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 louis.e...@gmail.com 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 dc.disconn...@gmail.com wrote:
Although the first part of the answer is perfect :)
On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 5:16 PM, Mark Murphy mmur...@commonsware.com 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.)
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