[Guide and Demo] Ubuntu Linux on the Acer Iconia Tab A500

In this video I demo Ubuntu Linux on the Acer Iconia Tab A500.

*YOUR TABLET MUST BE ROOTED WITH BUSYBOX AND BASH INSTALLED*
(Instructions for Busybox and bash below)

To do it yourself you will need:
*An Acer Iconia Tab (other android tablets will work: OMAP 4-based tablets will work very well. Just make sure you edit the geometry of your VNC to pixels wide by pixels high - 48 (i.e for the 1280x800 display of the Iconia, the geometry is 1280x752))
*An Ubuntu Linux installation on your computer. Other debian distros will probably work too but for max compatibility I recommend Ubuntu. Even a VM will work (although to transfer to the tablet you'll need either ADB or you'll have to transfer to the main (host PC's) hard drive and then copy over
*Between 1hour and 4hours of your time depending on the computer building the install (I recommend a native Ubuntu install for faster build times)

*Full instructions on rootstock here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1141990
*DO NOT try and use the standard ubuntu-desktop. Mono does not like being included for some reason. kubuntu-desktop might work but lxde definitely does
*Android VNC and Terminal Emulator apps are free on the market
*To install busybox, use any busybox installer on the market
*bash can be installed from this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=537827
*The command to start the vncserver is (without quotes) "vncserver -geometry 1280x752"
*To exit the linux command line, just type "exit". To kill all the linux daemons, restart your Iconia

Let me know how you get on!!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Ubuntu (operating System)
• Ubuntu
• Linux
• A500
• Android
• Acer
• Iconia
• Tab
• A501
• Tablet
• PC
• Tablet Personal Computer
• Tutorial
• Phone
• Download
• compile
• rootstock
• free
• open
• source
• Open Source
• libre
• root
• su
• busybox
• market
• Android Market
• Free Software
• jailbreak
• touch
• screen
• touch screen
• touchscreen
• WiFi
• Android (operating System)

[FahadRyu]

thats not acer iconia tab a500

[computergeek9658]

@FahadRyu yes it is :P I can create a proof video if you want? :)

[FahadRyu]

@computergeek9658 i have it, but body of your tablet looks different, are you using some kind of case, maybe thats why it doesnt look like iconia a500

[computergeek9658]

@FahadRyu I am using the official Acer flip case (the ingenious smart-cover copy for the A500 :P)

[P01sonN1nja1]

That's not Ubuntu. That's Knoppix.

[computergeek9658]

@P01sonN1nja1 it's oneiric - Linux. It's the armel build. If my tab could boot from loop files, it'd be bootable :P

[GermanDoerksen]

Really got excited, thought this was an actual dual-boot... Not a simple vnc.

[krimlon1st]

fahadryu that sure does look like a iconia a500 i can tell since thats what im using to watch this on right now.

[computergeek9658]

@acesoftrul3z hackers keyboard <33

[acesoftrul3z]

What Keyboard app is that? I've been painfully using GoKeyboard.... >.<