Possibilities beyond Android™ with the ‘Dual OS’
Just like a PC, the ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet can be freely programmed in alternative ways in addition to the applications that can be created for the Android platform. To have total control of your Internet Tablet, ARCHOS has opened up this device, thus allowing creative minds to program their own tablet, or create what could be the tablet of the future.
Skilled developers and programmers can now choose to switch over to a true standard Linux environment as offered by the Ångström Linux distribution. Developers can put this on their ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet devices and join other enthusiasts who are experimenting with various ideas and interfaces based on the Linux operating system. Learn more here
More Information:
Special Developer Edition (SDE) firmware
What?
The Ångström Linux distribution is a Linux based operating system that can be installed onto the ARCHOS 5 Internet tablet and replace the ARCHOS Android™ system initially installed on the device.
Why?
The ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet has the computing power of the desktop computers of not so long ago. Yet, it is a portable device. This offers exciting possibilities. Just like your desktop computer, skilled programmers can not only freely develop applications for it, but also be able to run a different operating system on it.
The Ångström Distribution project is a vibrant community of developers with whom we share a philosophy of making available opportunities to create the next great “new thing”. And appreciating the work they have done in the sphere of Linux on portable devices, we have chosen their distribution among others.
Who?
The Special Developer Edition (SDE) firmware provided in this section consists of proof-of-concept software intended for experienced software developers only. It is not to be considered a commercial grade release. If you are not a programmer/developer and would just like to try it out, understand that it will have capabilities inferior to that of the standard ARCHOS operating system.
Specifically what?
To be specific, you need to clearly understand the following information before switching your device from the original ARCHOS Android system to a standard Linux development environment.
This SDE firmware does not contain any of the legacy ARCHOS multimedia software.
ARCHOS declines all liability and responsibility for any issues resulting from the installation of this SDE firmware.
ARCHOS strongly advises that only experts in embedded software development should install this firmware.
This firmware is provided "as is" and is not supported by ARCHOS.
It is based on the Ångström distribution (http://www.angstrom-distribution.org/) generated from a customized open embedded build (http://wiki.openembedded.net/index.php/Main_Page). The default user account is "test" with the password "test".
Installing it onto your device.
To install this new operating system onto your ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet (and thus replace the current one), download the Ångström distribution modified for the ARCHOS available here. Then install it as a regular .aos update.
ARCHOS also provides the modifications it brought to OpenEmbedded (Angstrom build system): available here.
Returning to the ARCHOS Android environment:
The process for restoring the original ARCHOS firmware is done by accessing the recovery menu. Enter the recovery mode by powering on the device while pressing the 'volume down' button. Select the "repair disk" option by navigating up and down the items with the 'volume up' and 'volume down' buttons and then executing the item with a short press on the power button. Once in this mode, the device can be connected to a PC and will act as a mass storage device where the most recent .aos firmware file can be copied to the device. Once the .aos file is transferred, press on the power button again to launch the installation process.
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