Pocketchip New User guide (For noobs like me)

gistfile1.txt

What is Pocketchip?
PocketChip is a portable, battery-powered Linux computer with a 480 x 272 resistive touchscreen and a QWERTY keyboard. It's about as powerful as a Raspberry Pi, but it comes with a custom touch-friendly version of Linux that eschews a traditional desktop UI.

Why did i create this Gist?
Because i am a new Pocketchip user, and i ran into so many issues when i wanted to flash my Pocketchip since the company selling this wonderfull device is already defunct.

How to get started?
1.
First download the three software included onto a USB Stick and drag and drop into the pocketchip.

The password of the user chip and the password of the user root are both chip;

*Remember to put all three software packages in the root directory of the chip and go through the file manager.

While in terminal - use the following commands to install these applications.

sudo dpkg -i apt-transport-https_0.9.7.9 + deb7u6_armhf

sudo dpkg -i xinput-calibrator_0.7.5 + git20140201-1_armhf

sudo dpkg -i pocket-home_0.0.8.9-1_armhf

Reboot and connect via wifi to your home router. IP address would be displayed on your pocketchip home screen.

2.
a) Enable the SSH server for easier setup from terminal.

sudo apt-get install openssh-server

b) To assure that the ssh server starts at boot in the new systemd target: 

sudo systemctl enable ssh.socket

3
Next update the repositories since the original repositories might be obsolete via SSH from your Windows laptop.

a) Using a SSH client i.e. putty SSH to your pocketchip IP (desktop displaying your local ip address)
user/password = chip

From terminal on SSH client

sudo su
Note: password is “chip” change it using command passwd

nano /etc/apt/sources.list

comment out nextthing co repo (original manufacturer now defunct)

Original:
deb http://opensource.nextthing.co/chip/debian/repo jessie main
deb http://opensource.nextthing.co/chip/debian/pocketchip jessie main

Change it to:
deb http://chip.jfpossibilities.com/chip/debian/repo jessie main
deb http://chip.jfpossibilities.com/chip/debian/pocketchip jessie main

This is a sample of my /etc/apt/source.list (you can copy paste the sample below into the ssh client of putty within nano editor)

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ jessie main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ jessie main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org/ jessie/updates main contrib non-free
deb-src http://security.debian.org/ jessie/updates main contrib non-free
deb http://http.debian.net/debian stretch-backports main contrib non-free
deb-src http://http.debian.net/debian stretch-backports main contrib non-free
deb http://chip.jfpossibilities.com/chip/debian/repo jessie main
deb http://chip.jfpossibilities.com/chip/debian/pocketchip jessie main
deb http://archive.raspbian.org/raspbian jessie main contrib non-free
#deb http://opensource.nextthing.co/chip/debian/repo jessie main
#deb http://opensource.nextthing.co/chip/debian/pocketchip jessie main
#deb http://opensource.nextthing.co/chip/debian/testing-repo testing main

b)
sudo nano /etc/apt/preferences

Original:
Package: *
Pin: origin opensource.nextthing.co
Pin-Priority: 1050

Change it to:

Package: *
Pin: origin chip.jfpossibilities.com
Pin-Priority: 1050

Once you're done, upgrade:
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

4.
If you want to start over using the factory settings of the pocketchip via Pocketchip flash.

a) USB Boot into Ubuntu Live and use the following commands to install the driver and tools.

On the laptop Ubuntu terminal update the following-

sudo apt install git

git clone https://github.com/Thore-Krug/.Flash-CHIP.git

cd ./Flash-CHIP/

chmod +x Flash.sh

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot

Physical connection-

b) connect jumper wire from FEL to GND on your pocketchip.
   connect USB cable from laptop to pocketchip.

start the flash software from terminal

./Flash.sh