Related
2012.02.09 posted
Traveling for more than 20 hours, exhausted right now.
Hurried to pay network fees for the school network, see my post,found that the ZTE officials responded, see the following:
Coming from [email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear users:
Hello!
Thank you for your support and interest in the ZTE products;
We has plans recently to release the Blade(V880) (International Edition) 2.6.35 kernel source code on the ZTE official phone support site, please keep attention with it;
As for the Blade(V880) Unicom version for mainland China, the official does not support the Android 2.3 system.Thus,it would not be include in the kernel source.
If you have any other questions, please contact us or please call the customer service hotline 0755-26779999 or 400-880-9999, we will be happy to serve you! Thank you!
I wish you:
Good health! Work happy!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is a relatively significant results achieved since the release of my article.
You can search the link of my original post by google.
But it's in Chinese,to help you to get to know it,I will translate it to English as following.
Since my English is not good,I hope you can know the general idea of my article.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2012.02.06 posted
Is very hard to type so many words, worked so hard to write the article,just for two purpose:
First,to let all Blade(V880) users get access to know an important information, ie, mobile phone manufacturers open source really means what?
The other wish is,to express a strong sound to ZTE officials, that is, we really need you to open up the kernel source code.
Mobile phone manufacturers open-source means what to commom users?
For the Android source code, always means Android system source code and the Android Linux kernel source code.
The Android system source code released by the official Google, some Mod team (such as CyanogenMod) release modifide the source code.
The open source I mentioned here, refers to the kernel source code.
Linux and its kernel, here only a brief description, not too much introduction, if you are interested with it,google can help you a lot.
First, we know, the Android system is based on the linux kernel, the most common platform architecture is arm.
The linux kernel can be considered to be an underlying system, which is responsible for hardware drivers and process management and resource call.
Linux kernel source code from the linux community and internal contains the source code for each platform's hardware drivers.
With any specific Android phone, the hardware configuration is not all the same.
In order to perfect run, a targeted kernel must be especially compiled for it.
What is targeted means?
Adding the appropriate driver code for the debice ,which not included in the common hardware driver support list of the original kernel source;
Some features and drivers which would not suit or not need for the target machine should best not be compiled into the kernel, to save system resources and improve the efficiency of the running kernel;
some special needs of the upper system (such as swap) should be compiled in the kernel.
ZTE Blade(V880) can the most complex mobile phone in the world, not one of.
In fact, its own hardware structure is not complicated ;It is different version, different batches of the machine hardware model being very complex.
Complex version: common overseas such as British oranges, Germany BASE, Japan's Softbank, Switzerland, Singapore...;
The Unicom version for mainland China (Model V880 and V880+), the Hong Kong version, the Asia-Pacific version.
Complex batch: especially the Unicom customized version of the machine of April, July,August, September, November and other batch.
The V880 various versions of hardware model is inconsistent, this is nothing to blame.
As for the domestic configuration is lower than the overseas version of the configuration, ZTE's strategy, I declined to comment.
The biggest problem is the domestic version of each batch of hardware models are complex and variable.
The most obvious phenomenon is that when a new purchased V880 was using an unofficial 3rd Rom, there always some hardware can not work proper.
For example, recently several V880 + users asked why they could not find a Android 2.3 Rom which support swap and hardware works well at the same time.
Before this ,you should know that the blade for China mainland does not has official Android 2.3 support.
I just explained: original official leaked 2.6.35 kernel from overseas, can normally driven man V880 hardware, sensors are normal, but does not support swap;
Why 3rd Rom makers do not add swap support to it?
The linux kernel does not like the .apk package can decompile out, it has to be overall re-compile.
When recompiling, you should link all the source code but not only the swap parts.
The problem is due to the complexity of the hardware models, in order to compile a commom kernel for variable batch, we need to add more driver code.
More difficult, the ZTE officials did not announce new hardware model of change, not to mention its driver source code.
The result is,when recompile the kernel to add the swap function, we do not know which driver to be add in due to the variable hardware model.
The official original kernel,hardware is running well, but does not support swap; 3rd compiled kernel support swap, but always leave some of the hardware does not work properly.
If ZTE Corporation release the 35 kernel source code (containing the driver source code of the various batches of different models of hardware),
Problems such as the V880 + have, would not be a problem.
This is the significance of open kernel source code:
Drive better, more powerful third party compiled the kernel, and can more better 3rd Rom, new functions and new features.
Burstlam has being the leader in developing Rom for balde (V880) for a long time.
He has complained many times in his articles about ZTE's not releasing the kernel source,there is a part of his article which he release his Android 4.0.3 Beta Edition:
First, note that is also a major problem in the capture of the GPU core part is already there has been progress, but unfortunately there were no suitable ADRENO chip library file to do the actual test.
Because currently 7X27 only use the ARM V6 platform with chip combination ADRENO. Be able to find updated versions of library files are just ARMV7 platform ...
I have not aimed to look ZTE will do, only aims to look SONY X8 for the same configuration update, and then have a chance to really hard solution.
I think that if ZTE can release a V880 kernel source code, Burstlam will be quite happy, of course, all the V880 users will be more happy.
On the android 4.0, to correct a misunderstanding, the ICS does not necessarily need the linux 3.0 kernel,where 2.6.35 kernel is also OK.
That means, if the 35 kernel source code released, the process of android 4.0 on the Balde(V880) will be accelerated;
Another information, MIUI v4 will organize code more portability, MIUI may be used on Blade(V880) when ICS can be perfect run.
In fact, ZTE announced earlier by the 2.6.32 kernel source code; 35 kernel source code, not know the reson, has been reluctant to release.
Look at other mobile phone manufacturers, such as
HTC, already announced a large number of models of the 35 kernel source at
*****sorry ,new menmber has no right to post outside links*****
Samsung has been open source release page
*****sorry ,new menmber has no right to post outside links*****
In addition, domestic Huawei also released its classic models U8800/U8800 of + 35 kernel source ...
So those whose balde(V880) does not work proper,
those who tried of finding patch for your Rom,
those who eager to early using a perfect Android 4.0,
those who have similar hardware configuration mobile With Blade(V880),
those who think this article is helpfull for you,
Be sure a lot of click, reply, vote and reproduced,so that more people aan see this,
To let the ZTE official developers see the majority of the user's requirements.
Personally think that send an email to the ZTE also a good way to express your wish to ZTE officials.
ZTE's handset division, e-mail address: [email protected]
Replies are stereotyped as we reflect, ZTE (Is it a computer auto-reply?):
Dear users:
Hello!
Thank you for contacting us.
Phone kernel source code can not open, please understand us!
If you have other questions, please contact us or please call the customer service hotline 0755-26779999 or 400-880-9999, we will be happy to serve you! Thank you!
I wish you:
Good health! Work happy!
Why other manufacturers can open the kernel source code, while ZTE can not?
I do not know here, "Unable to open" ,is for what reasons and for what consideration, in short, the answer is not satisfactory.
Hope you continue pay attention about this article, untill ZTE release the source code.
(At least given the model of the new hardware,so we can go to the hardware vendors to find the driver code)
PS: I knew how much influence can initiate a lot of people to participate in the petitions, just sincerely hope that brings together the power of the masses,
Clicks,reply, multi reproduced, so that the ZTE official to hear the voice of the user's and the early release of the 35 kernel source code.
great news.
my proximity sensor (v880+) works only on official rom. kernel is 2.6.35.7.
so when will it be released? in a week? month?
Great news. ZTE are always slow to release Linux kernel source code, despite the requirements of the GPL. Keep pushing them.
ZTE Blade/Libras have Android 2.3.5 & a more recent build of the 2.6.35 kernel than ZTE have released source code for so far, including better hardware support for new models.
well, i just got an email from zte on their plans to release the v880 kernel,
***
Dear Sir / Ma’am,
Thanks for contacting ZTE.
We don't have this plan now.
Thanks for your understading.
Best Regards
xboxee said:
well, i just got an email from zte on their plans to release the v880 kernel,
***
Dear Sir / Ma’am,
Thanks for contacting ZTE.
We don't have this plan now.
Thanks for your understading.
Best Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a similar reply last year. Probably wouldn't hurt to remind them about their source code release obligations at regular intervals.
What they need to understand is if they don't release complete kernel source code for every compiled kernel then they're effectively selling phones with pirate software.
They're breaking the terms of the copyright license that the Linux kernel was given to them under & which allows them to sell Android devices (GPL v2) which says that they must release complete source code.
wbaw said:
I got a similar reply last year. Probably wouldn't hurt to remind them about their source code release obligations at regular intervals.
What they need to understand is if they don't release complete kernel source code for every compiled kernel then they're effectively selling phones with pirate software.
They're breaking the terms of the copyright license that the Linux kernel was given to them under & which allows them to sell Android devices (GPL v2) which says that they must release complete source code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually i got a prompt reply from them. and in my second letter i reminded about GPL and my non-working proximity sensor (in fact, absence of proper kernel driver for it). it this is what they said
Dear Sir / Ma’am,
Thanks for contacting ZTE.
Please contact the local dealer where you purchased the device or network operator to upgrade your device.
Should there be further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best Regards
just wrote another letter, well, let's see.
xboxee said:
well, i just got an email from zte on their plans to release the v880 kernel,
***
Dear Sir / Ma’am,
Thanks for contacting ZTE.
We don't have this plan now.
Thanks for your understading.
Best Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well,a lot of Chinese V880 users got the e-mail as following(of course,in Chinese):
尊敬的用户:
您 好！
感谢您对中兴产品的支持和关注；
我司已计划近期公布V880（国际版）2.6.35内核源代码到中兴官方手机支持网站，请您留意；
V880国内版本，官方不支持Android 2.3 系统；
如您还有其它问题请及时联系我们,或欢迎拨打客服热线0755-26779999或400-880-9999,我们将竭诚为您提供服务!谢谢!
祝您:
身体健康！工作开心！
The reply of ZTE is positive.
If you have any doubt,just wait for official news.
bingo1991 said:
Well,a lot of Chinese V880 users got the e-mail as following(of course,in Chinese):
尊敬的用户:
您 好！
感谢您对中兴产品的支持和关注；
我司已计划近期公布V880（国际版）2.6.35内核源代码到中兴官方手机支持网站，请您留意；
V880国内版本，官方不支持Android 2.3 系统；
如您还有其它问题请及时联系我们,或欢迎拨打客服热线0755-26779999或400-880-9999,我们将竭诚为您提供服务!谢谢!
祝您:
身体健康！工作开心！
The reply of ZTE is positive.
If you have any doubt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, but when? this is what i was asking about. it seems (taking into consideration replies to my letters) like 2 divisons just don't know what either of them do.
xboxee said:
actually i got a prompt reply from them. and in my second letter i reminded about GPL and my non-working proximity sensor (in fact, absence of proper kernel driver for it). it this is what they said
Dear Sir / Ma’am,
Thanks for contacting ZTE.
Please contact the local dealer where you purchased the device or network operator to upgrade your device.
Should there be further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best Regards
just wrote another letter, well, let's see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, following the GPL the person or company that distributed the compiled software to you is responsible for providing the source code on request. So that would be the retailer of your phone, for the source code of the kernel on your phone when it was sold. ZTE would only have to supply the source code to the next company in the supply chain, strictly speaking, if they weren't distributing rom updates.
I believe ZTE are distributing compiled 2.6.35 Blade kernels directly through their update server to people with Blades or Libras bought in some countries. Those kernels are clearly slightly later versions with more modifications than are in the 2.6.35 kernel source which they've released for their other devices. The new wifi driver in zte roms refuses to load with a kernel compiled from their source, some new hardware in newer models of the phone doesn't work either. The wifi driver says it's GPL too, if you grep the binary, no source code for that yet either - unfortunately qualcomm probably own all the copyright on that.
Anyway, we can't take legal action, the only thing we've got is a bit of pester power. Hopefully they'll take notice that at least a few of their customers want GPL compliance. Only a copyright holder, like a Linux kernel developer, or busybox developer could take action.
---------- Post added at 04:22 AM ---------- Previous post was at 04:07 AM ----------
bingo1991 said:
Well,a lot of Chinese V880 users got the e-mail as following(of course,in Chinese):
尊敬的用户:
您 好！
感谢您对中兴产品的支持和关注；
我司已计划近期公布V880（国际版）2.6.35内核源代码到中兴官方手机支持网站，请您留意；
V880国内版本，官方不支持Android 2.3 系统；
如您还有其它问题请及时联系我们,或欢迎拨打客服热线0755-26779999或400-880-9999,我们将竭诚为您提供服务!谢谢!
祝您:
身体健康！工作开心！
The reply of ZTE is positive.
If you have any doubt,just wait for official news.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds good. Hopefully we'll have some kernel source code updates from ZTE soon.
I think there are some language problems when we try emailing zte.com.cn in English. The English speakers there don't seem to understand that they're using the Linux kernel, which is GPL, which legally obliges them to release the source code for all the different versions that they use, at least if they want to keep selling phones in Europe & the USA.
English translation of the Chinese text, from Google...
Dear users:
Hello!
Thank you for your support and interest in the ZTE products;
Division I has plans recently announced the V880 (International Edition) 2.6.35 kernel source code to the ZTE official phone support site, please pay attention;
The V880 domestic version, the official does not support the Android 2.3 system;
If you have other questions, please contact us or please call the customer service hotline 0755-26779999 or 400-880-9999, we will be happy to serve you! Thank you!
I wish you:
Good health! Work happy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I have seen news about Oppo releasing the Kernel Source and supporting the AOSP community (the same Sony and HTC right now).
My question is, when Android 5.0 and a CM11 is released, does this source or information already released today about the device works for future releases of AOSP based ROMs without the support of the company?
Trying to be clear, Oppo (Sony and HTC too...) release some source today, but the next year they don't support this model, can the AOSP ROMs implement a new stable version using that last year released source from a prior Android version?
Thanks
pedroren said:
Hi, I have seen news about Oppo releasing the Kernel Source and supporting the AOSP community (the same Sony and HTC right now).
My question is, when Android 5.0 and a CM11 is released, does this source or information already released today about the device works for future releases of AOSP based ROMs without the support of the company?
Trying to be clear, Oppo (Sony and HTC too...) release some source today, but the next year they don't support this model, can the AOSP ROMs implement a new stable version using that last year released source from a prior Android version?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one knows. We would hope so, but no one would really know. Maybe.
Sent from my Oppo Find 5
kernel-wise - the cyanogenmod team has been able to merge it with the Qualcom sources, so if Qualcom keeps it up to date (most likely yes), then that's no problem (also, nexus 4 shares a lot of the same underlying hardware: CPU/SoC, GPU... that device will get updates, which could be ported over)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40671515&postcount=5
proprietary library-wise - maybe? sometimes, they're compatible cross-android version, sometimes not, and you have to do workarounds to make it work on the new version.... could also steal libraries from other devices (see nexus 4 again)
Hi buddies, i create a petition to Xiaomi for release the kernel source.
You can sign here, it's free : https://www.change.org/p/xiaomi-inc...source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink
Signed
I guess its useless since it isnt a responsability of Xiaomi but Mediatek
Signed ?
I really don't think that releasing kernel source is up to mediatek right now. Simple example is the HTC's One E9, same SoC. On HTCdev site the kernel source is available for free and for everyone. How is that possible?
adaltavo said:
I guess its useless since it isnt a responsability of Xiaomi but Mediatek
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As said @nasko_spasko. How to Xiaomi did can build the kernel without source??
Is responsability of Xiaomi, not Mediatek.
+1 signed
Gesendet von meinem Redmi Note 2 mit Tapatalk
+1 signed
~ Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Prime ~
Deic said:
As said @nasko_spasko. How to Xiaomi did can build the kernel without source??
Is responsability of Xiaomi, not Mediatek.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course they have it, but Im pretty sure that its illegal for them to release it, since the owner is Mediatek not Xiaomi. Its like if you buy a software for comercial purpouse, it doesnt mean that youre the owner of it and you cant resell it. Here is the same, Xiaomi bought Helio X10 SoC to include it in their phones, and obviously they have source code and permissions to use it, but that doesnt mean they can resell it, or release it to people, they would get involved in serious legal problems.
adaltavo said:
Of course they have it, but Im pretty sure that its illegal for them to release it, since the owner is Mediatek not Xiaomi. Its like if you buy a software for comercial purpouse, it doesnt mean that youre the owner of it and you cant resell it. Here is the same, Xiaomi bought Helio X10 SoC to include it in their phones, and obviously they have source code and permissions to use it, but that doesnt mean they can resell it, or release it to people, they would get involved in serious legal problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Linux Kernel is under GNU GPL license so no legal problems... Mediatek are a very stupid people... Too the code is modified by Xiaomi, so isn't the original/genuine code of MTK...
Deic said:
As said @nasko_spasko. How to Xiaomi did can build the kernel without source??
Is responsability of Xiaomi, not Mediatek.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Deic said:
Linux Kernel is under GNU GPL license so no legal problems... Mediatek are a very stupid people... Too the code is modified by Xiaomi, so isn't the original/genuine code of MTK...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, but Mediatek isnt the only one, Samsung also keeps their Exynos code in secret, Huawei with Kirin SoC too, etc. And yep, Linux is free, but... there so many things included in a kernel, it includes system programs that manage an OS, but also includes drivers to comunicate the OS with the hardware (SoC for example), AND are those drivers wich doesnt belong to Linux kernel nor Android OS, that code depends of the hardware manufacturer and they doesnt have any obligation of borrowing it, so if you dont have code drivers you just have an incomplete kernel, AND thats the problem everyone faces with Mediatek
adaltavo said:
Yep, but Mediatek isnt the only one, Samsung also keeps their Exynos code in secret, Huawei with Kirin SoC too, etc. And yep, Linux is free, but... there so many things included in a kernel, it includes system programs that manage an OS, but also includes drivers to comunicate the OS with the hardware (SoC for example), AND are those drivers wich doesnt belong to Linux kernel nor Android OS, that code depends of the hardware manufacturer and they doesnt have any obligation of borrowing it, so if you dont have code drivers you just have an incomplete kernel, AND thats the problem everyone faces with Mediatek
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mediatek release the kernel source for helio x10 buddy.
We need the Xiaomi kernel source because we need their drivers from display, touchscreen, etc...
X-Genji said:
Mediatek release the kernel source for helio x10 buddy.
Xiaomi will release their kernel source because we need the drivers from display, touchscreen,etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wut?
#tapatalknięte
Someone can share it on 4pda and chinese forums?
signed
Mediatek didn't release nothing, the code was leaked but it wasn't useful because it wasn't customised by Xiaomi with drivers.
So Xiaomi have to pay Mediatek in order to get the permission to publish the code
Mediatek must be doing something illegal, violating Qualcomm or some other patents without paying them. That's why they don't want to share their code.
Signed +1
adaltavo said:
is it necesary to be agresive? or are you just a kid :silly:?... And as I said some post ago... Xiaomi doesnt have any responsability of doing that, and maybe they dont have enough rights to release it, and if what you say is true, then those codes must work on ours RN2 since is exactly the same SoC (System on a Chip), this means they must be using same drivers even if they are different phones, since everything is included in the SoC (modem, wifi, display driver, etc.). Maybe Xiaomi uses its own code for MIUI, but thats not necesary for building an AOSP ROM or a CM ROM.
Im not a developer, and Im sure you neither, Im just saying what is obvious for me but I accept I might be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And screen, buttons, camera, IR blaster? There are other components with others drivers
~ Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Prime ~
SkiFire13 said:
And screen, buttons, camera, IR blaster? There are other components with others drivers
~ Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 Prime ~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as I said, screen is included in a SoC (must be), buttons are all the same in Android, just camera and IR blaster might be a problem, but not big enough to not build a ROM. Anyways, an IR blaster isnt such a big problem to handle with, I have worked with them, you dont need special drivers or something like that . And camera... Xiaomi didnt build it, so I guess its a problem of the SoC... So, the problem is from Mediatek, like everything we are talking about here, and if its true that theres codes already released of Helio X10, then all this shouldn´t be a problem, even this post wouldnt have any sense.
Me:
"Any ETA on releasing the EMUI 5.0 kernel source for the US Honor 8 FRD-L04? If EMUI is not going to keep up with the Android security patches (Still on December and it's almost April) I'd like to switch to a custom ROM that will. However that can't happen without the kernel source."
Honor USA:
"Good morning John, thank you for your great question. could you provide me with the build number on your device so that I can check on the system to see if the update to the emui 5.0 is available or not. Thank you for choosing Huawei and I hope you have a great day."
Me:
"I already have EMUI 5.0 build FRD-L04C567B360 on my phone. What I'm looking for is the EMUI 5.0 kernel source code for my device. Honor/Huawei is required to release the kernel source if requested since you're distributing binaries built off the Linux kernel source code which is distributed under the GPLv2 license."
Honor USA:
"Hello John, Thank your for contacting us, in regard your inquiry, first we need the Model of your device, in order to take a better care of you."
Me:
"Then read the software build number I gave you. The model number is the first 6 digits FRD-L04. How can you not know that?"
Quite a disappointing answer from Honor USA
Well, or just pretending :laugh:
Try to not write some many sentences with so many potential topics.
Just ask: when will Huawei release the kernel source of Nougat as is required by the Linux GPL license.
Make it maybe even clearer: Huawei is currently violating the GPL license as the kernel sources for Nougat are not released yet. When will this violation stop?
faeArai said:
Try to not write some many sentences with so many potential topics.
Just ask: when will Huawei release the kernel source of Nougat as is required by the Linux GPL license.
Make it maybe even clearer: Huawei is currently violating the GPL license as the kernel sources for Nougat are not released yet. When will this violation stop?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I posted the question on the Honor 8 Google+ today.
Just a straight question.
Are you going to give us this code
I have also been posting on Thier Facebook pages.
If we all keep doing this they will release just to shut us up (i hope)
Also patches for all the bugs in EMUI5, and a potential release date for EMUI5.1
Either way, it's my last Huawei phone. They clearly don't care. Very disappointing.
SolarisSixth said:
Also patches for all the bugs in EMUI5, and a potential release date for EMUI5.1
Either way, it's my last Huawei phone. They clearly don't care. Very disappointing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are not going to release to us EMUI 5.1
They have said that they will release us an update with extra features after June but not EMUI 5.1
Why i don't know.
I got an email back from Honors Facebook page.
They asked me for a screenshot of the page on my phone that says that i need kernel source code !!
This shows what we are dealing with here.
The guys at Honor ain't got a clue.
I'm guessing that EMUI is just handed down to them from Hauawi and Honor have no control or say over releasing anything
My answer from Honor USA Facebook
We have limited information on the specific kernel source code based on specific countries, as different countries will have different procedures. We suggest to refer back to Honor United Kingdom customer care at 08000 886 700 or 0800 088 6900 for better assistance. Or alternatively, you may click on the below link to find out more:
http://consumer.huawei.com/uk/support/faqs/detail/index.htm?id=77412
Those guys who are dealing with Facebook and Google+ have no idea or way to help us with the kernel code
John
The Facebook groups are only there to answer stupid questions like where can I buy this phone or what colours option is this phone available in? No tech questions what so ever.... I've given up hope on Huawei long time ago.
Honor is launching a beta program for its current hardware and upcoming software.
http://www.androidcentral.com/honor-wants-few-brave-americans-beta-test-its-buggiest-software
I doubt they're clueless. If anything the facebook rep was instructed to avoid the question, because he isn't allowed to share info about it.
johnhux7 said:
They are not going to release to us EMUI 5.1
They asked me for a screenshot of the page on my phone that says that i need kernel source code !!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go to Settings ->About Phone -> Legal Information -> Open Source Licenses
And you can screenshot that first section right there that say they will provide you with a copy of kernel source code if you request it.
Ok.
So that's what they are wanting.
Thank you
---------- Post added at 08:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:44 PM ----------
anks329 said:
Go to Settings ->About Phone -> Legal Information -> Open Source Licenses
And you can screenshot that first section right there that say they will provide you with a copy of kernel source code if you request it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done it.
Don't think they have a clue
You have to take into account that the kernel, as well as every other part of the operating system is built in China, specifically, in their Jenkins instance, that's why neither Honor USA nor Honor UK will (be able to) help you.
XePeleato said:
You have to take into account that the kernel, as well as every other part of the operating system is built in China, specifically, in their Jenkins instance, that's why neither Honor USA nor Honor UK will (be able to) help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get that but what else can we do.
We need to get them listening some how and i don't speak Chinese !!!
So I finally found Huawei's instructions for requesting the Honor 8 EMUI 4.1 opensource software here.
Here's the contents of the readme.txt file within the FRD-L04_MM_EMUI4_1_opensource.zip file:
Huawei Device Co., Ltd ("Huawei")is pleased to provide you the corresponding open source code of the device. If you want the code, please contact us with an email titled "Open Source Codes Issue" to [email protected]. Please note we may charge you the cost of physically performing source distribution like sending you a CD of the Open Source Codes, if you reqest. And the code download link will be ready soon.
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I sent an email following their instructions requesting the EMUI 5.0 source code. We'll see if I get any response.
If not, the next step is probably to involve the Free Software Foundation (www.fsf.org). There is a page at http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-violation.html describing how to report GPL violations.
There is a file at /etc/NOTICE.html.gz on the Honor 8 that contains a NOTICE.html listing all? of the opensource licensed software on the device and the specific license covering each file. One possible avenue is the f2fs software that's copyright Samsung Electronics and released under the GPLv2. They might be willing to enforce their copyright on a competitor...
But what really is the issue with the kernel? Didn't they at least released the emui 4.1 source (and so the blobs needed)?
Can't this be used in a modern kernel, too?
Even if they release emui 5 kernel, what happens, let say with lineage 15 or 16 when there is no newer emui kernel?
How do other projects handle this, as there still are new versions of lineage for old devices?
faeArai said:
But what really is the issue with the kernel? Didn't they at least released the emui 4.1 source (and so the blobs needed)?
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Yes, they released emui 4 kernel, I don't know what do you mean with 'the blobs needed'.
faeArai said:
Even if they release emui 5 kernel, what happens, let say with lineage 15 or 16 when there is no newer emui kernel?
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We'll use the latest kernel then.
faeArai said:
How do other projects handle this, as there still are new versions of lineage for old devices?
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Because 'other projects' OEM's do release the kernel source.
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Why does this affect development? Let's make clear the kernel / userspace barrier, the kernel is (supposed to be) open source while the userspace drivers are not, so it makes sense to use the Nougat (proprietary) pre-built drivers because they'll work better with the Android framework, but those drivers are 'tied' to the kernel. It would be an option to rollback to the emui 4 kernel, but that would also mean to use the closed source userspace drivers.
TL;DR
If we want to use the newer libraries, we need the newer kernel
I doubt it that other companies release source code for devices not longer supported. There always is an end of life and still lineage comes up with new releases for those devices.
There is still new lineage for Nexus 4 or 5 or even older devices that also needed binary drivers and from my understanding those drivers are not open source, are they? With blobs i mean the binary files.
If i remember rightly, the only device with fully open source drivers is HTC HD2 since the drivers where reverse engineered back than in the good old days.
So why can't we take the binary drivers from emui 4 and use them with some adaptation to the interface in newer kernel versions as i assume is done for other devices as there are no more official updates?
Granted I'm not a developer, but I had wondered something similar -- can we cross-compile using the closed binaries from MM using a 4.1.18 kernel version.
I been quite a while why there are no roms for mi a1 as google will update mi a1 to 8.0 when im old and about to die "why is there no rom development wilk this device ever have any roms".
Because there's no kernel sauce! Source!
Don't quite understand .. isn't the complete firmware shared already on xiaomi site .. ?
KhaledAbdo said:
Don't quite understand .. isn't the complete firmware shared already on xiaomi site .. ?
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Compiled firmware, not the source code, that's completely different things.
Kernel source still not shared by mi.
https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-not-released-kernel-sources-mi-a1/
I read it here. But why they dare to put "Android One" and advertise as it is? They want to test our patience and people to sue them for being "misleading"?
myself379 said:
https://www.xda-developers.com/xiaomi-not-released-kernel-sources-mi-a1/
I read it here. But why they dare to put "Android One" and advertise as it is? They want to test our patience and people to sue them for being "misleading"?
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nobody stopped them withholding miui sources and kernel sources for other device trees. They have always stood on giants shoulders.
Wait for Google's project trebel to land with Oreo so that we can have lot more custom ROMs.
It's not guaranteed that we get project Treble implemented:
https://www.xda-developers.com/oneplus-project-treble-android-oreo/
Phones and tablets that ship with Android 8.0 Oreo are required to implement Project Treble, but devices running older versions of Android — including the OnePlus 5T, which runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat — are not.
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