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[Q] Anyone root the ViewSonic g-tablet?

Anyone root their ViewSonic yet. I have been googling about looking for Android 2.2 root methods and just wondering if I risk totally bricking this device. It seems that getting root and installing busy-box *should* work.
Any and all help greatly appreciated.

UH...
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Check the development forum one level back, and you'll see several pinned posts with instructions to replace the software with something much better!

Life in LA said:
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, that's funny as hell! Though I have walked into Starbucks and they were out of coffee, and I live in Starbucks central (Seattle)
@the original poster - This is the thread that I used to put CyanogenMod on mine:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=851657
There's also a "Super Simple One step root" out there.

nink said:
Anyone root their ViewSonic yet. I have been googling about looking for Android 2.2 root methods and just wondering if I risk totally bricking this device. It seems that getting root and installing busy-box *should* work.
Any and all help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow the G Tablet Super Thread. It gives you everything you want for a new start-up: market Fix, Rooting,etc...

nink said:
Anyone root their ViewSonic yet. I have been googling about looking for Android 2.2 root methods and just wondering if I risk totally bricking this device. It seems that getting root and installing busy-box *should* work.
Any and all help greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! I guess I could ask if anyone has taught you to read yet.... Try it, it really works.

Thanks folks. Being my first rooting efforting in android, I hope I succeed.

nink said:
Thanks folks. Being my first rooting efforting in android, I hope I succeed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be ok. Just read up and follow the directions. This tablet is pretty forgiving. And it is really nice once all the stock stuff is gone.
Have fun

Not Starbucks, but same idea
Life in LA said:
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Check the development forum one level back, and you'll see several pinned posts with instructions to replace the software with something much better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our local Burger King ran out of burgers once. Only had chicken and fries. Kinda false advertising. ;P Bad management issue, I had heard.

Funny story, I spent this past summer in Beijing, China, and the one time my friends and I decided to try to go get some fried chicken at a Kenny Rogers Roasters. All they had was half a chicken left lol Well, I never got that fried chicken in China
But, yeah, the forum is easy to READ and find instructions how to root/install custom roms

I don't think I even used the stock build on this tablet - first boot everything fc'd on me. Rebooted and installed TnT lite in pretty much one go.
Sent from my GTablet-TnT-Lite using Tapatalk

billmarquette said:
I don't think I even used the stock build on this tablet - first boot everything fc'd on me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Proud to say I have never seen the default ui on this device! The first time I booted it was to mod it, lol

Life in LA said:
don't mean to sound rude, but this is like walking into starbucks and asking if they have coffee!
Check the development forum one level back, and you'll see several pinned posts with instructions to replace the software with something much better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFLMAO
@OP
Missed the dev forum didya?
(I had problems with the News app/widget thing in the 1.0 version of TnT, then I had problems with the weather app/widget after the 1.01 OTA update for TnT, at which point I dumped TnT for TnT lite 2.0.2 ... if the sw had worked well, I wouldn't have minded the shipped "launcher" too much... but TnT apparently needs ALOT more dev time as it seemed to be beta quality at best, if not alpha...)

Well I rooted successfully. Remounted certain system folders as rw. BEFORE I installed the TNT 2.20 I used the stock recovery tool , I made a backup to sdcard and copied that to my Linux box.
So far so good. At first I was a bit miffed to find the /system or /etc mounted ro, but got around that with busybox sudo..
Now my task is to tinker a bit around with the user-space services.
I am finding, that unlike a system-V (/etc/rc?.d with init.d), user-space tweaking in the sense of auto starting apps or whatever is not as simple as: write shell script, place in proper location, re-boot.... seems I need to write an actual app that listens for "ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETE". I sure wish it was simpler.
Oh, is the titanium backup worth it? Or is the system backup I created using the "power-on+volume-up" method just as good. Seems the method provided by ViewSonic is fine enough. However, I did not see any mention of it in the forum (my system seems to have been created on 11/22/2010, based on the system directories date before I TNTed my tablet).
Again, many thanks to those who pointed me in the proper direction. I really appreciate your input.

nink said:
Well I rooted successfully. Remounted certain system folders as rw. BEFORE I installed the TNT 2.20 I used the stock recovery tool , I made a backup to sdcard and copied that to my Linux box.
So far so good. At first I was a bit miffed to find the /system or /etc mounted ro, but got around that with busybox sudo..
Now my task is to tinker a bit around with the user-space services.
I am finding, that unlike a system-V (/etc/rc?.d with init.d), user-space tweaking in the sense of auto starting apps or whatever is not as simple as: write shell script, place in proper location, re-boot.... seems I need to write an actual app that listens for "ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETE". I sure wish it was simpler.
Oh, is the titanium backup worth it? Or is the system backup I created using the "power-on+volume-up" method just as good. Seems the method provided by ViewSonic is fine enough. However, I did not see any mention of it in the forum (my system seems to have been created on 11/22/2010, based on the system directories date before I TNTed my tablet).
Again, many thanks to those who pointed me in the proper direction. I really appreciate your input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know about all the other stuff but Viewsonic did not have a recovery option. Had to be something you installed while rooting, or whatever. The system backup in Clockwork is great for times when your tablet won't work because of something, or a program that went wrong. Titanium is great for when you have a zillion apps installed and want to install a new rom, or reload a clean version. Titanium will then let you put all your apps back without having to download them from the market, or sideload them all again. It is also useful when you have an app you can't find but it may be on your phone. You can backup the app on your phone and then move it to your tablet to install.

Sprdtyf350 said:
[...]recovery option[...]Had to be something you installed while rooting, or whatever. The system backup in Clockwork
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I think you are right. My first effort in the rooting process was to install the clockwork, but I thought it failed. However, it must not have as when I run the backup (and pay attention) I saw the "ClockWork...... msgs". Definitely a nifty tool.

FYI troops:
I was quite successful, with much thanks to all of you and your wonderful efforts.
- got market place working (however have not needed it yet at all)
- installed groomdroid (a php aware webserver)
- installed php-cgi so that groom processes ".php" web pages.
- installed php-cli program for command line php capabilities.
- installed TitaniumBackup (need to use it, probably soon)
- installed adobe flash, and it works just fine
Now to:.
- browser that is truly html5 capable (this may be dreaming as most have various parts of html5 disabled, such as the "<video>" element. However, there is a new Opera browser available that is *supp5osed* to be <video> capable. FYI: some webkit browsers, such as the QT-webkit have the html5 video element capability disabled on purpose.
- autostart apps of my choosing (I have a feeling I will be writing droid apps to accomplish this)
Again, many thanks folks.
When I get my device set up as I need it, I will post how I did it. I am trying to document the process as best I can.

I thought this was a hilarious thread, and I was going to make a joke at the OP just for fun, but I am REALLY happy that despite the doofus thread opening that nink has figured it out and has joined the ranks.
Hope you have happy flashing and have fun (and don't worry all of us were pretty lost when we began)

[Q] Rooting Question...

"Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.”
What i am trying to say is if someone can lay down the foundation of Rooting an Android Device. I am not talking about any specific device, or the different Methods of Rooting (i.e. through recovery, through script, etc.) I am speaking about what file systems/files are being modified, replace, etc?
From what i understand Android release their OS's rooted, then third parties, (i.e. Samsung, Moto, Tmobile etc) take those releases and make changes. What changes do they make besides the themed, and service ones? the changes that unroot the phone.
If you wish you can lay down the foundation of sudo/su thats cool. However, i am not asking for the history of it.
Side Note:
Pls no trolling.
Posting comments like- "you shouldn't try this..", "Leave it to the experts..", and "You're going to break your device..." are Un-Welcome.
Thanx.

Rooting my touch 4g benefits or drawbacks
I wanted to find out if there are things that work differently like the market or other things if you root a phone. What are some of the benefits to rooting? I want to use my phone as a wifi hotspot for our computer without paying for it. Is that only possible with a rooted phone? Is a phone able to be unrooted if it needs to be? Thank you for your help.

rooted the HTC BEE WILDFIRE CDMA
i have rooted the HTC BEE WILDFIRE CDMA. it is different than the HTC BUZZ WILDFIRE GSM. using the [APP]SuperOneClick v1.5.5 (Root, Unroot, Enable Non-Market App, Get UNLOCK code)
now i cant find a recovery img that will work can any one point me the right way. there is no thread in for this phone.

There's nothing fundamentally changed when you root your phone. Make yourself familiar with Linux security and you're (almost) done. Your phone executes under the control of this model, be it rooted or not. In an unrooted phone, there are nevertheless a lot of processes running with root privileges so of course there's a "root" in an unrooted phone. But it is not available to the normal user, only to system processes.
The only difference is that on a rooted phone there is a way for a non-root process to acquire root privileges, i.e. run as root. That's just about all. Except for some, umhh, minor thing: You cannot install the program required to do so (e.g., su) as long as you're non-root. Only root can install any piece of code which changes the current user into root. Apps run as their own user (to each app, a separate user "account" is assigned, none of those having root privileges) and so can't install such a thing, at least not normally.
Some trick is needed (running an exploit, changing the ROM) to achieve this and this is what makes rooting such a tricky thing.
The fundamental thing to understand what is changed when you root your phone (and that barely anything changes really) is the Linux user/group security concept. It's all open, there's no hidden secret.

mizch said:
There's nothing fundamentally changed when you root your phone. Make yourself familiar with Linux security and you're (almost) done. Your phone executes under the control of this model, be it rooted or not. In an unrooted phone, there are nevertheless a lot of processes running with root privileges so of course there's a "root" in an unrooted phone. But it is not available to the normal user, only to system processes.
The only difference is that on a rooted phone there is a way for a non-root process to acquire root privileges, i.e. run as root. That's just about all. Except for some, umhh, minor thing: You cannot install the program required to do so (e.g., su) as long as you're non-root. Only root can install any piece of code which changes the current user into root. Apps run as their own user (to each app, a separate user "account" is assigned, none of those having root privileges) and so can't install such a thing, at least not normally.
Some trick is needed (running an exploit, changing the ROM) to achieve this and this is what makes rooting such a tricky thing.
The fundamental thing to understand what is changed when you root your phone (and that barely anything changes really) is the Linux user/group security concept. It's all open, there's no hidden secret.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanx for taking the time to write this but i am hoping for something alittle more descriptive.

I've got an HTC Desire and want to root it in order to install some lag-fix to make smoother.
Question is: will rooting affect the updates I get from HTC?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Root Achieved for Le Pan TC 970

EDIT 12/13/2011:
Instructions to Root the le pan tab tc970 from whatid (THANK YOU!!)
"Here are the steps (to root) for newbies.
1. Download the packages from OP (Post #1). Assume you are using windows, you don't need LinuxDriver.7z.
2. Use http://www.7-zip.org/ to unpack onto your computer.
3. On your TC970, hit home->Menu
4. Applications -> Development
5. Check "USB debugging", optionally some suggest checking "Stay awake"
6. Connect your TC970 to your PC, when prompted new hardware detected. Select the Windows Drivers directory you unpacked in.
7. Once driver is installed, run "SuperOneClick.exe"
8. Just click "Root" under the "Universal" tab and wait.
** It will prompt you to install BusyBox during the first time, just install it **
9. When it is done, it will prompt you.
From dbaybay's experience (thank you for your continual help in leading the le pan community through the growing pains!!!):
If you ever have to root your tab again (say after upgrading the firmware), when you root it the first time, open up SuperUser before rebooting and Menu > Options/Prefs and choose "update binaries". Then reboot and your root will stick the first time around.
If everything seems ok, turn off your TC970 by holding on the power button. Power up again, and see if root stay (use Root Checker Basic).
If not, repeat step 6 (no need to install driver again) until you have root after reboot."
Also a big thanks to nehinbin for giving the community insider info with regard to the tablet and firmware v2 which you can find here:
http://lepan.supportsync.com/articles/view/Latest_Firmware_for_LePan_TC_970_Tablet_Computer_11
For the brave or fool hardy, here is a link which will direct you to directions on how to port CWM to a new, as of yet unsupported device (like the 970):
http://www.koushikdutta.com/2010/10/porting-clockwork-recovery-to-new.html
AND HOT OFF THE PRESS FROM cas_xp:
"I am still waiting mine to be shipped. (should be today or tomorrow) Can not wait!
But if anyone is interested, I attached a tool to extract Le Pan update package as
Kernel
ramdisk
recovery
system
...
For somehow, the system is compressed and not yaffs2 or other format. I am trying to figure it out."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have achieved root using a modified superoneclick 2.2 on my Le Pan TC 970!!!!!
Credit to all devs who produced superoneclick and associated root methods!!!!
I wish I could take some sort of techie credit for this, but I did it by swapping the adb file and associated .dlls in superoneclick with some that I procured from *somewhere*.
The root is not permanent, but for someone with far more experience in android than i, i am sure it could be used to develop a permanent root.
If there are people out there who would like to take this to the next level, send me a pm and ill see about getting you the files to repeat what i have done.
-DerKoch
NOTE:
After reboot when trying to gain elevated privileges on the device i get the error:
link_image[1995]: failed to link su
CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE
Could be a useful starting place.
-DK
EDIT:
Nuts to it. The Superoneclick i modified to gain root is now attached. It is only modified for and works in windows as i didnt feel like farting around with the linux version.
Good luck with the permanent root.
-DK
ANOTHER EDIT:
I have updated the post and am including the missing files.
Dont ask where i got them and, as usual, if you screw up your new toy with anything you find here, i am not in any way responsible. Rooting or altering your tablet beyond what is allowed by the eula of your device will almost certainly void your warranty and piss off the people to whom you are trying to return the device once broken beyond your ability to repair.
YOU ARE WARNED
ALSO, It looks like the tablet hardware was designed by innocomm. you can find this if you download the 4431 update from le pan http://www.sendspace.com/file/sunmks . For some reason the firmware update is not openly available...... Well now it is. Just click on the above link and download at your leisure.
the 970 uses the 3e recovery and what looks like a modified 3e or 2e (i cant remember which at the moment) for the firmware update supplied by le pan.
This firmware package contains a MLO file (35.1kB) which i assume is a shell script (although the text encoding eludes me *encrypted maby*), iboot.ism (131.1 kB) which i think it the, you guessed it, bootloader the tablet uses during the flash process, and griffin.ifw (99.1 MB) which is the firmware. There are a whole bunch of apks included as well so non-market apps are enabled by default and you are told to install them after you upgrade the tablet.
all of the documentation for the 970 is written in mandarin, so for all non speakers, good luck with that
I cant seem to decompile griffin.ifw into anything useful, but then again, i am no firmware expert. I am sure some of you would be able to poke around and get it to open-sesamie.
If you are successful, please post how ya done it here so we, myself included, can learn a thing or two.
Best,
DK

Thank you!!
I just wanted to thank you for figuring out as much as you did. I wish I was even on your level but hopefully I will be one day soon. Anyway, you're awesome!
Edit: I was also able to root my le pan tc970 and it is permanent. It got stuck in a rebooting loop but i just hit the reset button on the back and it turned on just fine. I did have to reinstall all my apps as well but everything is fine now so thanks to you and the developers.

Damn. 147 views and no feedback. Kinda quiet in here .....
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

DerKoch, how exactly did you get this to run and root?
When I run the SuperOneClick you posted, it stops responding when it tries to restart the adb server and it just hangs...any thoughts?

Yeah. I forgot to post the other needed files (One might even be able to call them a hardware - software interface if you get my drift. These aren't supposed to be available to the public. ) Im away from my computer, but ill put them up when I get home.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

hey dadog,
just search the forums for your phone. the answer is out there
PS
be careful about asking questions in the wrong threads (such as this one). people will rip you a new one and you run the risk of having bad things happen.
DK

Help the community
Hey all,
it comes to my attention that i forgot to post all of the files i have from *somewhere* to make this work. i have what one might call a bleeding heart for people who put themselves at risk to help others and the person who helped me was exceptionally kind in this regard.
please do me a personal favor and call le pan customer support and hound them regarding making the files-who-will-not-be-named publicly available. the phone number is: 1-855-537-2672 (1-855-LePanPC). tell them you are developing software, and have to be able to access the tablet through adb, not just mass storage which regularly fails and screen locks the device. also tell them how disappointed you are with the total inability to use it while it is connected to your computer in mass storage mode, because it constantly chokes on itself and requires a hard reset to get it back up and running. if you are lucky, they might help you out.
if there is enough pressure, i hope these required files will become publicly available and my conscience with releasing these files will become clear.
if you need the other files to get this to work because you are a dev working to open the 970 to comply with the gnu/gpl license they have flaunted by taking the froyo os and NOT RELEASING ANY SOURCE CODE *OR DRIVERS* (GRRRRRRR!!!!), please send me a pm and ill get them to you.
Best
DerKoch

Permanent Root - Le Pan TC 970
Thanks again for the drivers. Now that they are public we can post in this thread instead of PM.
In response to your first post, my device seems to be permanently rooted. I have restarted it several times after the initial root and still retain full access to the superuser bin.
Off topic: The USB wall charger just burned out in mine and I've only had it for a day. I'm going to see if Le Pan would just send me a replacement charger instead of having to exchange the whole product with Amazon. I wold like to get some more hands-on time with it.
Other than that charger issue I find it to be a superb tab.
I have no idea why launchers in the market place are blocked on this device but you can get around this by downloading the apk's and manually installing directly on device.

raden2967 said:
Thanks again for the drivers. Now that they are public we can post in this thread instead of PM.
In response to your first post, my device seems to be permanently rooted. I have restarted it several times after the initial root and still retain full access to the superuser bin.
Off topic: The USB wall charger just burned out in mine and I've only had it for a day. I'm going to see if Le Pan would just send me a replacement charger instead of having to exchange the whole product with Amazon. I wold like to get some more hands-on time with it.
Other than that charger issue I find it to be a superb tab.
I have no idea why launchers in the market place are blocked on this device but you can get around this by downloading the apk's and manually installing directly on device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How exactly did you get a permanent root? Or more appropriately, what was your process for doing it in the first place?
I cannot seem to get mine to root at all

Succesfully Applied Root to my TC970
Makes tablet that much more awesome. It's one of the few Android tablets with a 9.7" 4:3 ratio screen. But, the stock resolution on this thing is wayyy to big. I set it down to 180 with LCDDensity, and it looks great. Thanks for the awesome help folks.

nevermind, I got it working. Now all I need to get working is LCDDensity without locking the tablet up on reboot and I'm golden! Thanks a lot guys!

I was having the same problem as you. Actually, when I first rooted, all my apps broke. So, i wiped to factory(on the latest firmware, re-rooted, ran LCDDensity, and was good to go. Then all my apps ran fine, and it didn't lock up on reboot.

Brief Rooting Guide - Le Pan TC970 (Windows)
MK2MR2 said:
How exactly did you get a permanent root? Or more appropriately, what was your process for doing it in the first place?
I cannot seem to get mine to root at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step 1: Enable USB debugging on device (Settings>Applications>Development>USB debugging)
Step 2: Download windows ADB drivers and modified Super One Click 2.2 from the first post in the thread.
Step 3: Plug in device and install drivers through device manager / new hardware detection wizard.
Step 4: Open modified Super One Click 2.2 (with admin privileges depending on your OS version).
Step 5: Click the "Root" button.
That's it.

raden2967 said:
That's it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... and that's for permanent root? I just bought one of these from Amazon for $170... so I'm hoping I can root it in the hopes of some ICS magic in the weeks/months to come!

I wouldnt hold my breath for a full ics experience. ics is very graphics intensive in comparison to 2.2 and without any hardware acceleration it would be a very slow, somewhat irritating experience.
I believe it would be better to develop an upgraded/modified 2.2 or 2.3 build for the 970 as neither are that demanding in the graphics realm.
Best,
DK

No Official Android OS updates planned for Le Pan TC970
gfinockio said:
... and that's for permanent root? I just bought one of these from Amazon for $170... so I'm hoping I can root it in the hopes of some ICS magic in the weeks/months to come!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have confirmed with Le Pan tech support that this tab wouldn't be getting any more official OS updates but they may publish bug fixes in future firmware updates.
In their words:
"The TC970 runs 2.2 which is a completely different platform than 3.0+.
Google rushed its release to compete against Apple so it's lacking a lot of support. This OS is not upgradable to anything beyond 2.2.
Le Pan plans to release a new tablet with a new OS that will come out early next year.
Sorry for the inconveniences, we really wish 2.2 would be upgradable to 4.0 or even 2.3 but it just isn't possible. "
...
"The current model TC970 will not be getting any OS updates but will receive firmware updates when needed."
We are on our own to port 2.3.x on this tab.

So, I ran the root exploit and then tried to run LCDDensity and my tablet crapped out.
I then booted into recovery and just did a complete reset, when I came back to the tablet interface I found that Superuser was still installed, and it was rooted permanently. Weird, but i'll take it! I've since have tested it out and restarted the tablet to confirm that it is indeed permanent.
It is. DerKoch, I cannot thank you enough for the help here, amazing!

Thank you, but remember to also thank the development people over at superoneclick. I just modifyed their application. A lot of hard work went into their program. All I did was have the right tools at hand to make their stuff work with the 970 and know where the current failings were with accessing the 970.
Please don't think I'm being ungrateful, but the Android development community is really a lot of different people standing on the shoulders of giants taking their work just a little bit further.
Best
-DerKoch
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

raden2967 said:
Le Pan plans to release a new tablet with a new OS that will come out early next year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just ordered one of these from amazon.ca too - $170 shipped is an amazing deal! I love how it came on super sale the day after someone managed to root it. That was the first thing I went to check when I saw the new price!
BTW it looks like the "Le Pan II" that support was talking about is about to hit the shelves:
http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00...d_t=101&pf_rd_p=1293009622&pf_rd_i=2690953011
1.2GHz dual core running Honeycomb... very interesting.
Does anyone have any plans to try Honeycomb on the TC970? (CyanogenMod7?)

Sandmonkee said:
Does anyone have any plans to try Honeycomb on the TC970? (CyanogenMod7?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think that this tablet can run Honeycomb. It's only single core and 512 megs of ram. Gingerbread is more possible, but i don't think that this tablet could run it.

"To Root or not to Root?" that's the question...

I don't want to know how to root, I can find my answer for that on Google, however what I don't get is what it does...
I know it unlocks the device somehow, but can't I simply access everything in the system if I compile android from source and install it on the device?
I have downloaded the android source and I believe I can access every possible thing, so why is rooting needed?
If I install an app as a system app, won't it automatically have the permissions to do what I need it to do?

AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
If you have a new phone and want to install one of the many custom ROMs around, you simply need a rooted phone.
A custom ROM is in easy terms a custom made User Interface for the phone.
There is lot more complicated stuff going on under the hood, but in general you change the look and feel of you phone's UI.
The phone has to be rooted, because the manufacturers and net providers around pack a lot of useless crap called "bloatware" (like Samsung Shop and Samsung Play and Samsung Sing and Dance and Music and whatnot) on your phone, which often makes it slower than it can be without it.
But naturally the big corps don't want you to be able to get rid of that **** too easily, which is why you don't have access to the system folders as a normal user.
I guess in your case it's possible that you (if you compiled android from source and installed it on your device) so to say have an already rooted phone, since Android itself is rooted by default. Like I said, the manufacturers are the ones to unroot Android in order to dictate which apps their customers might or might not use.
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
meh, hope that helped a bit at least...

root- you would love to do it after reading this..
Root? what is it?
it is what i call full access to our phone, flash new roms, have dual boot (example- you can have to os like ics and JB), can access the evasive /data folder which holdes the apk/setups of apps installed from playstore and many other things..
If you are concerned about warranty you can unroot your phone and give in your phone for warranty. i have given my phone for warranty like this.
The most important thing i like about root is that i can fix my phone myself (if it is a software problem). any other question please ask, and i will answer it.
Thanks if helped!

I don't have the time for development anymore. I used to play with stuff like that years ago, but life has taken me away from it. I'd still like to be able to access everything on my phone and play with custom roms, and root lets me do that. The end consumer comment is a good one.
As for to root or not root, I tell most people who ask me to root for them what they use their phone for and explain what they would get out of rooting, and explain the risks involved. Seems that people who understand what rooting does are able to do it themselves, and the ones that ask you to do it for them usually decide against it after hearing "there is a tiny chance that your phone could get bricked" lol

If you just want to play emulators etc, how would you benefit from rooting?

IMO rooting is very useful if you want to keep touching system things in a stock rom, optimizing and debloating it, installing other people ROMs, etc... I believe that if you compile your own flavour of android and find no restriction doing whatever you want, you don't need to.

Android phone without root is nothing

McFex said:
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:
McFex said:
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
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Click to collapse
Some phones can just be flashed (for example via usb) which gives you full control, others can be cracked.

Rooting Sony's e-reader DPT-RP1 and DPT-CP1

Update (5/18/2019)
Since the first tool was released, HappyZ has improved many features so I think I can just refer to
* HappyZ's rooting guide: https://github.com/HappyZ/dpt-tools/wiki/The-Ultimate-Rooting-Guide
- The only thing I want to add as Windows user is (because the guide is for Mac/Linux users) it gets much easier if you use Linux terminal like cygwin, and the port name should be something like COM# where # can be found in Device Manager by comparing before/after you attach the device.
* HappyZ's upgrade guide: https://github.com/HappyZ/dpt-tools/wiki/The-Upgrade-Guide (Recommend to read this before/after you update the new firmware.)
You may donate a cup of coffee to him there Thanks to all others who contributed a lot.
--
Update (12/02/2018) -- These are outdated.
Finally we manage to root the device! Many thanks to all of your efforts.
Just refer to HappyZ's well written guide: https://github.com/HappyZ/dpt-tools
For whom have never used python like me (and probably using Windows):
(1) Install Python 3 and add it to PATH.
(2) Install MINGW64 and run scripts here instead of Powershell due to xxd issue if you are on Windows.
(2) pip httpsig pyserial on bash.
(3) Download HappyZ's dpt-tools and unzip.
(4* this issue is fixed by HappZ)
(5) Follow HappyZ's guide. You should execute dpt-tools.py in the folder you unzipped to use get-su-bin because of how the script is written.
Some suggestions after rooting (let me know if you have better ideas):
Here is my setup: install "E-ink Launcher" and "Multi action home button" using adb install.
Use adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN to change the main launcher to your launcher.
Then change the setting of Multi Action Home button (say, the height should be large to be visible in the bottom) and assign its function to be Home for click and Back for double-click.
Whenever you want to use Sony's apps (these are good for pdf markup), just push the home button to open the pop-up menu.
Otherwise, touch the Multi Action Home Button to access to other Android apps. So far I've never experience any crash.
Yet more tips:
Some complain fonts are too small after installing generic apps.
adb shell wm density 320 changes your DPI by 2 times (160 is a default value.) EDIT: I found 200 is quite enough that does not distort Sony apps too much.
My application is using "Tasker" to execute the above code when specific apps are open and execute wm density reset when the apps are closed.
The reason why we cannot change the global DPI is sadly because it makes the default apps by Sony so awkward.
Alternatively, I could successfully install Xposed to try App Settings but this app crashed.
You can also install Gboard (but it has no hide button, so prepare with virtual back button) if you need another keyboard.
Enjoy your DPT devices
--
Sony recently released a new digital paper device DPT-RP1, apparently using their own linux firmware but underlying on Android 5.1.1. Few weeks ago, some Chinese successfully hacked it to jailbreak for third-party apps (without changing the original firmware), but they don't share any information to sell those hacked devices. I'm willing to pay for it, but it is too risky to send my device to China so I'm trying to root it by myself.
I don't know much about this world, but I found some information that might be helpful. It uses Marvell A140 IoT Processor a.k.a. PXA1908. There are two Android smartphones (as the same version 5.1.1) with this chip - Samsung Xcover 3 and Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime. Fortunately, they have been both rooted in the past here.
Is this information really helpful to root my device? If so, is there any way to apply the previous methods to easily jailbreak DPT-RP1? I think the problem here is that it does not look like Android at all, so has no setting menu or developer tools. And not sure how to enter to the recovery mode since it only has two buttons - power/menu.
I'd appreciate any help or advice. Thanks!

And here you can find source codes.
oss.sony.net/Products/Linux/dp/DPT-RP1.html

sartrism said:
Sony recently released a new digital paper device DPT-RP1, apparently using their own linux firmware but underlying on Android 5.1.1. Few weeks ago, some Chinese successfully hacked it to jailbreak for third-party apps (without changing the original firmware), but they don't share any information to sell those hacked devices. I'm willing to pay for it, but it is too risky to send my device to China so I'm trying to root it by myself.
I don't know much about this world, but I found some information that might be helpful. It uses Marvell A140 IoT Processor a.k.a. PXA1908. There are two Android smartphones (as the same version 5.1.1) with this chip - Samsung Xcover 3 and Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime. Fortunately, they have been both rooted in the past here.
Is this information really helpful to root my device? If so, is there any way to apply the previous methods to easily jailbreak DPT-RP1? I think the problem here is that it does not look like Android at all, so has no setting menu or developer tools. And not sure how to enter to the recovery mode since it only has two buttons - power/menu.
I'd appreciate any help or advice. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must be an iPhone user that isn't familiar with android. Jailbreak in is an Apple thing, not an android thing.
In android it's called "rooting" and it isn't quite the same thing as jailbreaking an Apple device.
This device does not at all seem to be worth the price, especially considering the limitations it has. What a waste of hardware.
I would assume that you could port something from one of those other devices to work on yours but it really depends on how your hardware is designed compared to those devices.
Does your device have a typical bootloader like other android devices?
Is the bootloader unlocked?
If it is locked, can it be unlocked?
Does the device use fastboot or does it have a flash mode that is used with a specific PC flashtool?
If it is unlocked or if you can unlock it and it has a flash mode that can actually be used, you might be able to port a custom recovery from one of the devices you named then use that recovery to somehow root the device. If the device can't install android apps then it would probably involve using adb to root the device.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PM, KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE

Droidriven said:
You must be an iPhone user that isn't familiar with android. Jailbreak in is an Apple thing, not an android thing.
In android it's called "rooting" and it isn't quite the same thing as jailbreaking an Apple device.
This device does not at all seem to be worth the price, especially considering the limitations it has. What a waste of hardware.
I would assume that you could port something from one of those other devices to work on yours but it really depends on how your hardware is designed compared to those devices.
Does your device have a typical bootloader like other android devices?
Is the bootloader unlocked?
If it is locked, can it be unlocked?
Does the device use fastboot or does it have a flash mode that is used with a specific PC flashtool?
If it is unlocked or if you can unlock it and it has a flash mode that can actually be used, you might be able to port a custom recovery from one of the devices you named then use that recovery to somehow root the device. If the device can't install android apps then it would probably involve using adb to root the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for suggesting a general principle! I just use the word jailbreaking not because I'm an iPhone user. What I actually want to do as the first step is not rooting an android system, but revealing it from the current customized linux system. Rooting is the next step if necessary. If the word choice is still not accurate and bothers you, I apologize.
It has apparently no typical bootloader, and neither PC nor adb recognize it as an android device. In fact, direct USB file transfer is blocked so I need to use Sony's designated software. But an android system surely coexists according to the hacker who already rooted it.

sartrism said:
Thanks for suggesting a general principle! I just use the word jailbreaking not because I'm an iPhone user. What I actually want to do as the first step is not rooting an android system, but revealing it from the current customized linux system. Rooting is the next step if necessary. If the word choice is still not accurate and bothers you, I apologize.
It has apparently no typical bootloader, and neither PC nor adb recognize it as an android device. In fact, direct USB file transfer is blocked so I need to use Sony's designated software. But an android system surely coexists according to the hacker who already rooted it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without some kind of way to flash or interface with the device there isn't much you can do.
I have a kindle fire HD that didn't come with a typical android system but does have a typical bootloader. The Amazon OS was removed and now it's full blown android but it required a "second" bootloader. You don't have a bootloader so I'm not sure what your options are with that device.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PM, KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE

Droidriven said:
You must be an iPhone user that isn't familiar with android. Jailbreak in is an Apple thing, not an android thing.
In android it's called "rooting" and it isn't quite the same thing as jailbreaking an Apple device.
This device does not at all seem to be worth the price, especially considering the limitations it has. What a waste of hardware.
I would assume that you could port something from one of those other devices to work on yours but it really depends on how your hardware is designed compared to those devices.
Does your device have a typical bootloader like other android devices?
Is the bootloader unlocked?
If it is locked, can it be unlocked?
Does the device use fastboot or does it have a flash mode that is used with a specific PC flashtool?
If it is unlocked or if you can unlock it and it has a flash mode that can actually be used, you might be able to port a custom recovery from one of the devices you named then use that recovery to somehow root the device. If the device can't install android apps then it would probably involve using adb to root the device.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PM, KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jailbreaking is the process of modifying any electronic device in order to remove restrictions imposed by a manufacturer (Apple) or operator (to allow the installation of unauthorized software).
Rooting is the act of gaining access to the root account of a device (such as a smartphone or computer).
There is a huge difference between the two. You can't just say that rooting is Android's version of jailbreaking. Not accurate in the least.
https://www.androidpit.com/jailbreak-android
Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk

MarkBell said:
Jailbreaking is the process of modifying any electronic device in order to remove restrictions imposed by a manufacturer (Apple) or operator (to allow the installation of unauthorized software).
Rooting is the act of gaining access to the root account of a device (such as a smartphone or computer).
There is a huge difference between the two. You can't just say that rooting is Android's version of jailbreaking. Not accurate in the least.
https://www.androidpit.com/jailbreak-android
Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're reading too much into what I said.
Basically, what I said was that jailbreaking isn't an android thing, it's an Apple thing(didn't say it was exclusively an Apple thing, just NOT an android thing). It applies to more than just Apple devices but on this website dedicated to mobile platforms, I'm only referring to its application in the mobile device world. For the mobile world it's pretty much only an Apple thing(still not exclusively but mostly so).
Then I said that in the android world it's called rooting(not exclusively an android thing, just NOT an Apple thing). And that jailbreaking and rooting aren't the same thing(this does not say that rooting is android's version of jailbreaking, that would imply that they are the same thing, I'm saying they aren't the same thing)
Basically, explaining what they "aren't", you explained what they "are".
I understand the difference, but thank you.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PM, KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE

Droidriven said:
You're reading too much into what I said.
Basically, what I said was that jailbreaking isn't an android thing, it's an Apple thing(didn't say it was exclusively an Apple thing, just NOT an android thing). It applies to more than just Apple devices but on this website dedicated to mobile platforms, I'm only referring to its application in the mobile device world. For the mobile world it's pretty much only an Apple thing(still not exclusively but mostly so).
Then I said that in the android world it's called rooting(not exclusively an android thing, just NOT an Apple thing). And that jailbreaking and rooting aren't the same thing(this does not say that rooting is android's version of jailbreaking, that would imply that they are the same thing, I'm saying they aren't the same thing)
Basically, explaining what they "aren't", you explained what they "are".
I understand the difference, but thank you.
I DO NOT PROVIDE HELP IN PM, KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tend to read too deeply into everything. It's the way I am. Lol.
Sent from my SM-G928T using Tapatalk

Could you please post some information about usb device? Just like PID & VID.
Do it like:
Connect DPT-RP1 to Linux, and then type this command 'lsusb'
P.S. Under Windows or MacOS system, you can find the information from system settings...

happy to help with simple things
thisvip said:
Could you please post some information about usb device? Just like PID & VID.
Do it like:
Connect DPT-RP1 to Linux, and then type this command 'lsusb'
P.S. Under Windows or MacOS system, you can find the information from system settings...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 054c:0be5 Sony Corp.

It is good to see some people have been interested in this thread.
So far, I realized that the hacker used a hardware hacking method. I actually obtained the hacked system apps from one of his customer. I guess he did sometihng like directly modifying eMMC to root and put "USBDeviceSwitcher.apk" to allow an usual USB connection. Since I don't want to take such risk, I decided to wait until the first firmware to see if there could be an indirect way to penetrate the system files. But if you want to analyze the hacked system, contact me.

sartrism said:
It is good to see some people have been interested in this thread.
So far, I realized that the hacker used a hardware hacking method. I actually obtained the hacked system apps from one of his customer. I guess he did sometihng like directly modifying eMMC to root and put "USBDeviceSwitcher.apk" to allow an usual USB connection. Since I don't want to take such risk, I decided to wait until the first firmware to see if there could be an indirect way to penetrate the system files. But if you want to analyze the hacked system, contact me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it have a web browser? Maybe you can utilize for example the Stagefright Exploit + DirtyC0W to get root.

I have found out some interesting stuff about the device with the help of the Digital Paper App.
The app is built using electron and there is a file: /Applications/Digital\ Paper\ App.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar
This file contains the electron javascript files, which handle all the communication with the device.
It can be extracted with: sudo asar extract app.asar output
(github_com/electron/asar)
This also requires node to be installed: with e.g. brew install node (changelog_com/posts/install-node-js-with-homebrew-on-os-x)
The app communicates with the device via Restlet-Framework/2.3.7 on port 8443 with tcp (no matter if it is the bluetooth, wifi or usb connection).
This is the only port that is open.
In the file: /Applications/Digital\ Paper\ App.app/Contents/Resources/output/node_modules/mw-error/lib/codeparams.js you can find all the relative paths, which are getting called during e.g. file transfer, firmware update and stuff.
Running the app and placing breakpoints reveals that before you can transfer files and stuff:
'/auth'
'/auth/nonce/'
are called in order to authenticate, which looks e.g. like url digitalpaper.local:8443/auth/nonce/1e9ee24d-6613-433a-9770-76b04333ac95
the last part of the call is the "client_id": "1e9ee24d-6613-433a-9770-76b04333ac95", which is retrieved via the url digitalpaper.local:8443/auth call.
digitalpaper.local:8443/auth/
Important:
In /Applications/Digital\ Paper\ App.app/Contents/Resources/output/lib/config.js
change the line
config.DEVBUILD = false;
to
config.DEVBUILD = true;
After you finished your modifications you have pack the output folder again:
sudo asar pack output app.asar
I did not have time to continue, but the following relative urls look promising (especially recovery_mode):
'/testmode/auth/nonce',
'/testmode/auth',
'/testmode/launch',
'/testmode/recovery_mode',
'/testmode/assets/{}',

mcplectrum said:
I have found out some interesting stuff about the device with the help of the Digital Paper App.
The app is built using electron and there is a file: /Applications/Digital\ Paper\ App.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar
This file contains the electron javascript files, which handle all the communication with the device.
It can be extracted with: sudo asar extract app.asar output
(github_com/electron/asar)
This also requires node to be installed: with e.g. brew install node (changelog_com/posts/install-node-js-with-homebrew-on-os-x)
The app communicates with the device via Restlet-Framework/2.3.7 on port 8443 with tcp (no matter if it is the bluetooth, wifi or usb connection).
This is the only port that is open.
In the file: /Applications/Digital\ Paper\ App.app/Contents/Resources/output/node_modules/mw-error/lib/codeparams.js you can find all the relative paths, which are getting called during e.g. file transfer, firmware update and stuff.
Running the app and placing breakpoints reveals that before you can transfer files and stuff:
'/auth'
'/auth/nonce/'
are called in order to authenticate, which looks e.g. like url digitalpaper.local:8443/auth/nonce/1e9ee24d-6613-433a-9770-76b04333ac95
the last part of the call is the "client_id": "1e9ee24d-6613-433a-9770-76b04333ac95", which is retrieved via the url digitalpaper.local:8443/auth call.
digitalpaper.local:8443/auth/
Important:
In /Applications/Digital\ Paper\ App.app/Contents/Resources/output/lib/config.js
change the line
config.DEVBUILD = false;
to
config.DEVBUILD = true;
After you finished your modifications you have pack the output folder again:
sudo asar pack output app.asar
I did not have time to continue, but the following relative urls look promising (especially recovery_mode):
'/testmode/auth/nonce',
'/testmode/auth',
'/testmode/launch',
'/testmode/recovery_mode',
'/testmode/assets/{}',
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hope you get some result from wifi side. I also realized they use the port 8443 but couldn't get further as you.
For whom trying to hack it, here is the link for the already 'hacked' system apps (including the original files) - that of the famous hacked RP1 video. Inside the subfolder S1, there are also the hacked system apps for DPT-S1 just in case.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dvtvokdzrgwjc83/AACXOJA-E56nUpUfiWUOzrM3a?dl=0

George Malas said:
Does it have a web browser? Maybe you can utilize for example the Stagefright Exploit + DirtyC0W to get root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock device has no web browser, no sd-card, no usb connection, and no typical system. I think SONY was haunted by some security issues maybe because they thought the major users are lawyers or very important people? lol

Any chance to create a buffer overflow PDF to attack RP1's pdf reader?

I am unable to help, but wanted to let you know I am definitely interested in and supportive of this. If this device can be unlocked as suggested in that one youtube video then I would buy it, despite the steep price.

jess91 said:
I am unable to help, but wanted to let you know I am definitely interested in and supportive of this. If this device can be unlocked as suggested in that one youtube video then I would buy it, despite the steep price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're interested and supportive of this then go buy one anyway and apply yourself to going forward figuring out how to get it done. Other than that, you're not supportive, you're just hopeful that someone figures it out and then you'll probably go get one.
DO NOT CONTACT ME VIA PM TO RECEIVE HELP, YOU WILL BE IGNORED. KEEP IT IN THE THREADS WHERE EVERYONE CAN SHARE

Hey guys,
I also recently got the RP1 and am also looking for ways to mod it. Big kudos and thanks to all of you for posting this! This alread is amazing. @sartrism: can you maybe give me a hint how to load the files on the rp1? Sorry if this might be a stupid question but I'm new to adroid and that stuff.

Paderico said:
Hey guys,
I also recently got the RP1 and am also looking for ways to mod it. Big kudos and thanks to all of you for posting this! This alread is amazing. @sartrism: can you maybe give me a hint how to load the files on the rp1? Sorry if this might be a stupid question but I'm new to adroid and that stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just a little update from my side. I'm currently tryng to recreate the steps @mcplectrum was using. It seems that my RP1 also uses other ports. I tried to wireshark the USB and WiFi connection. By that I saw that often GET /registration/information is called for Host: localhost:58052. Moreover the first call is GET /register/serial_number also on port 5808. This was via USB.
Trying to trigger the /auth/ call via Telnet returns nothing unfortunately. But also the 8080 port is open. Trying to call digitalpaper.local:8443/auth/ returns nothing on firefox.
@mcplectrum: how did you get the client_id and what would one need that for?
I also tried to change the config.DEVBUILD to true but that seemed to change nothing at all.
So to sum up what we know:
The device is using some kind of android structure, the source code seems to use the uboot bootloader, all communication is done by a rest restlet framework. So actually there should be some kind of way to use the restlet framework to PUT or POST the modified files.
The other option would be directly flash the eMMC right? I would take the risk and just load it on my device and see what happens. Any hints on how to do that?