Thursday, February 21, 2013

UbuntuOS and Porting

So, UbuntuOS is out. What's that? Well, basically it's an operating system for your phone or tablet (or computer, but that's a different version that I'm not getting into right now). In the same way that you may have an iPhone, Android or Windows phone, Ubuntu is the same type of thing. If that doesn't make sense, or you want more information about that specifically, refer to this link: http://www.ubuntu.com/devices/phone

Today Thursday Feb 21, 2012 UbuntuOS went live online to developers to a range of devices. The lest of officially supported devices currently is:

* Nexus 7
* Nexus 10
* Nexus 4
* Galaxy Nexus (GSM)

You may or may not notice that the Verizen and Sprint versions are not on that list. They are CDMA, and therefor incompatable. So, since I had the verizon version, I had to tear into it. After opening finding a guide to install the phone unofficially on the GSM version, I noticed that it was a lot like android. Stort version is "Factory reset, and flash in recovery mode" just like if you want to revert your phone to stock or if you break it and need to repair it. Can't be that much different right?



Well luckly, I was very right. The install process was exactly the same as android, all the way down to some android files. In fact, I only ended up having to change one word in one file in order to make it work (mostly, details later). It mas designed for the "maurgo" which is the GSM version, and my recovery failed to install as it thought that I was trying to use the wrong version on my phone. Well, I was, but I don't care, so I changed that. Low and behold, after changing it to "toro" (codename for Verizon Galaxy Nexus), it installed just fine, and booted right up. Everything but calls and text messaging worked the same as the GSM version (no dana for either model at the moment). I ended up posting that to the net, and someone asked me for a Sprint (toroplus) version. So modifgied the same line to "toroplus" and it worked the same too.

In the case that you have one of these phones, and want to try it out, I have the links below. Let me note, these do NOT do much, and do not make calls or send text messages. There is a limited experience even though wifi works fine. These are intended to preview only, and let developers work on apps for the final release. That's it.

Verizon version
[ROM] Ubuntu Developer Preview (Toro port)

Sprint Version
[ROM] Ubuntu Developer Preview (Toroplus port)

GSM version
Unofficial:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...1#post38285911
Official:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/Install

Have fun, don't complain when things go wrong (at lesat not here, that's why there are forum threads) and most importantly I'm a nerd, and proud.

Back From the Grave

Well, it seems that I've gotten to the point where I'm doing so much in the technology world that I have annoyed my friends. Naturally, that means that I should go back to blogging, where people expect me ta rant. I'm sure it'll be along the same guidelines. I am always getting into some technology, and when my less tech inclined friends ask me what I'm up to, I can point them here and only explain once. On that note, re-introduction over. UbuntuOS just got released today, and I have to maintain my porting threads on XDA. More soon.