Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones • Hacker News Board

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#11

Post by digi_owl » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 7:57 AM UTC

JorgeGT wrote: post #10

It's quite interesting that with the power of today's mobile devices (multicore 1GHz+ CPUs, GPUs, 2Gb+ RAM) we still don't have a standardized interface to plug them into desktop peripherals and launch a desktop OS/GUI. One would thing that such an universal interface would quickly become a standard offering in airports, hotels, libraries, conferences, etc.

There kinda was, hdmi+usb, just look at what Motorola was up to with Android years ago.

but then everyone got hung up on emulating Apple's dock plug, and things went backwards.

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#12

Post by nickcw » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 7:58 AM UTC

I think termux ( https://termux.com/ ) does most of what I need when I need a bit of emergency Linux on my phone.

Termux provides a recompiled debian distro which runs as a android App. It doesn't chroot or need root and it works amazingly well. No desktop apps though.

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#13

Post by bostand » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:09 AM UTC

nickcw wrote: post #12

I think termux ( https://termux.com/ ) does most of what I need when I need a bit of emergency Linux on my phone. Termux provides a recompiled debian distro which runs as a android App. It doesn't chroot or need root and it works amazingly well. No desktop apps though.

Another vote for termux!

It's specially useful on chromeos

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#14

Post by bostand » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:10 AM UTC

pjmlp wrote: post #9

Given how Tizen has been managed thus far I am not having big hopes for it, but lets see.

Tizen on smartwatch is pretty awesome.

Imho its miles ahead of the other watch OSes

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#15

Post by samuell » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:11 AM UTC

nickcw wrote: post #12

I think termux ( https://termux.com/ ) does most of what I need when I need a bit of emergency Linux on my phone. Termux provides a recompiled debian distro which runs as a android App. It doesn't chroot or need root and it works amazingly well. No desktop apps though.

Wow, cool and really well working app! Now I only need to get me a great b/t keyboard that fits in a pocket :)

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#16

Post by padraic7a » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:13 AM UTC

This is definitely interesting and I would be curious to see where it goes in the future.

In the meantime however anyone who wants to use Linux on their phone today should check out https://ubports.com/

It works now!

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#17

Post by digi_owl » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:13 AM UTC

nickcw wrote: post #12

I think termux ( https://termux.com/ ) does most of what I need when I need a bit of emergency Linux on my phone. Termux provides a recompiled debian distro which runs as a android App. It doesn't chroot or need root and it works amazingly well. No desktop apps though.

I do believe you can actually get a desktop going by installing https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=x.org.server and setting the display environment variable in termux.

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#18

Post by pjc50 » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:22 AM UTC

JorgeGT wrote: post #10

It's quite interesting that with the power of today's mobile devices (multicore 1GHz+ CPUs, GPUs, 2Gb+ RAM) we still don't have a standardized interface to plug them into desktop peripherals and launch a desktop OS/GUI. One would thing that such an universal interface would quickly become a standard offering in airports, hotels, libraries, conferences, etc.

There was: the Apple 30-pin connector. It was revolutionary and got built into plenty of hotels where you can still see them. And where it acts as a warning to not build tech into your furniture again.

People keep building phone dock systems and they just don't really seem to take off. Maybe the best one available today is the HP Elite X3 .. running the discontinued Windows Phone.

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#19

Post by jon-wood » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:22 AM UTC

JorgeGT wrote: post #10

It's quite interesting that with the power of today's mobile devices (multicore 1GHz+ CPUs, GPUs, 2Gb+ RAM) we still don't have a standardized interface to plug them into desktop peripherals and launch a desktop OS/GUI. One would thing that such an universal interface would quickly become a standard offering in airports, hotels, libraries, conferences, etc.

USB-C is that standard interface - when working at my desk I can plug a single USB-C cable into my laptop and it gains two monitors, external audio, keyboard, mouse, webcam, and all the other things you'd expect.

Re: Linux on Samsung Galaxy smartphones

#20

Post by 5h » Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 8:23 AM UTC

I've been using termux and a fold out bluetooth keyboard for django development & code review for quite a while on my pixel XL.

I absolutely love having my dev work on my phone, being able to hack away or do code review for 5 minutes wherever is incredible.

At home using a chrome-cast and have it on a big screen.

It would be nice to have a window manager I suppose - but i'll probably end up in a full screen terminal anywya.

When mobile the biggest problem for me is just plain old screen size - I'm tempted to get a cheap Chinese tablet and use it as a remote screen somehow - leaving my phone in my pocket.