Linux Hackers At It Again On The HTC Universal

[Raphael Salgado]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3647920562.html' target='_blank'>http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS3647920562.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A PDA-like Windows Mobile phone has been successfully coaxed into running Linux. The "Universal," created by Taiwanese ODM HTC and re-sold under various brands, has successfully booted several Linux OSes, after a flurry of collaboration on a developer community forum."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/opie_uni2.jpg" /><br /><br />Linux-loving hackers have been working long and hard to get kernels and GUIs running on every electronic device they could get their hands on, so it comes to no surprise when I saw this latest screenshot on <a href="http://wiki.xda-developers.com/index.php?pagename=UniversalProgress">XDA-Developers' Wiki Page</a> of an HTC Universal getting "pwned." While it satisfies their <i>"Why? Because I Can"</i> philosophy, not all the features of the HTC Universal are functional under the Linux platform, and more importantly, the whole endeavor is not for the faint of heart. After all, performing an official firmware upgrade on a $1000 device can be scary enough. 8O

[gorgoroth]

Yeah, I know it's scarry at this price tag, but don't forget most of us european get this unit for around 300$ nowadays, and 500$ when it was first released. I would have to pay more for a simple 4700

[emuelle1]

Other than "because you can", I can't see much of a reason to run Linux on a PPC yet. And of course, if you talk about firmware, I literally got burned on that. My friend had an iPaq 3970 that stopped charging, and the 3765 that I had was getting old. He ended up buying an Axim x30, so I asked if I could have his old 39xx if I could get it working. I sent it to iPaq Repair, and sure enough, they were able to fix the charging circuit problem. When I got it back, I learned that my friend had installed Linux on it in an attempt to see if his charging problem was software (ie Windows Mobile) related. I had to buy a serial cradle for it, and somehow while trying to reinstall the Windows ROM, the whole thing died on me. By this point, my wife was sick of putting money into it, so I sent it back to my friend. He sent it to ipaq Repair, who couldn't recover it.

While it had Linux, I tried everything I could, but I wasn't able to find a way to sync it with a PC, whether it was running Linux or Windows. At the time I did have a Linux partition, but nothing yet existed.

They can keep Linux. I hope one day it can be used for something on a Pocket PC, but for now unless you want a stand alone unit, I don't think it's ready.

[Vincent M Ferrari]

Yay! Now all the penguin lovers can recompile their firmware to insert an SD card :-)

Seriously, though... This is undeniably cool. It amazes me what they get Linux to run on, these whippersnappers.... 8O

[KTamas]

Mmm, nice. Just a comment on the "ROM upgrade on a $1000 device" thing (and the next paragraph applies to the HTC Phone Edition devices, since I know this for sure for these devices):

As long as you don't touch the bootloader of your device -- and, as far as I know, none of the official updates does; not even most of the un-official ones, in fact, it is very hard to upgrade/downgrade your bootloader -- you can resurrect it from death from sure in one way or another, technically you can even get your device off the cradle in the middle of the updating (yes, I've done that once, accidentally...and my device still works very well, yet, this is *not* recommended).

[szamot]

Mmm, nice. Just a comment on the "ROM upgrade on a $1000 device" thing (and the next paragraph applies to the HTC Phone Edition devices, since I know this for sure for these devices):

As long as you don't touch the bootloader of your device -- and, as far as I know, none of the official updates does; not even most of the un-official ones, in fact, it is very hard to upgrade/downgrade your bootloader -- you can resurrect it from death from sure in one way or another, technically you can even get your device off the cradle in the middle of the updating (yes, I've done that once, accidentally...and my device still works very well, yet, this is *not* recommended).

I would beg to differ, in the old days we used to hack the old trusted HP 3850 right down to boot loader it is not as difficult as people make it sound. If you can read and follow simple steps then the experiance is not much more difficult than installing office on your PC, but a lot more fun.

[pocketpcadmirer]

As long as you don't touch the bootloader of your device -- and, as far as I know, none of the official updates does; not even most of the un-official ones, in fact, it is very hard to upgrade/downgrade your bootloader -- you can resurrect it from death from sure in one way or another, technically you can even get your device off the cradle in the middle of the updating

Yes, I did that too. Just for fun on my now-no-more magician(sold it). I just triggered the update again and it went on smoothly.

Sunny :D

[KTamas]

Mmm, nice. Just a comment on the "ROM upgrade on a $1000 device" thing (and the next paragraph applies to the HTC Phone Edition devices, since I know this for sure for these devices):

As long as you don't touch the bootloader of your device -- and, as far as I know, none of the official updates does; not even most of the un-official ones, in fact, it is very hard to upgrade/downgrade your bootloader -- you can resurrect it from death from sure in one way or another, technically you can even get your device off the cradle in the middle of the updating (yes, I've done that once, accidentally...and my device still works very well, yet, this is *not* recommended).

I would beg to differ, in the old days we used to hack the old trusted HP 3850 right down to boot loader it is not as difficult as people make it sound. If you can read and follow simple steps then the experiance is not much more difficult than installing office on your PC, but a lot more fun.
I'm not saying that is extremely hard to upgrade the bootloader, I'm just saying, that if anything goes wrong there, then you are screwed (I don't know if they can repair it in service...).

[victore]

I'm with emuelle1. I think Linux on handhelds are neat, but unless it synch's with my PC, it's pointless for me. As much as I like the device, it's the data that's important to me. If I lose my device, I just have to buy another and synch it up. Voila! My data restored.

[vranac]

@gorgoroth:
I have been wanting HTC Universal for quite some time, but I was not prepared to fork out 1000$ or more for it, and now you say that in Europe you can get it for like 500$.

Would you please give me the URL where I can purchase Universal for that price

And I think *nix running on Universal is a cute idea, but like others stated quite pointless unless i can sync it with PC

[chips4brains]

For those who love Linux then its great but Linux won't fly on a
comsumer grade device. Yes, what about the Sharp Zaurus? Where
is it today and more importantly, where are its successors running
Linux?

If Linux is what you want then by all means, hack your device but I
can't see making my life more difficult ( for ease of use and software
development ) just to be Linux.

My intention is not to incite a usability or software development debate
this is just my 2 cents worth....