Manuals/Neo FreeRunner

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Thank you for purchasing this Developer release of Neo FreeRunner. The Neo FreeRunner phone is the second hardware platform to take advantage of Openmoko. This guide will help you get to know your Neo FreeRunner and how to start using your Neo FreeRunner.

Some Frequently Asked Questions for new owners are featured in the FAQ.

Neo FreeRunner Package

Contents

Package Contents

Inside the package


Circle2.gif Neo FreeRunner
Circle2.gif Stylus
Circle2.gif Battery
Circle2.gif Charger
Circle2.gif USB Cable (A -> Mini-B 5-pole)
Circle2.gif Thank You green card
 
NOTE:

Get the source code

The software included in this product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under the GPL. A complete corresponding source code or CD-ROM ISO image with the GPL license is available for download here. You may also obtain the same corresponding CD-ROM by sending a money order or check for $10 to any one of our distributors.

Please write “source for Neo FreeRunner ” in the memo line of your payment.


Setting up the hardware, getting to know the Neo FreeRunner physically

Installing the Micro-SD card, the SIM card, and the Battery

Circle2.gif Remove the rear cover of the Neo FreeRunner by first holding the Neo FreeRunner on the side and then use a credit card (or your fingernail, if you have strong fingernails) to prise off the rear cover at the slot on top of the device.

Open the case like this.
Opening !


Circle2.gif Now you should be able to locate the combined SIM and Micro-SD card holder at the bottom of the battery compartment.

Circle2.gif Unlock the SIM card holder by sliding the metal clip down, towards the USB socket, with your fingernail. Use caution, as these parts are delicate and could be damaged by forcing them in the wrong direction.


Put the SIM card and SD card here.

Circle2.gif Lift up on the SIM card holder.

Circle2.gif The Micro-SD card holder is held in place by a latch on either side. It is easiest to open the Micro-SD card holder by releasing these latches one at a time rather than by lifting from the middle, as lifting from the middle tends to increase the latching pressure. A small screwdriver or knife can be used for this, though it's strongly deprecated. Refer to this photo footage for a simple yet handy little hack involving some scotchtape, to make your life easier.

Circle2.gif Insert the Micro-SD card into the Micro-SD card holder. Note that on the inside of metal part of the holder there are little holding tabs for the card. Slide the card in these holders (on the metal part) before closing the card holder. Note that the electrical contacts should face down and towards the edge of the Neo FreeRunner.

Circle2.gif Close the Micro-SD card holder, making sure that both latches of the holder are securely fastened.

Circle2.gif Insert the SIM card into the SIM card holder, taking care to slide inside the two metal tabs in the cover. Note that the electrical contacts should face down and that the cut corner should be closest to the external GPS Antenna Socket.

Circle2.gif Close the SIM card holder and lock it by sliding the metal clip towards the external GPS Antenna Socket on the FreeRunner.

SIM and SD holders open, with cards in place
Some models look like this, the little blob is not a defect

Circle2.gif Insert the battery into the battery compartment, aligning the electrical contacts on the battery with the electrical contacts in the battery compartment. Insert the side with the electrical contacts first.

Circle2.gif Replace the rear cover on the FreeRunner.


Tips

A short video is also available. It was shot using the previous version of the Neo, but the installation procedure remains the same.

Charging the Neo FreeRunner

Before using the Neo FreeRunner for the first time, you should charge the battery completely. The battery can be charged using the provided charger at 1000mA or from a powered USB port capable of providing 500mA worth of current. Most computers will be able to charge the FreeRunner without any problems.

Neo FreeRunner does NOT charge when powered off, so be sure to turn it on and allow it to boot all the way to the GUI (Graphical User Interface). This should happen automatically when you plug in USB power, either from a computer or the provided charger. If it does not, you can turn the power on manually by pressing and holding the power button, which is located just below the USB jack.

Although the provided charger is rated at 2A, the maximum charge rate of the Neo FreeRunner is 1A, and thus the charge rate with the charger is less than the charger capacity.

The provided charger includes three "national" plugs. The default is North America, with alternative U.K (3 square pins) and Euro (two round pins) adapters. To install the alternative power adapters, depress the latch in the cover (on the opposite side of the charger from the product information label) and slide the cover outward. Note that the two North American pins do not come out; the other adapters slide over them, and snap into place. The two-pin Euro adapter is removed in the same way as the cover. The three-pin U.K. adapter is removed by gently pressing the dummy ground pin (black) toward the end of the adapter with the cord and then sliding it off the adapter.

Charging an empty battery at 100mA takes 12~15 hours *), at 500mA (PC) takes 2~3 hours, and at 1000mA (wallcharger) takes 1.5~3hours. (90%~100%)
*) charging with 100mA will occur only if device is suspended, as otherwise system takes more power than the 100mA provided by USB power source, and your battery never reaches full capacity or even drains slowly.

NOTE: See Neo FreeRunner Hardware Issues about not allowing the battery to discharge completely.


Buttons and connectors

 
Power Button, USB and external GPS Antenna (left to right)
 
AUX Button and headset jack (left to right)
Power

Tapping the power button suspends the GTA02.

Holding the power button shutsdown the device.
Aux

Tapping or holding the Aux button locks the screen.


Booting

Booting the Neo FreeRunner takes about 2 minutes overall, so patience is in order. The longest step comes after the Linux boot messages in very small fonts have scrolled by, at the graphical "openmoko" sunrise page.

Phone Jack

The phone jack is a 2.5mm connector with four contacts: stereo + MIC. It is compatible with the headsets used by Motorola smartphones (A780,A1200, ...) and the V-360.

More information on Headset page.

Unlocking the screen

When the screen is locked, you should see a Matrix-style green graphic with the Openmoko symbol in the middle of the bottom of the screen along with lock and unlock symbols. If you drag the Openmoko symbol to the unlock symbol at the top then the screen will become unlocked.

Identifying which revision you have

You will want to determine which revision of the phone you have

These two are important, as they allow you to know which image is flashed on you phone at the factory (c.f. Distributions and Neo_FreeRunner_Hardware#History).

Personal tools

Thank you for purchasing this Developer release of Neo FreeRunner. The Neo FreeRunner phone is the second hardware platform to take advantage of Openmoko. This guide will help you get to know your Neo FreeRunner and how to start using your Neo FreeRunner.

Some Frequently Asked Questions for new owners are featured in the FAQ.

Neo FreeRunner Package

Package Contents

Inside the package


Circle2.gif Neo FreeRunner
Circle2.gif Stylus
Circle2.gif Battery
Circle2.gif Charger
Circle2.gif USB Cable (A -> Mini-B 5-pole)
Circle2.gif Thank You green card
 
NOTE:

Get the source code

The software included in this product contains copyrighted software that is licensed under the GPL. A complete corresponding source code or CD-ROM ISO image with the GPL license is available for download here. You may also obtain the same corresponding CD-ROM by sending a money order or check for $10 to any one of our distributors.

Please write “source for Neo FreeRunner ” in the memo line of your payment.


Setting up the hardware, getting to know the Neo FreeRunner physically

Installing the Micro-SD card, the SIM card, and the Battery

Circle2.gif Remove the rear cover of the Neo FreeRunner by first holding the Neo FreeRunner on the side and then use a credit card (or your fingernail, if you have strong fingernails) to prise off the rear cover at the slot on top of the device.

Open the case like this.
Opening !


Circle2.gif Now you should be able to locate the combined SIM and Micro-SD card holder at the bottom of the battery compartment.

Circle2.gif Unlock the SIM card holder by sliding the metal clip down, towards the USB socket, with your fingernail. Use caution, as these parts are delicate and could be damaged by forcing them in the wrong direction.


Put the SIM card and SD card here.

Circle2.gif Lift up on the SIM card holder.

Circle2.gif The Micro-SD card holder is held in place by a latch on either side. It is easiest to open the Micro-SD card holder by releasing these latches one at a time rather than by lifting from the middle, as lifting from the middle tends to increase the latching pressure. A small screwdriver or knife can be used for this, though it's strongly deprecated. Refer to this photo footage for a simple yet handy little hack involving some scotchtape, to make your life easier.

Circle2.gif Insert the Micro-SD card into the Micro-SD card holder. Note that on the inside of metal part of the holder there are little holding tabs for the card. Slide the card in these holders (on the metal part) before closing the card holder. Note that the electrical contacts should face down and towards the edge of the Neo FreeRunner.

Circle2.gif Close the Micro-SD card holder, making sure that both latches of the holder are securely fastened.

Circle2.gif Insert the SIM card into the SIM card holder, taking care to slide inside the two metal tabs in the cover. Note that the electrical contacts should face down and that the cut corner should be closest to the external GPS Antenna Socket.

Circle2.gif Close the SIM card holder and lock it by sliding the metal clip towards the external GPS Antenna Socket on the FreeRunner.

SIM and SD holders open, with cards in place
Some models look like this, the little blob is not a defect

Circle2.gif Insert the battery into the battery compartment, aligning the electrical contacts on the battery with the electrical contacts in the battery compartment. Insert the side with the electrical contacts first.

Circle2.gif Replace the rear cover on the FreeRunner.


Tips

A short video is also available. It was shot using the previous version of the Neo, but the installation procedure remains the same.

Charging the Neo FreeRunner

Before using the Neo FreeRunner for the first time, you should charge the battery completely. The battery can be charged using the provided charger at 1000mA or from a powered USB port capable of providing 500mA worth of current. Most computers will be able to charge the FreeRunner without any problems.

Neo FreeRunner does NOT charge when powered off, so be sure to turn it on and allow it to boot all the way to the GUI (Graphical User Interface). This should happen automatically when you plug in USB power, either from a computer or the provided charger. If it does not, you can turn the power on manually by pressing and holding the power button, which is located just below the USB jack.

Although the provided charger is rated at 2A, the maximum charge rate of the Neo FreeRunner is 1A, and thus the charge rate with the charger is less than the charger capacity.

The provided charger includes three "national" plugs. The default is North America, with alternative U.K (3 square pins) and Euro (two round pins) adapters. To install the alternative power adapters, depress the latch in the cover (on the opposite side of the charger from the product information label) and slide the cover outward. Note that the two North American pins do not come out; the other adapters slide over them, and snap into place. The two-pin Euro adapter is removed in the same way as the cover. The three-pin U.K. adapter is removed by gently pressing the dummy ground pin (black) toward the end of the adapter with the cord and then sliding it off the adapter.

Charging an empty battery at 100mA takes 12~15 hours *), at 500mA (PC) takes 2~3 hours, and at 1000mA (wallcharger) takes 1.5~3hours. (90%~100%)
*) charging with 100mA will occur only if device is suspended, as otherwise system takes more power than the 100mA provided by USB power source, and your battery never reaches full capacity or even drains slowly.

NOTE: See Neo FreeRunner Hardware Issues about not allowing the battery to discharge completely.


Buttons and connectors

 
Power Button, USB and external GPS Antenna (left to right)
 
AUX Button and headset jack (left to right)
Power

Tapping the power button suspends the GTA02.

Holding the power button shutsdown the device.
Aux

Tapping or holding the Aux button locks the screen.


Booting

Booting the Neo FreeRunner takes about 2 minutes overall, so patience is in order. The longest step comes after the Linux boot messages in very small fonts have scrolled by, at the graphical "openmoko" sunrise page.

Phone Jack

The phone jack is a 2.5mm connector with four contacts: stereo + MIC. It is compatible with the headsets used by Motorola smartphones (A780,A1200, ...) and the V-360.

More information on Headset page.

Unlocking the screen

When the screen is locked, you should see a Matrix-style green graphic with the Openmoko symbol in the middle of the bottom of the screen along with lock and unlock symbols. If you drag the Openmoko symbol to the unlock symbol at the top then the screen will become unlocked.

Identifying which revision you have

You will want to determine which revision of the phone you have

These two are important, as they allow you to know which image is flashed on you phone at the factory (c.f. Distributions and Neo_FreeRunner_Hardware#History).