Android 15 QPR2 confirms Google is adding a Linux Terminal app, finally

[phillynews215]

• The latest Android 15 QPR2 beta adds the new Terminal app that we previously reported on.
• The Terminal app lets developers run Linux apps in a virtual machine.
• It needs to be activated by toggling a developer setting, though.

The best Android phones have more than enough raw computing power to run desktop-class applications, but there’s often little incentive for developers to port many such apps to mobile platforms like Android. One big reason there is because Android phones have tiny screens and lackluster input options when compared to the average PC, but these limitations can be overcome with the help of accessories or by running Android on a larger screen. Google is on a multi-year journey to make Android more productive, especially on bigger displays, and one way it’s planning to achieve this is by allowing Android devices to run Linux apps. The upcoming second quarterly platform release of Android 15 is introducing a Terminal app that will make that possible.

Google released the generic system image (GSI) for Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 earlier today, and after I installed it on my Pixel phone, I immediately spotted two new features that I thought were going to land in Android 16. Android 15 QPR2 not only transformed the Do Not Disturb feature into customizable Modes but also added a developer option to enable the Terminal app. Under Settings > System > Developer options in the Android 15 QPR2 Beta 1 GSI, there’s a new “Linux development environment” toggle that lets you “run [a] Linux terminal on Android.” After enabling this option, a new “Terminal” app appeared in my app list. Unfortunately, tapping it did nothing as the app just crashed after failing to start a VM.




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