Remember Ubuntu Touch, which was released as images for the Nexus series? The innovative new platform is nearing completion, but it will face an issue faced by Windows Phone and BlackBerry - the lack of apps.However if you own an Android device, you can actually customize it to look like Ubuntu Touch and you don't even need to have your device rooted to get this done.
Want to know more? Check out the following step-by-step guide on how to transform your Android device into Ubuntu Touch.
- Download the Buzz Launcher - Available as a free download in the Google Play Store. Requires a device running Android 4.0.3 or higher.
Buzz Launcher allows you to perform comprehensive UI changes to your interface to make your platform look totally different.
[ALTERNATIVE] TSF Shell for Android is a is another alternative launcher which offers similar customization but costs $17 which makes Buzz Launcher a better choice
- Once you have installed Buzz Launcher apply one of the default themes. We suggest installing one of the first two which are relatively easy to navigate.
Buzz Launcher comes with the option of downloading and installing homepacks to change the look of your device UI and includes a homepack to make your system look like Ubuntu Touch.
- Download Ubuntu Touch Homepack - Open the link directly on your mobile device and allow it to be opened through Buzz launcher. Once downloaded apply it.
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- - Download Buzz Custom Widget - This is an addon which will allow you to install the custom widgets with come with the various homepacks.
You now have the ubuntu Touch homescreen which you can swipe across. The homepack will also make suggestions to download other apps/widgets from the Play Store to enhance your experience:
Scroll through the homescreens and install what you want to your device. Next on the list is your lockscreen
- Download the Ubuntu Lockscreen
The lockscreen on Ubuntu Touch is very distinctive and this app is by far the best at replicating its look and feel You get a wheel that shows your notifications, and you have to swipe to your right to access your device. Unfortunately there is no indicator to show what you need to do to get into your screen and this maybe confusing to first time users.-
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- Download Glovebox - Getting access to your Ubuntu apps on Ubuntu Touch is through the Unity Launcher, and this is best replicated on Android through the Glovebox app.
Glovebox gives you quick access to apps with the swipe-in gesture, and it even improves on the Ubuntu Touch options by allowing shortcuts, widgets, and folders to be added to the launcher bar.
Glovebox doesnt mention its Android requirements, but users with 1GB of RAM or lower have complained that the app can be laggy on their devices.
[ALTERNATIVE] An Alternative to Glovebox comes in the form of Unity Launcher for Android which looks quite similar to the Unity Launcher on Ubuntu Touch.
- Download Unity Launcher ($1.99) for Android 2.2 or higher.
Once you have all this installed your device looks alot like Ubuntu Touch. However you may also like to download some of the official Ubuntu apps to complete the look and feel.
- Download Ubuntu One Files - The Ubuntu version of iCloud/Google Drive/SkyDrive lets you store files in the cloud, sync them across your devices and automatically upload your Gallery photos.
- - Download Ubuntu One Music - Your cloud music locked with 5GB of storage space. However, if you want to be able to stream your music or store it locally for offline playback, you have to sign up for a monthly payment plan at $3.99 per month or $39.99 per year. This will also bump your storage to 20GB.
Thats it, now you are ready to show off your Ubuntu Touch (looking) Android device.
source - PhoneArena