Samsung Galaxy S Advance (samsung-janice)

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Samsung Galaxy S Advance
Samsung Galaxy S Advance running Phosh under PostmarketOS
Samsung Galaxy S Advance running Phosh under PostmarketOS
Manufacturer Samsung
Name Galaxy S Advance
Codename samsung-janice
Model GT-I9070
Released 2012
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Original software Android
Original version 2.3.6 (Linux 2.6.35)
Hardware
Chipset ST-Ericsson NovaThor U8500
CPU Dual-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A9
GPU Mali-400
Display 480x800 AMOLED
Storage 8/16 GB
Memory 768 MB
Architecture ARMv7
Type handset
Features
USB Networking
Works
Flashing
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Display
Works
WiFi
Works
FDE
Mainline
Works
Battery
Works
3D Acceleration
Works
Audio
Broken
Bluetooth
Partial
Camera
Broken
GPS
Broken
Mobile data
Broken
Internal storage
SMS
Broken
Calls
Broken
USB OTG
NFC
Works
Sensors
Accelerometer
Works
Magnetometer
Works
Ambient Light
Works
Proximity
Works
Misc
Built-in DVB
Camera Flash
Works
Memory Card
Haptics
Works
FOSS bootloader
Works
U-Boot
Primary Bootloader
Broken
Secondary Bootloader
Works
Mainline
Works
Internal Storage
Works
SD card
USB Host
Works
USB Peripheral
Works
Display
Works
Buttons
Works
This device is based on the ST-Ericsson U8500.
See the SoC page for common tips, guides and troubleshooting steps

Contributors

  • drebrez

Installation

The mainline kernel can only be booted through U-Boot, not directly with the Samsung bootloader. U-Boot is installed as intermediate bootloader on the boot partition, so it does not replace the Samsung bootloader entirely. pmbootstrap can only support one bootloader configuration at the moment, which is why U-Boot is also recommended when installing the downstream kernel.

Boot into Download Mode using Power + Volume Down + Home and follow follow the the NovaThor U8500 U-Boot installation instructions to install U-Boot.

Finally, just follow the Installation guide.

Variants

A few different variants of this device were produced by Samsung, all named Samsung Galaxy S Advance but with different model codes. At least one of them has hardware differences.

Samsung Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070 variants
Model Features Notes
GT-I9070 Vanilla
GT-I9070chn Targeted for the chinese market
GT-I9070P NFC Test with nfctool -d nfc0 -1 -p

Bluetooth

Bluetooth does not have any Bluetooth device address (bdaddr or "MAC address") set after boot at the moment. To make Bluetooth work, you need to manually configure one:

# apk add bluez-btmgmt
# btmgmt public-addr <bdaddr>

where <bdaddr> is a MAC address like 53:33:6d:69:6e:69.

The Bluetooth controller should then show up in bluetoothctl:

# apk add bluez
# rc-service bluetooth start
$ bluetoothctl

You can e.g scan for devices:

[bluetooth]# show
[bluetooth]# power on
[bluetooth]# advertise on
[bluetooth]# system-alias golden
[bluetooth]# scan on

Sensors

  • Bosch BMA222 accelerometer
  • Yamaha YAS530 magnetometer
  • Sharp GP2AP002A00F proxomity and light sensor

The accelerometer does work albeit it needs polling. iio-sensor-proxy does the right thing as can be confirmed at the command line:

# monitor-sensor
Accelerometer orientation changed: bottom-up
Accelerometer orientation changed: right-up
Accelerometer orientation changed: bottom-up
Accelerometer orientation changed: left-up
Accelerometer orientation changed: normal
Accelerometer orientation changed: right-up
Accelerometer orientation changed: bottom-up

To test the sensors using iio_generic_buffer you first have to create a hrtimer trigger like this:

# mkdir /sys/kernel/config/iio/triggers/hrtimer/instance1

Then you can use this to poll values from the accelerometer or magnetometer like this:

# iio_generic_buffer -a -c 10 -n bma222 -t instance1
# iio_generic_buffer -a -c 10 -n yas530 -t instance1

The Light sensor can be read directly in sysfs:

# cd /sys/bus/iio/devices/iio:device4/
# cat in_illuminance_raw

Look at proximity events like this:

# echo 1 > events/in_proximity_thresh_either_en
# iio_event_monitor -a gp2ap002

Some udev hwdb updates might be needed for all devices to work properly with iio-sensor-proxy.

NFC

The NFC chip is a PNX544 and it is only mounted on the GT-I9070P version of Janice. To use NFC the back plate of the phone must be mounted, because the NFC antenna is in the back plate.

Test NFC with:

# nfctool -d nfc0 -1 -p

And place an NFC card on the back of the phone.


Links

Photos

Videos

Vendor kernel information

Note This information concerns the old vendor (downstream) kernel. Unless you know what you're doing, go with mainline instead!

How drebrez made wifi work

  • build the kernel module (dhd.ko for samsung-janice)
  • get the vendor files for the Samsung U8500 devices
  • load the module using insmod with the firmware_path and nvram_path parameters

insmod dhd.ko firmware_path=/etc/wifi/bcmdhd_sta.bin nvram_path=/etc/wifi/nvram_net.txt

  • set a mac address

ifconfig wlan0 hw ether 01:02:03:04:05:06

Proceed with the generic instruction on how to scan for networks and WiFi#Connecting_to_APs.