A friend of mine wants to get a Kindle Fire for his son, on the condition that WiFi could be disabled on a semi-permanent basis. Turning off WiFi in the settings isn't good enough, so I was thinking that I could root the device and blacklist the driver. I'm coming from a Linux perspective and I'm not exactly sure on Android. Is there a way that I could do this without a custom ROM?
And I thought I have seen my fair share of strange requests.
Can't it be done on a hardware basis instead? Remove the connection between the motherboard and the antenna? Those things are usually removable.
I suppose it could be done on a hardware level, but I'm a bit more comfortable banning something from the Linux kernel than ripping a WiFi card out of a board.
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I was given an HTC Incredible the other day, and I quickly found out that the digitizer was non-functional, so I took it apart and found obvious liquid damage inside. Several areas of the board were crusted over with what I assume to be residue from the evaporated liquid. I remained hopeful that the only problem was a dead digitizer, but after carefully cleaning up the board, I noticed some scorched resistors near the digitizer's ribbon connector on the motherboard. On the off-chance that I misdiagnosed the cause of the dead touchscreen, I restored it to factory via recovery, but as I expected, still no go, of course.
It's frustrating, because the device is in beautiful shape in every other way. Screen looks great, not a single scratch on the phone itself, it boots into recovery perfectly as well as into Android.
I fully realize that I will never have this phone working as it was originally intended without swapping out the board, which I don't really plan on doing. I also have no interest in using this as a phone. I'd like to see this phone repurposed as a headless Linux box on my home WLAN. With its specs, it should be able to run Debian and Asterisk quite well (works great on my Seagate DockStar with 128MB RAM/700MHz ARM5-based SoC.) I just hate to see an otherwise perfectly good embedded computer go to waste because I can't enable debugging via the touchscreen.
Is it possible to use a breakout board attached to the microUSB connector to utilize any sort of external input so that I could jump into the phone and turn on debugging/root the device? Or would that require HID drivers to be installed on the device beforehand?
Another idea that I've considered is possibly reflashing it with a rooted ROM or maybe changing some settings on it via CDMA Workshop, I would still need to get into mode for that by pressing ##3424#, right? Argh. Is there another way?
Do either of these options sound viable? Any other suggestions? It should go without saying that I'm well aware that this could be a brick already, but it just seems as though there must be SOMETHING that can be done to at least give me rooted ADB access in the future.
Thanks in advance!
I'm guessing I'm out of luck? Either way, it's not a big deal. It's not as though it cost me anything, but it'd be nice to put it to work in some way. As a Linux geek, there's always a nagging feeling I get when I see a Linux-based device sitting in the corner being under- or non-utilized. Especially embedded.
Anyone think that they could replace a obd2 ecm/ecu with an android phone?
therealmaximus said:
Anyone think that they could replace a obd2 ecm/ecu with an android phone?
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I may be wrong, but:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.prowl.torque
ive seen these, they just read parameters from the computer via the obd diagnostic port, what i meant was actually removing the the obd computer and using an android device to receive the incoming sensor data and use the data such as rpm, throttle position, and so forth to advance or retard timing tables and fuel tables to actually run the engine i have tuning software for my honda that i can run and retune my engine with but only from my laptop id like to be able to do this with an android device.
[A] 😉 let me know
That's an interesting question and not what I thought it was when I first read your initil post. Reading it literally you're asking about replacing the actual 'brain' that conductor that co-ordinates the entire ignition,fueling,emmisions and other secondary parameters that make the engine run in a harmonious symphony(oh, whatever happened to self metering by atmospheric pressure drop and contact breakers lol). I read it as taking out the OE ecu/ecm/powertrain module or whatever other term you use for it and replacing it with an android device. An interesting exercise but hardly worth the mountain range of problems involved considering you can go out and buy a custom fully programmable ECU anyway.
That is how it sounds though when you say replacing the ecu with an android device. i.e removing the ecu and putting in one running android or a piggyback ecu running amdroid....... i know, i'm being maybe a little too pedantic but it drew me in and made me read the thread and am definitely interested in finding out if there are any android apps that can reprogram or flash an ecu similar to the ones that run on windows.
I've mentioned in another thread I have a deep knowledge and experience in the car side of the equation but my knowledge of computers themselves ranks about 'interested in knowinf more but basically capable of using one n that's it' level. Or tge same as 99.99% of car drivers. They can drive but beyond that all they really know is where to out the petrol in although 100,000s of them will say they know all about cars lol.
In other words, I see know reason why technically there are no equivalent android apps/devices that can do what software packages running windows you use on a laptop. I'm in a similar but different position than you. I really want that ability to remap/flash new firmware onto ecu's except right now I don't have a laptop or desktop of any kind right now. All my online and computer needs are admirably dealt with on my Note 3 so i haven't bothered replacing either my pc or laptop when they passed on.
Was on ebay recently and seen very interesting and potentially useful software claiming to be able communicate fully with any obd1 and 2 ecus allowing you to reset, remap and 'chip' any ecus and also fully set up a new replacement custom reprogrammable ecu too although i am skeptical you could buy one that fully capable for £20 off ebay but they promise full customer support and the ability to download an entire remap for almost any make amd model so perhaps their claims are based on the abilitynof their product rather than merely sales rhetoric.
Anyway, what I mean is I see no reason why if windows can fully communicate with obd2 and android can also read current and pending dtcs, display freeze frame, live data and allow you, if you know the particular formula, to view data with custom PIDs then it seems possible that a software package written for android couldn't be capable of doing wnat these windows/mac programmes can do. I'm sure I've seen linux compatible software for desktops out there so surely an android version is poasible. BUT as i explained my knowledge of computer systems/languages is risible so there may well be a glaringly obvious reason that android is unsuitable (there's probably 1000s of 10 year olds laughing lije mad thinking is this guy stupid or what lol).
BUT if you ever come accross such an software package that runs on android let me know because if not it looks like I'm going to have to go buy this 20 odd quid ebay software AND a bloody laptop on top to bw able to use it
i want to disconnect my phone from all networks, with no possibility of network communication on the device at all, because tinfoilhat. i basically just want a portable computer that i can fit in my pocket, use for music and run software on etc without the damn thing feeding data about me to google or the NSA. as far as im aware however no devices with reasonably up to date hardware and the possibility of using a decent OS exist, and im quite attatched to my cubot gt99s lovely screen.
i hear physically removing the GSM and WiFi chips are not an option, could someone explain why if this is so? are there any other ways in which a mobile phone might be secured at the hardware level? if it comes to it im not afraid of getting my hands dirty with a soldering iron, but id like ot avoid having to buy a completely new device with lesser hardware if at all possible
Hi everyone,
disappointed with altitude readings in GPS tracking software on my SGS2 I9100, I got an idea to implant a pressure sensor into it. Not that I can't live without it, it's more like a hacking exercise for fun. Anyways, let me explain the idea.
Few newer devices have pressure sensor built in. I.e. SGS3 uses LPS331AP from ST (mentioned in kernel sources and on some websites). It's well documented and is available to buy. Hooking it up (space challenges aside) would be pretty straightforward. I am certain i can find supply and SDA/SCL lines to connect to. However, I cannot hook up interrupt to main processor, and there is probably nothing to be done about it. OK, let's imagine I succeed in soldering, don't screw up the whole mainboard, and have a sensor attached.
Now, I'd need a custom ROM, or at least kernel aware of my new sensor. If all the wiring would be standard (including interrupt), I could just copy relevant parts from sources for SGS3, compile it, and expect it to work. Or something along the lines.
So, here is a question: can I communicate to pressure sensor without interrupt connected? Sensor itself supports it, but does android? With reasonable amount of hacking, of course.
I did quick search in kernel sources for SGS3, and I see it expects an interrupt input from lps331 during some init routines. However, I cannot figure out yet whether it always needs it, or can it live without somehow. I will go on reading sources. In particular, I'll look how exactly does HAL interacts with the sensor.
In the meantime, maybe someone more knowledgeable has some advice? I have very vague idea about linux kernel working, and never before looked into one for smartphone. I can read the sources, but my programming experience is limited. So, any tips are appreciated. Especially if you think it's hopeless
So, a coworker pointed me at a chrome book, and said, "Look, it's awesome, 10+ hours battery!" I was skeptical, I've heard horrendous things about chromebooks' usefulness, but then I found out chromebooks give you access to TTY, so in theory you can use all the nifty CLI utilities that make Linux/Unix systems so great to work with. So I went back and reexamined how I use my endless supply of various devices, from desktop to mobile phone. For the most part, I use my phone to call, stream, or browse. I use my laptop to connect to my development machine (It's just inconvenient to hold my code on my local machine for a variety of reasons, and it's not really safe practice anyways.) A short while ago, I was looking for a tablet with a data plan, and I couldn't find one - even carriers with unlimited data plans don't support tablets with unlimited data plans. Damn it! Then, as I was researching chromebooks, I realized something spectacular - despite tablets having a thicker, and therefore heaver screens, tablets are in general 1/2 the weight of chromebooks. (wtf?) So I went in search of system on a board computers, and I found MK802, which could cover all the essentials - a keyboard w/ trackpad, wifi, bluetooth, audio, video. But then I realised - I've got a heap of old android devices from the G1 all the way up to my most recent (but still outdated) Samsung I515 (whatever that's called in common-folk-tongue). And I thought to myself, "Why not use the PCB out of one of those old, working-but-outdated phones to make a DIY tablet or chromebook which will probably weigh less than COTS chromebooks, register as a cellphone with the carriers, have unlimited LTE data, and 20hr battery life?" The Droid Charge seemed like the best candidate. Although I have a couple extra I515s, the awesome thing about the Droid Charge is that it has an HDMI port. Work on the fly, come home, hook it up to a proper monitor, instant win!
Unfortunately, I haven't ever worked with drivers, firmware or the likes. I could probably MacGyver a way to hook up a keyboard with a touchpad to use the micro usb jack (I mean I'd just need to emulate hooking the DC to a dock, right?), but the real blocker for me would be the screen. I imagine there MUST be a way to swap the stock LCD and touch screen digitizer on the Droid Charge, and hook up a 10-12in one, probably from some other Samsung product, but that's completely speculation. I was hoping someone on here could help me out with hashing out how to do the screen swap up to a 10-12in screen.
Thanks,
Misha