So, I would like to use the pinephone to learn more about device driver kernel modules in linux and device nodes. My main goal would be to write a kernel module that I can load, to control an LED in user space but I know, that's a long way to go.  As you can see, there's going to be some very naive things I'm going to say, so please bear with me... I'd really like to know how this works!

I am fairly new to the subject and by now I was only developing firmware for STM32 devices and some software backend things, but no embedded linux at all. On a microcontroller I would look up on which GPIO pin the LED is connected, then search the programming manual for the registers that configure and controle the pin and write to those register addresses.

Still, I think I know at least SOME things about how the linux kernel works. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I suppose there is a kernel module which is basically executable machine code and does the "writing-to-register-addresses"-part? This module can be "loaded" in order to control a peripheral. The module then uses files (or nodes) to offer some sort of interface to applications in user space, in order to easily control the peripheral. These files are located either in /sys or /dev (I guess?). Is that kind of true so far? I already saw the files that can be used to turn an LED on or off in /sys/platform/leds/leds/.

If the above isn't too far off, I have many follow-up questions, but one after the other. 
It would be really kind if someone would like to take time and provide some inside knowledge and just help me find my way here!

big improvements ,from UT-#244 and 246
 texts work
phone calls  working (decent sound )




#246 (Mar 9, 2020 7:49:36 AM)

1. Use a lighter wallpaper for pine — Marius Gripsgard / gitlab
   
   
2. Make sure to set correct modem audio config — Marius Gripsgard / gitlab
   

1. [pinetab] set 'tablet' machine type — nekit1000 / gitlab
   
   
2. Add debug mode to selected images — Marius Gripsgard / gitlab
   
   
3. Add audio, modem and voicecall fixes — Marius Gripsgard / gitlab
   

So I was a little surprised that one of the most common reactions to my most recent wasp-os video wasn't so much "wow... coding for PineTime in Python is so awesome" but instead more "wow... that's a neat watch strap you got there". As I said, a little suprised but I am more than happy to roll with it!

In other words I hope others will enrich this thread with their own watch strap reviews... but here's mine.

I'm not a big fan or rubber straps. However soft they just don't breath well enough perhaps because I favour a relatively tight strap. On that basis I started casting about for a different strap.

I tried the metal strap from my old Seiko 5 at well as a simple black leather strap I had lying around. Both worked at holding the watch on but both also looked a bit weird. The metal strap, being silver just didn't work and although the black leather should have worked it just didn't do it for me so I cast the net a bit wider. Eventually I found a magnetic Milanese strap on eBay (this one if you are interested).

It's working out pretty well so far. Once on it is comfortable and (I think that) it looks pretty good. It is a bit fiddly to take on and off because the strap (being magnetic) sticks to itself but it doesn't take long to get the hang of it. The black surface will also wear a little over time, especially at the point the magnet holds it. If you like that sort of thing then you'd call it a "nice patina" but there are also people who will simply see it as starting to look worn in less than a month. Personally I'm in the "nice patina" camp and am happy with the way it is wearing so far. I've been wearing it for about three weeks now. There are some very minor signs of wear but currently they are subtle and almost impossible to photograph. I expect them to start look a little more silver streaked as time goes by.

Or the TL; DR: stylish, cheap, comfortable, patina 


20mm Milanese strap for Pine64 PineTime (flickr)

Ran into the following: I wanted to connect a little switch to choose between sdcard and emmc boot.

Didn't work: Open was fine - eMMC booted.

But closed seemed to boot from eMMC, too, but the archlinux didn't come up and got stuck while looking for its root device.

After some fiddling around, trying and reading serial console I tried a _jumper_.

Worked. As described in the layout the jumper shortens the clock of the emmc to ground. Is it possible that already a 5cm wire has too much resistance to disable the eMMC?

And if so, is there a smarter way to multiboot?

Just got a Rock64Pro 4GB, an eMMC 128GB and the LCD 7" Touchscreen.

I successfully tested the Rock64Pro with Linux, LibreELEC and Android 7.

But never saw lights on the 7" LCD screen.

Could anybody provide a working setup for just checking the function of the screen?

E.g. Which Android version and url to download? Where installed (sdcard or emmc)? Anything else needed to make it work? HDMI-Monitor connected or not?

I ordered my PinePhone on jan. 2. and on that same day I wrote sales@.

Since I gotten no respons, I also wrote sales@ on 11/1, 04/02 and 16/02.  With no respons from sales@ (I checked my spam-folder).

On 27/2 I wrote sales@ asking that my order is canceled and my money refunded ... No reply.

So, how does one contect the sales-team?

Anyone looking to sell one in the US?

i was messing with gitpod (https://gitpod.io) that provides a free hosting of theia for open-source projects (Theia is Online IDE) and i came up with this:

https://gitpod.io/#snapshot/ea526246-80f...7b00b29c25 (requires github/gitlab account)

What do you think? Would you want to use this kind of environment? (looking for feedback since i plan on using this for my development)

Did anyone experiment with pogopins added to the pcb yet?

I was thinking about sordering the pogopins to the pcb in a way taht would allow connecting to the custom contacts on the backplate so that the watch could be connected to the custom charger that would have a socket for the debugging cable (or ideally solution that would allow flashing via USB)

I am unable to find the plans/projects for the pinetime casing, can anyone reference it or can i request it from the upstream (ideally 3D model)?

I would like to fork it for my design.