Vision Becomes Reality - Ubuntu for Android

A couple of weeks ago I posted an article outlining my vision for the future of Enterprise IT. Today that vision took a minor step towards reality, with Ubuntu for Android.

I had previously predicted that smartphones would soon become the singular computing device for all users, covering both mobile and the traditional desktop needs. It would appear Cononical agrees with me (spookily, as it is almost word for word) as today they announced their aim to bring Ubuntu (Linux Operating System) to Android. The following statement was released on their website (which I couldn't have said better myself):

"Why carry two devices, when you could carry only one? Your next high-end smartphone has far more horsepower than you’ll need on a phone, and more than enough for a laptop. So we’ve brought Android together with Ubuntu, the world’s favourite free operating system, to give you a full productivity desktop that fits in your pocket. Android for the phone experience, Ubuntu for the desktop, all on one device, running at the same time.

So forget the office PC. Just dock your corporate phone and enjoy Ubuntu. Anywhere. One address book. One set of bookmarks. One place for your text messages and email. No more typing on a tiny screen when all you want is a keyboard and a mouse. Seamless integration of your desktop and mobile worlds. Brilliant."

I'm obviously 100% behind this vision and can't wait to try out Ubuntu from my mobile, however I believe the strategy will only succeed if it is backed by a giant such as Microsoft or Apple. Thankfully it looks like Windows 8 is heading in this direction, with a single operating system core for mobile and traditional PC and a user interface that can adapt to either scenario. The only remaining question is, will Microsoft create an experience that meets both needs or will their "touch first" strategy alienate the traditional desktop users.

2012 gearing up to be a very interesting year for technology! 

Introducing Ubuntu

Ever tried Linux? Five years ago this would have been a scary thought. Now, thanks to distributions like Ubuntu it is a much simpler (and enjoyable) experience.

Ubuntu's first release was on October 20 2004, which began by making a temporary fork of the Debian GNU/Linux project. This was done so that a new version of Ubuntu could be released every six months, resulting in a more frequently updated system. Ubuntu releases always include the most recent GNOME release, and are scheduled to be released about a month after GNOME.

Ubuntu is currently funded by Canonical Ltd. On July 8 2005, Mark Shuttleworth and Canonical Ltd announced the creation of the Ubuntu Foundation and provided an initial funding of USD $10 million. The purpose of the foundation is to ensure the support and development for all future versions of Ubuntu, but as of 2006, the foundation remains dormant.

Ubuntu Versions

Version	Code Name	Release Date	Supported Until
4.10	Warty Warthog	20-OCT-2004	30-APR-2006
5.04	Hoary Hedgehog	08-APR-2005	31-OCT-2006
5.10	Breeze Badger	13-OCT-2005	13-APR-2007
6.06 LTS	Drapper Drake	01-JUN-2006	D = JUN-2009 S = JUN-2011
6.10	Edgy Elf	26-OCT-2006	25-APR-2008
7.04	Feisty Fawn	19-APR-2007	OCT-2008
7.10	Gusty Gibbon	18-OCT-2007	APR-2009
8.04 LTS	Hardy Heron	24-APR-2008	D = APR-2011 S = APR-2013
8.10	Intrepid Ibex	30-OCT-2008	APR-2010
9.04	Jaunty Jackalope	23-APR-2009	OCT-2010
9.10	Karmic Koala	OCT-2009	APR-2011

Requirements

	Minimum	Recommended
Processor	300MHz x86 Processor	700MHz x86 Processor
Memory (RAM)	64MB RAM	384MB RAM
Hard Drive Capacity	4GB Disk Space	8GB Disk Space
Graphics Card	Graphics Card (min: 640x480)	Graphics (min: 1024x768)

To get your version of Ubuntu for free head over to Ubuntu.com.