PINE64
Any word about Android builds? - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Any word about Android builds? (/showthread.php?tid=7748)

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RE: Any word about Android builds? - swulff - 10-09-2019

I've ordered the PBP and can't wait to have it.

I have a specific use case where having Android on a laptop could be super helpful. I wouldn't want it as my main OS but possible boot it from USB or SD card if possible.

I'm pretty new to the Pine64 scene, the PBP being my first experience with it so I am wondering if anyone knows if the Android build will have google services like play store etc. ?

Thanks in advance

RE: Any word about Android builds? - Wizzard - 10-09-2019

First Pinebook had the ability to boot also from SD and so it has PBP. Also, Google Play services were present, so I think it will be the same here.

I just would rather boot Android from eMMC too, I will try to move it from SD and to use SD just like a "booting floppy" for Android.

RE: Any word about Android builds? - swulff - 10-09-2019

(10-09-2019, 04:37 AM)Wizzard Wrote: First Pinebook had the ability to boot also from SD and so it has PBP. Also, Google Play services were present, so I think it will be the same here.

I just would rather boot Android from eMMC too, I will try to move it from SD and to use SD just like a "booting floppy" for Android.

sounds good reg. the play services. I guess I'll have to wait for my PBP and try it out. reg the booting from various places..

Thanks

RE: Any word about Android builds? - Wizzard - 10-09-2019

That SD card booting must work, in order to install system to eMMC. But I really would try running from SD only for testing purposes, not for regular using.

RE: Any word about Android builds? - Wizzard - 10-24-2019

Is there any working Android with Play Store working?

RE: Any word about Android builds? - tophneal - 10-24-2019

(09-27-2019, 06:59 AM)Wizzard Wrote: Is it possible to install Android together with Linux and other OS? For example, Android and ChromeOS on eMMC, Linux on NVMe?

I recall in one of the NVMe discussion threads, that the PBP won't be able to boot from them for X reason (X = I forgot why.) It will apparently function more like just a secondary drive. If I'm wrong, awesome!

RE: Any word about Android builds? - binholz - 11-06-2019

I got my pinebook pro the other day. I installed chromium OS, it was OK until it crashed twice (and rebooted) when trying to watching a YouTube video. I have it installed on the emmc. For some reason, Android is not loading from the SD card (or other Linux systems on an SD); Chromium os still boots. Will I need to turn off the emmc and boot with it off to reset the boot order? Is the recovery button under the hood the only way to flash Android to the emmc?

Please let me know, thanks

RE: Any word about Android builds? - tophneal - 11-06-2019

(11-06-2019, 12:09 PM)binholz Wrote: I got my pinebook pro the other day.  I installed chromium OS, it was OK until it crashed twice (and rebooted) when trying to watching a YouTube video.  I have it installed on the emmc.  For some reason, Android is not loading from the SD card (or other Linux systems on an SD); Chromium os still boots.  Will I need to turn off the emmc and boot with it off to reset the boot order?  Is the recovery button under the hood the only way to flash Android to the emmc?  

Please let me know, thanks

Yes! The default Debian is the only one that will look for SD to boot. By default the uboot prioritizes eMMC over SD. In order to boot from SD, you'll want to disable the eMMC. (I learned this hard way, in a very similar situation.)

Your easiest options to write a new image to the eMMC will either be through mask rom mode, or taking out the eMMC and connecting it to the USB adapter to burn directly from your computer.

RE: Any word about Android builds? - binholz - 11-06-2019

(11-06-2019, 12:16 PM)tophneal Wrote:
(11-06-2019, 12:09 PM)binholz Wrote: I got my pinebook pro the other day.  I installed chromium OS, it was OK until it crashed twice (and rebooted) when trying to watching a YouTube video.  I have it installed on the emmc.  For some reason, Android is not loading from the SD card (or other Linux systems on an SD); Chromium os still boots.  Will I need to turn off the emmc and boot with it off to reset the boot order?  Is the recovery button under the hood the only way to flash Android to the emmc?  

Please let me know, thanks

Yes! The default Debian is the only one that will look for SD to boot. By default the uboot prioritizes eMMC over SD. In order to boot from SD, you'll want to disable the eMMC. (I learned this hard way, in a very similar situation.)

Your easiest options to write a new image to the eMMC will either be through mask rom mode, or taking out the eMMC and connecting it to the USB adapter to burn directly from your computer.

I didn't buy the adapter for the emmc. So I can't go that route.  Many of my SD cards now fail on write/verify with the Pine64 version of etcher.  Is there a version of uboot that is easier to configure like grub ?

RE: Any word about Android builds? - tophneal - 11-06-2019

(11-06-2019, 12:33 PM)binholz Wrote:
(11-06-2019, 12:16 PM)tophneal Wrote:
(11-06-2019, 12:09 PM)binholz Wrote: I got my pinebook pro the other day.  I installed chromium OS, it was OK until it crashed twice (and rebooted) when trying to watching a YouTube video.  I have it installed on the emmc.  For some reason, Android is not loading from the SD card (or other Linux systems on an SD); Chromium os still boots.  Will I need to turn off the emmc and boot with it off to reset the boot order?  Is the recovery button under the hood the only way to flash Android to the emmc?  

Please let me know, thanks

Yes! The default Debian is the only one that will look for SD to boot. By default the uboot prioritizes eMMC over SD. In order to boot from SD, you'll want to disable the eMMC. (I learned this hard way, in a very similar situation.)

Your easiest options to write a new image to the eMMC will either be through mask rom mode, or taking out the eMMC and connecting it to the USB adapter to burn directly from your computer.

I didn't buy the adapter for the emmc. So I can't go that route.  Many of my SD cards now fail on write/verify with the Pine64 version of etcher.  Is there a version of uboot that is easier to configure like grub ?
The real issue with the uboot seems to be that the SoC default put eMMC before SD for Rockchip SoCs. The default Debian build has a script (on the eMMC) that checks if an SD is bootable and boots it. You'd probably want to emulate that. (I would love it if we could flash a modified uboot that does just this to SPI.) No, I don't think there is any other uboots to try, considering the main difference is the boot order and all other Rockchip uboots don't seem to switch the 2 in boot order. I've tried inquiring about a different uboot for the SoC after installing ChromiumOS to the eMMC, but haven't heard or found anything yet..

For some OSes, particularly the Androids, there are alternate builds that will let you use the Rockchip flash tool. I believe it's used by plugging a USB-C cable to the PBP and you computer, then using the rkflashtool to send the image to the eMMC.

Here's a link to the wiki with terminal commands. It is available for Windows and Linux, and can be installed on Macs using Terminal or Brew.