Android release on HTC Apache *CDMA Works!*
 

First, Thank You Colonel, Helmi, and all of the kitchen contributors, your efforts and ROM releases have easily made this the best phone I've ever owned.

I dunno what happened to the Android poll thread and its' creator, but I was motivated by that thread, and after many hours of research, patching, porting, compiling, packaging, and several pots of coffee... Android m5 (slightly older than the version in SDK 1.0) boots and is navigable. This is my first step towards getting the release version up and running on the Apache, though to what degree I am uncertain.

I'll post some video later tonight/this weekend. All major updates will be edits to the original post.

p.s. woot.

For those of you having trouble try these tips from other users:
- Make sure you are NOT extracting the archives
- Make sure the rootfs file ends in tar.bz2, some folks have had issues with extensions getting cut off
- Make sure the phone radio is on, bt and wifi off.
- Run HaRET as soon as you can after a fresh soft reset
- Wait at least 5 minutes for it to pass jumping to kernel if you think it's hanging, it shouldn't take this long but some users have noted longer waits depending on what's running and installed on the Windows Mobile side at the time of execution.

6th Update: CDMA Steps into the ring ppcgeeks.com loads for the test. Connection is unstable as hell (unusable) at the moment. Pics in thread. http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=43753&page=9

5th Update: Proof of concept build released to the masses for fiddling around.

4th Update: Touchscreen is now up and fully functional.

3rd Update: Android release compiled from source boots via native init on HTC Apache!

Most of the information below is outdated since I've moved from M5 to full release Android, I'll leave the info up here for now though for reference.

The quick and dirty:
- NO FLASHING REQUIRED. It boots from an SD card
- Underlying kernel based on a modified version of Handhelds.org's 2.6.21 kernel source for htcapache
- Android system is from the m5 SDK distribution
- Uses Kevin O'Connor's HaRET for chainloading the kernel from CE
- Uses backported binder, log, power, etc drivers from m5 distro (I'll have to look at the patch, can't remember who ported them)
- Eats batteries like I'm running Prime 95... (See item 1 of "What doesn't work")

What doesn't work (not much testing done yet):
Power Management (kernel)
Cell/Radio/Data (kernel)
Touchscreen is flaky (kernel)
Sound? (unknown)
Several unmapped or incorrectly mapped soft keys (mainly android) (FIXED)
Framebuffer issues -> should have a fix (kernel/pxafb driver) (FIXED)

What works:
Basic navigation with the action button
Cursor Keys
Power Button
Touchscreen (Flaky, intermittent)
RTC
Softkeys
DoubleBuffering on the framebuffer

Current Goals:
- Port apache-specific kernel code to 2.6.25 (In-Progress, 2.6.25 kernel now boots and we are able to mount the img on the SD card.)
- Get beta .9 running (Skipping in favor of custom compiled Android Release)
- Get 1.0 release code running (Step 1: The kernel is well underway.)
- ... and more

/etc:
This was the first step, and it's giving me a chance to work out the kernel and HW issues on an older setup. I'll probably need some help at some point in time, if anyone has any kernel hacking or device driver experience that'd be the most helpful, anyway, more info as I have it to share.

Credits:
This work was only possible due to:
Kevin O'Connor and the rest of the handhelds.org kernel maintainers
Benno Leslie and Benno's blog
alextreme.org (android on nokia n8xx information)
elinux.org (android on omap information)
androidzaurus (from Japan? whose work on the pxa based Zaurus led to the framebuffer patch for 2.6.23 I just ported over to .21)

Re: Android on HTC Apache *NEW PICS*
 

I put the technical info on my blog so I don't have to write it up twice, feel free to visit it @ http://chillaxin.net (no spam, no reg)

Re: Android m5 on HTC Apache *NEW PICS*
 

well done. very cool.

Re: Android m5 on HTC Apache *NEW PICS*
 

Nice one! Kepp up the good work :)

Re: Android m5 on HTC Apache *NEW PICS*
 

Great stuff! I would be interested in trying out if/when WiFi is working.

Re: Android m5 on HTC Apache *NEW PICS*
 

Me too. Glad, to see progress is being made. Thanks a lot.

Re: Android m5 on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

wow this is great that someone is making headway on android for apache im ganna have to keep my old 6700 now to do testing :D
Also if you need any help lmk.

Re: Android m5 on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

This is very good news... Looking forward to testing...

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Got release up and running, post updated, photos updated.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Impressive. I look forward to updates.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Wow! This is great! I may try to follow your instructions to get a rudimentary Android on my Apache.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Oh ... my ... SWEET!!!!!!!!!! I'll try it soon, too! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THIS tekkdrone !!!

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Holly smokes! I currently have WM6.1 on my Apache and loving it. But I was actually thinking on changing to G1, but I think I'll wait for this, I'm available for testing, if you release something. Keep up the good work dude.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Dude, the great thing about this is, you don't have to change, especially as this is still Alpha. You can boot from your SD slot!

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Hey Tekkdrone, when can we expect an alpha release ready for testing? I don't see any link from you... anyways keep it up dude... it's looking fine! :D I'm eager to see this!

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Where's the download link? :(](*,)](*,)](*,)

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

its far from ready yet is my guess. good to know that progress is being made though

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

I too am interested as I stated months ago and donated $ and my programming in the past. I have taken the Samsung i760 as far as it will go and the 6700 w/kitchen and nice ROM walks all over it :-) I will open a new 6800 when I get time next week and see what I can burn for it. I still have my eye's on the Touch HD with Android. I had Linux for many years and it still kicks M$ diode!! Thanks, JASTECH

P.S. For those of yo that know me I have not been around in a while as I was electrocuted and I am still trying to cope with the changes that have been forced upon me via the injury. It has changed my life big time so please bare with me when I make mistakes but I will have all my stuff dbl checked by friends before I upload it under different name.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Bring it!

**WOOT**

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

any hope on a release date

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Well, see, it's on his website, but he has posted the initial old links, without the progress from the native 2.6.25 kernal onward. I don't think we should push him give us links for the new progress, or to post his work, because he is putting in his time and skill, and I wouldn't want him to feel underappreciated for all his effort. I'm just waiting to see what happens. It's his ability and skill. Let it come when he wants it to, yeah?

:Gratuitous, yet sincere Fanaticism:
Oh my CRAP this is cool!!. I'm excited to see everything, and if it works out, use everything, but just this feat that he's accomplished is AMAZING. There IS life after WM6.1!!! And it's even better than what we have now!! Well, that's my faith, at least!! And it appears that we might have the opportunity to use this option (ANDROID) in the future, sometime. SSSWWWEEEEEETTT!!!!

Woah!!!!! Dude!! I met someone who got BUSTED-up electrocuted, and saw some of the aftermath, and how he pull his life back together, and the changes he made. His progress was SOOO AMAZING!! To see where he came from, and what he was able to do afterward. WOW! I feel for you, man! I believe in you, even MORE!! Keep the faith, man!!

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Proof of concept build released, initial post updated :)

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

HOLY SMACKS!! I just don't know what to do I'm so smacked!!! I'm gonna try this and try to post my experience a lil later.

You know what? tekkdrone for Moderator ! Or more ! President ! oh, too late for that... (chill out, peoples that think I know him)

Anyway, I AM FREAKING AWED at his talent and, well, niceness.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

lol, thanks hypocritus.

Well folks, there's not TOO much to do but navigate around and check out the menus, you can check out the api demos too if you like, they're from the SDK. There's a few in the graphics section that show off some 3D stuff. The keycode checker is a dev tool, the rest is standard fare. A buddy of mine has a G1 he said he'd let me debug so I can see how it's setup, that also means I get all his apps too >.> :D. Hopefully I can add some of those in on a future build.

You might notice if you touch the screen while android is booting it'll spam the console with coordinates, I forgot to remove a printk from the kernel when I was debugging the touchscreen coordinate translation. I'd hoped to have wireless working by this weekend but wasn't able to get it working in time, I'm at the point where it prints kernel messages to the screen and finds the hardware but it fails during bringup still so it's not in the test release. Anyway, I'll keep posting back here from time to time though most of my major updates will be on my blog, have fun with the proof of concept test release.

-Joey

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Tried the 5 files did everything you said to do but not working. Haret is saying cannot open script file. I am running Apache WM6.1 20755. Do i need to go back to wm5?

I also am using a microSD 2gb card in a mini adapter would that cause any problems?

Thanks for doing this

UPDATE: Fixed the script file error for startup but now it says "Failed to load file \Storage Card\zImage" Now what?

UPDATE 2 : Fixed everything fresh download and now its booting

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

I've been using a 2gb micro in an adapter, and a helmi 6.1 ROM for testing/development (HaRET's pretty flexible), I also tested those 5 files to the point of booting Android to the home screen, then uploaded them after copying them from my SD card.

I will download the set to my extra SD card to be sure they didn't get corrupted during upload, can you please check these possibilities?

Do you have all of the files placed in the root of your SD card? they cannot be in a folder or in separate folders. Alternatively, if the zImage file is named zimage (no capital I) fix the startup.txt to reflect that, or rename the zimage though I don't think it matters, same for the initrd.

Another possibility: if you transferred using a card reader, you need to click the tray icon and "safely remove <card>" to ensure everything is written out to the card before it's pulled.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

I got it to start booting now it says

/bin/sh: can't access tty; job control turned off

This has been there for a while so i will quite and try agin

Getting Close :drunken:

UPDATE: o wait the screen just turned white

UPDATE 2 : Soft reset trying one more time

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

The first boot is long and slow, if you rebooted during the first boot, and there is an android.img on your sdcard, you should delete it or you may not be able to get it going. On a side note, I downloaded the files from the site and a brand-new Kingston brand SD card (2gb micro) failed to boot with an MMC subsystem error (it had a problem with the card) trying another virgin card to verify the files didn't get corrupted.

EDIT: I'll get a video of the boot process up so you all know what to expect.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

O ok thanks i did restart and it is now on the white screen again i will what a while this time and see if anything happens.

UPDATE: My screen is still white. I will try and delete the old file and start over in the morning.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

The white screen is not something I've seen, I wonder if it's a hardware difference. In either case I did verify the files on the site are not corrupted, and tried with a different type/brand of card. I was able to boot to the Android home screen after a while. (I recommend not using Kingston brand 2gb micros for this)

When does the white screen occur? Do you ever see the "Jumping to kernel..." message after running HaRET?

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Ok so i have seen it change to the white screen and i dont think it said anything before. It is slowly when white from the black screen with words.
The white screen has very tiny lines that go all the way down the screen.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Just tried... got on the screen:

<output omitted>
Mounting SD Card
/init: /init: 19: fail: not found
No previous root filesystem found
ls: /sdcard/m.rootfs.tar.bz2: no such file found
No root filesystem tar file found
<output omitted>
/bin/sh: can't access tty: job control turned off

and if I touch the screen shows the position debug as you said.

What could be the problem?

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Hmmmm, sounds like the version of HaRET I posted isn't working for some of you, I'll investigate.

Edit: There's at least one person who's been successful so I'm thinking this might be due to hardware differences. I've added a link on my blog to another build of HaRET, see if that one works better for you.

Also, this will not work from anywhere but the SD card, running it from the phone storage will fail.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

WOO HOO!!! Count me as the second!! I just got it all up and running via tekkdrone's "stock" 2.6.25 instructions and download links (links to his site on first page of this thread). No issues for me, first try!! My SD is a Sandisk 1gb miniSD card.

Oh SWEET!!! I have pre-Alpha ANDROID running on my phone!!!

LOL! Maybe I have Joker tendencies, but I could not hold back the laughing out loud, esp. when the android clock came up (even if the time was wrong) and I was able to move it. Oh my crap! Call me whatever, but an ANDROID OS working on my phone? without me having to buy a new one, AND switch to T-(omitted), I'm just upside down!

I know it's just a proof of concept, now. But to see the progress in just a few days, from where it's come from...!

Couple of notes: The first boot probably took at least ten minutes. Haven't tried any boots thereafter, yet, cause I'm still trying to get over a working Android interface on my phone, and exploring it. Also, there's not too much to do on the phone, yet (like tekkdrone said). But for the ANDROID aficionado, though as-of-yet non-owner, this is fun!

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

That's great :) I've got a buddy of mine testing on his 6700 as well to see if he sees the white screen issue. Also, I'm in the process of converting the boot video and posting it on my blog, should have it up in half an hour or so.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

EDITED:

Okay, the first boot probably takes more than 10 minutes on a regular-clocked Apache.

Be aware that if you are using an overclocked Apache, because of the intensive IO and such, you might actually lock-up (temporarily) your Apache, but not know it, because the wait is assumed to be long in the first place; make sense? So unless you are sure that running your o/ced Apache @ full speed and @ 100% CPU usage for several several minutes on end doesn't lock it up, I would regular-clock it for these experiments. Also, an o/ced Apache may cause extra errors that should not even be reported to tekkdrone or on this thread, b/c it's not fair for him to try to fix something that's not even a real problem in the first place.

The second and subsequent boots take like 4 or 5 minutes.

It does drain your batt, especially the first boot.

It does run smoothly once it's up. I like it!

Oh yeah, and my phone reboots just as fast as always, after rebooting from Android. 'couse, tekkdrone reported the he only sometimes encounters slow reboot, not all the time, and I've only rebooted from Android twice.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

A video of the initial boot is up on the blog.

Also I didn't even consider that yes, OC'ing may affect the HaRET launch, but once the kernel is launched it should tune you back down to 206 and shouldn't be an issue, but since I don't have voltage control in the kernel yet, it's possible an OC'd unit would fail during the handoff.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Ha ok i found out what i did if you download the files the wrong way then it will not work.

I downloaded all the files the right way then put it on my phone this morning on the way to my bus stop and it worked so i played with it on my way to school this is what you have to do.

When you download the "android.rootfs.tar" file it needs to look like a .rar image. ( One time i downloaded and had a blank icon or plain white)

The startup file sould be a text file but dont but "startup.txt" it sould just be "startup"

The Zimage and inird files sould not be anything. (Like one time it downloaded and said it was a .txt file)

I hope this works for the people who are having trouble.

EDIT: this sould help you m15t1k0 thaats one of the codes i came up with

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

Sounds like you may've had "Hide extensions for known files" turned on in Windows (it's on by default) and that is what likely caused issues with file names, thanks for the update.

Re: Android *RELEASE* on HTC Apache *UPDATES*
 

mine worked amazingly after i formatted my patriot 4gb sdhc card looks great it was fun to run it lol if it only had wifi or the phone support i would be inlove Thanks Tekkdrone keep up the good work