Could anyone answer my few questions to help me get a grip whether the idea is feasible?
* How different is Android kernel from standard Linux (ie. Maemo) kernel?
* Is most of the hardware abstraction handled by Linux kernel, or the Dalvik VM internals and library?
* Is the kernel accessible? Ie. can I supplant my own init script and run custom binary in place of Dalvik?
* Is the Android hardware hackable? Ie. can I get direct access to the root partition and put custom content in?
I'm asking because I would like to get a better piece of hardware than N900 (namely HTC EVO 4G) and port Maemo 5 (ie. Mer) on it. But if Android hardware is a closed black box, I won't bother.
I don't have experience with Android (I like Maemo so much better) and I wouldn't like to spent a lot of money on hardware I could not hack.
Some android hardware is more open to changes, such as google's devloper phone.
People have managed to run Debian GNU/Linux on the nexus one, but not all the hardware is functional as of now.
There are some binary only libraries and drivers for some vendors, meaning you might not be able to use all of the hardware.
I do believe it is possible to port the Maemo OS on the nexus one, and I would love to try it if you gain momentum on this.
Unfortunately I do not know Maemo OS enough to be of any assistance apart from telling you that Android use a standard ARM Linux kernel with some modules added to enable the special IPC that Dalvik uses.
As the owner of an N900, I would love to see this project gain momentum. I don't dislike the N900 hardware, it is actually quite decent but I would prefer a smaller, thinner and lighter phone with a capacitive screen.
Maybe MeeGo is the other option to consider since that OS will be designed much more in the open which would possibly make it easier to port to various devices. (Keep an eye on the meego website for the May release, which will be the first release with UX)
Also, my brother owns a Nexus One by my recommendation so porting Maemo to his phone would be great. (Unfortunately I'm not a developer so I would rely on this forum for a guide)
I am considering getting Nexus One. As I understand it supports messing with rootfs without restrictions. (Of course you loose warranty this way.)
Byte_76 said:
Keep an eye on the meego website for the May release, which will be the first release with UX.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Starting with MeeGo base is a viable option.
But the upcoming UX release will be a direct port of current Moblin UI. Maemo is a different beast.
And I am against Maemo 6 migration to Qt, so I would like to stick with current Maemo 5.
With Maemo 5 being a fully functional OS I think it makes sense to try to port it directly first, however if that doesn't work then MeeGo might be another option.
After some research I found that nor Qualcomm MSM7200A, nor Samsung S3C6410 chips have open 3D driver available.
Since Maemo 5 UI requires working OpenGL ES acceleration for its desktop and window management, I guess this project is in a dead-end until I find viable platform for experimentation.
Maybe Mer is another option:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=565480
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=626287
http://mer-project.blogspot.com/2010/02/mer-project-just-bunch-of-redshirts.html
http://wiki.maemo.org/Mer
Without Maemo 5 visual effects it's soooooo stone age, that I don't really care for.
Is this even possible? I think that device has a potential. It's the crappy software that is preventing me from purchasing it. It would be nice if someone developed true android ports for those cheap Chinese mobile phones so poor college students like myself who do not wish to be locked to a contract can get a cheap phones. I finally found that the Airphone has a processor with the following specs:
Mtek MT6235 ARM9 core, 208MHz Speed CPU
I read somewhere that Android needs at least 200mhz to run, so this processor should be able to support it, right? I am interested in getting into the mobile hacking scene for Android, but I do not know where to begin. If I purchased this mobile phone (its cheap, I can get it for 89$) which tools would I require to begin hacking it?
Yes, I know this mobile phone does not have 3G, but I have no use for that technology on a phone because I have other means of accessing the internet. I like this mobile because it is very very slim, about the same size as my ipod touch. I know so many other people would purchase this phone if it had android instead of the sucky iPhoney OS.
Many thanks!
So many views yet no replies. Do you think I would have better luck asking this in the Official Google Android developer forum? Or is this type of chinese technology as unknown and elusive as I figured it would be?
if the mtek run winmobile
you can try to start android whit haret
i think that the cpu is the same of htc opal(omap 850)
look here
http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/wing-linux/wiki
It doesnt run windows mobile unfortunately. It runs a weird OS called "MTK OS", which apparently is a modified version of Nucleus OS.
Hey thanks for your responses! I will take this to the Official Google Android Forum.
Looking to for something like Airphones
I want to play the video on my pc monitor
and steam the audio of this video on my android phone to listen with headphones
linux port
Hello,
some russian guys made a linux port to MT6235 (Google: Linux'у на MT6235 быть (инструкция прилагается))
Starting an Android kernel would be trivial, but RAM is not enough, so Android on MT6235 is useless.
Hey XDA! This is my first post so bear with me...
Recently Acer announced their new Tegra K1 Chromebook and I have to say it's pretty intriguing. I really want to buy one, my only problem being Chrome OS. Don't get me wrong, I love it, it's just not robust enough for me. I want to really make use of the K1 by playing more high end games like ones for Android that are more optimized for it. Touchscreen not being a huge issue here. I'd use a PS3 controller of course. Plus with all the apps already developed for the Droid platform it makes a lot more sense than web based Chrome OS.
So, question time.....
Do you think it would be possible to install KitKat or maybe even Android L Beta on a system like this? I have researched it a little and the Tegra uses ARMv7 architecture. I don't know a whole lot about what that means, but as far as I understand it's 64-bit not 32. Does that mean I would have to use a special KitKat OS on this? Also how in the world would I go about doing this? I have successfully installed Ubuntu (I think 12.04) on an older Samsung Chromebook which dual boots both Ubuntu and Chrome OS; however, I am not sure that the steps involved would be the same. Seeing as how this is a fairly new device, Google is of no help whatsoever....
EXTRA, EXTRA!
Would it be possible to make Android the default OS so it auto boots without going to the OS verification screen?
Thanks for reading! Really hope I can get some answers, looking forward to doing some "real" gaming on the cheap!
For all the developers on this board, what if you had...
a higher powered Mini
AOSP, let's say Marshmallow or better
all the dev tools you'd need to get to work
...what would you, could you dream to develop this computer to do?
TV box? Gaming console? Android PC? Smart home device?
Please share with us your brainstorm ideas on this. Have fun with it and don't think about what's already out on the market... think out of the box, reach for the stars, and all the other cliches you can think of. Please share in the comments below.
Thanks!
A combination of all the above!
Smart nuclear powered anti-starship laser guns.
Just kidding, possibly a wireless router or a media server.
well I like something like win 7 ultimate. with a htpc media center,good gaming and nice professional os with good look.
not the current flat look but something more 3d like seven was.
but I am sure you prefer a idea for your Android stuff...
so what about jide making intel cherry trail devices? those could be nice for TV box or computer? or good snapdragon with long term support?
tailslol said:
well I like something like win 7 ultimate. with a htpc media center,good gaming and nice professional os with good look.
not the current flat look but something more 3d like seven was.
but I am sure you prefer a idea for your Android stuff...
so what about jide making intel cherry trail devices? those could be nice for TV box or computer? or good snapdragon with long term support?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or MediaTek, but force them to give you updated kernel sources and release them to the public.
Just saying because MTK chips last longer, and perform better (except for GPU performance) than counterpart Snapdragon chips.
moriel5 said:
Or MediaTek, but force them to give you updated kernel sources and release them to the public.
Just saying because MTK chips last longer, and perform better (except for GPU performance) than counterpart Snapdragon chips.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not mediatek they hide their resources sometime. and absolutely not Allwinner their chip are ****s... Rockchip or amilogic S is OK in the worse case scenario...
NVIDIA tegra are pricey but good for all in ones.especialy with Google support behind.
Or you can cheat on the support by using same Chips as Android one phones, nexus. or pixel..so no source hiding.
tailslol said:
not mediatek they hide their resources sometime. and absolutely not Allwinner their chip are ****s... Rockchip or amilogic S is OK in the worse case scenario...
NVIDIA tegra are pricey but good for all in ones.especialy with Google support behind.
Or you can cheat on the support by using same Chips as Android one phones, nexus. or pixel..so no source hiding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you not see what I had witten about forcing MediaTek to release their kernel sources?
Rockchip also hides many of their kernel sources, and are a pain to work with, (I had to use an ancient computer from over a decade ago, and had to install Windows XP, since it wouldn't work with anything newer).
Allwinner are a solid choice, since they are much more open with their sources, and are much easier to work with, it's just that not many developers work with them, but those that do, testify to them being much easier to work with.
About Amlogic, I have no idea.
Nvidia, are really good, but are even worse than MediaTek and Rockchip at releasing kernel sources, so unless it's the same chipset as the Nexus 9, it needs to be out of the question.
But please no BIG.little processors, they are great on paper, however in the real world, while they deliver, they don't deliver even close to what they should, ending up being a waste of money, since the worth:cost ratio is much farther.
moriel5 said:
Did you not see what I had witten about forcing MediaTek to release their kernel sources?
Rockchip also hides many of their kernel sources, and are a pain to work with, (I had to use an ancient computer from over a decade ago, and had to install Windows XP, since it wouldn't work with anything newer).
Allwinner are a solid choice, since they are much more open with their sources, and are much easier to work with, it's just that not many developers work with them, but those that do, testify to them being much easier to work with.
About Amlogic, I have no idea.
Nvidia, are really good, but are even worse than MediaTek and Rockchip at releasing kernel sources, so unless it's the same chipset as the Nexus 9, it needs to be out of the question.
But please no BIG.little processors, they are great on paper, however in the real world, while they deliver, they don't deliver even close to what they should, ending up being a waste of money, since the worth:cost ratio is much farther.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the thing about big little... nowadays with the failure of TV boxes and the slow death of tablets most big company are targeting the phone market.
and big little is mostly for phones ...
but I think the only problem is not targeting the lower end or not using too old than 2 years chips and sometime it is just better to spend a lil more for higher support and better performances.
on Nvidia side almost all chips have been open sourced by Google long time ago.
the tegra x1 in pixel c the tegra 2 3 4 and k1 in nexus tablets... so yea....
tailslol said:
the thing about big little... nowadays with the failure of TV boxes and the slow death of tablets most big company are targeting the phone market.
and big little is mostly for phones ...
but I think the only problem is not targeting the lower end or not using too old than 2 years chips and sometime it is just better to spend a lil more for higher support and better performances.
on Nvidia side almost all chips have been open sourced by Google long time ago.
the tegra x1 in pixel c the tegra 2 3 4 and k1 in nexus tablets... so yea....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah sorry, I had checked it.
And it looks like they have their own code repository now, so things have definitely changed.
RemixOS_Jason said:
For all the developers on this board, what if you had...
a higher powered Mini
AOSP, let's say Marshmallow or better
all the dev tools you'd need to get to work
...what would you, could you dream to develop this computer to do?
TV box? Gaming console? Android PC? Smart home device?
Please share with us your brainstorm ideas on this. Have fun with it and don't think about what's already out on the market... think out of the box, reach for the stars, and all the other cliches you can think of. Please share in the comments below.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would build my own version of Android!
Dual boot as much as possible!
Publish my Project ROC quicker
What about using the mini along with wireless display, and use them as a home security/automation hub? Allowing many apps and already existing "connected" devices like Philips HUE, WiFi Cameras, etc to connect and be configured for automation. Then assigning older android devices to pair and be set in various rooms, to be used as wifi motion detectors.
Well as a developer, I'd improve the way I interact with my devices as an user.
Chromecast and Android Home devices are great but they're not how the future should actually look. In my opinion Google is limiting hardware on those devices to keep prices low and make them impossible to run upcoming software, more powerful software.
Okay let's say we have an AIO device (similar to Android Home) but with a few sets of functionality baked in:
- Network attached Storage: Store all the things you want to share with the family (photos, music, movies...)
- Network attached Storage: Stream whatever is hosted in the box to the "cast enabled devices around the device"
- Network attached Storage: Synced folders between family devices per user request (similar to how resilio sync works)
- Network attached Storage: Remote access for downloads (you're out of home but you start a download that will be waiting for you when you arrive)
- Assistant: Always On Keyword detection
- Assistant: Customized context-aware commands per user inside the network (If John or his devices are not connected to the Wireless network or discoverable through BLE don't suggest content that he might like)
- Assistant: TV as a remote interface of the device with a dashboard, the device microphone as a IO device of the TV.
- Assistant: Device state awareness, notify when battery is low on x device.
BRAINSTORM -- What if Jide actually focused on getting the projects they currently have out working to perfection instead of coming out with new semi broken products?! Then, when everything worked as best as possible, Jide could come out with new stuff that makes the current goodness even better!!!! Wow, what a novel concept!
If i had it, (and if i can), I'll bring the android code and libs to windows,, it's just like WINE on Ubuntu, and isn't like the ancient emulator which is kill my usage
So,, yes... I'll open the play store just when i click it in my windows PC's, installing apk just in Program Files (Android) folder, using linux or android command in cmd (like bash actually) and getting a root access with just allow the UAC
So the whole idea of having a phone that can be put in a dock and used as a computer is really cool, but me and my friend came up with an idea to expand on that. Would it be possible to have both android and Linux on the phone and then have an app/desktop icon to switch operating systems? I know this can be done on other devices. My mate has a chrome book and installed Ubuntu on it. Just a keyboard shortcut will switch operating systems. So would it be possible to do the same thing just on an android device. Hardware wide, there shouldn't be any problems. His chrome book has a cpu that's low spec enough to not have any sort of cooling system/unit whatsoever and only has 4 gigs of ram. Since the ROG phone has a top of the line smartphone processor, an actual cooling unit, and double the ram I don't see why there should be any issues related to the hardware. The thing I'm not so sure about is software issues. From my perspective it should be possible to do something like this, but I'm not at all familiar with software and programming so I wouldn't have any idea if it were possible or not.
Oske829 said:
So the whole idea of having a phone that can be put in a dock and used as a computer is really cool, but me and my friend came up with an idea to expand on that. Would it be possible to have both android and Linux on the phone and then have an app/desktop icon to switch operating systems? I know this can be done on other devices. My mate has a chrome book and installed Ubuntu on it. Just a keyboard shortcut will switch operating systems. So would it be possible to do the same thing just on an android device. Hardware wide, there shouldn't be any problems. His chrome book has a cpu that's low spec enough to not have any sort of cooling system/unit whatsoever and only has 4 gigs of ram. Since the ROG phone has a top of the line smartphone processor, an actual cooling unit, and double the ram I don't see why there should be any issues related to the hardware. The thing I'm not so sure about is software issues. From my perspective it should be possible to do something like this, but I'm not at all familiar with software and programming so I wouldn't have any idea if it were possible or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do it with linux deploy afaik.
Honestly, it would be much better to get a fully OpenSource build running on this hardware, no chroot env, no android kernel, no android libs, no proprietary closed drivers.
Since Asus is going with the ROG branding on this one, maybe they will make source code (drivers, libs etc) available for the the linux hackers in the ROG fan community to build images for it.
There is already a lot of linux use on ROG notebooks and a pretty decent following in the ROG fanbase as it stands but if we can't get a pure OpenSource build, at least a libhybris supported port using LXC and the android kernel as a start.