A few weeks ago, I reviewed Measy U2C, a Rockchip RK3066 mini PC with a webcam using the stock Android firmware. Since then other people received the device, and started to work on improving it notably by releasing a Finless ROM and providing instructions to install PicUbuntu on the device. Bob Finless is Freaktab.com administrator., and he has released popular custom ROM for the most commonly RK3066 mini PCs, and this time it’s Measy U2C turn!
Measy U2C Finless ROM
This first custom ROM is based on the latest ROM released on Geekbuying (March 1st, 2013) that fixes the CPU frequency, and let the device now achieve 9200 Antutu score.
The Finless ROM brings the following improvements:
- Fully rooted with the latest SU and SUperUser.apk.
- All Google apps updated to latest, except Google Search.
- Deleted unusable and junk apps.
- Cleaned up the file system with tune2fs.
- Increased “system” space for rooted APP and other root support.
- Added a reboot app.
- Full init.d support has been added
- RK Remote Control APP is provided in finless ROM kit. Copy it to SD card to install it. This allows you to control the TV stick using a phone or a tablet
- Aadded the Xbox Xpad.ko module to support Xbox controllers.
- Added TUN.ko and other modules.
- There are 4 parameter files to flash the ROM:
- 1GB APP space (this is Stock U2C setting).
- 2GB APP space.
- 4GB APP space.
- 6GB APP space. (probably not recommended)
You can download the ROM here.
PicUntu on Measy U2C
On a separate note, but for the same device, another developer (Galland) has written instructions to install PicUntu on Measy U2C. Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth currently does not work since Mediatek MT5931 (WiFi) and Mediatek MT6622 (Bluetooth) are not supported in Linux at this time, so you have to use an external USB Wi-Fi dongle to access the Internet such as TP-Link TL-WN422G USB WiFi stick based on Atheros 9000.
The instructions basically go as follows:
- Root Measy U2C
- Install PicUntu as explained on Miniand by selecting iMito MX1, except “Part 3-Flashing the PicUntu kernel as the Android recovery image”, where you have to follow Instead turn to “Appendix C–Using PicuntuRC3KernelInstaller to Flash your Desired RC3 kernel” , and then “Optional-Upgrading your PicUntu installation to RC3”.
- Install the firmware files for the Wi-Fi dongle and configure it within your PC.
- Insert the microSD in Measy U2C, boot Android, and open a terminal to run “reboot recovery” as root, and boot PicUntu, login (root/12qwaszx), run “depmod -a”, reboot (into Android), and follow the steps again to boot in Linux and access the command line.
- You now run Linux but without user interface, simply run “picuntu-da-server”, select XFCE or another desktop environment of your choice, and let the system download and install the package (this may take several hours).
Once this is done you’ll have Ubuntu with XFCE desktop environment running in your Measy U2C.
Via subyf toine on Mini PCs G+ Community
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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To have dual-boot with Bob’s Finless ROM do NOT use the included “Reboot” Android app to go to Linux (== reboot recovery), or else the Measy stick will ALWAYS boot to Linux from then on (no way to go back to Android).
It’s a pain, but instead download an Android terminal emulator and type the usual commands “su” followed by “reboot recovery” to get to Linux every time.
What is the most power full android stick that i can run linux with a standard webcam? Thanks
@Stephen M
I know some preliminary work has been done on Measy U2C to make the camera work, but I don’t think there’s been much progress until now.
If you want a powerful platform to run Linux with a USB webcam, you’d probably be better off with GK802 / Hi802.