[PRJ][AND][LNX] OPANDROID (The Wing-Linux Opal branch)
Please, don't reply with a quote of this post.
This thread is a continuation to what happened in the
LINUX BOOTS at OPAL! Thanks to linwizard project! thread. I thought it's about time a proper thread is made to get this project the attention it needs.
What is Wing Linux all about
Wing Linux aims to bring Linux and Google's Android operating systems to OMAP850-based devices.
Wait, did you say Linux AND Android?
Yep, you did read that right. If you're running Wing Linux, you are simultaneously running
Ångström and Android on top of that. That means you get all of the cool Linux functionality with the intuitive interface and usability of Android.
For more information about
Wing Linux please visit the
official site. It'll save you from having to read through this whole thread
If I installed Wing Linux, will I lose WM? / Will this brick my device?
No. There's no flashing involved here. Still, it's best practice to have thing backed up before doing anything. I've heard of a few cases were people lost some files from there SD cards.
Great! How can I try this?
I'm glad you asked!
Installation is very easy and smooth, all you have to do is following these simple steps:
- Navigate to the Wing Linux site.
- On the navigation menu to the right of the main page, you'll find a "Download" link. Obviously, you're supposed to click it
Once the download completes, you'll end up with a zip file that contains a few cab files and 4 text files. Please do open these files using notepad for a quick look. They contain plenty of useful information.
- After extracting that zip, and hopefully taking a look at the text files, you'll need to move two of the cab files to your device: rootfs and opal.
- From your device, install the two cabs (navigate to them using your favourite file explorer then click them) and make sure to install both files to storage card.
- Before proceeding any further, make sure that you still have at least 250MB of free space on your storage card. If you don't then you'll need to do some clean up before you can continue.
- Also, make sure to close any open application, otherwise you'll lose any unsaved progress in any of them.
- Open the brand new wing-linux short-cut in your start menu.
- Hit run.
- While Linux is booting up. You'll be asked to input a size for the image file used as storage for Wing Linux (consider it like virtual hard disk). Don't touch anything and just wait, default value (250MB) will be used after a couple of seconds.
- Grab yourself a cup of coffee/tea/beer/... then sit back and relax. Installation will take a while.
- When everything is over, you'll get a calibration screen. Try your best to get a good calibration on the first time as fixing it later takes some work.
- Enjoy Android
Key-map for Android
As the Opal doesn't have that many keys, some changes had to be made:
- D-Pad + Centre: works normally.
- Green: Dialer.
- Red: Default behaviour under Android is like this:
- Short press: puts device in standby. This can be changed in the settings (which I recommend).
- Long press: Display menu to turn off device, put device in airplane mode...
- Volume Up: menu key (it's the key that unlocks the screen as well).
- Volume Down: back/cancel.
- Power button: It's working, but it doesn't do anything because it's functionality doesn't work in Android yet.
Okay, I'm done playing around and I want to go back to WM.
That's easy:
- Click and hold the red button and you'll get a menu.
- Select "Shutdown" and the phone will reboot.
- Once the phone boots again, you'll be in WM.
I want to completely get rid of Wing Linux
Eh, it's your loss.
- Un-install both cabs as you would do for any application.
- Check if there's still a folder called "linux" in the root of your storage card.
- If there's one, delete it.
What works and what does not work:
For details look at
this page here. In short:
For the time being, these stuff
work:
- Making/receiving calls, although you won't be able to hear the other side during phone calls. But there's a small workaround for that:
When in windows mobile, start Wing Linux during a phone call, that way you'll have sound in Android during calls.
- Sending/receiving SMS.
- GPRS also works. If your carrier/service providers details are included already, it'll work out of the box. Otherwise you'll need to set up a new APN under settings.
For the time being, these stuff
do not work:
- Battery (will always report it's 100% full).
- Bluetooth
- WIFI
- Camera
- Sound (other than what you'll get with the workaround)
- Vibration
- LED notifications
- Standby/Suspend mode.
- Unlocking SIM (Android will accept the PIN code but it won't connect to network, you'll need to disable PIN from WM).
FAQ
Q: When I let the phone sit for a while it goes to a text screen that just rolls android_power_suspend messages?
Right now these message are normal, just hit any key or the screen to go back. The suspend portion of Android is being actively worked on so just hang tight!
Q: I installed and booted Wing Linux and when I attach it via USB to my Windows computer it asks me for a driver for an "Ethernet Gadget". Where can I get this?
Linux has this driver natively. For Windows, there's no driver right now, if you know where we can find one (that is free to distribute legally) please do share it with us.
Q: When I boot for the first time the installer hangs at partitioning 0%, is it not working?
Walk away from your phone, this part will take some time. It will only have to do this on initial install so have faith.
Q: Can I install this to my phone's internal memory?
Not presently. Although the cab file will install, you won't be able to boot from internal memory. Ensure you install to your storage card.
Q: Does this run emulated under Windows Mobile?
Not at all! Although it's started from inside Windows Mobile, HaRET completely replaces Windows with Linux in memory, so you actually are booting native Linux -- No emulation at all.
Q: I successfully entered my PIN and unlocked my SIM card through Android, but I can't get on the network. Why?
This is a known issue -- unlocking a SIM card works, but Android does not follow through with connecting to the network. The best solution to this for now is to remove the PIN from your SIM card.
Q: I opened an application but how to I get back to the main page or quit the program? Where is my back button?
Check the keymap posted above.
Q: When will X work on Opal?
In due time. The project is made of volunteer effort working in their spare time. If you'd like the development to speed up, feel free to give a hand!
Not every single one of the people working on this is a developer. Some, like me, are learning as they go. And none is able to dedicate all his time for this project.
Q: I messed up with the calibration. How can I re-calibrate the screen?
Go to storage card, then go to the folder called 'linux'. You'll find a file called default.txt
In that file, look for the line that says "set CMDLINE", add "reset_ts" to it (between the two quotations). Then boot normally.
Remember to remove that once you're satisfied with the calibration.
(If Microsoft Word asks you to save it in their format, always say no)
Q: I waited a lot but the device won't finish booting after installation. What should I do?
First of all, try resetting the phone and booting Wing Linux again. In most of the cases, this'll work. If that doesn't work, try deleting the "rootfs" file from "/Storage Card/linux". If you don't see that file, delete rootfs.img instead. Then boot back in and it should start installing from scratch.
If you're still having issues, remove everything (refer to the
"I want to completely get rid of Wing Linux" section) and reinstall the two cabs.
Q: What version of Android is Wing Linux running?
Right now, it's running Cupcake (1.5). An upgrade is planned.
Q: What version of Ångström is Wing Linux running?
Latest as of time of posting.
Q: I'm trying to use the virtual terminal but the enter button on the virtual keyboard won't do anything. Is that normal?
It happens occasionally. Try pressing the d-pad in various directions then hit then enter button again.
Q: Can I SSH to the phone?
Yes you can
Code:
sudo ifconfig usb0 10.100.0.2 up
ssh root@10.100.0.1
The password is "wing".
Q: Is installing to a dedicated partition supported?
Yes it is, for more information check the 'INSTALL' file included in the zip, and that can also be found under /storage card/linux
Q: How can I set up a development environment to help with coding?
Take a look
here.
Q: How can I get in contact with developers?
Through this thread, the
project's forums and on the IRC channel at #wing-linux on Freenode.net.
Please, do not use E-Mails, PMs, IMs...
Personal thanks from me to the following people for making this a reality:- darkstar62 for being the main man behind the whole project. And for going easy on me despite my noobness
- The people at Linwizard for creating the base kernel and helping throughout development.
- kshaurya for helping me to get the Opal branch started
- raditzgds, life02 and zenned for helping to get the touchscreen working on Opal.
- HTC for this nice device.
- Google for Android.
- The people behind Ångström for the base system.
I hope I didn't forget anyone...
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[PRJ][AND][LNX] OPANDROID (The Wing-Linux Opal branch)
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