Develop Bugs

Linux on Pocket PC

Hi all,
I ask this question cuz I counldn't find enough information about How to install Linux on my PPC.
My ppc is: I-teq X-bond like as Gigabyte gsmart i. with 64MB ROM.
Is there any linux ROM distribution for my ppc? or general linux ROM distribution for PPCs?
Thanks in advance.
Pedram

The reason you could not find information is because there isn't much of it to be found.
Unfortunately, Linux for PPC is in its infancy. The main problem is the drivers - they all need to be reverse engineered and there is no help from the OEMs as they designed this things to only work with MS crap and seem to have no interest in releasing drivers or specifications.
Official reason: Because you can not mess with the OS the device is more stable and secure.
Real reason: If you need to by new phone to get new OS we make more $$$ and so does MS.
As far as I heard there is a half decent version for some iPaq model, and there is version for some HTC devices (check WiKi) but all it does is boot up: no drivers even for touch screen, no graphical interface, no apps.

Thnx levelnum.
I think if linux developers I mean open source world focus on handheld devices they can publish good distribution as desktop or laptop PCs. Today they are very powerful in reverse engineering, .NET Framework in Linux named MONO is one of these reverse engineering issues.
I believe that Linux is much more customizable that WM, especially for XDA-developers that make interesting works on WM. And also it doesn't have copyright restriction as WM has. So may be it makes many progress in world of handheld devices.

Oddly enough I was looking for Linux on Smartphone info yesterday as I've got an Alpine I'd like to be able to do something interesting with.
Demand for something like this is going to be a bit odd - by definition anyone who finds this site, let alone opens an account and posts, is going to be interested in pushing the boundaries of their device but the vast majority of WM device users are going to be in the "don't care how it works as long as it does" group.
Also, I reckon a lot of Linux dev types aren't even going to look at the device, it will never occur to them to buy one because it's sold as a Windows Mobile device, and hence isn't going to be near their installation of the hacker mentality. Without a critical mass of people who can develop in/with Linux it's always going to be a struggle.

problem is the program base
all current wm programs unless they are .net
would not run under linux on our pda's
new ones would be required to be written
or ported or....

The Nokia Internet Tablet runs on a version of Linux with a pretty robust set of applications, and this device uses an ARM processor which should be pretty friendly with regard to 'porting'.
But you'd still be stuck without a telephone application.

You can find some information here:
http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/HaRET
http://www.handhelds.org/

Oddly enough I was looking for Linux on Smartphone info yesterday as I've got an Alpine I'd like to be able to do something interesting with.
Demand for something like this is going to be a bit odd - by definition anyone who finds this site, let alone opens an account and posts, is going to be interested in pushing the boundaries of their device but the vast majority of WM device users are going to be in the "don't care how it works as long as it does" group.
Also, I reckon a lot of Linux dev types aren't even going to look at the device, it will never occur to them to buy one because it's sold as a Windows Mobile device, and hence isn't going to be near their installation of the hacker mentality. Without a critical mass of people who can develop in/with Linux it's always going to be a struggle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May be! as you said it is Windows mobile device and linux lovers aren't going around of it. but I think they are so curious than it.
problem is the program base
all current wm programs unless they are .net
would not run under linux on our pda's
new ones would be required to be written
or ported or....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do think so. since I in previous post I mentioned that .NET framework available in linux. so many of windows program can run on it.
You can find some information here:
http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/HaRET
http://www.handhelds.org/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hart (Reverse engineering tool for wm hardware) was interesting tool.

yeah but due to limitations and slowness only the minority of applications on windows mobile are made in .net :S

i want this one
http://www.openmoko.com/press/index.html
Regards,
Jason

Rudegar said:
problem is the program base
all current wm programs unless they are .net
would not run under linux on our pda's
new ones would be required to be written
or ported or....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not a real problem. If you want to use a particular program from WM that is a problem but why you would do that? There is very large program base for desktop Linux (many of them also exist for desktop Windows) which could be very easily ported to a handheld platform with ARM processor. If you ever looked up how many qualitative programs do exist for Japanese Linux handhelds...

Wexx said:
This is not a real problem. If you want to use a particular program from WM that is a problem but why you would do that? There is very large program base for desktop Linux (many of them also exist for desktop Windows) which could be very easily ported to a handheld platform with ARM processor. If you ever looked up how many qualitative programs do exist for Japanese Linux handhelds...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats one of the things that is grate about open source software - you don't even have to depend on the original developer to find the time / will to port it. Anyone with the programing knowledge can.

Interface

I absolutely love my 8525, but have quickly grown tired of the lackluster and non-finger friendly user interface of Windows Mobile 6. What options do I have? I'm not extremely technically savvy, especially for Windows CE; I do know how to install .cab files, though, which is of course the easiest way to install plug-ins to the phone without a complete ROM change (I'm not completely opposed to this), to my knowledge (as limited as it may be). Can anyone help me find a different user interface or post some screenshots of some available ones that are pretty easy to install? I appreciate the help!

Android on the Diamond: What's the advantage?

Hi,
I read again and again that people want Android on their devices. I still don't see the advantage.
Android is a 1.0-release and lacks the large pool of software available for Windows Mobile. It's own set of features seems somewhat lacking to me - no pushmail (including synchronisation of calendar and contacts with exchange) being the biggest of the disadvantages in my opinion.
Have fun!

Bingo, what I was thinking and saying for a long time... But as the saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. Everyone will put it for a second, say "wow" and return to the good ol' WM.http://www.bartleby.com/59/3/grassisalway.html

1) It's something new. New is always more exciting than old. When WM7 comes out, most people will want to upgrade.
2) Features and software that is not available to WM. Location aware games that don't exist for WM,
3) App store- finding apps for WM kinda sucks, you find something that looks really cool only to find that it doesnt actually work on your device.
4) Open environment. WM (until future releases) looks the same. Skins can change it, but they slow down the phone. Android can be completely changed at a system level so things don't slow down the same way.
5) There are more reasons, but just go to engadget and read about it.
Edit- I think the G1 kinda sucks by the way. I have never used one, but would want a device with atleast a vga screen.

No one's saying new software isn't cool. But let it cook for a while, it isn't better now.

advantages
I see 2 advantages:
- I think android is faster than WM. WM take a while sometimes to launch a small app.
- Android can be fully controlled with one hand.
- I think that in the future much more applications will be available on it. (like a real browser supporting java and flash.)

Most of people are curious about new thing, whether it is good or not. People would like to try out for themselves. This is human instinct.
This topic totally subjective as some may look different aspect such as nice interface, performance, application compatiblility etc.

Well i think that LINUX is the word, it's an open system and probably is easier for the coders.
Have you ever seen the Ubuntu release of linux for PC? maybe android could become the same for PPC.
Bye

I hope I will get very fast main-phone functionality, more speed and less buggy
Apps will be developed quicker.

the major thing that makes me want to move over to Android is the fact that my hang up key takes AGES to respond when i make a call and it really annoys me to the point id rather change OS, oh and the fact that it's open source, so be prepared for heaps of software

Lol
that hang-up key is programmed to 3 seconds delay and can be changed with Advanced-Config

Addicteddddd said:
the major thing that makes me want to move over to Android is the fact that my hang up key takes AGES to respond when i make a call and it really annoys me to the point id rather change OS, oh and the fact that it's open source, so be prepared for heaps of software
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, get AdvancedConfig for your Diamond and there you have the option to change the hangup delay from default 5 seconds !! (crazy, I know) to zero if you want.

i have changed it, keeps resetting for some reason

where to start

i have a new touch pro 2 coming tomorrow
im a windows mobile virgin never used it before
so where do i start with software,
what must haves should i put on it, and what hacks (if any should i do )
want sat nav if possible, watch movies, music etc
thanks for any advice

In terms of nav, I've used TomTom 6 and 7 on winmo, both are really good. Copilot Live is also highly rated, so I'd go for one of them - would have to be TomTom 6 on the TP2 though since you can't buy TT7, only get it already installed on some devices.
Have a look at the SPB website - the do some great software for winmo phones (SPB Traveller, SPB Weather, SPB Time, but probably best of all SPB Mobile Shell 3 - you'll see it called MS3 a lot on here).
Personally I also use PocketInformant for calendar, PIM type stuff, that's made by WebIS. Handango is a good site for finding tons of winmo apps etc... it's basically just a case of go browsing thos kinds of shops and see if they have stuff that fits your needs (or more likely just your wants )
In terms of movies and music, it will come with built in players which should do the job well. You can get DivX player for winmo which could be useful (can't remember if the inbuilt one will play divx).
Good luck, it's a whole new world, and if you're already on here then you'll be hooked to this place as it's a total gold mine!

thanks but what i also men is where to start with custom roms, install stuff from cab
its all over my head is there an idiots guide i can start reading up on stuff

Custom ROMs are amazing, and if you want one, this is the place to look. However, this device is still so new that there are no custom ROMs as of yet. The brilliant minds behind this place still need to make HardSPL for this device, and test it too. We can't flash custom ROMs until that's done. If you're curious about HardSPL and what its purpose is, I suggest seeking further information in the wiki.
Anyways, once they've made HardSPL, I'm sure someone will write a "Flashing your first Rhodium ROM for noobs" guide in the Rhodium ROM Development forum. And believe me when I say that with a little know-how, some adrenaline, and a good guide, anyone can flash a custom ROM.
And if you're curious about Windows Mobile, simply try playing around with it for a while. It has a bit of a learning curve, but I've never met anybody who couldn't figure it out eventually. The wiki here at XDA also helps.
Or, if you'd rather read a book, there is helpful book called "How to do everything with Windows Mobile", or something like that. It doesn't cover fun stuff like linux, bootloaders, or custom ROMs though. I'm not sure if it's available where you live, but I bought that book a week or two before I received my Kaiser, and although a bit outdated, it helped me with the basics of WM. In actuality, you probably don't need the book, but it sure can help sometimes.
Oh, and cab files are probably the simplest aspect of WM. You put the .cab on your device, open file explorer, find it, and tap on it. It walks you through a simple procedure, and then you're done! I hope that pretty much answers your questions,
Dave

I second the TomTom 6 vote. Having used several GPS programs, I find it user friendly. Not sure what else to say about that really!
I too use Pocket Informant for PIM. It's better than the standard software, no idea how it compares as I got it as a freebie from mobihand.com. It seems powerful, again easy to use, and worth purchasing.
Don't think the included Pocket version of Media Player can handle DivX or .avi files. Go for Core Player. I use an old version that seems good. Most here rate it.
If HTC have included their Audio Manager (it was included as standard on my TyTnII), stick with that for music. It's pretty good and can be used one handed. Again better than the standard MS one, but I'm not convinced its worth paying for an MP3 player app.
Suggestion, if you are a WinMo virgin, stick with the stock ROM etc for a while and just learn the device / OS. I had an old WM5 mobile (HTC Universal) that I flashed with a custom ROM to upgrade it to WM6, simply because there were features missing in WM5. I've now had my TyTnII for nearly 18 months running the stock operators ROM (o2 UK, WM6) and have been perfectly happy with it. I don't see the point of flashing the device "just for the hell of it", when there is a chance of turning it into a £500 brick. That's just me, I sibscribe to the "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" way of life.
Can't wait til I can get one!

[Q] Port WP7 apps to WP6.5.3?

Hey all,
I was wondering if there is a possibility to port WP7 apps to WP6.5.3? I was thinking about WP7 versions of Skype and all those things.
Thanks,
MadMatt

No. The frameworks, etc. are completely different and not supported on 6.X

Personally, I would be more interested in doing it the other other way, AKA current 6.1,6.5 etc apps to WP7....
Too much invested over the years with apps to just dump...but, that's just me...

I am actually quite happy we cannot do WM -> WP ports in a flash as that would make for a bunch of half assed ports showing up.
Being forced to rewrite [more of] it means you actually spend time on doing it right rather than a quick hack to get it running.
What is a little distressing is the fact a lot of low lever functionality is missing/blocked though and if anything I'm hoping we will get access to these sooner rather than later. While being able to intercept incoming calls or text messages may not sound like a big deal it is extremely versatile from a coders perspective.

Iridox said:
No. The frameworks, etc. are completely different and not supported on 6.X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wasnt there the Frameworks (XNA and Net 3.7) ported to wm6.5.x?? In another thread on this forum?
Im also not having hope for a fully working port of wp7 on my device. but I can remember one of the early statements of MS where they said that apps can easily be proted to older (paralel windows phone 6??) devices.

i think they meant that if you coded an app purely in .NET4 for WP you could re-use a lot of your code (almost certainly your basic classes at least) and relatively easily re-work it to .NETCF3 for WM6.X
My catalogue of WM apps is the only thing stopping me from making the just to be honest.....i couldn't live without my tomtom app etc for long

snoe said:
Wasnt there the Frameworks (XNA and Net 3.7) ported to wm6.5.x?? In another thread on this forum?
Im also not having hope for a fully working port of wp7 on my device. but I can remember one of the early statements of MS where they said that apps can easily be proted to older (paralel windows phone 6??) devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OHH so you like apps that just crash then go ahead and do it but if you want apps to work at acceptable speeds STOP BEING AN IDIOT GET A WP7 DEVICE. WM 6.5 FAILS IN TERMS OF SPEED EXCEPT HTC HD2. BUT IF YOU ENJOY NOKIA-LIKE CRASHES GO AHEAD AND TRY WP7 3D APPS ON WM6.5 IF U LIKE SLOW

qjsmartphone said:
OHH so you like apps that just crash then go ahead and do it but if you want apps to work at acceptable speeds STOP BEING AN IDIOT GET A WP7 DEVICE. WM 6.5 FAILS IN TERMS OF SPEED EXCEPT HTC HD2. BUT IF YOU ENJOY NOKIA-LIKE CRASHES GO AHEAD AND TRY WP7 3D APPS ON WM6.5 IF U LIKE SLOW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just relax please. I'm not that idiot that I want a heavy 3D application on my WP6.5 device. I was thinking about apps like Skype