Chromebooks are popular devices that are gradually increasing in sales. There are several reasons for this - they are inexpensive, relatively versatile and great for study or work, including remote mode. As a result, in the third quarter of this year, sales of Chromebooks grew by 122% .
The only problem with Chromebooks is that the operating system is Chrome OS with a Chrome or Chromium browser. Although many people like this software, not everyone. A large number of users are forced to accept Chrome OS, having no alternative. But now it seems she has appeared . This is a Linux distribution called Ubuntu Web Remix. Development began in early summer and is now available for download .
The distribution is based on Ubuntu. But the developer tried to follow the minimalism of Chrome OS, simplifying the interface of the original operating system. Instead of Google Chrome, it uses the Firefox browser, several web apps from / e / , plus Anbox, a tool that lets you run Android apps on Linux.
The author of the project stated that now Android support is only being tested, so it may not work correctly on LiveCD or on virtual machines. For obvious reasons, the author is not able to check all possible platform configurations on which a new project can be launched.
The distribution kit allows you to install almost any application for Ubuntu using apt-get, but there is no Ubuntu Software Center in this OS. Instead, the link to the “Open Web Store” located in the taskbar is used. When you click on the shortcut, the user is taken to the sat, where you can find a set of applications for all occasions. Once downloaded and installed, they appear in the list of OS applications.
Each of these web applications uses the Firefox browser to run. Each new launched application opens in a new tab.
The Open Web Store now includes SoundCloud, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Mastadon. But third party developers can create their own web applications by offeringtheir author of the project for posting. If you want, you can develop web applications for yourself - the author has provided the necessary tool.
Can Ubuntu Web Remix replace Chrome OS at this stage? Not yet, the project needs some time to develop. Nevertheless, this OS performs basic functions, so it is quite possible to use the distribution kit for solving a number of common tasks.
It is difficult to say when Ubuntu Web Remix will become even approximately the same functional operating system as Chrome OS - after all, the developer does not have the same resources that Google has. And you can't buy an ubuntubuk with pre-installed Ubuntu Web Remix - at least not yet.
But as an independent product that is created by a third-party developer, not a corporation, this OS is of interest. Now many technological media are writing about it, perhaps there will be developers who will support the author.
It is worth noting that the developer who created this distribution is also developing Ubuntu Unity Remix projects with Ubuntu Education. As for the first project mentioned, it is a modified Ubuntu 20.04 distribution based on the Unity 7 shell and the Compiz window manager. The second project is a distribution kit intended for use in schools, universities and other educational institutions.
