Database Users

ROM for juniors?

Hi,
I got a few spare androids' and i'm considering giving them to my kids (11 and 12) to play around with it and enjoy the android experience. however I don't want them being able to put 3rd party applications. how do i go about removing the option of "unknown sources" and maybe wifi from the settings.apk.
I'm not new to java and xml but sort of new to android development, I've tried several ways to remove it from the apk only (ark, ddx, baksmali, apksign) I did it in so many ways that i can't remember them all. I've also tried to decode the apk with apktool, ddx, baksmali, and creating a new project from existing source in eclipse, and I couldn't figure out what parts I have to modify to get it working (i kept on getting errors in eclipse so i wasn't even able to compile and test it in DDMS-eclipse).
Also i would like to know if maybe it is necessary to port the whole kernel source into eclipse?
I've searched all over the internet for a information for this specific thing and I couldn't find anything.
Btw, I'm using nix lucid.
Thanks In advance.
any help would be appreciated!

how about flash the supere rom without the google apps? that way they wont be able to access the market..

lagu805 said:
how about flash the supere rom without the google apps? that way they wont be able to access the market..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know, the problem is not the market, i can pull it out from the phone with adb in a second w/o superE, but they can still install stuff on it with a sd card, and I would hate to not put in a file browser on the phone.
I think it would be a good idea to make a rom that's made for kids, for playing games and stuff without me worrying about it.
I'm sure that they will try to figure out a way to get around the "no market on the phone" and I should not underestimate a kid (even a 12 year old). I've seen him getting around lots of technological obstacle's.
I think that the world could use a kid's version of android, you know, get them hooked when they're young. The last thing i would like to hear from my kids is talking about iPhone or Windows. We're all linux in our house

Interesting. I too gave Magics to my 11 & 12 yr olds, one without a data plan and the other without a SIM at all. I think the right way might be multiuser like we already do on the desktops. Sudo would be a nice touch but I'd be happy to login as admin to install or whatnot.
Multiuser is something I'd like to see anyway with most or some settings on a per user basis. Or at least just for security, normal login can't do critical tasks that might cause issues. I think we'll hear about this again once we hear about some seriously dangerous apps/scams/viri on the phones.
In the meantime your best bet is education and rules about what can and can't be done. Then once per week or so you take the phone and check things out, update as needed, etc. So far my kids have little interest in breaking the rules and are happy browsing the market for fun things.

I think the only way to achieve this is to download the AOSP, edit the sources to remove the options and then compile your own ROM.

3rdcoast said:
Interesting. I too gave Magics to my 11 & 12 yr olds, one without a data plan and the other without a SIM at all. I think the right way might be multiuser like we already do on the desktops. Sudo would be a nice touch but I'd be happy to login as admin to install or whatnot.
Multiuser is something I'd like to see anyway with most or some settings on a per user basis. Or at least just for security, normal login can't do critical tasks that might cause issues. I think we'll hear about this again once we hear about some seriously dangerous apps/scams/viri on the phones.
In the meantime your best bet is education and rules about what can and can't be done. Then once per week or so you take the phone and check things out, update as needed, etc. So far my kids have little interest in breaking the rules and are happy browsing the market for fun things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, it is just a nix and SUDO should be possible, but setting this up is a quite a project and I don't think this is a one day project.
As for educating, I think they know right from wrong and I don't think that they will willingly break the rules, the market however is full of apps that are not meant for young kids..... what do you think they're going to do when they bump in to one of those apps? .
Actually what i wanted to do is to give them a phone with a line and no data plan so they can play games or watch movies, If the kids want to use the internet, there are more than enough boxes at home they can use. This phone is strictly for voice text and games.
What I want to accomplish in general, is having a child safe phone, and have the other parents here who want their kids to have to have an android, enjoy it. My way of giving back to the community.
But to have a phone that will be suitable for the purpose (not just for my kids) the data has to be completely disabled, and wifi is going to be the issue. putting on an encryption on wifi is a joke, ever heard of aircrack? I'm sure there are lots of determined horny 15 year olds that will get around that. (am i paranoid?)
Case_ said:
I think the only way to achieve this is to download the AOSP, edit the sources to remove the options and then compile your own ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what i want to do. The question is how do I do it?
Again, I'm not a complete noob, I just never played around with android as an OS. so if I can have the first push here here what I'm supposed to do to start this I would really appreciate it.
As I've said in my first post, I tried a few things and i couldn't get it right. what part of this don't i get??
Thanks a lot.

well your not even going in the right direction..
do you have an IDE with compiler and the android SDK all set up? then you can check on dferrera post on how to compile android from source... its listed in this forum.. please search
if your not a programmer or have no idea what classes - functions etc are then this might now be an option for you that is something you can be instructed on
you are going to need to learn to compile android from source and modify it, this is a very big task mate - be prepared, and no one can answer all the questions for u

alan090 said:
well your not even going in the right direction..
do you have an IDE with compiler and the android SDK all set up? then you can check on dferrera post on how to compile android from source... its listed in this forum.. please search
if your not a programmer or have no idea what classes - functions etc are then this might now be an option for you that is something you can be instructed on
you are going to need to learn to compile android from source and modify it, this is a very big task mate - be prepared, and no one can answer all the questions for u
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, but i can't seem to get java5 working on 10.04 (the 10.04 repos have only java6 but i did add the old repos and ran in to some issues), I had it working on 9.04 though. anyone made it run on 10.04? or should I downgrade (or run it in VB) to 9.04/.10?

k50aker said:
Thanks for the reply, but i can't seem to get java5 working on 10.04 (the 10.04 repos have only java6 but i did add the old repos and ran in to some issues), I had it working on 9.04 though. anyone made it run on 10.04? or should I downgrade (or run it in VB) to 9.04/.10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Add these 2 lines to the end of /etc/apt/sources.list file
Code:
deb http://pl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jaunty multiverse
deb http://pl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jaunty universe
then do:
Code:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sun-java5-jdk

@k50aker
Hiding Wifi and other things should be quite easy task, but... how do you want to protect against system reinstallation? They could download any ROM from internet and install it in just 10 minutes. Backuping is easy too, so they could have 2 systems installed and switch between them when their dad comes home.
Android phones aren't desktops. You can't have root and don't give it to other users of a device.

Mod. edit: not dev related, moved to general

I wouldn't want to hide WiFI, the device is useless without connectivity, much cheaper toys out there for that if I wanted stand alone.
My two children each have a Magic and this is my experience, none of the worries that many parents seem to fear. They are well behaved and so far no problems and they are ready for 2.1 since 1.5 is just too confining even for them. Education goes a long way.
The best choice I made was to not put a SIM in one of the phones. WiFI is ideal since she is nearly always in a zone. This has gotten her used to IM instead of texting. Same effect but costs nothing. A SIP app works almost as well as SIM voice. Someday I'll do a data only SIM so she has total coverage, she'll understand that heavy data is to be done over WiFI and cell data is for VoIP and for times when it is really needed and can't wait.
However it would be nice if there was a limited setting requiring admin password for certain functions. But really, there hasn't been any problems but my kids might be grateful enough to not abuse the rights I give them. Best advice besides education if they are very young is to not SIM until after they get into the alternatives and not be addicted to texting. The older one has learned to watch her usage patterns and has to pay if she goes over budget.

Switch33 said:
Add these 2 lines to the end of /etc/apt/sources.list file
Code:
deb http://pl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jaunty multiverse
deb http://pl.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jaunty universe
then do:
Code:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install sun-java5-jdk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
those ropes are for jaunty not for lucid, and I have tried that before anyway and this is what i get:
Code:
desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install sun-java5-jdk
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
sun-java5-jdk is already the newest version.
The following packages were automatically installed and are no longer required:
libwv2-4
Use 'apt-get autoremove' to remove them.
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 11 not upgraded.
1 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up sun-java5-doc (1.5.0-19-0ubuntu0.9.04) ...
This package is an installer package, it does not actually contain the
J2SDK documentation. You will need to go download one of the
archives:
jdk-1_5_0-doc.zip jdk-1_5_0-doc-ja.zip
(choose the non-update version if this is the first installation).
Please visit
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/download.html
now and download. The file should be owned by root.root and be copied
to /tmp.
[Press RETURN to try again, 'no' + RETURN to abort] no
Abort installation of J2SDK documentation
dpkg: error processing sun-java5-doc (--configure):
subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
Errors were encountered while processing:
sun-java5-doc
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

Brut.all said:
@k50aker
Hiding Wifi and other things should be quite easy task, but... how do you want to protect against system reinstallation? They could download any ROM from internet and install it in just 10 minutes. Backuping is easy too, so they could have 2 systems installed and switch between them when their dad comes home.
Android phones aren't desktops. You can't have root and don't give it to other users of a device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right, but one of the later steps I thought about would be a custom boot and custom or no recovery. But I will figure that out later in the project.
But i will probably change my direction on this (wifi etc.) based on what you guys say.

Linux?

Is ubuntu possible on our u8800?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN4c61ETCWg maybe, try it

Without having seen the youtube vid that d3xtr0 linked, I'll post this link:
http://androlinux.com/android-ubuntu-development/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-android/

sebgus said:
Without having seen the youtube vid that d3xtr0 linked, I'll post this link:
http://androlinux.com/android-ubuntu-development/how-to-install-ubuntu-on-android/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lit's the same source

It will probably work if this device supports "loop devices" whatever that is? anyone know or tried it succsessfully?

skifyr123 said:
It will probably work if this device supports "loop devices" whatever that is? anyone know or tried it succsessfully?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had no time to try it, maybe later in the week.

skifyr123 said:
It will probably work if this device supports "loop devices" whatever that is? anyone know or tried it succsessfully?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It supports loop device. I just tried to mount a loop device with a loop image and it worked.
EDIT: With flibblesan's r5 kernel but it should be supported by stock kernel anyway

You are aware that ubuntu has no proper support for touchscreens; even if it runs you won't gain anything by doing that. When I installed a linux a few months ago on another device it worked, then I was fascinated about one minute and then I decided that there is no use for it an deleted it eventually.
I just do not understand why it is so important to get a desktop-os running on a smartphone. Battery drains fast, no support for the radio etc.

XphX said:
You are aware that ubuntu has no proper support for touchscreens; even if it runs you won't gain anything by doing that. When I installed a linux a few months ago on another device it worked, then I was fascinated about one minute and then I decided that there is no use for it an deleted it eventually.
I just do not understand why it is so important to get a desktop-os running on a smartphone. Battery drains fast, no support for the radio etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not important, but funny and cool if it works (on this device). How did you do it?

Until recently I still had my old samsung-omnia-winmo6.5-phone. There was an app for linux available; you just had to install an imagefile to the sd-card. The fun did last for a minute and then I realized I cannot do anything with this small screen and that it was pretty much useless.
I think that a lot of people here will just read the topic and think "omg this is amazing, now I can have my desktop-os on the phone, great" and later they realize how much time they just wasted.
If it really is fun for you guys, I won't try and stop you

How about using linux programs? i think that it may be quite useful sometimes... Put honestly... it is just for funright now... but it may be helpful if we could dual boot.... maybe in the future

I got this working, it isn't that slow as you could imagine, firefox takes around 30 sec to start and load the front page. That said, the keyboard works but is way off and impossible to use (I push "d" and "f" shows up and so on).
if anyone understand this the keyboard will be fixed:
In VNC’s xstartup file: $HOME/.vnc/xstartup
You have to add the line export XKL_XMODMAP_DISABLE=1 before
/etc/X11/Xsession or gnome-session (in case you use GNOME)
Screenshot actually taken with an ubuntu tool, I have set the resolution to 1200*800 in the virtual enviriment.
Here is a video with Huawei Ideos X5 running Ubuntu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SaoneDtNqA&feature=BFp&list=WL01C152CD7D31A7C8&index=1

Will try this later tonight and let you guys know if it works. Just have to work first >.<

The significance of linux running is to have a backup operating system to use on the phone if the Oracle / Google dispute over Java begins to really disrupt the market.
Think also freedombox.org, your own personal, secure and anonymous cloud system as a refuge if a dictatorship emerges or particularly nasty rise of corporatism occurs.
At heart, our U8800's can easily be linux box server with up to 32Gb of onboard storage with wi-fi AND gsm network connections. Being battery operated, if the thought police decend upon your community, you could take it to another place, unknown to the nasty guys, and re-establish mesh network connection to get reports of civil rights abuses out to the rest of the world.
Reason enough to have the capability to run Ubuntu Server edition (or any other Linux Server flavour)?
If you're interested to see what's already possible, even within Android (Linux will deliver more power), install "File Expert" from the market to get your very own web file server, right there in your phone.

-- wrong post just ignore --

XphX said:
Until recently I still had my old samsung-omnia-winmo6.5-phone. There was an app for linux available; you just had to install an imagefile to the sd-card. The fun did last for a minute and then I realized I cannot do anything with this small screen and that it was pretty much useless.
I think that a lot of people here will just read the topic and think "omg this is amazing, now I can have my desktop-os on the phone, great" and later they realize how much time they just wasted.
If it really is fun for you guys, I won't try and stop you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You didn't Found a better ubuntu boot-file, x5 faster, keyboard works, WIFI, pre-installed with many programs ( Open Office for work.. etc) easy to use with touch screen. here is how it works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUG9aC_tH5s
And the files/instructions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=962023

Native ubuntu/chroot jail free? no vnc

Hello All,
Another ubuntu project here..
its a chroot jail free looped native framebuffered something?
one folder on sdcard called linux /sdcard/linux with the .img
your mount point..i use /data/local/mnt/linux
the scripts i use /data/local/mnt
simple you will need to edit the scripts if u edit ur paths..
ill share my stuffs if theres any interest in this.
dunno if this has been done on sgs2 using just scripts but yh
ive managed to get ubuntu13.04 running with full multitouch support using mtrack i use lxde/2d-unity
this approach uses android framebuffer instead of using a vncserver.
Concept/Goal: use android hardware to run linux without vnc and full hardware support...its christmas soon!
so we go a safe way and mount a img file and loop and chroot and mount necessary android stuff i.e /dev /proc /tmp-to help speed up system! and mount all sdcards.
then we kill android-the-framebuffer-hog
and start our xsession,
anyone interested in helping me?
i have the scripts and image, just need more nuerons!
to do is (alot)
Working:
Framebuffer >> full gamma and .mhz settings safe
Wifi
Bluetooth
Reboot to andoid and umount rootfs on log out
Mouse
Multitouch tap is click, double tap is ?grab window to move it, two fingers for right click, three to scroll
Screenshots
Charging
Sdcard
MicroSd
Keyboard >> virtual
Theres alot but its hard to summerise lol
Not Working (WIP)
get sound working completely (evrythings working except last output part) alsamixer, pulseaudio all work..just the last bit..so no sound.
figure out why system_bus_socket connection refused?
why dbus isnt being used but starting ok?
Landscape mode mouse axis. (i can rotate the display but the mouse axis are wrong.. up=right down=left) (portrait is fine)
camara
gpio-keys (hardware buttons)
calls
text messaging.
OTG USB (i made one so im assuming its that that doesnt work simply tweak to the xorg.conf to swap from touch to mouse..)
DRI & DRI2
GL_OES_EGL_image for 3d
have to use a virtual keyboard until running android apps in linux is figured out--ahem (i use matchbox-keyboard)
logon screen works but the keyboard is a issue. (virtual keyboard only starts once logged in. so no logon yet just auto logon)
you can still use ssh and vncserver if you wanted to..
any interest ill share my scripts...
as i said im not the only person to chroot imgs, but i havent seen a thread on getting it running natively on sgs2 without uboot or repartioning anything.
unless u completely recompile the linux os whilst inside of it, i.e adding vmlinux.img should be safe enough. works for me
anyway been a busy with this and im not a pro developer just a seasoned addict, thus the call for arms!
peace!

some screenshots

and you expect me to share my work when none of you have any input..phhhhhaaa
EDIT >> i was how you say suffering from a spot of pink eye! Strange strange thought patterns = WEIRD REMARKS lol
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app

Wow, erm.......awkward!
I wish you success in your endeavors.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

Interesting.
May I ask what are you using for? I mean, which killer app in Ubuntu you can't replace with an Android one?
Moreover, I have noticed an X server on the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.darkside.XServer)
Using it, instead of killing Android, may allow some more integration with the Android environment (e.g. you could still receive calls while using your ubuntu stuff).
Another improvement would be to use multiple consoles (you know, Ctrl-Alt-Fx stuff) to have both environments running
Just my 2ç
Z

zavorrax said:
Interesting.
May I ask what are you using for? I mean, which killer app in Ubuntu you can't replace with an Android one?
Moreover, I have noticed an X server on the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.darkside.XServer)
Using it, instead of killing Android, may allow some more integration with the Android environment (e.g. you could still receive calls while using your ubuntu stuff).
Another improvement would be to use multiple consoles (you know, Ctrl-Alt-Fx stuff) to have both environments running
Just my 2ç
Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol
i mean to free up surfaceflinger and the framebuffer and send android into a slumber?so we can use it for our xsession. not KILL PERMANETLY
its like a chroot jail free no vnc something??
using vnc will allow u to still have android on in the background for calls and what not but thats chrooting a image to a mount point and running a app. awsome but i got bored with that..much perfere native input.
Search for linuxonandroid by zachthespack hes been dealing with chrooting linux for a long time and has a good application and a healthy stock of img files for you to use, plus a good how to. http://www.linuxonandroid.org Download from play store.. search 4 linuxonandroid
...thats not a bad idea zavorrax about the X11 app..
although running a third party app to use the framebuffer seems pointless when u can use the devices one!
wouldnt u rather have a true linux os in your pocket rather then a clever spin off of it, dont get me wrong i love android and its easy moddding.. linux is far better though.. this project im doing is after all, on a android device.
android root is always 0 ... root = / .... android apps are the users...if that makes sense?
linux uses users who log in..so root still has the initial setup of the os incase a user messes up, root can reset it with relative ease.
so in order to use linux for a vnc free linux, (root is in my opinion just like a programme.) needs to also be 0
thus, night night android..
its hard to explain, its linux and android?
basically the only way i can explain this is its the same as a chroot of a distro BUT instead of using vnc/X11 apks as the only way of having a GUI, we can optionally use the android framebuffer..fb0...
this thread wasnt ment to be a how-to just to see if theres any intrerest out here.
ill make a proper how to with all the basics needed.
as i said theres alot of these projects across the android platform, people trying too turn android back to linux/running linux.
u can pretty much use any img used for vnc or create your own for this.
theres a lot ubuntu/arch/debian/kali/backtrack..etc..etc
i initially add a file to my new img and apt-get a few things, run a few commands to change the img for my device then only need to execute my script,on the fly, hello linux desktop why not!
theres alot of debugging thats why im seeing if anyone is interested in this and would like to help/participate
i initially started using vnc years ago but got fed up with having to run a handful of scripts in this app and then find and add my ports and set passwords in another app, all using important cpu and power, so i thought why not make it all into one easy script.sh.......can of worms...
fruition was glimpsed so i continued.
just use it bcos i can
oh yeah and i say kill/sleep android, its all there..just not emulated/running a instance..sort of packed away in a box.(sleeping lol)
until i/someone can debug compatability for things like phone or proximity sensor then inside the linux GUI theres no support because it hasnt been setup/coded
thanks.

mckeowngoo said:
Wow, erm.......awkward!
I wish you success in your endeavors.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i to was a search and download kinda guy, now i find coding and debugging for myself interesting/rewarding.
its such a burden having hobbies!
Wow, erm.......awkward!
lol
cheers

If you're not going to share your work, why are you posting about it on XDA?
Thread closed. OP if you decide to share this then contact me when you have links ready and I will reopen this thread.

[Q] Anything better than BotBrew Basil for compiling Linux apps?

I just botched my install of BotBrew by switching from sid to Wheezy. Sid appears to be all sorts of buggy and is even warned to be so on Debian's site. I even managed to mess up my tablet completely by trying to move the old directory so I could start fresh but keep the old stuff for reference as I reinstalled/recompiled everything.
Now that I'm on a fresh slate seeing as BotBrew is three years now without update is there anything better out there to set up a Linux environment that I can compile things in and perhaps turn into a nice fully featured Linux install to share with people?
I was halfway through the dependencies for Cinnamon (my favorite WM) before I somehow killed Python beyond repair so forgive me for my rants. Getting that far (about 12 solid hours work) and having to start over is... taxing on the nerves.
Thanks in advance for your advice.

mascondante said:
I just botched my install of BotBrew by switching from sid to Wheezy. Sid appears to be all sorts of buggy and is even warned to be so on Debian's site. I even managed to mess up my tablet completely by trying to move the old directory so I could start fresh but keep the old stuff for reference as I reinstalled/recompiled everything.
Now that I'm on a fresh slate seeing as BotBrew is three years now without update is there anything better out there to set up a Linux environment that I can compile things in and perhaps turn into a nice fully featured Linux install to share with people?
I was halfway through the dependencies for Cinnamon (my favorite WM) before I somehow killed Python beyond repair so forgive me for my rants. Getting that far (about 12 solid hours work) and having to start over is... taxing on the nerves.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're looking for an easy way to run a full linux environment on Android(through chroot) I would recommend trying Linux on Android (found at http://linuxonandroid.org/). Download from Play store .
It has many linux distributions to choose from and has worked perfectly for me. I tend to start ssh server on the linux chroot and connect to it locally with VX Connectbot most of the time when I'm using it.
(How were u planning to run Cinnamon on android? Vncserver?)

I like Linux on Android. The only thing I don't like is it uses an image file instead of a directory on my device. Makes moving stuff back and forth kind of a pain. I use http://sourceforge.net/projects/libsdl-android/files/apk/XServer-XSDL/ and set my display location to XServer-XSDL in the chroot and any app I launch opens in XServer.

I'm thinking of taking a crack at making my own Ubuntu bootstrap as I prefer it to Debian. Not sure if the prebuilt would work or if I could set up an image without using QEMU.

After another all-nighter I must say I have huge respect for anyone who builds Linux from scratch. I was lucky enough to have a repo that had some of the packages I needed but at least 50% of the dependencies I needed had to be compiled. And naturally they had dependencies that had to be compiled and so on. I don't know how many layers deep I had to go. I lost count.

mascondante said:
I like Linux on Android. The only thing I don't like is it uses an image file instead of a directory on my device. Makes moving stuff back and forth kind of a pain. I use http://sourceforge.net/projects/libsdl-android/files/apk/XServer-XSDL/ and set my display location to XServer-XSDL in the chroot and any app I launch opens in XServer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could always mount the iso image to a directory and access all the files that way. Or just access /sdcard or /external_sd from within linux chroot.
I tried XServer-XSDL but it had bad keyboard lag when typing quickly(letters appear very slowly) -- especially with an external keyboard. Do you experience that?

xIsei said:
You could always mount the iso image to a directory and access all the files that way. Or just access /sdcard or /external_sd from within linux chroot.
I tried XServer-XSDL but it had bad keyboard lag when typing quickly(letters appear very slowly) -- especially with an external keyboard. Do you experience that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the advice. If I start to go insane from my efforts I'll give that a whirl.
I believe it lagged but as I didn't have a WM open just a simple app called SheepShaver it wasn't as noticeable. To be perfectly honest I'm not sure that I remember.
For anyone who cares I finally built Cinnamon. It won't launch. Clutter is complaining about the screen. Something to do with libEGL getting pissed because of the setup I'm using. https://mail.gnome.org/archives/commits-list/2014-June/msg03415.html shows a commit that should fix that. I'm trying to compile it but like the rest of my experiences it's not as simple as compile and done. More like knock out a tree of dependencies, sacrifice your first born, pray and cross your fingers hoping something else isn't going to go wrong. Kind of disappointing. Cinnamon is such a beautifully simplistic yet still very pleasant looking WM.
For now I'll keep beating my head against a wall until I pass out or break it down. Will share once I'm done. I plan on switching it from Debian to Linux Mint if possible. A fully working Linux Mint seems like an adventurous goal to shoot for. But for now it's daylight and this child of the darkness needs some sleep. I'd love it if some senior developers subbed to this and shared their ideas and collaborated with me. I've only got one friend to call on for help and he's a FreeBSD guy so his help only goes so far. Thanks.

Linux On Dex - First Impressions

So, I am at work and I showed off Linux on Dex to some other Developers and Engineers here.
Impressed they were, but it's time to really dig in.
Here is what I love about it on first look:
Great to have a fleshed Linux experience on my phone
Great dev tools come with the image (IntelliJ and also Visual Studio Code and more)
Has plenty of apps to get you started and it's pretty thoughtful
Looks great at 1920x1080 as well as 2560x1440 resolutions on a monitor
Switching between Dex and Ubuntu is pretty snappy
Things I didn't like:
Just a LITTLE bit laggy sometimes
Need to either use ARM compiled apps or compile them yourself
The Default 10GB partition size was too small, so I would suggest using 15GB at least, after updates/upgrades (Ubuntu OS updates that is), you'll still have about 35% free space with 15GB disk
You cannot "install" this on the SDCard, only internal memory, so keep that in mind if you have the 128GB model and tons of apps
Once installed, you cannot delete the 3GB+ zip file you downloaded, so there is that wasted space as well (ok, I have not tried REALLY hard to delete it yet, but Google Files won't delete it, nor do I know the repercussions of deleting this file too)
I'm still trying to work out how to access the files on the device (outside the Linux container), not sure if it is possible, but I have not had a lot of time with it as of now
BONUS!!
When you are not in Dex mode (normal handset mode), you can still launch Linux on Dex, but you cannot get the full desktop experience.
Click on the Terminal icon under the RUN button and you can drop into the Ubuntu Shell and still use commands (like SSH-ing to servers using your certs and stuff).
Of course, the down side, small screen. Hey, in a pinch, when I am on the road and needs to SSH into an AWS instance and run a couple commands, I won't complain!!
All in all, I think this will be great for Dev's to play with, not sure how useful it REALLY will be, but I know from a DevOps/Architect/Engineer, it's nice to have as a backup to be able to actually take care of things without having to drag out the whole laptop.
All this, with a $20 adapter.
Any other thoughts for those that have used it?

Hello friend, I have mine installed on my 128gb Sdcard.

How did you get it on your SD Card?
Thanks!

Talderon said:
How did you get it on your SD Card?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Move the file from LoD folder to the SD card and reassign the file location in the Linux on Dex app, it worked for me but moved it back to internal storage to ensure best performance .

My impression? They will poorly maintain it and I suspect it will be discontinued without any real notice. Registration was broken for well over a week before signups ended. You cannot get in contact with anyone from the team. Care doesn't even know it exists.

I am yet to find a use case that improves upon remote access to an Ubuntu 18.04 VM running on a cloud or at home, but I'm not a developer.
Perhaps if you are stuck somewhere without an Internet connection and feel like coding somewhere in the mountains or in the jungle.. But then you would need a handy monitor, keyboard, mouse and a power source..?

I think I can sum this up in one simple sentence - "Because I can..."
It's like having linux on a PS3, because it could.
Haven't had a chance to use it yet but looks promising. That doesn't mean it will be supported very well, time will tell.
Hardware wise it should work very well, and there is ALWAYS a good reason to have a handy (mostly) self-contained PC with you in case you CAN'T access the net...

Would be great to get an idea of some real life use cases..
Would be very happy to see this project pick up some community developer attention, the platform is only as good as the tools developed for it.
In the absence of an official LoD forum for developers perhaps that community should be developed here.

p33l05 said:
In the absence of an official LoD forum for developers perhaps that community should be developed here.
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https://developer.samsung.com/forum/board/thread/list.do?boardName=SDK&searchSubId=0000000051

I got this installed on my 8GB Note 9 today. I didn't get registered for the beta, but download the app and the Ubuntu image and got it all up and running today. My only complaint so far is it won't run full screen on Dex. That may be because I'm running the Pie Beta. Not sure how it operates on Oreo Dex.
I'll play around with it more later. I basically just plugged into my monitor and opened it up today.

Well, here is a real-life use case that saved me a TON of time and effort.
I set up the Linux on Dex with many tools and configs I need to be able to do my work (Sr. DevOps Architect/Engineer) on my AWS servers. I had an instance that was having some issues and was notified via the monitoring platform and was able to get my phone out, run the Ubuntu Shell and SSH/Fix the issue without ever having to pull out the laptop and tether it while on the train headed home.
There ARE some use cases where this will come in handy, but I do agree that these are real "edge" cases too. No "normal" user will ever really find this helpful.

Mr. Orange 645 said:
I got this installed on my 8GB Note 9 today. I didn't get registered for the beta, but download the app and the Ubuntu image and got it all up and running today. My only complaint so far is it won't run full screen on Dex. That may be because I'm running the Pie Beta. Not sure how it operates on Oreo Dex.
I'll play around with it more later. I basically just plugged into my monitor and opened it up today.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Full screen on oreo.. Have you tried Dex max app?

planning to install LoD and curious if it can actually decompile and recompile apk's as a laptop would..?! mostly I'm interested in Themes for Samsung.. using few apk as templates to swap files, images and recompiling the apk, will it be able and will it properly sign it ?! and if so which way should I go?! do I need to install java, SDK, plugin I saw there ?!
any advice would be great.. thanx..

Can you use any Type c to HDMI or has to be an special cable?

darkriff said:
Can you use any Type c to HDMI or has to be an special cable?
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I think you need powersupply as well in the adapter for it to work.