The company behind the Linux-based OS Ubuntu announced on Wednesday that it will be offering a version of its software that will run on smartphones. Namely, the Ubuntu operating system uses the same drivers as Android and would work as a replacement software for existing phones running the Android OS, according to Canonical.

Canonical will release the open-source code as a file that can be installed on Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus, initially. Plans are also in the works with manufacturers to provide the software pre-installed on a device sometime before the end of the year.

Aside just from the fact that Ubuntu is a powerful, popular, free and open-source OS that will now be available on a smartphone, this news could mark a milestone in tech history as an operating system significantly blurs the line between a …

Those of you with an Onkyo music system will like this news. Onkyo has announced the launch of their new Android remote control streaming application. The new Android Onkyo application connects to your music system using your Wi-Fi network and allows you to stream music from your Android devices to an Onkyo network audio system.

The new App also allows you to browse your networked music collection without viewing on-screen menus on a connected display, instead using the touch-screen GUI on your Android device. Pretty sweet. Onkyo will sell more units now that they have a fancy new remote.

Looking for a new media player? AMEX Digital has unveiled the MP-G7 Media Gate Android TV media player. This device is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex processor and will deliver full HD video output over HDMI. The AMEX Digital MP-G7 also supports USB devices, like a keyboard and a mouse of course.

Some other specs include a 2.5-inch hard drive, an SD memory card slot, Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity. The AMEX Digital MP-G7 Android TV media player will cost you about $200.

We aren’t sure what it is about the Android robot, but he’s just so adorable. Even as a trash can. You could probably build your own if you have a spare trash can. This one was made by a Taiwanese guy who loves Android.

It has LED eyes, movable “arms” and “legs” and you can control it with a remote, and rotate the joystick to spin it 360 degrees. Hopefully we won’t see an army of these on our streets anytime soon.

We’ve shown you the previous versions of the Android collectibles from the guys at DyzPlastics, and they are all very cool, but now they are releasing a new line of Android collectible mascots called Heroes and Villans.

Just look at those guys. Awesome. There will be four different versions and they will make their debut at the 2011 International Comic-Con in San Diego. Of course they will only be available in a limited number, with one design being made available each day starting on Wednesday the 20th of July at Comic-Con. Now you have to be there.

These Android MP3 speakers may look like the real deal, but they appear to have “gotge” written on them, not Google. We don’t even care. They are still adorable.

Each one has a small full-range driver built into the bottom, and they also have colorful LEDs around the neck that light up when the music is playing. Pushing the droid’s head starts and stops the music, and turning it left or right adjusts the volume.

HTC had said back in March that we’d have Gingerbread (Android 2.3) on the Thunderbolt in Q2, however that time frame is drawing to a close. Well, what we have learned is that an HTC rep has confirmed that the next update for the Thunderbolt won’t just fix the reboot issues, but it will also update the phone to Gingerbread.

We may not have a date, but this is better than no news at all right? Keep your fingers crossed. Q2 only has a few days left. Maybe they will keep their word.

Great news. Hulu Plus for Android is available, however you may not be able to install it yet. The Hulu Blog states that six phones: the Nexus One, Nexus S, HTC Inspire 4G, Motorola Droid II, Motorola Droid X, and the Motorola Atrix are compatible, with “additional device announcements” coming later in the year.

If you look at the list, many flagship phones are missing, but we have high hopes that they will have it running for everyone in no time. Hopefully that is the case.

Are you prone to tablet abuse? Well, feel free to treat your tablet rough with Panasonic’s Android Toughbook tablet. It features a sunlight-friendly 10.1-inch multi-touch display, satellite-based GPS, full-shift battery life and optional 3G / 4G.

It’s an Android tablet built tough. We don’t have any info on pricing or a release yet, but more info is sure to trickle in. The point is, this is a tough Android tablet. It’s tough enough for you. Are you tough enough for it?

Since they already have their own iOS app, Starbucks is now bringing mobile payments to Android users, as well. The Starbucks for Android app is free. Just add credit to your mobile Starbucks Card and scan the app’s barcode at the cash register.

It’s available on devices running Android 2.1 or later and the service will also locate all Starbucks shops in your area and offer even more incentives via Starbucks’ rewards program. Right now, there are about 6,800 stores that support mobile payments and the company is planning to add an additional 1,000 locations in July.

The i’mWatch from Blue Sky Italy is the world’s first Android-powered watch. Because let’s face it, your watch needs apps too right? It is powered by a Freescale ARM9 IMX233 CPU with 64MB of RAM, 4GB of storage and a 1.54-inch TFT touchscreen display.

The 600mAh battery will deliver 2 hours of talk time or 48 hours of standby time. The i’mWatch can also be paired up with your iPhone, BlackBerry or Android phone. The i’mWatch Android-powered watch retails for €249 (or $360). Want one?

Are you in the mood to play some Pac Man on Android? The app is available today on the Amazon App Store for free. It beats pumping quarters in the machine each time.

The app usually sells for 99 cents. And this is the full game, not a lite version. Just head over to the Amazon App Store and download it now. The game has two control methods, a virtual joystick and a swipe method. I can already hear the music.

Ever hear of the Linux-based EVO game console? Probably not, but it did exist and actually shipped at one point before being”sold out” according to Envizions, the company behind it. Well, now it is back with an Android-based gaming console called the EVO 2.

It will hit the US this fall with developer units available today where developers will have to pay an annual $149 software support fee. Some specs include a 1.2GHz Samsung processor, a “modified” Android 2.2 OS, and a TV remote and game controller. A motion sensor will be added by the end of the year, and it has its own points system to buy Android games called “EVO tokens.” Looks like the price will be $249.

Geniatech has released a new Android TV set top box. It packs in Google Android 2.2 Froyo, an Amlogic 1GHz Cortex A9 CPU, 512MB of RAM and a USB port for connecting an external hard drive. You also get 2GB of internal storage and it has a memory card slot for up to 32GB.

This set top box connects to your LAN via WiFi or Ethernet and delivers digital TV, internet TV, a web browser, a music player, IM and SMS apps. You also get access to the Android Market, so you can download additional apps. Nothing on pricing yet, but hopefully we will know soon.

Netflix finally has an Android app that is publicly available. The app is pretty identical to the one released for the iPhone and it lets users manage their instant queue and watch videos. Of course to use it you need a subscription starting from $8.

Thing is, only a handful of phones can use the Netflix app, all of which are using Snapdragon processors. These first five include the Samsung Nexus S and four HTC phones, including the Evo 4G, the original Incredible, the Nexus One, and the T-Mobile G2. The Droid Incredible 2 and Thunderbolt, weren’t mentioned, though they have also have Snapdragon.