Canonical has announced that Ubuntu on mobile devices will now have the option of dual-booting.
The company announced, Monday, a preview of a new feature for developers, which gives the option to run Ubuntu for mobile devices alongside Android on a single handset.
The latest software will allow users to easily switch between Android and Ubuntu for phones with just a tap of an app icon.
Once the software is downloaded to an Android device, an app will manage the installation process and upgrading of Ubuntu. After the app is installed, an "Ubuntu Dual Boot" app icon will appear along with other apps and once clicked, the app will take the user to Ubuntu for phones. Users can then try out Canonical's mobile software before it starts retailing in 2014. When a user wants to get back to Android they can do so by simply tapping the same Ubuntu Dual Boot app and select to reboot back into Android.
The process may sound simple but the dual-boot loader is meant only for developers. Canonical also says that the Ubuntu Dual Boot software will require ADB tools on the desktop. The software has been tested on a Nexus 4, which has 2.7GB of free space and has had its bootloader unlocked. The company suggests that other Nexus devices should work.
Ubuntu for phones was originally introduced early in 2013 and the software slowly but steadily improved over the year. Canonical recently announced that it has entered into a partnership with a manufacturer for Ubuntu Touch OS hardware. The company said the handset industry should witness high-end smartphones running on Ubuntu in 2014.
As the latest Ubuntu Dual Boot is only recommended for developers, it should not be long before the company releases a regular version of the software for customers.
Developers can download the Ubuntu Dual Boot software from Canonical's website.
