yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] godsponge:
Before the update occasionally I would lose most of the battery even when I didn't use it. Now it saves more battery while idle. Don't notice much difference while using it though.

Sent from my Thunderbolt (CM7)
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] dandrumheller:
Well, I think this will seal the deal for me at this point. AFAIK you are correct that there is no way to do a full backup with out root. That is a non-issue for me, I don't keep any data that I can't live without solely on the tablet (or on my rooted and backed up phone for that matter). Between the upgraded OS and better idle battery life, I think I'm gonna go ahead and do the update. Looks like any further rooting efforts from rprr are probably gonna be on HoneyComb anyway, if there are any.

Thanks to all of you guys who have worked on this tablet for your help and efforts!

Edit: went ahead with the update. Initial impression is a much improved user experience on this device with honeycomb. Smoother running and scrolling than on tweaked 1.4. Increased display resolution is very nice. Will continue to post further impressions if anyone's interested.

Fwiw, during both updates (to 1.5 and to 2.0) it sat on the vizio logo boot screen for roughly 5 - 7 minutes. Didn't time it for exact time, but longer than I am used to for an initial boot after dalvik clear on a phone. I am hoping it wasn't just an over-long boot time, rather than a failed reboot when trying to install the update with cwm. Installed...

Edit 2: in honeycomb, since the hardware touchkeys are disabled and only on screen keys are available, there is apparently no simple way to access menu key functions in this here xda app as the menu onscreen key is MIA. Will try to find some other on screen key workaround.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] theFredS:
The overall performance on my tablet after the update is noticeably faster. The notification bar now behaves like a normal tablet, and you can now turn your wifi, gps, etc on and off directly from a popup menu which you press the wifi icon. The Home, back, and menu "buttons" are disabled on the screen border now, and are now placed in the notification bar, so your not really losing screen space like I'd originally thought when I heard about it, so that's not really the problem I thought it was going to be.

With the lack of custom roms out there right now, among other things, there really isn't all that many things to really tinker with. With the notification bar and the sdcard issue fixed. I would have to say that, I believe the update to be worth losing root over. I do hope that we can find a new way to root the Tablet again with the HC update, but its not something I would lose sleep over if we can't figure out a way to root it again.

I was on the verge of giving it to my son, and gettings a new tablet that could be rooted. Now its not such a big deal to me anymore since the changes Vizio has made. So yeah, I guess I would say its worth losing Root.

theFredS

---------- Post added at 11:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 PM ----------

Yes you can side load apps, I have Flash 11 sideloaded on my Vizio, since the Market still says its not optimized for my tablet. Flash 11 works just fine.

I'm not sure about backing up game data though, I don't really play alot of games, and non of the ones I do play make me feel the need to even try to backup and restore game data.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess my idea about the process Vizio's setup program is using to remap the sdcard with elevated privileges sparked any ideas of ways to exploit it huh? Oh well.

theFredS
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Does it require a reboot to change the mountpoints of the sdcard? If yes, it is most likely done through a recovery script which is stored somewhere in cache partition before reboot and executed during boot like the system updates do. In that case it would be impossible to highjack this process as the script needs to be signed with the vizio private key which we unfortunately do not have.

--------------------------

tapatalked from Galaxy S
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] rprr:
Fadefx -- you are correct. A reboot is needed for the sdcard change in honeycomb.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Does it also look like it runns a script in recovery? I mean it is not neccessarily visible, but it could print out a message like "changing SD mountponts, please wait" or whatever before it reboots, at least that's how i would do a trick like this without getting in danger to make the system vulnerable.

--------------------------

tapatalked from Galaxy S
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] rprr:
Unfortunately I was not paying close attention during this process.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] BarryD9545:
New root for VTAB1008?

Hey all.

Just wanted to know if there's a new root for the VTAB yet...it's been a while and I figure SOMEONE has it....please???

Thanks!
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] dandrumheller:
To my knowledge, there is no root for the last 2 official updates... This is the place you'd hear about it, is imagine...
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
I would be thrilled if someone could pull the update.zip for VIA 2.1 for me. The and drivers don't exactly always agree with my computer.....
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] dandrumheller:
Is this possible for anyone? To get the 2.1 update don't we have to already be on the (no-root-yet) Honeycomb firmware? Without root, we can't get to the download with ADB, correct?

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong here...
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
It should not be like this, no. I don't know if vizio blocked root while the tablet is in recovery mode with usb debugging, but if they did, this is against android in some way. It's just not natural. I cannot tell because these stupid drivers wont install for me. :mad:
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
They did... i would suggest to boycott them and never buy any product. Btw, they also broke with gpl, no sources for kernel...

------------------------------

tapatalked from Galaxy S
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
I will be sending a well worded letter to the legal department regarding this >:(
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Vizio's legal Departement?

------------------------------

tapatalked from Galaxy S
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
So what does this update give us? Has anyone gotten adb to work on the tablet?
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] dandrumheller:
The update gives us a parental controls app. We had adb working on earlier (gingerbread) firmwares...I haven't even tried it since going to honey comb...
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
I'm just going to give this tablet to my brother and then I'll get a Nexus tablet which should be announced this month. :D
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Vishal Jaiswal:
How to root Vizio honeycomb 3.2.1?

Sir,

I got an update on my VTAB and I update it by mistake.

But now I want to root my VTAB, so is it possible to root honeycomb 3.2.1?

And can I downgrade Vizio honeycomb 3.2.1 to gingerbread 2.3.2?

Thank you
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Sorry, but no and no...

------------------------------

tapatalked from Galaxy S
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Vishal Jaiswal:
Sir,

Is there any way to root vTab by rolling back to gingerbread?

I want to play gameloft games but my device is incompatible for this games.

chainfire3d can make device compatible and chainfire3d can't run without root.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
No, you can't roll back.

------------------------------

tapatalked from Galaxy S
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] nikeconn:
Maybe you can?

androidtablets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=46041

it is the .57 build(not able to root)
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
Well I originally thought that rooting this beast would be like the nook. Where we boot from the SD card by writing image to it and then we flash superuser binary in all then install custom recovery. But I got to this tablet too late, it updated, and then it was doomed. :( so no we cant root like that.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Gigaah:
XO-3 tablet. Useful? source code? hardware info? signed roms possibly of use?

I'm not very well versed in these matters. I've been trying to dig up some sort of information on what to do with the vtab1008. I stumbled upon The "one laptop for every child" project. Low and behold. In addition to the XO-1.75 running very similar hardware. They have a Tablet called the XO-3. Same dimensions and appears to be AT LEAST a direct relative to the VTAB1008. They have signed roms for it. Source code.EC Firmware(Boot loaders/Recover?) You have to dig around a bit. I have not tried to do anything with any of it. I'm just not really familiar enough with how things work.

From the perspective of a newb dumbo like me it seems getting this information into the right hands would almost certainly get something moving and generate some interest from coders and generally people who know what the hell to do with this stuff.

I did notice as well in december there was an update to the EC firmware that closed some some loopholes. Funny that the update that put the brakes on our rooting happened right about then huh?

wiki.laptop.org/go/Vizio_VTAB1008

The files labeled Q5XXX are for the XO-3

The site no longer has signed rom files for anything under Q5A03. which is where I think the Firmware was changed to close up loopholes.

Here is a change long of the project and code.

code.coreboot.org/p/openfirmware/timeline/all/?_px_sk=creation_dtime&_px_so=a&_px_p=31

Link to the XO-3 portion of the project.It has hyperlinks to the firmware

wiki.laptop.org/go/XO-3

Firmware Section.

wiki.laptop.org/go/Firmware

Boot Sequence Info

wiki.laptop.org/go/Category:XO_startup

You have to dig but there is a wealth of information about flashing and recovery and security etc.I hope this can help someone.If the information is as closely related as I'd like to think it is. It could maybe turn the vtab into a very awsome project for the people who actually have skills in these matters.

--Gigaah
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
What drives you to believe it is similar hardware? I haven't seen anything to suggest that yet on that page...could you point it out?
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
Very nice find. Very nice indeed,thanks.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] turbo2ltr:
So I have a virgin Vtab that I have not updated.

Android 2.3.2

Kernel 2.6.35.7

VIA Plus 1.4

It would seem I can root this. I want to be able to access SQLlite DB of an app I'm developing that doesn't run on the emu (needs bluetooth). I would actually like to stay on 2.3.2 for development purposes.

I read here that it seems if I update it I will lose the ability to root. Can someone give me an overview of anything special I need to do (besides the directions in the OP) so I don't lose the ability to root, or lose root after I do it? The OP mentioned something about freezing the VIZIO update?

Thanks,

Mike
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
Yeah just freeze the update service with your favorite app. I use titanium backup. Or you can use a terminal to do that....
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] turbo2ltr:
Thanks. The root failed. Looks like my vtab came with Build 1.9.57 which looks like won't root.. :(
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Gigaah:
Yeah I'm sitting on a .57 tab that I havnt updated either. Rootless. Does anyone know off hand what was changed? Uboot change? Or did they just turn off the light switch off on us after the os starts loading. Anyone with a rooted vizio find older firmware on their device?
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
Well honeycomb had some issues with hardware buttons that Vizio or their "third party company" couldn't get around. But essentially the hardware buttons simply don't work with honeycomb.

When it comes to root, I haven't gotten any replies to confirm about the xo PC tablets..... but yes it is a marvel armada CPU. Vizio engineered this tablet for entertainment . Netflix doesn't work with root (so I've been told by Vizio) so they have very low level checks for signatures. With the xo stuff....there may be a Dev key that might work for the vtab. I gave this tablet to my brother, so I can't dd, or do anything really other than gather info, and maybe find a root. Busy busy....
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] klokol:
unbreak vizio vtab1008

Hello!

Can you help me unbrick vizio vtab1008??? Or say where i can to get help?? Thank you.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] yazdanfar:
Thank you so much.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
explain

Explain your problem better. What did you do to brick it? Is there a triangle? Were you trying to root/downgrade? Did you free the update service? WHAT DID YOU DO?
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] klokol:
Some day tablet didn't start android. Afer take on I see triangle all time. That's all. I can take off, take on, but i see only triangle on screen.

Is't possible renew firmware via usb or sdcard??

PS. Sorry for my english.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Can you boot to recovery?

_________________________

tapatalked from GalaxyS
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] TangoDeltaFoxtrot:
Undo the Vizio vtab1008 flash update to allow Root

Would it not be possible to simply revert to factory image, using the publicly-known method of holding power and both volume keys (etc) ?

Then, it should be possible to root this device, despite having permitted the Vizio flash update.

Agreed?
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
disagreed, factory reset does not touch system partition, it just formats data and cache partitions. so your android version stays like it is.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] TCPModding:
Is there any way possible to force update this tab to ICS or install a custom recovery to do so? Honeycomb is pretty old now and with all the updates to the apps everything is force closing if I even move wrong. I know if I'm running at least ICS then most apps will work. Any update will help. Info below...

Android version: 3.2.1 HTK55

Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7+gituser@superlinuxcomp #1

Hardware Version: 5 (PVT1)

Software Version: V.I.A. Plus 2.1

UBoot Version: 2.1.1

Build Version: 2.3.64
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] dandrumheller:
Unless you build an ICS ROM for it, then no.

Edit you would need to currently be on a rootable build as well. As you are on honeycomb, you are out of luck.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] stash9123:
do you still have this file?

judging by the pictures you posted i have the same hardware version. currently my 3g card is active but i only have 2gb and cannot communicate with my device through pc at all. stash912 @ gmail
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] TenUp:
any ongoing development for this thing? I just picked one up off woot for $120.. it's kinda janky so I might try to return it, usb port is really loose... but if anybody needs me to do weird things to it that won't brick it or void it or whatever let me know..

Android: 3.2.1 HTK55

Kernel: 2.6.35.7+

VIA Plus 2.1

Uboot: 2.1.1

Build: 2.3.64
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Nope, the thing is dead, I'm not sure if anyone is even using it...

_________________________

tapatalked from GalaxyS3
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Gigaah:
I check occasionally for any random development progress. quite simply. if your firmware 1.9.57 or above there are no rooting options available due to lack of people that know enough to do it working on it. I'm far from a developer but I even rooted around a lot looking for ways including trying to figure out a way to hardware hack into it. I'm smart and learn fast but I just don't know enough to get it done..enough gaps in my knowledge made it slow going and dead stopped me. if we had a vizo signed update zip file prior to 1.9.57 we could do it. there are also mentioning of a "disc" that was a used to turn off demo mode. I assume its an sdcard with the right files on it and I'll bet they are pretty 1.9.57...again..was not able to track this down either despite my google-smithing prowess.

The closest iv gotten to thinking I could do it was figured out that if you crack it open. remove the battery connector for a bit this basicly clears the EC firmware which I believe is Marvells (CPU maker) name for the bootloader. Since the bootloader currently in use is held in ram and is only reloaded when power is removed from the chip(not just power off). from reading I think it will check sdcard maybe USB as well. problem is if it has access to the internal memory and figures out the code its running is invalid, unsigned,past revisioned....you have problems. I was able to track down enough information on the chip and tracked down info on the flash memory chip to find pins to jump to know keep the memory chip powered down so the CPU couldn't read it. the traced out the board and could get access to those pins. I bridged the pins...sure enough it'll disable the internal memory. I wasn't able to track down the files and exactly what I needed to execute the hack. The OLPC XO-3 is extremly similar to the vtab and is all openource..tho not android. I just dont know enough to figure out what bits might be usefull. they do have opensoure ec firmware...i just dont know enough to be sure its close enough to still get basic internel flash and sd card access. My daughter is now the owner of the tab...but if anyone needs pics and descriptions of anything I found I can forward that info to them. i have a spare motherboard somewhere with some of chips removed..godda run..sorry so sloppy

I have a lump of files laying around..I might have some from a guy who just mixed the 1.9.56 with the 1.9.57 update. They don't flash due to not being signed. I never got around to trying to this: removing power from board. Disabling internal flash and trying to get the chip to take the 1.9.56 ec firmware and remain in and either getting adb running or download mode to get the rest of 1.9.56 on it or run the root for it..
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] superbeak:
I checked out the source for the X0 Tabs...very similar indeed. Unfortunately though, I gave the tab to my brother (he doesnt use it either) and I bought a Nexus 7...(AMAZING FOR $200 :D )

I've been done monkeying around with this stupid thing. Vizio really killed their chance at tablet market share with the vtab1008.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] zee750s:
can i get a link or something to the files you have i just got the vtab in a trade and want to root it cause i love all the features and i want to use it as a media center in my truck! only issues is the previous owner did an update to the latest firmeware, and i need root to transfer my backups from titanium!:crying:
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] Gigaah:
I'll see if I can dig them up. Gimme a day or so...I I dont get back to you about it holler at me again.I gave the vtab to my daughter so I stopped keeping track of those files but I think they are on my laptop. Stuff like system files, pictures of the circuit boards, Data sheets/pin-outs for stuff like the cpu and flash memory chip, prolly some olpc files as well.

I do have a motherboard from one with a lot of the chips desoldered from when I was tracing out the cpu/flash memory pins. If you get looking into a hardware hack I can send you some very clear high res pictures of the board I hadn't tossed it out like I thought I had.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] zee750s:
that would be great!
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] skinnyquiver:
Got a honeycomb root for this device.

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=47852635
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] robonxt:
Umm.... Sorry for being up a really old thread, but I have a rooted 3.2 running and I was wondering if someone has the tools for theming the system UI since ICS never came out for this device? I want to try theming it and also get the hardware buttons working again.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
We have at least 2 devices bricked the same way. For me that is enough evidence.

----------------------------------------

tapatalked from GalaxyS
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Did u enable usb debugging under applications -> development?

----------------------------------------

tapatalked from GalaxyS
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] ronbot:
Ok, noob got it working... I think it was one of my weird USB ports on my PC... moved the Vizio to a different port, worked fine.

Next up - point me to a URL for instructions how to disable Vizio's update through Titanium...?

Thanks guys... for putting up with me. Having been entrenched in IOS jailbreaking/hacking for the past couple years, it'll take me a while to get used to something better.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
You need pro version of titanium, then go to backup/restore, look for vizio update service, click it and select disable. You are done. Alternatively you coukd block the ip of the update server on tour router according to this post:

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=19998855

----------------------------------------

tapatalked from GalaxyS
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] marvin02:
Are you sure they were bricked the same way? You are familiar with both devices and there was no other possible factor? Must be nice to have such clarity in the absence of facts. Of course, your conclusion poses no risk to your device, only those that belong to others.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
What risk does my conclution pose? Isn't it better to be a little too careful than to let more people brick their devices? However, get yourself a video camera, download sailed app to your Vtab, freeze the updater service and proove you can boot. Ah and don't forget to put an analogue clock beside it! If i get that video, i will revert my warning.

Btw, in my opinion you are the one willing to let more users brick their devices just to find out what you can do to be on the safe side. That is not the way to go here.

--------------------------

tapatalked from vizio vtab1008
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] mlewis2388:
Rooted!

Alright I'm up and rooted thanks to you. My wife and I had rooted EVO4G's and I've updated mine to an EVO3D (all rooted). I'm running launcherPro for a launcher on this Vizio and it's really nice. I hated the defualt launcher that came with it. I rooted using your method running Windows XP SP3 on a fusion system from my MacBook Pro. No problems at all. In fact I rooted mine and a friends tonight :)

So far I've used root for:

1. Screenshotit

2. Titanium Backup Pro

3. Freezing that pesky Vizio updater

4. Estrongs (for root access)

I look forward to flashing roms. I'd love to see RA or TWRP instead of Clockwork Mod honestly. I'm a themer in the EVO land so I'd love to get me hands on a rom for this guy asap!

Again thanks for the great work.
[Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]] FadeFx:
Thanx.

--------------------------

tapatalked from vizio vtab1008