Tagged: android
Installed Ice Cream Sandwich this morning on my G2x! Its a first build from Eagles Blood, which is based from CM Source. I've been running their GingerBread roms for a few months and... aside from a bug that locks the phone sometime in the middle of the night and I end up pulling the battery in the morning... I really love the ROM. So... when I saw they had a ICS release... I went for it.
So far, its awesome!
October 1, 2011 Posted by mitch |
android, G2x |
I said I was going to write about my experiences with this... and never came back to it. I've been running custom ROM's since my first post about rooting my G2x. However, I honestly was a little unsure about the whole process so I didn't want to write about the other bits. I went back through and upgraded ClockWorkMod Recovery again, this time it was a little less unnerving so, I will write down my steps here.
First... I'm following bits from this xda thread
I downloaded the rar file and pulled out the bits needed for ClockWorkMod (CWM) 5.0.2.0, so I could flash it from linux. I originally had a script that I used to flash this... my appologies I don't remember where, nor do I want to claim it as my own... I will include it however at the bottom of this post. Anyway, here goes. After grabbing the files above and the nvflash bin and a script, I put all of this in a CWM-5.0.2 directory
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/CWM-5.0.2$ ls -l
total 5008
-rw-r--r-- 1 mitch mitch 3563520 2011-09-06 20:58 CWM-5020.img
-rw-r--r-- 1 mitch mitch 4080 2011-04-21 00:40 E1108_Hynix_512MB_H8TBR00U0MLR-0DM_300MHz_final_emmc_x8.bct
-rw-r--r-- 1 mitch mitch 1024992 2011-04-21 12:00 fastboot.bin
-rwxr-xr-x 1 mitch mitch 125 2011-10-01 15:59 flash-recovery.sh
-rwxr-xr-x 1 mitch mitch 526131 2011-10-01 15:58 nvflash
Before running the script, you need to connect your phone, follow these steps:
- pull the battery on my phone
- plug USB cable in laptop
- Hold Volume Up AND Volume Down
- *WHILE* holding #3, plug in USB to phone
This should result in a PCI connection to your phone... Your phone will not do anything.
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/CWM-5.0.2$ lspci
....
15:00.2 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 21)
15:00.4 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 11)
15:00.5 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 11)
From there, you run the flash-recovery.sh script.
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/CWM-5.0.2$ ./flash-recovery.sh
Nvflash started
rcm version 0X20001
System Information:
chip name: unknown
chip id: 0x20 major: 1 minor: 3
chip sku: 0xf
chip uid: 0x02884207417fe4d7
macrovision: disabled
hdcp: enabled
sbk burned: false
dk burned: false
boot device: emmc
operating mode: 3
device config strap: 0
device config fuse: 17
sdram config strap: 0
downloading bootloader -- load address: 0x108000 entry point: 0x108000
sending file: fastboot.bin
/ 1024992/1024992 bytes sent
fastboot.bin sent successfully
waiting for bootloader to initialize
bootloader downloaded successfully
sending file: CWM-5020.img
| 3563520/3563520 bytes sent
CWM-5020.img sent successfully
At this point... you phone will be showing a "software upgrade is in progress" screen...
even after it completes... the above output took around 15 seconds to play out... and they say you can
unplug right after this.. I left it pluged in for another 30 seconds... cause it makes me nervous... (probably
unfounded...)
Download files here
Since my only desktop is my work Lenovo ThinkPad running Ubuntu 11.04, and the bulk of the articles out there reference Windows... I did find a few articles articulating how to root the T-Mobile G2x, but I thought I'd do a full write up here over what exactly I did to root my G2x and will do a followup with flashing a CyanogenMod Nightly to it as well.
First, I downloaded the latest Android SDK from Google
I extracted the tarball and renamed it to androidsdk in my home directory:
$ tar -zxvf Downloads/android-sdk_r11-linux_x86.tgz
$ mv android-sdk-linux_x86 androidsdk
I then added the following to my .bashrc file and load it into your environment variables
$ export PATH=${PATH}:$HOME/androidsdk/tools:$HOME/androidsdk/platform-tools
$ source .bashrc
The directory, platform-tools, will not exist yet, and you will need to download the Android SDK Platform-tools. To do this, you will run the command
$ android
This will startup a GUI, click Available packages -> Android Repository -> Android SDK Platform-tools, revision 5 (Revision may be updated... this was the version when I did this)
Click Install Selected wait till finished and close.
Now, we need to update udev to setup the proper device permissions for when we connect our phone.
$ sudo echo 'SUBSYSTEM=="usb", SYSFS{idVendor}=="1004", MODE="0666"' >> /etc/udev/rules.d/51-android.rules
the idVendor string is unique per manufacturer, there is a list of them on Android Development here, But I've used the LG one here, since they're the maker of the G2x.
Then you need to restart udev
$ sudo service udev restart
Now... we're almost done. I first attempted to use the SuperOneClick root... which wasn't working for me. I then found a shell script that was a simple root to... thought I'd give it a go, and it worked easily, which can be downloaded on xda
I will note that... at this point, you should be able to connect your phone via USB, turn on USB Debug Mode. Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging. Then run: adb devices. Should return this... or something similar at least... not sure what the hex number is... serial#?
$ adb devices
List of devices attached
02884207417fe4d7 device
After Downloading the G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5.zip and unzipping it.
mitch@kraven:~$ mkdir g2xroot
mitch@kraven:~$ cd g2xroot/
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot$ unzip ../Downloads/G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5.zip
Archive: ../Downloads/G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5.zip
creating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/
creating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/adb_linux
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/adb_mac
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/busybox
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/psneuter
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/shared.sh
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/su
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/files/Superuser.apk
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/Readme.txt
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/root.command
inflating: G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/unroot.command
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot$ ls
G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot$ cd G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5/
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5$ ls
files Readme.txt root.command unroot.command
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5$ less Readme.txt
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5$ ./root.command
Checking for connected device...
Pushing temporary root exploint (psneuter) to device...
1262 KB/s (585731 bytes in 0.453s)
Running psneuter on device...
property service neutered.
killing adbd. (should restart in a second or two)
Waiting for device...
Remounting /system read/write...
remount succeeded
Pushing su to /system/bin/su...
635 KB/s (26324 bytes in 0.040s)
Pushing busybox to /system/bin/busybox...
1253 KB/s (1062992 bytes in 0.827s)
Installing Superuser.apk android application...
1283 KB/s (196521 bytes in 0.149s)
Removing psneuter from device...
Rebooting device...
Once device has rebooted you should be rooted.
Press Enter when you're ready to quit:
mitch@kraven:~/g2xroot/G2xRootMacLinux_v0.5$
And that was it. Phone is rooted.
Many Thanks to jnichols959 for the scripts!
Next up CyanogenMod Nightly
Given my recent posts about how much I hate my Cliq and Motorola for dragging their ass over their stupid motoBlur interface.
I've come across a blog entry questioning the viability of Android should Apple do what they probably will eventually... and release their iPhone to all carriers. Which was then followed up because of people clamouring that they like Android because its "open"
To which I would say I agree on his points. However, I do think he places most of his blame on how un-Open Android is on the Carriers... While in my mind... some of the things that AT&T have done to the HTC phone he mentioned and the V-Cast stuff Verizon more than likely will do as he said. After having a Motorola Cliq since launch and not seeing ONE update to Android since its release (which was ALREADY DATED). I would say that the bulk of the phones that you see running the latest releases of android are the ones running the stock android build. So, while I agree that the Carriers do their part in screwing up Android phones and keeping locked down, I think the phone makers are taking their little pieces of this as well. They seem to think that they need to differentiate themselves though both the phone and OS. That thought... to me, says they never understood what Android is all about... its supposed to make it so all they need to do is make the OS run on some awesomely designed hardware and then sell it... no more having to custom develop all these High End software features for their phones... just make the hardware and release. Leave the OS design aspects to Google, and anyone else who gets involved in the Software side of things. My next phone... the G2. Why... Vanilla Android! the Android Experience (aka Nexus One esq.) WITH A KEYBOARD! On a side note... which phone officially had Froyo pushed to it? oh, right... the Nexus One! Suck it Moto! I hate you.
I've read about my last delay for Cliq updates. It seems your only really worried about selling new phones and not supporting the users that bought your other phones. Considering the Droid X already has 2.1 with the infamous MotoBlur interface... whats taking so long for the Cliq? I can say that the HTC Vision looks mighty tempting considering my Cliq is approaching 1 year old and not a single android update! NOT ONE! It had an old android release on it when it was released, and its a dinosaur now. So... as a customer... Moto, you lost me.
I've had the Motorola Cliq since the day it was released... and well... its "ok" I would say over all. Hardware wise I would say its great. I just really don't like their software choices for Android and, well I don't like the motoblur interface... why will they not let me change it? I understand fully why I can't remove the apps I don't use, because they're part of MotoBlur. However, why does that mean I'm forced to root it to get a plain Android build on the phone? Why not provide the option Motorola? WHY?!!!
Anyway, since it is Android... it is only time before we have it rooted, and as such, I'm linking to boost up the site that wants what I do... and most android owners want... FREEDOM! Anyway, http://cliq-development.com Check it out if your in the same boat as me.
So... I've been wanting a new phone for a while... and I want an Android based phone. After seeing the G1, while I believe its nice... its not worth the move just yet... But after seeing the announcement from Samsung that they will be releasing sometime in Q2 of 2009.
Its rumoured to resemble the Samsung Omnia... which from the looks of it: I love it.
[caption id="attachment_328" align="alignnone" width="150" caption="Sweet Looking Phone"]
[/caption]
I have AT&T and a first gen iPhone... and I want a G1.
Because of AT&T's brilliant use of contracts... that I didn't know I'd be agreeing to... but none the less... my used iPhone automatically extended my plan by 2 years... I'm stuck paying to get out of it or, just get an unlocked phone and use it on AT&T's network. Some will complain that using an unlocked G1 on AT&T's network is dumb... I disagree... and let me tell you why.
It is true that the 3G network will not work with the G1 on AT&T, and the reason is purely technical (not a software/vendor restriction). T-Mobile's 3G network runs in the 1.7Ghz and 2.1Ghz ranges... Where AT&T's 3G runs in the 1.9Ghz range. For a phone to work on both 3G networks, it would need a radio able to talk on all of those frequencies. Not typical of a cell phone.. as that adds to cost.
So, yes I'm saying I would like to have a G1 on the old slower EDGE network. I figure, why not... that's what I have currently, and while painful when I'm out and about... Its not that bad, and the WiFi abilities are nice and are around in placed I usually roam.
Why would I be willing to put up with it when I have an iPhone? Well... if you knew me, you'd know I only use a Linux Laptop, and iTunes, being windows/mac only.. is lame anyway you look at it. I also don't like the fact that they lock down the rigntones... I loved my Sony Ericsson because I could just bluetooth transfer my mp3 ringtones (self made) from my laptop, as well as txt documents and notes I would need while out. Sadly, these two options are the things I miss most and I'm willing to give up my iphone for.
I do like the email and web browsing of the iPhone, but thats not enough to keep me a satisfied customer.
September 14, 2008 Posted by mitch |
android |
It would appear the financial types still don't get open source... after all these years. After reading a post about the UK's Financial Times predicting Android will fizzle after initial release seems a bit off. No one ever saw Linux coming and look where it is today?
Being a linux user and having an iPhone, I would say that iTunes was not the appeal of the iPhone. Its user interface, web browser and email abilities were the draw. Infact... I'm really wanting an Android phone simply because it won't be tied to iTunes. I'm hoping for atleast the same functionality in the web browser, email is going to be a bit worse because I won't be able to use the Active Sync for my work email anymore... but maybe someone will get the rights and write an app that would allow me to access it again... for a fee i'm sure, but i'd be willing to pay it. And txt'ing could only get better with it. as the iPhones txt interface and abilities are definitely lacking.
Anyway... with a standard OS with many built-in features and google backing it... I see good things to come of Android... and I can't wait.
I know I currently have an iPhone, however... I must say... I don't like the requirement for iTunes. Its not that I don't like iTunes specifically.. (for the most part I dont find anything wrong with it... other than the proprietary formats for music that you typically buy off the iTunes store...), but my main complaint is that I run Linux, and only Linux on my desktops and servers. Yes I have a virtual machine of windows XP, however, getting USB to pass through to it for iTunes and syncing my iphone just isn't really what I Like to do. I really want something to integrate. I want what windows and mac have had forever, but on my linux desktop. Don't flam and bitch that I could if I just used those other operating systems... thats not an option. I love my linux desktop so much that my latest laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad T61) I bought with SuSE preloaded simply because I have no need for windows outside of the stupid iPhone sync process. The Linux desktop is amazing if you ask me... I however am not a Linux elitist that I try to force my personal preferences onto others. It just works for me, allows me to work and perform my job very well, so I don't plan on going to any other OS for myself... ever.
Anyway... I ran off on a tangent... My new phone will run Android. I'm hoping for a new one sometime this year... maybe they'll release the HTC Dream by then and I can get it for my birthday.
Anyway, in case you don't know what Android is... there are youtube videos all over about it. Look it up. Looks just as amazing as my linux desktop. I honestly cannot wait.
