Nexus 7

2013-June-11

I can't believe I've had the Nexus 7 for 6 months now and only just started a page for it.

I have had it long enough to realize

1. I don't like The Cloud. I don't want to be productized.
2. I have not found apps to be as useful on the tablet as a on a phone. I principally only use a browser. Therefore I don't need the Googoo Play Store.
3. I would like to be able to use the GPS without Googoo tracking me.

Switching to Ubuntu

I already tried putting Ubuntu on the Nexus 7 in February, when it was first announced. It did not work. I will now try again to see how it's doing.

Ubuntu is trying to build interest in an Ubuntu tablet. One of the main reasons to install Ubuntu on a Nexus is to be able to preview what a Ubuntu Tablet will be like.

Ubuntu Tablet Install

I already set up my computer, but probably have to do it again since I have upgraded to Linux Mint 15 since February. Good time to upgrade anyway.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:phablet-team/tools
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install phablet-tools android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot
sudo apt-get upgrade

Make a backup

Such as it is, the commands to back up packages and all fail for me. This apparently works

adb backup -shared

Android 4.2.2
Baseband 1231_0.17.0_1205
Kernel version 3.1.10-g05b777c
Build JDQ39

Download and save a copy of the stock image from Google. NakasiG Nexus 7 Mobile 32 GB

Download Ubuntu image from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/ubuntu-touch-preview/daily-preinstalled/current I found the names of the devices by looking on the http://cyanogenmod.com site, I have a Tilapia. Maybe I will try a different version of Android soon. There is no Tilapia Ubuntu build so I am using Grouper

raring-preinstalled-armel+grouper.zip
raring-preinstalled-boot-armel+grouper.img
raring-preinstalled-recovery-armel+grouper.img
raring-preinstalled-system-armel+grouper.img

http://download.cyanogenmod.com/?device=tilapia&type=nightly

Today I am trying

Install it.

• grouper = Google Nexus 7 (WiFi)
• maguro = Google Galaxy Nexus
• mako = Google Nexus 4
• manta = Google Nexus 10
• tilapia = Google Nexus 7 (GSM)