[Q] The Best Phone for Installing Ubuntu (or other distros) - General Topics

Hello xda,
I'm a big fan of the Ubuntu distro and I want to buy a smart-phone for the sole purpose of installing Ubuntu onto it. Unfortunately, I do not know much about the capabilities of phones out there.
I've scoured these threads trying to find an Android Phones (or any phone) that people had success with and I haven't been able to come to a firm decision.
I simply want a smart-phone with a QWERTY keyboard and powerful hardware (+1Ghz CPU & +500Mb RAM) that can run Ubuntu smoothly.
The best one I've found so far is HTC Desire Z, but many seemed to have difficulties. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723493)
Any input?

Eh... nothing aside from the HD2 can run it smoothly, sorry.

I'm running Ubuntu nicely on the HTC G2 Vision running Virtuous v0.9.0
Only major quirk is you have to use the htc_g540976a kernel which means no overclocking

Answered question, closing thread

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[Q] Switch between Android, Win Phone 7, and WinMo 6.5 on the same device?

hi guys,
I'd like to know if it possible because I've been using my Xperia x1 for about a year and i think it's time for a change but when I checked all the available phones I got confused a little.
it seems like Windows phone 7 looks great but in a review i saw somewhere it says that it lacks some important features such as:
No Bluetooth file transfers
No USB mass storage mode
No multitasking
No copy/paste
No Flash or Silverlight support in the web browser
No DivX/XviD video support
No internet tethering support
Swapping memory card requires hard reset; cards not readable by computer
and Android has great features but IMO I think WinMo gives more freedom in the terms of using or hacking
and as a WinMo 6.5 user I find it a great OS with all the features needed and if there some feature I want that is not already offered it's available here on XDA-Dev either as a .cab or cooked in a ROM
So the Main Question: if I buy a Sonyericsson (X10 maybe) or a HTC with a 1 GHz Processor will I be able to install any OS of them as a ROM???
Thanx in advance.
The only device capable of running WP7 is the hTC Leo and it has actually working Android and some working on Ubuntu and Maemo as well.
not any other device will be capable to do so
Thanx for reply
So the HD2/Leo is able to handle all 3 OSs
but i have more questions please
how is the HD2 up to date regarding the specs? like the RAM, ROM, and processor
can there be 2 OSs in the same time and to be able to switch between them?
and does android 2.2 froyo work 100% i mean with everything working??
thanx again
ahmedsalem89 said:
it seems like Windows phone 7 looks great
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm intreagued, what about the duplo phone looks great to you?
The basic HD2 specs are up to date on paper (RAM, ROM, processor) and even beat some newer phones but dig deep and you'll see the latest version of the chips are better. Android 2.2 is running perfectly but WP7 is still work in progress.
It's more than a year old but still the best phone EVER.
samizad said:
The basic HD2 specs are up to date on paper (RAM, ROM, processor) and even beat some newer phones but dig deep and you'll see the latest version of the chips are better. Android 2.2 is running perfectly but WP7 is still work in progress.
It's more than a year old but still the best phone EVER.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it's clear now that the HD2 is one of the best phones out there as it's capable of handling nearly the 3 OSs, Thanx for ur help
Any chance for Desire to use WP7 too?
I would be great if it is possible.
I wanna try WP7 too.

[Q] [N00b] Nokia N8 with android why not?

Hey,
Why is there no android version for the N8?
Could anyone create it? There is enough animo for it.
If i read some forums I see that some people want it. Why not?
Also it has the best mobile camera in the world.
If someone can run android on it it would be the best device ever. (I think)
I could find an answer on this forum. But I think this is already changed.
(That there isn't enough animo for it. But there is!)
I'm also a newb in this world. But I like android and the compatibility that the most devices already have with it.
Kevin
I dont know if its that simple. I dont rly know if the android suitable for N8, anyway would be nice to have it (even though that i have HD2, which i think that is much better than N8.) If its possible, my friends will have android too! xD
indeed!
I think an android developer must buy an n8.. that he can see it's a wonderfull device.
And then create android for it.
Not all phones are like hd2, where you can have different os
Sent from HTC HD2 with Android
Not all people wants a HD2
you are not alone my friend!
I too wish the N8 had Android.
It is a much better device than the HD2, screen size isn't everything.
coldest~~~ said:
Not all phones are like hd2, where you can have different os
Sent from HTC HD2 with Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anything is possible, it just takes time.
and in the HD2's favor, it had hardware that was common across different platforms.
plus a big userbase
Isnt the N8 nokia soft based on Debian? couldn't drivers be ported my friend has this device and yes the camera is amazing on it
I thougt it was only meego and maemo wich is debian based?
i was thinking to get a nokia n8 untill ive found out that nokia had very low quality development for that new symbian version, and that they moved torwards windows mobile... i never liked windows mobile and since they were not going for android i said whats the point, on paper the nokia n8 is amazing, but it has some problems aswell, for example the cpu is only 625mhz, while its arguably enough to run android, im not entirely sure it has all the instruction sets compatible with it, emulation is out of the question too, the android code would have to be natively changed to work for it, and then there had to be the matter of games, they also had to be coded properly for that specific gpu,cpu and sound chip, accelerometer and so on.
So thats why ppl dont usually port phones to android, its a mess to code and most of the drivers they have to code them from scratch.
TheWarKeeper said:
i was thinking to get a nokia n8 untill ive found out that nokia had very low quality development for that new symbian version, and that they moved torwards windows mobile... i never liked windows mobile and since they were not going for android i said whats the point, on paper the nokia n8 is amazing, but it has some problems aswell, for example the cpu is only 625mhz, while its arguably enough to run android, im not entirely sure it has all the instruction sets compatible with it, emulation is out of the question too, the android code would have to be natively changed to work for it, and then there had to be the matter of games, they also had to be coded properly for that specific gpu,cpu and sound chip, accelerometer and so on.
So thats why ppl dont usually port phones to android, its a mess to code and most of the drivers they have to code them from scratch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The CPU is official build for 750mhz. So it can run faster.. Also i heard that the new version of android (3.0?) has hardware acceleration for the UI. So the GPU can be used for it.
cpu for android need nore juice and ram.
battery life will be hunger for more to join android.
nokia seem battery effective device.low power consumption
under18 said:
cpu for android need nore juice and ram.
battery life will be hunger for more to join android.
nokia seem battery effective device.low power consumption
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why?
The HTC ChaCha and Salsa has a 600 mhz processor... And still Android runs on it.
Indeed the ram is littlebit low 256 mb...
Chacha is 800Mhz, 512 of ram..
yeah i wish that someone would find a way to port android to n8 i recently got one and dont like symbian os, any way i'll keep on searching if no luck, guess i have to get an android phone
Edit: forgot to say i had a sony ericsson x8 which had 600 Mhz processor and 256mb ram and i was even able to run android 4.0 on it dunno why n8 would not run on this device
The question is why port android to N8? The N8 is a wonderful device as is. If you have an N8 you probably bought it for it's camera prowess. Bonus: you get a very long battery life (compared to droids). Now if you want to port android on it then it will become power hungry and will be full of glitches since it has poor dev support. Also, you wouldn't want a slow droid. 600mhz for a droid is quite slow, and as stated, the RAM is low. You're better off buying an affordable Galaxy Y. Believe me it's quite fast, if you can live with it's low res screen.
Cheers,
Cezar
kevinwalter said:
Hey,
Why is there no android version for the N8?
Could anyone create it? There is enough animo for it.
If i read some forums I see that some people want it. Why not?
Also it has the best mobile camera in the world.
If someone can run android on it it would be the best device ever. (I think)
I could find an answer on this forum. But I think this is already changed.
(That there isn't enough animo for it. But there is!)
I'm also a newb in this world. But I like android and the compatibility that the most devices already have with it.
Kevin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's not possible to port Android or any other OS to symbian phones because of locked bootloaders by Nokia
Nokia n9 is running meego OS which is with unlocked bootloaders and that's why this phone can have dual boot or just one OS like Android 4.x.x ICS
I want it too
I have an Nokia N8 too and i would love to run android on it.
So if there is any way to install android on it....
I also have nokia n8, it was really a great phone,hi quality build, superb. And I fine with symbian^3 but what bothering me was that the nokia apps store is getting useless. I need BBM and can't find any.

---What operating system do you actually use on your device?---

Please give your vote based on your actual OS on your device and not the one you wish to have or think it´s the best.
If you have more than 1 device vote for the one you most frequently use.
Tantos postes
Wow 14,483 amazing
im using android. makes me feel smart and techie though im not.
windoes 6.5 but would have android
iOS for now but think of buying an Android phone.
Android, specifically cm7 nightly
Sent from my Adam using Tapatalk
Had XPERIA X1, now on a Nokia N97 mini because SE refused to repair my X1.
iOS4life. </sarcasm>
Running android though
HD 2 Windows7 and Android 2.21
Vibrant 2.3 Android
Like Android the best
I am using Windows mobile
Android...
My Optimus V is android-native (upgraded to CM7 with zefie Xionia kernel,) which I do use for phone functions and browsing; but for the past week or so I've been running Debian (first squeeze now sid) on it...
first a chroot while experimenting and getting Squeeze set up, now no chroot needed, can run Debian apps straight from the terminal, and non-driver-required functions. 3G Net access works. Haven't messed around with the wifi or bluetooth in Debian yet since I don't use 'em much.
working on getting x11 running native, since VNC access is slow and bites (works but no sound and gnash gives me a blank frame. I want flash compatibility, blast it!.) Anyone wants to help with native X on the Optimus V, let me know.
I'd post a howto and scripts and such, but I haven't hit my 10-post count yet here on XDA because of the limits on where I can post and I'm not gonna spam post just to get my count up. Why waste space spamming so I can post in appropriate locations just 'cause there's a protection against spammers which would force me to either spam or post silly/unimportant data? Once I eventually hit 10 posts in some way I feel is appropriate to do it, I'll put up a howto for anyone interested.
Android 2.2.1 Custom Rom I tried that garbage called Gingerbread but it was awful :/
Android. Device in signature says it all
os
I'm currently using GB 2.3.2 Juwe's rom.
Have just moved over from N900 with Maemo to Pongsters HyperGBX and am much happier
I'm using HD2 with android too
Android
Darky's edition
OS
Trigger 2.8 with Overstock 1.5
My battery life has never been better!
Android CM7 2.3.3

[Q] Dual booting Ubuntu 11.04 and Android 3.0?

The dual-form nature of this item would fit a dual-boot scenario perfectly. Boot into Android when used as a tablet, boot into Ubuntu when docked. Just curious as to the possibility of this.
As far as I know, Ubuntu supports ARM architecture, so the Tegra 2 chip should work well with it. Ubuntu 11.04 was just released with the integrated Unity interface, which looks wonderful with the touchscreen: http://unity.ubuntu.com/projects/utouch/
The Unity 2D interface should fly on the Tegra 2, even if the Unity 3D mode lags.
Now I know that on the Xoom, we were able to run Ubuntu on a VNC server and connect to it locally, but that is obviously not an ideal solution, due to VNC's weakness, and the general inefficiency of it.
Are there any devs working on something like this so far? I am sure there would be a very sizable audience for something like this. I'd be happy to do any necessary testing, and I'm sure more will as well. I also wouldn't mind taking this as an opportunity to get involved with the dev community (I have a thorough background in CS, just no experience with this specifically), I'd be happy if anyone were to take me under their wing. =)
You're not the only one hoping for this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1053641
I was just thinking about this yesterday. Dual booting Ubuntu and Android would make this the perfect device for me.
i would also love the ability to run linux on mine
I'm tempted to wait until this is guaranteed to happen before buying this thing. I need a new portable device for developing on the go, and I also want and need a Honeycomb device for testing apps and casual content consumption.
At the same time though, if anyone knows of a site or thread dedicated to making this dual-boot happen (similar to the dedicated Toshiba AC100 page here http://tosh-ac100.wetpaint.com/page/Ubuntu ), I wouldn't mind learning all about it and potentially help if I can, so please share.
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App
There are some devs who definitely pulled this off on the Atrix and I had Ubuntu on my phone so I'm sure we can get it on the transformer. I'll try to find them and see if similar methods can be used.
It'll take years but I don't see why it wouldn't work. If I can do this on my old ass wm6.5 phone then it's possible on the TF!
Maybe it wont take years, but more of these tablets have to hit the market. Still so many people waiting on their preorders, me included.
I think that there might be quite the interest in making this happen. I remember reading somewhere that Ubuntu allready runs on the Tegra2, so why should it be far into the future before we see it running on the Transformer?
Sorry for any typos. I have fat fingers, a 4" screen, a small child and a dictionary gone wild...
here's to hoping
So far i'm quite impressed with this little tablet. It crunches bytes as fast as i can throw them, and customizing it was easy enough. Although with the dock station and Tegra 2 it does feel more like a netbook than a tablet.
Android 3.0 IMO is the best compromise between a desktop and mobile phone OS. Although it's expandability is not quite what i would wish it to be. Possibly once more developers gear their programs for the higher resolutions and more powerful CPUs this will change. For now dual booting Ubuntu and Android would be perfect.
I'm on board with any project coming about to make this happen, and would offer up my hardware and feedback for beta testing. Hope to see a dedication in this direction soon!
Has anyone tried the method in the xoom development forums?
Sent from HTC Inspire 4G via XDA Premium.
gordec said:
Has anyone tried the method in the xoom development forums?
Sent from HTC Inspire 4G via XDA Premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't seen the post, but I'm assuming you mean VNC?
Zach Alt said:
I haven't seen the post, but I'm assuming you mean VNC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, it's VNC. That's not that hard, we're talking about straight booting INTO Ubuntu.
i have this image from my desire, which boots linux xlde (or something) i cant get it to connect to that image. Pockecloud just get Server disconnected.... maybe another image.. actually that was loading it from removable MicroSD, im now going to try copying to the internal memory "SDCARD" as that would be what the script would have orignally been setup for. I will post results as soon as this has finished pasting the files...
EDIT: still cant get this to work, seems like terminal is ending too quickly which i think means the loopback memory doesnt work, i think thats how it works anyway.
No lock with WYSE pocket cloud or android vnc, i think we need another build for honeycomb, well not so much the OS but the Tegra chip instead.
ubuntuforums.org
There is a thread over at ubuntuforums.org regarding this matter, though they have a different take on it.
One of the posts state:
Re: Asus Eee Pad Transformer
I plan to get one (not available in my region yet, plus I hear there'll be a 3G version next quarter) and install Ubuntu on it, albeit with KDE/Gnome instead of Unity.
There's not technical reason it can't run Ubuntu, it's just a matter of getting the boot loader working. The instructions seem simple enough, although dual booting with Android might be a little more challenging.
If anyone does get one and install Ubuntu on it, please let us know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it's not all that farfetched getting Ubuntu to run on this device, or any other Tegra2 base tablet.
The original thread can be found at:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1741103&highlight=eee+pad+transformer&page=1
looks like dual booting may be fairly difficult; I wouldn't mind soloing ubuntu touch os on mine...
I think dual booting may be difficult, but I think chain booting (right terminology?) from Android first and then into Ubuntu would probably be possible.
I don't think many people understand how hard it will be to create a bootable version of Ubuntu. VNCing is easy for the most part.
Would it be possible to use the motorola xoom guide to get ubuntu running with vnc on the eee transformer?
Sorry for any typos. I have fat fingers, a 4" screen, a small child and a dictionary gone wild...
Is the VNC version that bad? Is it very slow or the picture is not full color? I'd like to use it maybe for Open Office (or something lighter) and some programming in text editor.
Looks like there has been significant progress on this. backtrack has been released for arm.. its a security-centric distro, but its built on an ubuntu base.
I'm downloading the img now.. dont know about dual boot though. guess someone needs to port grub over first =)
I cant post links....but a search for 'backtrack5 xoom' should get you there.

I don't like any OS ?! => Linux

Hi All,
Here's my grief:
- I don't like Android at all (it seems I'm the only one here ?!).
- the new Windows 8 scares me
- Apple ? no comment here
So, in short, I don't like those new fancy all integrated OS ... which leaves me with mostly nothing, except using a port of Linux.
=> so my question is now, since I'm thinking of buying a new phone:
which phone has the best Linux port at the moment ?
if possible: I'd like a latest gen phone with 4G/LTE and all the super fast CPU and super fast empty battery
Not sure if it all makes sense, but any help would be appreciated.
I'm not sure that there is one. I mean, getting all the drivers for the radio's and all that fun stuff would be a major pain. I know LiMo was being worked on and developed, but I have no idea how far they got.
Android is based on Linux
Why dont you buy a cheap old phone with good battery and a netbook with Linux?
There is no good and fast working Linux portation for any phone.
Sent from my brain using my fingers
Well, what don't you like about Android?
android is probably your best bet, your question really doest make any sense, everything is based of unix apart from windows, so really you should not have a computer or a phone based on your question
mox123 said:
android is probably your best bet, your question really doest make any sense, everything is based of unix apart from windows, so really you should not have a computer or a phone based on your question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I know Android is based on Linux, but it's the end-result that I don't like ... and the fact that I have no choice ... yeah, that's stupid, but I don't want to be forced in using something that I don't like - that's why I'm looking for alternatives ( I had the HTC HD2 and there's some Ubuntu Port on there ... so I was hoping some newer device would have it too).
Thank you all for your answers - even though my question does not make much sense
Have a look at the Nokia N8. Very nice Hardware, cheap and no mainstream os.
`
firefox OS,the best mobile system based on linux
I'd just go for Android, it's not only functional but fun too and you can always extend your phones capabilities with new apps, there are endless possibilities out there.
You can compile and tailor a build of Android to anything you want. Its Linux with java heavily integrated into the framework. Your asking pretty much for the impossible.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

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