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Hi @roguerascal
As you have probably understood this topic is a bit sensitive because there is no simple answer.You can SSH to UT.
You can install "Linux packages" but because this is a blurry notion it's probably not what you really want.Ubuntu Touch as already said has a RO rootfs, so don't think on using apt-get because you'll break the system and you'll be in uncharted territory. System updates will break whatever changes you made to the root FS.
Also a phone is not a desktop computer and you cannot partition your memory as you want.
A proper way to install "Linux packages" is via Libertine which is a container and as such there are unexpected limitations (such as hardware access).
The first question you'll have to answer is do I need a computer or a phone. Ubuntu Touch is an OS for mobile phones.
If a Raspberry pi with a touch screen is what you're looking for then there are probably better OSes for that.I hope this clarifies what UT is.
And I hope you'll find whatever is the best for you. -
@applee
I'll add to this that if s.he needs a phone computer, s.he could see for a PC phone, like cosmo comunicator ^^
Thus s.he can install ubuntu AND ubuntu touch
2015-2023 : Meizu MX4 now in legacy drawer by lack of pristine battery š«
2023-***** : Nexus 5 (16.04 OTA 25) for daily use, slowly dying š¤
2024-***** : Fairphone 5 waiting UT for freedom š
š²š«š¬š§ -
Is currently using an Op5t
Also owns an Op1, a BQ E4.5 and an Xperia X, as well as a BQ tablet and a Pinetab2. Please, someone... make it stop. -
@dobey said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
@roguerascal It sounds like what you really want is a Raspberry Pi or similar, rather than a phone.
Nah it needs to have a screen.
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@keneda said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
I'll add to this that if he needs a phone computer, he could see for a PC phone, like cosmo comunicator ^^
Thus he can install ubuntu AND ubuntu touchI'm not the most familiar with the Cosmo Communicator, but it doesn't seem like the company considers it a pocket PC in the way you're saying. Especially considering it's ARM architecture, I doubt standard Ubuntu Desktop can be put on it. I wouldn't put any bets on dual booting with a desktop-like environment.
@RogueRascal As for your need of a SIM card, what would the purpose be for you? Do you actually want to call and text like it's a cellphone, or is it more for having wireless access without a WiFi point? I think you will either need to get a device for your needs, but without cellular service because that's too big of a compromise. Or you get 2 different devices (a UT cell phone for cell phone things, and a laptop for your SSH and packages needs).
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@applee said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
Hi @roguerascal
As you have probably understood this topic is a bit sensitive because there is no simple answer.You can SSH to UT.
You can install "Linux packages" but because this is a blurry notion it's probably not what you really want.Ubuntu Touch as already said has a RO rootfs, so don't think on using apt-get because you'll break the system and you'll be in uncharted territory. System updates will break whatever changes you made to the root FS.
Also a phone is not a desktop computer and you cannot partition your memory as you want.
A proper way to install "Linux packages" is via Libertine which is a container and as such there are unexpected limitations (such as hardware access).
The first question you'll have to answer is do I need a computer or a phone. Ubuntu Touch is an OS for mobile phones.
If a Raspberry pi with a touch screen is what you're looking for then there are probably better OSes for that.I hope this clarifies what UT is.
And I hope you'll find whatever is the best for you.The shortest answer is I need to run a desktop computer OS on phone hardware. I looked at micro laptops which could work but I really would like to have the phone GUI available as well.
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@manchee1017 said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
@keneda said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
I'll add to this that if he needs a phone computer, he could see for a PC phone, like cosmo comunicator ^^
Thus he can install ubuntu AND ubuntu touchI'm not the most familiar with the Cosmo Communicator, but it doesn't seem like the company considers it a pocket PC in the way you're saying. Especially considering it's ARM architecture, I doubt standard Ubuntu Desktop can be put on it. I wouldn't put any bets on dual booting with a desktop-like environment.
@RogueRascal As for your need of a SIM card, what would the purpose be for you? Do you actually want to call and text like it's a cellphone, or is it more for having wireless access without a WiFi point? I think you will either need to get a device for your needs, but without cellular service because that's too big of a compromise. Or you get 2 different devices (a UT cell phone for cell phone things, and a laptop for your SSH and packages needs).
Cell phone capabilities are the least of my requirements. Really, if I have to make do without then that will probably be OK but preference would be to have the option.
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@RogueRascal Okay, sorry in advance, but now you're really unclear on what exactly you are looking for and what is necessary for your needs.
You want a UT phone but you don't need it to be an actual phone? You need a mobile device, be it a laptop or phone, but can't clearly say that you do or do not need to have mobile celluar network or why you would.
Why explicitly do you need a desktop OS on a phone device? Is it the size? The portability? Touchscreen?
Why do you want a phone GUI, what does that do for you?
Why is a simple laptop not the best choice for you?
What can you compromise on? What are your absolute requirements?You don't have to answer these questions on this forum in writing, but you need to know the answers yourself so you can explain it and we can offer help. Because you seem to be in a very, very unique situation that has something out there for the best possible solution. But only you have all of the info in order to find this solution. And frankly, you don't seem to be putting in much effort here. Everyone starts researching and learning about things from step 0. Just go to Google, or browse around this forum, and see what you find. Then you'll be able to ask about the capabilities or functionality of what you're after.
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@moem
Corrected once and for all
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@manchee1017 said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
Especially considering it's ARM architecture, I doubt standard Ubuntu Desktop can be put on it. I wouldn't put any bets on dual booting with a desktop-like environment.
I said ubuntu for the joke.
They are gnul distribs for arm and for cosmo.
And with those you can do whatever you want without braking uTouch architecture, OTA support, whatever...uTouch is also for arm.
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@roguerascal
I think I gave you the limitations you migh encounter with Ubuntu Touch.
Depending on what you plan on installing and what you will develop, Ubuntu Touch may or may not work for you.Given your requirements, I bet you want to make the phone into an IoT device with great computing power and a large battery so it can work all day long without needing to plug it in.
While power efficiency is correct on UT this will probably be an issue for the kind of top secret project you're working on big screen and big CPU are no match with even the biggest batteries.If I had to guess I would say you want a pentest device :
Discreet, it can pass for a regular cellphone
Powerful so it can brute force or try various exploits
Battery to keep working as long as you are in situ
Versatile you have a mobile GUI to run various scenarios and the ability to run tshark or other "desktop" apps in command line...
Bluetooth, always a plus if you can tap into smartlocks or similar.This would explain the mystery about your use case and the requirements you listed.
Without more information that is as far as I can guess and be wrong.
I think the Cosmo or the F(x)Tech are your best candidates hardware-wise and from the software pov, you'll have to deep dive into the various OS supported to find the one that check the most of your boxes.Best of luck
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@applee I think the Cosmo or the F(x)Tech are your best candidates hardware-wise and from the software pov
Or incoming astro slide
2015-2023 : Meizu MX4 now in legacy drawer by lack of pristine battery š«
2023-***** : Nexus 5 (16.04 OTA 25) for daily use, slowly dying š¤
2024-***** : Fairphone 5 waiting UT for freedom š
š²š«š¬š§ -
@applee said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
If I had to guess I would say you want a pentest device :
If that is the case, probably Nethunter would be the best option, and thus a device which is best suited for running it.
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@roguerascal - they only have one model out now - it is a rebranded Gigaset GS290 with nicer styling and a company behind it that is developing and supporting 3 operating systems for it - https://volla.online
Best regards,
Steve Berson -
@keneda said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
@applee I think the Cosmo or the F(x)Tech are your best candidates hardware-wise and from the software pov
Or incoming astro slide
Have you done much research about these companies? I made the mistake of in investing in the Pro1-X before looking into the company. Big mistake. They downgraded the CPU to one that is not being mainlined, has no nx bit, no aes, no hardware hdmi over usb, slower cpu,..... Then if you look deeper you find they started by trying to fund a keyboard for an moto-z phone, collected way more funding than they said they needed and yet said they didn't have enough demand so they didn't make the product Then they started a new company called f(x)tec and crowd funded the first pro1 phone. After that they kept taking pre-orders for the phone on their site but people are still waiting a year later for their phones which is no longer being produced. Then they started the crowd funding for the pro1-X claiming they only needed $75,000 to start production and now with over a million in funding they can't produce the product as advertised and have replaced the SOC with one from a $50 gas station burner phone.
The story of cosmo and the astro slide is not much better if you do your research.
OnePlus One with UT OTA-15 daily driver. I would be testing the Halium 7.1 port if I could roll back to OTA-15
OnePlus 6T PostmarketOS Custom Gnome on Mainline Kernel -
Some users report a great experience with Xiaomi Redmi Note 7.
Excellent CPU + Camera performances as well as a good maturity level on Ubuntu Touch:https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/lavender/
Also, as described above, Vollaphone is a promoted device which is jointly developed by UBports and Volla community:
https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/yggdrasil/ -
@antidroid said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
The story of cosmo and the astro slide is not much better if you do your research.
The story of doing what no other do is sure not so easy.
There is a lot people that enjoy their cosmo and gemini, you can read their stories too.
Having a dimensity 800 instead of 1000 will not make ubuntu Touch (when, maybe, ported on it) or astro less usefull.
People want the best, from a little company that sell nothing compared to others, at the price of low cost from china... It's not possible.
You can do a rebadging and sell it twice the price like pro1-X, or you can engeneer new device with design never done, that offer uses situations never encontered before, and make your best to fullfill all you previously announced... for a decent (crowdfounding) price. -
@antidroid said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
The story of cosmo and the astro slide is not much better if you do your research.
TBF, some of these issues are outside the control of F(x)tec or Planet Computers. Silicon production shortage is affecting a lot more than just which SoC has to go into the devices to deliver them on time, and it's not clear when the original SoC would even be available to any manufacturers.
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@dobey said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
@antidroid said in Best phone for Linux Mobile OS:
The story of cosmo and the astro slide is not much better if you do your research.
TBF, some of these issues are outside the control of F(x)tec or Planet Computers. Silicon production shortage is affecting a lot more than just which SoC has to go into the devices to deliver them on time, and it's not clear when the original SoC would even be available to any manufacturers.
Both companies started crowd funding campaigns with false minimum funding requirements. Cosmo knew they could not buy the 1000 soc in that small of quantity but said they could. F(x)tec knew the chip was end of life and did not properly secure the soc's ahead of time and then made more bad decisions. Both companies have proven themselves to lie first and stick the customer with the results. Please read through their forums and reddit threads and other places. They give almost no customer service.
I am not sure why people defend them just because they are a small business. It is not about the size of the business it is about being honest and morally good. I ran a crowd funding campaign once, produced exactly as i said i would, refunded anyone that was not happy and asked for a refund, made very little money per hour myself. But i did not lie or cheat them.
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It feels like the discussion above is getting off topic.
@RogueRascal If you're still searching, I just came across this, SageTea Mobile. They say their devices run Ubuntu 64-bit desktop or any other distro. The hardware looks like a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.
