Skip to content

Android Pie 9.0.0 for Nitrogen8M Mini

Android 9 Pie for Boundary Devices Nitrogen8M Mini

Introduction

The Nitrogen8M_Mini SBC is the latest in the Boundary Devices line of i.MX based Nitrogen platforms, leveraging the recently released i.MX 8M_Mini family of applications processors from NXP. It includes an accessory kit option with a 5V Power Supply, 8GB microSD card, Battery, and Serial Console Cable. The Nitrogen8M_Mini is designed for mass production use with a guaranteed 10 year life span, FCC Pre-scan results, and a stable supply chain. Industrial temperature and conformal coating options are available.

At a glance

Platform: Boundary Devices Nitrogen8M Mini · SoC: NXP i.MX8M Mini · Android: 9 (Pie) · Kernel: 4.14

This BSP brings Android 9 (Pie) to the Boundary Devices Nitrogen8M Mini SBC, leveraging NXP's i.MX8M Mini application processor. It includes Kynetics Update Factory for OTA updates and GPIO/SPI handlers, with F-Droid for app sideloading.

Release Notes

Here are some important remarks about our build:

  • Android 9.0 with Linux Kernel 4.14
  • Based on NXP release: p9.0.0_1.0.0-ga
  • Compatible with the Nitrogen8M Mini single board computer
  • Compatible with the BD080MCC1 MIPI display (8 inches)
  • Userdebug build with permissive SELinux and disabled DM Verity
  • Android Verified Boot disabled
  • Android A/B partitions disabled
  • This is an unsupported release. For commercial support please contact us.

The build includes the following Kynetics applications:

  • Update Factory: https://www.kynetics.com/ota-updates-android
  • SPI handler
  • GPIO handler

F-Droid is also included to allow installing Android applications directly from the device using the ethernet or the wifi connection.

Flash Instructions

The following steps will guide you through the installation of Android 9 on the Nitrogen8M Mini.

Hardware Requirements

Software Requirements

Software Preparation

On Linux systems, connect the serial cable from the board to the host computer.

Connect also the Micro USB cable from the micro USB connector of the board to the host computer to use fastboot. A USB 2.0 cable is recommended, as U-Boot could have some issues with USB 3.0 cable.

Then, enter fastboot mode on the Nitrogen8M Mini board:

  • From U-Boot prompt, enter the following command: 
    => fastboot 0

From the Host PC: 

$ unzip BoundaryDevices_Nitrogen8MM-AndroidOS-p9.0.0_1.0.0-ga-dev-1.0-SNAPSHOT-[date].zip -d nitrogen8mm_p900
$ cd nitrogen8mm_p900
nitrogen8mm_p900$ sudo ./flash_fastboot.sh

After the reboot, enter fastboot mode again and update U-Boot. This is necessary to get ADB working: From the U-Boot prompt: 

=> run upgradeu

Frequently Asked Questions

What display is compatible with the Nitrogen8M Mini Android 9 BSP?

This release is compatible with the Boundary Devices BD080MCC1 MIPI display (8 inches). Unlike the Nitrogen8M, this build does not include an HDMI output option.

Why is a second U-Boot update required after the initial flash?

The additional U-Boot update step (via run upgradeu) is required after the initial flash to enable ADB connectivity over the Micro USB connection.

Does this BSP support OTA updates?

Yes, Kynetics Update Factory is pre-installed and supports over-the-air application and system updates. Visit kynetics.com/ota-updates-android for more details.

Is commercial support available for this release?

This is an unsupported community release. For commercial-grade support, production-ready images, or custom development on the Nitrogen8M Mini, please contact Kynetics.

Can I install Android applications without Google Play?

Yes, F-Droid is pre-installed and allows you to browse and install open-source Android apps directly on the device over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, without requiring Google Play Services.

Enjoy the Art of Coding™