The terminal in android is able to run any console-based linux executables you like, as long as they are compiled for the ARM CPU.
Despite the claim, the "underlying linux os" is not crippled. You are free to install any additional components that you like -- most like busybox for executables. The kernel can be recompiled to support whatever additional drivers/features you like. And despite the claims that suggest that android is not "free", that is an absolute lie. The sourcecode is available for anyone who wants it. Any changes you like to make, you are free to. If you're interested in running gnome/kde/whatever, realize that it is NOT a "welded" issue, it is a RESOURCE issue... you simply don't have the memory/cpu/disk_capacity/disk_speed/screen_resolution required to make good use of those. Plenty have done it though, and its not that hard: http://www.phonedog.com/cell-phone-research/blog/g1-running-ubuntu-with-full-desktop-environment.aspx As for being locked out of root... this is true, however, most consumers are idiots who shouldn't have admin access anyways -- they'll just screw it up, return it, and tell everyone how terrible their experience was (even though it was their own fault for doing something they watched on youtube). Its not difficult to get root if you want it, or you could buy an ADP1, the developer phone, which ships with root access enabled. On May 7, 11:43 pm, Lou <[email protected]> wrote: > If you mean, "How similar is (what we're calling) Android in spirit to > gnu/Linux?" The answer is "not very". The Android "desktop" is welded > and locked onto a very crippled underlying linux os. Google and the > other corporate overlords of Android have gone to great lengths to > keep the average user from gaining root access to the underlying > platform, much less allowing the average user to swap the Android > veneer for a Gnome or KDE frontend or create applications that are > outside of the Dalvik VM. > > The bottom line: Android is not free- no more than the iPhone OS is or > one of Micro$ofts Oses. > > Good luck, have fun...but don't expect too much! > > On May 7, 5:35 pm, Disconnect <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Although the first part of the answer is perfect :) .... > > > On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 5:16 PM, Mark Murphy <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > How many of the freedoms that we've gotten used to using other Linux > > > > frontends ("desktops"), such as xfce, Gnome, KDE are available with > > > > the Android frontend? > > > > As many as there are for TiVo, Linksys routers, or other appliances based > > > on Linux. > > > > In other words, none that are officially supported, but you are welcome to > > > try to hack whatever you want. All you need is a device capable of > > > accepting alternative firmware. > > > > > Is it possible to run ANY simple linux apps from > > > > a terminal window in an Android device? > > > > What terminal window? > > > The one you get from the market, or as part of the AOSP core android build > > :) > > > (Sorry, couldn't resist.) > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Beginners" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-beginners?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
