Puppy on Tablets

[DMcCunney]

Thanks guys - interesting - we need to stay ahead of the hardware loop

One of the most expensive items on netbooks is the screen

Smartpaper webpads may well emerge - monochrome to start
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_paper
We have a nice monochrome theme ready . . .

eInk displays are the current main choice for dedicated ebook readers like the Amazon Kindle, Sony Reader, and Barnes and Noble nook.

On the plus side, they are extremely power efficient. Once an image is painted on the screen, no power is required to preserve it. Battery life is measured in weeks. They are also easier to read than backlit LCD screens for a number of folks.

On the minus side, they have relatively slow refresh rates (forget video), are monochrome with 16 shade greyscale and resolution about middle of the pack, require an extra layer to be touch screens, and are relatively expensive. (A teardown done by an industry research firm of the Kindle assigned about $80 of the Kindle's cost to the eInk display and controller.)

Pvi, the outfit that was the main manufacturer of eInk screens, claimed to have a 12 bit color prototype in the lab in December 2006 which would go into volume production in 2007. It never happened, so I have to assume that it was either harder than they thought to move from prototype to production, or it simply cost too much for the intended market.

Lack of color support is a deal breaker for me.

Linux already runs on several ebook readers, including the iREx Iliad and the Barnes and Noble nook. It's not clear what Puppy might bring to the party on them.

If I were looking at bringing up Linux on J. Random tablet hardware, frankly, Puppy isn't where I'd start. I'd look at something like Google Android or Nokia's Maemo implementation.
______
Dennis

[Lobster]

Thanks Dennis appreciate the info.

[jpeps]

On the minus side, they have relatively slow refresh rates (forget video), are monochrome with 16 shade greyscale and resolution about middle of the pack, require an extra layer to be touch screens, and are relatively expensive. (A teardown done by an industry research firm of the Kindle assigned about $80 of the Kindle's cost to the eInk display and controller.)

Pvi, the outfit that was the main manufacturer of eInk screens, claimed to have a 12 bit color prototype in the lab in December 2006 which would go into volume production in 2007. It never happened, so I have to assume that it was either harder than they thought to move from prototype to production, or it simply cost too much for the intended market.

Lack of color support is a deal breaker for me.

Looks like eInk is expanding...hiring researchers in the Cambridge area as ebook sales amp up. Coming up with color technology is their first priority to compete with LCD readers (ipad), and prototypes (eg., Hanvon Company, China) should be available by the beginning of 2011. It's clear that the company is hoping to come up with something better than they already know about......

http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2010/03/1 ... ational/4/

[DMcCunney]

On the minus side, they have relatively slow refresh rates (forget video), are monochrome with 16 shade greyscale and resolution about middle of the pack, require an extra layer to be touch screens, and are relatively expensive. (A teardown done by an industry research firm of the Kindle assigned about $80 of the Kindle's cost to the eInk display and controller.)

Pvi, the outfit that was the main manufacturer of eInk screens, claimed to have a 12 bit color prototype in the lab in December 2006 which would go into volume production in 2007. It never happened, so I have to assume that it was either harder than they thought to move from prototype to production, or it simply cost too much for the intended market.

Lack of color support is a deal breaker for me.

Looks like eInk is expanding...hiring researchers in the Cambridge area as ebook sales amp up. Coming up with color technology is their first priority to compete with LCD readers (ipad), and prototypes (eg., Hanvon Company, China) should be available by the beginning of 2011. It's clear that the company is hoping to come up with something better than they already know about......

http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2010/03/1 ... ational/4/

No surprise. PVI bought eInk a while back, which made me wonder what the future might hold. At one point, the growth of eBook readers was hampered by supply chain constraints, as PVI was the sole source of eInk screens. At the launch of Sony's Reader a couple of years back, eInk's VP of Marketing told me the technology had been licensed to other foundries, and supply chain constraints would not be an issue for things like the Sony Reader.

Then eInk was bought by their largest licensee. I assumed existing licenses of the technologies to other foundries would remain in force, but was curious about what might happen down the road. I'm not sure what direction eInk is going in for color support, though they obviously think hey have something. Other vendors like PixelQi and Plastic Logic are also targeting that space, so it ought to be interesting tio see which approach prevails.

Thanks for the link!
______
Dennis

[Lobster]

I should imagine nanotechnology and other screens will emerge. There is a need for better and cheaper screens and more efficient batteries. Interesting times ahead

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/c ... 606880.stm

[technosaurus]

Zigbert is already getting ptray ready for the tablets with a popup on screen keyboard based on my howto post here:
http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?t=54534

Edit: no extra libs required for my version

[Lobster]

The IPed cometh
http://kotaku.com/5549865/china-rips-of ... h-the-iped

Because this type of clone device, if it ever reaches Europe
has an x86 processor it is much closer to what we need

A Puppy ARM is still some way off . . .
Did I mention PAW would be a good potential name for an ARM device

Puppy
ARM
WebOS

Puppy Linux
The Future Penguin

[Aitch]

Did I mention PAW would be a good potential name for an ARM device

Yes, .....did you forget that Jay already has PAW, Puppy Artists Workshop? [mentioned last time, too]

However I agree that the iPed looks puppyable, if a tad bigger/heavier than an iPad....but at $105 and an intel processor it's doable, though whether we can outdo Android is another matter

Over to the devs, methinks

Aitch

[Lobster]

OK a WAG then

Web
ARM
GUI

[vtpup]

Lobster, et al

I found this and thought you might be interested in it as well -- a description of installing Debian onto an Android based machine. The method sounds familiar, doesn't it?

http://www.saurik.com/id/10

Also I note a lot of low priced (though smaller screen) Iped types at chinagrabber dot com and I'm seriously tempted by one of the $150 Android versions. Would that offer a better chance of pupifying than a Win CE version?

[Lobster]

I'm seriously tempted by one of the $150 Android versions. Would that offer a better chance of pupifying than a Win CE version?

Having seen Android on a phone - I like it. Many free apps that Apple App Sores sees as further fleecing potential . . .

So Android is good stuff, reasonably priced or free.

Keep an eye on what Puppy developers do
in particular Jemimah, our netbook maestro.
Puppy Masters will tweak their device to run Puppy.

Their choice will be the one to buy into.
Be patient.

Puppy Pad
Live Linux

[vtpup]

Their choice will be the one to buy into.
Be patient.

Puppy Pad
Live Linux

Heh, too late!

Not generally much of an impulse purchaser, but this time I have real need of it now for reference material access while doing some biogas experiments outdoors, and taking notes. Laptop is too big to set down in the grass and not get wrecked or stepped on or kicked or splashed on, or sun burned, keyboard vulnerable to dirt, etc. and needs an extension cord despite the battery life of an hour. Too short. Something I can put in a pocket with 3 hours batt life is what I wanted. Sent for a 7" Apad Android Irocket w/ 600 mhz Rockchip 2808 chipset and usb ports, was less than $200 incl DHL shipping. I'll keep my fingers crossed that someone can fanagle a Linux into it some day, preferably my standby, Puppy. I imagine the chipset will be the hangup, but don't know enough about that level of Linux compatibility. I can still use it as is, but would love to see that puppy face come up on it! woof woof.

[Aitch]

vtpup

2nd on this list is a Rockchip RK2808 powered Android Tablet - so puppy is possible....

http://www.coolbeta.com/gadget/tablet/

Bet yours beats the indestructible TP600, though.....?

Aitch

[2lss]

check out this guy: http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News ... o-netbook/
If I had my choice of netbooks/tablets (even though I love my eeepc) this would be the one.


As far as using puppy on tablets goes, I have been doing some experimenting for a touchscreen computer project using 4.3.1. So far this is what I decided.

For a wm I will be using Matchbox. It's lightweight, easily configurable, and is designed for pda type applications. Granted it lacks the minimize window function, but with a small touchscreen environment it's actually really nifty. It also has a nice on screen keyboard with a panel applet that lets you toggle it on and off.

For a desktop I will probably use jemimah's lxlauncher. It's finger friendly, functional, and visually appealing. The matchbox project has a similar desktop, but I think its slightly more cumbersome.

I'm not sure what panel I will use. Rox's panel is nice but is 'just a panel'. I would really like to use something like avant window navigator, (which is a launcher and a task manager) but as far as I know, it depends on gnome(which I DON'T want). I'm still looking though so I may find something better.

just my $0.02

[jemimah]

It appears Cairo Dock has no Gnome deps. You only need GLX and compositing support.

http://www.glx-dock.org/

http://packages.debian.org/sid/cairo-dock-core

[vtpup]

vtpup

2nd on this list is a Rockchip RK2808 powered Android Tablet - so puppy is possible....

http://www.coolbeta.com/gadget/tablet/

Bet yours beats the indestructible TP600, though.....?

Aitch

Hi Aitch,

Yes, that one is one of about 20 rebranded 7" Chinese tablets the same as the one I ordered. They can be identified by the 600 mhz Rockchip RK2808 (ARM) processor, a 3000mah battery, 128 megs onboard, a video camera onboard, and currently, Android OS version 1.5. Any other specs and it is a different pad. Usually the type I'm getting is referred to as "IRocket" or "Moonse" brand "APAD", but many other brand names, like the one you referenced. There are two versions of these -- the early ones did not have the internal webcam, and should be avoided because of firmware issues. The current version 2 includes the webcam and can have firmware upgraded/rewritten/hacked -- already going on to improve it.

I say all that because, there is another similar group of 7" pads out there that has inferior performance based on the Via vt8505 chpset running at 300 mhz (often misreported as some other higher speed, even 600 mhz). This group is often labeled Eken brand and sometimes called Iped. There's a similar Eken with an 8" screen, also slow.

It is easy to get confused with all the rebranding and spec doctoring. I've been studying this stuff pretty hard the last few days. If interested, best site I've found for techies on this subject so far is the SlateDroid forum.

http://www.slatedroid.com

They've already hacked the rom with firmware upgrades. This is all fast breaking stuff. Also good is the Irobot/Moonse actual manufacturer website:

http://www.hiapad.com.

I have also found some references to Ubuntu running on higher end pads >$200. One seems to be the SmartQ V7 which apparently multiboots WinCE, Ubuntu 9.10, and Android.

This one runs on the Telechips processor (also ARM based).

If anyone doesn't know what Android is go here:

http://www.android.com/

And also check out the Market (apps) page.

From Wikipedia:

Android is an operating system for mobile devices that includes middleware and key applications,[4] and uses a modified version of the Linux kernel.[5][6][7] It was initially developed by Android Inc., a firm later purchased by Google, and lately by the Open Handset Alliance.[8] It allows developers to write managed code in the Java language, controlling the device via Google-developed Java libraries.[9]

The Android operating system software stack consists of Java applications running on a Java based object oriented application framework on top of Java core libraries running on a Dalvik virtual machine featuring JIT compilation. Libraries written in C include the surface manager, OpenCore[10] media framework, SQLite relational database management system, OpenGL ES 2.0 3D graphics API, WebKit layout engine, SGL graphics engine, SSL, and Bionic libc. The Android operating system consists of 12 million lines of code including 3 million lines of XML, 2.8 million lines of C, and 2.1 million lines of Java.[11]

Oh, sorry, got carried away, Aitch. I don't know if it will beat my ancient overclocked 600E, -- we'll see, but it will sure be easier to carry around in a pocket. Well a big pocket anyway!

[Lobster]

Not generally much of an impulse purchaser

here are some tips from the masters
http://www.tmxxine.com/rhavy/utube.php?id=164

I have a feeling that a Dell streak size device
will be most useful.

OS in hardware? Yep that would be good
and I have a feeling Google will do it
maybe on an SD device.

I hear in the UK we do not have 4G
What?
We need a bit-torrent style bandwidth share phone / streak / i p a d
oh boy - this is a major transition time.

Keeping an eye on all your links guys.
Many thanks. I will be waiting till next year at least.

[vtpup]

Not generally much of an impulse purchaser

here are some tips from the masters
http://www.tmxxine.com/rhavy/utube.php?id=164

Ha ha! Sort of the old dog-biscuit on the nose idea.

Well, I got tired of waiting for "Processing" of the order, so canceled. No marshmallow.

But then ordered elsewhere the cheaper Eken M001 Android model -- they are now sub $100. I gotta fool around with one of these things. Yup, I know I could get two of them, or a better one at the same price if I wait around until the torture lady gets back, but life is to be lived now.

That Ecken's ROM source is about to be public, all kinds of exciting hardware mods going on. And Debian has been loaded by experimenters on it, see.

Installing Debian on Eken M001

Smells kinda like a marshmallow, too.

Deb on Eken

[mama21mama]

arm puppy?

[urphonesux]

i just picked this up on craigslist for a old motorola q


Google Android OS 2GB 7" TFT Touch Screen MID Tablet Pad Netbook
Operating system: Google Android OS.
RAM: 128MB DDR2 800MHz.
Display: 7 inches windscreen (800*400) high definition TFT screen.
Touch control: full size touch operation, sliding menu, functional icon dragging.
Storage: 2GB.
Orientation sensor: automatic steering display screen.
Lan: 802.11b/g/n WiFi Certified network connection.
Sound effect: stereo speaker device and built-in microphone.
Support high speed TF card up to 32GB.
Automatically change the wallpaper just like windows7.
EBook and office word processing.

Product Details (including package):
weight:699 g
size:21.5*14*6 cm

Pack including:
1 × Portable 7" MID & E-book Pad Laptop/Notebook
1 × Charger
1 × USB Cable

do you know if i can put puppy on it?
if so, which would you suggest?