Mobile Bunsenlabs

martix · 2016-11-22 01:17:54

Just found this: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/

Sort of Debian Mobile (and much more). It looks like it should be able to run with Bunsenlabs too.

Last edited by martix (2016-11-22 01:21:27)

BLizgreat! · 2016-11-22 04:39:41

^Cool stuff fellow nixer.

People have been making efforts to do this for several years now. Don't know how successful they've been to this point though. Was too caught up in trying to learn about other form factors. Well still am but there's always room for more gnu/Nix.

As usual, one thing that keeps the opensource devs and all the tweakers in the community hamstrung to a point, hardware support. Though with google inc's clout and their cash behind it, not to mention all the consumers lining up for Android. Oem's are going to have to be somewhat more generous with support and access. Even on latest greatest hardware and features.

Thinking at least some of that's going to trickle down to gnu/Linux and opensource support on this and other platforms too. Mobile ... looks like yet another area opensource is kicking all hell out of it's competitors.

Last edited by BLizgreat! (2016-11-22 04:40:26)

martix · 2016-11-23 14:02:45

Indeed, these devices seem to be really cool, I would love to try all of them one day.

I forgot to mention: If someone sets up a SIP account and uses Linphone (or I believe Ekiga is an alternative too), that device can be a mobile phone replacement (if there is a wlan or 3G/4G connection, that is).

BLizgreat! · 2016-11-23 20:17:32

^Thanks for that too.

Actually came back to kinda admit I could be wrong on this in several ways. Would be a huge effort for a small under manned outfit in particular. That being the mobile thing in general( even android based), it's still doable, esp DIY. Because of this fragmentation thing I keep reading about. Manufacturers having to put together customized ROMs for their devices. Sometimes even for each given model they put out.

Could still be done and is being done by communities devoted to that niche. Though logically enough they tend to focus on the most popular and mod friendly devices and people with more locked down or obscure models are going to have to tweak it themselves. Have zero doubt there's plenty of nixers among the Android crowd.

Thinking pure mobile gnu/Nix will still be a reality someday. Hopefully anyway, think the same thing that stunted it on desktop, will happen again in ways when it comes to mobile. Getting access to the hardware support and Oem's being willing to be more cooperative with opensource developers.

Plus pure Nix has Android to compete with and all the big money momentum already behind it. On the brighter side it's based on the gnu/Linux kernel and has a massive amount of opensource efforts going into it. Even if Goog Inc is raking in bunches of cash from it. Though still much of the stuff that gets dev'ed out of it should/could trickle down into opensource and us end users get to benefit from it for sure.

Amazing what folks have done with Android and awesome to see M$ losing to it's betters yet again. This time w/o being able to pull all the sleaze they've done over the years to unfairly impede competition. YAY !

Some links related to what I'm babbling about here.

*Linux distro's having to use the Android kernel ... wth ?
*Also wth is an ARM processor ? < Had to google that one, had no idea.
*Finally introducing some ARM Linux distributions. < Lol have to read that one, now I just gotta know.

Sorry if I babbled anybody's eyes out. Too much caffeine, not enough sleep. Vll!

Last edited by BLizgreat! (2016-11-23 20:36:29)

ohnonot · 2016-11-24 04:55:14

martix wrote:

Just found this: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/
Sort of Debian Mobile (and much more). It looks like it should be able to run with Bunsenlabs too.

WOW!

my first reaction was: butt-ugly! - but: it's tiny! exactly the size of my current phone, just thicker.

a question: how good is the cpu? maybe compared to current phones/netbooks?

martix · 2016-11-24 11:48:47

There is Cortex A15, dual-core 1,5 GHz ARM built in. It says: "The pandora can already play games like Diablo II, Call To Power II, Jedi Knight, or Return to Castle Wolfenstein. It can even do fullspeed emulation of many arcade games and most systems up to 2004. The Pyra has the power to be a Laptop." The architecture is great as it is modular, so it's upgradeable in parts (also the CPU). Promising gadget.

ohnonot · 2016-11-25 20:51:02

martix wrote:

Just found this: https://pyra-handheld.com/boards/pages/pyra/
Sort of Debian Mobile (and much more). It looks like it should be able to run with Bunsenlabs too.

i spent a few hours (!) researching the pyra.
it is

very expensive, as all open hardware things (~700€ with mobile broadband)
made in germany
a continuation of open pandora, it seems a lot of thought is being put into the design, both under the hood and usability. in any case it builds upon many years of experience
modular, upgradeable (however that seems to be very dependant on the manufacturers; it's not like you just can put in a new cpu - i think)
on the planning board since 2014/15 and specs may seem a little outdated already
runs (standard with added repositories for drivers and software???) debian

i like how that guy talks about the importance of openness and hackability e.g. here.

i have no definite info how this would work as a phone. the hardware surely seems to be there. for me this is a crucial point, deciding whether i ask my family to crowdfund me a Xmas present...

ohnonot · 2016-11-26 08:00:10

i have no definite info how this would work as a phone. the hardware surely seems to be there.

Last edited by ohnonot (2021-07-02 09:50:31)

martix · 2017-07-24 19:30:45

Aren't those little mobile devices sweet?

Debian running on Pyra.

DeepDayze · 2017-07-25 02:15:56

I sure would LOVE to have a real linux phone (not Android), but with a way to install and run Android apps on top. Someday that may happen I hope

martix · 2017-07-25 02:44:46

^If I'm not mistaken, it's already possible: Having the mobile version of Pyra means having a debian/linux phone.

On top of that it's possible to run android in Virtualbox. On that system it would be possible to install android apps. I'm not sure though how the cpu power of the pyra would handle the android instance.

Edit: Right now I looked at those Pyra devices again and suddenly I was just thinking: That gadget should have a screen just like a Lenovo X201t! You know, the tablet version of the x201, where you can turn around the screen and pop it back. It does not really work with the laptop as it's a bit too bulky but it might be perfect with that little device (and with a touch screen).

Last edited by martix (2017-07-25 02:49:52)

ohnonot · 2017-07-30 07:47:50

^ the pyra includes the hardware to run as a phone, i checked on their forums.
however, the price is a little high for me ... :'-(
is it being shipped already?

personally, I was thinking to build one myself at some point .. a small linux-capable SBC, a 3d printer for the shell...

devnull · 2017-07-30 23:08:26

what about just putting the sdcard in your pc, debootstrap a jessie in a folder and from android use connectBot or something like that to chroot inside it? You should get into a debian shell in a second, with apt and everything.

Not sure how could you go to use x applications and audio from there, though...

martix · 2017-08-19 02:27:52

@ohnonot I'm not sure about the shipping details. There is a cool version with touchscreen, keyboard, gaming controls, Wi-Fi, SD card slots, several USB ports, modem, telephony services, GPS, and a 6-axis digital compass.

More info regarding mobile devices and Debian on this site and here.

I like that PocketCHIP, which is a small handheld computer with keyboard, USB, WiFi and Debian 8 or 9. There is also a phone project based on that chip. That handheld is well priced, but somehow I'd prefer to get a raspi instead.

Last edited by martix (2017-08-19 02:29:19)

martix · 2017-11-19 15:18:50

There is a promising project on the way: Librem 5.

They have also a cooperation with KDE. As Debian will be available on that device, there will be a small step from there to have something like a Mobile BunsenLabs.

devnull · 2018-01-08 12:08:16

I have a chrooted instance of debian on my mobile, and I access it with a android VNC client. I can connect keyboard and mouse to my mobile and have a tiny monitor but fully working debian with DE on the mobile, repos and all. I don't see why, BL shouldn't work.

If you want a mobile running exclusively BL, that is out of my knowledge

martix · 2018-01-23 21:31:14

ohnonot wrote:

^ the pyra includes the hardware to run as a phone, i checked on their forums.
however, the price is a little high for me ... :'-(
is it being shipped already?

Well, I guess it's safe to say by now that they are there!

It has been a long development, but according to that last post "So yes. All known bugs and issues have been dealt with. We're not aware of any issue left right now!"

I really like that device, and once they start the production, there might be even more buzz about this project. I think it's kind of a niche device, but there is an awesome dedicated community behind it.

ohnonot · 2018-01-24 16:57:26

^ if you could keep an eye on that, martix?
i'd like to see what the final price will be when they finally start shipping.
and, frankly, they should start with the cpu board upgrade straightaway.
the specs were already dated when i looked at it over a year ago.

martix · 2018-02-28 13:41:12

^Pyra is more on the expensive side (given the specs), between 600 € and 750 € (depending on RAM and mobile equipment). I guess they are about to ship orders in the upcoming months.

I think Bunsenlabs would run on this device, a Gemini PGA. The Gemini PDA features a 6 inch, 2160 x 1080 pixel display, a MediaTek Helio X27 deca-core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, stereo speakers, 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and optional 4G LTE. It's surprising that it does not have something like a mouse pointer.

Edit: Here is a good article about the predecessor of that PGA.

Last edited by martix (2018-02-28 13:56:16)

martix · 2018-04-10 14:02:03

I think this is a sweet little device: https://www.hooktube.com/watch?v=uKrMJH7UCmM

#21 2016-11-22 01:17:54

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#22 2016-11-22 04:39:41

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#23 2016-11-23 14:02:45

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#24 2016-11-23 20:17:32

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#25 2016-11-24 04:55:14

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#26 2016-11-24 11:48:47

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#27 2016-11-25 20:51:02

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#28 2016-11-26 08:00:10

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#29 2017-07-24 19:30:45

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#30 2017-07-25 02:15:56

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#31 2017-07-25 02:44:46

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#32 2017-07-30 07:47:50

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#33 2017-07-30 23:08:26

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#34 2017-08-19 02:27:52

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#35 2017-11-19 15:18:50

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#36 2018-01-08 12:08:16

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#37 2018-01-23 21:31:14

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#38 2018-01-24 16:57:26

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#39 2018-02-28 13:41:12

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

#40 2018-04-10 14:02:03

Re: Mobile Bunsenlabs

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