AppCenter is empty if apt update has never been run [$30]

[Danielle Foré]

Steps to reproduce:
1. Do a fresh install without connecting to the Internet
2. Fresh boot and connection to the internet
3. Open AppCenter

Expectation:
AppCenter fires up packagekitd and updates the software catalog transparently in the background when the session starts up

Reality:
AppCenter only shows data for the pre-installed packages. packagekitd never fixes it. AppCenter is useless until you open a Terminal and manually run apt update

[Danielle Foré (danrabbit)]

https://www.bountysource.com/issues/37126277-appcenter-is-empty-if-apt-update-has-never-been-run

[Danielle Foré (danrabbit)]

Some progress has been made. As of now, if you restart (or otherwise kill appcenter) the issue will correct itself.

Jeremy seems to think that it might not be possible to solve under current packagekit API and it might be an upstream issue. He cites that it may possibly be related to https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/gnome-software/+bug/1563155

[jpdpza (jpdpza)]

I'm trying to run Loki live from USB and have this problem. Removed appcentre, reboot, re-installed appcentre, reboot and still have the same problem. tried sudo apt update and get the following:
"Reading package lists... Done
E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock - open (11: Resource temporarily unavailable)
E: Unable to lock directory /var/lib/apt/lists/"