[Dandel]

I just got off of chat with Augen Customer support. Anyways, I officially requested the source code to the kernel and the representative says that this will be released in a few days, and also, as a kicker I also asked about the source code to a few other devices of theirs.Also, since it's going to help, here's the transcript of the chat session i had with the rep.

Augen Support Rep: hiAugen Support Rep: hiMe: hi Augen Support Rep: ho could i help youme: yes, the augen devices are in violation of a license, and it's not google's... The license in question is the GPL License which covers the kernel.me: I submitted a formal request a few days ago but got no response.me: Ticket number (does not matter)me: the linux kernel (which powers android devices) uses the GNU Public License version 2, and that license states specifically that upon request the source must be provided.Augen Support Rep: i understand your concern sirAugen Support Rep: our research and development dep't is still trying to obtain thatAugen Support Rep: from the android programmers that forwarded us the program sirAugen Support Rep: i apologize but at this time we don't have that available at our endAugen Support Rep: they are the ones that would have it posted at the updates at our siteme: ok, and when you acquire the source code, it will be immediately made available on the update site?Augen Support Rep: what i'm doing right now is forwarding them your concernme: Thanks, and so i know for sure, the source for the augen gentouch78 and the augen netbooks will be provided?me: also, the website for the augen netbook needs to be cleaned up a bit... it doesn't have any details on the android 1.5 device, only the android 2.1 device.Augen Support Rep: i'm filing in your requestsAugen Support Rep: once the our research and development dep't is able to obtain those, it should be loaded at our site to be available for downloadAugen Support Rep: at this time we are still waiting for the android programmers responsesAugen Support Rep: the thing is the they have given us a set of updates and patchesAugen Support Rep: by batchesAugen Support Rep: for the program for the tablets are quite new in the marketAugen Support Rep: we still are working with them to haveAugen Support Rep: the kernels expidited alsoAugen Support Rep: these should be uploaded at the augenus.com site in a mater of daysAugen Support Rep: so please monitor the site from time to timeAugen Support Rep: the site would have the update link at the bottom right of the webpageme: Thank you and i look forward to seeing this released.Augen Support Rep: i thank you very much for your patience and i'm forwarding all your concerns, thank you for chatting

 

[cpg716]

Well, at least they know somewhat what you are talking about now. When I talked to customer service, they had now clue what I was talking about and say we have no information on the matter. Maybe the calls, emails, and questions are working. CPG

 

[linckraker]

when they say "in a matter of days" they mean bother us again in a week cause i don't have the answer..

 

[mogrith]

We have asked for it and will post it when we get it is still better than Just 'I'll forward your concern.' At least it's a hint that they know they need to do it now.

 

[cutterjohn]

This,

Currently we don't release the source code for the Android-specific / user-space portions of the Mali driver under an open-source licence. Android support is a feature of our commercially licensed Mali Linux DDK. The Linux Device Driver and UMP kernel modules which are distributed here on the Mali Developer Portal can be used in Android environments, but by themselves are not a full driver stack.

, will put a bit of a crimp in things...ARM Community > Where can I find code of mali200 driver for AndroidOf course we'd've been no better off with PowerVR SGX as they're even worse wrt source & docs...

 

[Dandel]

ARM Community > Where can I find code of mali200 driver for Android[/url]Of course we'd've been no better off with PowerVR SGX as they're even worse wrt source & docs...

Actually, we are better off with the Mali 200 and Mali 400 chip... The android platform uses Linux, and the Linux platform driver for these are released under gpl. And anyways... Here you go... An easy place to download the driver:Drivers

 

[cutterjohn]

Drivers[/url]

um, did you miss something?

Android support is a feature of our commercially licensed Mali Linux DDK. The Linux Device Driver and UMP kernel modules which are distributed here on the Mali Developer Portal can be used in Android environments, but by themselves are not a full driver stack.

That said, we probably stand a better chance of support from ARM than imgtech or whatever that subsidiary that controls PowerVR is now called...

 

[Rainsphere]

Excellent news. I did not receive a response to my request either but hopefully the upload will INDEED be within a few days time. If not then I will repost my request.

 

[mirsev]

Any update since August 2010?

 

[Dandel]

Any update since August 2010?

Yes, the main update is that Augen's website is no longer available. However this is no big deal. I just checked out the latest Telechips release on their open source website. On August 22nd, The new Linux kernel release ( 2.6.35 ) includes the sources to the Mali kernel driver, and the Gingerbread source file that was released on the same date includes webkit, alsa-util, alsa lib, and the source to the Telechips multimedia encoder/decoder for omx.

 

[lthown]

Yes, the main update is that Augen's website is no longer available. However this is no big deal. I just checked out the latest Telechips release on their open source website. On August 22nd, The new Linux kernel release ( 2.6.35 ) includes the sources to the Mali kernel driver, and the Gingerbread source file that was released on the same date includes webkit, alsa-util, alsa lib, and the source to the Telechips multimedia encoder/decoder for omx.

So what does that mean for the Gentouch? are we going to be able to get froyo or gingerbread?

 

[Dandel]

I forgot the link to the gpl source for the telechips processors. This source is located at the Telechips Open Source Software page.

are we going to be able to get froyo or gingerbread?

In short, Yes.

As for the long explanation, One will need to take the GPL source for the linux kernel version 2.6.29 and modify the source on that kernel. It'll be tricky because you need to first make a configuration that best matches the functionality of the tablet ( Hence the need of a skilled developer that owns the tablet). The next step after the new kernel is booting is to get the basic functionality working ( Touchscreen, buttons, usb otg port, and backlight ). After the basic functionality is working, move to the Froyo/Gingerbread source code, and repeat the previous steps. After Froyo/Gingerbread are partially working it is a matter of getting the rest of the functions working from the previous install, and then to get features that are not working in froyo/gingerbread that the tablet supports working. The rest of the steps is up to the developer, but just getting to this point takes a lot of time and work. This also ignores the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich ) porting ( if it's even possible ).