[ROM][4.4.4][UNOFFICIAL] Lineage OS 11.0 [BETA]

[wollac11]

/*
 * Disclaimer
 * 
 * Your warranty is now void.
 * 
 * I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards,
 * thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please
 * do some research if you have any concerns about features included in this ROM
 * before flashing it! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if
 * you point the finger at me for messing up your device, I will laugh at you.
 */

Introduction

LineageOS 11 is a free, community built, aftermarket firmware distribution of Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), which is designed to increase performance and reliability over stock Android for your device.

LineageOS is based on the Android Open Source Project with extra contributions from many people within the Android community. It can be used without any need to have any Google application installed. Linked below is a package that has come from another Android project that restore the Google parts. LineageOS does still include various hardware-specific code, which is also slowly being open-sourced anyway.

All the source code for LineageOS is available in the LineageOS Github repo. And if you would like to contribute to LineageOS, please visit their Gerrit Code Review.


Aims

This ROM is created with the purpose of kick-starting some development to make our Nexus Q's useful again. The newest working ROMs for this device were from 2014 and CM11 based. These are now very outdated and needed security patches to be safe to use and so I have built a new ROM from the latest LineageOS 11 sources.

Once this ROM has been optimised for the Nexus Q a little further, I shall explore altering the interface for TV and Desktop editions to make the device more useful. I may also attempt to port newer Android versions (5.0+) in the future so we can get a full Android TV experience on this device and compatibility with newer apps.


Features

• Improved LED support
• Stock Nexus Q boot animation (see #4 for preview)
• Standard CM11/Lineage OS 11 features
• More Steelhead-specific tweaks & additions coming soon....

Working

• WiFi
• Bluetooth
• NFC
• HW Acceleration
• HDMI Output
• Audio
• Volume Control
• Capacitive sensor
• LED Ring (Limited functions)
• Optical out (simultaneous output with HDMI audio)
• ART Runtime (you can switch from Dalvik in Dev Settings)

Not Working

• Amplifier
• Audio output switching
• You tell me!

Installation

1. Connect Nexus Q to PC via USB
2. Enter bootloader: Connect power and once blue light has illuminated, quickly place hand over Nexus Q. LED will turn red.
3. Boot into recovery mode:
   

   fastboot boot recovery.img

4. Wipe /system and then factory reset to wipe /data & /cache
5. Select "Install zip" and then "Install zip from sideload".
6. From your PC, sideload with ADB:
   

   adb sideload lineage-11-20180228-UNOFFICIAL-steelhead.zip

7. Sideload Gapps in the same fashion (if desired)
8. Reboot (be patient first boot can take some time!)
9. Enjoy!

Changelog

* 28-02-2018: Restored default Google boot animation from stock image
* 23-02-2018: Enabled LED control when display is on
* 22-02-2018: Initial Release

Downloads

ROM: lineage-11-20180228-UNOFFICIAL-steelhead.zip
Recovery: recovery.img
Gapps (Optional): Open Gapps (4.4, Nano)

Download Mirror: AndroidFileHost.com


Thanks To

* CyanogenMod / Lineage OS contributors
* hharte (for his prior work on the Nexus Q)
* Matthew Kovnesky (for reminding me about my promises to work on the Nexus Q!)

XDA:DevDB Information
Lineage OS 11 ROM for Nexus Q (Steelhead), ROM for the Nexus Q

Contributors
wollac11
ROM OS Version: 4.4.x KitKat
ROM Kernel: Linux 3.0.x
Based On: LineageOS

Version Information
Status: Beta
Beta Release Date: 2018-02-28

Created 2018-02-22
Last Updated 2018-02-28

 

[wollac11]

Reserved

 

[wollac11]

New build! (02/23) - Additional LED Ring Control

XDA isn't letting me upload new files at the moment as it keeps producing errors building checksums and so I've given up and started hosting new builds on AndroidFileHost until they fix it. Once XDA have sorted the issues then I'll try to upload them here (as well as using AFH as a mirror) but for now any new uploads will just be on the latter.

Anyway, in this new build (20180223) I have improved LED ring functionality by modifying the Android notification framework so that the notification light can be changed by apps even with the display on. In theory it is now very easy to control the LED as we like since it can be used like any a phones notification LED but without the screen off limitation.

At some point I might try to develop an app which syncs the LED to music or something cool but in the meantime if anyone else fancies having a go at something like that then please do as you will now be able to without using any Nexus-Q specific APIs.

You can test this new functionality using an app like LightFlow from the Play Store which can set custom notification colours for any app and you'll see the LED ring change.

I also made a quick demo of cycling between colours which you can see a video of here: https://plus.google.com/+CharlieCallow/posts/WAfcBmg7MYF.

The built-in The CyanogenMod/Linage LED control still seems to be a bit flaky but it's fine with third-party apps which have LED settings (like Lightflow).

Anyway you can download the new build from below. If you are upgrading from the first build just flash this one over the top and wipe /cache & davlik cache.

Download: lineage-11-20180223-UNOFFICIAL-steelhead.zip

 

[wollac11]

New build! (02/28) - Original Nexus Q Bootanimation

A tiny new update from the last build. This one swaps out the Lineage OS boot animation for Google's original boot animation from the Nexus Q stock system image.

Also, XDA seems to have fixed the file upload issue so the latest version is uploaded here again but I'll upload to AndroidFileHost shortly a link it as a mirror.

Download: lineage-11-20180228-UNOFFICIAL-steelhead.zip

Preview:

 

[svemat]

A tiny new update from the last build. This one swaps out the Lineage OS boot animation for Google's original boot animation from the Nexus Q stock system image.

Also, XDA seems to have fixed the file upload issue so the latest version is uploaded here again but I'll upload to AndroidFileHost shortly a link it as a mirror.

Download: lineage-11-20180228-UNOFFICIAL-steelhead.zip

Preview:

Could you upload it to androidfilehost ???

 

[wollac11]

Could you upload it to androidfilehost ???

Sure, it's up on AndroidFileHost now: https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=962187416754466172. I've also added a link to the Nexus Q page on my AndroidFileHost.com developer profile to the OP as a download mirror for all of the files posted.

 

[wollac11]

Development update

So, good news: I think I have the a build which should support the amplifier, HDMI audio and optical output in the same ROM.

Bad news: My Nexus Q seems to have given up the ghost! It seems the Micro HDMI port has failed. I can't get a signal out of it no matter what I boot regardless of the display I connect to. I hoped it might be the cable but I tested with a spare cable I had lying about and still no joy! This could mean the end of this little project as I can't procure another Nexus Q here in the UK and I can't really do this without a working unit! :crying:

I've ordered a brand new Micro HDMI cable to test for certain but it's not looking good! I'll keep everyone updated.

 

[svemat]

So, good news: I think I have the a build which should support the amplifier, HDMI audio and optical output in the same ROM.

Bad news: My Nexus Q seems to have given up the ghost! It seems the Micro HDMI port has failed. I can't get a signal out of it no matter what I boot regardless of the display I connect to. I hoped it might be the cable but I tested with a spare cable I had lying about and still no joy! This could mean the end of this little project as I can't procure another Nexus Q here in the UK and I can't really do this without a working unit! :crying:

I've ordered a brand new Micro HDMI cable to test for certain but it's not looking good! I'll keep everyone updated.

Did you check on IFIXIT the replace the Brocken piece? Really sorry to hear.

 

[wollac11]

Did you check on IFIXIT the replace the Brocken piece? Really sorry to hear.

It's not likely to be easy to repair if that connector is broken and parts will be hard to come by. I'll wait for the new cable and see how that goes first.

In the meantime, I have managed to test my new build by connecting to the Nexus Q via Vysor as a workaround to see what's going on. While autoswitching still doesn't work yet, the amplifier now does work and so I'll be posting a separate amp build soon for those who want to use the amp instead of audio over HDMI or TOSLINK.

I am also hoping at some point to add A2DP sink support so that the Nexus Q can be used as a bluetooth receiver. That would be particularly handy with the amp build for people who want to add bluetooth to a set of bookshelf speakers.

 

[Hydra451]

Keep up the great work, recently dusted off my Q and this looks promising, would love if we could have simultaneous Bluetooth output but unsure if the hardware supports it. Do hope we can get an auto audio switching feature or a togglable setting to switch audio outs.

 

[kingsleycao]

Thank you soooooooo much! I can't believe there are somebody still remembering Nexus Q.:good:

 

[xthing]

Any update on the build with amplifier support?

 

[wollac11]

Any update on the build with amplifier support?

Sorry, this project got sidelined when I had issues with my Nexus Q's HDMI port. I got it mostly working again for now but I've since been very busy with work & other projects. I hope to pick this up again late August / early September. In the meantime I'll try to dig out the existing build I have with working amplifier support as I've had a few requests for it!

 

[stewtang]

Sorry, this project got sidelined when I had issues with my Nexus Q's HDMI port. I got it mostly working again for now but I've since been very busy with work & other projects. I hope to pick this up again late August / early September. In the meantime I'll try to dig out the existing build I have with working amplifier support as I've had a few requests for it!

Awesome, looking forward to it!!

 

[[email protected]​]

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[[email protected]​]

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[[email protected]​]

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[tarcus]

Sorry, this project got sidelined when I had issues with my Nexus Q's HDMI port. I got it mostly working again for now but I've since been very busy with work & other projects. I hope to pick this up again late August / early September. In the meantime I'll try to dig out the existing build I have with working amplifier support as I've had a few requests for it!

Please pick it up again! I've just done my occasional forlorn search for Nexus Q goodies and had a brief burst of hope. I recently got a Google Glass for the price of a curry which has renewed my interest in the old Google gear, my ideal situation would be the Nexus Q acting as a Cast target with working LEDs and amplifier, that's all I would want. I have it running on an old Cyanogen install but that's not exactly functional.

 

[astro128]

Just stumbled upon my old paperweight, the Nexus Q and decided to look around before finally tossing it - glad I did! I am looking forward to trying this out this week. Hopefully the amp will work (and some pretty LEDs) as this was my player for my outdoor stereo.

Anyway thanks for reviving my hopes!

 

[astro128]

So I dusted off the Q ball and plugged it in to give it a shot and I got an issue when upon rebooting into the bootloader screen. I cover the Q, it flashes and turns red, then nothing. If I cover it again, it spins blue LEDs and I am prompted with the following:
"ROM may flash stock recovery on boot. Fix? THIS CAN NOT BE UNDONE"
Then i get the following choice:
"No"
"Yes -Disable recovery flash"
"Go Back" - which just reboots it again.
At the bottom it says "ClockworkMod Recovery v6.0.3.1, Formatting /data... Formatting /cache..."
Which should I select to upgrade to this to the LineageOS? I remember there being issues with these getting bricked so I just wanted to double check.
Also, what program do I use for fastboot? Is there a link - its been too long!
Thanks for the help.