Operation Unbrickable: The quest for Google Apps

[knightdominion]

Disclaimer:
I have not had any issues with this build but that does not mean that there are none. I will not be held responsible for any bad things that happen if YOU install this on YOUR device.

Not sure if I had to put that or not, but better save then sorry right?

All my builds are currently for the 8GB version. If you have a 2GB version take EXTRA caution and be sure you want to be the first to try this.

New V.3 instructions! Read it all!!!

So here it is. Load this update.img into the root of your A7HT, install it and you will have Google Apps.

The Good:
Android Market, Gmail, GMaps, Google Talk and Google Calendar works.

The Not so good:
The install of Google contacts sync is a work around.

The Bad:
None that I know of. Hopefully fixed it all.

Risk of losing all your data you already have set up:
100%. This is a complete wipe of what is there and installing a brand new image.

Instructions:

• 1. Load the update.img linked at bottom of thread into the root of your A7HT.
  2. Turn off USB sharing and you will be prompted to install an update.
  3. Click install and A7 will reboot
  4. Install the update and eventually go back to the setup screen
  5. Go into settings, turn on WiFi and connect to your router
  6. Once it is connected:
  • a. Open any of the Google apps (market, Gmail, Calendar)
    b. Go through the Google setup screens.
    c. Upon completion install: contacts.apk and GoogleContactsProvider.apk.
    Note: GoogleContactsProvider.apk will give you some message about it being a system app that is already installed.... Click OK and continue.
  7. All is well with the world.
  Note: Yes, I know you will get an additional app called dialer. You'll just have to deal with it as it's part of the contacts.

Change notes
Removed Items:
I removed some of what I consider the trash-ware that was installed on there from the beginning. AppsLib is still in there so if you want any of the below items I removed you can find them with that. The items removed include:
Aldiko
Color Note
Daily Paper
Deezer
e-buddy
Global Time
Retro clock

Added Items:
All the files for the market and apps

***My custom app to open wifi settings has been removed from v3 as it is no longer needed.***

Comments:
Please let me know if you have any issues so I can investigate.

If you would like to donate:
DONATE

Download version 3 img here:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mmyfnwnwmdm/update.img

Contacts apk's:
Contacts - http://www.mediafire.com/file/oxemwd2hgll/Contacts.apk
Contacts provider - http://www.mediafire.com/file/zyj3yzztj ... ovider.apk

Moderator Edit: Instructions put in ordered list, Allen

[jam78ilc]

Omg I
Sure am

[map002]

Much respect for hanging in there and plugging away; that's how things get done!

Best of luck to you!

Michael

[me1ne]

This will be the first in a series of threads on different topics (The quest for root and the quest for ADB off the top of my head) as I continue to hack around the A7HT.

Status: Partially complete

I have been able to load the Google apps apk, the Google account setup apk and several other apk's along with a custom apk I wrote that will get around the inability to sync and have had partial success. Currently, I am able to authenticate my Google account and get the gmail app to work and pull my emails as well as the YouTube app to recognize my credentials. Google contacts still does not work but I think I might be able to get that going tomorrow. We shall see. My current work around fires off a few errors when I first start the A7HT so I don't want to put out an update.img yet even though the errors don't affect general operations. Also, every time you plug in the USB cable the settings window pops up. More on the reason for that when I give a full explanation of the things I had to do and instructions. That will come when I issue v1 of my update.img. Lets hope for tomorrow night.

Hope your salivating :)

Cool beans m8. One question though - wasnt there that checksum bs that kept us from making our own update images?

On a side note, the Apad's image won't install on the HT, I get "invalid update found - wanna delete it?" after copying it to the device.

[knightdominion]

This will be the first in a series of threads on different topics (The quest for root and the quest for ADB off the top of my head) as I continue to hack around the A7HT.

Status: Partially complete

I have been able to load the Google apps apk, the Google account setup apk and several other apk's along with a custom apk I wrote that will get around the inability to sync and have had partial success. Currently, I am able to authenticate my Google account and get the gmail app to work and pull my emails as well as the YouTube app to recognize my credentials. Google contacts still does not work but I think I might be able to get that going tomorrow. We shall see. My current work around fires off a few errors when I first start the A7HT so I don't want to put out an update.img yet even though the errors don't affect general operations. Also, every time you plug in the USB cable the settings window pops up. More on the reason for that when I give a full explanation of the things I had to do and instructions. That will come when I issue v1 of my update.img. Lets hope for tomorrow night.

Hope your salivating :)

Cool beans m8. One question though - wasnt there that checksum bs that kept us from making our own update images?

On a side note, the Apad's image won't install on the HT, I get "invalid update found - wanna delete it?" after copying it to the device.

I have been able to create update.img files just fine but the only things I have been able to modify while allowing the device to still boot is the system.img Documentation of how I am doing what I am doing is near the bottom at http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.p ... 7&start=20

I have no issue installing the Apad image. There are two versions of the image though. The one I got is directly from the apad site. Took a heck of a lot of searching to find it though and I am sorry, but dont have the link anymore. The apad image was crap for our device anyways. I am not using it at all at this point.

[knightdominion]

Cool beans m8. One question though - wasnt there that checksum bs that kept us from making our own update images?

On a side note, the Apad's image won't install on the HT, I get "invalid update found - wanna delete it?" after copying it to the device.

I have been able to create update.img files just fine but the only things I have been able to modify while allowing the device to still boot is the system.img Documentation of how I am doing what I am doing is near the bottom at http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.p ... 7&start=20. It is a mix of windows and ubuntu. I am sure there is an easier way but this works for me.

I have no issue installing the Apad image. There are two versions of the image though. The one I got is directly from the apad site. Took a heck of a lot of searching to find it though and I am sorry, but dont have the link anymore. The apad image was crap for our device anyways. I am not using it at all at this point.[/quote]

[knightdominion]

edited and added instructions in top post

[pmarin]

edited and added instructions in top post

Dom, thank you! Its incredible what you have accomplished in so little time :)

Prepare for the avalanche of requests, everyone is going to ask for crazy things (add a disclaimer telling them Flash wont ever work in the 7HT to save replying that question every 5 minutes hehe)

Thank you!

PS: I'll install it tomorrow and tell you how it goes

[MrFoo]

That's fantastic work, Dom. Well done.

[waterstof]

First of all, it's a great job!

But:
- I think Aldiko is a great epub reader and a must for the Archos
- I really can figure out why I want to use Google Maps on the device (NO GPS)

So my suggestion, add Aldiko and remove Gmaps.

btw. Is there an easy way we can create our own images?

[waterstof]

And is it possible to add root access and apps2sd???

[map002]

Waterstoff, you can always install Aldiko yourself, you know. And Dom, mucho congrats!

Michael

[waterstof]

Waterstoff, you can always install Aldiko yourself, you know. And Dom, mucho congrats!

Michael

That's true!

[kunta kinte]

Thanks.
Testisng and it works very well.
Google maps works fast and smooth.
Market and gmail works well too.

(The only thing i see is that "my location" in google maps is not working. Or I can't do it work. But it's a minor problem.)

[may]

Thanks.
Testisng and it works very well.
Google maps works fast and smooth.
Market and gmail works well too.

(The only thing i see is that "my location" in google maps is not working. Or I can't do it work. But it's a minor problem.)

And how about GMail contacts ? Do they synchronize ?

[kunta kinte]

Thanks.
Testisng and it works very well.
Google maps works fast and smooth.
Market and gmail works well too.

(The only thing i see is that "my location" in google maps is not working. Or I can't do it work. But it's a minor problem.)

And how about GMail contacts ? Do they synchronize ?

(sorry about my english)
I never used this application before, but in gmail i can't see the contacts, maybe is that I can't find it. But when typing in the address bar they don't appear either.

In gtalk they appear, but when i click in "view contact" the application crashes and stops working. Otherwise gtalk seems work.

[may]

Thank You @kunta kinte.
Now I'm testing :)
Everything is working fine except GMail contacts ( what make me unhappy, but I hope @knightdominion will work on it ;) ).
@knightdominion You are the MAN !
Thank You.

[AllenPapapetrou]

First of all, it's a great job!

But:
- I think Aldiko is a great epub reader and a must for the Archos
- I really can figure out why I want to use Google Maps on the device (NO GPS)

So my suggestion, add Aldiko and remove Gmaps.

btw. Is there an easy way we can create our own images?

Hi Waterstof!

You can DL and install AppsLib from the Archos website then DL Aldiko 1.2.10 from Appslib. Issue resolved.

Allen

[AllenPapapetrou]

Aloha Sir Dominion,

Nice work! I've got the Market on my rooted 5IT, so I'm not going to be trying it unless it gives us ScreenShot ability. However plenty will benefit from your efforts.

Thanks,

Allen

[me1ne]

Can't say I have been waiting for any of the google stuff, but this is good progress! Thank you dom.