Manuals/Android

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Contents

Android.png

Introduction

The Android for FreeRunner development can be found on http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/.

This page is dedicated to the daily usage of Android on the Neo 1973 and Neo FreeRunner handsets.

One can find general information (porting/development) about Android on Neo phones here : Android.

Using the Android Manual

If you need some support for this Android Manual see Using Android Manual.

Preparation for Installation

Backup your old Android User Data

If you have Android already installed on your Freerunner (FR), you should backup your data before install Android again. For backup process see Installing Android on Openmoko Freerunner for further information.

Prepare SD Card

On Linux Machine backup current data on Micro SD-Card with adapter. If SD-Card is located in /dev/sde use the following commands (replace /dev/sde by appropriate device name,

 sudo df

will help you to identify the device name and size of SD card: Create two partitions in the ratio 3 to 1 (e.g. 4000000 blocks):

  • FAT32 (3/4 of total size of SD - e.g. blocks 16-3000000)
  • EXT3 (1/4 of total size of SD - e.g. blocks 3000001-4000000)

Use fdisk to create partitions:

 sudo fdisk /dev/sde
  1. -> p Check partitions
  2. -> d -> 1 Delete Partition 1 (repeat for other existing partitions)
  3. -> n -> 1 -> New partition 1 (enter first and last sector)
  4. -> t -> 1 -> c Set type c for FAT32 (LBA)
  5. -> a -> 1 Set boot flag for first partition
  6. -> n -> 2 -> New partition 2 (enter first and last sector)
  7. -> t -> 2 -> 83 Set type 83 for Linux partition

After fdisk operations, format both partitionss. If SD-Card is located in /dev/sde use the following commands (replace /dev/sde by appropriate device name:

  # mkfs.vfat -v -n and-media -F 32 /dev/sde1
  # mkfs.ext3 -v -L and-data /dev/sde2

If you are root you can remove sudo from the command.

Android SDK on PC/Laptop

You need the Android SDK on your PC/Laptop for executing commands on your Android, taking screenshots and uploading/downloading files to/from your Freerunner.

Installation of Android SDK

Instruction for installing Android SDK can be found on http://developer.android.com/sdk/installing.html.

  • Download Android-SDK package
  • On Linux you should append the path to the Android-SDK tools to the PATH-variable. Do do this edit your
    • ~/.bash_profile or
    • ~/.bashrc file.

Edit the line that sets the PATH environment variable and append the full path to the SDK directory tools/ separated with ":" at the end. If you don't see a line, that exports the PATH variable just add the following line:

     export PATH=${PATH}:<your_sdk_dir>/tools

Android Debug Bridge ADB

The Android debug bridge ADB provides an Computer-Freerunner interface. You mainly need adb, that is part of the Android SDK. You can download ADB by installing the Android-SDK. You will find information regarding Android-SDK on http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html.

Android on Freerunner

The homepage of Android on Freerunner can be found on http://code.google.com/p/android-on-freerunner/. The code.google-wiki guides you in preparing an SD-Card on your PC/Laptop, that will be inserted in your freerunner. After that you have reassembled your Freerunner and boot from MircoSD:

  • hold the 'Aux button' (top left) in while you push the 'Power button' (bottom right)Android SDK on PC/Laptop
  • Select Boot from microSD card (FAT+ext2) keep pressing the AUX button until the option is highlight
  • Execute option Boot from microSD card (FAT+ext2) by pressing the Power Button.


Screenshots

To improve the user guide screenshots are very helpful. Independent of your operating system on your PC (Linux, Mac, Windows) you can make screenshots with the SDK on triggered from your PC. Connect your Freerunner with Android via USB and enable USB-Debugging

  • Applications > Development > USB-Debugging
  • Anwendungen > Entwicklung > USB-Debugging (German)

You can make screenshots to enhance this guide by using ddms.

There are application for making a screenshot directly on your Freerunner, but you need a rooted Android for this.


Getting started

Installation of Android on Freerunner

Android Versions

Cupcake is the version mostly installed Android version on Freerunner, but you might want to contribute to the Froyo development for Freerunner, which seems to run much faster than older versions.

Cupcake Installation

If you have prepared your SD-Card with as mentioned above in this article, you have to do just two more steps:

Froyo Installation

Froyo Images are available on http://serdar-dere.net/~serdar/daily/. Images before August 14th, 2010 are too small (9MB) to be a full Android image.

  • Unpack the files on to a FAT formatted SD card.
  • It is recommended to create a directory /boot on your SD-card and copy the binary uImage.bin into /boot.
  • Switch off your Freerunner
  • When you insert card into the Freerunner and boot from (NOR) menu hold AUX key, then switch power on.

Backup your old Android User Data

If you have Android already installed on your Freerunner (FR), you should backup your data before See Installing Android on Openmoko Freerunner for further information.

Android ADB connection

Establish USB Connection, e.g.

 # ifconfig usb0 192.168.0.200 netmask 255.255.255.0

Add the following As root kill adb server and add device on 192.168.0.202

 # adb kill-server 
 # ADBHOST=192.168.0.202 adb devices

or on Ubuntu start an xterm window with

 sudo xterm

and execute the commands mentioned above in that window.

Buttons and Keyboard

The Power button

  • To turn the phone on; press and hold the power button for about 5 seconds
  • To put the phone to sleep (and so lock it): hold the power button for about 1 second
  • To wake the phone from sleep: tap the power button once, then once more to unlock the screen
  • To turn the phone off: First wake it from sleep, then hold the power button for about 2 seconds. Choose 'Power off' in the menu that appears then click 'OK' Use the back button (aux) to delete the menu if one wants to continue.
  • Tap the power button once to get the on screen keyboard. In many applications it also brings extra options.

The Aux button

The aux button is configured as the back button. If the application recognizes the back action, like the browser, it goes a page or action back. If not recognized, one leaves the application to the previous situation. Note the application is not killed. It stays active.

Pressing the AUX button for more than 3sec than all active application can be selected.

The Home Button

The G1 and G2 Android phones have a home button, a long press on this button creates a window with all the running applications.

There is no clear key now, to show the running applications. Sometimes by chance a window with icons of the running applications appears, and then one can jump to a different running application.

I suggest to create this button from a two second press on the aux button. A window with the icons of the running applications will appear. By tapping on the wanted application we can than jump to the running application.

The Keyboard

The keyboard appears when you select a field for input text or numbers.

Making a call

Once the phone has started you will see a 'Dialer' icon on the desktop. Tap it and you will be presented with a dialing keypad. Enter the number you wish to dial and then touch the bar containing the number to call. If you make a mistake entering the number you can touch the backspace arrow to the right of the bar.

Caveats

  • The volume level when in a voice call is very low

Sending an SMS

Start SMS Application in Main Window.


Copy and pasting

Android has a copy and paste feature built in to it. By touching and holding on a text entry box for about 2 seconds the copy & paste menu will appear.

Subsystems

Accelerometers

Works, can be tested with a simple game called Amazed. This can be installed on the current AoF images.

Android Eclair makes use of the accelerometers.

Bluetooth

Works, latest kernels need permissions for second rfkill interface in init.rc to turn it on.

GPS

Works, you can install AndNav2 to test it. AndNav2 is e beta version and the useable period is over.

Proper working of GPS can observed with YGPS Satellites. It shows signal strength and location of each satellite.

GPRS

To set up GPRS you need to enter the correct settings for your network: Tap the Application tab followed by Settings > Wireless controls > Mobile networks > Access Point Names. Now if you press the power button, a menu will appear allowing you to add a 'New APN'. Touch this then add your network's GPRS & MMS settings.

Once you have entered your APN details it maybe necessary to follow this procedure to start GPRS (you will only need to do this once):

Turn on Airplane mode, reboot, turn off Airplane mode

You may also have to carry out the DNS fix described below.


APN settings

You can find most networks 'mcc' and 'mnc' numbers here

  • O2 UK - Pay as you go

Enter these details to set up GPRS:

carrier="o2-UK-PAYG" (Name - can be anything)
mcc="234"
mnc="10"
apn="payandgo.o2.co.uk"
user="payandgo"
server="Not set"
password="password"
type="default"

These details are also correct o2 settings but don't enter them, they stop GPRS from working properly at the moment.

mmsc="http://mmsc.mms.02.co.uk:8002"
proxy="193.113.200.195"
port="9201"
mmsproxy="193.113.200.195"
mmsport="9201"
  • T-Mobile UK

Enter these details to set up GPRS:

carrier="T-Mobile-UK" (Name - can be anything)
mcc="234"
mnc="30"
apn="general.t-mobile.uk"
user="user"
server="149.254.1.10"
# server="149.254.201.132" (alternate server)
password="wap"
type="default"
  • Orange France

Source : French Network parameter

GPRS settings (work):

apn="orange"
user="orange"
password="orange"
mcc="208"
mnc="01"
type="default"

MMS settings (untested) :

apn="orange.acte"
proxy="192.168.10.200"
port="8080"
user="orange"
password : "orange"
mmsc="http://mms.orange.fr"
mms port="8080" 
mcc="208"
mnc"01"
type="mms"

Force use of Orange DNS in the ip-up script located in /system/etc/ppp :

/system/bin/setprop "net.gprs.dns1" "194.051.003.056"


  • Cingular/Att U.S. (working with dns fix(14.6-cupcake), other than sending mms)
apn="wap.cingular"
username="wap@cingulargprs.com"
pass="cingular1"
mmsc="mmsc.cingular.com"
mms proxy="wireless.cingular.com"
mms port = 80
mcc= 310
mnc= 410

Wifi

Wifi works on current distribution of Android, it switches off, when Display goes black. When you use SipDroid SIP-Client for VoIP over Wifi, you will loose network connection.

Applications

You can find a list of Android applications recommended by users of Android on Freerunner (AoF).

Navigation

NOTE: In current Verion 19.08.2010 Navit starts without GPS daemon. Trying to install TTS crashes Navit. Without installing TTS (Text to Speech) Navit starts without GPS "on". If you start the GPS daemon before, Navit will crash.


VoIP

  • SipDroid lets you make phone calls over internet with an established internet connection over WiFi or your data flatrate.
  • To save mobile phone costs, you can
    1. call through your DSL-router with a phone flat at home or
    2. call to your DSL-router at home
    • DynDNS entry necessary e.g. myhomebox.dyndns.com and
    • your registered phone number is 123456789 then call
 sip:123456789@myhomebox.dyndns.com
  • stay connected with one SIP-Account using a mobile data flat as internet access with your freerunner.
  • you can receive landline (PSTN) with a SIP-account e.g. with SIPgate you can register a SIP-Account that has real landline phone number in Germany. If you register this account in SipDroid you can accept landline phone calls e.g. in Germany with you Freerunner from anywhere in the world.
  • The Linphone apk is also available if one asks the developers at http://www.linphone.org directly.
Error: Unfortunately the current version does not work.


Contacts

Importing

From Vcard

  1. install "Android Contacts Import" (this application is also available from AndAppStore)
  2. export your contact(s) as a vcard file from your contact application
  3. copy the file to your phone /sdcard/ directory
  4. on your phone run the ImportContacts application, choose the file you copied and select import. Wait until the phone says x vcards imported

That's it if you don't see your contacts, make sure you selected "view all contacts" in the contacts application options (contacts > power button > Display group > All contacts)

It imports only names and telephone numbers, everything else is not imported.

From SIM

Works, Contacts->menu->Settings->SIM contacts importer.

Synchronization

Calendar

Importing

Synchronization

Files

Copying

You can copy files to your phone using either

This option is not (yet) available in Koolu beta 7

or, from the command line using

ADBHOST=192.168.0.202 ./adb push file.txt /sdcard/

Media

Can play OGG audio files and view pictures with the default applications

Others

Suspend

Waking up your phone might be a little bit tricky at the moment, there are several recipe/hints submitted by different people :

  • 1-2s press of power button goes to sleep, wake up with long power button press, don't use screen timeouts, disable it in Settings->Sound & display->Screen timeout->Never timeout.
  • Michael Trimarchi's images allow resume from suspend after two short presses. However, sometimes it takes a few tries for the phone to wake up.
  • For me resume works best if i long press power until the main screen appears and the short power press that unlocks screen.
  • During suspend the phone seems to wake up make an audible click and go back to sleep.

USB

USB networking

The general USB Networking guide should help you talk to your FreeRunner using IP over USB. However, please note that Android doesn't come with an ssh server installed by default. In order to gain shell access without an additional ssh server you can follow the instructions on the Android debug bridge page.

USB Host mode

echo 1 > /sys/class/i2c-adapter/i2c-0/0-0073/neo1973-pm-host.0/hostmode
echo host > /sys/devices/platform/s3c-ohci/usb_mode
TODO: If you know how to change the USB mode with Android, please explain it here. (See: To-Do List)

USB keyboard

I bought a mini USB keyboard that for my Neo, if someone has simple directions to use it with android, please explain it here.

USB mass storage

This setting is named "Enable USB mass storage". If you don't find it on Settings -> SD card & phone storage, you have to unhide it with Anycut. Install it then make a new shortcut Activity -> SD Card. Use this new shortcut to activate the option. This is not persistent after a reboot. See also [1]

TODO: This doesn't seem to work with the Neo FreeRunner and current Android images. (See: To-Do List)

Software installation and updates

For initial Android flashing, take a look at: Android on Freerunner

Install new software

You can find a list of Android applications recommended by users of Android on Freerunner (AoF).

Manual install

Links/Video Tutorial on Installation

Manual install with browser download on Freerunner

  • Enable to unknown source in Android settings > Application
  • connect with WiFi to Access Point
  • Use browser to navigate to download page
  • Click to download software on your Freerunner
  • Drag down top bar on browser window and wait until download is finished
  • Click on downloaded file and install (Check features the software want to have access to)
  • Install software

Please be careful which software you install on your system.

Manual install from Laptop/PC with ADB

Applications are packaged in .apk packages, to install a package (downloaded on your computer) do

   ./adb install app.apk

After making sure you can talk to your phone using the Android debug bridge

Package managers

Android Market

Currently it is not possible to use the Android Market Place with the Neo Freerunner.

AndAppStore

AndAppStore is an alternate source for Android software and works on the Neo Freerunner. It is installed by default in current Koolu images but you can install manually their client.

SlideME

SlideME provides an independent client and also web interface to access paid and free application.

Freeware Lovers

Provides a repository of free Android apps, which can be downloaded via web interface.

F-Droid

A repository of Free-as-in-Freedom Software Only; submissions are audited and compiled from source. The project home page is here. The client is available at the F-Droid Repository Page.

Update software (without reflashing)

Troubleshooting

Android Debug Bridge

To assist in debugging and to gain shell access to the phone with Android, you can use the instructions found here: Android debug bridge

SD Card unavailable

Type in the the Android Terminal emulator (under Development Tools)

 setprop EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE mounted

or run

 adb shell setprop EXTERNAL_STORAGE_STATE mounted 

with the freerunner connected to a computer which has the Android SDK.

Links

Personal tools