[TouchPad Development] Nburnes:
The HP Touchpad Guide

Well uh yea, since multiple persons have asked me for it, I decided to try my hand at this little guide writing thing. I do apologize for it looking bland. All this information is on the web. I have simply brought it together here for users of this forum. Please do read it all.

Note that this guide deals with only one manner of installing Preware onto your device. For more information, please take a look at the source links.

Important Terms

webOS – Proprietary mobile operating system running on the Linux Kernel, originally built by Palm, acquired in 2010 by HP. It is closed source with certain aspects open source under GPL.

Homebrew – Packages built by a dev or simple user for another end user. These include things such as simple to complex games, patches, tweaks, kernels, etc. These are neither directly supported nor officially condoned by HP. Some homebrew can void the warranty.

Preware – Basically the Cydia of WebOS. It allows for installing of homebrew applications, themes, patches and over 1600 Linux programs.

Kernel – Main componenet of most computer operating systems. It is the bridge between applications and actual data processiong done at the hardware level.

Luna – Basically this is what is “logged” into the device, such as springboard on iOS. It is the devices App Controller.

Palm webOS SDK – Exactly as it sounds, the SDK for webOS.

WebOS Quick Install – Program that allows for use of webOS applications that are in-testing. These are under agreement that allows for unapproved applications to be installed on Palm/HP devices. These have not been tested by Palm/HP and are installed at own risk.

WebOS Doctor – Borked your device? This tool from HP/Palm will hopefully restore it to a usable state.

Novaterm/Novacom – Allows for Windows/OSX to talk to the Linux on the webOS devices.

Feeds – Equivalint of sources on Cydia. They are the places you add if you want more tweaks, themes, kernels, applications, etc.

Gaining Developers Mode

1. Go to main screen

2. Select “Just type...” bar

3. In the bar type “webos20090606” without the quotes

4. Tap the Developer Mode icon

5. Set Developer Mode to ON

6. Don't enter a password, simply hit Submit

7. Congrats device is in developer mode for use with SDK or webOS Quick Install

webOS Quick Install

Java based program that has cross platform support. (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux)

Requires:

Java 1.6+ - Make sure you are up to date

Novacom – Will automagically be installed when your first run webOS Quick Install

DevMode Enabled

1. Download latest version here. V4.2.3 http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2774158/WebOSQuickInstall-4.2.3.jar

2. Connect device in developer mode and select “Cancel” when mount as usb notification appears.

3. Run webOS Quick Install. If novacom driver isn't installed, it shall install for you.

4. Click third button on the right side (Globe icon)

5. Click on “All” box

6. Proceed to search for “Preware”

7. Click Install

8. Congrats Preware is now installed on your webOS device.

If this method creates some form of issue more information on installing Preware can be read here - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Application:Preware

Thanks for Bigjzoo - If you use Lion go to this link to download the Novacom Drivers. You won't be able to download them through QuickInstall. It will fail.

Now the fun parts really begin. :)

Preware

Newest version as of 8/22 – v1.7.3

Upon first launch, Preware will download and update all feeds. It will ask to associate .ipks with Preware, choose yes. You will then be greeted by a screen that has “Available Packages”, “Installed Packages”, “List of Everything”. These are all hopefully rather straight forward sounding.

In the top left corner where it says Preware, this drops down to allow for Preferances, updating/managing feeds, Luna manager, saving package list, etc.

Moving back to “Available Packages” you will find lists of things you can install. On my Touchpad it is the following:

1. Applications

2. Font

3. Kernel

4. Linux Application

5. Linux Daemon

6. Optware

7. Patch

8. Plugin

9. Service

10. Unknown

You can trawl through these on your time, but I have a list of current tweaks/apps/kernel I personally recommend installing or have installed on my device.

1. Govnah – Allows for overclocking. Simple as that.

2. Internalz Pro – Powerful file manger for webOS.

3. Preader Native Alpha – (This is an alpha so a little buggy) Allows for reading of ePub, eReader, MobiPocket, PalmDOC, plaintext, and HTML files.

4. Uberkernel – Stable kernel that allows for overclocking up to 1.5Ghz.

5. Add Launcher Tabs – Adds tabs to launcher that include, Games and Homebrew.

6. EOM Overlord Monitoring – Stops the process that Palm included that literally logs everything that you basically do on the device. Sorta creepy.

7. Ad Blocker – Blocks ads.

8. Advanced Reset Options – When holding power instead of just “Shutdown” gives option of “Airplane Mode”, “Luna Restart” (hot reboot), “Device Restart”, “Shutdown”.

9. Muffle System Logging – works with EOM Overlord to stop unnecessary logging of the system.

10. Unthrottle Download Manager – Does exactly as it sounds.

11. Faster Card animations – Makes opening app drawer very speedy. Applications and cards seem to open much faster, I highly recommend.

12. Touchplayer - Plays pretty much every video file format.

List of Packages that users may be interested in

1. Increase Touch Sensitivity and smoothness – Pretty self-explanatory.

2. Just Charge by defaulty – Instead of prompting to mount as USB when connected to PC, it will “Just charge”.

3. Remove Tap Ripple – Removes the tap ripple effect. (I personally love the ripple <3)

Overclocking

Requires:

An overclocked kernel installed

Govnah to be installed

Overclocking on these devices are a breeze.

1. Open Govnah

2. Click on "Profile"

3. Choose OnDemandTCL 1512 if you want a stable 1.5GHz clock

4. Go back

5. Congrats you are overclocked :)

More info on Govnah.

More advanced users may go under advanced settings choosing CPU freq scheduler, TCP congestion, etc.

I personally like 192 Mhz min, 1.7 GHz max, conservative govenor with the BFQ I/O scheduler.

Now for those looking into ridiculous overclocking (1.7 ghz+) or just running very Alpha/beta software, I recommend looking at how to set up your device with webOS Internals Testing Feeds.

Link here - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Testing_Feeds#Using_Preware

Source List

1. WebOS Internals - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Main_Page

2. How to recover (webOS Doctor how-to) - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/How_To_Recover

3. WebOS Doctor versions - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Webos_Doctor_Versions

4. WebOS Quick Install - http://forums.precentral.net/canuck-coding/274461-webos-quick-install-v4-1-1-a.html

5. Preware - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Application:Preware

6. Govnah - http://www.webos-internals.org/wiki/Application:Govnah