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I have been planning to buy a Pixel 3A XL and installing Ubuntu Touch on it to use it as a pocket PC, but I would like to know the limitations of OTG at the moment.
Does it give me USB support like on desktop Ubuntu? Can I connect a tablet through OTG to my phone and flash a ROM to it with Ubuntu Touch?
If this is possible please let me know. It would be easier for me to take a phone with me to be able to root and flash other devices. Thank you in advance! -
Hi @zai23
I don't know the exact limitations but don't think you can bring all the modules and drivers from a full featured computer on a simple phone.Basically the kernel is built with the only required modules and drivers, so if you want to be able to plug in mouses or keyboards it might work, but for let say a video input card or a printer or scanner it might require some compilation for ARM and being able to install the modules on the phone...
So I suppose one can overcome those problems, but regular user won't be able to make it work.As I like to remind my customers or my teammates nothing is impossible, but the time necessary is often too long to be something plausible. But you decide :winking_face:
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@zai23 I think that would be possible but if course, you'll need the proper programs and stuffs to achieve that. For example, I've already tried to use ADB with 2 UT devices connected via cable.
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C CiberSheep moved this topic from General on
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@kugiigi that's exactly what I was saying. Unlike what the previous response said, I'm not really interested in connected keyboards not any other peripherals to my phone. I just want to be able to use the phone to root other devices, flash ROMS, basically ADB and Fastboot functionality. Maybe be able to update firmware to my MP3 player (I have a Sandisk Clip Sport). Can you guys confirm that this is possible, or would I need to have rooted Android for something like this? Again, thank you for your responses in advance.
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@zai23 "All things are possible ..." in principle. This is phone with a Linux kernel after all. If there is support in the kernel and the hardware, then it should be possible.
Bear in mind that you should be prepared to venture out on your own, as this will probably include doing some stuff with the OS that while possible will most likely not be supported. -
@arubislander thanks for the info. If you come across any information confirming these possibilities, please share it with me. I would much rather be certain of this first before going full-time to UT.
Edit: typos
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@zai23 said in Ubuntu Touch OTG Functionality:
@arubislander thanks for the info. If you come across any information confirming these possibilities, please share it with me. I would much rather be certain of this first before going full-time to UT.
Edit: typos
I am sorry. This is not something I am particularly interested in doing nor researching. Generally speaking anything posible with rooted Android should also be possible with Ubuntu Touch.
Do you already have a supported device? Installing UT is generally quite straight forward. If you have a compatible device you could install it and try to do what you need. If you pick a device that also supports mobian or droidian for example then you keep your options open UT does not meet your needs.
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@arubislander I am planning to buy a Pixel 3a XL because UT apparently rates it as the top functioning device. I haven't bought it yet because, as I have said, I'm trying to cross my t's and dot my i's first before fully jumping into UT.
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@zai23 Then I don't know what to tell you. If rooting other phines and upgrading firmware on other devices is the only reason you want an UT phone, then it is a gamble, as you are wanting to use the OS in a way that it is not typical usage. So there will not be anyone who has tried this before.
One issue you could run into is the size of the rootfs. The OS is meant to run on a read-only rootfs. Even if you make it r/w, it might not be large enough for you to install all the tools you need. You might find yourself running out of space, and residing the rootfs will lead you down another rabbit hole. Instructions to do so are device specific, and again, you might be the first person trying to do this.
Also, if updates are important to you, everything you have done to get the device in the state you need it to be, might have to be redone.
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@arubislander if this is too much of a hassle, then do you think I would be able to root other devices with rooted Android?
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@zai23 I really don't know if that would be possible. But I have the feeling it wouldn't be easy either. Some rooting tools only have x86_64 builds (some are Windows only too).
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Hi,
I have a fairphone2 running Ubuntu touch,
I’m trying to get mouse and/or keyboard working via the usb other port, the mouse led’s don’t even light up when I plug it in,
What would I need to do to get just a usb keyboard and mouse working?
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@deadbattery It seems there is some extra hardware needed to get OTG functionality on the Fairphone 2.
See here
