Plasma/Active/Installation: Difference between revisions

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== Download Plasma Active 3 official release ==
= Plasma Active Images =
You can find the operating system image for the official release of Plasma Active 3 at this link at [http://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/ basysKom download center]


== Install Plasma Active on ARM Systems ==
The Plasma Active team provides official Images based on Mer for some devices.


=== Advent Vega and Point of View TAB-TEG-10-1-4GB-3G Mer Plasma Active MMC raw image===
== Supported ==
The [http://merproject.com Mer] project creates a Plasma Active [http://bug10738.openaos.org/images/tegra2/ MMC Image] which is build for the armv7hl target devices like the ARM Tegra 2 tablet. For more details please see the related [https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Main_Page Mer Wiki].


You can also download the kernel boot image, the external MMC image and some additional helper scripts from [http://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/nvidia_tegra2.html basysKom download center].
=== WeTab / ExoPC ===


===Archos gen9 Mer Plasma Active root filesystem tarballs===
The hardware is a little outdated but you will get the most polished Plasma Active experience on this device.


basysKom creates weekly Plasma Active Mer development and testing tarballs for the Archos gen9.
* [https://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/basyskom-plasma-active-four-wetab-exopc-tablet-mer-release.iso Download ISO]
* [https://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/basyskom-plasma-active-four-wetab-exopc-tablet-mer-release-iso.sha1 Checksum] (sha1: 51bd1ac2aea097d8e17503a92ce2781a6532491d)
* [https://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/deployment/wetab-exopc/tablet/mer/stable/ Download Archive]


There are tarballs with and without hardware acceleration available and also different kernel images to setup an dual boot system with Plasma Active. Login Data: User ''mer'' password ''mer''; User ''root'' password ''mer''
Take a look at the installation instructions [http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/WeTab here].


You can try the Archos gen9 Plasma Active Mer root filesystem tarballs from [http://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/archos_gen9.html basysKom download center].
== Preview ==


Read http://basyskom.com/news/138-archos-plasma-active.html for additional information
=== Nexus 7 ===


=== Other Systems ===
Even though very much already works reasonably well, there are still some glitches. So, please don’t expect a 100% working system. For detailed installation instructions, see the article on the [https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Community_Workspace/Tegra3/Nexus7/PA_installation Mer Wiki]
==== Viewsonic Viewpad 10s / Advent Vega / Point of View tablets ====
Read [http://forum.kde.org/viewtopic.php?f=211&t=99154 KDE Forum page]


=== Deploying a Plasma Active (MMC) raw Image to a MultiMediaCard ===
=== Archos G9 ===
A Installation description for MultiMediaCards could be found in the [http://wiki.meego.com/ARM/N900/Install/MMC MeeGo ARM Wiki].


=== Plasma Active for Nexus 7 ===
Take a look at [http://ruedigergad.com/2013/02/24/plasma-active-archos-g9-armv7hl-rootfs-tarballs/ Ruedigers Blog] for more information.
There is a testing release of [http://ruedigergad.com/2012/12/21/plasma-active-for-nexus-7-running-the-touch-optimized-plasma-active-linux-distribution-on-nexus-7/ Plasma Active for Nexus 7]. Event though very much already works reasonably well, there are still some glitches. So, please don’t expect a 100% working system.


For detailed installation instructions, see the article on the [https://wiki.merproject.org/wiki/Community_Workspace/Tegra3/Nexus7/PA_installation Mer Wiki]
=== Nokia N950 ===


= Install Plasma Active on x86 Systems =
Take a look at [http://www.osnews.com/story/25307/Nokia_N950_Running_Plasma_Active_on_Mer this OSnews article] for more information.


== Live Images==
=== VirtualBox ===
Live-Images of plasma active are provided. Installation sources are mentioned below and how to use them. For plasma active images are provided to run native on the system like ARM-Image or as a boot-stick imaga that can be used to play around an then probably install it on your system.
These images are probably the easies and fastest way to get the plasma active user experience, play around, first app development, demos and show cases.


=== Booting the Live Image on a WeTab/ExoPC ===
When running Plasma Active in a virtual machine, consider that performance will not be as good as when it runs naively on the devices it has been designed for. For testing, we strongly recommend running Plasma Active on a device. The following limitations need consideration when using a virtual machine instead of a real device:
 
* Performance, especially graphics, boot and application startup might be reduced
1. Plug the flashdrive into the WeTab/ExoPC (In some cases WeTab only works with special flashed BIOS from ExoPC).
* Advanced visual effects might not be available or work correctly in the virtual machine. This can lead to degradation of certain features, performance, visual effects and possibly stability
 
* User interfaces designed for touch-screens often work less efficiently for mouse and keyboard based input methods, or feel less natural.
2. Press the power button
 
3. Once the WeTab starts to boot (Blue LED on WeTab lights up or LED on stick lights up) press power button together with softtouch button (round area in top left corner of touch screen) for approximately 1 second (longer press will shut it down again)
 
4. Press the softtouch button until it boots
 
''Alternative instructions: Put usb stick in tablet and boot up, press BBS (on the touchscreen). You can go through the bootloader using the button in the top left corner of the screen, short press to move to the next entry, long press to boot it. A USB keyboard is needed to select the options during the install"
 
==== Installation with USB keyboard ====
 
1. Connect a USB keyboard to the WeTab
 
2. Follow steps 1-3 above to get to the boot menu
 
3. Press the softtouch button shortly to select "Installation"
 
4. Hold the softtouch button until the boot procedure starts
 
5. When the boot procedure stops, press enter on the USB keyboard and a message saying "Select one disk to install" will appear
 
6. Type the number of the local SSD and hit <Enter>
 
7. Select "Full disc install" <Enter>
 
8. Confirm with <y> <Enter>
 
9. After the installation has finished, remove the USB stick and USB keyboard and press the power button until it shuts down.
 
==== Installation without USB keyboard ====
Please choose via 6 second tab on frontside sensor button the 'Boot MeeGo' instead of 'Installation' entry. Wait until Plasma Active is boot completely into the user interface. Open the 'Konsole' application from the peek area by pulling down the top bar. Enter following commands via virtual keyboard to call the installer (password is 'mer'):
 
<nowiki>
su
export PATH=${PATH}:/sbin:/usr/sbin
installer-shell
reboot
</nowiki>
 
=== Balsam Professional live image (includes live installer) ===
[http://open-slx.de open-slx] creates regularly updated packages of Plasma Active which includes a preconfigured Balsam Professional. You can try the Live ISO from a USB stick. Download the Balsam Professional live image [http://download.open-slx.com/iso/12.1/plasma-active-2.iso download.open-slx.com/iso/12.1/plasma-active-2.iso] ([http://download.open-slx.com/iso/12.1/md5sums.txt checksum)].
 
The image plasma-active-2.iso is always the newest one and a link to the plasma-active-<xxx>.iso in the download repo. Please check the changelog and README. The images are also booting WeTabs without flashed BIOS. Remember WeTabs won't start normal usb-sticks. They need a special mbrid-configuration.


The image comes with a live-installer. This is currently availible via Konsole. This works:


- Download the image and put it on a stick. See also README and Changelog on download.open-slx.com/iso/12.1
For detailed installation instructions, see this [http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/VirtualBox installation manual].


- connect a usb-keyboard to the system
= Downstream Plasma Active  =


- Boot the stick and wait until Plasma Active is running
Some distributions provide Images with Plasma Active for x86 Systems.


- Open a konsole and change to root via typing: su -
== Kubuntu Active ==
 
- Enter yast2 live-installer
 
- Follow the instructions. You can configure dualboot, user and partioning the native system
 
If this does not work please contact us on the active mailing list or direcly at open-slx to improve this description with an email:
 
=== Kubuntu Active ===


Current stable release of a Kubuntu remix with Plasma Active is available at
Current stable release of a Kubuntu remix with Plasma Active is available at
Line 117: Line 59:
It includes an installer '''ubiquity'''.
It includes an installer '''ubiquity'''.


=== MeeGo Plasma Active Live (Installable) Image ===
== openSUSE ==
[http://basyskom.com basysKom] creates weekly Plasma Active MeeGo development and testing images.
 
This image is an adaption of the public '''meego-tablet-ia32-pinetrail''' variant and it is bootable on x86 based devices like '''WeTab''', '''ExoPC''' or the '''Idea Pad'''. Login Data: User ''meego'' password ''meego''; User ''root'' password ''meego''
 
You can try the installable MeeGo Live ISO for a USB flash drive or CD/DVD from [http://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/wetab.html basysKom download center].
 
=== Mer Plasma Active Live (Installable) Image ===
 
[http://basyskom.com basysKom] creates weekly Plasma Active Mer development and testing images.
 
This image bootable on x86 based devices like '''WeTab''', '''ExoPC''' or the '''Idea Pad'''. Login Data: User ''mer'' password ''mer''; User ''root'' password ''mer''
 
You can try the installable Mer Live ISO for a USB flash drive or CD/DVD from [http://share.basyskom.com/plasma-active/wetab.html basysKom download center].
 
<!--
=== Validate and Deploy on Microsoft Windows ===
On Windows you can compare the hash on equality between image and related checksum file by the [http://support.microsoft.com/kb/841290 fciv.exe] tool. You will find all needed information about
usage on this site.
 
With the [https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer win32-image-writer] tool you can easily deploy a plasma active image to a USB Flashdrive. For a detailed description how to work with this tool please see the MeeGo [https://meego.com/devices/netbook/installing-meego-netbook/windows-instructions Windows instructions]. -->
 
 
On Linux you can compare the hash between the image and related checksum file using the following command (with both the image and the checksum file in the same directory):
 
    user@host# '''sha1sum -c ''<checksum file>'''''
 
    user@host# '''md5sum -c ''<checksum file>'''''
 
If the command returns "<image name>: FAILED", please download the image one more time and check again.
 
 
After validation feel free to deploy the image to a '''not mounted''' USB flashdrive. In the following example we use the tool 'dd' for this:
 
    root@host# '''dd if=''<image file>'' of=/dev/''<USB flashdrive>'' bs=1M'''
 
'''Please note, the usage of this tool is potentially dangerous! In case of a mistaken output device, all data on it will be irrecoverably lost'''.
 
'''To get the correct output device for this tool, please follow the steps below:'''
 
1. Remove all mobile flashdrives from your host system.
 
2. Enter the command below and note the output.
    user@host# '''cat /proc/partitions'''
 
    major minor  #blocks  name
      8    0    3000000  sda
      8    1    2999998  sda1
 
3. Plug the Flashdrive for deploying into the host system.
 
4. Enter the following command and note the output again.
    user@host# '''cat /proc/partitions'''
 
    major minor  #blocks  name
      8    0    30000000 sda
      8    1    29999998 sda1
      8    16    3872256 '''sdb'''
      8    17    594944 sdb1
 
5. In this example the correct dd parameter is '''sdb''' in the position of '''<USB flashdrive>'''.
 
If you prefer you can disable connman and [http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/Info/FAQ#Installing_Plasma_NetworkManagement_on_Mer_x86_images install Plasma NetworkManagement] to manage your network devices (wireless for example).
 
== Running Plasma Active in a Virtual Machine ==
 
When running Plasma Active in a virtual machine, consider that performance will not be as good as when it runs natively on the devices it has been designed for. For testing, we strongly recommend running Plasma Active on a device. The following limitations need consideration when using a virtual machine instead of a real device:
* Performance, especially graphics, boot and application startup might be reduced
* Advanced visual effects might not be available or work correctly in the virtual machine. This can lead to degradation of certain features, performance, visual effects and possibly stability
* User interfaces designed for touch-screens often work less efficiently for mouse and keyboard based input methods, or feel less natural.
 
We have found VirtualBox to basically work, albeit in some cases the above problems have been noted. Read on for instructions on how to have a first look at Plasma Active, even without suitable hardware.
 
=== Virtual Box ===
 
Before you can start the image via '''VirtualBox''', please configure the virtual device
as below.
 
VirtualBox OSE Manager
  Settings
  ├── General
  │  └── Basic
  │      ├── Name --> e.g. Plasma-contour
  │      ├── Operating System --> Linux
  │      └── Version --> Linux 2.6
  ├── System
  │  ├── Motherboard
  │  │  ├── Boot Order
  │  │  │  ├── CD/DVD-ROM
  │  │  │  └── Hard Disk
  │  │  └── Base Memory --> 1024MB
  │  └── Processor
  │      └── Enable PAE/NX
  ├── Display
  │  └── Video
  │      ├── Video Memory --> 128 MB
  │      └── Enable 3D Acceleration
  └── Storage
      ├── IDE Controller
      │  └── IDE Secondary Master
      │      └── Set up the virtual CD/DVD drive
      │          └── <ISO image>
      └── SATA Controller
          └── Hard Disk
              └── Set up the virtual hard disk
                  ├── Dynamically expanding storage
                  └── Virtual Size --> 8.00 GB
 
'''Please note, only live images since ''2011-07-20-10-50-meego-plasma-contour-in-progress-USB-live.iso''
''' are runnable via VirtualBox'''.
 
Please note, if you'd like to install our live image to an VirtualBox hard drive,
you have to remove the live image from the virtual CD/DVD-ROM after installation.
This will be done after '''Power off the machine''' via VirtualBox OSE Manager.
 
  Settings
  └── System
      └── Motherboard
          └── Boot Order
              ├── CD/DVD-ROM --> disable
              └── Hard Disk
 
Once MeeGo/Plasma Active is installed, you may want to [[Plasma/Active/Info/FAQ#How_do_I_get_a_Mouse_Cursor.3F | '''enable the mouse cursor''']].
 
== Installation on Balsam Professional ==
 
In order to install the latest development snapshots on [http://download.open-slx.com/balsam/professional/iso/12.1  Balsam Professional]. You have to add two repositories to your system.
 
Important: Since Balsam Professional 12.1 no special KDE updates are needed. Just use the plasma active repo from open-slx.
 
=== Installation Recipe ===
You can also install plasma active in fist installing a standard desktop environment, add plasma active to the installation and then change the starting UX. We explain this here with a KDE4 live-image that is later changed to plasma active ux.
 
=== Preparation ===
For initial installation, a mouse is helpful and an external keyboard is essential.
 
 
As you are going to install packages from a different repository, or so-called "vendor", you can make your life easier by telling zypper to automatically resolve packages across vendors (Each repository is a new vendor). In /etc/zypp/zypp.conf, change the following line
 
solver.allowVendorChange = false
 
to
 
solver.allowVendorChange = true
 
(You don't need to perform the step above if you follow the YaST-based alternatives offered below.)
 
=== Repository Setup ===
Register KDE:Active repositories:
<nowiki>
zypper addrepo --refresh \
    http://download.open-slx.com/balsam/professional/distribution/plasma-active/12.1/ plasma-active
</nowiki>
 
Increase KDE:Active packages' priority, we want the KDE:Active versions that are built with Active-specific options (higher prio than Balsam Professional which is 99 by default):
<nowiki>
zypper modifyrepo --priority 90 plasma-active
</nowiki>
 
(Alternative: Use YaST's Software Repositories feature to add the repository http://download.open-slx.com/balsam/professional/distribution/plasma-active/12.1/, and set its priority to 90.)
 
 
=== Installation ===
 
In order to install the Plasma Active specific packages and have the device boot into the Active workspace by default, do the following:
<nowiki>
zypper install plasma-contour-config plasma-declarative-widgets contour
</nowiki>
Make sure you install everything offered from the updated repositories. (The vendor change config option should already take care of that.)
 
== Installation of Plasma Active from sources (developer only)==
 
While the recommended way to test Plasma Active is with the above recipe using the binary packages, it is possible to build Plasma Active from the source repository, anyone who wants to try the versions or get the bleeding edge from the repository can build plasma-mobile from sources.
The recommended way is to follow the usual kde from sources [http://techbase.kde.org/Getting_Started build instructions]. It is also possible to use the binary kde packages as a base.
 
It is necessary to install some packages (and their dependencies) to have a working development environment:
<nowiki>
sudo zypper install gcc gcc-c++ git cmake, kdelibs-devel
</nowiki>
 
=== Released Versions ===
 
Released versions are on the KDE FTP server
ftp://ftp.kde.org/pub/kde/stable/active/
 
=== Dependencies ===
 
Those following git repositories are not needed in case of development, but they are needed if you want to package Plasma Active for your distribution:
 
* StartActive: git://anongit.kde.org/startactive
* Plasma Mobile config: git://anongit.kde.org/plasma-mobile-config.git
* Maliit on screen keyboard: git://gitorious.org/maliit/maliit-framework.git
* Maliit plugin for Plasma Active: git://anongit.kde.org/plasma-active-maliit.git
 
=== Revision Control ===
 
The latest sources are in KDE's Git repository.  Clone the plasma mobile source repository and build:
<nowiki>
git clone git://anongit.kde.org/plasma-mobile
cd plasma-mobile
mkdir build
cd build
cmake .. -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr
make
sudo make install
</nowiki>
 
=== Installing Additional Software ===
 
There are a few KDE projects that have created touch friendly versions of their applications already. These versions are included in the plasma-active repository. Currently, these are:
 
* Calligra Active - Install package calligra-active
* Kontact Touch - Install package kontact
* Bangarang - Install package bangarang
 
In addition, some applications already work quite well together with active. The following is a list of applications that work ok on a touchscreen:
 
* Okular - For viewing documents.
* Marble - Virtual globe, includes routing support.
* Bangarang - Media player, uses Nepomuk for listing media.
* Dolphin - File manager.
 
== MeeGo Installation from meego repository==
 
=== Installation ===
 
A repository of most of KDE components, including Plasma Active for MeeGo is at
https://build.pub.meego.com/project/show?project=Project%3AKDE%3ATrunk%3ATesting and is available for both i586 and ARM, which is added by running the following command if you are using MeeGo trunk
 
<nowiki>
zypper ar http://repo.pub.meego.com/Project:/KDE:/Trunk:/Testing/Trunk/Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
</nowiki>
 
or for MeeGo 1.2 users:
<nowiki>
zypper ar http://repo.pub.meego.com/Project:/KDE:/Trunk:/Testing/MeeGo_1.2_oss/Project:KDE:Trunk:Testing.repo
</nowiki>
 
To install the software run the following command:
 
<nowiki>
zypper install plasma-contour-config
</nowiki>
 
=== UX Launch ===
 
uxlaunch is the MeeGo component that actually launches the shell. There are two ways of switching the default MeeGo Tablet UX shell to Plasma.
 
==== Changing UX permanently ====
 
Edit /etc/sysconfig/uxlaunch and change the session key to "/usr/bin/startkde" (Plasma Active One) or "/usr/bin/startactive" (Plasma Active Two).
 
==== Dynamic UX selection at boot ====
 
Finally, to switch to using the plasma tablet UX in MeeGo, use the uxselector project, following the instructions found here: http://wiki.meego.com/MeeGo_Desktop/Changing_Desktops#UXSelect_Switcher_Tool_.28alpha.29 - edit the /etc/xdg/aard/uxselect.conf file to include the following section:
 
<nowiki>
[plasma]
 
name=Plasma Active
 
description=The Plasma Active Tablet UX
 
# Use this in Plasma Active One
#path=/usr/bin/startkde
 
# Use this in Plasma Active Two
path=/usr/bin/startactive
</nowiki>
 
and add the text plasma text to the uxlist property in the General section.
 
==== Known Issues ====
 
The Meego tablet UX installs a number of files in /etc/xdg/autostart that are also executed when running Plasma Active, resulting in elements of the Meego tablet UX showing up nevertheless. Workaround is to rename/remove that folder.
 
=== Installing Additional Software ===
 
There are a few KDE projects that have created touch friendly versions of their applications already. These versions are included in the MeeGo repository. Currently, these are:


* Calligra Active - Install package calligra-active
PlasmaActive has been packaged for opensuse in the KDE:Active OBS Repository.
* Kontact Touch - Install package kontact-touch
Mind that it is ALPHA Quality. The apps that come with a Mer-based image might not be available and there may be bugs. Feel free to report (and fix) them or improve the packaging process. Help will be welcome!


In addition, some applications already work quite well together with Active. The following is a list of applications that work ok on a touchscreen:
It can be installed as follows:


* Okular - For viewing documents.
zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Active/openSUSE_Factory PA
* Marble - Virtual globe, includes routing support.
* Konsole - Support for virtual keyboard


== Other Systems ==
zypper ref && zypper install plasma-mobile declarative-plasmoids  bodega-client
If you have installed Plasma Active on a system not yet listed here, please add detailed installation instructions in a new section.


=== HP Slate 500 ===
If the Maliit onscreen keyboard is wanted, additionally install maliit-framework maliit-plugins maliit-inputcontext-qt4
* Install Instruction:
This Installaion Procedure is really a mess as you have to patch some files in a unusual way.
** Step 1 Meego System:
***Follow the Instruction at [http://wiki.meego.com/Image_Creation wiki.meego.com/Image_Creation] to build the Meego System using this kickstart file: [[File:Meego-tablet.ks.tar.gz]]. Either install the Image to the Device or build a liveusb image.


** Step 2 Install kernel
Only i586 has been tested. To run PA4 the preferred method is to create a .xinitrc file in the home directory and add a line saying 'startactive'. Then a call to 'startx' will bring it up.
*** Now we have to compile the kernel i do this from runlevel 3 you get into it by either passing 3 to the kernel boot options or entering "#: init 3". Warning make sure you have your Power Cord plugged in during this, else you have to install the system again in the worst case, after that follow this steps:
**** 1. first make sure you dont have any kernel images around rpm -e kernel.
**** 1. cd /root
**** 2. wget http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/v3.0/linux-3.2.2.tar.bz2
**** 3. tar -jxvf linux-3.2.2.tar.bz2 -C /usr/src
**** 4. cd /usr/src/linux-3.2.2
**** 5. download the config file [[File:Config-kernel-slate500-1.0.gz]]
**** 6. run /<path-to-config>/Config-kernel-slate500-1.0.gz > gzip | echo >> /usr/src/linux-3.2.5/.config
**** 7. make oldconfig
**** 8. make ARCH=x86 -j2
**** 9. make ARCH=x86 -j2 modules
**** 10. make ARCH=x86 -j2 modules_install
**** 11. make ARCH=x86 -j2 install
**** 12. cd /boot
**** 13. /usr/libexec -f /boot/initrd.img-3.2.2 3.2.2
**** 14. ln -s vmlinuz-3.2.5 extlinux/vmlinuz-3.2.2
**** 15. ln -s initrd.img-3.2.5 extlinux/initrd-3.2.2
**** 16. modify extlinux.conf and create a entry to the kernel and pass initrd=initrd-3.2.2 to the "append" Line
**** For Wifi you have to place the brcm firmware under /lib/firmware you can get it from here [http://git.kernel.org/?p=linux/kernel/git/dwmw2/linux-firmware.git linux-firmware.git]


** Step 3 Install EMGD
There currently is an issue with plasma-desktop beeing started automatically so the file '/usr/share/autostart/plasma-desktop.desktop' needs to be (re)moved before running PlasmaActive.
*** You can download the emgd-1.10 package from [http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/embedded/hwsw/software/emgd Intel] and patch it yourself you can find the patches in [http://git.yoctoproject.org/cgit/cgit.cgi/linux-yocto-3.0/refs/heads yocto-project]. Or you can download this patched emgd driver [http://ultrashare.net/hosting/fl/c93fc80dc5/IEMGD_HEAD_Linux.tar Download]. After Unpacking / Patching run "sh install.sh in the Utilities folder.


*** Xorg configuration Download [[File:09-emgd.conf.tar.gz]] and run "cat 09-emgd.conf.tar.gz > gzip | echo >> /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/09-emgd.conf"
There is also a LiveCD available at http://susestudio.com/a/GzMWEV/activesuse


= Get started after install =


** Step 4 Reboot
[http://community.kde.org/Plasma/Active/Info Suggestions, FAQ, additional information]
*** You should now boot directly into Plasma Active with working emgd driver.

Latest revision as of 19:53, 16 June 2015

Plasma Active Images

The Plasma Active team provides official Images based on Mer for some devices.

Supported

WeTab / ExoPC

The hardware is a little outdated but you will get the most polished Plasma Active experience on this device.

Take a look at the installation instructions here.

Preview

Nexus 7

Even though very much already works reasonably well, there are still some glitches. So, please don’t expect a 100% working system. For detailed installation instructions, see the article on the Mer Wiki

Archos G9

Take a look at Ruedigers Blog for more information.

Nokia N950

Take a look at this OSnews article for more information.

VirtualBox

When running Plasma Active in a virtual machine, consider that performance will not be as good as when it runs naively on the devices it has been designed for. For testing, we strongly recommend running Plasma Active on a device. The following limitations need consideration when using a virtual machine instead of a real device:

  • Performance, especially graphics, boot and application startup might be reduced
  • Advanced visual effects might not be available or work correctly in the virtual machine. This can lead to degradation of certain features, performance, visual effects and possibly stability
  • User interfaces designed for touch-screens often work less efficiently for mouse and keyboard based input methods, or feel less natural.


For detailed installation instructions, see this installation manual.

Downstream Plasma Active

Some distributions provide Images with Plasma Active for x86 Systems.

Kubuntu Active

Current stable release of a Kubuntu remix with Plasma Active is available at

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu-active/releases/13.04/release/

Daily unstable images of a Kubuntu Active are at

http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/kubuntu-active/daily-live/

You can burn image to CD (e.g. with k3b) or USB (e.g. with usb-creator-kde)

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BurningIsoHowto#Kubuntu

It includes an installer ubiquity.

openSUSE

PlasmaActive has been packaged for opensuse in the KDE:Active OBS Repository. Mind that it is ALPHA Quality. The apps that come with a Mer-based image might not be available and there may be bugs. Feel free to report (and fix) them or improve the packaging process. Help will be welcome!

It can be installed as follows:

zypper ar http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/Active/openSUSE_Factory PA

zypper ref && zypper install plasma-mobile declarative-plasmoids bodega-client

If the Maliit onscreen keyboard is wanted, additionally install maliit-framework maliit-plugins maliit-inputcontext-qt4

Only i586 has been tested. To run PA4 the preferred method is to create a .xinitrc file in the home directory and add a line saying 'startactive'. Then a call to 'startx' will bring it up.

There currently is an issue with plasma-desktop beeing started automatically so the file '/usr/share/autostart/plasma-desktop.desktop' needs to be (re)moved before running PlasmaActive.

There is also a LiveCD available at http://susestudio.com/a/GzMWEV/activesuse

Get started after install

Suggestions, FAQ, additional information