Installing Linux on Your Phone - Neo Freerunner

[Rost1366]

can it be installed on SE G900?

[bigbadbeast2007]

whats this 1983?

[metalx1000]

@bigbadbeast2007: It was a year. Now if you are referring to the NEO1973, that was the predecessor to the FreeRunner.  It was named that because, I believe, that 1973 was the year the first cell phone was invented.

[samiie30]

thanks for your video but i am unable to install the rootfs file from openmoko website whereas i can download the kernel file

if anybody knows where i can get rootfs file then please send me the link

[metalx1000]

@samiie30: Are you looking for the default OpenMoko distro or another one?

[samiie30]

@metalx1000 : yeah i am looking to install default openmoko distro

can u also let me know how to install android on SD card.

[dimaxxxx]

can it be installed on Samsung wave 2? it has 1ghz processor,graphic card and 512MB rom

[poetofdamnation]

When you install an ordinary Linux distro on phone, what do you install to make it read SIM, recieve and make calls and send and receive messages?

[metalx1000]

@poetofdamnation: I don't know the name of each program, but there are versions of Debian designed for this phone that come with all that setup. Search the Open-Moko website for a list. Other Debian based distros for phones include Maemo and Meego.

[KinliukasLT]

hey it works on nokia 5230 please check

[metalx1000]

@KinliukasLT: Is this a question or a comment?

[AiDz0r]

@metalx1000 Oke, I'm now looking for dual boot with Android + Linux OS (for pen-testing)

[FreakzHardstylez]

Would it work on Nokia 5230 ?

[metalx1000]

@FreakzHardstylez: I'm not familiar with the 5230, but The problem with putting Linux on a device like that is Drivers. You might be able to get Linux on it, but you may not be able to get the video drivers to work, or the wifi or cell chip. If it runs an ARM processor, It can run Linux.  But, if the manufacturers don't make drivers for Linux some one has to Backward engineer the drivers. I most cases it's a whole lot easier to just buy hardware from a company that supports Linux.

[shortdudeicp]

hey does this work on alias?

[metalx1000]

@shortdudeicp: Most likely not, Proprietary hardware makes it hard. Unless you have the time and skill to backwards engineer drivers. Way beyond my skill level. My guess is that if you knew how, you wouldn't be asking me :)

Only phone that gives you close to this much freedom is the Nokia N900. It also has Linux pre-installed and is open source. The N900 allows you to do pretty much anything you can with a Linux Desktop (at lest anything you can do with a 600Mhz desktop).

[CarnalDiafragma]

I love your matrix coloured terminal, I always change colour to that too.

[metalx1000]

@jaws33321: The problem with putting Linux on a device like that is Drivers. You might be able to get Linux on it, but you may not be able to get the video drivers to work, or the wifi or cell chip. If it runs an ARM processor, It can run Linux. But, if the manufacturers don't make drivers for Linux some one has to Backward engineer the drivers. I most cases it's a whole lot easier to just buy hardware from a company that supports Linux.

[cietod88]

Great video, what you think of the NeoRunner?? Is it reliable??

[metalx1000]

No, not at all. It's a fun thing to play with and learn, but not every usable. It was my main phone for a year and I loved it, bu it was a headache.

If you want a real cool phone that is reliable and powerful and pretty open, that you can install Debian on, you should go with the Nokia N900. I've have had mine for about 4 months now and I love it. It's like having a computer in your pocket.

[michael30310]

Ok thanx ill wait til someone does it.

[michael30310]

Hey I love the info on open loco . Um hoping u can help me with something see I'm a Android fan and I also respect iPhone and notice people connecting their iPhones to a television is this possible with the Android phone I know the have device that can but I was wondering can the phone do It. Thanks your new subscriber

[metalx1000]

That would be a hardware feature.

There are many Phones out there that run Android.

I have not heard of one that does, but it is possible.

I can tell you that the Motorola Cliq does not have this feature.

My Nokia N900 does, but I have not really tested it out yet.

[bamdadkhan]

stupid question: how did you manage to configure your window switcher like that?

[metalx1000]

I'm not sure what you mean.

At what part of video are you talking about?

[bamdadkhan]

at 4:08 for a brief moment. it seems to look a bit different from the standard one in gnome (with desktop effects enabled). you have two rows and the switcher itself is static.

btw, great videos, with your scripts and a nice video tutorial elsewhere i'm slowly refreshing my ages-old UN*X terminal knowledge. :)

[metalx1000]

Currently I'm useing Ubuntu 9.10 for my videos. And I believe that that is the default Compiz "Static Application Switcher". I don't remember changing any settings for it. Looking at the Compiz settings manager I don't see any options to change the number of rows, but there is an option for row alignment.

In the video it appears as though the switch stays up on the screen for a little while. It really doesn't. That is a glitch in the screen capture program.

[metalx1000]

As far as I know it will.

But, I do tell everyone, a FreeRunner is great if you are ready to put a lot of work into it and you know what you're doing. Don't expect to be watching movies on it and get ready for some head aches. It was a good learning experience for me, but I'm glade to have my Nokia N900 now :)

[Exdozolie]

Iphone?

[metalx1000]

There is a project to put Linux On an iPhone.

The Problem is Drivers. You can get a Linux Command Line on an iPhone and hook a Keyboard up to it. But, Last I checked there were no Drivers for: Video, Sound, TouchScreen, wifi, bluetooth, or cell chip. So pretty much useless.

[metalx1000]

If you google Linux on an iPhone you can find the project page. If Apple opened up the Drivers they could be recompiled for Linux. But, Apple will never do that. So, they have to be backward engineered. This is a long slow process.

You can install Linux on older iPods. It's called RockBox. You can even play Doom on the first generation iPod if you install RockBox.

[Exdozolie]

@metalx1000 I've heard that the production of the Neo Freerunner has been discontinued.

Is it still possible to get one?

[planetpatrick]

dats me :).

would it be possibel to install linux on a... motorola?

[librano]

@planetpatrick or a Nokia phone that's running Symbian S40 right now...

[planetpatrick]

how u do dat?

[librano]

I don't know... I'm asking as well... :)

[metalx1000]

Linux itself could run on the hardware. But, Motorola will have restrictions on it and once again, the big problem would be drivers. Even if you got Linux installed on it most things won't work (Sound, The ability to make calls, etc...).

Now, as things move forward and we see more and more Android Phones (Which is Linux) I bet well see more cellphone Hacks to install something like Debian on them.

[metalx1000]

My dream is to see cheap prepaid phones that run Android that can be hacked to run Debian. Then you can go to WalMart and buy a $50 portable Debian Computer that fits in your pocket.

:)