Related
Hi there!
Is anybody working on porting linux to xda now ? Is any info about project's state available ?
I found this idea very interesting, and I'm interested in porting Linux on my cell phone - SONY CMD-J5. Internally xda & j5 is very similar(!) - both have hercrom100 cpu, twl3011 chip, and there is absolutely no docs on hardware, excluding firmware hackers' info (r00t.host.sk, http://hyperion.sp.unipg.it/bodhi3/), but there is still nothing that seems like datasheet.
HI
No help to give I'm afraid but am having a similar linux problem. Mainly connecting to a linux based wireless LAN and using telnet facilities on linux systems.
No progress
Hi,
As far as I'm aware no-one is working on it. Mostly because everyone is too busy with other stuff and it doesn't have priority. Maybe because people are too busy finding out what can be done with the current software.
One note though: when running Linux on an XDA you have nothing todo (or hardly) with the hercom chipset etc. The ARM that would run Linux is completely separate and would communicate with the GSM modem through a serial AT command interface.
OK, thank you.
And then a new question: if two devices both using hercrom100 & twl3011 chips, they must (?) have similar hardware IO ports. For example, it was concluded that on Sony J5 on-chip com port data register is accessible via 0xFFFF5800 port, and first timer's control registers are accsible via 0xFFFFF800, 0xFFFFF802, 0xFFFFF804 ports. I didn't find any info about this ports on the site's pages. What's the matter ? I know that they are busy people, and cannot spend a lot of time disposing XDAs. More politely, I want to ask - is any sort of similar info is available to anybody ?
In the XDA all or almost all I/O with the end-user is taken care of by the StrongARM chip. This chip communicates through GPIO lines and a serial port with the GSM ARM chip. This part is the custom ARM/DSP combo. I suspect that there will be great similarities between things like hardware ports on the processors themselves. I doubt that the are used in the same way as on the XDA. For the XDA port it is not needed to touch the hercom chipset at all.
Porting linux to something like such a Sony sounds like a very big and uncertain effort. With the XDA at least there is the iPaq, which is similar and has a linux port. Still for that port Compaq used a lot of internal specs that are not available on the XDA. I suspect the Sony to be quite different from the XDA because I don't think it will have and additional strongARM for starters. Do you know if the thing was manufacutered by HTC for Sony? Because if it is a Sony design than even if the chipsets are identical there is no comparison possible.
Hmm. I expected that you have a bit info about hercrom chipset.
Also I expected that hercrom chip plays a more significant role in the xda, than a gsm modem. But the firmware loaded to hercrom cpu might be useful - possibly it converts AT commands to the output on some ports to drive the gsm hardware; may be it quite plain for reverse-engeneering than Sony firmware, where gsm hardware driving routines mixed up with lot of other stuff. Hmm. May be, it is possibe to find a guy from, for example, HTC software development team, who can help us. Dreams, dreams..
"Porting Linux" is sounds quite good, but now it's no more than brave idea, you right.
There is no additional chip in the Sony that drives LCD, takes care of user input and so on. Also, I don't know who is real manufacturer of the device. It is almost certainly known that hercrom is the one and main cpu in the device. There are 32Mbit flash chip, in which resides the firmware. And this firmware is disassembled by ~10-20 volunteers.
Thank you very much.
And where is my Interactive Disassembler ?
Hello all...
Just some quick questions with xda and linux...
- What's the current status of linux support? Like, what works, what doesn't?
- How many people (or maybe also who) are actually working on porting linux onto the xda?
- What has to be done for xda linux support?
Thanks.
Pigeon.
Staus of porting Linux to XDA
Status of porting Familiar Linux to the XDA:
a) Lots of people think it would be totally cool
b) Nobody's doing it
We here at XDA-developers would love to help out and share our experience with the device and we can invest quite a bit of time. But we're not diving into this one on our own (just yet).
Given that Familiar Linux runs on an iPaq the job wouldn't be too great. Getting the kernel to run would be doable. Getting it to talk to the screen, modem and buttons may be a little more tricky. And there issues with the flash chips not being supported by Bootblaster (?). Probably the lack of a sleeve-interface and/or CF-card slot would make development a little bit more tricky.
All in all, it would be a Good Thing (tm) if some people that are really familiar with familiar would spend a secluded weekend with some of our gurus, sometime later this summer. Maybe do this as a project at CCC Camp?
Familiar and etc...
I've been using Linux/Familiar on my Ipaq for quite a while (2+ years). I'm also a developer for Familiar and GPE (not actively right now though, "busy" you know I have a fair bit of knowledge how it works as a distro. However I'm not really a Linux kernel/drivers hacker. I'm willing to help porting Linux onto xda for sure, though I don't really own a xda yet, which is even more tricky. Been looking around ebay for xda but haven't started really getting/biding one yet.
Anyway... I'm basically one of those i-am-not-buying-a-device-unless-it-can-run-linux person.
Cheers.
Lots of recruits
Looking like there are a lot of us on this site just gagging for Linux on our XDA. Hopefully by the end of the summer this will have emerged in some way then.
Perhaps now would be an appropriate time for somebody here, or elsewhere to take charge? Of course it has to be somebody who has time, and knowledge. Me personally am one of the many people who are eager to test, but don'y have a clue!
Many thanks. And heres to something getting underway very soon.
w w w . l i n u x . x d a - d e v e l o p e r s . c o m
here we come !!!
Martin
Maybe we could have a bit more detail list of what steps are needed to be done/discovered in order to have a usable (or full) linux port on the xda?
Something like...
- JTAG
---- locating JTAG pins(?)
- bootloader
- drivers(?)
- etc(?)
Someone who really knows about the xda can come up a comprehensive one and people can slowly work on them?
Pigeon.
Hi
Now that I made some progress, we can look at this.
pigeon said:
Maybe we could have a bit more detail list of what steps are needed to be done/discovered in order to have a usable (or full) linux port on the xda?
Something like...
- JTAG
---- locating JTAG pins(?)
- bootloader
- drivers(?)
- etc(?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently I finished the JTAG part and a bootloader can be flashed in this way. More details can be found at the following page, but it has not been finished completely yet: http://xda-developers.com/jtag/
To port Linux, I think the following steps are needed:
- reverse engineer the hardware mapping to registers, pins and addresses
- port a bootloader with this information
- port the kernel with this information
Now the first two parts would be an iterative loop, starting with a basic set of hardware features such as screen, touch screen and buttons. For this it is necessary to understand how the bootloader (for example bootldr at http://cvs.handhelds.org/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/bootldr/) works and how it can be limited to basic functionality.
When the bootloader has been ported with the basic hardware features than this information can be pretty much directly used for porting the kernel.
Question is:
Who has experience with coding in the bootldr or BootBlaster for iPaq?
Who has experience reversing the Wallaby bootloader to figure out how hardware is controlled from software?
Who can create a basic build for running the bootloader in RAM on the XDA from Windows CE?
Any volunteers can mail me, but I don't have much time to instruct. People should have the ability to take a 'Figure out how the LCD is controlled' and proceed from there with something like IDA Pro.
XDA developer W4XY said:
Question is:
Who has experience with coding in the bootldr or BootBlaster for iPaq?
Who has experience reversing the Wallaby bootloader to figure out how hardware is controlled from software?
Who can create a basic build for running the bootloader in RAM on the XDA from Windows CE?
Any volunteers can mail me, but I don't have much time to instruct. People should have the ability to take a 'Figure out how the LCD is controlled' and proceed from there with something like IDA Pro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I took it upon myself to at least create a basic port and procedure for getting bootldr running on the XDA in RAM (without flashing). When that is working, I'll post more details on where to get it etc.
Good Luck
We appreciatte the effort that you all make on this site. As I have no experience in any of the things that you mentioned I can be of little assistance for the moment. But as one of the few here that are interested in this Linux port, I look forward to testing and giving feedback.
Looking forward to the XDA Special Edition Linuc ROM ! ! ! v0.01
Martin
Available to work
I have a couple of years experience coding under Linux on desktop PCs, and some experience coding kernel modules, although no specific experience of Familiar.
I don't have an XDA yet (quite a big obstacle except at CCC), but I want to get one soon; I saw one a friend of mine had, and I fell in love with it.
I have quite a lot of time to work on stuff like this, and I'm thinking of going to CCC if a couple of other people are who are interested in Linux on XDA.
I'll be on #xda-developers on IRCnet and #familiar and #handhelds.org on Freenode.net pretty much every evening (BST) and my email is [email protected]
Good deal. Thanks for the offer for assistance.
Can't come to CCC
I'm afraid I've decided that I can't come to the CCC. It's too short notice (only found out about it a couple of days ago), a long way to travel, I'd be coming alone, and I already have plans for that weekend.
Contributors sought
An old thread back to life! Linux porting has now started in full on http://xanadux.org. We're looking both at porting to Wallaby and Himalaya and do not want to stop after the kernel is done. Userland applications and maybe even a full distribution are our goal.
Check it out.
I wish to know:
1. What is the status of the project now?
2. How to join? (I tryed to send to the email there but couldn't)
regards,
Hi,
AlBaraSoft said:
I wish to know:
1. What is the status of the project now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently there are two developments going on:
XDA 1 or Wallaby: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/wiki/WallabyProgress
XDA 2 or Himalaya: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/wiki/HimalayaProgress
Progress and information can be found in the respective Xanadux pages: http://wiki.xda-developers.com/wiki/XanaduxDeveloperHome
2. How to join? (I tryed to send to the email there but couldn't)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that is strange. Where did you send mail to and what was the result? The e-mail address is: [email protected]
Beware that the current state of linux is very primitive. But with both it is possible to boot Linux and start TCP/IP networking over USB.
If you want to join and try and implement a feature help is very welcome! We are looking at several features such as Touch screen, button support, GSM modem etc.
Get applications like you can get for the iPhone?
I have just had a 'demo' of a load of free apps for the Iphone on a colleagues Iphone and I must admit I was impressed and very surprised, I had always discounted the Iphone as an option for me due to the many (well documented) short commings for power users. However after seeing such applications as the Tioti TV+ which is so quick and smooth and lets you send remote record requests to a Sky+ box - somehting I have been desperate for. Along with great film and cinema applications and many other very neat applications which aren't available on Windows Mobile, I am begining to wonder if I made the wrong decision in purchassing my touch HD??!
Just thought I would share my thoughts with you all....I am sure I will get a barrage of abuse for this post, but would love to know if we think the future of windows mobile may include some more intuitive and consistently looking applications.
P.S. If anyone knows of a SKY+ remote record app which is designed for Windows Mobile I would love to know!
A related question from a relative novice when it comes to downloading and installing apps... is there anything like the iPhone appstore for Windows mobile apps - where applications are listed with screenshots, descriptions, what phones/resolution they work on, etc? I've seen lots of great home-grown apps, and lots of vendor websites that seem to be pedalling a specific product, but haven't seen anything that attempts to bring it all together?
Thanks,
Dave
davehodgkinson said:
A related question from a relative novice when it comes to downloading and installing apps... is there anything like the iPhone appstore for Windows mobile apps - where applications are listed with screenshots, descriptions, what phones/resolution they work on, etc? I've seen lots of great home-grown apps, and lots of vendor websites that seem to be pedalling a specific product, but haven't seen anything that attempts to bring it all together?
Thanks,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
www.handango.com for example....
jrshodges said:
Get applications like you can get for the iPhone?
I have just had a 'demo' of a load of free apps for the Iphone on a colleagues Iphone and I must admit I was impressed and very surprised, I had always discounted the Iphone as an option for me due to the many (well documented) short commings for power users. However after seeing such applications as the Tioti TV+ which is so quick and smooth and lets you send remote record requests to a Sky+ box - somehting I have been desperate for. Along with great film and cinema applications and many other very neat applications which aren't available on Windows Mobile, I am begining to wonder if I made the wrong decision in purchassing my touch HD??!
Just thought I would share my thoughts with you all....I am sure I will get a barrage of abuse for this post, but would love to know if we think the future of windows mobile may include some more intuitive and consistently looking applications.
P.S. If anyone knows of a SKY+ remote record app which is designed for Windows Mobile I would love to know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't use Sky+ and have no idea on apps for this - but, I understood it is possible to control the Sky+ box remotely just via an SMS ?
Another possible option is a Slingbox ?
Try also pocketgear.com for applications: http://www.pocketgear.com/en_US/html/index.jsp
and, Softpedia: http://handheld.softpedia.com/#categories-soft
A five second search on google / sky produced this:
http://anytime.sky.com/mobile.aspx
And clicking through to the supported handsets only lists a few manufacturers and I don't think there are any WM devices.
I think it's a Java app? It might work (I don't have Sky, so can't test!).
Cheesy Dave said:
A five second search on google / sky produced this:
http://anytime.sky.com/mobile.aspx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps you should read on as there is no compatible version for Windows Mobile 6.1 (HTC Touch HD)!
Hawk
You need to analyse your own requirements before deciding if iphone or HD is right for you.
For me, the lack of GPS software (google map doesnt qualify), office applications, user swappable spare battery, inability to support stylus, and lack of choices in software keyboard in iphone make it an unacceptable choice.
Another person's need might be different.
jrshodges said:
Get applications like you can get for the iPhone?
I have just had a 'demo' of a load of free apps for the Iphone on a colleagues Iphone and I must admit I was impressed and very surprised, I had always discounted the Iphone as an option for me due to the many (well documented) short commings for power users. However after seeing such applications as the Tioti TV+ which is so quick and smooth and lets you send remote record requests to a Sky+ box - somehting I have been desperate for. Along with great film and cinema applications and many other very neat applications which aren't available on Windows Mobile, I am begining to wonder if I made the wrong decision in purchassing my touch HD??!
Just thought I would share my thoughts with you all....I am sure I will get a barrage of abuse for this post, but would love to know if we think the future of windows mobile may include some more intuitive and consistently looking applications.
P.S. If anyone knows of a SKY+ remote record app which is designed for Windows Mobile I would love to know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nighthawk2050 said:
Perhaps you should read on as there is no compatible version for Windows Mobile 6.1 (HTC Touch HD)!
Hawk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've installed the JAVA components and they work on Windows Mobile 6.1 - the issue is that the software expects you to have a keyboard (or a keypad) attached to input various details .... so you can't use it on a Touch HD !
Thank you for all your comments and suggestions, however I don't beleive sites like handandgo etc are anything like the Iphone Appstore, the apps cost a lot more and you have no idea of compatability. I don't beleive you can easily browse for apps on your handset, like you can with for example the Iphone.
I am not saying I think the Iphone is the best choice of phone, but they certainly got somehting right with the app store and wondered if Microsoft will listen up and provide developers an easy route to dev similar apps for windows mobile?!
I Have tried all the Java Sky remote apps before and as you have spotted they do not work with a touch screen device if it doesn't have hardware buttons too. Also even if it did work it is not very user freindly - I was using this as a example of a really usefull app, which I am amazed has not been built for Windows Mobile touch devices too....it just seems weird why there are so many great little apps for the Iphone, which are so easy to download and browse though, yet it has only been about a relatively short time in comparison with Windows Mobile....I find this most annoying!
Anyway, thanks again for your input
jrshodges said:
Thank you for all your comments and suggestions, however I don't beleive sites like handandgo etc are anything like the Iphone Appstore, the apps cost a lot more and you have no idea of compatability. I don't beleive you can easily browse for apps on your handset, like you can with for example the Iphone.
I am not saying I think the Iphone is the best choice of phone, but they certainly got somehting right with the app store and wondered if Microsoft will listen up and provide developers an easy route to dev similar apps for windows mobile?!
I Have tried all the Java Sky remote apps before and as you have spotted they do not work with a touch screen device if it doesn't have hardware buttons too. Also even if it did work it is not very user freindly - I was using this as a example of a really usefull app, which I am amazed has not been built for Windows Mobile touch devices too....it just seems weird why there are so many great little apps for the Iphone, which are so easy to download and browse though, yet it has only been about a relatively short time in comparison with Windows Mobile....I find this most annoying!
Anyway, thanks again for your input
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome and good luck with your choice - still an Iphone ?
Yes, the apps in WM are expensive and there is no simple app store. Rumours are around that MS will fix this.
Having said that, the app developers for WM are doing some great work. I have loads of apps on my HD (see other forum posts I've made recently).
I would like a TV guide app that brings in channels from across Europe. That is, one that would allow me to select my favorite channels.
Sorry the Sky+ thing did not work, as I said, I don't have any experience with this. I'm surprised the keyboard SIP did not work when using the java app.
michi123 said:
www.handango.com for example....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you - will take a look around that and the others suggested by people. I suspect my response will be similar to jrshodges - not overly clear on compatibility and quite expensive. But I won't be pessimistic...
Thanks again.
Dave
Cheesy Dave said:
You're welcome and good luck with your choice - still an Iphone ?
Yes, the apps in WM are expensive and there is no simple app store. Rumours are around that MS will fix this.
Having said that, the app developers for WM are doing some great work. I have loads of apps on my HD (see other forum posts I've made recently).
I would like a TV guide app that brings in channels from across Europe. That is, one that would allow me to select my favorite channels.
Sorry the Sky+ thing did not work, as I said, I don't have any experience with this. I'm surprised the keyboard SIP did not work when using the java app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers Dave, no - not an Iphone...yet...I am happy to persevere with my WinMo device for the forseeable as I do belive I would miss, like others Sat Nav (which by the way I use TomTom and it looks and works great) ease of Exchange sync etc etc.
I just wanted to rant for a bit about the lack of decent and easily accesable apps for WinMo....in the hopes someone would point me in the direction of a lovely MS App Store (wishful thinking!). I hope you are right and wee do see something from MS soon, although I guess they will wait and in include it in Windows Mobile 6.5 or 7 - although by the sounds of it that won't be anytime soon :-(
And if anyone does ever find a decent TV guide and Sky + App then please remember this thread and post it for us!
Its also worth mentioning that although there are a lot of iPhone apps, and yes they are cheap, most are useless eye candy that have about 2 minutes worth of value in them.
Check out my list of apps here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3116988#post3116988
Also, of course, the wiki page:
http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=HTC_Software
I don't know much about the Apple apps. But, I can say that some of these WM apps are really serious work and clearly have had lots of effort and thought applied to them.
My latest addition is Pocket Stars - a bit of astronomy fun for me, but a serious app for enthusiasts.
The iphone is for simple folk. The app store is for simple folk. IE it works.
WM is bit more complicated but gives those of you willing to use it a lot more freedom.
I do wish there were more apps and games for the HD.
I have both the Iphone and HD at home (well the Mrs has the iphone) once jailbroken the iphone is truly amazing and I almost wish i had one instead, but them my mrs reminds me why i dont have one, I would get board in no time. I played with hers (iphone that is) for a couple of days over the xmas break then went back to playing around on my HD.
Its still early days for the HD and remember the IPHONE has been around for quite some time now.
Give it a little time and the HD will be up there with the iphone, you already starting to see some really nice app/games coming out.
My only other wish would be some way to get multi-touch to work on HD as it makes games very playable on iphone.
The problem with Microsoft trying to replicate the iPhone App Store is that Apple have 2 different handsets to maintain, which are practically identical except for the GPS/3G.
There are many different versions of WM in use, with many software customisations by handset manufacturers and operators and varying hardware abilities.
I'm not sure how it would be possible to test the full range of devices that a particular application may work with. On top of that, people may or may not have updated the firmware for their device, which can break (or fix) applications.
I'd love to see it, but it's certainly more difficult supporting hundreds of different handsets customised by many operators rather than 1 and a bit
I saw on here that someone is working very hard to make a form of "app store" that will work on phones (credit to them for the effort) its called Gecko...i found the link on the forum. Give it time, I think it will come...
http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/10/google-announces-android-at-home-framework/
I understand this is a bit off topic (not directly Evo related), but I thought I'd still throw this out there because it may help me. I am working on a competitive analysis report in home automation and wanted to see if anyone had thoughts on this technology. With the announcement of [email protected], this went straight to the top of the list.
Do you think developers are excited to get their hands on this technology? Google mentions the creation of an alarm app that slowly turns the lights on to wake you up, etc. Although the company I just started working for is a few years ahead of Google in this aspect, the robustness and amount of resources available to Google has us wanting to keep a close eye on them.
I personally think that they do have potential here with these ideas, but it would require a lot of effort which they may or may not be willing to do.
I am by no means an expert in this field but what I do think Google's role in this field will be a large one. Having a big name in that arena can help propel smart home technologies in a way that is beneficial to all companies that are in sector.
I think at the end what they will bring is unity just how they did in the smart phone arena.
I'd be all for it. The more things I can eliminate and replace with my phone (which is a must-have anyway), the better.
My question is is Sony going to team up with Google Sony wanted to do this with the ps3 before it came out but I don't think it worked out so well or they cut that idea out of the plan lol
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
I am in full support of it...I love the idea and concept.
This epic reply brought to you by none other than my roxx'd out Evo.
I'd like to see this come to fruition, but I'm also intersted in what microsoft is doing with home automation. They have some pretty cool ideas that they are working with.
I could definitely see something like this being a benefit. A novel, but not entirely surprising, idea for more control / automation. +Tasker support and this could pwn.
Enviado desde mi PC36100 utilizando XDA Premium de la aplicación
teh roxxorz said:
I am in full support of it...I love the idea and concept.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree with you. I have been thinking of some great use cases that may be possible with this technology.
I like this technology idea, however I don't think it should be limited to just Android but should include iOS/Windows, etc.. and be an open spec. I think there are a few things that are stunting this technology growth which I will go over here in this long sleepy thread, which was the only one I could find on XDA in search. This highlights my first point very well.
1. Interest:
There is simply not enough interest for this technology that could be so amazingly cool. First people have to be interested in smartphones and then they also have to be interested in home automation. I have been ever since I've head of Gates's "smart house" and even before then when many of these ideas were covered in sci-fi flicks of the past.
2. Price and Practicality:
Let's face it, anyone who wants home automation right now will pay through the nose for it. This will also lock out many, I mean why pay money to turn on a light remotely when you can just walk over there and do it yourself. What practical purpose does it serve? The disabled is an obvious market that would benefit from such technology but generally most things I see for the disabled cost an arm and a leg because I think they expect people to gouge their insurance companies for the cash.
3. Implementation:
Most people are idiots and can't even figure out how to wire in a light socket, let alone a smart one where you can adjust it remotely from thousands of miles away. They would have to hire a contractor to install/upgrade things/run any wire (more secure than wireless,) etc... which also costs that money thing.
4. Fragmentation:
There are already quite a few competing technologies for home automation. x10 is probably one of the more obvious ones. That's why I say it shouldn't be [email protected], it should be [email protected] or something like that and work across as many mobile devices/computers as possible.
Why am I writing this now? Yesterday my space heater shorted out on me, so at the moment I'm using my dad's spare to keep warm. I'd like to shut it on and off when I'm not at home, specifically to turn it on 30 minutes to an hour before I get home so it's not absolutely frigid when I do. I can't find any home automated space heaters online, anywhere. These should be a thing.
Why here? I love XDA, more specifically I love the people who are developers. If an open standard were to be developed where anyone could modify hardware to work with it I'd expect you guys to come up with the most amazing stuff, especially on the phone/controller end. Also I'm hoping that when this gets big enough that the mods will give mobile home automation a separate subforum as well.
Sony had wanted to do this a long time ago I don't really seeing this going anywhere as dude above said most people can't figure half their crap out nor want to drop money in their house if everything works
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
I know cost is a bit high but I work with a supplier in this field. Name is Crestron with an app in market https://market.android.com/details?id=com.crestron.mobile.android.free that already does controllers and systems that work within a home. I work in audio visual in regards to these systems that can be controlled with a phone or touch panel. Pretty cool stuffs.
Sent from my EVO
Can you explain the difference between free and pro (for $100!) Just wondering.
There is also autom8 but the server is for windows and I use linux :/
It would be nice if there was a complete list of apps/information on this somewhere.
I haven't specifically looked at the paid vs free Creston apps, but in order for you to use the app you need to first own a Creston system. And per the point made earlier, cost is definitely a limiting factor. $100 for the app is nothing compared to the system. A good whole home Creston automation system (excluding their low end prodigy line) would probably run you over $100k. There are cheaper options out there, but cost is still a big issue which is exaggerated by the fragmentation of the industry.
I have not heard much more about Androids home automation system since the initial announcements. Since then apple has also made plans to enter the arena. Many companies have tried in the past...like ibm...but most fail. Goggle has already suspended it's energy division which is closely related to automation. It will be interesting to watch this market grow as I'm sure it will...
Yeah I remember at Google IO all the lights and stuff they showed off and said a company(forget who exactly) would have some out in the later year but this obviously never happened.
Regardless to do automation you have to change out a ton of things in the home and it gets costly like others have said. Prolly the cheapest is getting stuff like zwave devices switches and controling stuff that route.
I looked into crestron here but it was deff costly. Wouldn't be the 10k you said since my home isn't huge but it was not cheap in the very least still.
Sent from my PG86100 using XDA App
Yes, super expensive. But some times you can piece together the systems to get a result you'd love. Guy I work with got the main control unit for 200 bucks. Sounds expensive but its typically a ton more than that lol. Having the Ethernet version of the controller allows him to use his home network and his EVO to send out these commands like turn on tv and at same time turn on surround sound. Or when dvd player is turned on also turn on tv and dim the lights. Just little things like that.
Sent from my EVO
I think they would be do to the fact that we always want one remote for everything rather then the 4 I have now. I think they will come out with alot of things that will be pretty cool.
I've got several older Android phones that I've retired from use and are now collecting dust in my closet.
I'd like to use these units as something other than a cell phone (or a paper weight). I'd like to disable the cellular network component and use the phone either as a music player, or as a satellite enabled GPS receiver.
Are there any custom ROMs for this? While I can get these devices functioning as described above, however whenever they are rebooted I get the "new phone" messages looking for service providers, or complaining that the device is missing the SIMM card.
Thanks in advance for relevant information. Don't flame me TOO badly if I'm being tragically unhip and noobish w/this request.
Idk if its much help but I use my old Droid x for a camera and games. I got past the activation screen by pressing the 4 corners on the screen around the android guy. If I'm not explaining it well you can find it on Google by searching for something like using Android phone without activating.
Sent from my DROID RAZR
portsample said:
I've got several older Android phones that I've retired from use and are now collecting dust in my closet.
I'd like to use these units as something other than a cell phone (or a paper weight). I'd like to disable the cellular network component and use the phone either as a music player, or as a satellite enabled GPS receiver.
Are there any custom ROMs for this? ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think it's possible, but it will depend entirely on the device and its support within the community. Search the forum for your device(s) and determine if it can be "rooted" first. Most can, although what you can do beyond that will often depend on how popular the device was. The device forum will have advice on what to do to get the functionality you want.
Good luck!
Why not stick a large memory card inside and use it for torrents?
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A
Android for Autism.
It's something to look into if you're the generous type.
Supersonic Evo 4G | MIUI | Tapatalk
Thanks for the responses.
Ideally I was planning on using the audio player in my car, something that would boot up into the standard phone desktop and skip the "Where's my SIMM card? Where's my carrier??" device panic.
Same for the GPS unit.
The devices are a G1 and an older Motorola Droid, the G1 is rooted but not the Droid yet. Thanks again.
Repurpose old android
A couple of ideas that I like are using the phone as a bit-torrent device, or maybe as a pirate box. But one idea I like a lot and would love to hear something from the developers is about a device on Kickstarter called Twine (I can't post links yet so you will have to look it up), how hard would it be to use old android devices in this same fashion?
I went through the same thought process for my old HTC Hero. Currently, I have CM7.2 installed on it (because it runs smoother and has plenty of options to potentially reduce unneeded battery use) and I keep it clean and in airplane mode. Even that alone allows me to get some pretty good battery life on it to go towards being used as a music player and as a backup device for geocaching.
That in mind, I'd say finding the most barebones ROM will do the trick for you. Or find the newest fully developed version of CM for each device and use that.
you could try this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2644588
Follow the link I posted, you would be surprised how much you have to disable/freeze before it stops complaining.
Some processes you can not disable unless you are rooted.
____________________
Sent from my Nexus 7 (and you care why?)
torikorocks said:
Idk if its much help but I use my old Droid x for a camera and games. I got past the activation screen by pressing the 4 corners on the screen around the android guy. If I'm not explaining it well you can find it on Google by searching for something like using Android phone without activating.
Sent from my DROID RAZR
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This does not work on all phones....
Really liked your tutorial video! Thank you!
Do you have to resurrect this thread from 2012?
Hi all developers,
We released our EvolutionUI research project as open source. In this project we are experimenting with integrating gamificiation (experience points, achievements, etc) into Android. This should make the phone easier to use and a lot more fun.
Feel free to have a look at the open source project and contribute to make it even better!
https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/EvolutionUI
Get the full story on Developer World.
/Pál Szász
SW developer at Sony
Hi
pal.szasz said:
Hi all developers,
We released our EvolutionUI research project as open source. In this project we are experimenting with integrating gamificiation (experience points, achievements, etc) into Android. This should make the phone easier to use and a lot more fun.
Feel free to have a look at the open source project and contribute to make it even better!
https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/EvolutionUI
Get the full story on Developer World.
/Pál Szász
SW developer at Sony
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting! A very good initiative how can I put the file in my rom?
I actually like the idea a lot. Brings simple 'Fun' to the Android system. For some users it won't be though because there have been times where myself just wanted to dive into my Brand New Android device when I received it. However once I get used to it I get somewhat bored?! Lol, I'm a phone whore so that's definitely why. This might actually help me not want to move on to the 'Next Best Thing' once I get used to my current device.
I like it!:good:
Sound great....
i love the idea!!
Great idea, I actually think this is a great concept. Some users I've noticed find it white hard to get used to Android phones.
With this, they can explore and find out more things about their device yet figure out more about what they can do on it.
So great concept, I'll take a peek at the source
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Marília de Oliveira said:
Interesting! A very good initiative how can I put the file in my rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are making/building your own ROM, then I guess you need to include the two projects into our repo and create Android.mk files for them.
If you just want to install it on your already flashed phone, there are precompiled binaries here: https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/EvolutionUI/releases
In each case note that this is not a finished product
This reminds me of app Android achievements
Used a lot then lost after factory reset and got lazy enough to not install it
Press thanks :good: if I've helped :highfive:
great job,, nice sound quality on sony
Good stuff! I'm trying to convince family to ditch iPhones since they're getting worse and worse on build quality under Mr. Cook. Their only real concern is learning a new phone. This would be extremely useful!
This has been already been done in form of an app. Been available for some time too!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.pixelmark.phonechievements
Awesome work
Currently you can get achievements by :
1) Add 5 Shortcuts to Home Screen (Told by OP).
2) Open any app 5 times (Told by OP).
3) Add 5 Widgets to Home Screen (Discovered by me).
4) Add 10 Apps to Home Screen (Discovered by me).
pal.szasz said:
If you are making/building your own ROM, then I guess you need to include the two projects into our repo and create Android.mk files for them.
If you just want to install it on your already flashed phone, there are precompiled binaries here: https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/EvolutionUI/releases
In each case note that this is not a finished product
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks !
Thanks for the feedback, both for the positive and the negative!
Btw, you should be able to adjust other applications to work with achievements. The launcher is just an example.
Any application can publish it's own set of features and achievements. I started to write some more detailed explanation, but it's not finished yet: https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/EvolutionUI/wiki
However you can always look at the launcher patches: https://github.com/sonyxperiadev/an...mmit/71460e8441066b3dfc1a796b05f196d7edab8ba8
honestly, this is a bad idea. let me explain why.
the main idea behind this concept is to make it easier to the user to get familiar with the user interface. The user is slowly understanding the "game mechanics" of one "level" (i. e. reduced interface) and once he mastered them, he's ready for the next level. This process repeats until the user has all the skills needed to use the phone fully.
Ideally, the user should have full access to all functionality. The user interface should be polished and user friendly enough that any user doesn't experience any steep hills on the learning curve.
like someone said, Everything Should Be Made as Simple as Possible, But Not Simpler.
The average user has changed since the first smartphone. Back then, the idea of interact with a machine was very new. Arguably nowadays people are being brought up surrounded by technology, making it easier for them to understand how a computational device work.
Hence the achievements system is purely a steep hill that every single user has to do, even an experienced user. More computation machines are owned by the average user: tablet, phone, watches. What I fear is that the user has to go through a little game every time he has a new device. An idea to be successful has to be widely implemented, and I don't see this happening.
One could argue that every device may have a different interface and new "skills" have to be learned in order to fully use the device. True, but where the problem really lies is within inconsistency across multiple devices.
Consistency across multiple devices. This is what the aim of a good designer should be. As mentioned, this interface should be clean and intuitive. It's not easy, Microsoft is trying to do it and even with all the skilled people and resources available they ain't quite there yet.
With what it is available at the moment, a AOSP look with a theme engine (and an advanced menu unlocked it via a semi hidden command, like tapping multiple times the build number to get to Dev options) is a very very good concept.
Sony is almost doing so with the recent devices and I'm really happy about their decision. Continue down this way you guys. This surely was a fun little project to do, hopefully it has taught you something on the way.
p. s.
I love Android and its ability to change interface when I feel like it. But once I found an interface I'm happy about, I'm sticking with it between flashing and phones. The interface is device agnostic. This idea is shared among my friends and personally it is shared across xda as well. Hopefully this could serve as a proff of the above.
pps
I really like the professionality of the latest Sony interfaces, it doesn't look like it was designed for teens. Thank you!
I hope I have expressed my ideas in a clear way without offending anyone. I have open to further discussion on this topic.
hrockh said:
honestly, this is a bad idea. let me explain why.
the main idea behind this concept is to make it easier to the user to get familiar with the user interface. The user is slowly understanding the "game mechanics" of one "level" (i. e. reduced interface) and once he mastered them, he's ready for the next level. This process repeats until the user has all the skills needed to use the phone fully.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's only one of the main ideas. Another important idea is to make it fun, to make a positive feedback to the user. I understand that some users don't need, but some do, some like an extra little bit of challenge, or simply a reward. For example my parents were very happy when they managed to find out how to merge two word documents, and they were eager to tell everybody
hrockh said:
Ideally, the user should have full access to all functionality. The user interface should be polished and user friendly enough that any user doesn't experience any steep hills on the learning curve.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this is possible. There is no way to make a user interface, which is easy to use both for beginner users and contains all the features required for advanced users. You mention the hidden developer options as an example. For me that's a good example why it doesn't work: it took me some time to find out what happened with the developer menu. The same with the offline map support in google maps. They removed the feature from the menu (to make it easier to use for the beginner users), and they added it as a hidden feature (type "ok maps" in the search?!). I also used an iPhone for 2 weeks, but didn't liked. And I liked the UI of the old UIQ phones. I also think the new trend of using more hidden gestures is also confusing for some users (especially the new swipe-sideways-to-delete-but-sometimes-to-show-more-options thingy).
Btw, we thought about advanced users, they can switch profile and disable the achievement system. Or switch profile only, but keep the achievement notifications just for fun. In many comments I saw people look at this as something they HAVE TO do. That's not the case. The point is to track what they are doing, and enable more and more. And of course there are not and there will never be microtransactions involved.
hrockh said:
Hence the achievements system is purely a steep hill that every single user has to do, even an experienced user.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I mentioned before, this is not something the user HAS TO do. You can skip it by changing profiles.
hrockh said:
What I fear is that the user has to go through a little game every time he has a new device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We actually thought about this as well (but was not mentioned in the article for time/size reason)
We actually think this can help the user to switch to a different phone even if he used a smartphone already. Smartphones have new features compared to the previous one, so there is always something new to learn. The idea is the following:
* if switching from a phone which already supported EvolutionUI, we can copy the state (experiences, features, achievements obtained) and continue from the same point. This is rather easy to do, we already store this information locally (obviously, in case the user reboots the phone), so the only thing we need to do is transfer it to another device (probably via a cloud service). (NOTE: this is still in the concept phase, not implemented yet).
* if switching from a phone which did not support EvolutionUI, we can have a small builtin database, which maps the previous phone to an achievement state. For example if the previous user had an iPhone, we can set the medium profile instead of the beginner profile. It would be possible to even have customized profiles for certain phones (i.e. a small xml file describing all the features which needs to be enabled by start, since it was available in the previous phone)
hrockh said:
Consistency across multiple devices. This is what the aim of a good designer should be. As mentioned, this interface should be clean and intuitive. It's not easy, Microsoft is trying to do it and even with all the skilled people and resources available they ain't quite there yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NOTE: the following is just my personal opinion:
Of course we cannot guarantee complete consistency, since we control the Sony phones only. But to be honest, I don't think consistency is that important: imagine, if all android phones would look and behave like the iPhone. Of course it would be nice for many users, they could switch to android easily. But what should those users who don't like the iPhone UI do? They could not buy any phone. And I also want to mention again, that IMHO there is no such thing as perfect UI. UIs evolved a lot, but it's still a matter a fashion: a couple of years ago everybody liked the real-life-looking apps on the iPhone. Now they like the new modern, simplified look. It's always changing, and just like with fashion, not everybody has the same taste.
hrockh said:
I hope I have expressed my ideas in a clear way without offending anyone. I have open to further discussion on this topic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, and I appreciate it!