Recent Posts

1

Zaurus - Hardware discussion / C1000, C3xxx: is the PXAfb/LCD 16bpp?

« Last post by DiTBho on July 02, 2025, 05:41:39 pm »

Only consider 640x480: is the PXAfb/LCD 16bit per pixel? RGB565?
doesn't it support 8 bit per color? RGB888?
doesn't it support 6 bit per color? RGB666?

I wrote a framebuffer application, from my testing, it seems 16bpp only.

Is it correct?

2

Astro Slide - Android / Re: Astro update to V07

« Last post by Dom (shymega) on June 26, 2025, 05:35:25 pm »

Is there anything I can do to help bring a newer version of Android to the Astro Slide?

No. There are several factors necessary, not least of which that we - the community - need Google to sign the builds, be an official Google partner, and the signing keys for the Astro. None of which we have.

https://github.com/planet-community for OSS'd repos.

However, I doubt the Astro will ever be updated. Whilst unsigned OSes (or test keys signed) could be used, it wouldn't be fully functional or supported on the Play Store. Therefore, a lot of apps would refuse to run.

3

Zaurus - Hardware discussion / Re: C3000 can't update when the microdrive is missing

« Last post by DiTBho on June 25, 2025, 10:08:08 am »

I guess the simplest way to fix this is to by editing the update.sh script to remove the need for the microdrive. The file itself is encoded with a simple character substitution algorithm, here's a simple program to encode/decode it: endecsh.c at the bottom of this page:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160505230130/http://www.h5.dion.ne.jp/~rimemoon/zaurus/memo_008.htm

Code: [Select]

### Check model ###
/sbin/writerominfo
MODEL=`cat /proc/deviceinfo/product`
case "$MODEL" in
    SL-B500|SL-5600)
        ZAURUS='poodle'
        ;;
    SL-6000)
        ZAURUS='tosa'
        ;;
    SL-C1000)
        ZAURUS='akita'
        ;;
    SL-C700|SL-C750|SL-7500|SL-C760|SL-C860)
        ZAURUS='c7x0'
        ;;
    SL-C3000|SL-C3100|SL-C3200)
        ZAURUS='c3x00'
        check_for_hdd
        check_for_tar
        ;;
    *)
        echo 'MODEL: '$MODEL 'is unsupported'
        echo ''
        echo 'Please reset'
        while true
        do
        done
        ;;
esac

I wonder what the point is in coding a script that absurdly...
In any case, this is where it probes for the microdrive.

4

Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: it looks like a dead forum, is it just a bad moment or is it really dead?

« Last post by Varti on June 24, 2025, 09:44:22 am »

AFAIK the SL-C1000/3x00 models were never directly sold in the US/EU, only imported through resellers. I bought my 1000 from an online japanese shop which exported japanese electronic goods.

I'm really looking forward for your new bootloader, I can help with testing it on my devices. I understand your frustration with the lack of feedback, unfortunately the Zaurus community is these days extremely small. I have answered on your thread for the update issues, sorry I didn't answer earlier.

Varti

5

Zaurus - Hardware discussion / Re: C3000 can't update when the microdrive is missing

« Last post by Varti on June 24, 2025, 09:36:54 am »

I guess the simplest way to fix this is to by editing the update.sh script to remove the need for the microdrive. The file itself is encoded with a simple character substitution algorithm, here's a simple program to encode/decode it: endecsh.c at the bottom of this page:
https://web.archive.org/web/20160505230130/http://www.h5.dion.ne.jp/~rimemoon/zaurus/memo_008.htm

I have tried to make a mirror of the page with httrack but it was unsuccessful, I'll try again.

Varti

6

Astro Slide - Android / Re: Astro update to V07

« Last post by slide on June 23, 2025, 04:05:37 pm »

Is there anything I can do to help bring a newer version of Android to the Astro Slide?

7

Astro Slide - Android / Re: Astro update to V07

« Last post by Dom (shymega) on June 22, 2025, 08:08:46 pm »

Is the source code available?

No, it's NDA'd, if you're referring to the BSP. Bootloader was taken down by Mediatek on GitHub.

There's a few projects mainlining the kernel and such, but AFAIK, I'm the only [active] one here with access.

8

Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: it looks like a dead forum, is it just a bad moment or is it really dead?

« Last post by DiTBho on June 20, 2025, 05:28:20 am »

Yes, the Zaurus section of the forum unfortunately has a very low activity since many years, which is expected since only the SL-5500 and SL-6000 models were sold outside Japan. I still have my collection of Zauruses and switch them on from time to time, I read the posts here with interest.
I suspect there are other users following the various threads but they never answer. We have a views counter for each thread, there are between 5000 and 19000 views for each of them, though most of them are be probably made by bots. I prefer to keep the subforums open for read-only access for non-registered users, so that it's easier for Google to index the pages and make the information here more accessible.
Other users that have posted here in the past are probably following this subforum. To any of you, please post here so that we can have a rough idea of how many of us are here.

Varti

But C1000? C3xxx?

I wonder what's the point of reading without ever replying 
I've opened several topics, with zero interest, I'm developing a bootloader, and I've written about this thing, again with zero interest.
I've asked for patches, and I've had no answers, I've asked about the microdrive, explaining the matter well, and I've had no answers.

I mean, frankly, it's so bloody frustrating this way ...

9

Zaurus - Other distros support / Re: it looks like a dead forum, is it just a bad moment or is it really dead?

« Last post by Varti on June 20, 2025, 05:12:52 am »

Yes, the Zaurus section of the forum unfortunately has a very low activity since many years, which is expected since only the SL-5500 and SL-6000 models were sold outside Japan. I still have my collection of Zauruses and switch them on from time to time, I read the posts here with interest.
I suspect there are other users following the various threads but they never answer. We have a views counter for each thread, there are between 5000 and 19000 views for each of them, though most of them are be probably made by bots. I prefer to keep the subforums open for read-only access for non-registered users, so that it's easier for Google to index the pages and make the information here more accessible.
Other users that have posted here in the past are probably following this subforum. To any of you, please post here so that we can have a rough idea of how many of us are here.

Varti

10

Zaurus - Other distros support / it looks like a dead forum, is it just a bad moment or is it really dead?

« Last post by DiTBho on June 20, 2025, 03:51:13 am »

From what I see the interest in Zaurus is very low, weeks without posts, is there anyone still here?