that’s exactly what Ubuntu founder Mark Shuttleworth would like you to believe. Announced Monday, the Ubuntu Edge is a high-powered Android smartphone that will also dock and provide a full desktop experience using Ubuntu. It runs bleeding-edge hardware squarely aimed at enthusiasts and it has launched one of the world's largest crowdfunding campaigns to date in order to make it happen. Whether Shuttleworth is right or wrong, it’s impossible to ignore the ambitiousness of what Ubuntu is trying to pull off. And, there’s a possibility that it could empower early adopters and power users to have a bigger voice in product development in the tech industry.

1. It goes deep on phone and PC convergence

The Ubuntu Edge wants to be the first phone that can dock and serve as a full PC replacement, and Shuttleworth believes that the hardware is now capable enough to handle it and that Ubuntu can do the hardware/software integration to succeed where others have failed.

The Ubuntu Edge is throwing a lot more hardware at solving this problem, with a 2.4GHz quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. These are laptop-quality specs in a smartphone, and that makes it a lot more likely that this will run like a true PC."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57595055-94/ubuntu-edge-3-things-to-think-about/

 

[Anynym]

There is a lot of hoopla surrounding the rumoured Ubuntu Edge. Most pundits do not expect it to deliver on half of the promises being made, and expect it to be a tremendous failure as a result.

 

[onthebottom]

More trailing edge...

http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Motorola-ATRIX-4G-Laptop-Dock-Review_id2667

 

[WoodPeckr]

More trailing edge...

http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Motorola-ATRIX-4G-Laptop-Dock-Review_id2667

Apples & oranges.....:eyebrows:

This may ease your befuddlement.....:wink:

Motorola famously tried this with the Atrix and its Webtop software, but it was using an 800MHz processor (second-gen had 1.5GHz), 1GB of RAM and 48GB of storage (max). Webtop’s desktop experience was mostly limited to a Firefox browser. As a result of these two factors, the overall desktop experience on the Motorola device was sluggish and limited.

The Ubuntu Edge is throwing a lot more hardware at solving this problem, with a 2.4GHz quad-core CPU, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. These are laptop-quality specs in a smartphone, and that makes it a lot more likely that this will run like a true PC.

But where Ubuntu really thinks it can drive a breakthrough is in the integration between the phone and desktop environments. It’s been working on this issue since last year when it announced Ubuntu for Android, and in its video demos this week it showed working prototypes running the full Ubuntu experience from a testing device (a Nexus 4 running Ubuntu for Android). The Ubuntu Edge is going to pack a lot more power than the Nexus 4, but it already looks capable enough to match a moderate PC. Ubuntu is doing little things like running Android apps from the desktop, sharing contacts and text messages between phone and desktop, sharing social media credentials between the two environments, and retaining open web pages between phone and desktop. The Ubuntu Edge will offer the option of booting into the Ubuntu Phone OS instead of Android, but with all of the momentum behind Android right now I expect that most Ubuntu Edge buyers will want to run Android on the phone side.

 

[b4u]

Bloomberg just spent $80k on the crowdfunding
the unit price has now dropped to $695

times running out with only 13 days remaining http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge

 

[WoodPeckr]

Here's what you get

 

[blackrock13]

There is a lot of hoopla surrounding the rumoured Ubuntu Edge. Most pundits do not expect it to deliver on half of the promises being made, and expect it to be a tremendous failure as a result.

Sssssssssssssssssssssh!! Woodie will have a coronary after he denies the story.

 

[WoodPeckr]

There is a lot of hoopla surrounding the rumoured Ubuntu Edge. Most pundits do not expect it to deliver on half of the promises being made, and expect it to be a tremendous failure as a result.

Sssssssssssssssssssssh!! Woodie will have a coronary after he denies the story.

LMAO!!!

As expected the usual drivel coming from the usual suspects from the Apple peanut gallery who are programed not to embrace bleeding edge technology but run from it.....till they steal it a few years down the road! .....

 

[The Options Menu]

I'm kind of a big bag of meh about the Edge, and I'm downright grumpy about how Ubuntu's recent behaviour / ideas are effecting the broader Linux ecosystem. Though I'm even grumpier at Red Hat (for years), and I'm mulling buying a BlackBerry Q5, so I officially don't count for anything.

 

[bishop]

Linux had it's big chance when netbooks first hit, windows was a bit heavy for the atom processor so the roads were all clear for Linux to make it's big entrance. I think when netbooks first started Linux had a double digit showing among netbooks, within a year that turned into essentially 0% among netbooks.

This phone is going to be a total bomb, you get a phone with no apps, it is powerful for sure but all you can use it for is browsing and video because there are no apps, so now you dock it and use it as a desktop for what? for web browsing and video on a big screen because it has no apps. You can get a $300 phone that can do a great job at browsing and video, and it has apps to do other things.

Linux is too principled to be popular, I can imagine that on this phone, in order to run any app you will need to bring up the keyboard and you have to enter "sudo" + username + password, then double click on the app icon.

 

[WoodPeckr]

bishop

When netbooks first came out believe they only ran some flavor of Linux.
M$ saw this and did not like it! M$ feared if too many peeps got a taste of Linux they may abandon Windoz. So M$ quickly created a 32 bit starter version of XP and used their corporate muscle to see XP starter version came installed on practically every netbook, to insure peeps didn't see what Linux offered.

You say no apps???
Edge dual boots Android and Ubuntu!
So you claim Android, which essentially is a flavor of Linux, has no apps???
Oh and Ubuntu OTOH has more apps than M$ and iOS combined.....:eyebrows:

 

[bishop]

Yes MS saw the threat and it was a big threat, if linux gains momentum in the netbook market it can easily carry that into the traditional laptop/desktop market. Linux had a huge advantage of being free on a netbook that probably sees very very little margin, people spoke with their wallet and chose to go with a more expensive netbook with XP than a cheaper one with linux. On a netbook the power and the screen is so compromised that 99% of the people just use it for browsing and media playback, something which linux can do well, but even in that cherry picked restrictive environment Linux still got it's ass handed to it. The phone market is a less kind arena than the netbook market, linux is going to get it's butt handed to it even harder.

I forgot it dual boots Android, that is the only saving grace about it. Android runs ontop of linux, so it is linux, but it does not really keep in the spirit of linux in such that it is mostly easy to use, has apps for it, and does not look like dog poop.

I keep holding out for a flavor of linux that looks and feels like windows; start button on the bottom left hand corner, same layout for the control panel, do not have to sudo every 5 minutes, etc... These linux nerds would rather spend their time on developing obscure hardcore technical stuff than on practical stuff like make it easy to use (by that i mean make it look like windows).

I am going to call BS on Ubuntu having more apps for it than windows and iOS combined.

I do not hate linux, i am just dissapointed with their lack of product offerings that cater the majority of the people, a windows clone in terms of look and feel. I want to run linux, but all my critical apps are windows only, make linux feel like windows that will bring in a huge install base, then hopefully the apps I use will be ported to linux because now there is a demand for them so then I can finally do all my work on an OS that does not bend over to the NSA.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I keep holding out for a flavor of linux that looks and feels like windows; start button on the bottom left hand corner, same layout for the control panel, do not have to sudo every 5 minutes, etc... These linux nerds would rather spend their time on developing obscure hardcore technical stuff than on practical stuff like make it easy to use (by that i mean make it look like windows).

LOL.....what version of Windoz do you mean??? Do you mean W8 which has NO start button on the bottom left hand corner???
Or perhaps W7, Vista, XP, W2000, or maybe W98???
Which Windoz look/feel is right for you???
W8, W7, Vista, XP, W2000, or W98 are all soooo similar...:eyebrows:

I chose Linux because I wanted to be FREE of M$, not because Linux looked/felt like M$!!!
Oh, BTW haven't had to use sudo in months!!!
What flavor of Linux were you using that requires using sudo every 5 minutes, etc???...:eyebrows:

I am going to call BS on Ubuntu having more apps for it than windows and iOS combined.

Linux has used several massive 'repositories' for years where all those tens of thousands of apps and programs can be easily found, D/L and used for free. This was such a good idea Apple copied it calling it their iStore.....:eyebrows:

I want to run linux, but all my critical apps are windows only, make linux feel like windows that will bring in a huge install base, then hopefully the apps I use will be ported to linux because now there is a demand for them so then I can finally do all my work on an OS that does not bend over to the NSA.

At first I felt the same and solved this by dual booting. This way M$ and Linux can easily be used as needed.
Now after several years using Linux I still dual boot but have found many Linux apps & programs that do it all and at this point in time I am totally Windoz free! It's nice being FREE!.....

 

[The Options Menu]

Linux is too principled to be popular, I can imagine that on this phone, in order to run any app you will need to bring up the keyboard and you have to enter "sudo" + username + password, then double click on the app icon.

Linux is just a kernel. Android is a Linux. TERB is running on a Linux. There's a decent chance your router, DSL / Cable modem, and digital picture frame are Linux too. Desktop distibutions are also Linux, and some are more principled than others. If you count the things that run the Linux kernel as being Linux than Linux actually has 'won' (and quietly won long ago).

The trend to web everything is only going to see more Linux where it counts. Odds are if you're writing in PHP, Python, Ruby, or Perl you're serving and probably developing it on a Linux.

 

[bishop]

LOL.....what version of Windoz do you mean??? Do you mean W8 which has NO start button on the bottom left hand corner???
Or perhaps W7, Vista, XP, W2000, or maybe W98???
Which Windoz look/feel is right for you???
W8, W7, Vista, XP, W2000, or W98 are all soooo similar...:eyebrows:

I chose Linux because I wanted to be FREE of M$, not because Linux looked/felt like M$!!!
Oh, BTW haven't had to use sudo in months!!!
What flavor of Linux were you using that requires using sudo every 5 minutes, etc???...:eyebrows:


Linux has used several massive 'repositories' for years where all those tens of thousands of apps and programs can be easily found, D/L and used for free. This was such a good idea Apple copied it calling it their iStore.....:eyebrows:


At first I felt the same and solved this by dual booting. This way M$ and Linux can easily be used as needed.
Now after several years using Linux I still dual boot but have found many Linux apps & programs that do it all and at this point in time I am totally Windoz free! It's nice being FREE!.....

It was a year or two ago and I was using Ubuntu, I forget why I had to sudo but I think I wanted to mount a USB drive or do something with the file system, it was not anything exotic.

I have Ubuntu installed in a virtual machine, I keep it around thinking one day I will give Linux another shot, but my only use for it is to surf the net and watch videos.

 

[The Options Menu]

It was a year or two ago and I was using Ubuntu, I forget why I had to sudo but I think I wanted to mount a USB drive or do something with the file system, it was not anything exotic.

OK, Ubuntu should probably do this by default, but on any Debian based distro (like Ubuntu) add your user to the 'plugdev' group. No more sudo. In fact, if you find yourself sudoing for anything other than editing configs under /etc, or doing updates, there's probably a group for that, and you should be adding users to the proper group(s) (it's just more secure). If you hate sudo that much you can even automate the sudo out of your updates, but permissions exist for reasons (privacy and security). Ubuntu should err on the side of desktop users, but I'm quite happy that venerable old Debian is fairly strict by default.

The nice thing about groups and permissions is that you should only have to set them up once. Ever. My home file / print / media server has been continuously upgraded 'forever', and I likely haven't had to muck with permissions / groups in years. This is a box that is a workhorse, and automatically logs into a guest account attached to a big screen tv that gets used by friends / family / girlfriends.

On Linux it's set it up once, back up /etc, /home, and any unpackaged files regularily (if you want to live safely), and forget about it forever. The end.

 

[WoodPeckr]

It was a year or two ago and I was using Ubuntu, I forget why I had to sudo but I think I wanted to mount a USB drive or do something with the file system, it was not anything exotic.

That should be done by default and need no sudo.
For the past few years all needed to mount a USB drive was merely, just plug it in.

Pretty much the only times I use sudo is in terminal when using command line. Terminal and command line are the quickest way to make changes with Ubuntu. However haven't had to use Terminal in months. In fact never used command line till learning it on Ubuntu. Was always afraid of CL until the peeps in the helpful Ubuntu Forums helped me learn it.....

 

[The Options Menu]

That should be done by default and need no sudo.
For the past few years all needed to mount a USB drive was merely, just plug it in.

If you're in the plugdev group, unless you have some horrible bug.

Pretty much the only times I use sudo is in terminal when using command line. Terminal and command line are the quickest way to make changes with Ubuntu. However haven't had to use Terminal in months. In fact never used command line till learning it on Ubuntu. Was always afraid of CL until the peeps in the helpful Ubuntu Forums helped me learn it.....

'sudo apt-get update && sudo aptitude upgrade'

The && makes the second command conditional on the success of the first, and aptitude because it's resolver has historically been better than apt-get's. Though I'm old fashioned and I tend to use su over sudo, but my shell is set up to output text in blood red while I'm root. [I am trying to break the su habit.]

Oh, WoodPeckr, if you have more than one Ubuntu install on the same lan you should consider apt-cacher NG (https://www.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/~bloch/acng/). There are some simple tutorials for it-- It does what it says on the tin, saving you bandwidth and making all installs after the first go at the speed of your lan.

edit: More @WoodPeckr. Once you have your command line foo down you can use ssh to have encrypted communication with your network from anyplace. What I do is set up the ssh server on a non-standard port on my main server box. I then set up my router to forward traffic to that port on that box. I configure the server to forbid root logins and I only allow one user to login. I use a strong password, but you could use a pubkey for better security. From that one box I can reach all other systems on the lan via ssh, including android devices and jailbroken iDevices. All you need to know is you web facing IP-- which tends to change, but can be looked up easily. While local to the lan X forwarding is fast enough over wifi so I can run graphical apps from the server box on any other device, which is handy if the server box is playing a movie and you want to do something else on it. If speed is a factor when on the local lan try a wired connection between the router and server box because wifi to wifi can be painful under X windows, and the ssh client has a number of options to make it faster (google it).

 

[WoodPeckr]

Oh, WoodPecker, if you have more than one Ubuntu install on the same lan you should consider apt-cacher NG (https://www.unix-ag.uni-kl.de/~bloch/acng/). There are some simple tutorials for it-- It does what it says on the tin, saving you bandwidth and making all installs after the first go at the speed of your lan.

Thanks, nice to know.

 

[Powershot]

Doesn't look like Ubuntu Edge will ever see the light of day, there is no where near the interest Canonical had hoped for. Three weeks into a four week campaign and they've only raised a third of their goal.