New "Old" BQ Aquaris M10 FHD for Ubuntu: how to update, and add other features?

Daryl

Hello UbPort People:

I bought a nice BQ tablet with Ubuntu on it quite a few years ago. The idea seemed to have died, and I have not used the device in an ice age!

However, I got it out today, and realized how nice it is... and wondered how I could update it and make it do more Ubuntu-like things.

Is this the right form for this discussion???

Many Thanks,
Daryl, from Daryl's Rural Roadside Honor System Produce and Occasionally Dairy Stand
Rural, USA

Moem

@daryl said in Am I in the right place?:

Is this the right form for this discussion???

Almost! What model is your tablet? If you can tell us that, I'll move your post accordingly. You posted in the section for a BQ E4.5, which is a phone, not a tablet.

Daryl

@moem Thanks for your reply. I turned on the machine to find out using "About." This says "bq Aquaris M10 FHS Ubuntu Edition."

Moem

Okay, moved! I've removed your duplicate post, one is enough.

arubislander

@daryl said in New "Old" BQ Aquaris M10 FHD for Ubuntu: how to update, and add other features?:

However, I got it out today, and realized how nice it is... and wondered how I could update it and make it do more Ubuntu-like things.

This is indeed a very nice tablet. Thin, light, crisp screen. Works great with Ubuntu Touch. Unfortunately, unless a kind soul adopts this tablet to port it to 20.04, it will be left behind on Xenial while development focus moves to Focal.

I am curious though, what Ubuntu-like things were you thinking about?

AppLee

Hi @daryl

I bet you still have a Canonical build on this tablet.
You can update it to the latest release with the UBports installer ; more information there: https://devices.ubuntu-touch.io/device/frieza

Also be aware of @arubislander 's warning about end-of-life for this device.
But until then you'll have OTA 24 and 25 which is coming sooner than later

Note: if you're the one who stole mine all those years ago: go to hell

Daryl

@arubislander Install a terminal window, maybe firefox esr, vpn,word processor

Daryl

@applee Hi AppLee:

Nope, I wasn't the one who stole your Ubuntu tablet. I would feel the same way you seem to feel. Its a very nice machine, and it is unsettling to get robbed. I've never been robbed, but I've been cheated enough to be smarter than I used to be.

AppLee, I've wondered if upgrading is worth it, and wondered what I'd gain from upgrading.

I hope you will please advise me on that.

For the most part, I just want to have a vpn, and use it to surf, read online news, maybe a map app for travel, play music with a larger capacity sd chip, and just enjoy it.

I might entertain trying to back it up onto my pi that has alot of storage using rsync over ssh.

I"m not doing any heavy crunching on this beautiful tablet.

Could you advise me on whether I should bother, and if so, what I'll gain, and where I should start, please?

I'm on your side. I didn't take your tablet.

Thank you,
Daryl

Daryl

@moem Hi Arubislander:

I have 4 other Ubuntu computers and one is running 20.04 still because it is really old hardware and wont upgrade to 22.04.

I don't care. I like 20.04

HOW DO I UPGRADE THIS TABLET TO 20.04?

Cand this tablet really handle that?

Thanks,
Daryl

Keneda

@daryl said in New "Old" BQ Aquaris M10 FHD for Ubuntu: how to update, and add other features?:

HOW DO I UPGRADE THIS TABLET TO 20.04?

For now, as said, you can't.
But you can get the latest xenial build installed.

arubislander

@daryl said in New "Old" BQ Aquaris M10 FHD for Ubuntu: how to update, and add other features?:

For the most part, I just want to have a vpn, and use it to surf, read online news, maybe a map app for travel, play music with a larger capacity sd chip, and just enjoy it.

Depending on what protocol your VPN uses this can be done for sure. I have successfully gotten OpenVPN configurations imported and working via the command line. PPP might also work.

I might entertain trying to back it up onto my pi that has alot of storage using rsync over ssh.

Might I suggest Syncthing for that? It is what I use, to keep my books, OTPT's and allowed keys synced on all my Ubuntu Touch devices.

AppLee

Hi @daryl

I knew you did not steal my tablet ; I think it ended up in a garbage when they realized it was not android...
Sorry for the joke

Well by upgrading to UBports OTA 24 you'll gain access to the latest apps in the open store.
Yo can check out the apps you're interested in there https://open-store.io/ and check on your tablet if you can install them without updating.

You'll also gain a better compatibility with more recent website while your browser may be fine it is outdated and maybe not tolerated by newer sites.
Better bluetooth compatibility ; it's still an issue but it used to be worse.
On the GPS side, I'd recommend Pure Maps it is an alternative to uNav and is very lovely to use.

But note also that you'll loose some feature that people loved about Ubuntu Touch. There are no more scopes.

I would update just to get a better support and help from other users. I think it would be easier to configure your VPN on a recent build. I don't remember if it was easier or event doable back in Canonical era.

I hope this is a bit helpful. Enjoy your tablet, I miss it very much.

Daryl

@arubislander Thanks for your reply, arubislander!

Daryl

@applee Thanks for your encouragment, AppLee. I'm starting the process of making the tablet what I want. I'll definately check out Pure Maps!
Daryl

Moem

@daryl You encouraged me, I have one of my own coming in the mail soon!

Daryl

@arubislander I'll definately keep your comments! Thank you!