NOTE: This is presented "as-is" -- please USE AT YOUR OWN RISK! If you have any issues with this upgrade, you should be able to re-flash back to stock to get back to a stable baseline. The last few revisions seem stable during the installation process, but as always YMMV. Also, these mods WILL WIPE USER DATA, so be aware of that.
Starting with beta 1.3, the SD cards are now switched (fitting with VM standards). That means that the internal card is now /sdcard, please be aware of that.
Full update ZIP's (choose one, depending on what you need):
CruzN 2.2.0, no Gapps: http://www.mediafire.com/?clclwtf14faonhi
md5sum: 5570d93208205079d3431228765a5e1c
(updated 01/11/2011)
CruzN 2.2.0, with Gapps: http://www.mediafire.com/?e616ey7aged5qcs
md5sum: a9b8d02a30c0da8fa17ce632563b1600
(updated 01/11/2011)
--------------------------------
Changelog for 2.2.0:
- Busybox / root fixed. Titanium Backup works now (and is even included as an app)
- Base changed. Almost identical to Gapps version, except that it does not include Gapps
- adhoc wireless networks are now viewable. Testers needed to verify that it works, however
- Updated the user apps from the last release
- Added the Spica driver updates, as well as the ARM11 optimized DVM w/ JIT change
- (Gapps version) Added back the OLD Market Vending apk. This ensures that the Market will work when first setup, but with a caveat (see "Issues" below)
Quick video of the UI in action: YouTube - Pandigital Cruz Reader
------------------------------------------------------------------
What this is:
A full firmware update for the white Pandigital Novel (all versions, tmk) that will update the UI to the Velocity Micro Cruz. This makes the following changes to the stock device:
- Changes the device name to "slatedroid-cruzn". Better than the default "sec_smdk6410", imo.
- Android Market (non-ugly hack. Just configure your Google ID and it "just works"). Many thanks to clockworx for this hack!
- Portrait mode (by default). Certain applications seem to prefer this configuration
- Cruz soft buttons. Volume keys are now used for their original purpose
- Several built-in applications added like Aldiko, Kindle app, Facebook (you can delete them, if you don't use them)
- CPU max frequency of 800Mhz is retained (different than the full Cruz firmware)
- WiFi is constantly on, even while in sleep mode (this is the Cruz default). What that means is instant WiFi after sleep, at the cost of reduced battery life. Other than that, it is similar to stock (which is good and bad)
What this is NOT:
- A replacement / upgraded UI for actual Cruz devices. I have never tested it there and I would not recommend attempting it. You could brick the device.
- A complete transformation from the PDN to Cruz firmware. Some things on the Cruz may not work here and the kernel / bootloader are still the PDN defaults. Consider this a "hybrid" of the two firmwares. From a USB point of view, I believe that the device should still use the original PDN vendor ID.
Instructions:
- Download the above ZIP file, and place it on the root of your SD card.
- Reboot the device into recovery mode (holding power and volume up keys). Should take about 1 minute for the upgrade to complete. Then it will reboot.
- After the first reboot: Choose "com.android.sdksetup.DefaultActivity", and then choose "Home" if needed. Wait about 30 seconds for the UI to stabilize this first time. You also might need to rotate the device to landscape to get the soft buttons working,
- Calibrate the device immediately! This is risky because you might lose the touchscreen if you're not careful. But, if it's successful it should improve the touchscreen significantly. To calibrate the device:
Get to Settings -- Language and Keyboard. If the soft buttons are giving you a hard time, just use the Settings app in the drop down menu
Once in the settings area, choose "Touch Calibration"
Calibrate 1 through 4, then 5, and then touch the screen to exit. Do NOT use the home or back buttons until you close the tool completely.
And do NOT leave this tool until you have successfully calibrated the device. If you don't do this and close the tool, the calibration will be completely borked and you'll need to re-flash. The app is a real PITN, so be warned - I would recommend using a stylus to get through it versus your finger.
- (for the Market). Update your language / locale in Settings -- Language & Keyboard -- Select Locale. If you don't do this, you might see a lot of non-English apps in the Market.
- Optional, but I recommend this: Clear out all your update ZIP files on internal and external SD, and attempt to re-flash. You should get the exclamation point (that's good). If you just get a blank screen, your recovery is hosed and needs to be fixed. I mention this because this has happened to me at least twice - granted, I must have flashed my PDN at least 50 times, now.
Known Issues:
- The calibration is a hack, for all intents and purposes (see above). Once set, you should be fine. But, if you wipe /data later for some reason, you will bork the calibration which will require a reflash.
- WiFi is still spotty, with some disconnects. A real Cruz device has the same issues, so it's the way it is, unfortunately.
- Choppy video / audio playback. This is the case with stock firmware also. My only suggestion is to use something like "Advanced Task Killer" to remove unneeded apps from memory. It seems to help a little.
- Lack of 270 degree rotation. The is a Cruz UI limitation that the devs here have not been able to correct, yet. Do NOT use the PDN rotation hack on this mod, as it will not work and you might need to re-flash.
- Status Bar is stuck in Eastern time. This is confirmed to be a Cruz bug that they have yet to address.
- Exclamation point during flashing. Try renaming the ZIP to "PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip" and re-try - that usually fixes this problem.
- The Gapps version has a recent issue (as of Jan 2011) where Google is updating the app and breaking the "non-ugly" fix and thus breaking the app completely with a "Network Error". A short-term fix is to go into Settings -- Applications -- Manage Applications and uninstall the Market update. The way to "fix" this long-term, as per my testing, is to do as follows:
1- On a newly flashed 2.2.0 system, click on the Market and add your Google ID.
2- (Critical!!) Run the Market immediately, accept the TOS and download any free app ASAP. You want to do this BEFORE the Market update runs, usually within a few minutes.
3- The new Market update should work, from this point on. The key is that first free app install - it seems to make the non-ugly hack "stick".
- Kindle app is broken in 2.2.0, due to the JIT change I added. If you want to remove the JIT change before flashing, it's fairly easy. Instructions:
1- Open the ZIP file the program of your choosing.
2- Delete this file, in the ZIP: systemapplibdvm.so. Then, re-save the ZIP.
3- Flash the ZIP as you normally would. Kindle app should now work, but you won't have the benefits of the JIT change.
=======================================
ARCHIVED VERSIONS
Beta 2.1.0 (Cruz base only, no GE, user data wipe): SD_CRUZPDN_2_10_BASE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
md5sum: ec8603ceb56cac56fa76a9e6b38ef81b
Beta 2.1.0 (Gapps): SD_CRUZPDN_2_10_GE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
md5sum: 26bb3fbd22b16d4f9a52ba1f5224fc1b
Supplement for 2.1.0: SD_CRUZPDN_SUPP13_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
md5sum: 07107fe3ac18edef6730da62aea95a25
Beta 2.0.0 (full GE, user data wipe): SD_CRUZPDN_2_0_GE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
Beta 2.0.1 (Cruz base only, no GE, user data wipe, better recovery): SD_CRUZPDN_2_01_BASE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
Changelog for 2.1.0:
- Same modular format, base and GE versions. v2 board tested by myself, with other users testing v1 boards.
- Based off new Cruz 10/12 firmware, which fixes the SSID space issue and now allows for hidden SSID's to be used.
- (GE only) Added Ubuntu font and the other 1.1 supplemental changes to the mod.
- (GE only) Added WinHelp2002 hosts file entries, mainly to block ads.
Changelog for 2.0:
- 2.0 revision due to new PDN 9/23 kernel / bootloader and new Cruz 9/25 UI base.
Changelog for 1.3:
- Destructive version only, for stability reasons.
- Modular design implemented. There is now a base vanilla Cruz version (no GE, no alterations) and a GE build.
- /sdcard is now the internal card. needed to allow mount/unmounts to properly function.
- Full GE, in the GE version. This includes Gmail.
- Additional third-party applications added in the GE build, and some Cruz apps removed (the Cruz apps are unaltered, in the base build).
- Most of the PDN apps were NOT added back, as they just don't work well (especially now that /PD_Novel is gone). The video player is the only leftover, and it will only work on /sdcard.
- New ZIP naming standard.
Changelog for 1.2 : Destructive versions only., Slatedroid logo removed, added bootloader / kernel / recovery wipe. Permissions issues should be corrected, and GE lite was redone from scratch.
Changelog for 1.1 : Installation is unstable for some (infinite reboots), use with caution. Not GE lite, as opposed to 1.2.
Changelog for 1.0 : First beta, required different versions for v1 and v2 boards. Subsequently fixed[/SIZE]
-----------------------------------------------------------
List of added files in the ZIP's, and what they are for (reference to make your own mod):
META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script. This is the updater script. It has all the file DELETES. So, if you want to keep OfficeSuite_Full_1.5_230.apk, you'd delete that particular line. But don't delete this entire file, or else the updater won't run at all.
/system/App/PD*.apk. The old PDN stock files, like music and Settings.
/bin/wpa_supplicant. This is the ad-hoc friendly supplicant.
/etc/hosts. This is the "ad-free" hosts file.
/fonts/*. These are the two Ubuntu fonts.
/lib/egl. These are the Spica video driver updates.
/lib/libdvm.so. This is the enhanced JIT file which has some problems with the Kindle app.
/xbin/*. Root and Busybox.
build.prop. This is the main config file for Android. You probably want to leave that one alone unless you know what you're doing.
/data/new_tsc. This is the calibration file. Don't delete this one!
/data/app. These are the included user apps. Add to them, delete them. It's all up to you.
Gapps version
Everything of importance is under /system/app. The more critical ones you'll care about are:
GenieWidget.apk. News and Weather
Gmail.apk. Self-explanatory
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk. Sync
googlevoice.apk. Self-Explanatory
gtalkservice.apk. Self-Explanatory
Maps.apk. Self-Explanatory
Vending.apk. This is the main Market file.
Also, /framework/framework.jar is where the "non-ugly" hack resides.
-------------------------------------------------------
Links and references:
Ad-hoc supplicant: http://szym.net/2010/12/adhoc-wifi-in-android/
Spica Driver update: http://www.slatedroid.com/index.php?topic=13728.msg109173#msg109173
JIT enhancement: http://www.slatedroid.com/pandigital-novel-android-tablet-discussion/arm11-optimized-dvm-w-jit/
Starting with beta 1.3, the SD cards are now switched (fitting with VM standards). That means that the internal card is now /sdcard, please be aware of that.
Full update ZIP's (choose one, depending on what you need):
CruzN 2.2.0, no Gapps: http://www.mediafire.com/?clclwtf14faonhi
md5sum: 5570d93208205079d3431228765a5e1c
(updated 01/11/2011)
CruzN 2.2.0, with Gapps: http://www.mediafire.com/?e616ey7aged5qcs
md5sum: a9b8d02a30c0da8fa17ce632563b1600
(updated 01/11/2011)
--------------------------------
Changelog for 2.2.0:
- Busybox / root fixed. Titanium Backup works now (and is even included as an app)
- Base changed. Almost identical to Gapps version, except that it does not include Gapps
- adhoc wireless networks are now viewable. Testers needed to verify that it works, however
- Updated the user apps from the last release
- Added the Spica driver updates, as well as the ARM11 optimized DVM w/ JIT change
- (Gapps version) Added back the OLD Market Vending apk. This ensures that the Market will work when first setup, but with a caveat (see "Issues" below)
Quick video of the UI in action: YouTube - Pandigital Cruz Reader
------------------------------------------------------------------
What this is:
A full firmware update for the white Pandigital Novel (all versions, tmk) that will update the UI to the Velocity Micro Cruz. This makes the following changes to the stock device:
- Changes the device name to "slatedroid-cruzn". Better than the default "sec_smdk6410", imo.
- Android Market (non-ugly hack. Just configure your Google ID and it "just works"). Many thanks to clockworx for this hack!
- Portrait mode (by default). Certain applications seem to prefer this configuration
- Cruz soft buttons. Volume keys are now used for their original purpose
- Several built-in applications added like Aldiko, Kindle app, Facebook (you can delete them, if you don't use them)
- CPU max frequency of 800Mhz is retained (different than the full Cruz firmware)
- WiFi is constantly on, even while in sleep mode (this is the Cruz default). What that means is instant WiFi after sleep, at the cost of reduced battery life. Other than that, it is similar to stock (which is good and bad)
What this is NOT:
- A replacement / upgraded UI for actual Cruz devices. I have never tested it there and I would not recommend attempting it. You could brick the device.
- A complete transformation from the PDN to Cruz firmware. Some things on the Cruz may not work here and the kernel / bootloader are still the PDN defaults. Consider this a "hybrid" of the two firmwares. From a USB point of view, I believe that the device should still use the original PDN vendor ID.
Instructions:
- Download the above ZIP file, and place it on the root of your SD card.
- Reboot the device into recovery mode (holding power and volume up keys). Should take about 1 minute for the upgrade to complete. Then it will reboot.
- After the first reboot: Choose "com.android.sdksetup.DefaultActivity", and then choose "Home" if needed. Wait about 30 seconds for the UI to stabilize this first time. You also might need to rotate the device to landscape to get the soft buttons working,
- Calibrate the device immediately! This is risky because you might lose the touchscreen if you're not careful. But, if it's successful it should improve the touchscreen significantly. To calibrate the device:
Get to Settings -- Language and Keyboard. If the soft buttons are giving you a hard time, just use the Settings app in the drop down menu
Once in the settings area, choose "Touch Calibration"
Calibrate 1 through 4, then 5, and then touch the screen to exit. Do NOT use the home or back buttons until you close the tool completely.
And do NOT leave this tool until you have successfully calibrated the device. If you don't do this and close the tool, the calibration will be completely borked and you'll need to re-flash. The app is a real PITN, so be warned - I would recommend using a stylus to get through it versus your finger.
- (for the Market). Update your language / locale in Settings -- Language & Keyboard -- Select Locale. If you don't do this, you might see a lot of non-English apps in the Market.
- Optional, but I recommend this: Clear out all your update ZIP files on internal and external SD, and attempt to re-flash. You should get the exclamation point (that's good). If you just get a blank screen, your recovery is hosed and needs to be fixed. I mention this because this has happened to me at least twice - granted, I must have flashed my PDN at least 50 times, now.
Known Issues:
- The calibration is a hack, for all intents and purposes (see above). Once set, you should be fine. But, if you wipe /data later for some reason, you will bork the calibration which will require a reflash.
- WiFi is still spotty, with some disconnects. A real Cruz device has the same issues, so it's the way it is, unfortunately.
- Choppy video / audio playback. This is the case with stock firmware also. My only suggestion is to use something like "Advanced Task Killer" to remove unneeded apps from memory. It seems to help a little.
- Lack of 270 degree rotation. The is a Cruz UI limitation that the devs here have not been able to correct, yet. Do NOT use the PDN rotation hack on this mod, as it will not work and you might need to re-flash.
- Status Bar is stuck in Eastern time. This is confirmed to be a Cruz bug that they have yet to address.
- Exclamation point during flashing. Try renaming the ZIP to "PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip" and re-try - that usually fixes this problem.
- The Gapps version has a recent issue (as of Jan 2011) where Google is updating the app and breaking the "non-ugly" fix and thus breaking the app completely with a "Network Error". A short-term fix is to go into Settings -- Applications -- Manage Applications and uninstall the Market update. The way to "fix" this long-term, as per my testing, is to do as follows:
1- On a newly flashed 2.2.0 system, click on the Market and add your Google ID.
2- (Critical!!) Run the Market immediately, accept the TOS and download any free app ASAP. You want to do this BEFORE the Market update runs, usually within a few minutes.
3- The new Market update should work, from this point on. The key is that first free app install - it seems to make the non-ugly hack "stick".
- Kindle app is broken in 2.2.0, due to the JIT change I added. If you want to remove the JIT change before flashing, it's fairly easy. Instructions:
1- Open the ZIP file the program of your choosing.
2- Delete this file, in the ZIP: systemapplibdvm.so. Then, re-save the ZIP.
3- Flash the ZIP as you normally would. Kindle app should now work, but you won't have the benefits of the JIT change.
=======================================
ARCHIVED VERSIONS
Beta 2.1.0 (Cruz base only, no GE, user data wipe): SD_CRUZPDN_2_10_BASE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
md5sum: ec8603ceb56cac56fa76a9e6b38ef81b
Beta 2.1.0 (Gapps): SD_CRUZPDN_2_10_GE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
md5sum: 26bb3fbd22b16d4f9a52ba1f5224fc1b
Supplement for 2.1.0: SD_CRUZPDN_SUPP13_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
md5sum: 07107fe3ac18edef6730da62aea95a25
Beta 2.0.0 (full GE, user data wipe): SD_CRUZPDN_2_0_GE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
Beta 2.0.1 (Cruz base only, no GE, user data wipe, better recovery): SD_CRUZPDN_2_01_BASE_PD_INX7E_ENG_6410POP.zip
Changelog for 2.1.0:
- Same modular format, base and GE versions. v2 board tested by myself, with other users testing v1 boards.
- Based off new Cruz 10/12 firmware, which fixes the SSID space issue and now allows for hidden SSID's to be used.
- (GE only) Added Ubuntu font and the other 1.1 supplemental changes to the mod.
- (GE only) Added WinHelp2002 hosts file entries, mainly to block ads.
Changelog for 2.0:
- 2.0 revision due to new PDN 9/23 kernel / bootloader and new Cruz 9/25 UI base.
Changelog for 1.3:
- Destructive version only, for stability reasons.
- Modular design implemented. There is now a base vanilla Cruz version (no GE, no alterations) and a GE build.
- /sdcard is now the internal card. needed to allow mount/unmounts to properly function.
- Full GE, in the GE version. This includes Gmail.
- Additional third-party applications added in the GE build, and some Cruz apps removed (the Cruz apps are unaltered, in the base build).
- Most of the PDN apps were NOT added back, as they just don't work well (especially now that /PD_Novel is gone). The video player is the only leftover, and it will only work on /sdcard.
- New ZIP naming standard.
Changelog for 1.2 : Destructive versions only., Slatedroid logo removed, added bootloader / kernel / recovery wipe. Permissions issues should be corrected, and GE lite was redone from scratch.
Changelog for 1.1 : Installation is unstable for some (infinite reboots), use with caution. Not GE lite, as opposed to 1.2.
Changelog for 1.0 : First beta, required different versions for v1 and v2 boards. Subsequently fixed[/SIZE]
-----------------------------------------------------------
List of added files in the ZIP's, and what they are for (reference to make your own mod):
META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script. This is the updater script. It has all the file DELETES. So, if you want to keep OfficeSuite_Full_1.5_230.apk, you'd delete that particular line. But don't delete this entire file, or else the updater won't run at all.
/system/App/PD*.apk. The old PDN stock files, like music and Settings.
/bin/wpa_supplicant. This is the ad-hoc friendly supplicant.
/etc/hosts. This is the "ad-free" hosts file.
/fonts/*. These are the two Ubuntu fonts.
/lib/egl. These are the Spica video driver updates.
/lib/libdvm.so. This is the enhanced JIT file which has some problems with the Kindle app.
/xbin/*. Root and Busybox.
build.prop. This is the main config file for Android. You probably want to leave that one alone unless you know what you're doing.
/data/new_tsc. This is the calibration file. Don't delete this one!
/data/app. These are the included user apps. Add to them, delete them. It's all up to you.
Gapps version
Everything of importance is under /system/app. The more critical ones you'll care about are:
GenieWidget.apk. News and Weather
Gmail.apk. Self-explanatory
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk. Sync
googlevoice.apk. Self-Explanatory
gtalkservice.apk. Self-Explanatory
Maps.apk. Self-Explanatory
Vending.apk. This is the main Market file.
Also, /framework/framework.jar is where the "non-ugly" hack resides.
-------------------------------------------------------
Links and references:
Ad-hoc supplicant: http://szym.net/2010/12/adhoc-wifi-in-android/
Spica Driver update: http://www.slatedroid.com/index.php?topic=13728.msg109173#msg109173
JIT enhancement: http://www.slatedroid.com/pandigital-novel-android-tablet-discussion/arm11-optimized-dvm-w-jit/