Difference between revisions of "Ubuntu touch on bq Aquarius"

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==== Copying files to device ====
==== Copying files to device ====
scp localfile touch:path-on-device
scp localfile touch:path-on-device
Sample script to copy media across to external card:
scp -r $1 phablet@ubu:/media/phablet/FD71-883A/$2


==== Changing password ====
==== Changing password ====

Revision as of 13:26, 13 February 2016

Ubuntu touch revisited - on BQ Aquarius 5

Even though development now is completed (Feb 2016) still do not expect this to be a fully functional operating system comparable in functionality, stability and availability of apps to current builds of IOS or Android.

References

State overview

Working features

  • WiFi
  • Phone
  • SMS
  • Browser
  • Camera (still photography as well as video)
  • Contacts
  • Calendar
  • Music app
  • Bluetooth works (but not completely reliable - e.g. not working with a car system - Ford 2009)
  • remote access via ssh (after enabling ssh server and copying pub key across)
  • Dekko mail client (imaps/smtps)
  • flight mode

Existing problems - still deciding whether to use Ubuntu Touch on bq Aquarius 5 as primary phone

  • mutlitasking deficiencies
    • Various apps (e.g. CuteSpotify) stop working when screen blanks
  • ActiveSync client missing (needed for sync with Exchange/zarafa)


Not tested yet

  • owncloud syncronisation
  • How to import contacts, events (calendar)
  • How to sync contacts, events (calendar)
  • Backup/restore data

Installing Ubuntu Touch

This step is obviously not needed since the phone comes with Ubuntu pre-installed. Just needs an update from 14.10 to 15.04 (just give it some time after the update to come up again).

After that (status from 2016-02-13) with Ubuntu Touch 15.04. 

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ uname -a
Linux ubuntu-phablet 3.4.67 #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Jan 8 11:59:19 UTC 2016 efc96d8 armv7l armv7l armv7l GNU/Linux
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ cat /etc/ubuntu-build 
9
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$

Using Ubuntu touch

connecting to phone via ssh

This is good news - no need for usb connections - just a simple network ssh/sftp/scp session will do (taken from http://askubuntu.com/questions/348714/how-can-i-access-my-ubuntu-phone-over-ssh/601972#601972)

  • install the Terminal app on the phone from the App Store.
  • Open a Terminal and type (this is easier with the phone in a landscape orientation, the last command will hang; this is expected):
sudo setprop persist.service.ssh true
mkdir -pm700 ~/.ssh
ip addr
nc -l 1234 > ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
  • Look for your phone's IP address in the Terminal as returned by the ip addr command above.
  • On your computer, type (replacing 192.0.2.1 with your phone's IP address from above):
nc 192.0.2.1 1234 < ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
  • If successful, the last command on your phone's Terminal will now succeed.
  • On your computer, type (again replacing 192.0.2.1 with your phone's IP address from above):
ssh phablet@192.0.2.1

Checking installed version

phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$ system-image-cli --info
current build number: 9
device name: vegetahd
channel: ubuntu-touch/stable/bq-aquaris.en
last update: 2016-01-21 16:15:55
version version: 9
version ubuntu: 20160123.1
version tag: OTA-9
version device: 20160108-efc96d8
version custom: 20160111-926-36--vivid
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$

Copying files to device

scp localfile touch:path-on-device

Sample script to copy media across to external card: 

scp -r $1 phablet@ubu:/media/phablet/FD71-883A/$2

Changing password

Remount root fs rw (for update to /etc/shadow): 

mount -o remount,rw /

Run passwd command 

passwd phablet

Problem with this: dualboot app in touch does not work any more since the password seems to be hard-coded.

Getting sshd to work

mkdir /var/run/sshd
chmod 755 /var/run/sshd
service ssh start
cd /home/phablet
mkdir .ssh
chmod 700 .ssh

Add your pub key to authorized keys: 

vi .ssh/authorized_keys

Change acl: 

chmod 400 .ssh/authorized_keys 
chown -R phablet:phablet .ssh

ssh as phablet now works: 

macantha:.ssh tim$ ssh phablet@touch
Welcome to Ubuntu Trusty Tahr (development branch) (GNU/Linux 3.4.0-3-mako armv7l)
* Documentation:  https://help.ubuntu.com/
Last login: Sun Jan 19 11:29:41 2014 from macantha.fritz.box
phablet@ubuntu-phablet:~$

Problem - this does not seem to be boot-resistant. The directory /var/run/sshd vanishes. So the following commands need to be added to the boot process:

Remount root fs rw: 

mount -o remount,rw /

Add the following lines to /etc/rc.local (before exit cmd) 

mkdir /var/run/sshd
chmod 755 /var/run/sshd
service ssh start

How to become root / use sudo?

  • as phablet user simply use "sudo su -"
  • Whenever you're asked for a password, it's phablet.

Various useful commands on Ubuntu touch

dpkg -l     - lists all installed packages
click list  - lists installed click packages
pkcon install xxx   - installs click package
pkcon search name xxx - searches for package containing xxx

Installing Apps not listed in Touch menue

root@ubuntu-phablet:~# pkcon install thunderbird
Installing                    [=========================]         
Waiting in queue              [=========================]         
Starting                      [=========================]         
Loading cache                 [=========================]         
Querying                      [=========================]         
Running                       [=========================]         
Loading cache                 [=========================]         
Installing packages           [                         ] (0%)  
The following packages have to be installed:
 libstartup-notification0-0.12-3ubuntu1.armhf	library for program launch feedback (shared library)
 thunderbird-1:24.2.0+build1-0ubuntu1.armhf	Email, RSS and newsgroup client with integrated spam filter
Proceed with changes? [N/y] y

                              [=========================]         
Installing                    [=========================]         
Waiting in queue              [            ==           ]         The daemon crashed mid-transaction!
root@ubuntu-phablet:~#

Updating Ubuntu Touch

Because Dual Boot is a special set-up the standard update method for Ubuntu currently does not work (see Feature Roadmap).

To update Ubuntu to a newer version, On the android Ubuntu dual boot application, select "Uninstall Ubuntu" from the menu options. Next you will be asked if you want to keep the user data from Ubuntu. If you do not select "Delete user data", the next installation of Ubuntu will preserve your contacts, installed applications, pictures, background settings, ...

Once Ubuntu has been uninstalled, follow the same installation step to download a newer version of Ubuntu.

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