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+-- Forum: Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=111)
+--- Forum: Android on Pinebook Pro (https://forum.pine64.org/forumdisplay.php?fid=113)
+--- Thread: Arguments for android support (/showthread.php?tid=8952)
Arguments for android support - metcalsr - 01-28-2020
Hi guys,
I've talked personally with a few people who seem to think android support isn't really necessary for a strong Pinebook community. Even if Android support seems like the most obvious thing in the world to you, there are people who are firmly against using Android on their device. For this reason, I thought I'd try to enumerate some reasons why I think we really need to get it going.
1. Android provides easy access to Microsoft Office.
Linux users might groan at this, but the Android version of Microsoft Office is surprisingly full-featured. It provides much more than Office Online and many people, even Linux users, still have to use Office to some extent.
2. Access to games
The Pinebook will never be a gaming powerhouse, but if we can get Google Play working reliably, the Pinebook is powerful enough to play a wide variety of Android games.
3. Fills a niche
Considering the low-end specs of the Pinebook, one of the best ways to maintain healthy development for the device is to increase it's lateral utility. Being able to boot into a baremetal armv8 android install would be a strong incentive for hobbyists, developers, and mobile gamers who can't really get that experience from another laptop.
4. Access to Google proprietary video codecs
The Pinebook struggles with 1080p video streaming. There are many android devices with far inferior specs to the Pinebook that can manage it just fine on android.
I'm sure there are more, but these are some of the biggest reasons I don't want to see this area of the forum languish with only three posts.
RE: Arguments for android support - xmixahlx - 01-28-2020
choice is a thing. for all of these reasons I would expect some android usage. i would guess that android from sdcard would be more useful to leverage these benefits occasionally.
i expect hardware acceleration to improve pretty quickly for linux.
RE: Arguments for android support - tophneal - 01-28-2020
I would like to see a more open Android image at the very least. I use it so I can join my company's weekly meetings through Zoom. The current one (that actually boots) is incredibly restrictive with access to root, and it's next to impossible to get it to play nicely with ADB.
I was just thinking it'd be nice to see one of ayufan's Android images boot on the PBP, but I'm not sure if anyone's even tried yet. Might do that tonight.
RE: Arguments for android support - tllim - 01-29-2020
Since there is interest on Android, I will explore on release the Android 9.0 build for Pinebook Pro.
RE: Arguments for android support - Wizzard - 01-30-2020
Please, also root support and Google Play
RE: Arguments for android support - tophneal - 01-30-2020
(01-29-2020, 10:39 PM)tllim Wrote: Since there is interest on Android, I will explore on release the Android 9.0 build for Pinebook Pro.
That will be VERY appreciated!
RE: Arguments for android support - xmixahlx - 01-30-2020
nice! I will absolutely use an sdcard android install! play store apps and media player usage could be very useful.
RE: Arguments for android support - tllim - 01-31-2020
(01-30-2020, 02:04 AM)Wizzard Wrote: Please, also root support and Google Play
Root support should able to accomplish. However, once rooted, there is no Google Play.
RE: Arguments for android support - tophneal - 02-01-2020
(01-31-2020, 11:43 PM)tllim Wrote:(01-30-2020, 02:04 AM)Wizzard Wrote: Please, also root support and Google Play
Root support should able to accomplish. However, once rooted, there is no Google Play.
We could use MicroG in place of Google Play for the rooted image. That should circumvent that limitation.
RE: Arguments for android support - Wizzard - 02-01-2020
(01-31-2020, 11:43 PM)tllim Wrote:Why?(01-30-2020, 02:04 AM)Wizzard Wrote: Please, also root support and Google Play
Root support should able to accomplish. However, once rooted, there is no Google Play.