[General Topics] S0AndS0:
7. Getting comfortable and customizing your new system (Part 1)

Contents

7. Getting comfortable and customizing your new system​

This section is dedicated to making your life easier if you're new to running Linux on Android. Many of these following guides will function no matter what method you use to run Linux on your device; for example I'll be testing ‘Limbo QEMU’ and ‘Linux on Android’ from the android marketplace, which use outright emulation or chroot “under the hood” so to speak to serve up a Linux environment, essentially giving you the same experience as ‘Debian Kit’... However, there will be some key differences in how the device’s hardware is accessed and I’ll have to split out the eccentricities in those methods so the main goal of the entire document can be achieved.

7:1 Connection Methods

Here will be a culmination of all the ways to connect to your linux system from another device or computer or make more than one linux device communicate with one or more devices.

7:1:1 Connecting locally

7:1:2 Connecting wirelessly through wifi

7:1:2-1: find your android's IP address

At some point you'll need the IP address for your device. To get this information back out to your devices' home screen:

Press menu and tap settings

Tap 'Wireless & networks'

Tap 'Wi-Fi'

Press menu and tap 'Advanced'

There you should find your device's IP address and have the option to 'Use static IP' if you know how to use such things. For now make note of your device's IP address and continue on with some of the ways to use this set of numbers.

7:1:2-2.1 Remote RDP in from a second android device

To do this you'll want to have; already started linux on the Host machine with a 'deb x' command though Connectbot, connected to a wifi access point, and know your IP address.

Open Remote RDP on the device that is not running Linux

Make a new connection by either tapping the plus (+) sign in the lower right of the screen or by pressing menu and tapping ‘add’

Type in the IP address of the device that is running linux into the 'Host' line at the top.

You may press back and then tap on your new connection to test it.

Note: you can always modify the other fields such as 'User' and 'Name' at a later time by disconnecting and then pressing and holding on the connection in Remote RDP main screen and tapping edit

Input your credentials (sometimes you have to do it twice, don't know why) and be amazed that the interface is actually a little peppier.

Now that you have remote access to the device you can now leave it on a charger somewhere and connect into it from rooms away; even if someone else is using it for browsing, and some gaming... I have yet to try it while receiving a phone call though so you may have to reconnect after the call disconnects and that could loose you a session of whatever you were doing, other's comments encouraged.

7:1:2-2.2 Remote RDP in from a second computer

Internal update: tested wile access point received call. Result, internet access dropped, connection between other device and computer stayed alive.

To perform these steps you’ll want a computer running a Remote Desktop Client. I’m using a laptop running Ubuntu 12.04 and I’m connected to the same wifi network as the device (myTouch 3gs) that I wish to connect to. The Android device and computer are connected to the same wifi access point. The program that I’m using on my laptop is ‘Remmia’ which came stock installed with my operating system. To call up the help documentation:

1. Open a terminal window on your computer

2. input the following command

# remmina --help

3. This will either result in your system saying that you don’t have that package installed and maybe a message too stating that it can be installed through an ‘apt-get’ command OR you’ll receive a helpful message.

if you get errors; then search on google for an equivalent application that comes on your operating system and see if you can’t use that instead of installing yet another thing to your computer.

if you get a helpful message; then continue to the next step of this mini-guide.

4. type the following command in your computer’s terminal window to open a new window for creating a new connection.

# remmina --new

5. There will be a bunch of options but right now we’re concerned with the ‘Server’ line. Input your device’s IP address (see section 7:1:2-1 if you need help finding that)

6. Under ‘Resolution’ choose ‘Custom’ and pick something reasonable or leave it at ‘640x480’

7. Mouse down to the ‘Color depth’ option and choose ‘High color (16 bpp)’

8. Click ‘Connect to test without saving or click ‘Save’ to save it for later

9. Once you click connect a new window should appear, and, if you’ve already used ‘Remote RDP’ on the android side of things you’ll likely know exactly what to do here... if not follow the next steps

10. Input your username and password and simit. You may receive the usual error message stating that it couldn’t connect; just try it a second time, input your username and password and try logging in.

11. Once logged in; jump to any other part of this guide and enjoy your linux box on a bigger screen.

12. To re-open and re-connect to the device after shutting down or being disconnected, run the following command to open ubuntu’s RDP

# remmina

7:1:3 Connecting wirelessly through bluetooth

Using the ‘apt-cache search’ command and adding bluetooth seems to return results for obtaining drivers and I’ll be updating this section with source file install instructions when I get around to it. I worn you things of of this nature have the potential for abuse just like wireshark in end result, however, the other much more pressing matter is transmitting data such as audio to another device based on location data from the GPS so we can make a surround sound system that automatically transmits and plays the correct audio from the correct direction to the point selected as center or main listener compensating for the speed at which sound travels at your specific altitude. (this is another cookie recipe I’ll be cooking up)

7:1:4 Connecting wirelessly through data network

7:1:5 Connecting wirelessly through atana directly

7:1:6 Connecting through USB with computer

7:1:7 Connecting through USB with USB host mode

7:1:8 Connecting through visible light spectrum

http://www.ted.com/talks/harald_haas_wireless_data_from_every_light_bulb.html

http://www.ted.com/speakers/harald_haas.html

Saw a presintation on ted.com that leads me to believe the software to make the screen of one phone talk to the front facing camera on another phone and back again may already be availible for linux somewhere. Found some links so the interested can dream with me.

7:1:9 Connecting though invisible light spectrum

This is nothing fancy just another name for 'beaming' files though inferred. It might require that I take apart some remote controls for old tvs and usb charging cable, but it be sweet to have a universal tv remote pug for android.

7:1:10 Connecting though directed/focused light

Yep we're talking about linux android hybrids with frickin lasers shooting out of them.

7:1:11 Connecting through audible sound

Were talking modum squeal and phone line compatibility as there are already good directions for a USB phone line adapter and USB host mode for many android devices, so why not.

7:1:12 Connecting though inaudible sound

Think really high frequencies for device to device communication of live location short range radar like setup.

Think really low frequencies for communicating through solid objects such as tables.

Think multi touch table when you set your phone down. Seen some development.

Think keylogger from across a conference table; project already exists.

7:2 Customization of GUI

Order and numbering of this subsection is subject to change, thus any comments should also reference it's subsection title. Here we'll have a compilation of ways to make your mobile viewing and interaction a more pleasant experience. These commands and directions will either be run on a terminal window or on the linux desktop within Remote RDP.

7:2:1 Saving Electrons

1. Turn off the screen saver.

Mouse over to the lower left corner of the screen

There you will see a little 'symbol' click it and in a second it'll pop up a dialog.

Mouse over to options, then screen saver settings, and tap it

In the upper right quadrant of the new window you'll find a drop down menu with disable screensaver being one of them.

Select your choice, then exit out. (See note and source above 4:3:4-5)

2. Turn off the CPU monitor

Open Remote RDP and login as your user with your password

Once the GUI has loaded send the right click command to the window bar and select 'Add / Remove Panel Items'

Select 'CPU Usage Monitor'

Click on remove

Close the window

3. Set auto lock

Mouse over to the lower left corner of the screen

There you will see a little 'symbol' click it and in a second it'll pop up a dialog.

Mouse over to options, then screen saver settings, and tap it

In the 'Display Modes' tab select the check box 'Lock Screen After'

Set the time to the desired amount of inactivity in minutes

Close the window and wait that long to test it.

4. Set auto shutdown?

7:2:2 Making it Pretty

1. Change your background

Open Remote RDP and login as your user with your password

Once the GUI has loaded send the right click command to the virtual desktop by either

Double tap+hold for a second or two, then release OR

Pressing menu on your device

Tapping ‘Mouse’

A circle will appear that you may tap and drag to control the mouse

4 options will briefly pop up when you lift your finger away from that circle

3 option from the left will send a right click command to the mouse, use it AND

Mouse down to ‘Desktop Preferences’ and tap it

A new window will appear after a moment

Within the new window under the Appearance tab you’ll find your ‘Wallpaper’ settings and an option to set it.

when you choose the option to change your wallpaper a new window/file browser will open. And there you may set a new one and discover where to put pictures from your android side so that they may be quickly accessed for wallpapering your desktop.

2. Change your theme

3. Change the location of your Task Bar

4. Task Bar customization

Open Remote RDP and login as your user with your password

Once the GUI has loaded send the right click command to the window bar and select 'Add / Remove Panel Items'

From here we can do a great many things to customize your experience but for now I'll step ya through duplicating my setup.

Mouseover to 'Add'

In the new pop up dialog choose 'Application Launch Bar' and click 'Add'

In the main window now select 'Edit' and minimise the Panel Preferences window for now.

In the Application Launch Bar window that popped behind select 'Accessories' and select 'Root Terminal'

Click the 'Add' button

Select 'LXTerminal' and click the 'Add' button

Close out of the Application Launch Bar when you're done adding shortcuts and restore the Panel Preferences window

Click on the 'Up' button until the selected application shortcuts are where they should be

7:3 Making things happen without excessive user input

1. Automount script that prompts then runs linux mount after device boot?

2. Disabling the prompt for the automount script.