Q: How do I install apps and games on A1200?

[Bruceleroy]

How do you install applications and games on this thing?? I am not very familiar with linux and I have looked this site over several times. Is there and tutorials that actually show you how to load this stuff??

[theorist]

i would also like information on this. thanks!

[rpconnect]

i cant say for sure on the a1200 ('cause i don't have one yet ), but for the e680/a780 there are basically four methods of installing apps for the phone:

1: Installing java/j2me apps: simply copy the jad and/or jar file to the phones memory (via usb storage), then click on the jad/jar file from the phone's file manager.

this is the easiest and only officially widely supported method installing apps, but its limited to installing java apps. (this is primarily for security purposes as java apps are not run by the native OS (linux) but rather by a java virtual machine which Motorola customizes to restrict access to the OS, filesystem, internet connections etc. The java apps are nice, but in no way take full advantage of the potential the underlying linux OS has, and here is where it starts to get interesting....

2: Installing Linloader (or some similar tool) to let you execute your own scripts from the filemanager.

this is perhaps the most basic of non-supported install methods but by far the most flexible and perhaps powerful. basically once you can force the phone to start one scirpt, you can have it start just about anything you want. this method is particularly useful for little tool-type apps that start useful services on the phone (e.g. vncserver) but don't necessarily need a GUI. These scripts can be installed anywhere the filemanager has access (i.e. in /diska/) but can call scripts or start binaries installed anywhere on the phone or transflash memory.

3: Installing mpkg packages: included into the phone's (at least the e680i and a780) is a QT package installer that will allow you to install any executable app package and let you see the app and run it from the phones application manager (similarly to a java app installer), however, on most phones this option is disabled in the firmware. With this installer enabled you can then simply copy the mpkg file to the phone and click on it from the filemanager.

It can be enabled on the e680i/a780 via seem/firmware editing of some configuration bits. In my opinoin this is the best and cleanest option for installing apps and well worth the firmware hacking. when installed (to the phone), mpkg apps are in /diska/.system/QTDownLoad/...

4: installing NEO packages: these are regular (non-java) apps that have been packaged to look (to the phone) like a regular java app. This way the phone's installer will install it like its a java app, but when it runs it gets handled by a fake java virtual machine whiich can start the app like any OS executable.

This is an option for those who don't want to flash, but like to install all apps to the phones application manager. For this to work you first have to install the NEO installer so that the phone really knows what to do w/ the fake java install. like java apps, these end up in /diska/.system/java/Download/...

i have no idea which of these is working at the moment for the a1200, but i imagine that soon most of these should be an option. hope this helps....

[blk-majik]

Good writeup rpconnect! Best summary I've read on the subject so far. I know we are going to get asked this alot, and its going to one of the main areas of focus for the devs in the coming weeks (self included. mine should be here tomorrow!). Can we get this stickied?

[lazyivan]

yeah!

a great summary of ... so far in the internet, thanks so much.

I tried only installing JAVA application on my A1200.

[Bruceleroy]

I get an error message in Picsel viewer of unkown document type when I click on a .jar file.

[blk-majik]

Use the file browser. Works for me without a hitch! Hold down the pointer on the .jar and click Install.

[Bruceleroy]

I tried to install the bejeweled .jar file and it says unknown document type.

[theorist]

forgive my linux noobiness...

but can we install any java applications like this?

http://www.shapeservices.com/eng/im/implus.php

[scotty1024]

In looking around the rootfs I found the Ming also supports downloading applications and updating firmware via SyncML (USB and Bluetooth).

Not idea yet how to use that but tossing it out in case anyone else wants to attempt it.

The click and hold trick in File Manager allowed me to install midpssh-full.jar on my Ming. Thanks blk-majik!