Ars takes a close look at the technology underlying Google's Linux-based Android platform. From the platform fundamentals to the development experience, details inside.
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As Google originally promised, things improved dramatically after the launch of the G1. The source code for the entire platform is now open, and Google has published extensive documentation that describes how independent developers can contribute to the project. Those changes in the development process make Android a truly open and participatory project. Patches from external contributors have already been accepted, and Google is also working closely with upstream projects like Harmony.

After the source code was opened, there was still one critical weak spot: the T-Mobile G1, Android's flagship handset, is a closed device that uses code signing to restrict changes to the platform. There is no way to flash the G1 with modified images, which means that platform hackers have no practical way to test their changes on physical hardware. This limitation was an immense disappointment, and it undermined a lot of the value of having an open mobile platform. To address this deficiency, Google launched its own unlocked developer model of the G1 handset. The hackable Google handset, which is available to anyone who registers with the Android App Store, is a fully open device that can be flashed and modified.

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The next major version of Android delivers some important features that will help make the platform more appealing to mobile carriers and hardware makers. One of the most important changes is the new on-screen keyboard, which has opened the door for using Android on a whole new class of devices. There are already several products under development that will take advantage of this feature, including an upcoming media tablet from Archos, a WiFi Skype tablet from GiiNii, and the HTC Magic, which is coming to Vodafone.

Another significant addition is support for the x86 architecture, which could make it possible to bring Android to some netbook devices and Atom-based MIDs.

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Google had better act fast to capitalize on Android's momentum, because its window of opportunity is closing quickly. Microsoft is moving to get its improved version of Windows Mobile ready to ship, some of the LiMo-compatible smartphone platforms such as ALP are getting closer to hitting the market, and Symbian will be royalty-free soon. Google has a chance to be a major player in the mobile market. The company will need to mature Android rapidly to stay competitive in the growing smartphone ecosystem.

Space may be the final frontier, but scientists who recently discovered a hidden forest in Mozambique show the uncharted can still be under our noses. BirdLife were part of a team of scientists who used Google Earth to identify a remote patch of pristine forest. An expedition to the site discovered new species of butterfly and snake, along with seven Globally Threatened birds.

The team were browsing Google Earth – freely available software providing global satellite photography – to search for potential wildlife hotspots. A nearby road provided the first glimpses of a wooded mountain topped by bare rock. However, only by using Google Earth could the scientists observe the extent of woodland on the other side of the peak. This was later discovered to be the locally known, but unmapped, Mount Mabu.

I first use the Wubi Ubuntu Installer to install Wubi 8.10 on Windows. This Ubuntu runs on the Windows file system, so we can test Ubuntu out without creating separate partitions. (The instruction is detailed at Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron - MSI WInd User wiki.

Next, I try to get the networking up. I wasted some time before realizing my MSI Wind has a different wireless card from the one described in the MSI WInd User wiki. I am able to find the wireless adapter used, RT2860 by checking the windows wireless adapter driver. The Linux driver for RT2860, 2008_0918_RT2860_Linux_STA_v1.8.0.0.tar.bz2 can be downloaded from Ralink Technology.

To be able to compile the driver, you need a proper build environment with the appropriate kernel headers

sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`

I have some help from the Ubuntu forum rt2860 Ralink chipset.

I modify the os/linux/config.mk file to set the following:

# Support Wpa_Supplicant
HAS_WPA_SUPPLICANT=y

# Support Native WpaSupplicant for Network Maganger
HAS_NATIVE_WPA_SUPPLICANT_SUPPORT=y

To compile the driver, and then to install the module as root:

sudo make
sudo make install

To check whether the wireless adapter is detected:

sudo /sbin/insmod rt2860sta.ko
sudo modprobe rt2860sta
sudo depmod -a
iwconfig

The wireless interface on my system is listed as ra0 (RT2860 wireless).

To get the wireless adapter to startup on boot, create an executable file rt2860up in /etc/init.d/ with the content:

#!/bin/sh

sudo ifconfig ra0 up

and then run the following commands: (the RT2860STA.dat file is not needed)

cd /etc/init.d
sudo chmod +x rt2860up
cd /etc/rcS.d/
sudo ln - s /etc/init.d/rt2860up S33rt2860up
sudo rm /etc/Wireless/RT2860STA/RT2860STA.dat

Reboot the machine and enable Ubuntu's network manager wireless networking. The machine is able to connect to the home wireless router.

Also, following the instruction from MSI WInd User wiki, my system comes with the 5986:0203 BisonCam (Acer's webcam). After installing the module, we can test the webcam with cheese, Cheese is a cheesy program to take pictures and videos from your webcam.

sudo apt-get install cheese

As my Singnet broadband contract is going to end soon and I will be terminating it, I have signed up for Singtel mobile broadband instead. I choose to receive the Huawei E180 HSPA USB Modem. In Ubuntu 8.10, the network manager can auto-detect the modem as a Huawei E220 model and it can connect to Singtel without a problem.

I install Firestarter, it is a Linux firewall with a GUI (graphical interface) and it can also allow Internet connection sharing.

sudo apt-get install firestarter

In the case when I am using mobile broadband, then the Internet connected network device is ppp0 and the Local network connected device is ra0 (wireless) for the firewall network settings. The firewall can only be started when the Internet connected network device is used.

I also need to create a default route to the internet when connected through mobile broadband, and this can be done automatically by creating a script 2gwroute in the /etc/ppp/ip-up.d (scripts place here are run when the ppp interface is up, connected)

#!/bin/sh
route add default gw $4

Similarly, create a script 2gwroute in the /etc/ppp/ip-down.d (scripts place here are run when the ppp interface is down)

#!/bin/sh
route delete default gw $4

Once, everything is working, I decide to run Ubuntu on its own partition. First, we can install GParted, a Partition Editor, and use it to create partitions for Ubuntu.

sudo apt-get install gparted

I delete the D drive empty partition and create a primary partition as the root partition (/dev/sda3), and create an extended partition which is sub-divided into a small partition use as swap partition and the remaining to be use for /home . After this, we can upgrade the Wubi install to a standard Ubuntu system, by using the Loopmounted Virtual Partition Manager (LVPM). LVPM allows you to transfer all the data, settings, and applications from your original Wubi install to a dedicated partition. Download the LVPM package and install it. Run LVPM, select the "transfer" option and then select a partition to install to (in my case, /dev/sda3), and wait for your installation to be transferred over to the partition.

Again, using the instruction from MSI WInd User wiki, after rebooting the machine and entering the GRUB Bootloader screen, the GRUB cannot boot up the Ubuntu because the partition is set wrongly. This can be fixed with: after selecting the top item Ubuntu 8... , hit e to edit the item.

There should be three lines on the screen. 
Scroll down to the line that says:

root ()/ubuntu/disks

and change it to:
root (hd0,X)

X should be the partition number you transferred 
Ubuntu to using LVPM minus 1. 
In my case /dev/sda3 is the 3rd partition, and 
in GRUB, it is hd0,2 (GRUB starts from 0)

Once this line is edited, hit Enter to accept the editing, then b to boot.

Ubuntu should now boot up. You can make the changes permanent to fix your boot forever, by making the same changes in /boot/grub/menu.lst

The last thing is to move the /home directory to my last partition. Follow the instruction from this Ubuntu blog.

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View the same map on Nokia Sports Tracker.

On our return journey, I received sms from my brother, knowing that his father-in-law had passed away. (Let us offer a prayer to his father-in-law.)