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.
I've been interested in starting a project like this since I read the specifications of the MT6236 chip, and now I'm starting this thread with hope that this will turn into a real project of running Android on MT6236-based phones.
For those of you that don't know MT6236 is one of the chips mostly implemented in chinese mobile phone knockoffs. However, the chips specification look like it could run Android.
It has a ARM9 @312MHz processor which is AFAIK the most generic thing I could write but it also sounds possible to run Android.
MT6236 official page
I used this for reference for Android requirements:
http://www.kandroid.org/android_pdk/system_requirements.html
So what do you say people, could we make something out of this? Or just shoot me down.
For full touch fones it is possible but guess noone is willing to be mad cause of different key layouts
I found this device. It is a full PC with an ARM Brodcome 700MHz CPU, 128 or 256 MB of ram and it is going to cost 25/35$. It is designed to run Linux (Debia,Arch,Fedora and more)
I was just wondering if it is possible to run Android on it. The possibilities are endless.
raspberrypi.org
I saw your post and i am quite amazed why none of the guys said anything about Raspberry Pi .I am waiting the time to buy a few of them ,maybe 2 or 3 .If you search the ebay you can see they sell the beta raspberry boards and the price now is too high from the bids..Official site http://www.raspberrypi.org/
This is the third thread I have seen about Raspberry Pi.
You should search before spamming.
I'd love to team this up with a touch screen and see what we could build. Seems like for ~$60 you could have a dedicated android appliance for all types of things!
killall said:
This is the third thread I have seen about Raspberry Pi.
You should search before spamming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not when I opened this thread. I used the search several times to be shoure that my question haven't answered before. I have seen pi mentioned in some threads.
crhylove said:
I'd love to team this up with a touch screen and see what we could build. Seems like for ~$60 you could have a dedicated android appliance for all types of things!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes this is one way to go an inexpensive hand made tablet although it would cost more then 60$
If you give 35$ for the Pi and then another 15-20$ for the sd card you allready have 50-55$ and unfortunately the touch screen without multi touch costs over 80$ .If you know anywhere to buy cheaper please inform me .
Will it run Crysis?
DirkGently said:
Will it run Crysis?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does your phone?
I just ordered a replacement screen for my Dell streak that was $35. It's a great little screen with responsive touch. Not sure how to connect it to VGA or hdmi or whatever though...
Been following this for a long time, and looks like a great idea! Nice idea about putting android on it, but linux would be cool too!
seems like cool product to buy. If it runs linux its fine by me and the interesting point of installing android on it is also nice
hey
This thread is the longest, so i will post here.
manufacturing of the first 10 000 units has begun....
[linkie]
i'm mightygoose on the boards over there too.
Super cheap Google TV implementation?
I'm going to start trying to get this running as a Google TV as soon as I get one. This is a perfect platform for it.
The way I would like to use pi
I would like to see android for this little board, who needs touch if you plan to use it on a tv or larg format display. Just give me an android build that can use a mouse with, like android x68. I have seen a youtube vid of android x86 used on netbooks. I just think that would be great; too bad we cant get them retail yet but we will have it soon, then i hope to see lots of development for this great toy.
http://www.raspberrypi.org/
looks like they have a release date of February 20th.
Reading on the Raspberry Pi website it has been revealed that in can be run on 4 X AA Batteries, not really sure how long it would last though.
Also with regards to the small touchscreen, they're not as exspensive as you would imagine, I have already purched a controller for an LCD Screen I salvaged from an old P4 Prescott Laptop, encased them both in a Pine frame and have a very cheap 15.6" LCD PC Monitor.
Take a look here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/njytouch/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686
And finally on the original topic of porting Android onto the raspberry Pi you can't use Android-x86 as the Broadcomm chip doesn't support the X86 Architecture - help is at hand though as they have released a datasheet to help people port software onto the Pi.
Copied from RaspberryPi.org = "There’s another big piece of news today. We’ve been leaning (gently and charmingly) on Broadcom, who make BCM2835, the SoC at the heart of the Raspberry Pi, to produce an abbreviated datasheet describing the ARM peripherals in the chip. If you’re a casual user, this won’t be of much interest to you, but if you’re wanting to port your own operating system or just want to understand our Linux kernel sources, this is the document for you. You can download a PDF here. Huge thanks to Gert, JamesH, Gray and Dom for, once again, going above and beyond for us. We really appreciate it."
Download Link for the PDF: http://dmkenr5gtnd8f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/BCM2835-ARM-Peripherals.pdf
Best Regards.
leba837 said:
And finally on the original topic of porting Android onto the raspberry Pi you can't use Android-x86 as the Broadcomm chip doesn't support the X86 Architecture - help is at hand though as they have released a datasheet to help people port software onto the Pi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't Android already running on ARM Cortex Ax or am I missing something?
Me likes very much
This should be awesome, as I'm interested in getting one too
Sent from my U8800 using xda premium
Raspberry PI officially released
I want to source an Android smart watch from China for a project am working on. I want to change the menu interface it comes with and replace with a custom interface specific for my purpose (means no custom control to intended audience).
Thoughts Needed
Does anyone here have a similar experience?
Are they good at customizing ROMs and interfaces according to requirements?
If not, how easy is it to hire somebody to build a custom ROM with custom interface (for say MTK6572)?
Any recommended suppliers you know?
Phase 1 MUST HAVE Minimum Requirements - 100 Units Order
Android OS
GSM/GPS
Touch screen
Mic/Speaker
Charging points on the back side (no micro-usb slot on the side)
Shortlisted AK-S5 or AK-S7
Phase 2 MUST HAVE Minimum Requirements
All from Phase 1
IP67 or IP68
Magnetic based charger point on the backside
Heart rate sensor at the backside
Shortlisted - None available yet
abuduri said:
I want to source an Android smart watch from China for a project am working on. I want to change the menu interface it comes with and replace with a custom interface specific for my purpose (means no custom control to intended audience).
Thoughts Needed
Does anyone here have a similar experience?
Are they good at customizing ROMs and interfaces according to requirements?
If not, how easy is it to hire somebody to build a custom ROM with custom interface (for say MTK6572)?
Any recommended suppliers you know?
Phase 1 MUST HAVE Minimum Requirements - 100 Units Order
Android OS
GSM/GPS
Touch screen
Mic/Speaker
Charging points on the back side (no micro-usb slot on the side)
Shortlisted AK-S5 or AK-S7
Phase 2 MUST HAVE Minimum Requirements
All from Phase 1
IP67 or IP68
Magnetic based charger point on the backside
Heart rate sensor at the backside
Shortlisted - None available yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please note: to date no Chinese Android watches are IP67, even the ones that provide proof of IP certification, I've learned that the hard way
AK-55 is the Z01
The AK-S7 is or looks like ZGPAX S7
I'm sure you have experience dealing with Chinese sellers, but if you don't . .. . be extremely careful, even using Paypal, trust no one!
simple1i said:
Please note: to date no Chinese Android watches are IP67, even the ones that provide proof of IP certification, I've learned that the hard way
AK-55 is the Z01
The AK-S7 is or looks like ZGPAX S7
I'm sure you have experience dealing with Chinese sellers, but if you don't . .. . be extremely careful, even using Paypal, trust no one!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot @simple1i.
I have a chicken-egg question ... Which came first - AK-S5 or Z01? Which of these (or among numerous others on Alibaba) is "original" (designed first)? If there is no traceback and everyone is using the same reference design, as long as it works as intended, does it matter? I did get this supplier to show me the watch on skype video (though it doesn't prove anything).
My main question is - if the supplier really has a "fully working version" of S5 or Z01, and is ready to supply - they also say they will do ODM - any experience on their skills to make a custom ROM and change the menu interface to my needs? If not, anyone here willing to build the ROM and interface (paid)?
x201 model
abuduri said:
Thanks a lot @simple1i.
I have a chicken-egg question ... Which came first - AK-S5 or Z01? Which of these (or among numerous others on Alibaba) is "original" (designed first)? If there is no traceback and everyone is using the same reference design, as long as it works as intended, does it matter? I did get this supplier to show me the watch on skype video (though it doesn't prove anything).
My main question is - if the supplier really has a "fully working version" of S5 or Z01, and is ready to supply - they also say they will do ODM - any experience on their skills to make a custom ROM and change the menu interface to my needs? If not, anyone here willing to build the ROM and interface (paid)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started looking into smartwatches on XDA from Mar 2014, so my history before then is limited. For me it started with the Omate TrueSmart, their Kickstarter campaign that promised it all and delivered a lie. I could be wrong, but Omate made the watch first (x201) and the rest copied (or someShenzhen firm made it first and Omate copied ) @pizzaman77 - knows the full history of Omate clones x201. But yes, now it does not matter as long as it works.
As for the development, you might get lucky and find that someone is already doing what you want or similar on the Omate forum - search on the Android development threads. I'm not a dev, so I don't if the Chineses sellers have the skills, doubt it. But the Devs on XDA will have. Look at this Omate thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/oma...rom-omate-truesmart-ironman-firmware-t2998434 - lots of dev going on on the Omate and its clones.
@kuronosan - is a key dev, still active, he might be able to help with paid work. You should start with making a new thread in the Omate Dev forum with your request.
@Lokifish Marz - knows a loooot but is not too actives these days
Please keep me informed on your dev plans (if its not top secret ) - i really really want to also buy a bulk order (maybe only 5 to start with) from China and sell them in the UK, but i need to join someone who is ordering in bulk so that i CAN only buy 5 units to start with. The other issue is i would need to fix any software issues first then sell them and if they sell then buy more. Can PM me if you wish. Thanks.
simple1i said:
I started looking into smartwatches on XDA from Mar 2014, so my history before then is limited. For me it started with the Omate TrueSmart, their Kickstarter campaign that promised it all and delivered a lie. I could be wrong, but Omate made the watch first (x201) and the rest copied (or someShenzhen firm made it first and Omate copied ) @pizzaman77 - knows the full history of Omate clones x201. But yes, now it does not matter as long as it works.
As for the development, you might get lucky and find that someone is already doing what you want or similar on the Omate forum - search on the Android development threads. I'm not a dev, so I don't if the Chineses sellers have the skills, doubt it. But the Devs on XDA will have. Look at this Omate thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/oma...rom-omate-truesmart-ironman-firmware-t2998434 - lots of dev going on on the Omate and its clones.
@kuronosan - is a key dev, still active, he might be able to help with paid work. You should start with making a new thread in the Omate Dev forum with your request.
@Lokifish Marz - knows a loooot but is not too actives these days
Please keep me informed on your dev plans (if its not top secret ) - i really really want to also buy a bulk order (maybe only 5 to start with) from China and sell them in the UK, but i need to join someone who is ordering in bulk so that i CAN only buy 5 units to start with. The other issue is i would need to fix any software issues first then sell them and if they sell then buy more. Can PM me if you wish. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a ton @simple1i. I will start a thread there.
Do you know any Android watches that fit my Phase 2 requirements (couldn't find any on Alibaba or similar sites)?
I did find a few watches fitting my spec without Android (either Nucleus or similar). Is it advisable to build on those platforms given that Android is now into wearables Reason I chose Android is because I want to be able to easily change supplier and/or watch hardware (looks) later easily and just port the code/functionality rather than getting locked. Else it will become an EXPENSIVE affair later. Am I right in thinking so?
abuduri said:
Thanks a ton @simple1i. I will start a thread there.
Do you know any Android watches that fit my Phase 2 requirements (couldn't find any on Alibaba or similar sites)?
I did find a few watches fitting my spec without Android (either Nucleus or similar). Is it advisable to build on those platforms given that Android is now into wearables Reason I chose Android is because I want to be able to easily change supplier and/or watch hardware (looks) later easily and just port the code/functionality rather than getting locked. Else it will become an EXPENSIVE affair later. Am I right in thinking so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And yes @simple1i, I will definitely keep you in the loop on the bulk ordering.
abuduri said:
Thanks a ton @simple1i. I will start a thread there.
Do you know any Android watches that fit my Phase 2 requirements (couldn't find any on Alibaba or similar sites)?
I did find a few watches fitting my spec without Android (either Nucleus or similar). Is it advisable to build on those platforms given that Android is now into wearables Reason I chose Android is because I want to be able to easily change supplier and/or watch hardware (looks) later easily and just port the code/functionality rather than getting locked. Else it will become an EXPENSIVE affair later. Am I right in thinking so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I'd stick with Android, lots of resources available, gives more flexibility. I don't think Nucleus OS is a viable option yet, it would be too expensive.
I take it SIM is a requirement too? I'll look around, the IP67 is not available yet, maybe the Ironman 3rd generation might be IP67, but the company (Unova) is full of liars, I was ripped off with the 2nd generation, I proved it's not IP67. Other then the IP67 the rest might be available, you'll need to search for it on AliExpress.
What country are you from?
simple1i said:
Yes I'd stick with Android, lots of resources available, gives more flexibility. I don't think Nucleus OS is a viable option yet, it would be too expensive.
I take it SIM is a requirement too? I'll look around, the IP67 is not available yet, maybe the Ironman 3rd generation might be IP67, but the company (Unova) is full of liars, I was ripped off with the 2nd generation, I proved it's not IP67. Other then the IP67 the rest might be available, you'll need to search for it on AliExpress.
What country are you from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, with 2G. 3G really not needed but if it comes with it, cool. Couldn't find any with android and heart rate on back side, keeping IP67 on the side.
Am currently in Boston (originally from India).
simple1i said:
Yes I'd stick with Android, lots of resources available, gives more flexibility. I don't think Nucleus OS is a viable option yet, it would be too expensive.
I take it SIM is a requirement too? I'll look around, the IP67 is not available yet, maybe the Ironman 3rd generation might be IP67, but the company (Unova) is full of liars, I was ripped off with the 2nd generation, I proved it's not IP67. Other then the IP67 the rest might be available, you'll need to search for it on AliExpress.
What country are you from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@simple1i ... is Android Wear OS same as Android 4.4 etc running on Z01 (and others) etc?
abuduri said:
@simple1i ... is Android Wear OS same as Android 4.4 etc running on Z01 (and others) etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found the answer ... http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-operating-systems-do-wearable-devices-run-on/
Looks like Android Wear needs a compatible Android phone for it to work.
So, I'll stick with just Android.
General rules with Chinese Android smartwatches
Broken firmware
Major security holes
Little to no official support (this includes the phone side app)
English (or any other language other than Chinese) for the phone app is very rare
Incomplete source code (when you can even get it) that is a generic build pulled from a phone
Inconsistent battery life due to broken firmware
IP67 is more like IP54 if lucky
Poor build quality and QC by western standards
Not Lokifish supported (I've walked away from the industry as a whole until they get their collective heads out of their butts)
kuronosan's time is limited so fixes may be slow
Depending on your needs and goals. Talk to Ingenic. The HW is a little slow on the Newton (SmartQ Z uses it), not sure about the Newton 2. Either way they have source (Linux, Android, etc). The package is small enough that you could design and build a smartwatch that's about the same size as a real watch, but the display will need a new "crystal" to pull it off nicely. Find a compatible round display, and you should be able to use off the shelf watch cases with minor modifications giving you a 200m diver's smartwatch if you do it right.
*Side note
Even with a 1/2 million buy in for 3000 units we designed ourselves, Umeox still would not have provided source code, and little to no support. That's what the Chinese ODM's are like. kuronosan can verify this.
@abuduri - I'm not sure if my reply to your PM went thru? I can't see it in my sent folder. Did you get it?
I'm still working on stuff for the Omate. I just haven't actually had any free time as of late. I can't just take off of work to put work into a device that's difficult to troubleshoot. If I can be of any help let me know.
I've just started working with smartwatches, but I'm happy to help however I can. I'll be attempting some work on the s8, and I know my way around Android pretty well.
kuronosan said:
I'm still working on stuff for the Omate. I just haven't actually had any free time as of late. I can't just take off of work to put work into a device that's difficult to troubleshoot. If I can be of any help let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@kuronosan @chainsol - thanks guys.
The thread for the new smartwatch is here, we have 5 people so far: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3115221 - including an electronic engineering. [emoji818]
firmware files of z01
abuduri said:
I want to source an Android smart watch from China for a project am working on. I want to change the menu interface it comes with and replace with a custom interface specific for my purpose (means no custom control to intended audience).
Thoughts Needed
Does anyone here have a similar experience?
Are they good at customizing ROMs and interfaces according to requirements?
If not, how easy is it to hire somebody to build a custom ROM with custom interface (for say MTK6572)?
Any recommended suppliers you know?
Phase 1 MUST HAVE Minimum Requirements - 100 Units Order
Android OS
GSM/GPS
Touch screen
Mic/Speaker
Charging points on the back side (no micro-usb slot on the side)
Shortlisted AK-S5 or AK-S7
Phase 2 MUST HAVE Minimum Requirements
All from Phase 1
IP67 or IP68
Magnetic based charger point on the backside
Heart rate sensor at the backside
Shortlisted - None available yet
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Click to collapse
need firmware files for z01 (android 5.1)
Hello all.
Recently looking at all those innovative cheap non-chinese smartwatches I've got an obsession on picking ones for some random development.
How about we gather some little info on devices ready for custom upgrades and firmwares. Certainly this doesn't include android wear devices as they are ready for development.
Almost all cheap smartwatches do not allow installation of custom apps and some can't even show the time without being connected with your phone!
But some of them allow firmware upgrading/flashing... So I'm looking for any device having some native sdk or compatible with arduino toolkit or anything else.
1. A perfect example of what am I looking for is sony smartwatch mn2. They already have:
- open smartwatch project with it's ported arduino toolkit
- star wars game on mn2
I would probably pick those but they're pretty old and lack some sensors.
2. The second one is weloop tommy. (suggested by qkall and raicg)
These have a huge standby time (I guess more than the first pebble), waterproof but they have accelerometer inside only and no touchscreen. I guess the price is huge comparing to others.
Still there is an opensource project around with a custom firmware.
As I understand a huge work is done and the device was carefully examined and all that pin-out stuff was collected to make it working and you're pretty ready to go with development of your own features.
My next possible targets are mt2502 based watches as there are some stuff (mediatek linkit) around on mediatek site.
I'm unsure if this sdk will allow to do something with randomly picked mt2502 watches.
So I'm interested in any info if someone tried this or had any other success on development/moding of their watches.
Thx.
I feel like I'm being a bit slutty with this today... but the Weloop Tommy might be interesting to you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma...s/weloop-tommy-smartwatch-looks-best-t2864444
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sma.../weloop-tommy-smartwatch-faq-updates-t2995858
https://hackaday.io/project/4510-open-source-sportsmart-watch
gvma said:
Hello all.
Recently looking at all those innovative cheap non-chinese smartwatches I've got an obsession on picking ones for some random development.
How about we gather some little info on devices ready for custom upgrades and firmwares. Certainly this doesn't include android wear devices as they are ready for development.
Almost all cheap smartwatches do not allow installation of custom apps and some can't even show the time without being connected with your phone!
But some of them allow firmware upgrading/flashing... So I'm looking for any device having some native sdk or compatible with arduino toolkit or anything else.
A perfect example of what am I looking for is sony smartwatch mn2. They already have:
- open smartwatch project with it's ported arduino toolkit
- star wars game on mn2
I would probably pick those but they're pretty old and lack some sensors.
My next possible target are mt2502 based watches as there are some stuff (mediatek linkit) around on mediatek site.
I'm unsure if this sdk will allow to do something with randomly picked mt2502 watches.
So I'm interested in any info if someone tried this or had any other success on development/moding of their watches.
Thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO.1 SUN S2 has firmware available new watch with decent specs. Here is some firmwares for it http://en.001phone.cn/download-19.html I bought mine on gearbest.com but right now they're selling a crappier version probably preproduction stuff
qkall said:
I feel like I'm being a bit slutty with this today... but the Weloop Tommy might be interesting to you:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are nice but their price is huge when you think about their hardware.
spriteboost said:
NO.1 SUN S2 has firmware available new watch with decent specs. Here is some firmwares for it I bought mine on gearbest.com but right now they're selling a crappier version probably preproduction stuff
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't mean any watches that have official firmware binaries.
I'm talking about totally customized firmwares, original firmware sources, sdk toolkits for mt6260/2502 soc or arduino toolchain port.
I want to pick some cheap smartwatches like u8/u80/20$-45$ and do some coding.
I wonder if someone who have mt2502 device would check the mediatek sdks on the possibility to build custom firmware (look for mediatek labs linkit one sdk, that SoC has mt2502 cpu and complete IDE).
Also most cheap devices use mt6260 but I didn't find much info about it.
I'm glad that someone answered me and thanks for you replies!
u8 customization
I just received 2 U8's in the mail. I'm keeping one in a new state, but the other is ready for the lab...where do we begin?
Pacman8521
I suggest to you the weloop
The great on weloop smartwatch is the battery time, up to 21 days! And it's waterproof!
One user has a open firmware project of weloop Smartwatch: https://hackaday.io/project/4510-open-source-sportsmart-watch
Take a look, it's open firmware.
I got some infomation about mtk2502
it seems have rtos sdk,I am not sure if we can flash our custom firmware to the target watch
www dot seeedstudio dot com/wiki/Rephone#Eclipse_IDE_for_RePhone_Kit
how do you guys think?