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The people making comments about Unity on this device have some valid points, but are missing the forest for the trees. One of the major themes of 13.04 and the

by achiang 14y ago

The people making comments about Unity on this device have some valid points, but are missing the forest for the trees. One of the major themes of 13.04 and the entire point of this demo is to fix the core of Ubuntu, as was referenced in Mark's blog: "I think it’s time to look at the core of Ubuntu and review it through a mobile lens: let’s measure our core platform by mobile metrics, things like battery life, number of running processes, memory footprint, and polish the rough edges that we find when we do that." Don't expect the Unity UI experience to be optimized for this device in the 13.04 time frame. That's not the goal. Not speaking officially here, just trying to help people connect the dots of what Canonical have publicly revealed thus far.

keithpeter 14y ago
If the core includes sound drivers and a sensible structure to sound then bring it on... ...I know this is a niche area but the application of cheap touch tablets to sound synthesis software could open up a huge realm of activity. Then there is the use of a stylus for accurate work...
- achiang 14y ago
  I wouldn't expect any huge departure from the existing sound architecture (PulseAudio, ALSA).
  - keithpeter 14y ago
    Fair enough, exciting project!
  - rdtsc 14y ago
    achiang, Unfortunately (and, conversely, fortunately for Ubuntu) Android audio on tablets sucks. Especially when we talk low latency audio. It is bad, in the 100s of milliseconds of latency, which is laughable really for anyone who tries to do audio synthesis or any realtime audio features. So frankly, just bringing ALSA or PulseAudio to the table will hugely improve the situation. Google is aware of the issue (http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3434 http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3434) it was starred about 2000 times with 400+ comments. Again, this is a niche area for some and most don't care, but those who do would love have an alternative to iPad for example, when it comes to audio latency performance.
    - keithpeter 14y ago
      So Ubuntu could deliver a useful gain in audio performance over Android on a tablet such as the Nexus? As input appears to be limited to on board microphone in the particular tablet we are discussing, it is unlikely that real time processing will be a major use unless the micro-usb socket can be used with an audio interface. I certainly would drop £160 or so to try synthesis if pd/jack/effects-loops are available. Just a single cable out, not too restrictive, perhaps even streamed audio over wifi. puredata allows you to set up your own controls for a sound synthesis program - and you can have chunky buttons and big sliders for touch I'm hoping.
      - rdtsc 14y ago
        > So Ubuntu could deliver a useful gain in audio performance over Android on a tablet such as the Nexus? It could if using USB audio input and output. The DAC in the Nexus 7 is not very good. Also, as you pointed out, Nexus 7 doesn't have headset jack, just a headphone jack. So that's lacking. However, there are some compiled kernels that added USB audio out support (but then simultaneously charging the device doesn't work, sigh...). > puredata allows you to set up your own controls for a sound synthesis program - and you can have chunky buttons and big sliders for touch I'm hoping. Have you heard of http://libpd.cc/ http://libpd.cc/ ?
        keithpeter 14y ago
        "Have you heard of http://libpd.cc/ http://libpd.cc/ ?" I was aware of android and iPad builds of pd, but this looks more comprehensive although it would mean rather more 'proper' coding than I'm used to. I'd rather see how Ubuntu on tablets goes over the next cycle or so.

by achiang 14y ago

keithpeter 14y ago

If the core includes sound drivers and a sensible structure to sound then bring it on... ...I know this is a niche area but the application of cheap touch tablets to sound synthesis software could open up a huge realm of activity. Then there is the use of a stylus for accurate work...

achiang 14y ago
I wouldn't expect any huge departure from the existing sound architecture (PulseAudio, ALSA).
- keithpeter 14y ago
  Fair enough, exciting project!
- rdtsc 14y ago
  achiang, Unfortunately (and, conversely, fortunately for Ubuntu) Android audio on tablets sucks. Especially when we talk low latency audio. It is bad, in the 100s of milliseconds of latency, which is laughable really for anyone who tries to do audio synthesis or any realtime audio features. So frankly, just bringing ALSA or PulseAudio to the table will hugely improve the situation. Google is aware of the issue (http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3434 http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=3434) it was starred about 2000 times with 400+ comments. Again, this is a niche area for some and most don't care, but those who do would love have an alternative to iPad for example, when it comes to audio latency performance.
  - keithpeter 14y ago
    So Ubuntu could deliver a useful gain in audio performance over Android on a tablet such as the Nexus? As input appears to be limited to on board microphone in the particular tablet we are discussing, it is unlikely that real time processing will be a major use unless the micro-usb socket can be used with an audio interface. I certainly would drop £160 or so to try synthesis if pd/jack/effects-loops are available. Just a single cable out, not too restrictive, perhaps even streamed audio over wifi. puredata allows you to set up your own controls for a sound synthesis program - and you can have chunky buttons and big sliders for touch I'm hoping.
    - rdtsc 14y ago
      > So Ubuntu could deliver a useful gain in audio performance over Android on a tablet such as the Nexus? It could if using USB audio input and output. The DAC in the Nexus 7 is not very good. Also, as you pointed out, Nexus 7 doesn't have headset jack, just a headphone jack. So that's lacking. However, there are some compiled kernels that added USB audio out support (but then simultaneously charging the device doesn't work, sigh...). > puredata allows you to set up your own controls for a sound synthesis program - and you can have chunky buttons and big sliders for touch I'm hoping. Have you heard of http://libpd.cc/ http://libpd.cc/ ?
      - keithpeter 14y ago
        "Have you heard of http://libpd.cc/ http://libpd.cc/ ?" I was aware of android and iPad builds of pd, but this looks more comprehensive although it would mean rather more 'proper' coding than I'm used to. I'd rather see how Ubuntu on tablets goes over the next cycle or so.