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.

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/

Currently installed on this tablet

AdBlock Plus Aldiko Kindle Android Sensor Box ArcGIS ASTRO File Manager Backcountry Navigator Pro Barcode Scanner BikeComputer Bluetooth GPS Provider CBCPL Collector Dropbox E*Trade Google Earth FBReader Foursquare Groove IP Lite iSense Data Collector join.me LinkedIn Mantano Reader Lite Garmin Mechanic My Trails Trimble Navigator NeonGeo Newegg Nexus 7 Camera Starter Open Document Reader OruxMaps OSMAnd Overdrive Media Console Pandora Pocket Query Creator OR Droid Private RF Signal Tracker RPN Calculator Speed Test Telnet Terminal Emulator Traxx Outdoors US Army Survival Guid Ultrachron Lite White House Wikipedia XID Broadleaf Weeds

Why I am not fond of the current set up

I have had it long enough to realize

• I want to be able to develop apps that run on both my desktop and my mobile devices.
• I want to develop with my choice of tools, I am not a Java or Objective C fan.
• 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...

• Google has decided not to support my 18 month old Galaxy Nexus phone.

Switching to Ubuntu

This will be my third try. Each time I try, Ubuntu is better and there are more reasons to switch.

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.

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

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

Cyanogenmod on the Nexus 7

Installing this just as 4.4 comes out... whatever...

Maybe I will be able to delete the apps that keep telling me they want access to all my personal information, like... Google Maps.

Maybe I will be able to delete Google "Hangouts".

Maybe Google will revise its marketing strategy and stop alienating sophisticated users with "Ok, Got it!" and "Google Play Store"

Maybe pigs will fly out my... ok got it!

Breathe deep the gathering dusk.