This is how you flash to eMMC easily

[gregb49]

I found it, @gregb49.  it's on the wiki.pine64.org page for how to flash an os to the device.  holding the volume + button while plugging into a cpu makes the emmc accessable to the cpu as an external storage storage device much like a hard drive or usb card.  the wiki calls it "tow-boot" which seems like a dumb name to me, butthatsjustme; maybe because the cpu is towing the device along like a tug boat tows a barge?


the wiki describes a method where "jump drive" can make the device accessable to the cpu like "tow-boot" does.  seems like more hardware is required for the "jump drive" option which makes me wonder why someone would use the "jump drive" option?

Good to know and also the other comments are helpful/ However, I've actually been using the jump drive to  try out and install various distributions, trying to get my 'phone to connect to the internet when no wifi is available. 
That's a strange problem which I have now overcome by noting the APN settings on another phone for my SIM Card, then transferring the SIM card to the pine phone and manually typing in all the "Network - Mobile - APN" settings which actually worked, much to my surprise.
Quite a steep learning curve, for me, but I now have a fully functioning pine phone (I think   ) running ubtouch.