[FAQ] How to use Android on M8 : tips, problems & other questions ...

Hello, can someone provide step by step instruction on how to get the drivers installed and adb running on win 7.

Punchlinegott, this should help you.
I know it is a very limited explanation, but you are always welcome to create a better one cause i am a bit short of time.

I have tried all of the releases of M8-Android and my touchscreen doesn't work on any of them. I get the "Low battery" warning, hit the menu button and it disappears then nothing else will work. Everything else works (volume up/down and power button) but the touchscreen doesn't respond. Anybody else having this problem?

Specs:
Meizu M8 SE 8gb (White)

strange :s
on my SE the power button doesn´t work, but TS does just perfect.

It must be a newer version of the SE, what says the hardware version number on yours?

Thanks for the reply... Here are the M8SE specs regarding the touchscreen not working.

Hardware ver 2.0
Software ver 1.0.0.1
Firmware ver 0.9.6.12 (with dualboot)

Also, after playing around, I found sometimes when I load Android and then restart into MMobile, the touchscreen stops working in WinCE and in the firmware upgrade module as well. I have to take the battery out and completely restart it.

Originally Posted by syb0rz

Hardware ver 2.0
Software ver 1.0.0.1
Firmware ver 0.9.6.12 (with dualboot)

That is the same as mine, but it doesn´t mean it won´t have other hardware inside.

syb0rz, if you install a regelar wince package, do you then experience any touchscreen issue´s?

With WinCE there's no problem. I'm playing around with the Android drivers, but I don't have any knowledge of Linux. I'll post if I come across something...

The touchscreen becomes disabled in the Android kernel and then sometimes continues to be disabled when restarting into WinCE/MMobile. I'm trying to figure out where this is coming from...

More info on the Android/M8SE touchscreen problem:

The input returns normal functions for the home button, volume and power. But, the touchscreen returns

Code:

synaptics_ts_work_func: bad read 0 0 ... 0 0, ret 2

I'm still digging around to check the X/Y and pressure settings. I hope to find somebody else that has this problem too!

I can not mount the flash. The android can not find SD card~
when the android is loading , i see the directories&files in disk .
In android can not find the SD card , the music files in disk could play but no sound.

I download
Android 1.6, RC3 + patch to use /disk &Dual Bootloader (FW 0.9.6.12)
M8SE 8GB Production date：11.29.2009

By the way,the PET TS doesn't work in android

Originally Posted by syb0rz

More info on the Android/M8SE touchscreen problem:

The input returns normal functions for the home button, volume and power. But, the touchscreen returns

Code:

synaptics_ts_work_func: bad read 0 0 ... 0 0, ret 2

I'm still digging around to check the X/Y and pressure settings. I hope to find somebody else that has this problem too!

By the way,the PET TS doesn't work in android

very strange ,
I am pretty sure that you might have slightly different hardware for the TS.
I don´t know if there is a way to see the production date of an M8, it would be usefull to find out if it has other hardware.

In android can not find the SD card , the music files in disk could play but no sound.

So if you can find your mp3 files the disk is loaded succesfully, you might want to install a different file browser.

M8SE 8GB

Sorry invent, we don´t have working sound driver for android (yet).

Originally Posted by evow04

I don´t know if there is a way to see the production date of an M8, it would be usefull to find out if it has other hardware.

YES. We can see the production date in SN.
The 3th (from left to right) in SN: S=SE, R=RE
For M8SE see the 9th to 11th (from left to right) digit, A=1,B=2,...Z=26,1=27,2=28...
Example:M8S2B02AIL3CQCxxxx 9th to 11th is[ IL3 ],means [9,12,29] So the date is 2009.12.29
For M8RE see the 8th to 10th (from left to right) digit with the same code as SE
Example:M8RB08AJA2BANxxxx date is 2010.01.28

From the middle of Dec.2009,the TS has changed into PET,include SE,RE.

Another question: I want to build a dualboot FW and downloadHowTo + tools custom ROM package + FW0.9.6.12(offical) + Android 1.6, RC3 + patch to use /disk
I can build a dualboot FW, but can not load Android ( error load mdroid.img , even I changed file name system.img into mdroid.img ) .
please tell me where can I download the new version of M8TinyLoader or zImage?
Thank you!

Originally Posted by invent

YES. We can see the production date in SN.
From the middle of Dec.2009,the TS has changed into PET,include SE,RE.

Ok, my M8SE is also has "IL3" so all I can tell you is that the new PET Touchscreen has a driver problem with Android 1.5 and 1.6. I'm in over my head with Linux so I won't be much help. But, thanks to Evow and Invent for all the information

Edit: I purchased my M8SE in Beijing on Jan. 14.

Originally Posted by invent

YES. We can see the production date in SN.
The 3th (from left to right) in SN: S=SE, R=RE
For M8SE see the 9th to 11th (from left to right) digit, A=1,B=2,...Z=26,1=27,2=28...
Example:M8S2B02AIL3CQCxxxx 9th to 11th is[ IL3 ],means [9,12,29] So the date is 2009.12.29
For M8RE see the 8th to 10th (from left to right) digit with the same code as SE
Example:M8RB08AJA2BANxxxx date is 2010.01.28

From the middle of Dec.2009,the TS has changed into PET,include SE,RE.

Cool that is interesting to know!
Mine says : i,k,f - 09,11,07 so no PET on mine ..

can tell you is that the new PET Touchscreen has a driver problem with Android 1.5 and 1.6. I'm in over my head with Linux so I won't be much help.

be patient, with some luck one with a PET TS might be working on a "patch", sorry for now!

please tell me where can I download the new version of M8TinyLoader or zImage?

The Tinyloader should be just fine from the package, but if i recall lang2 edited the Zimage, so try to use this file: Link Alsa Zimage

I will need to update the wiki, will try to do it asap.

Originally Posted by evow04

The Tinyloader should be just fine from the package, but if i recall lang2 edited the Zimage, so try to use this file: Link Alsa Zimage

Sorry to tell you the new zimage can not load Android also.
I build the dual boot FW with FW0.9.6.12(v2) & new zimage . When I choose Android the phone will continued vibrate , and can not load Android ( stop at: reboooting after 100s ).
M8SE 8GB Production date：11.29.2009

hello guys... I was installed android... but I can't shutdown m8 now... except remove battery... I have no other choice.
please help me! thx guys.

Originally Posted by invent

Sorry to tell you the new zimage can not load Android also.
I build the dual boot FW with FW0.9.6.12(v2) & new zimage . When I choose Android the phone will continued vibrate , and can not load Android ( stop at: reboooting after 100s ).
M8SE 8GB Production date：11.29.2009

If i get some time tomorrow i will try to rebuild such package to test it myself. It might be that the Zimage isn´t exactly like the first one Lang2 builded.

@lang2 maybe you could upload the Zimage that came with the android 1.6 package?

but I can't shutdown m8 now...

I have taken note of it in the android porting topic & wiki aswell as a todo point. It is a stupid bug that should already been sorted out

OK. I'll find time to build an xip.bin with alsa enabled and upload. Probably won't be today or tomorrow though.

About the shutdown problem: I couldn't power off with RC3 either. So I thought that was an existing problem. I can see it's annoying though. Here is what I do: connect through usb and do 'adb reboot', which actually shuts the phone down. Sometimes, if you just press the power button, instead of pressing and holding it, it'll shut down. But it's a problem regardless.

btw, my m8 version is se.
1,can't shut down---can't save any setting---include some software.
now question is how to save thoes setting?

It doesn't save settings on purpose. When settings are saved, reboot Android will go directly into locked state, which one can't get out because of lacking of Menu key. What settings do you want to save?