Develop Bugs

HTC working on porting sense to WP7

Since I'm a new user I can't post a link but if you go to Forbes' website and click on the velocity blog you'll see an article near the bottom about HTC porting over sense for WP7.
I know that they can't put their own UI on top but they are looking into using the live tiles to be able to accomplish the same goal.

I'm thinking most likely in the form of additional live tiles and colors.
Edit: Here's some of the article so you don't have to go searching around the web.
Microsoft's February announcement that it would exert more control over the phones that use its upcoming mobile software, Windows Phone 7, would seem to be a challenge for HTC. After all, the Taiwan-based smartphone maker has made a name out of layering inventive software on top of other companies' mobile platforms.
But HTC says its custom software, which it calls "Sense", will live on, even on Windows phones. Drew Bamford, who heads HTC's user experience design team, tells Forbes the manufacturer is applying Sense to its first Windows Phone 7 devices, which are expected to launch in October.
"Microsoft has taken firmer control of the core experience [in Windows Phone 7], but we can still innovate," says Bamford. The future version of Sense, he adds, won't look the way it does on current Windows Mobile (6.5) phones, where it basically replaces all the core applications and is fully integrated into the phone.
Nevertheless, HTC is optimistic about the Windows Phone 7 launch, according to Bamford. "We won't be able to replace as much of the core Windows Phone experience, but we will augment it," he says..
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Click to collapse

My thoughts too. OEMs are limited to six pre-installed applications. So we'll most likely see something like the mock up done in another thread here. We might see 2 single tile apps and 2 double tile apps that you could go into and change settings to make it look and feel like you want.
It's definately something I had anticipated that they might try to do but it's always nice to get some comfirmation on the subject.

I may have to think twice about possibly getting an htc phone in october. I dont want added doo-dads and bloated doo-hickies. If they do try to port their own sense experience, I hope they can be uninstalled or at least deactivated completely!

daniel-t said:
I may have to think twice about possibly getting an htc phone in october. I dont want added doo-dads and bloated doo-hickies. If they do try to port their own sense experience, I hope they can be uninstalled or at least deactivated completely!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anything and everything installed by the OEM/carrier can be uninstalled.

RustyGrom said:
Anything and everything installed by the OEM/carrier can be uninstalled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OEMs are limited to 6 apps of limited size. The apps that the OEMs create for the phones are also limited to the same restrictions independent developers are. This includes performance. They aren't allowed to bog down the OS with bloatware.

Bengal34 said:
OEMs are limited to 6 apps of limited size. The apps that the OEMs create for the phones are also limited to the same restrictions independent developers are. This includes performance. They aren't allowed to bog down the OS with bloatware.
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Click to collapse
Just for the sake of full disclosure, they do get access to some other APIs and integration opportunities that the rest of us don't.

RustyGrom said:
Just for the sake of full disclosure, they do get access to some other APIs and integration opportunities that the rest of us don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That, I do not know. My guess is that they will considering that they are assigned Microsoft employees to help them make applications. But I don't think we'll know for sure until after they launch.

It may look something like this
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"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
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"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
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I'm eager to see what HTC has up there sleeves.

All they can add are additional apps, so I wouldn't be worried about fragmentation at all. The main OS will not have Sense UI.

It is on Windows Phone Thoughts posted today! There is a link to Engadgets brief story as well...

I hope this will be good!
I can't wait to see how this will fully pan out. I'm with t-mobile and I hope microsoft brings it hard when they launch this wm7 phone. that goes also for htc with there sense.

Still, with HTCs recent epic fail on Android, I would advice against buying their phones.
If you need another reason, then be it to support the community, as HTC recently attempted to take down a custom ROM distributor.

Windcape said:
HTCs recent epic fail on Android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you referring to?

Windcape said:
Still, with HTCs recent epic fail on Android, I would advice against buying their phones.
If you need another reason, then be it to support the community, as HTC recently attempted to take down a custom ROM distributor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC makes the best Android phones. They may have sense on some of them but not all of them. Them working some sense apps/hubs into a wp7 device won't have any negative impact on performance.

Windcape must have made a typo.
Actually Android is big HTC success.

krjcook said:
It may look something like this
I'm eager to see what HTC has up there sleeves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hate the squre look, that is the only thing pushing me away from getting a wp7 wen it comes out. i hope htc intergrates a whole ui into 1 square where it feels like replacing the square ui (kinda like spb mobile shell in its earlyer stages where you would have to click on the softkey to go in to the ui & pressing end key would take u back to the regular today screen) not that its the best idea but it could be a start

HTC cant code software to save their lives, just look around for all the issues Sense has on various WM devices, putting that on WP7 is just asking for the device to be a crappy bugfest for which people will blame MS and probably kill any positive buzz the OS may get. Just keep Sense in ANY form far, far away from WP7.

WiPhone makes no Sense
Still can't integrate! Sounds like Sense will have to be worked around with extra steps. Also, since WP7 has no file access, you won't even be able to customize Sense anyways.
As much as MS is copying the iPhone with WP7, they should just call it the WiPhone and get it over with. No integration or real multitasking for 3rd party apps (which are usually superior or made for your niche), what's that crap?!
When I'm done with my HD2 I'll be moving on to Android or webOS.

gaijin1% said:
Still can't integrate! Sounds like Sense will have to be worked around with extra steps. Also, since WP7 has no file access, you won't even be able to customize Sense anyways.
As much as MS is copying the iPhone with WP7, they should just call it the WiPhone and get it over with. No integration or real multitasking for 3rd party apps (which are usually superior or made for your niche), what's that crap?!
When I'm done with my HD2 I'll be moving on to Android or webOS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much what I was thinking. I'm a big fan of HTC, but more for their HW than for the SW. Sense is "ok" at best. Think about this, if it was so great, would mods like those made by Cookie Monster be so popular? Communities like this thrive off of the customization options and the freedom. Microsoft locking it down to me feels like i'm just buying into to the masses.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not all about the whole "special snowflake" thing. I just know what I like; my money goes where I like it, not to the lesser of two evils.
I honestly see WinMo 6.5 sticking around for some time to come because of this.

wm6.1/6.5 on wp7 hardware????

Ive seen some new features of wp7 I like but its too locked down & I prefer being able to switch my ui etc etc. My tp2 recently died out on me. I want to get the latest hardware but with my current os in the same body/form of the tp2. I wondering if its possible & how many other users feel the same as I do.
Edit:for the ones that voted "no" do u still feel the same now after purchasing ur wp7 device?

mmelo76 said:
Edited by moderation not conform to the rules of the forum.
Forum Rules said:
2. Member conduct.
2.1 Language: XDA is a worldwide community. As a result what is ‘ok’ to say in your part of the world may not be ok in someone else’s part of the world. Please think about who is reading what you write. Keep in mind that what you think of as acceptable use of language may not be acceptable to others. Conversely, while reading member posts, remember that word you find offensive may not be to the writer. Tolerance is a two way street.
2.3 Flaming: XDA was founded as a group of people sharing information about certain mobile phones. Sharing does not involve virtual yelling (flaming) it does involve working together to solve problems in an environment of mutual respect and understanding. Losing your temper and flaming another member, or group of members, is not acceptable behavior.
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I'm just warning, next time there will be consequences

XaaR_ said:
Are you **** retar****?
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i'd ban you, if i were mod. people like you turned pda's into justphones for halfwits.
wm6.1/6.5 on wp7 hardware
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Click to collapse
it could be possible seeing ZERO difference of incoming w7 crap hardware(just old stuff with new price, i mean). methods may be problem.
Do you want an wp7 device with wm6 os
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Click to collapse
i voted yes thinking about OLD style pda with dpad, kbd and plenty of mem onboard and xscale cpu. just as it should be like. not just screen with 2 buttons for 600$+ AND fockin w7 crap. i do not need just a dumbphone, i need PDA with phone module, y'know.

pimppoet said:
Ive seen some new features of wp7 I like but its too locked down & I prefer being able to switch my ui etc etc. My tp2 recently died out on me. I want to get the latest hardware but with my current os in the same body/form of the tp2. I wondering if its possible & how many other users feel the same as I do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The HD2 had a WM6.1 ROM in development. Don't know what happened to it, but someone got WM6.1 working on the HD2. Since the new WP7 stuff is going to be similar in the hardware division, I'd say yes, there may be a slight chance of WM6.1 being made for WP7 phones.
XaaR_ said:
Are you f**** ret*****d?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The question is, are YOU fu***g re******d? If you can't answer the damn question, don't even bother posting.

I can't seem to understand why you would want WM6.5/6.1 on a Newer device. OK, I can understand 6.5, but 6.1? Just go buy the HD2 if you want Winmo 6.5, if has the same specs as the launch WP7 devices.
---Also we won't know what's possible until WP7 releases and XDA jumps on it.

Personally, not really worth repeating the words that we do not correct .... it pollutes the forum.
Let's leave that he was having a bad day, come back later and think what he did, otherwise give holidays, for him.

My answer is yes too, I prefer the old-style WM6.1 OS with some new freshy hardware

surprisingly some people voted yes.
Let me ask this question:
Do you want a new laptop made in 2010 run Windows 98SE?

krjcook said:
I can't seem to understand why you would want WM6.5/6.1 on a Newer device. OK, I can understand 6.5, but 6.1? Just go buy the HD2 if you want Winmo 6.5, if has the same specs as the launch WP7 devices.
---Also we won't know what's possible until WP7 releases and XDA jumps on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I want something of the same form as the tp2 as I stated in my original post...to go over all of the wp7 shortcomings would be beating a dead horse. Im not a super power user but my tp2 worked for what I needed it for even tho it was lagging at times. I no had to problems with wm6.1 except for afew quirks such as the unread text issue which was fixed by replacing the dll.

richteralan said:
surprisingly some people voted yes.
Let me ask this question:
Do you want a new laptop made in 2010 run Windows 98SE?
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Click to collapse
I get what your saying but I can still do all of what I used 98 for with xp/7 such as change my background lol. I would be nice if I could dual boot wm6/7 or have an pro version of wp7 that fill my wm6 needs.

pimppoet said:
I get what your saying but I can still do all of what I used 98 for with xp/7 such as change my background lol. I would be nice if I could dual boot wm6/7 or have an pro version of wp7 that fill my wm6 needs.
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Click to collapse
This is very interesting.
People they tend to learn very quickly about new things at one period of time, but then they become lazier and lazier and prefer to stay with "what they already known."
This mentality is very interesting and belive it or not, artists have the same problem, too.

Most of the "missing features" will come to WP7 shortly; most likely within a year. Copy and Paste is supposedly already being worked on for the next point release which may be out before the end of the year. Also, there's a relatively major update supposedly coming along with CDMA support in the "first half" of 2011.
For other things, XDA will unlock/add them, I have no doubt. Things like file system access will likely come quite quickly. I understand that many people want an "open" device from the factory but hacking your device is hacking your device. How many of you are running the stock ROM with no system mods? The difference in an unlocked/jailbroken/modded/cooked/whatever WP7 device will just gain a few more things that came out of the box for WM6. But unlike WM6, the platform is modern and rock solid. It's extremely fast and just an overall MUCH better experience. If you can use a WP7 device and not think the overall platform is better than 6.5, I'd be amazed. So if you're willing to void your warranty to flash a WM6.x rom, why not just go the other way and flash a modded WP7 rom that adds the "missing" features?
Another thing, WM6.1 is not designed for a capacitive display. 6.5 was updated a bit to allow it and with HTC Sense it works OK but 6.1 without sense will likely be unusable on a capacitive screen.
So all-in-all, the benefits of WP7 FAR outweigh the things we're "losing" in my opinion. Will I miss tethering, copy+paste, file system access, and multitasking? Of course. But I just don't think they're a big deal and I know most of that will be remedied rather quickly if you're willing to hack/mod your phone which is the whole point of this forum. So at the end of the day, it's a win/win. If you're uneasy about it, just wait a bit and we'll find out of my predictions are accurate. Then make the call.

RustyGrom said:
Most of the "missing features" will come to WP7 shortly; most likely within a year. Copy and Paste is supposedly already being worked on for the next point release which may be out before the end of the year. Also, there's a relatively major update supposedly coming along with CDMA support in the "first half" of 2011.
For other things, XDA will unlock/add them, I have no doubt. Things like file system access will likely come quite quickly. I understand that many people want an "open" device from the factory but hacking your device is hacking your device. How many of you are running the stock ROM with no system mods? The difference in an unlocked/jailbroken/modded/cooked/whatever WP7 device will just gain a few more things that came out of the box for WM6. But unlike WM6, the platform is modern and rock solid. It's extremely fast and just an overall MUCH better experience. If you can use a WP7 device and not think the overall platform is better than 6.5, I'd be amazed. So if you're willing to void your warranty to flash a WM6.x rom, why not just go the other way and flash a modded WP7 rom that adds the "missing" features?
Another thing, WM6.1 is not designed for a capacitive display. 6.5 was updated a bit to allow it and with HTC Sense it works OK but 6.1 without sense will likely be unusable on a capacitive screen.
So all-in-all, the benefits of WP7 FAR outweigh the things we're "losing" in my opinion. Will I miss tethering, copy+paste, file system access, and multitasking? Of course. But I just don't think they're a big deal and I know most of that will be remedied rather quickly if you're willing to hack/mod your phone which is the whole point of this forum. So at the end of the day, it's a win/win. If you're uneasy about it, just wait a bit and we'll find out of my predictions are accurate. Then make the call.
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It's not even the OS itself I don't like. It's that I-wanna-look-like-a-fake-iPhone interface thing.

rr5678 said:
It's not even the OS itself I don't like. It's that I-wanna-look-like-a-fake-iPhone interface thing.
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Ummm it doesn't look like an iPhone. You can make the claim that the platform is similar in that it's somewhat restricted but the UI is nothing like the iPhone. To say otherwise is patently false. If you don't like the UI, fine but don't try and use the excuse that it looks like the iPhone. Windows Mobile and Android look more like the iPhone and WP7 does.
Just in case you don't believe me, PocketNow did a comparison.

RustyGrom said:
Ummm it doesn't look like an iPhone. You can make the claim that the platform is similar in that it's somewhat restricted but the UI is nothing like the iPhone. To say otherwise is patently false. If you don't like the UI, fine but don't try and use the excuse that it looks like the iPhone. Windows Mobile and Android look more like the iPhone and WP7 does.
Just in case you don't believe me, PocketNow did a comparison.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhhhh, if you don't notice the whole "I've got a load of icons" thing, I can't help you. I did not say it's a bloody exact replica, I said it's like a bad clone.

rr5678 said:
Uhhhh, if you don't notice the whole "I've got a load of icons" thing, I can't help you. I did not say it's a bloody exact replica, I said it's like a bad clone.
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WP7 only has "icons" on the secondary app list.
WM6 has a very iPhone like listing of apps if you hit the windows/home button as does Android; much more so than WP7. What do you expect? At some point you're always going to have a list of applications. Should they just not use icons at all and have text only or something? Getting beyond the home screen, the entire UI design is different than Android and iPhone. There's no title bars, no frames, no drop shadows, no gradients. Here's an article (by an independent 3rd party) explaining how the WP7 UI is different than other OSes. Maybe you think it's a horrible copy because it's not a copy at all?
Like I said, if you don't like WP7's UI, fine, that's your prerogative. It's just a horribly inaccurate comparison.

RustyGrom said:
WP7 only has "icons" on the secondary app list.
WM6 has a very iPhone like listing of apps if you hit the windows/home button as does Android; much more so than WP7. What do you expect? At some point you're always going to have a list of applications. Should they just not use icons at all and have text only or something? Getting beyond the home screen, the entire UI design is different than Android and iPhone. There's no title bars, no frames, no drop shadows, no gradients. Here's an article (by an independent 3rd party) explaining how the WP7 UI is different than other OSes. Maybe you think it's a horrible copy because it's not a copy at all?
Like I said, if you don't like WP7's UI, fine, that's your prerogative. It's just a horribly inaccurate comparison.
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No. It is a near copy. It has the whole black background full of icons thing. And if you look, it's basically a near information-less screen just like the iPhone.
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I expect Microsoft to be original just like they have with WM6.1 and WM6.5

i think that if we a got a wp7 device and put 6.1 or 6.5 maybee 6.5.x just think of the speed of the thing !!!!!!!

kevmass said:
i think that if we a got a wp7 device and put 6.1 or 6.5 maybee 6.5.x just think of the speed of the thing !!!!!!!
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Click to collapse
I know. That's why I fully support this idea.

rr5678 said:
No. It is a near copy. It has the whole black background full of icons thing. And if you look, it's basically a near information-less screen just like the iPhone.
I expect Microsoft to be original just like they have with WM6.1 and WM6.5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhhhh wow... you're reeallllyy reaching. If you're gonna say it's a copy of iPhone then you could just say it's a copy of WM.

ELA Automotive UI | Pre-Release

ELA Automotive UI 1.1| Designed for Nexus 7 and More
This is the final pre-release version/proof of concept designed on Nexus7 Root or Non Root
The first downloadable automotive UI designed by car enthusiasts for car enthusiasts
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"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
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}
The Official Google+ Page for All Current Progress:
If you are Dev or supporter who wants to be apart of beta sign up here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/113311500150881499544
Kickstarter Project to fund all development for Android and Windows CE devices starts 2/22/2013 | This is a private venture, not a corporate effort.
THIS IS A CALL FOR HELP FROM ANY AND ALL AUTOMOTIVE LOVERS AND DEVELOPERS FOR HELP TO GET THIS FINISHED.
There will be a job posting on XDA this week with more info.
What is ELA?
Full Video and Demo
ELA is a downloadable touch screen interface on your Android Device or WinCE Hardware that makes the hardware easier to use while in a moving vehicle.
E – Elegant
L – Logical
A – Adaptive
Touch screen systems in cars have become either so difficult to use or don’t have the features needed to keep the current crop of tech drivers happy. Automotive manufacturers don’t have the resources or desire to create open source setups as of yet to make the cars we are driving today updatable or upgradable for the life of the car. The design and concepts of ELA were created by the automotive enthusiasts with a focus on ease of use. The UI (User Interface) is designed to be for the novice or hard core geeks.
Why?
Because there is so much the android platform can offer for next to no cost. The features that we can add to our vehicles is endless, keeping the tech in the car relevant while not having to spent more on the factory options for NAV etc. that will be out dated in just a year or two.
Features:
Fluid elegant interface
Large easy to access icons and layout for moving vehicles
Designed around most proposed federal safety standards
Gesture support
Simply and intuitive operation with little or no knowledge tech knowledge required
Extensive and exhaustive customization ability
All android functionality intact, no handicaps
History:
Design Started 2 years ago and has reached the level where demand has out stripped the capabilities of one person.
5000 Windows CE Downloads for Hyundai Veloster
Performance Meter Demo at 10:40:
http://youtu.be/17fo2DT-77U?t=10m40s

Whether or not you want to help or not with the project I'd like feedback.
The XDA community is probably one of the most hard core, so I value all opinions.

Does this have any Bluetooth OBDII options? If so I would like to try it. Think you can just attach the beta version here?
*Edit - I see in the video that it does have OBDII options.

r00t4rd3d said:
Does this have any Bluetooth OBDII options? If so I would like to try it. Think you can just attach the beta version here?
*Edit - I see in the video that it does have OBDII options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will post up the beta versions on here for sure, just need to get the initial work done. Yes the OBD2/BT support is all dependent on your tablet you use.
Which basically every Android device for the most part does not have any issues with. Nexus 7 obviously does but that's more with Audio.

I love the look of it. It makes me want to make a mount for it in my car

It's going to be a lot of work to garner the support have to raise awareness. I think car people once they see it will want it.
Here are two more quick themed looks:

Re: [Q] ELA Automotive UI | Pre-Release
Having wasted money before on a kickstarter software project (hint: learn about the Chameleon Android launcher fiasco) I'd warn folks away from supporting them via kickstarter.
That said it does look like a great concept and I hope it develops into a real product.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2

bsoplinger said:
Having wasted money before on a kickstarter software project (hint: learn about the Chameleon Android launcher fiasco) I'd warn folks away from supporting them via kickstarter.
That said it does look like a great concept and I hope it develops into a real product.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you think the best way of doing it or getting support/hiring is?
I have never had such a hard time gather developers for a project before.

Re: [Q] ELA Automotive UI | Pre-Release
I'll stick with my carpc before hacking my N7 into use as an automotive media system.
Sent via my Nexus 7, Amiga 3000 or HTC EVO 3D

Re: [Q] ELA Automotive UI | Pre-Release
dezoris said:
What do you think the best way of doing it or getting support/hiring is?
I have never had such a hard time gather developers for a project before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't offer any useful advice and do hope you can find folks somehow. The old fashioned way of going door to door to venture capital people with a business plan is fine for a small business but it's total overkill for the type of thing you want to do so I can really understand the appeal of what kickstarter offers.
I just learned the hard way about kickstarter. You can't get any money back because the site itself in the fine print explicitly spells out that nothing is guaranteed. And the site people don't seem to provide any policing of projects. I assume it's because they make their money by taking a cut of the funds pledged.
As long as the people pledging funds realize that the money can just as easily be spent on an overseas vacation as for the actual reason being pledged and that there are no guarantees at all I don't have any objection to the idea. And I've seen some good projects but they were all material based not intellectual based.
If I saw an honest appeal for a software or even a hardware based project that relied on software that said something along the lines of "we are going to try this but it may be a complete flop" in their appeal I'd be more willing to support kickstarter projects. Obviously it wouldn't be as blunt as what I offered but I'm just looking for a bit more honesty about projects. A pledge of even $20-30 shouldn't break most people's bank so it's not a major deal. But I really dislike feeling like I've been a sucker.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2

bsoplinger said:
I can't offer any useful advice and do hope you can find folks somehow. The old fashioned way of going door to door to venture capital people with a business plan is fine for a small business but it's total overkill for the type of thing you want to do so I can really understand the appeal of what kickstarter offers.
I just learned the hard way about kickstarter. You can't get any money back because the site itself in the fine print explicitly spells out that nothing is guaranteed. And the site people don't seem to provide any policing of projects. I assume it's because they make their money by taking a cut of the funds pledged.
As long as the people pledging funds realize that the money can just as easily be spent on an overseas vacation as for the actual reason being pledged and that there are no guarantees at all I don't have any objection to the idea. And I've seen some good projects but they were all material based not intellectual based.
If I saw an honest appeal for a software or even a hardware based project that relied on software that said something along the lines of "we are going to try this but it may be a complete flop" in their appeal I'd be more willing to support kickstarter projects. Obviously it wouldn't be as blunt as what I offered but I'm just looking for a bit more honesty about projects. A pledge of even $20-30 shouldn't break most people's bank so it's not a major deal. But I really dislike feeling like I've been a sucker.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Xparent Purple Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is very helpful thanks for that insight. This seems to be the hardest part of all of this. I am trying to gather as much interest and support from people before getting down to the nitty gritty of that.

phillip1953 said:
I'll stick with my carpc before hacking my N7 into use as an automotive media system.
Sent via my Nexus 7, Amiga 3000 or HTC EVO 3D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not really hacking it, its just a straight install you don't even need root.
And when you pull it out of the car you can easily go back to the N7 UI or whatever tablet UI you use.

Seems like a good idea. Can't do anything else but tell you to keep up the good work and hope you get what you need.

I wish you the best of luck with this. I just got a N7 today and will be doing a custom fiberglass mount into my car so I can mainly utilize Google Music and not have to transfer music all the time. I saw the ELA project and it looks amazing. Hopefully this evolves into something awesome!

Thanks for the support, I hope it works out and helps everyone who uses Android in their car,

Been following development on the g+ page, hopefully you can get people on board that are able to assist. Perhaps speaking to one of the Mods/Admins and see if a "call for Developers" can be made on the front page. I don't know but i think this is a great concept not only for the car but i see it useful in the home as a media center ui. Too bad i don't code or i would've jumped at the chance to help out.Good luck!!

Great idea. I'm a big car person. Unfortunately not a developer, I would love be your beta tester and give u feedback. Is it still alive? Haven't seen any update

It looks like this project may be dead. It's possible the dev was not able to continue due to personal or other reasons.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

chozyn said:
It looks like this project may be dead. It's possible the dev was not able to continue due to personal or other reasons.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had paid 2 devs to help with the project and they did not get to where I wanted it. After dumping that money and still not getting anymore help, I have backed off. Seems like there is a good user base who wants it but it aint free to do,

dezoris said:
I had paid 2 devs to help with the project and they did not get to where I wanted it. After dumping that money and still not getting anymore help, I have backed off. Seems like there is a good user base who wants it but it aint free to do,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And why don't you put the code for experienced people continue this fantastic job?
Don't let it die. A lot of car android based head units are coming ( including using phones or tv sticks on pioneer appradios by mirroring)
Enviado desde mi GT-I9300 mediante Tapatalk

MediaTek driver sourcecode (want custom ROMs? read this!)

Even though it was said that the Fairphone will be completely open, the sourcecode of the MediaTek chip (MT6589M) is still not available (update: that was true for the time of writing. Luckily as of now, sourcecode is available and a custom ROM is in the making, see Developtment and Original Development Subforums). The link to the linux sourcecode except for the MediaTek part is here:
joemier said:
Here's our next step in providing developer resources. Happy to present to XDA: Fairphone OS Linux kernel source code package. Please let us know issues, problems, questions!
We've put together this package with all our downloads of Fairphone OS and stock Android 4.2.2.
We're eager to see what you all can do with it. Thanks for your patience as we got it up. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great to see that. However, we need MediaTek sourcecode for custom ROMs if we don't want to reverse engineer (which is a lot of hard work and may even be considered a gray area on legality, I think)
Thanks to @dbrgn for bringing this up:
dbrgn said:
@joemier any plans to release the mediatek sources? Without them, not much will happen here...
If I'm not mistaken the mediatek kernel modules were written explicitly for Linux/Android. In which case, according to Linus Torvalds, they would have to be licensed under the GPL license:
That doesn't mean that I would accept just any kind of binary-only module: there are cases where something would be so obviously Linux-specific that it simply wouldn't make sense without the Linux kernel. In those cases, it would also obviously be a derived work, and as such the above excuses don't really apply any more, and it falls under the GPL license.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(source linuxmafia.com/faq/Kernel/proprietary-kernel-modules.html)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So
Petition for MediaTek to release the sourcecode
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/aosp-support-for-mediatek-devices/
Does anyone know if it's possible to persuade MediaTek to release the code, because they use Linux (GPL)?
Why don't they release the code? Can it be exploited or do they think there is a risk this can be used against them by other companies? Or do they just not care to do a little work?
Sony has managed to release the sourcecode of the MediaTek inside the Xperia C
http://developer.sonymobile.com/dow...es/open-source-archive-for-build-16-0-a-0-36/
So we and Fairphone can do it too!
(Mistake by me, it's just the kernel. Thanks chrmhoffmann for pointing it out)

Yes, we definitely need the full sources. One of the reasons why I bought the Fairphone was its alleged openness. If we can't get the Mediatek sources, the promise of a "completely open phone" is nothing but empty words.

That Sony code is just the kernel. It's clearly stated on that page you link to.
Chris
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

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More threads about this:
Operation RMD - To Support & Reward our MTK SoC Developers: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2164959
OmniROM For MTK Devices: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2483238
MTK 6577 Sources [Complete]: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2560714
MediaTek Contact URL: http://www.mediatek.com/_en/08_info/03_contactUS.php

You guys have to remember any device out of China is not going to be held to the GPL.
Bat cave One

dbrgn said:
Yes, we definitely need the full sources. One of the reasons why I bought the Fairphone was its alleged openness. If we can't get the Mediatek sources, the promise of a "completely open phone" is nothing but empty words.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Promising openness and choosing an MTK chip are completely conflicting right now.
MTK is one of the least open source friendly chipset providers out there.
1) Their kernel is often full of binary blob modules. Sadly, in many cases, blob modules ARE legal. See the infamous Samsung FSR driver on the GalaxyS family.
2) Their kernel source code is a disorganized mess
3) If you have a friendly OEM that will leak MTK's complete Android build tree to you:
a) They will only build as-is with an oddball and VASTLY outdated Ubuntu configuration
b) They're an even more disorganized mess than the kernel sources and will cause severe brain damage if you try to read/understand them without taking breaks to work with a less screwed up source tree
c) Even their OEMs only get statically linked binaries for many components. For example their hwcomposer "source" is just a wrapper around a blob
d) They have yet to support an Android release newer than 4.2 - partly because it looks like they initially wrote stuff for Android 1.x and have never updated their sources properly to fit in with newer versions of Android. (They have been hacking Android sources to be compatible with their junk instead of the other way around). For example, they still don't use device trees.
Even with an OEM that is cooperating significantly with developers (like Oppo), working with MTK devices is slow and extremely agonizing.

Kernel Source ??
Good day everyone,
I was looking around for useful information and I stumbled over this -> https://github.com/varunchitre15/MT6589_kernel_source
Maybe I'm wrong but isn't that what everyone is looking for?
If not... well I'm sorry about pointing out the wrong stuff
Cheers,

ancdix said:
Good day everyone,
I was looking around for useful information and I stumbled over this -> https://github.com/varunchitre15/MT6589_kernel_source
Maybe I'm wrong but isn't that what everyone is looking for?
If not... well I'm sorry about pointing out the wrong stuff
Cheers,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no
Seriously, did you even bother to read the earlier posts in this thread?

Thank you very much for your kind response.
Anyone wants a Fairphone? Gonna sell mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And it's gone Nexus 5 here I come.

There are new sources posted on the Fairphone website. See the thread with technical details.
Hope it is complete now, as the first compilation attempt failed...

FlamingoKid said:
There are new sources posted on the Fairphone website. See the thread with technical details.
Hope it is complete now, as the first compilation attempt failed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kernel source is better than many MTK OEMs, but it'll still at best get you custom kernels. AOSP-derivative builds (CM, Omni, etc.) are right now far away.
(In case you haven't figured out - some of the Omni developers have a "complete" MT6589 source tree. I use "complete" in quotes because while it will build 4.2 on a properly configured machine, it is a mix and match of tons of blobs and all sorts of horrible hacks that result in it being a nightmare to integrate into any 4.3/4.4 AOSP-based project. Yes, even with an OEM giving us everything they have access to we're barely able to get 4.4 to boot on MT6589.)
https://gerrit.omnirom.org/#/q/status:open+branch:android-4.4+topic:mt6589,n,z for an example of the terribad hacks required to get it even to boot

Entropy512 said:
...
(In case you haven't figured out - some of the Omni developers have a "complete" MT6589 source tree. I use "complete" in quotes because while it will build 4.2 on a properly configured machine, it is a mix and match of tons of blobs and all sorts of horrible hacks that result in it being a nightmare to integrate into any 4.3/4.4 AOSP-based project. Yes, even with an OEM giving us everything they have access to we're barely able to get 4.4 to boot on MT6589.)
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, so this is more a Mediatek issue (provided with full 'sources' it still is a lot of work)? I'm an enterprise developer (JEE) so kerneldeveloping is new to me. Will check the links in your signature though :good:

Sigh. I think that also the new kernel sources don't work. I can't get it to boot. http://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=4bv6fyWw
The ringbuffer and/or ram console are quite small, so I don't really get much output. Looks like some problem with the dsi/display.
ARRGGHHH...
Chris

I just don't understand the ChiCom's thinking here .... You have a small army of intelligent motivated developers willing and able to extend your code AND your hardware for free ..... and you just sh-- all over them? There is nothing going on inside a Mediatek processor that's unique, groundbreaking or proprietary that's worth protecting. I say that as someone who has been in the field of Industrial and Commercial Process Controls since 1997
It's like they don't really want to make money and I'm afraid they've picked up a bad habit that's plagued the US business community for decades
Penny wise and Dollar foolish .... Save a couple of pennies now and throw way several dollars in the future (For instance it is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS cheaper to mitigate Pollution at the source than it is to clean up the environmental and health degradation it causes, I've yet to find a single exception to this Rule and the ChiComs are going to learn it real quick the hard way in the very near future)
Can't they see why the Nexus 7 was such a hit? Can't they see how Google took a device that's Margin was so low it was obviously never meant to make real money but since it was so Open it was embraced by the WORLDWIDE community and became a money making best seller. Cripes the biggest downside to a Nexus 7 is that there are so many ROMs and Kernels out there it's hard to choose and takes a week or more of research to cull your way through them
My only conclusion that they are Thieves at heart and thus think everyone else is out to steal from them like the steal from others .... Another bad habit they picked up from US "Corporate-think" .... Or maybe they do such shoddy coding that they are embarrassed to have anyone see it ... nothing pisses off a so-called Professional more than a bunch of 'amateurs' laughing at them and showing them up ....
Plus like any Corporation it's not the better educated engineers and scientists that call the shots but the poorly educated MBA's who don't know a resistor from a capacitor and couldn't even fix a broken flashlight or change their own oil ....

longjohn119 said:
I just don't understand the ChiCom's thinking here .... You have a small army of intelligent motivated developers willing and able to extend your code AND your hardware for free ..... and you just sh-- all over them? There is nothing going on inside a Mediatek processor that's unique, groundbreaking or proprietary that's worth protecting. I say that as someone who has been in the field of Industrial and Commercial Process Controls since 1997
It's like they don't really want to make money and I'm afraid they've picked up a bad habit that's plagued the US business community for decades
Penny wise and Dollar foolish .... Save a couple of pennies now and throw way several dollars in the future (For instance it is ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS cheaper to mitigate Pollution at the source than it is to clean up the environmental and health degradation it causes, I've yet to find a single exception to this Rule and the ChiComs are going to learn it real quick the hard way in the very near future)
Can't they see why the Nexus 7 was such a hit? Can't they see how Google took a device that's Margin was so low it was obviously never meant to make real money but since it was so Open it was embraced by the WORLDWIDE community and became a money making best seller. Cripes the biggest downside to a Nexus 7 is that there are so many ROMs and Kernels out there it's hard to choose and takes a week or more of research to cull your way through them
My only conclusion that they are Thieves at heart and thus think everyone else is out to steal from them like the steal from others .... Another bad habit they picked up from US "Corporate-think" .... Or maybe they do such shoddy coding that they are embarrassed to have anyone see it ... nothing pisses off a so-called Professional more than a bunch of 'amateurs' laughing at them and showing them up ....
Plus like any Corporation it's not the better educated engineers and scientists that call the shots but the poorly educated MBA's who don't know a resistor from a capacitor and couldn't even fix a broken flashlight or change their own oil ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. This is why Oppo has done so well in the West compared to other Chinese manufacturers despite almost no international marketing efforts outside of social media - Instead of crapping on community developers, they embraced them and we became their evangelists.

A little bit desappointed
My first fairphone is about to arrive and I've been looking for sofware news for weeks. Disappointedly, I've found FairphoneOS is not being Open Source and customizable... Is it true my research conclusion?
Thanks in advance
Lupin

Ubuntu Phone and Fairphone
If have read this article on omgubuntu.co.uk http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2014/02/bq-aquaris-ubuntu-phone-specs and if i read this correctly, the Ubuntu Phone by manufacturer bq will use a MT6589 (without M). This is essentially the same chipset as the fairphone but with a higher clocked gpu. This should ease porting ubuntu for phones to Fairphone i guess. It will be interessting how (and if) Canonical publishes Ubuntufor that phone. It might actually include sources to help porting Ubuntu to Fairphone.
What do you think?

Well, and what do you think about Neo900: http://neo900.org/#features
Yes, I consider this could be considered spam; sorry for that.

Hi all,
anybody seen/tried this: gizmochina.com/2014/03/10/finally-android-4-4-kitkat-is-available-for-mediatek-mt6589-chipset
Could that be good news?

supersn0b said:
Hi all,
anybody seen/tried this: gizmochina.com/2014/03/10/finally-android-4-4-kitkat-is-available-for-mediatek-mt6589-chipset
Could that be good news?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's new?
Search right here on xda.
There are currently two cyanogenmod builds (CM 10.2 - jb 4.3) and (CM11 - KK 4.4) for the wiko stairway MT6589.
Check the miscellaneous android development forums
Regards

Blackphone 2 - Review and basic tech info

Hello guys, i'm new here and registered because I wanted to discuss one of the phones I own.
This thread's objective is to bring attention of Silent Circle's (SGP) Blackphone 2 (BP2) owners because I believe we are few and share ROM-specific information, due to a lack of it on the internet and specially this forum.
Full Stock ROM for this device: http://forum.xda-developers.com/general/general/rom-blackphone-2-t3516909
Specs:
LTE and Worldwide 3G/HSPA+ connectivity
5.5" FullHD Gorilla Glass display, 1080x1920 pixels
Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-Core Processor ("About" shows MSM8939, but kernel compiled for MSM8916)
3GB RAM & 32GB internal storage
microSD card slot supports additional 128GB
13 MP BSI Camera Sensor (5 MP front)
3060 mAh Battery with Quick Charge 2.0
OS: Silent OS (Android 5.1.1 Lollipop + Cyanogenmod)
Dimensions: 152.40 x 76.40 x 7.90
Currently, I am full of hate for this phone's OS and my first objective right now is to get rid of that useless system called "Silent OS" (formelly "PrivatOS", another clownish commercial fork of AOSP+Cyanogenmod) that is installed on this phone.
I could've simply sold the phone or threw it out, but instead I would like to help other owners and myself since this forum is awesome.
So, here is my little review before I start a thread in the "Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking" section with info on my AOSP or OmniROM future build.
What drives me to flash a custom ROM at this phone?
Well, there are several reasons:
- improperly realized additional user spaces (actually there are 3), that drain the whole battery in some 20 minutes.
- insane battery drain at all by improperly modded OS.
- phone heats up very much, i believe due to improperly built OS
- it's impossible to get root with a current kernel due to well configured (applauding) SELinux in Enforcing mode that can't be turned off even by modifying the initrd.
- official BP2 representatives say they won't provide any root method.
- camera's FPS is disappointing, so slow, much lag, and even after numerous reports to their support it wasn't improved
- useless "Silent Circle" market with its useless apps (they were supposed to be free when there was Blackphone 1)
- "Silent Phone" application is just a paid analog of Telegram, it can't be removed!
- impossibility of removing the annoying "Google Now" widget from the main screen, even after a bunch of requests to their support since the phone was released.
- I don't want gapps at all and would prefer a clean ROM.
- This OS is full of bloatware.
- Its main unique features such as private user spaces and OS encryption are introduced in Android 6.0 by default
Finally, the main reason I bought it was I heard personally from their former CEO they will bring an active and passive cellular security into this phone, I've made a pre-order when I heard this because this would've beaten all other smartphones on the world.
Now I have it, and it's not 'NSA Proof' at all (as was described in mass media), this is bull**** because THIS PHONE DOESN'T HAVE ANY ACTIVE/PASSIVE GSM COMPLEXES PROTECTION (A5 tracer, UnPing, imsi catcher detector, among others)
Proof: official BP2 team reply on the screenshot => https://s28.postimg.org/7bz8wx3h7/blackphone2.png
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The only way to make your communications secure on this phone is to use their paid app "Silent Phone", by the word of its creators. Lol.
What I dislike in design?
- Your "secure and NSA proof" phone's IMEI is written right on its rear panel! (WTF???)
Cool. So basically, while one of the main requirements to be an NSA-proof phone is ability to change IMEI on the fly, these guys decided just to write it on the back panel and introduced the full impossibility of changing it by not allowing to root the device. GENIOUS!!!
The Open Source part.
Just take a look at this wonderful and promising github repo with their "kernel": https://github.com/sgp-blackphone/Blackphone-BP2-Kernel
Great, isn't it? Looks like they are trolling us or something. I haven't even met a single line in that repo containing such strings as 'BP2' or 'Blackphone'.
"Let's just copy a source from kernel.org and publish it as our device's source code!" - GENIOUS!!!
Bottom line
I haven't described any PROS of this device because they don't really exist and the phone doesn't worth the price it's being sold for without active/passive GSM complexes protection. OS security is a thing that every actual android phone includes by default.
Basically, anyone who wants to use the main features of Blackphone 2 doesn't really need to buy the phone, it's enough to download the app 'Silent Phone' from Play Market and use it
Please post your thoughts/feedback about this device here.

I have one of these in the post from Hong-Kong, I was hoping I wouldn't need to flash a rom. Your post has me worried.
At least I got it cheap.

Well it's not that bad. Despite of my privacy and security based point of view, this device is quite useful for an average user who wants to trust their closed source.
I don't want to discourage users from trusting this company, it's only my point of view because I dont' use the half of functionality of a stock ROM and I can't remove it.
Also, this device is depending on security through obscurity, which is the worst way to do so.
As for an open source lover/activist, I prefer security through transparency and would like to have a custom AOSP/CGM build on this device, which I believe would make it good device.
Don't forget to write your opinion when you get the device!

I'll report back when I've gotten the phone and had a chance to use it a bit.

The full stock rom that you linked in your first post is based on Silent OS 2.0.8. Do you know if anything more up to date has been released?

Reieived yesterday a Blackphone 2. Got it for about 150 USD from Hong Kong.
Latest Silent OS version is 3.0.6a.
The camera app is useless and crap. So that I feel sorry for people who paid 500-600 USD for this phone. Does anybody have an idea how to improve it?

Would like to root blackphone 2 as well
Thank you very much for posting this . I purchased this phone and feel that was a mistake. I did not do enough research first and I thought that I'd root it and then be able to install firewall tools I wanted to.
I have not used the phone at all for many months (really ever) as I was unable to root. If there is anyone who knows how to root, I am willing to do anything. I would gladly install an altered version of this image if that was a way to get root. So seeing this image gives me hope. I don't know enough about rooting android to help unfortunately but please do keep this thread updated if anyone figures out how to obtain root on blackphone 2.

what about the possibility of flashing a custom rom actually ?

I picked on of these up for $100 delivered so would be happy to help test any rom tweaks/development.
Was wondering if it might be a clone (hardware) of another Android device but haven't found anything yet.

No custom rom?

Hi polartux.
As you said:
Currently, I am full of hate for this phone's OS and my first objective right now is to get rid of that useless system called "Silent OS" (formelly "PrivatOS", another clownish commercial fork of AOSP+Cyanogenmod) that is installed on this phone.[...] [...] So, here is my little review before I start a thread in the "Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking" section with info on my AOSP or OmniROM future build.
How is it going?
I think that you are the only one in the entire internet involved in a Blackphone2 custom rom project. All I can do is offer myself as a tester of your work. Hope you don't give up because this hardware is great and deserves to be used properly (without SilentOS).
Regards.

polartux said:
Hello guys, i'm new here and registered because I wanted to discuss one of the phones I own.
This thread's objective is to bring attention of Silent Circle's (SGP) Blackphone 2 (BP2) owners because I believe we are few and share ROM-specific information, due to a lack of it on the internet and specially this forum.
Please post your thoughts/feedback about this device here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there
First of all, I feel your pain. This is frustrating to buy any device and discover it's crippled, and that you are not allowed to fix it.
I will try to post some of the discoveries I made soon. Please hold on...
E

Guys, I have no longer the device because I just sold it. I also stopped trying developing the custom ROM because I had not enough support/information. SilentCircle have done everything to be hated by their users/customers, they're just a bunch of businessmen who don't really care about making this phone better.
I also recommend selling yours and buy something else

A litle guide to increase bp2 performance
https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...e-make-bp2-t3735815/post75218344#post75218344