Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

Posted Feb 22, 2012 5:32 UTC (Wed) by AndreE (guest, #60148)
In reply to: Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android by jiu
Parent article: Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

The IDEA hardly seems complicated. Plug your phone into monitor/keyboard/mouse and use it like a normal computer.

The difficulty lies in the implementation and making it a seamless experience whilst providing the benefits of the monitor/keyboard/mouse setup

Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

Posted Feb 22, 2012 11:28 UTC (Wed) by jiu (guest, #57673) [Link] (4 responses)

I didn't explain myself well, what I meant is that most people who have the sort of phone that will be able to run this already have a computer or 3, they don't need this. And their current computer setups are probably more capable than half a phone. It seems to me like a case of wanting to extend the range of uses of a phone beyond its natural bounds, a bit like a coffee-making swiss knife if you will.

Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

Posted Feb 22, 2012 12:19 UTC (Wed) by danieldk (guest, #27876) [Link] (2 responses)

That analogy goes a bit too far. A smartphone is just a small computer with better connectivity. Outside calling, people use smartphones/tablets for very similar tasks: playing games/music/movies, sending messages, typing documents, giving presentations, etc.

Vise versa, people have started to use computers to call (Skype, Facetime, et al.).

There's a lot to say for creating one device that properly handles all tasks. I for sure know many people who would love to replace their phone/laptop/PC/mediacenter with one device and some docks.

Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

Posted Feb 22, 2012 13:30 UTC (Wed) by bats999 (guest, #70285) [Link] (1 responses)

A smartphone *should be* a small computer with better connectivity. Right now there are too many compromises; hopefully that changes soon. My biggest concern would be a deluge of proprietary hardware solutions, docks, etc. that will fragment the "platform" for the next few years.

Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

Posted Feb 22, 2012 17:11 UTC (Wed) by sorpigal (subscriber, #36106) [Link]

I think the most important thing here is the 'docking' and peripheral standards/protocols.

I'm envisioning:

* wireless charging - just set the phone on the right surface

* wireless keyboard and mouse (bluetooth is sufficient, I guess)

* wireless display (isn't Intel working on this?)

* wireless networking

This way I only have to walk up and set my phone down, the screen comes alive, I grab the mouse and I'm online before I can click anything.

I perhaps should explain "wireless networking" - I'm wanting a wifi connection, or even shorter-range connection, that gets me from my phone to a wired link. A mini-WAP that perhaps integrates into the monitor and has a cat5 cable heading to the LAN.

I definitely don't want to be plugging in and unplugging a million wires, prefereably zero! And I don't want cell-data speeds or charges to apply when I'm "docked" - it's got to be dead simple.

Handset cohabitation: Ubuntu for Android

Posted Feb 22, 2012 13:08 UTC (Wed) by AndreE (guest, #60148) [Link]

Yeah, they have one now. But in the future I can certainly conceive of quite a large class of users that would be happy just purchasing a phone/monitor/dock combination. It is extending the range of the phone and it is very forward thinking. These are good things in my opinion. There are a growing number of people happy enough with tablets for daily computing and this product targets that market. Those people certainly aren't the geeky minority.