What's a good, cheap Android phone that I can get for development? - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've been using a Samsung Captivate for a while and I see that it has a ton of dev support, but as it is my main cellular device, I don't want to do anything to mess it up. Instead, I'm trying to look for a good Android device that isn't extremely expensive, maybe $75 and below, that has good dev support and allows me to experiment. One thing I would really love to try is putting Linux on it, or installing Backtrack for aircracking. Let me know what you guys think.

thinhtvu said:
I've been using a Samsung Captivate for a while and I see that it has a ton of dev support, but as it is my main cellular device, I don't want to do anything to mess it up. Instead, I'm trying to look for a good Android device that isn't extremely expensive, maybe $75 and below, that has good dev support and allows me to experiment. One thing I would really love to try is putting Linux on it, or installing Backtrack for aircracking. Let me know what you guys think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Myself I'm pleasantly surprised by Sony and their developer support for the Xperia series. Not only the bootloader is officially unlockable, but they also releases the kernel source code as well as howto's about compiling and building own images. They are also running the standard fastboot protocol allowing both flashing images as well as booting them over USB without the need of flashing. I like not having to be dependent on proprietary protocols and tools for this.
I'm sure there's other manufacturers doing the same as well. Look for unlocked bootloader with full fastboot support if you intent to play around building own images, running GNU/Linux and so. Experimenting with boot images, it's nice if you don't have to re-flash the phone each time you want to test running a new kernel.
And don't forget the AVD emulator included in SDK.

Related

Custom rom development : General Discussions, Problems, Questions

Good news guys!
Jerpelea announced the eminent release of Cyanogen RC2 for the X10.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7370940&postcount=91
So to keep the dev only thread clean, please post your questions, problems or comments here.
Update 2010-07-28:
jerpelea said:
with actual state of spl it boots then crashes
you can play a lil with the new kernel included into package
build 0005
http://hotfile.com/dl/57983756/408a452/0005.rar.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great news and great work by the devs!
I think that this release will be internal i.e. devs only. We never got RC1 so why should we expect RC2?
you got that wrong guys
Froyo is ready in RC2 for X10 this is not equal to : "the bootloader is finally hacked"
So stay calm please
Regards
Bin4ry
Man i got excited for a minute there. Looks like back to waiting.
Sent from my X10i using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk
Damn it!
Still good news that it'll be ready for when it does get hacked.
no more wet dreams.
ill stick it once it gets useful fr all...
its nice to see progress at least, I thought they hit a brick wall a couple days ago as they stopped posting in the dev thread. It may be a while till we see a bootloader hack thats friendly for us but its hard to determine since we're not devs. As I understand it, the actual ROM is partly ready but it'll have a number of bugs etc still and only devs who can actually load it on through manual code will be able to test it out I think. It may be that its actually just a virtual rom to be loaded onto the SDK under the same conditions as the x10 to be tested by the developers. I THINK. As I said I'm not a developer so take my words with a huge grain of salt because I might be completely wrong.
PLS Can we get a little more detailed information.
instigator008 said:
I think that this release will be internal i.e. devs only. We never got RC1 so why should we expect RC2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PLS Can we get a little more detailed information.
If the RC2 will be ready tomorrow then it means that RC1 was launched on the device?
irkkso said:
PLS Can we get a little more detailed information.
If the RC2 will be ready tomorrow then it means that RC1 was launched on the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what is the meaning of rc1 and rc2
RC = Release Candidate
irkkso said:
PLS Can we get a little more detailed information.
If the RC2 will be ready tomorrow then it means that RC1 was launched on the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No no no... you got it all wrong.
RC2 is the latest release of CyanogenMod and work has been carried out on this to "Port" it over to the x10. There wasnt any point in working on RC1 if CM RC2 was out.
rc = release candidate
a software enters rc usually after testing phase(alpha-beta-etc...)....
j4mm3r said:
Good news guys!
Jerpelea announced the eminent release of Cyanogen RC2 for the X10.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7370940&postcount=91
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So Jerpelea made a edit on the post... which is something pretty much expected as the bootloader is not cracked. So my guess is that this is going to use the spl loader module to boot into the CM kernel which has been ported for X10? Just a guess...
Can somebody explain to people like me who are new on android what does the cyanogen mod, is it just a firmware ?
What is called "kernel" in android and is it "modable" and if yes, why would it be ?
The answers...
Vilam said:
Can somebody explain to people like me who are new on android what does the cyanogen mod, is it just a firmware ?
What is called "kernel" in android and is it "modable" and if yes, why would it be ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Vilam, those are interesting questions, let me see if I can address those to your satisfaction.
The term "firmware" being distinct from "software", in my view is rapidly loosing its ability to be distinguishable from the latter. Essentially it refers to those parts of the executable code on a computing machine which remains unmodifiable or rather "burned in" to the circuitry. With the advent of modern flash memory storage, which is rather malleable compared to the earlier variants which existed, it is rather easy to change and update the machine code which is stored therein.
In other words, you might still refer to firmware to be part of the "software" which runs on a computing device which is not modifiable at run-time. In terms of a smart phone (which are rapidly becoming general purpose computing devices anyways), the firmware forms the basis of the software execution environment which affords the so called "apps" to run and provide either ever so innovative and useful functions.
Coming around to the point about Cyanogen mod... its a combination of firmware and software (if you still want to make that distinction that is). It in conjunction with helper pieces of code like the bootloader et. all. can completely replace the components that your phone was originally shipped with. Since these are Android phones that we are talking about, Cyanogen is derived from the same code base that Google officially uses for their various releases of Android. It is important to note that Android is a mobile application and phone platform rather than something which can easily be classified as "firmware" or "software"
Next question of yours about the "kernel". Not knowing what your level of familiarity of Linux or its derivatives is... let just say that Android is essentially like a distribution (or distro) of Linux designed specifically to run on mobile devices. As is the case with other Linux distros, they are formed around a core known as the "kernel". The "kernel" forms the core of the operating system which provides a homogeneous execution environment for the execution of various applications, which are in-turn pieces of software which are designed to provide the functionality which can be useful to the end-user. So all the so-called "apps" require the kernel to provide some services which are abstracted out enough so that the application programmer does not need to care about the really really low level stuff that actually has to go down if you actually want your device to do something. Hence the application programmer concentrates on the "high level" stuff, which is the functions that are actually going to be useful to the end-user!!
Like all modern computing platform, Android is a layered architecture and the "kernel" forms one of the most inner most parts of it (hence the name "kernel").
The linux kernel running Android for the X10 is already modifiable. People have been successful in compiling software modules called "kernel modules" which can be added to a running kernel and add functionality to it (this of course requires super user privileges or "root" access on the phone).
With the future pointing towards the capability of running mods like Cyanogen and the likes, the possibilities of modding and hacking are endless. Cyanogen, like the original releases of Android from Google are completely open source, so one can tweak almost all aspects of the phone functions. The possibilities are only limited by ones own imagination.
PS: I think I had too much beer and it makes me practice my English composition skills... hic!
Thank you very much for this clear explaination !
Please let me explain in newbie wordings. This is for ppl who can't understand what's going on at all.
1. A firmware likes an OS, if not exactly is. Windows, Linux, DOS, OS X are all OS. In android phone, there is merely one OS, which is Android.
2. Android is Linux.
3. Linux has a kernel, which is the main program. Without this, your machine can't run. On top of kernel, there is other software (movie player/web browser). Kernel + other software = distro (distribution).
4. Windows has different distro like Home, Professional, Ultimate... Linux has also different distro, so does android. One of them is CyanogenMod. The other could be Xperia X10 original.
5. Android is open source, so everyone can mod it. But that does also means someone can remove functions from it, one of them is Sony Ericsson, which locks your Xperia X10 for professional use.
6. While it is easy for us to upgrade Windows XP to Windows 7. It is difficult to install OS X from Windows XP. This is the same case for Android, it is easy to upgrade our Xperia X10, but it is not that easy to install CyanogenMod. There are honorable person working on this issue.
7. Why CyanogenMod? Because it is faster or it does not lock function like original Sony distro.
8. Just like installing OS X on regular PC, installing CyanogenMod may brick your machine. Much worse, Sony will definitely don't get your X10 repaired. So think if you need that extra function.

[DEV] Port Maemo / MeeGo

http://repo.meego.com/MeeGo/releases/1.0/core/images/meego-n900-open-armv7l/
My idea is to use the current effort to run Ubuntu/Debian on the phone as a method to get MeeGo running on the phone as well (Maemo should be similar). What we'd need to achieve is to get an .img of MeeGo/Maemo as we do Debian/Ubuntu. Driver issues (If present) should be rectifiable by porting over some of the Debian/Ubuntu ARM drivers.
I personally think it won't be too hard.
You compile it with the right GCC, fix any possible errors, then add an android kernel (hoping the API doesn't change, which is a longshot and probably the biggest obstacle). After that is set up we move everything to their appropriate partition, fix the path, and it really aught to work then.
i have no idea how to and how hard, but i think if people can port Android to iPhone , so this wont be something impossile
I would absolutely LOVE for this to come true. I've been frustrated with my gma500 netbook, since I can't run Meego, or even Moblin. This seems like it would be fun to run on the n1.
Should we start a bounty, I would be willing to put money up for this, dual booting two open source systems would be great.
Same here! $5 from me for the person who gets it to boot!
Finally! I've waited for someone to take up this work!
Not that I could be of any help, but I appreciate your efforts and hope for your success!
Good look!
Will be working on this. I don't think I want to flash it instead of Android and as a chroot it'll be more compatible (among ARM7 at least for now..) with other phones. Been barely successful with my old ATT Tilt w/1MB of RAM I gotta see what a Nexus can do =D
dictionary said:
I would absolutely LOVE for this to come true. I've been frustrated with my gma500 netbook, since I can't run Meego, or even Moblin. This seems like it would be fun to run on the n1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know that the recently released Intel EMGD drivers work on Maemo? Since they are a binary blob even worse than the PSB drivers, they won't work on (k)ubuntu, only on Maemo and Fedora 11.
i'm hazy on how we got fb support on kaiser/vogue but they're msm7k boards as well. i could be wrong but i believe team douche already has it built in. i did a lot of trial and error today to get a chrooted x-server to override android's display. i'm not sure how to get the hardware support because i fail at it and thought it would be easier to hybridize maemo over android at least for testing.
i'm all about getting this to work but irc is tedious so if anyone is actively working on it, i'm down for the cause.
I plan on, when I get time, starting my attempts. It would be much easier if I could see the basic layout of the system, but I'm so inexperienced that I don't know where to start. I have a basic idea what to do with the source once I get it, but most of my assumptions rely in part on what I can find out.
it's basically ARM Ubuntu w/a ton of customized UI but a basic Debian based distro nonetheless which is why I <3 it so much.
Well, I guess it won't be too bad then, I personally was hoping for something that was update.zip capable, and a few simlinks might just do the trick.
The key questions I can think of so far are: how are the files are laid out, how does the window server interact with the kernel, what modules will be essential, how does the phone interface with the radio, minutiae like that.
The main road block I see is that we have still not yet been able to run anything outside of virtualization. I'm not sure how the boot process works outside of running an Android build, but a pure solution would be needed for best results.
yes we can:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=631389
who wanna help me
I'm in. I found out something interesting yesterday, the Adreno 200 2D framebuffer is a standard kernel interface. So, if 3d acceleration isn't a priority, we shouldn't even have to port the windowserver. Heck, I'm pretty sure we won't have to port anything.
I guess I'm going to look at the source for debootstrap and see what hints I can gleam from it though.
what do you need from debootstrap- it just pulls down the system image but we have meego's already.
here's what we have so far to play with, where to start?
custom dual/tri boot recovery image we'll need to avoid fastbooting the kernel:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=5521417&postcount=5
i'd like to mix this into amon's or clockwork mod source with a text file on the SD card to configure kernel parameters
how to boot debian/ubuntu which we'd swap for meego's system:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=631389
should handle enough to fully boot this thing
including his premade zImage you can mess with if you suck at compiling:
http://irregular-expression.com/tmp/zImage
meego's system as linked in the OP:
http://repo.meego.com/MeeGo/releases/1.0/core/images/meego-n900-open-armv7l/
no gsm, no audio, crappy fb based x11 w/o drivers.
What system image are you using and how are you unpacking it? I'm not too worried about drivers, as with GSM I'm pretty sure that the API is either already set up as we need it or configurable. People on debian were getting texts to send at one point if memory serve
meego-n900-open-armv7l-1.0.0.20100525.1-sda.raw.bz2
should be the one. i believe it's an ext3 partition but haven't looked at it yet as i was looking into the debian thing. i mean gsm support for our boards which should be okay if we branch off of cyanogenmod's or similar. and if i'm right then "okay" means "complete support."
let me be more specific:
http://wiki.meego.com/ARM
and if you look at the MSM link it references a repost of the debian guide as well..
adapt these instructions for working with the image on your desktop:
http://wiki.meego.com/ARM/N900/Install/MMC
and as further motivation, remember when the N900 got x86 WINE via a statically compiled ARM QEMU binary within a x86 chroot? with an x-server we don't have the ****ty VNC fail we've currently had. we could truly run x86 chrooted software (or anything in a chroot like hot-swappable desktop distros) and connect to the host (maemo's) display. and the possibilities with xephyr nested x-servers.
Well, great news on that front too, they use X.org by the looks of it. There's a 3d acceleration driver under development for it. I'm going to try first with a SD card install, as weaving around the wacky partition format is annoying. It'll be a few hours until I'm using an x86 system though to compile the kernel. By the looks of it, the kernel has to be custom in order to use an initramfs partition.

[Q] [OPINION CHECK] VERY VERY Fundamental FLAW in Secure boot chain -TODO or NOT do

>>>> 22Jan2012: linboothkvc v1.0 source released in my linboothkvc thread. It works successfully on Omap3 and Omap4 based devices including NookTab. And with minimal changes/love can work with any rooted arm based linux device <<<<
>>>> 17Jan2012: Kernel module SUCCEEDS on NookTab to reboot into NIRVANA - NO NEED to BREAK the default SECURE BOOT CHAIN and NOTE THAT EVEN THIS CAN WORK ON ANY ROOTED DEVICE and not just NT, with minimal love so ENJOY <<<<
>>>> 16Jan2012: My kernel module based path (linboothkvc) to running custom kernels and roms is almost done, except for a __small part__ to get it running on NT now - IF ONLY PEOPLE HAD WAITED ...., we could have reaped the potential benefit in future, Why not !!!! why not ....WHY NOT !?!?. NOTE that it can allow one to run custom kernel/roms WITH OUT MODIFYING ANY CRITICAL PARTITIONS provided one sets it up properly/appropriately. Source for beta version available in my linboothkvc thread, for the interested developers/experimenters for now ... <<<<
>>>> I may not respond to the posts on this thread currently, because I am trying to get a alternate option called linboothkvc using kernel modules up and running (which will occupy my free time), which AVOIDS the NEED for this flaw in the first place for most of the people out there (i.e Custom ROMS with different kernels). However over the weekends, I will go thro all the posts on this thread <<<<
>>>> 14Jan2012: Initial pre-alpha version of kernel module path based source code uploaded to my linboothkvc thread for those still interested to experiment
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1427610
<<<<
Hi All,
If you have been following my posts over the last few days
NOTE: To people frustrated with UART requirement - I understand the restrictions of UART access, but a lot of ROMS can be done with 2ndihkvc or equivalent methods and with out needing a Custom kernel. If someone is talking about Custom/New kernel for Android 4.0 (ICS). Then do note my statement (in NOP BYPASS thread) on POWER of KERNEL MODULES in Linux, IT CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE what you want to achieve, only that it requires bit more effort, which I or some one else has not put currently... thats all. AND THAT By holding off now, we can _potentially_(Risk is always there) reap the benifit with next years NEXT GEN Nook Tab+ or what ever they call it.
a) I have implemented 2ndihkvc, which follows the same fundamental concept as 2nd-init, but achieves it in a simpler way (Needed because some of the calls used in original 2nd-init doesn't work on NookTab, or have unnecessary dependencies (in this given context, otherwise they are good in them selves) which can be avoided with my simpler method)
b) I have provided the NOP Bypass method of running a modified Ramdisk and also 90% a modified kernel, provided UART access is there.
c) There is still the power of linux KERNEL MODULES to EXPLOIT. (Haven't had time on that yet).
If you ask me, this should cover all category of people. Be it people who want to run custom Roms, or people who want to experiment with Kernel and or other low level stuff for the fun of it.
There is a 4th method which will allow one to achieve (b) above with out requiring UART access or even uSD (potentially . If one reads between the lines from all my posts till date, the answer is hidden in there. Only that I haven't spelt it out directly or in the face. The reason is because It is a fundament flaw (rather there are potentially two at two different levels - one relatively simple and one relatively bit more involved - One I know for sure, another I have to dig bit more) in the way things are done currently in the secure boot chain on this device as well as potentially other devices with same or similar SOC (and or different SOC but with similar boot chain s/w components.
SHOULD WE BE WASTING i.e providing a solution which uses it, when there is already 2ndihkvc and NOP Bypass over UART and also the Linux KERNLE MODULE ROUTE to cater to most peoples needs.
Because if we do, then even the Device manufacturers and their partners will come to know about it and can easily fix it in their Newer/NextGen devices. While if we withhold it for now, we may be able to get access to it on their Next generation Devices with hopefully Arm A15 core or .... (NOTE: Depending on the boot sequence ROOT access may or may not be required for this).
The reason I am asking now is because, few people are asking my help on certain things and the reality is I know that the concept for which they want my inputs/guidance, can be applied at a more fundamental level here (or even at the same level), but that I have not ventured into it because of my delimma above.
NOTE: People who wanted my inputs/guidance wrt uSD, you all know who you are, I know the flaw to achieve what you want to achieve, but it is more powerful than what you all are currently thinking of doing/ ristricting yourselves to (You all have one input/... in there wrt devices . Unless let me think thro further and see if something can be done differently, with out exposing the flaw I have in mind to help you achieve what you want, otherwise i.e if there is nothing else I can come up with, and in turn if you people experiment further and are able to come up with the solution on your own, I would suggest that hold off on it for few days, think thro all the implications keeping what I have mentioned in this thread, and then take a call one way or the other.
Please provide your thoughts on this after thinking thro the options already available on NookTab (root access, kernel modules, UART UBoot access and inturn 2ndihkvc and NOP Bypass or equivalents)
Based on all the feedbacks as well as bit more thinking from my side, I will take a call on this.
Forum moderators I know this is the development portion of the forum, but I wanted feedback from Developers also that is the reason why I have posted here. But beyond that I leave it to you, whether you want this to continue here or move it out.
UART access is not sufficient, as it is required during every reboot of the device if we wanted to have a custom kernel and ROM. This is simply an unacceptable state of affairs. (Say, my tablet turns off while on holiday, or at the airport. What then am I to do? Let is sit and wait off until I can get back home to my UART equipment in order to reboot?
The idea that the UART work around is sufficient is a nice one, however it is wrong.
---
Oh also, it's just a matter of time before they patch the u-boot in the Nook Tablet anyways... so it's not like this UART method is going to stick around forever anyways.
cfoesch said:
UART access is not sufficient, as it is required during every reboot of the device if we wanted to have a custom kernel and ROM. This is simply an unacceptable state of affairs. (Say, my tablet turns off while on holiday, or at the airport. What then am I to do? Let is sit and wait off until I can get back home to my UART equipment in order to reboot?
The idea that the UART work around is sufficient is a nice one, however it is wrong.
---
Oh also, it's just a matter of time before they patch the u-boot in the Nook Tablet anyways... so it's not like this UART method is going to stick around forever anyways.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I understand the restrictions of UART access, but a lot of ROMS can be done with 2ndihkvc or equivalent methods and with out needing a Custom kernel. If someone is talking about Custom/New kernel for Android 4.0 (ICS). Then note my statement (in NOP BYPASS thread) on POWER of KERNEL MODULES in Linux, IT CAN BE USED TO ACHIEVE what you want to achieve, only that it requires bit more effort, which I or some one else has not put currently... thats all.
By holding off now, we can potentially reap the benifit with next years Nook Tab+ or what ever they call it.
Im not a Developer but I've got a few questions. NOP requires to open up your device, so I think probably 95% won't open their device for ICS and I think since the device had a dual core CPU we should get ICS roms. Now my actual question how does your 2init work or how do you install it on our device? But great work so far keep on.
Sent from my SGH-T989
Just out the flaw now. Someone else might reveal it and you won't get the credit.
Don't you want a Wikipedia entry saying that you found this flaw? lol.
PM me about the flaw, I'll see if we should have it outed yet or not (sorry guys, but if it's a decent exploitable flaw and we have other methods, I'm pretty sure I'm with hkvc on it.)
xdahgary said:
Just out the flaw now. Someone else might reveal it and you won't get the credit.
Don't you want a Wikipedia entry saying that you found this flaw? lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not worried for 2 reasons,
a) It doesn't bother if my name comes or not. I am exploring just for the fun of exploring.
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
b) Actually I have already revealed the flaw in my NOP Bypass thread, indirectly, if only, one reads carefully all my lines as well as between them. Only that I have just replaced one or two of the steps with a different steps thats all for now.
If someone else find the same flaw, he will realise the same, if he reads my posts once again with his new knowledge.
What an awesome idea, we can have a root for the Nook Tablet+ or whatever else in a years time!
...
So, um... what do I do now with my Nook Tablet? It's a piece of garbage now, I guess, so, I'll just return it since it's still within the Holiday return period? I suppose I'll just have to wait for the Nook Tablet+ to have a custom ROM running on my Nook... ("But you can UART hack it!" ... *sigh* I've already explain that that is not sufficient. The UART hack is a stop gap, and should only be stopped at if that is the absolute only option available.)
And I mean no disrespect to xIndirect, but why should he be the lone gatekeeper of what exploits and hacks are out there for the Nook Tablet? I would rather see this exploit before making a decision as well, but I don't think it fair that someone should have privileged access to the exploit. Either release it to everyone or DON'T SAY ANYTHING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
cfoesch, I have no plans to be using the exploit shown for myself. I am not going to be the "lone gatekeeper" I just want to know what it is before I give my full opinion. Chill.
Motorola Defy was locked bootloader too, may be to try and run port Defy bootmenu for Nook Tablet?
source: github.com/CyanogenDefy/android_external_bootmenu
Indirect said:
cfoesch, I have no plans to be using the exploit shown for myself. I am not going to be the "lone gatekeeper" I just want to know what it is before I give my full opinion. Chill.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you buy a plot of land and the seller has accidentally left seeds there and isn't coming back for them, do you grow a garden on your current plot of land, or do you decide not to plant them and hope that the next time you buy a plot of land they might forget some seeds again?
I would rather tend the garden I own than hope for a better plot of land with seeds I may never have.
Cheers!
-M
XDA member since 2007
Sorry if my post is offtopic, I just want to help with development.
My SE Xperia x10 came worh a locked bootloader and devs figured out how to make a bootable recovery (xrecovery) based on CWM, may be with an adaptation for the NT we can get the world of custom roms, even with locked bootloader this crappy phone got cuatom kernels by bypassing the bootloader, hope this give little ligth to you guys the real Developers.
If this post is garbage mods please delate it.
Sent from my BNTV250 using xda premium
Hello, I beleive if there is a software way to get ICS + maybe overclocking it should be tried first as this IS what most people are waiting for. That's the big dream they got. If someone knows how to implement that, then please by all means do so ..
P.S. you said so much where to look for the flaw in your posts that if I was a programmer from B&N I'd know where to look like everybody else. Assuming they are not complete morons they can already figure it out too. Can they plug the hole or not? Is it oversight or permanent design flaw ? We'll see. Best way to keep a secret is to " keep it secret " , ie not talk about it at all. Especially if soft mod ICS, hw acceleration and overclocking already available.
Sent from my LG-P500 using Much Love
First of all hkvc +1 for your efforts.
I voted yes, the NT developers can read between the lines in your posts as well.
Whats life without risks once in a while
Hi All,
I understand very well that even BN devs will be looking and potentially can figure out and fix it. That is the risk, but at one level I don't mind taking the risk and see if it works out to my/our advantage (i.e the bug being still open in a new device (From BN or any other Vendor)) or disadvantage(the bug is either way fixed).
Also the flaw can affect ANY DEVICE (Not just NOOK TAB) using similar secure boot chain not just NookTab, that is also one reason why I am bit wary of releasing the info or a implementation which uses it just like that.
I will share my finding with few people on the forum/outside in few days time so that even If I loose interest in this, there will be few people with the required knowledge (i.e if they haven't already figured out on their own by then (and released something or not ...)).
Also I haven't taken a final call on this yet. I am in a delima, so getting all your opinions also before I decide.
Time permitting I will also attack/explore the KERNEL MODULE PATH in a few days time, so that people don't have to depend on this flaw in the first place, but use the wonderful world of Linux Kernel Modules to achieve what they want.
LexS007 said:
Motorola Defy was locked bootloader too, may be to try and run port Defy bootmenu for Nook Tablet?
source: github.com/CyanogenDefy/android_external_bootmenu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
With my modified 2nd-init (2ndihkvc), you can run bootmenu or any other user space mechanisms already on NookTab
absolutely YES, we r all xdaers, right hehehe. Thanks all devs especially hkvc for the efforts
hkvc said:
Hi,
With my modified 2nd-init (2ndihkvc), you can run bootmenu or any other user space mechanisms already on NookTab
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's very good. Thanks!!!
First off, not a dev but read religiously.
2nd, release it if the people who would take advantage of it agree. The rest of us say "great,woohoo!" But I must admit, I can't take advantage of it. But I certainly don't want to make a hardware uart to boot custom roms.
That being said, if its more complicated to install with a different method, that's fine. As long as it doesn't include a soldering iron.
But if it were easier to make a custom rom, or open up more capabilities of the kernal or whathaveyou, well that would attract more developers to make roms, etc. and so on and so forth.
Btw. Yes, exploit may exist if outedin a later tablet, but you found this one.... I have faith the next flaw will be found in the next one too.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Posted from my B&N Nook Tablet... rooted of course!
jotekman said:
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say this summarizes everything I want to say on the topic.

[SOLVED] Native linux on Android?

Sorry first off I'm not sure if this is the right forum. Was thinking developers but there was an ominous warning at the top of that one so I decided not to take the chance.
The question is can Linux be installed on an Android based device natively? I'm aware of chroot enviroments and have done those. I also found this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=981688 which is slightly cooler but it's still an AUFS based chroot mount. I found the same question asked here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1272964 but there was no answer and I didn't want to zombie the thread. Google searches didn't turn up anything useful either.
While I'm thinking the question is fairly device agnostic my device is a Droid 2 Global. I'm getting ready to replace it soon but I'm thinking it might make a nice little embedded system. From what I've read about my device in particular it's got some type of "lock" that disallows the use of other kernels but I am not afraid of recompiling the kernel for my device with additional needed modules for file systems or whatever. I have done this in the past.
I'm not super picky on the distro, but given a choice I guess I'd go with Debian (hardly ever changes so I can just check for security updates once a week or so and otherwise forget about it).
I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to answer this directly as I'm sure it'd be a novel. I'm more hoping someone might have a link to a guide or something that I just completely failed to locate.
So I kept digging and I found this: http www dot htc-linux.org forwardslash wiki forwardslash index.php. As the link suggests it's focused towards HTC devices but between it and some other links on there I think I can work with it.
I'll mark the thread as [SOLVED], but since it ended up being fairly useless (sorry) go ahead and delete if it amuses you to do so, any passing admin.
Ubuntu is coming out with an official version for Android soon.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW
I Am Marino said:
Ubuntu is coming out with an official version for Android soon.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is probably your best answer. The Ubuntu build that runs on top of Android for webtop/lapdock purposes is running from the same kernel as Android is according to what I've heard. They will be providing the source so we'll see what the community can do with it.
It is possible on some Android devices, such as the Transformer and Desire.
But the Droid 2 Global, having a locked bootloader and the inability to install custom kernels, is not able to use native Linux.
If you want an Android device that is able to use native Linux do some research to find the one that fits you best.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
have you seen this? interestiong reading...
http://whiteboard.ping.se/Android/Debian
Itbelikedat said:
have you seen this? interestiong reading...
http://whiteboard.ping.se/Android/Debian
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried it a small time ago. Everything works but zygote and its forks fail to start, perhaps due to mount namespaces implementation on Android, but I'm not sure. Seeking a way out for this but not successful so far due to lack of knowledge.

No Custom ROM for the Surface Duo ?

Hi,
When I read the questions and guides, it seems the Surface Duo can be unlocked and rooted pretty easily.
So I was wondering why there is no custom ROM for this device which is, by all means, not perfect (it has a lot of flaws) but that I consider as at least a refreshing attempt to dig out of the "one glass rectangle touch screen" that we're now used to for years.
Is it beacause there's no love for the device ?
Or is it because Microsoft released absolutely no sources for the internal hardware ?
If there's anyone willing to try, I can offer build server to do it...
And contacts in a community to help iron out problems...
Regards.
Microsoft has indeed released the sources of the internal hardware, or, at the very least, some of it. I don't really know how to determine whether or not all of the drivers are included with the kernel source code. But they do have this kernel source code hosted on GitHub, under a combination of MIT, Apache, and GPL licensing, as well as full instructions on how to build the kernel. The instructions are located at microsoft/surface-duo-oss, and the scripts end up downloading from other microsoft/surface-duo-oss-* repositories. I've not actually tried to build this myself, and I'm not sure what you actually end up with afterwards, whether it is just a kernel, or if it also includes AOSP, and whether or not this can be included in the process of generating another distribution such as Lineage. But, I think this should at least be some information that can be used to at least start the process assuming anyone with existing experience is interested in starting this.
I have seen it expressed elsewhere that one reason people have not created a custom ROM is that android 10 does not have native support for multiscreen devices, while android 11 does. Meanwhile, Microsoft has only released android 10 for the device, and this includes the surface-duo-oss scripts as well, but that there is plans here soon (late September) by Microsoft release android 11 for the Surface Duo.
Fingers crossed! Looking forward to a robust desktop mode and multiple external monitor support like the regular Surface Pro does
Basically a phone that acts like a Surface PC when you dock at home or at work so you can actually work from the device like a normal Surface laptop and then fold and put it in our pockets when we're done working
I know this is an older post but I sure wish someone would go ahead and give me the dummy guide to flash their custom rom!! If anyone needs a duo that thinks they can make it happen I have a spare one..... The left screen is glitching in and out tho.

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