ADB Debugging (in normal mode) capable chromebooks

[GT CHRBK]

Device: Lenovo 300e model 81H0 (HANA)

This device has Play Store and can run Android apps.

I have successfully turned on Linux environment in normal mode, however, "Develop Android apps - ADB Debugging" is missing.

According to the lists posted here and here, this device (HANA) should be able to turn adb debugging on.

Furthermore this list does not say 300e 1st generation but lists other devices (Yoga, N23) which are based on the hana board.

Other experts like here claim confused too.

Could some one please explain to me if I am doing something wrong or if I should use a different recovery image? I made a recovery media with the chrome extension, which I reinstalled (made no difference} and noticed that the image written to the media was "Yoga/Flex"

[DennisLfromGA]

GT CHRBK,

RE: Other experts like here claim confused too.

Actually, I wasn't confused, I was just quoting from the site linked below:

• The development environment  |  Android Developers
  https://developer.android.com/topic/arc/development-environment

And if you look further down in that thread you linked above, I said:

• I think, in this case and some others, it is dependent on the release date of the device, see the note, also linked below:
  • Note: This feature is available on Chromebooks launched after 2020.

~DennyL

[GT CHRBK]

I am sorry if I misunderstood but what else could your statement "I wish I knew and we're as confused as you about it..." mean?

Like I said, I read the notation about the Launch Year, BUT could someone explain to me why:
1. The device is listed as eligible in the lists of the sites I posted links? They do not know that this device is released before 2020?
Unlikely.
2. What is the benefit of being able to turn on the Linux Development Environment and "loose" precious disk space since these devices do not have much anyway, by necessarily allocating 10GB (recommended), if ADB Debugging cannot be enabled?
Can one side load APK's without ADB Debugging?

When I made the recovery media via the chrome extension "Chromebook Recovery Utility" by selecting the proposed hardware ID "HANA xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx", I noticed that the image selected was the "300e/N23 Yoga/Flex 11". (Note that Yoga, N23 is listed in the list of devices supposed to get the Android 11 update!)
I wonder if I could select and use the image "300e 2nd Gen MTK" (or any other you deem compatible from the list). According to this and this, they are based on the same board and architecture.
Do you think I will brick the device if I do so?
Will I be able to go back to the original image if it does not work?


Thanks a lot.
I appreciate your help.

[DennisLfromGA]

GT CHRBK,

Yeah, my apologies, I did say I was confused in an earlier comment but then I found the 'The development environment' site that kind of spelled it out:

• Note: This feature is available on Chromebooks launched after 2020.

> What is the benefit of being able to turn on the Linux Development Environment and "loose" precious disk space since these devices do not have much anyway, by necessarily allocating 10GB (recommended), if ADB Debugging cannot be enabled?

Well, I think many, like me only want/need the Linux distro & apps with no need to do ADB Debugging and/or sideloading apk's.

> Can one side load APK's without ADB Debugging?

One could sideload apps in Developer mode without Linux or ADB Debugging enabled but I'm pretty sure that ability was taken away in M108.

Those that have devices that upgraded to Android 11 / ArcVM can now just sideload apk's using a droid file manager.

> When I made the recovery media via the chrome extension "Chromebook Recovery Utility" by selecting the proposed hardware ID "HANA xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx-xxx", I noticed that the image selected was the "300e/N23 Yoga/Flex 11". (Note that Yoga, N23 is listed in the list of devices supposed to get the Android 11 update!)

I wonder if I could select and use the image "300e 2nd Gen MTK" (or any other you deem compatible from the list).

You could have chosen another brand/model that also uses the 'hana' board I believe since all of them use the same recovery image.

The Chromebook Recovery Utility extension checks the device before it proceeds to download and write the image but I don't think it's specific to the model/brand, only the board / recovery image.

~DennyL

[GT CHRBK]

I think I see where I am getting confused. Being able to turn on the Linux environment, does not necessarily mean that ADB Debugging is available too. And that the latter is only available to devices after 2020.

That could explain why this device is listed in the links I provided as far as the Linux environment.

Would you agree?

But what about the list that includes it in the list of getting the Android 11 update?

What do you think?

[Denny Lockhart]

GT CHRBK,

> And that the latter is only available to devices after 2020.

> That could explain why this device is listed in the links I provided as far as the Linux environment.

> Would you agree?

I would but my opinion doesn't really matter much. 😁
Maybe a dev could pop in here and confirm it. 🤞

As far as those devices that will get the Android 11 / ArcVM update I cannot say either since that info. is not public afaik.

I can show you which boards/devices currently have it in the stable channel tho, maybe the 'hana' board will get it at some point too. 🤔

(Above info. was scraped from data.json under https://github.com/jay0lee/chromeos-update-directory/tree/main/data/updates)

~DennyL

[GT CHRBK]

From the list you posted, the only Lenovo 300e is the Lenovo 300e Chromebook Gen 3 AMD x86 based on the zork board. The Hana in my hands is an arm device...

Thanks for your input and I hope too some dev steps in here for further info!

George