Overview
Android 14 (Beta v1.0.0) brings a modern Android stack to Particle Tachyon, enabling kiosk apps, streaming, signage, and embedded experiences on Qualcomm’s QCM6490-class SoC. This is an early Beta: the core UX, graphics, and connectivity are in good shape, while several embedded/expansion features are still being enabled.
Current Status
| Area | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core & System | ✅ | Stable boot/reboot/shutdown; A/B slots enabled; SELinux enforcing |
| Verified Boot | ⚠️ | Not supported yet (tooling needed) |
| OTA Sideload | ⚠️ | Not yet supported (in progress) |
| Display & Input | ✅ | HDMI / USB-C DP at 1080p; touch input; USB HID keyboard/mouse |
| Orientation | ⚠️ | Default portrait; rotate via adb shell wm size |
| Brightness Control | ⚠️ | Not functional on HDMI |
| Audio | ✅ | USB audio + Bluetooth A2DP working |
| Analog/Telephony | ⚠️ | Paths untested; telephony calls appear to work |
| Connectivity | ✅ | Wi-Fi 6E, hotspot, tethering, Bluetooth (classic + BLE), cellular (manual APN), VPN |
| Location | ✅ | GNSS cold/warm/AGNSS validated, good accuracy |
| USB-C & I/O | ✅ | USB1 host/device, PD negotiation, role swap |
| USB2 | ⚠️ | Not powered on; prevents sleep when connected |
| 40-pin Header | ⚠️ | Not yet accessible from Android |
| PCIe | ⚠️ | Not tested |
| Storage | ✅ | UFS, SD card, USB mass storage |
| Power & Thermal | ✅ | Suspend/Doze, thermal management, LED indicators |
| Cameras & Media | ✅ | Camera HAL works with dev modules; HW codecs (H.264/H.265/VP9/AV1 decode; H.264/H.265 encode) |
| Camera Modules | ⚠️ | Limited to internal dev hardware; Arducam support pending |
| OS & Tooling | ✅ | Security patch level correct; ADB over USB/Wi-Fi |
| Haptics | ❌ | Not supported (no hardware) |
| Platform | ⚠️ | Connectivity Management works, but eSIM profile manipulation disabled; Device Management not enabled |
| Google Play | ❌ | No Play Services or Play Store (sideload APKs via ADB) |
Build Composition (High-Level)
- Android Framework & Services - Standard Android 14 services including SurfaceFlinger, InputFlinger, MediaCodec, etc.
- HALs & Board Support - Board-specific HALs for display, audio, sensors, camera, and connectivity tuned for Tachyon’s QCM6490-class platform.
- Kernel & Firmware - Vendor kernel and firmware components required for radios, graphics, and multimedia.
- Partitioning & Updates - A/B slots are provisioned for future OTA support (sideload tooling in progress).
Note: Google Play Services / Play Store are not preinstalled in this Beta.
What It’s Good For Today
- Kiosks & signage (single-app or pinned experiences)
- Media playback & streaming demos
- Prototyping Android apps on an embedded SBC
- GNSS/location-aware applications
Contributing & Feedback
- Try your use-case (kiosk app, streaming, APKs) and report findings.
- Camera/display module ports (e.g., Arducam) and GPIO access are high-impact areas for contributions.
- File feedback on performance, drivers, or HAL gaps so we can prioritize upcoming drops.