[Q] APK support on Ubuntu Touch - Ubuntu Touch Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Was just wondering, can either Dalvik or ART be emulated/virtualized on Ubuntu Touch just enough to give it a base to run android apps on? from what i understand, i guess this will have to be done with either QML or HTML5.. i can code in both of them but would need help with the Dalvik or ART part... Any ideas/suggestions?

In theory it might work but have a look at this recent Google Plus comment by a Canonical employee (@mhall119):
we're not going to support running Android code on Ubuntu, it would be impossible to do it well, less alone perfectly. You can run standard Java code by packaging the JRE like Alan suggested, but there's usually going to be a C++ or Javascript alternative library for whatever you used in Java, and that would make for a better app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source: https://plus.google.com/+MichaelHall119/posts/aPPVcxM29fe (highlighting by me)
Additionally, I don't think that Android apps would look good on Ubuntu Touch. The design is completely different.
If you have a look at the link above, you'll see that he is currently working on a way to convert Android xml files to qml though. That will make it easier for developers to make the switch.

Once Ubuntu Touch hits more of the main light I would assume Android Compatibility Layer would be ported. It works well on the HP Touchpad with webOS. And its easy to root ACL.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Related

[Q] Full Java Virtual Machine - Is it a possibility?

So if this is a stupid question - please be kind.
It seems the Prime has the power to run the full Java instead of the phone based version.
I noticed this the other day when I was trying to run a java video app from within BlackBoard for one of my assignments. I just get a bunch of symbols at the top of the frame and it extends the screen endlessly to the right.
So is adding the full java something that can be done in a new firmware update or be a part of a rooting package of the future? It sure would be nice to take advantage of the power of this tablet by adding the upgraded java.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Am I crazy?
Dalvik is a full JVM, it's just that Android doesn't implement a lot of the Java libraries dedicated to writing desktop apps. It might not be too much work to get, e.g., hidden Java applets running. It would be a lot of work to get Java applications with graphical interfaces working.
I think it'd be cool to run a Minecraft server off my tablet... but that's just me.
Noxious Ninja said:
Dalvik is a full JVM, it's just that Android doesn't implement a lot of the Java libraries dedicated to writing desktop apps. It might not be too much work to get, e.g., hidden Java applets running. It would be a lot of work to get Java applications with graphical interfaces working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But this tablet has the horsepower to run it if it were done, correct? I'm just thinking quad core tablet- a GB of ram. Seems like a ripe apple for the developers to add something a little more tricked out in the software now that there is hardware that would support it.
Of course I am not a developer, but my understanding is java is scaled back due to hardware limitations. The Prime is a beast of a tablet. What would it take for this to happen?
redraider II said:
What would it take for this to happen?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of time and money? Months of work at an absolute minimum. I don't know all the missing APIs, but at least pretty much all the graphics stuff from desktop Java is missing on Android.
Noxious Ninja said:
A lot of time and money? Months of work at an absolute minimum. I don't know all the missing APIs, but at least pretty much all the graphics stuff from desktop Java is missing on Android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh crap. Well..... I suppose that hope just went out the window.
I am happy with the Prime as it is. I was just curious about the possibilities of taking it to the next level java wise now that there are devices capable of running it.
I see you are in SA, Noxious. I'm just up the road in Austin. Have to come down there every other month or so to Methodist Transplant hospital. Had a liver transplant almost 5 years ago now. Graduated from Judson.
Thanks for your replies.
RedRaider II
You can run Java SE and even a JDK but you lose Android integration. Example: I have JRE/JDK and most of the Android SDK running on mine, in a Debian chroot. All I am missing seems to be a couple x86 C/C++ programs that I don't know where to find the source for, otherwise I could get them ported to ARM and do Android development on my tablet with the usual build system (not what terminal ide does).
But note that if you want to do GUI crap in Java, like AWT/Swing/JWT, then you need the x11/vnc stuff or to push the built code to another machine you can remote into. Running headless Java code is also possible via dalvik (just like the Android SDK does for what goes into .apk files) in some cases but I would not want to test complicated parts of core libs and classpath dancing.
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk
Run Linux (ARMel or ARMhf) OS ontop of Android and run "ARM_Linux_Moder" from the following link after cloning it to the Linux file system
https://github.com/S0AndS0/Debian-Kit-Mods
Full directions are in readme file and I've a guide on xda and google docs to set up Linux on Android using Debian Kit.
Currently you can run JDK hard or soft float on Android and run almost any .jar file or java program that runs on PC Linux OS's using the scripts provided and install Java dependent software I've tested and scripted installers for.
I'll be working on Android SDK and NDK soon.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using xda app-developers app
Khyrdantai said:
I think it'd be cool to run a Minecraft server off my tablet... but that's just me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it would be great too

[Q] Can android app run on Ubuntu phone?

Can I use android app on ubuntu Phone?
No. Ubuntu for android would run its own apps I would assume.
pureexe said:
Can I use android app on ubuntu Phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no u cant because ubuntu is without java virtual machine...
I bet the devs will have some way to hack it to be able to run android apps.
Me
jon7701 said:
I bet the devs will have some way to hack it to be able to run android apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I want to be the first one to do it!
---------- Post added at 06:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:53 PM ----------
jon7701 said:
I bet the devs will have some way to hack it to be able to run android apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey U dont need to hack ubuntu Its open!! So there gonna be some way to run android apps on your phone!
Cant we load up the Android SDK and run stuff that way? I know it would be slower than molasses but its a start....
I would imagine running bluestacks on a windows virtual machine would get the job done.
Ubuntu running Windows running Android on a phone. Crazy!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
mvgadagi said:
no u cant because ubuntu is without java virtual machine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't one just install a Java Virtual Machine?
I think we should wait for sources before starting this kind of discussions.
thenewshaft said:
I would imagine running bluestacks on a windows virtual machine would get the job done.
Ubuntu running Windows running Android on a phone. Crazy!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you would be able to use a Windows because the processor would still be 16 bit
hay just wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!
u can install android apps just so easy
install wine for windows emulator
install blue stack throw wine
run android app from wine
but i i think there will be much easy way than that in the future cus the system is not out yet so i think it will easy cus ubuntu or linux in fact is open source
neonlove said:
u can install android apps just so easy
install wine for windows emulator
install blue stack throw wine
run android app from wine
but i i think there will be much easy way than that in the future cus the system is not out yet so i think it will easy cus ubuntu or linux in fact is open source
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[sarcasm]
Yeah sure x86 apps works completely fine on a arm operating system which we don't even know if there is going to be a full ubuntu running on the background. [/sarcasm]
I think the main goal is running web apps on the OS not java or objective-c, so even if it has some sort of java support it would probably suck.
Android app on Ubuntu should be doable
Looking around it seems android apps don't actually use the android runtime. they are running on a vm called dalvik which itself is forked off of zygote. Both running on the Linux kernel. According to stackoverflow.com/questions/1297678/how-do-i-make-isolated-dalvik dalvik can be compiled separately from android. Shouldn't be too tough. Once I get full up Ubuntu running on my Next9p I'm going to attempt this. It would be nice to get a couple of android apps running on Ubuntu.
leventccc said:
[sarcasm]
Yeah sure x86 apps works completely fine on a arm operating system which we don't even know if there is going to be a full ubuntu running on the background. [/sarcasm]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mark Shuttleworth said that this is the full Ubuntu OS just repolished and trimmed down for mobile.. Btw I think .deb packages will work.
darkforester67 said:
Mark Shuttleworth said that this is the full Ubuntu OS just repolished and trimmed down for mobile.. Btw I think .deb packages will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope deb packages will work but I don't expect too much because its still mobile and it's designed to run light and small apps. Of course compiling a kernel for my device, on my device would be very cool but probably not gonna happen
neonlove said:
u can install android apps just so easy
install wine for windows emulator
install blue stack throw wine
run android app from wine
but i i think there will be much easy way than that in the future cus the system is not out yet so i think it will easy cus ubuntu or linux in fact is open source
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WINE is a recursive acronym which stands for WINE Is Not an Emulator. It translates Win32 API calls into Linux API calls, but it does not emulate a different processor architecture. You couldn't use it on an ARM processor to run apps compiled for X86.
Given the shared kernel and drivers and open-source nature, if Canonical releases the Galaxy Nexus images and source in a timely fashion, there will probably be enough developer interest for someone to bring Dalvik to Ubuntu mobile fairly quickly. The question is will it kill developer interest in building truly native apps for the Ubuntu mobile platform.
x86 on ARM
The question is will it kill developer interest in building truly native apps for the Ubuntu mobile platform.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The attractiveness of Ubuntu on these increasingly powerful "mobile" devices is the millions of applications already available in the repositories (Ubuntu's "app store"). All of which are already free downloads. Granted some of them will be more usable than others on smaller screens. But, given a 10 inch screen or bigger, almost everything should run just fine. Since Ubuntu has only one code base for all of their varying distributions, I'm looking forward to UI and efficiency improvements across the entire platform.
As far as x86 hardware emulation... there are a couple of projects doing some work on implementing at least a subset of the more than 700 x86 instructions as an application level translator. One Russian company (1) has a working translator, albeit a slow one. They expect to be able to release something usable in the next year or so. Also, there is a thread (2) on the winehq mailing list that discussed this very possibility last year. IDK how far it went or whether anyone associated with the wine project is actually working on this or not.
(1) computerworld.com/s/article/9232222/Russian_startup_working_on_x86_to_ARM_software_emulator
(2) winehq.org/pipermail/wine-devel/2011-April/089562.html
Qemu android is really fast with kvm on x86 in emulator. Choosing the custom screen resolution make it looks like SDL game. Can we do the same for arm to emulate android dalvik for apps? It can be just a separate package with android for ubuntu phone if seamless integration is impossible.
Of course you can run Android Apps in your Ubuntu on Android Desktop without Bluestacks or some sort of virtualisation...
Here are the facts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JISeFQ_1QzU 1:15 - Presentation by Canonical as you can see from all the Pictures with the Canonical Logo in the Image Viewer Application.

Best Way to Develop A Simple App?

Hello,
I am a total novice. However, I'd like to develop a simple timecard app for Android, specifically targeted like the apps below.
http://www.appato.com/edward-pereira/wrap-time-time-card-for-film-crews/
http://www.crewtimecard.com/
These only exist for Apple products, though. What is the easiest, most straight-forward (Windows-based) software for creating such an app? I've heard of something called Eclipse...? Or there's some Google thing?
Thanks!
You need eclipse ide and android adt plugin for exclipse to code for android.Also you need android sdk for the api's.Googling "how to setup eclipse for android development" will give instructions for those from android developers website
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
thanks vijai2011. Is Eclipse easy to learn? Is there something easier that may not be TOO basic, so that I can create a timecard app like the ones I linked to above?
You dont have to learn to use eclipse .All you you need to know is java and few things about android resources which you can find at android developer website.They will pretty much cover everything.
But without java,you cannot take even the first step of app coding.Heart of app coding is java.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
I see... so there really isn't something similar to Adobe Dreamweaver for android apps?
daniel178 said:
I see... so there really isn't something similar to Adobe Dreamweaver for android apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like Adobe Dreamweaver lets you design your web layout pages with PHP coding ... Eclipse lets you design the App layout with java coding. Its pretty much similar.
You can even use Netbeans or similar IDE's, but most developers use Eclipse and its the one that's being recommended by Google, I guess.
Thanks... I am little intimidated by Eclipse. Is it mostly graphical? can I get by without any coding? You see the type of app I want to create....
Also, have you heard of Phonegap? Is this easier/better/more or less limiting?
Eclipse is fully gui.You go through a wizard to create a new project,adding app icon,creating main activit(ies),select lowest api and the api for app then you get into a screen like a text editor where you type java,then go to android manifest then added the created activity,give perm and export the app signed.Even the adb is included at the bottom toolbar for easy debugging in real time .
So its pretty much straight forward but it can take sometime for the first time.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Hmm, sounds like there's some java (at least) coding involved. Can I get by without any manual coding at all?
Also, to create an app like the timecard things above, for Android, what version of Eclipse would be best (simplest, yet able to do the job well).?
Well....Its not some java...It 99% java the remaining 1% is for the look and feel that you put to your preference .That is why I said
But without java,you cannot take even the first step of app coding.Heart of app coding is java.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
on post #4
No...you dont need any specific version of java.Take the latest eclipse IDE and the latest ADT plugin and code it.There is nothing you can do without manual work of typing java.You cannot do those web page design using dreamweaver here Here is my first app I wrote.There is also the source code attached at the bottom.See how long the code is just to invoke a activity of another app with a default argument.
This is how I set up eclipse:
You must have sdk pre-installed for this.Also sdk needs a 32bit java JDK to work.(you need 32bit irrespective of if u run 32 or 64bit.Dont know why is that so.SDK never recognized my 32bit JDK)
Install eclipse classic
follow this to install ADT
daniel178 said:
Hello,
I am a total novice. However, I'd like to develop a simple timecard app for Android, specifically targeted like the apps below.
http://www.appato.com/edward-pereira/wrap-time-time-card-for-film-crews/
http://www.crewtimecard.com/
These only exist for Apple products, though. What is the easiest, most straight-forward (Windows-based) software for creating such an app? I've heard of something called Eclipse...? Or there's some Google thing?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Checkout HELLS-KITCHEN. It's a great starting point. With this Distro and a million Tutorials on XDA, you should be able to find what your looking for.
what about Flash? I've watched a couple of video tutorials on using Flash 5.5 and up to create Android apps, and it seems pretty graphical-only (no or less coding -- keep in mind my app is very simple). Would this be a viable option?
What ever you try,The last and final destination is TO USE JAVA for app even if the app is a "Simple" Hello world app!You have to have a main activity,type in the codes etc....You dont get it out my clicking out on wizards like:
Do you want Android app?click next
Do you need it to be simple?click next
What features you need?Select them.
If you are too lazy to type out codes or dont know java,Why not just try any alternative in play store?It is more Graphical and is only few taps
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Alternatively you could try to use phonegap.com or usepropeller.com / simplr.mobi.

[Q] Tablet ubuntu able to run edubuntu (kde etc)?

Hi all
Does anyone know if I can run kde-based software on the developer alpha of Ubuntu for tablets yet please? Not expecting reliability, just want to do some child user testing of the edubuntu suite on tablets.
Thanks
Chris
Currently you can't and probably neither in the near futur 'cause you need an X Server for that.
And there is no X server on ubuntu touch.
Huge thanks, that is really useful
Hempe said:
Currently you can't and probably neither in the near futur 'cause you need an X Server for that.
And there is no X server on ubuntu touch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After some research on your reply I've a couple questions. Does it mean the Unity interface doesn't need X-server? Or are they just using a temporary workaround until X-server is implemented?
And does this apply to both Ubuntu for Android, and Ubuntu for tablets?
Huge thanks
Having done some further research I've made my decision - thanks hugely for providing the missing link in my knowledge. What follows is my best interpretation of the rumours.
Currently in place of X-server is SurfaceFlinger, ("because X-server uses 30 yr old code" - Canonical). Canonical publicly dabbled with using Wayland until mid-Feb, then decided to create their own revamped display server from scratch, called Mir, which they seem to have been working on since mid last year, and are trying to get GPU vendors to support, written to run across all devices and to meet the needs of the Unity interface, and written in Qt/QML which is what they want native apps written in.
Bottom line for me, is that the technology is still right up there in the clouds and nowhere near decided enough to base my business strategy on. Also, Ubuntu for tablets seems a pretty thin version of Ubuntu anyway, so Edubuntu was never an option and I'm unlikely to be able to leverage much from Ubuntu's Open Source libraries anyway.
Like others, (see the comment on jonobacon.org below), I find it frustrating that the wealth of code written for Ubuntu is no longer usable, but I reckon this is probably necessary to squeeze the most out of every single CPU cycle and milliamp. Ubuntu for tablet is dead in the water if it kills the battery and performs worse than the established competitors.
Therefore all indications are I need to write for Android, keeping my options as open as possible to migrate. So it is now Titanium/UnityIDE versus HTML5, particularly assessing relative performance.
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/03/canonical-announce-custom-display-server-mir-not-wayland-not-x
http://www.jonobacon.org/2013/02/21/five-ubuntu-touch-facts/ -- not the article but the comment starting "In that case, wouldn't it be better to port existing apps instead of...."
http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/02/canonical-working-on-new-display-server
http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=MTMwOTM
Just to clarify.
1. There are plans to make a X-Mir compatibility layer that will allow you to run programs that require an X-Server to work with mir.
2. Not all is lost at the moment it just looks that way.
Only Graphical Userinterfaces are affected. Your commandline tools and libraries don't need to be changed.
3. If you are looking for platform to write apps for, well there is worke being done to let you run your QML apps (intended for ubuntu touch) on android.
So if you choose to make QML apps they can be or will be able to run on linux, mac, windows and android
Wow, huge thanks, I missed that.
Does this mean EVERYTHING Ubuntu without a GUI will work? I want to run a NodeJS server. How likely is it that it will work perfectly now? How likely is it that it will work perfectly in the (nominally October 2013) release? (Sorry, just give me a keyword and I'll go off and do my research.)
Is Canonical planning to get X-Mir into the next ~Oct release?
My other query was whether QML on Android would perform as well. For others interested, it looks like it works directly with the Android SurfaceFlinger, bypassing the Dalvik VM, so performance should compare with native Java code.
Huge thanks once again
Chris
Sources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEkubKZaUt8
http://victorpalau.net/2013/01/25/ubuntu-qml-todo-android-vs-ubuntu/

Android app port to Ubuntu Touch

Hey!
We know, that we can't run Android apps on Ubuntu Touch. The UT is a great operating system, but it has a big problem. It doesn't have any "neccessary" or "must have" applications NOW. These apps are the following by the community's opinion: FacebookMessenger, WhatsApp, Google Maps, a browser (like Chrome, Opera mini or Firefox), instagram, etc.
So, I want to know, that we are possible to port these (or any other) Android apps to UT, or not? If the answer is yes, i want to create a team. In this team i want to port Android apps, or create this apps alternatives.
Guess not much up in the forums
Request: Simyo Call Status App [Netherlands]
Hi there,
I haven't been on the xda forums a lot since the end of 2009 I believe but, since Canonical announced Ubuntu Touch this year, I have my reasons to pick up browsing the forums again. The Ubuntu Touch region, specifically.
Now, you were asking if there's any Android Apps to port to Ubuntu Touch.
I have a request that might not be of interest to a lot of people but will get pretty important to me once a 'user version' of Ubuntu Touch is released:
Simyo Netherlands provides an App to check your current "Belstatus" or call status.
This app provides me (on my iPhone) with the current remaining minutes/sms messages and remaining data (megabyte) for the current month within the contract.
Below the link to the Android equivalent in the Play Store, which might be portable to an Ubuntu Touch app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nl.simyo.mijnsimyo
Let me know if this is something you'd be interested in doing.
I might be of some help being a C# programmer, but I still need to check out the Ubuntu Touch SDK (my HTML5 and QML knowledge is poor) and that's something I won't be able to very soon....
frummel said:
I might be of some help being a C# programmer, but I still need to check out the Ubuntu Touch SDK (my HTML5 and QML knowledge is poor) and that's something I won't be able to very soon....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a little bit of C# knowledge, but i'm good in HTML5, so this is a good beginning i think.
DLevai94 said:
I have a little bit of C# knowledge, but i'm good in HTML5, so this is a good beginning i think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can port any already existing apps that are found on Android, you just need the API from the app developers.
Google Maps
same here.. looking to port my android apps to ubuntu touch, developed using java..
is there some porting apps like Command Tools in Blackberry OS10
srdananjaya said:
same here.. looking to port my android apps to ubuntu touch, developed using java..
is there some porting apps like Command Tools in Blackberry OS10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, there's no tool like that for Ubuntu Touch (yet?).
I'd be willing to port my Android apps to Ubuntu touch. Does the work need to be done from scratch? Is there a simpler way to port a java, native, android app to Ubuntu?
I can't contribute anything app-wise, but this sounds like a really good idea; best of luck!
Ubuntu-Touch must LIVE! I have use it and it is cool system. Some problems with applications time to time appeares. And it is very hard find developers for apps. But I think if required apps appeares -- more people move to UT. And first of all that system must use NOT for games.
DLevai94 said:
Hey!
We know, that we can't run Android apps on Ubuntu Touch. The UT is a great operating system, but it has a big problem. It doesn't have any "neccessary" or "must have" applications NOW. These apps are the following by the community's opinion: FacebookMessenger, WhatsApp, Google Maps, a browser (like Chrome, Opera mini or Firefox), instagram, etc.
So, I want to know, that we are possible to port these (or any other) Android apps to UT, or not? If the answer is yes, i want to create a team. In this team i want to port Android apps, or create this apps alternatives.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Till last some years UT has some changes. For example appears OpenVPN network manager in a base apps. But unfortunately that feature with unresolved bugs. Also I didn't find any browsers like QupZilla/Mozilla FireFox or Lynx. So As for me we required updated OS for first. And normal browser. Current versions of browsers are unusable. That i big part of work. For that required powerful developers group. I try to compile and run some examples to UT but unfortunately unsuccessful. But I try. Who also try do something but with successful result?

Categories

Resources