The product of the year 2016 IMHO - MaruOS for Nexus 5

My phone is my PC! Needless to say more. Modern smart phones are powerful enough to run not only one operating system but two at the same time. In addition, the second OS's view can be sent to a HDMI-monitor! In my humble opinion the product of the year is by no doubt MaruOS!

Please take a look at my earlier blog post which has to do with MaruOS and it's rivals: http://sakarinkurssit.blogspot.fi/2016/05/smart-phone-as-pc-choose-between-maruos.html

My earlier Products of the year:

• Raspberry Pi (2012)
• Pebble Smart Watch (2013)
• Android 5 (2014)
• Google's cardboard glasses (2015)

A patched Android and Debian Linux running on Nexus 5

Magic Device Tool - flash your Nexus 4 or 5 phone easy way

Ok, whats up?

There is an easy way to flash your Nexus 4 or 5, BQs and Meizus. To do this you need Linux's command line. Take a look at the list of supported devices below.

Why would anyone want to flash a phone?

I have an old Nexus 4 (first released 2012, so it's not THAT old...) which won't receive updates from Google anymore. My Nexus 4 is still in good condition and I want to use it. Magic Device Tool is able to install the following operating systems on Nexus 4; Ubuntu Touch, CyanogenMod 13 (i.e. Android 6), SailfishOS and  Android 5.

How is the trick done?

First off, open your Terminal (as user, not as root) and type in the following commands.

• git clone https://github.com/MariusQuabeck/magic-device-tool.git
• cd magic-device-tool
• chmod +x launcher.sh
• ./launcher.sh

Next, attach you phone to your Linux-computer with USB-cable. Start your phone by keeping down Power- and Volume Down -buttons to take the phone to fastboot mode. Follow the instructions on screen. Your phone is propably not unlocked. Let Magic Device Tool take care of that. Choose the OS you want to install and wait.

Why isn't for example MaruOS available for every device in the list?

MaruOS is available for Nexus 5 only. In the future we may see ports for other phones as well. As you might have noticed phones from Samsung, Sony etc. are missing. If you want to test-drive for example Ubuntu Touch then Nexuses, BQs and Meizus are the ones for you!

Is it worth it?

Absolutely! Magic Device Tool lets you take a deeper look at your phone and it's possibilities. Learn how to do it! It pays off!

Supported devices

• BQ Aquaris E4.5 - krillin
• BQ Aquaris E5 HD - vegetahd
• BQ Aquaris M10 HD - cooler
• BQ Aquaris M10 FHD - frieza
• Meizu MX 4 - arale
• Meizu Pro 5 - turbo
• LG Nexus 4 - mako
• LG Nexus 5 - hammerhead
• Asus Nexus 7 2013 (WiFi) - flo
• Asus Nexus 7 2013 (LTE) - deb
• Asus Nexus 7 2012 (3G) - tilapia
• Asus Nexus 7 2012 (WiFi) - grouper
• Samsung Nexus 10 - manta
• OnePlus One - bacon
• Fairphone 2 - FP2

Homepage of Magic Device Tool: https://github.com/MariusQuabeck/magic-device-tool

Keep in mind you are flashing your phone at your own risk! Do not flash a phone which is needed every day! Purchase another phone for test purposes!

Supported phones

SailfishOS 2.0 on Nexus 4

Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter - share your screen wirelessly in Windows 10

*Finally* there is a wireless connection based on Miracast technology between my Windows 10 laptop and Samsung HD TV. The screen of my laptop can be shared and seen on TV - without any wires.

If your hardware meets these requirements you can try it as well:

• A laptop with certain drivers compatible with Miracast technology (circuits and drivers must be Intel-based? All drivers were pre-installed in my case)
• Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter (I purchased one from local flea market)
• An HD TV

So what did I do to make the above combination work? Nothing much.

• First Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter was attached in TV (seems to work out of the box, see pictures below)
• Next the right HDMI source was chosen from remote control
• Finally the laptop was connected with TV by clicking Notification Center in Windows 10 (lower right corner, see picture below), Connect and WiFivideo

Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter

Microsoft Wireless Display

Adapter attached

WiFivideo (texts in Finnish only)

Click Notification center in lower right corner, next Connect

Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter is named as WiFivideo

You may also expand your display if you like

Wireless connection of screens

between Windows 10 and Samsung HDTV

Ubuntu Linux 16.10 is out! Download your flavour of Ubuntu Linux 16.10 now!

Ubuntu Linux 16.10 is out! So why not download your flavour of Ubuntu; Gnome, Kubuntu, Lubuntu, Xubuntu or Mate! The choice is yours!

Take a look at the download links here:

• http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2016/10/download-ubuntu-16-10-flavors 

Flashing an aftermarket ROM gives your phone extra lifetime

What is an aftermarket ROM?

When you purchase an Android phone operating system is there, pre-installed. After year or two new versions of Android are unveiled. You start to think if your phone will receive a new version of Android. Usually one bigger update can be expected.

Since the source code of Android is available for free and can be reached by anyone there are many developer groups offering their own derivative versions of Android. These, so called aftermarket ROMs are invaluable for those not receiving Android updates. Your phone might have many extra years ahead.

For example my Nexus 4, first introduced in November 2012, is no longer supported by Google. That is, Android 6 and 7 never happened to Nexus 4. I'm supposed to stick to Android 5 or try to find an aftermarket ROM based on Android 6 or 7 source code.

Is there an aftermarket ROM for my phone?

Bummer. Not all phones are supported! However if you happen to own a Nexus phone chances are there are several ROMs available. You can start digging CyanogenMod site. See if your phone model is among the supported ones. If you don't like CyanogenMod (supported by Microsoft) move on to OmniROM or XDA-Developers, just to name some. Remember, the older phone the worse chances.

Ok, a ROM found - how do I flash it?

This is a sticky one. First you need to get your PC ready for flashing by installing adb and fastboot. Next, your existing Android needs to be unlocked and debugging has to be enabled. If you are familiar with Windows or Linux setup chances are you'll learn how to flash your phone as well. Take a look at these instructions from Cyanogen Mod; how flash Nexus 4.

Bear in mind mobile devices are somewhat different from PCs. When flashing for the first time a lot of coffee and patience is needed. One more thing: do not flash a phone you need every day. If you fail you are holding a brick in your hand.

Is it worth it?

Ok, flashing takes time, it is dangerous and might make your phone useless. Is it worth it? Absolutely! My Nexus 4 is from year 2012 and is still able to run the latest Android 7 which is not officially available but can be found with the name CyanogenMod 14. One might say my phone's new OS runs slow and lags. This may happen if there is not enough RAM memory available. However Nexus 4 is powerful enough to run the latest Android.

Conclusion

There are new phones like Google Pixel available. Those new devices are very tempting but expensive. If you happen to own a flashable phone why not give it a facelift and flash it. That way your phone will get extra years of living and there is no need to purcase a new phone that often.

Nexus 4 running an unofficial

CyanogenMod 14 (aka Android 7)