Hardkernel ODROID-XU4 Development Board Now Supports Android 6.0 Marshmallow

Android 6.0 source code was released in October, but so far few development boards are supporting it properly. There’s Android 6.0 for Raspberry Pi 2, but without GPU hardware acceleration is not really usable, and Intrinsyc Open-Q 820 board that will start shipping in a few days with Android 6.0 on Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, is pricey and with limited availability. So there are only two options that I’m aware of LeMaker Hikey with Android 6.0 as part of the Reference Platform Release 2015.12, and Hardkernel ODROID-XU4 with an unofficial port for Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow by voodik odroid community member, which should also work for ODROID-XU3 and XU3 Lite boards.

Despite being an alpha version, the current image looks pretty good, as most required features seem implemented:

• Android 6.0.1 Lollipop Cyanogenmod 13.0 with Linux kernel 3.10.9
• OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.0 (GPU acceleration)
• OpenCL 1.1 EP (GPU acceleration)
• Multi-user feature is enabled (Up to 8 users)
• On board Ethernet and external USB 3.0 Gigabit Ethernet support
• RTL8188CUS , RTL8191SU and Ralink Wireless USB dongle support
• USB GPS dongle support.
• USB tethering.
• Portable Wi-Fi hotspot.
• Android native USB DAC support
• USB UVC Webcam support
• HDMI-CEC support

However some issues remain such as lack of Bluetooth and USB 3G dongle support, the Google search bar may not display correctly at times, and MTP doesn’t work properly.

It’s quite likely the image will be updated a few times in the future, but you should be able to find it in this CM-13.0 directory with as of now two images:

• android-cm-13.0-alpha-0.1-sd2emmc_installer-odroidxu3-20151224.img.7z (462M) – Android 6.0 alpha for XU4, XU3 and Xu3 Lite for SD to eMMC installation
• android-cm-13.0-alpha-0.1-sd_installer-odroidxu3-20151224.img.7z (462M) -Android 6.0 alpha for XU4, XU3 and Xu3 Lite to run SD card.

You can flash the images after uncompressing them with Win32DiskImager (Windows) or dd (Linux) as usual.

Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft)

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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