Hybrid Roms On The Collie

[chrisl]

I am really excited that folks have been documenting installation tricks for the various ROMS: pdaXrom, TKC roms, Cacko Crow, etc.  Because these folks have helped so much with thier efforts, I feel I should give a bit. So here are my install tricks. There are two versions of this ROM, but I will focus my comments on version 1.1. I have not had any success with the version 1.0 of this ROM.

First, after much reading, I actually discovered what the Hybrid ROMs are. Maslovsky can correct me, but in plain English (sort of), these ROMS are the the Cacko ROMS on a JFFS partition. Version 1.0 is just the kernel and jffs installed. The user has to install the actiual operating system. Qtopia 1.5.4 is the OS that comes with it. Qtopia can be installed on the jffs, sd card or the CF card.

Version 1.1 of the Hybrid ROM installs qtopia 1.6.2 on a jffs partition. This schema is very similar to OZ. Like the other Cacko kernels, the Hybrid ROMs come with 32-30 or 64-0 kernels. Unlike the straight Cacko Crow kernels, the Hybrid ROMs do not have that irritating flashing light when the Z is plugged in. And, for some reason, they are much faster than the Cacko Crow ROM with the 64-0 kernel.

The hybrid roms can be obtained here: http://www.elsix.org/downloads/hybrid/
Applications modified for this ROM can also be found as the same address. The file is called: qtopia-1.6.2-apps-1.1.zip  

Hancom applications and Jeode for the hybrid ROMs can be found here: ttp://www.tekprosystems.com/zaurus/feed/

Installation (version 1.1): Same as any other ROM. Be sure to format your SD card as ext2. This ROM is not as picky with SD cards as OZ. I have used a lexar, pqi, panasonic and sandisk with success. However, the pqi and sandisk resulted in periodic crashes.

When you are ready to install software, after flashing, you have the choice of installing onto the jffs or sd card. Some of the software can only be on the jffs. Here is what I found:

Hancom Mobile Word and presenter can be installed on the SD card. Hancom Sheet needs to be installed on the jffs.

Jeode has to be installed on the jffs.

I don't exactly remember, but I think Opera needs to be installed on the jffs as well. Opera is flaky on this ROM, but usable. Only opera_sl-5x00-7.30.9965_arm.ipk or lower works for this ROM.

If you want screen rotation, the qpe-rotation ipk and qt-embedded fonts (all of them) from the qtopia-1.6.2-apps-1.1.zip file need to be installed on the jffs. Out of habit, I also install the files
qt-embedded-rotation_2.3.2-4_arm.ipk and qt-embedded-rotation-fix_2.3.2-4_arm.ipk on the jffs. I'm not sure these do anything for screen rotation on the hybrid.

KOPI works nicely on this ROM. I install it on the SD card. The version I use is 2.2.7

OPIE Reader version 1.0.3 works and can be installed on the SD card.

Of the media players, I have had the most success with the OPIE2 media player. This can also be installed on the SD card.

Most other files can be installed on the SD/MMC card.

As far as stability, this ROM crashes about the same number of times as OZ 3.5.4.1. It also has some issues. Opera periodically crashes. All of the media players periodically crash, although that may have been due to a bad SD card. It has also crashed once when pressing the suspend button. I gave up on it in March after it had crashed when trying to enter a date on KOPI. However, OZ has done the same things. Moreover, I use the cheapest SD cards, so I should expect this kind of behavior.

That is what I can share now. I used this ROM for six months last school year with a fair amount of success. It is by far the most functional ROM that I have used to date. From March through June I re-tried OZ and the various home-on-sd roms by Steven and just now have come back to the hybrid. Presently, I have no software installed other than some the the qtopia 1.6.2 apps and the usb mass storage app. . As I find tricks, techniques and anything else useful I will post them on this thread.

Chris--

[TimW]

OPIE Reader version 1.0.3 works and can be installed on the SD card.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164898\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I still have the necessary build files to make Opie-reader for Qtopia > 1.5.x (e.g. this ROM and the Qtopia 2.something one from TrollTech.) Let me know if you want a more up to date build (and if the problem with SD card install is related to the plug-ins I can give you one with the plug-ins built-in, too).

[_dark_]

Flashed succesfully hybrid rom + sd driver for 2Gb support!
I install qpzidian software for eng-chinese dict., but i got little square instead chinese symbols! What unicode fonts ipkg is necessary to install?

[chrisl]

Recently, I had time to install a media player. This was an ordeal since OPIE 1.0.3 and OPIE2 1.0.3 media players do not install or work well. Here are the exact files that do not work well:

opie-mediaplayer2_1.0.3_arm.ipk
opie-mediaplayer_1.0.3_arm.ipk
opie-mediaplayer2_0.9.1-20020822_arm.ipk or one of the variants
opie-mediaplayer_0.9.1-20020816_arm.ipk

These players install and sometimes work and sometimes don't, but they are always unstable. They crash at the drop of a hat. The version of OPIE media player that does work is:

opieplayer2_0.9.3_arm.ipk

This some some kind of re-compiled version that is all in one. It does not required the codec files (to my knowledge) or installation of any of the OPIE libraries.

I have also tried XMMS. While it works great with OPIE and OZ, it generally crashes at startup.

My next project is KOPI 2.2.7.

Chris--

[chrisl]

OPIE Reader version 1.0.3 works and can be installed on the SD card.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164898\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I still have the necessary build files to make Opie-reader for Qtopia > 1.5.x (e.g. this ROM and the Qtopia 2.something one from TrollTech.) Let me know if you want a more up to date build (and if the problem with SD card install is related to the plug-ins I can give you one with the plug-ins built-in, too).
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164984\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I would LOVE to have a more up-to-date build. I use this program often.

Thanks,

Chris--

[tux]

 To any admin:

Would you please sticky this thread also?

[arniel]

OPIE Reader version 1.0.3 works and can be installed on the SD card.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164898\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I still have the necessary build files to make Opie-reader for Qtopia > 1.5.x (e.g. this ROM and the Qtopia 2.something one from TrollTech.) Let me know if you want a more up to date build (and if the problem with SD card install is related to the plug-ins I can give you one with the plug-ins built-in, too).
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=164984\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

I would LOVE to have a more up-to-date build. I use this program often.

Thanks,

Chris--
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=165406\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Is anybody able to rebuild hostap ipk for the hybrid ROM?  I've downloaded every version I could find, and they all appear to be using a variation of the ipk file that is incompatible with ipkg.  The alternative ipk reader that is included in the Hybrid ROM appears to be broken as it is asking for access to a file/directory that doesn't exist, and creating a dummy file doesn't work.

Thanks.

[chrisl]

I finally installed KOPI 2.2.7. It generally works well. I do have some problems with it losing the link once in a while, but nothing too problematic.

There is one problem folks should know about that I have experienced both times I have used this distribution. Once my collie is suspended, it does not like to wake up again. it will wake, but then drop back to sleep. sometimes it will take several times to re-awaken it. While this is not a big problem by itself, it is quite embarrassing when you have to start up your pim quickly only to have to fight it to stay on. Sometimes it is easier to turn the battery switch in the back than fight it.

Chris--