14 DAY TRIAL // If you like the Ubuntu Touch apps and you want to test them on an Ubuntu desktop, you can now do it very easily by installing all the core apps from a PPA.
Canonical has been pushing for the convergence of the mobile and desktop platforms for quite some time now. Even if it's still in the early stages of implementation, users can now try this concept first-hand by installing the Ubuntu Touch core apps on the Ubuntu desktop.
“With our convergence plans being a core component of Ubuntu over the coming releases, we can take advantage of this when testing mobile apps. Developers can create & users can test applications without having to commit funds to a dedicated Ubuntu mobile device. Of course in the future Ubuntu mobile devices will be ubiquitous :) but for now we can support those users, testers and developers right now to use Ubuntu mobile apps on the desktop,” said Canonical's Alan Pope.
The Ubuntu developer also explained how to get said apps on the desktop. As you can imagine, it's all done with the help of a PPA. All you have to do is to open a terminal and run the following command (you will need to be root):
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-touch-coreapps-drivers/daily sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install touch-coreapps
When the installation finishes, you can find the application in Unity Dash. According to Alan Pope, the apps have been tested on Ubuntu 13.10 and Ubuntu 14.04.
Go forth and test or just have fun. Enjoy!