The Zealz GK802 mini PC is a tiny computer that fits in the palm of your hand. It features a Freescale i.MX6 quad-core processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of storage.

While the GK802 ships with Android and is designed to let you run Android apps on a TV, owners have been figuring out how to run Ubuntu Linux on the device for months.

Ubuntu for the GK802 is still very much a work in progress, but recently developers have added support for WiFi, hardware-accelerated graphics, and more.

Update: A pre-built image of Ubuntu 11.10 for the GK802 is now available for download.

GK802 with Ubuntu Linux

What sets the GK802 apart from the dozens of similar Android TV sticks released over the past year is that Freescale processor. Unlike Rockchip, Allwinner, and most other chip makers, Freescale provides extensive documentation for its i.MX6 chips which developers have been using to enable features such as hardware-accelerated graphics.

While you can run Ubuntu on devices like the MK802 (with an Allwinner A10 chip) or the Minix Neo G4 (with a Rockchip RK3066), hardware-accelerated graphics has remained out of reach on those devices.

You can find more details on installing Ubuntu on a GK802 in a slightly out-of-date blog post at jas-hacks, or keep an eye on that blog for more details about installing newer builds.

The folks at the ArmTvTech forum also have a section dedicated to running Linux on the GK802.

The GK802 mini PC is available from GeekBuying for $94.

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6 replies on “Ubuntu for the GK802 mini PC: Now with hardware-accelerated graphics”

  1. This looks like a great device! Can anyone comment if the micro usb port also supports USB host? If so, then I might get it for use with my Lapdock.

  2. is X11 acceleration ‘working’ yet for window drawing… If so, I am ready to buy!

  3. umm..I’ve been running linux on my GK802 for quite a while. I wouldn’t call it crippled at all.

    From the first released image we’ve had hardware video decoding in linux.

    Freescale has a TON of documentation for the i.mx6q.
    I’m really excited that some other devs are working on it now. They’ve made great progress so far! I’m impressed.

    As for android I haven’t had any issues with it on android. It’s one of the best sticks I have. The GK802 may not be as polished as the rk3066 or a10 sticks, but it is getting there. Some of you may recall that the original rk3066 sticks had massive problems(play store, screen resolution, audio sync)

    Android/Linux on the GK802 will only get better. The next software releases by the factory are coming.(soon I hope)

  4. I’ve had one of these for over a month and haven’t had any issues. Can you elaborate on what you mean by “can’t even run Android properly?”

  5. This device cant even run android properly and now people are try to put a crippled version of a linux on it? LMAO

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