Google is preparing to let you run Linux apps on Android, just like Chrome OS
Google is preparing to let you run Linux apps on Android, just like Chrome OS
Google is developing a Terminal app for Android that'll let you run Linux apps. It'll download and run Debian in a VM for you.
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Terminal applications only? Or does that make me able to run LibreOffice, Kdenlive and whatever I like?
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Thx. I have limited use for it then. I tend to carry my laptop anyways and just whip it out once I need to type in long terminal commands with pipe symbols, extra characters and press Ctrl-C. I don't think my phone has an adequate form factor for terminal tasks. Though, I occasionally use it to ssh into machines and do some quick fix. But I already have an app for that.
Let's me repurpose an old phone for some headless container funtimes. If I can infect it with NixOS I'll be golden.
Terminal applications only?
As a first step definitively, simply because such a feature needs to start somewhere and text mode is easier than writing a wrapper for graphics systems.
Or does that make me able to run LibreOffice, Kdenlive and whatever I like?
I'm thinking that this is the end goal. Google struggles to get desktop-like apps onto Android tablets. Many people use iPads as primary work computer these days. My employer is switching to them and we're late to the party.
An audacious step for Google would be to distribute Flatpaks in the Play Store. That's very unlikely but it's technically a possibility.
Also, Steam integrating an x86 emulator for ARM devices makes even more sense now. I thought it's mainly for ARM Chromebooks but Android tablets getting an "Install Steam" button and becoming more compatible to games than Windows on ARM would be so bonkers.
Desktop apps in a WebView using vnc on a VM on a tablet are a miserable experience that nobody wants to endure
I tried that, too. I already had a Debian VM on my phone years ago. Along with some VNC software and an android app to connect to the virtual desktop. It was really cumbersome to use. Especially keeping it open in the background and using it while doing other things was next to impossible.
Samsung ships a traditional desktop environment on their phones and tablets since years. Phones need to be pluggeg into a USB-C dock, tablets need a type cover. Others followed them with similar environments. Surely this is not meant for touch-only use.
I know. And that seems to be quite well made. Unfortunately they don't have HDMI output on their mid range devices. At least the Samsung phone of my wife doesn't output anything when connected to the TV. And we both refuse to spend $1.000 on a phone. And I mean this convergence is kind of a strange use-case. On my desktop I have a computer attached to the screen anyways. KDEconnect syncs everything and I don't need to attach my phone. And on the go, I don't have a keyboard and monitor with me. I think convergence is useful if you want some private stuff on the second monitor at work. Or while sitting in the computer science lab at school/uni and those machines are locked down. It's a bummer only/mainly Samsung does that. And the situation with HDMI and that USB alternate mode and the manufacturers using that to distinguish their flagship devices from the regular ones. It's probably only a few cents and mainly politics that keeps me from enjoying thinks like this.
I think it's more targeted at tablets than phones.
Okay. I mean I already have Termux for that. And I don't think a phone or tablet is a good device to operate the terminal or type in VI key bindings. They're much more made for graphical applications and touching buttons and graphical elements. Let's see where this is going. I still like using computers and having like 105 proper keys accessible for my fingers. Especially if my mode of interacting with the device is typing in text. And not clicking on things. But I get that nowadays lots of people use tablets and phones and stuff. And this certainly is a necessary first step.