Ok, so I am a software developer and I have a new client who wants to do some stuff with Android which probably requires a root (such as basically locking a tablet down to run a single app).
They are picking out their hardware and are looking into which version of Android to use and also whether or not to use a knockoff Chinese tablet to save money.
From my research I don't believe there is a reliable root of 4.0 yet. I assume this is because there are no big name tablets running it...although, strangely, a lot of the off-brand tablets are.
My other research seems to suggest that most roots are device specific. Is that generally true? If so does that mean that we will have a tough time rooting these offbrand tablets?
They would like to use Honeycomb because of its inherent scalability which would allow them to, theoretically, use either a 7inch or 10 inch tablet. Is this a valid assumption?
Since the app would be really all that the user would see it seems to me that it may, in the end, be better to go with an earlier and therefore more hackable version of Android such as 2.3 even though it wasn't really made for tablets.
Just want to thank you all in advance for your expertise. I look forward to your answers and thoughts.
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Anyone have some thoughts to give?
Hey there, i hope i`m right in here and you pros can answer me some questions.
We are currently building a new software which will be released soon, i won`t go into details in here, because we not ready to release some infos about it yet. Anyway, thats not the problem....
Here is my question: Our Software could expand to TVs and now we are searching on how to get our solution onto TV Screens. We cam across all those Android based TV Boxes, we ordered some and tested them, unfortunatly they didn`t offer everything we needed.
Sooo, is it possible to release a custom Android Installation on such a Box?
What if we get the blank hardware boxes, can we get an Android Installation up and running? (With the paid help of some XDA-Developers..)
We would really need a stripped down Version only with our APP and some other stuff running.
Also another question, if it is possible to release a custom box, is it legal to Google`s Terms?
We are brand new in this field, so please be so kind and help us out. If it is possible and we can implement this thing we are definitly will be going over xda-developers, because we just don`t have any clue about Android Systems.
Are you meaning something like this?
http://www.pcworld.com/article/244278/meet_cotton_candy_the_dualcore_android_usb_device.html
We all know that Android is flexible enough to be put on phones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. FXI, a technology lab based in Norway, decided to add USB drives to Android’s host of platforms.
FXI’s Cotton Candy USB device might look like any other flash drive, but it packs smartphone parts like a dual-core 1.2GHz Samsung Exynos processor and its own ARM GPU for 1080p video playback. It also has lots of connectivity, including Wi-Fi, HDMI, Bluetooth, and a MicroSD card slot to expand its 1GB of storage.
This Raspberry Pi-eqsue miniature PC comes with Android 2.3 (also known as Gingerbread). When you plug it into a PC or Mac, it automatically bring up a separate pop up for the Gingerbread OS. This functionality could be used to bring Android apps or games to any computer. Alternatively, if your HDTV has HDMI ports, you could potentially turn it into a smart, Internet-connected monitor.
Angry Birds might be a little hard to play on your TV. [Photo: FXI]
The only down side of the device is that it is not supported by Google, so you won’t be browsing the marketplace anytime soon. Instead, FXI is working to get a third-party app store together. For now, though, you'll have to side-load any apps you want to run on it.
FXI is in talks with other companies to bring Cotton Candy to market by the second half of 2012 and predict that the device will cost "well under $200" according to The Verge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MoPhoACTV Initiative
Yes, thats also this kind of thing we might need. But currently we are more looking into these kind of Boxes: cect-shop.com/Android-TV-Box_c55_x1.htm
And we would need a custom Android installation on one of these boxes? As asked above, is this possible and legal?
Why android?
i don't know the exact details about, but I think getting regular linux to run on a set op box is easier and cheaper to customize with exactly the software you want it.
It doesn`t have to be Android. Andorid was just a possible solution we found and the other reason is that i`m capable of programming apps for Android so it was the closest possibility.
You say Linux...hmm... also a possible solution.
Lets tell you at least some details. The Box should run only with our application, and should be able to be connected to a TV where the application is started then and does their thing. It`s a specialized kind of Software Application for targeted companys.
What it should be able to do:
At least an output resolution of 1280 * 720
Connectable with HDMI, DVI etc. to Televisions
As you say Linux, are you capable of doing such a thing? We might need you...
Or do you have some resources where we can find some developer who can achieve this?
surekin said:
It doesn`t have to be Android. Andorid was just a possible solution we found and the other reason is that i`m capable of programming apps for Android so it was the closest possibility.
You say Linux...hmm... also a possible solution.
Lets tell you at least some details. The Box should run only with our application, and should be able to be connected to a TV where the application is started then and does their thing. It`s a specialized kind of Software Application for targeted companys.
What it should be able to do:
At least an output resolution of 1280 * 720
Connectable with HDMI, DVI etc. to Televisions
As you say Linux, are you capable of doing such a thing? We might need you...
Or do you have some resources where we can find some developer who can achieve this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think any experienced linux dev is capable of doing such a thing, not that difficult. Get a good supported distro, remove all the bells and whistles and let it just boot to your application. I think that is the most elegant solution. Android is much more difficult to customize in such a way. I might have the technical skills to pull it off, but I'm not interested, sorry.
It all depends on your needs and resources. Try googling for embedded linux. linuxfordevices.com is a good place to start i think.
Why the choice for a setopbox and not a regular application? In call centers and other businesses normal programs are used to display information on a large screen, while running on a regular OS. The cost of having to develop and deliver support on not only the software, but also on the setopbox and its embedded OS is quite large. You have to take that into account. Given that you post this question on this forum, I suspect that your resources are rather limited. If I were you, I would reconsider the choice for a setop box.
First, thx for your time...and second, i understand what you mean in your post, but our software already runs on Mac OS, Windows and iOs, so we already have an application running. The settopbox would just be an addition, because some of our customers might need such a thing. Thats the reason why i`m doggling around searching for some ideas.
Our resources are limited sure, but not too limited, the reason why i posted here, is because i`m searching for answers here too, and xda is always a good place to ask in my opinion. We are going other ways too, let me make that clear!
So, i understand what you meant by Linux, i am now contacting some Linux devs who might want to achieve this.
Thx!
Hello, I am planning to buy an Android TV box soon, but I want to wait for the Amlogic S912 to come out, I plan to use it for 4k and think more graphical power can't hurt. I figure it will come with Android tv 6.0. Now here is where it gets tricky, I have read that sideloading was removed in Android 6.0.
If this is true, I haven't seen a whole lot of coverage on that, it's big news to me.
I'm wondering, if there is another way of doing the equivalent of sideloading on Android 6.0 and what are the pitfalls I should avoid when purchasing one of these boxes? I really want to be able to install stock android tv, I don't want the prepackaged software that comes with these cheap china boxes (my price range).
Is there a rule to follow for ensuring maximum compatibility with most of the android tv apps out of the box. I don't know if there's some cpu features that aren't included with certain chips, and if that's why the app compatibility issue happens. That'd just be my guess, but I don't know why there are app compatibility issues. This issue more than anything would really help in solving my dilemma.
If you are experienced in this I would really appreciate the advice. Search terms to look up would be very helpful.
Edit: I just found the Questions and Answers forum. Can a mod please move this there? Sorry for posting in the wrong section.
Hi all,
I'm looking to purchase and install a relatively capable second hand Android phone (Samsung S5 for example) running a custom ROM such as LineageOS along with an external HDMI+USB touchscreen in a car for use as an in-car gauge display.
However I haven't been able to find much information on how well Android supports third party external touch screen devices other than forum posts from early years such as 2012 and unsolved threads with little information that are a little more recent.
I know a lot of these devices are simply plug and play with Windows without the need to source specific drivers from the manufacturer, but I'm unsure if they're as simple when it comes to Android, a few of them seem to claim they're compatible but I haven't been able to find much proof.
Any and all information would be appreciated.
PS I'm aware there are Android head units available, however I'm looking for something that still has the features of a phone such as GPS and mobile data and third party ROM support.
I purchased a generic 10" tablet on ebay said to have android v8. I bought it for my kid
When it arrived 1st thing I did is try to install google family link for kids (req Android 5+)
It failed, Kodi install failed.
When I went into Soft version it's said android 8.1 when I clicked the version 10 times the K popped up.
It must be android v4 spoofed to show 8.1.
This generic tablet is useless to me, it has a MediaTek Chip MTK6797 or so it says (don't know what to believe now)
Any way I can get a new update on this to at least give me android 5.
Is the MTK6797 capable of anything above android 4? What determine what android can be installed? I'm thinking this cpu can handle something about 4.44 but I'm not sure what rom I would need that would work this this.
This is a very generic tablet I purchased a similar looking on fro Telscast and it was fine that is why i bought another, it looked identical but not a telcast and from a different supplier .
Thank You,
if you payed with paypal, you can ask the total refund. which is a much better option than keep that tablet.
Got a full REfund
Got a full refund this morning,
I got to keep this knock off, wondering if there is any FW's that would make this work correctly and higher then 4.4
@Nambi_
The hardware for which an Android version can be installed is defined by Android Compatibility Definition Document. A board will only be able to run an Android version perfectly if it supports the basic requirements listed in Android CDD.
Of course, you can port a higher version to a board that does not meet the criteria but it would be totally mind draining work.
HIT THANKS IF FOUND USEFUL