Genymotion

[Jarret W. Buse]

Genymotion

For those people who like to play around and code for Android, VirtualBox does not allow for any specific hardware settings. For instance, let's assume you are testing an app for an Android System and you need to set specifics on the GPS. To do this, you would need an actual Android device. Not anymore.
The requirements for running Genymotion are:

• VT-x or AMD-V capable CPU
• OpenGL 2.0 GPU
• 2 GB RAM
• 400 MB Drive Space

Genymotion is an Android Emulator which requires VirtualBox to also be installed on the system. To install, first make sure you have VirtualBox installed. Once VirtualBox is installed, you can download Genymotion from www.genymotion.com. Before starting, you need to create a free account on the Genymotion website. Genymotion will run on Linux, Mac and Windows and has two variations.
The first Genymotion type is the Free one. It emulates Android versions 2.3 to 5.0. It also allows GPS, microphone, battery and camera emulation as well as being for personal use only. The other version is a pay basis per month. The emulator will also provide the following as well as what is provided for the Free version:

• Multi-touch
• Accelerometer
• Java API
• Screencast
• Virtual Device Migration
• IMEI and Android ID update
• Pixel Perfect
• Clone and Reset
• Network quality and performance
• Priority support
• License restriction to one license per user

Log into the Genymotion website and then download the version of software you require. Make sure the .bin file you downloaded has permissions to be executed. Open a terminal and change to the directory of the .bin file. Execute the program as follows (the name is one sample name of those which can be downloaded) “./genymotion-2.3.1_x64.bin”. You should be prompted if you want to extract the files in the current folder into another folder named “genymotion”. Click “y” to accept and press “Enter”. The installer should check for the existence of VirtualBox on your system. From your current location, type “genymotion/genymotion” to start the program. The program should start and you will be asked to log into the system with the credentials you created on the Genymotion website. You should now have a Genymotion screen with no available devices. Click “Add” in the top menu bar and from the new window, select your device you need to emulate. The devices are as follows:

• Custom Tablet – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Lollipop Preview – Nexus 5 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Custom Phone – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Custom Phone – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Custom Phone – 4.3 – API 18
• Custom Phone – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Custom Phone – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Custom Tablet – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Custom Tablet – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Custom Tablet – 4.3 – API 18
• Custom Tablet – 5.0 – API 21
• Google Galaxy Nexus - 4.3 – API 18
• Google Nexus 10 – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Google Nexus 10 – 4.3 – API 18
• Google Nexus 10 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Google Nexus 10 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus 4 – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Google Nexus 4 – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Google Nexus 4 – 4.3 – API 18
• Google Nexus 4 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Google Nexus 4 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus 5 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Google Nexus 5 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus 6 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus 7 – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Google Nexus 7 – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Google Nexus 7 – 4.3 – API 18
• Google Nexus 7 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Google Nexus 7 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus 7 2013 – 4.3 – API 18
• Google Nexus 7 2013 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Google Nexus 7 2013 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus 9 – 5.0.0 – API 21
• Google Nexus One – 2.3.7 – API 10
• Google Nexus S – 2.3.7 – API 10
• Google Nexus S – 4.1.1 – API 16
• HTC Evo – 4.1.1 – API 16
• HTC Evo – 4.2.2 – API 17
• HTC Evo – 4.3 – API 18
• HTC One – 4.2.2 – API 17
• HTC One – 4.3 – API 18
• HTC Evo X – 4.1.1 – API 16
• HTC Evo X – 4.2.2 – API 17
• HTC Evo XL – 4.1.1 – API 16
• HTC Evo XL – 4.2.2 – API 17
• LG Optimus L3 II – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Motorola Droid Razr – 2.3.7 – API 10
• Motorola Droid Razr – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Motorola Moto X – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Motorola Moto X – 4.3 – API 18
• Motorola Moto X – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Motorola Xoom – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Samsung Galaxy Note – 2.3.7 – API 10
• Samsung Galaxy Note – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2 – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2 – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Samsung Galaxy Note 2 – 4.3 – API 18
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 4.3 – API 18
• Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Samsung Galaxy S2 – 2.3.7 – API 10
• Samsung Galaxy S2 – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Samsung Galaxy S3 – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Samsung Galaxy S3 – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Samsung Galaxy S3 – 4.3 – API 18
• Samsung Galaxy S4 – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Samsung Galaxy S4 – 4.3 – API 18
• Samsung Galaxy S4 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Samsung Galaxy S5 – 4.4.4 – API 19
• Sony Xperia S – 2.3.7 – API 10
• Sony Xperia S – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Sony Xperia Tablet S – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Sony Xperia Tablet Z – 4.1.1 – API 16
• Sony Xperia Tablet Z – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Sony Xperia Z – 4.2.2 – API 17
• Sony Xperia Z – 4.3 – API 18

If you need to load specific APK files you will need to download them. For example, use your Linux system to download the Google Play Store app since it is not included in any of the emulated devices. Place any APK or other files within a folder. Open VirtualBox and you should see a session for any device you created in Genymotion. Select the session and open the settings for the session. Go to the Shared Folders section. Here, you can add a link to the folder you need to share and access within the Android OS. Once done, start the session from Genymotion and open “/mnt/Shared/folder_name”. The folder_name is the name of the folder which was shared in VirtualBox. Any files you place in the shared folder from Linux will then be accessible to the virtual Android OS.
Genymotion is definitely a great add-on for VirtualBox to allow Android simulation.