Nexus 7: Difference between revisions

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2013-June-11
2015-May-21


I can't believe I've had the Nexus 7 for 6 months now and only just started a page for it.
About a month ago I removed CyanogenMod and installed the latest Google image (Lollypop).
It's so-so, nothing strikingly different, but the battery now runs down every day, and
things that used to work fine (like the browser) are now painfully slow.


== Copying map files for c:geo ==
So I am loading CyanogenMod back in. I tried CM12 around Dec 2014 and it was awful... I guess I will try again.
I did recover the Nexus 7, see "Bricked Nexus 7" below.
 
== Living without Google ==
 
With CyanogenMod installed, do I really really have to install Google Apps? Please say no!
The biggie is that I lose the "Play Store". But then again I don't DO much with the tablet these days anyway other than read web pages.
 
Plan A - work around Play Store to get the apps I want.
 
https://sufficientlysecure.org/index.php/2013/11/26/an-android-without-google/
 
or Plan B - do what this guy suggests -
http://www.itworld.com/article/2832391/mobile/can-an-android-phone-run-without-google-.html
 
I will end up with Plan B but will try Plan A because it's more intriguing. I like the ownCloud idea especially.


# Download from http://ftp.mapsforge.org/maps/north-america/us/
== Apps I can't live without ==
# Plug in and detect Nexus, you should see it with "adb devices"
# Explore "adb shell" and make a directory to hold the maps. "mkdir /sdcard/osmmaps/"
# Copy with adb push oregon.map /sdcard/osmmaps/


== Currently installed on this tablet ==
The list is very short. Currently there are a couple dozen apps that Google installed when I put 5.x on.
They are on my phone so Google assumed I wanted them on the tablet too. Many don't make sense or don't work on
a tablet.


* Aldiko -- Book reader
* Aldiko -- Book reader
* ArcGIS
* A file manager (Astro is the one I have used the longest)
* Backcountry Navigator Pro
* Firefox
 
== Apps nice to have ==
 
* Bluetooth GPS Provider - lets me use a Garmin GLO
* Bluetooth GPS Provider - lets me use a Garmin GLO
* Camera Nexus 7 (Official)
* Dropbox - ownCloud will replace this
* CBCPL
* Overdrive so I can read library books
* Dropbox
 
* FBReader
== Cyanogenmod on the Nexus 7 ==
* Mantano Reader Lite
 
* Garmin Mechanic
The instructions for my Nexus 7 are here:
* Open Document Reader
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_tilapia
* RF Signal Tracker
 
* RPN Calculator
== Installing Google Apps later ==
* Wikipedia
 
* XID Broadleaf Weeds
In order to get the "Play Store" in there I booted into the ClockworkMod by opening a terminal window and typing
 
su
reboot recovery
 
Then I was able to use this to copy the zip up to the tablet
 
adb push gapps-jb-20130813-signed.zip /sdcard/
 
Do NOT leave off the last /, else you will remove the symbolic link and replace /sdcard with your zip file. This gives you shell access so you can fix things like this...


Before installing Cyanogenmod I also had
adb shell


* AdBlock Plus
Then I used Clockwork to install it.
* Android Sensor Box
* ASTRO File Manager
* Barcode Scanner
* BikeComputer
* Collector
* E*Trade
* Foursquare
* Google Earth
* Groove IP Lite
* iSense Data Collector
* join.me
* Kindle
* LinkedIn
* My Trails
* NeonGeo
* Newegg
* OR Droid Private
* OruxMaps
* OSMAnd
* Overdrive Media Console
* Pandora
* Pocket Query Creator
* Speed Test
* Telnet
* Terminal Emulator
* Traxx Outdoors
* Trimble Navigator
* Ultrachron Lite
* US Army Survival Guide
* White House


== Why I am not fond of the current set up ==
== Bricked Nexus 7 ==


I have had it long enough to realize
# Tried to install CM12. Continuous crashes of Trebuchet, Google Services, Google Play Store, Messaging.
# Powered down.
# Black screen. Won't start.


* I want to be able to develop apps that run on both my desktop and my mobile devices.
I found I could hold down power button for a LONG time and it would boot. I can't get into recovery mode
* I want to develop with my choice of tools, I am not a Java or Objective C fan.
from the device and when I boot into CM12, where once again my apps just crash over and over.
* I don't like "The Cloud".  
* I don't want to be tracked.
* I don't want to be productized.


And the biggest one for me today...  
I think I might be able to connect via ADB.


* Google has decided not to support my 18 month old Galaxy Nexus phone.
== Copying map files for c:geo ==
 
# Download from http://ftp.mapsforge.org/maps/north-america/us/
# Plug in and detect Nexus, you should see it with "adb devices"
# Explore "adb shell" and make a directory to hold the maps. "mkdir /sdcard/osmmaps/"
# Copy with adb push oregon.map /sdcard/osmmaps/


== Switching to Ubuntu ==
== Switching to Ubuntu ==


This will be my third try. Each time I try, Ubuntu is better and there are more reasons to switch.
Each time I try, Ubuntu is better and there are more reasons to switch. I tried 3 times. There are still no apps.


I am keeping my files here:  Projects/UbuntuTouch
I am keeping my files here:  Projects/UbuntuTouch
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.


[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/Install Ubuntu Tablet Install]
[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Touch/Install Ubuntu Tablet Install]
Line 116: Line 116:


See also http://download.cyanogenmod.com/?device=tilapia&type=nightly
See also http://download.cyanogenmod.com/?device=tilapia&type=nightly
Actually I think I will try cyangenmod out first as I happen to be getting a [[Garmin Monterra]] in a few days and it will have Android on it. So I won't be able to get away from Android... Dang...


* grouper = Google Nexus 7 (WiFi)
* grouper = Google Nexus 7 (WiFi)
Line 124: Line 122:
* manta = Google Nexus 10
* manta = Google Nexus 10
* tilapia = Google Nexus 7 (GSM)
* tilapia = Google Nexus 7 (GSM)
== Cyanogenmod on the Nexus 7 ==
The instructions for my Nexus 7 are here:
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_tilapia
I have Cyanogenmod 10.2 installed now.
In order to get the "Play Store" in there I booted into the ClockworkMod by opening a terminal window and typing
su
reboot recovery
Then I was able to use this to copy the zip up to the tablet
adb push gapps-jb-20130813-signed.zip /sdcard/
Do NOT leave off the last /, else you will remove the symbolic link and replace /sdcard with your zip file. This gives you shell access so you can fix things like this...
adb shell
Then I used Clockwork to install it.
== Bricked Nexus 7 ==
# Tried to install CM12. Continuous crashes of Trebuchet, Google Services, Google Play Store, Messaging.
# Powered down.
# Black screen. Won't start.
I found I could hold down power button for a LONG time and it would boot. I can't get into recovery mode
from the device and when I boot into CM12, where once again my apps just crash over and over.
I think I might be able to connect via ADB.

Revision as of 05:51, 22 May 2015

2015-May-21

About a month ago I removed CyanogenMod and installed the latest Google image (Lollypop). It's so-so, nothing strikingly different, but the battery now runs down every day, and things that used to work fine (like the browser) are now painfully slow.

So I am loading CyanogenMod back in. I tried CM12 around Dec 2014 and it was awful... I guess I will try again. I did recover the Nexus 7, see "Bricked Nexus 7" below.

Living without Google

With CyanogenMod installed, do I really really have to install Google Apps? Please say no! The biggie is that I lose the "Play Store". But then again I don't DO much with the tablet these days anyway other than read web pages.

Plan A - work around Play Store to get the apps I want.

https://sufficientlysecure.org/index.php/2013/11/26/an-android-without-google/

or Plan B - do what this guy suggests - http://www.itworld.com/article/2832391/mobile/can-an-android-phone-run-without-google-.html

I will end up with Plan B but will try Plan A because it's more intriguing. I like the ownCloud idea especially.

Apps I can't live without

The list is very short. Currently there are a couple dozen apps that Google installed when I put 5.x on. They are on my phone so Google assumed I wanted them on the tablet too. Many don't make sense or don't work on a tablet.

  • Aldiko -- Book reader
  • A file manager (Astro is the one I have used the longest)
  • Firefox

Apps nice to have

  • Bluetooth GPS Provider - lets me use a Garmin GLO
  • Dropbox - ownCloud will replace this
  • Overdrive so I can read library books

Cyanogenmod on the Nexus 7

The instructions for my Nexus 7 are here: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_tilapia

Installing Google Apps later

In order to get the "Play Store" in there I booted into the ClockworkMod by opening a terminal window and typing

su
reboot recovery

Then I was able to use this to copy the zip up to the tablet

adb push gapps-jb-20130813-signed.zip /sdcard/

Do NOT leave off the last /, else you will remove the symbolic link and replace /sdcard with your zip file. This gives you shell access so you can fix things like this...

adb shell 

Then I used Clockwork to install it.

Bricked Nexus 7

  1. Tried to install CM12. Continuous crashes of Trebuchet, Google Services, Google Play Store, Messaging.
  2. Powered down.
  3. Black screen. Won't start.

I found I could hold down power button for a LONG time and it would boot. I can't get into recovery mode from the device and when I boot into CM12, where once again my apps just crash over and over.

I think I might be able to connect via ADB.

Copying map files for c:geo

  1. Download from http://ftp.mapsforge.org/maps/north-america/us/
  2. Plug in and detect Nexus, you should see it with "adb devices"
  3. Explore "adb shell" and make a directory to hold the maps. "mkdir /sdcard/osmmaps/"
  4. Copy with adb push oregon.map /sdcard/osmmaps/

Switching to Ubuntu

Each time I try, Ubuntu is better and there are more reasons to switch. I tried 3 times. There are still no apps.

I am keeping my files here: Projects/UbuntuTouch

Ubuntu Tablet Install

To make Ubuntu Touch development easier I have already switched my desktop to run Ubuntu instead of Mint.

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

This apparently works to back up my data. Anyway a "full backup" screen came up on the Nexus, and it took a long time.

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

-rw-rw-r-- 1 bwilson bwilson 33964483 Nov 17 10:02 saucy-preinstalled-armel+grouper.zip
-rw-rw-r-- 1 bwilson bwilson  5304320 Nov 17 09:05 saucy-preinstalled-boot-armel+grouper.img
-rw-rw-r-- 1 bwilson bwilson  7288832 Nov 17 10:02 saucy-preinstalled-recovery-armel+grouper.img
-rw-rw-r-- 1 bwilson bwilson 69844256 Nov 17 09:05 saucy-preinstalled-system-armel+grouper.img

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

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