[Android Stick & Console AMLogic based Computers] shakti_nz:
Hi all,

WorldMax TV 4K is a popular Asian IPTV set top box which was originally sold and advertised as a one-time lifetime activation purchase of $300. Customers who had purchased the device have recently found that the company have now without notice changed their policy and have force updated all devices requiring everyone who has had the device for more than 2 years to pay an additional $120 per year to continue using it. This is both illegal and unethical business practice in most countries.

You can read the hundreds of negative reviews here where people are expressing their anger:

https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/worldmax-tv

It looks like several customers are trying to take legal action - however it is doubtful that anything will actually happen as the company is headquartered overseas.

Unfortunately I fall into the category of customers who are in this situation and am the not so happy owner of a now useless set top box which has locked us out from use of any apps - by means of a popup that demands we enter a renewal code. I'm not prepared to pay $120/year to continue using it as this is not what I purchased.

With my basic knowledge of the Android architecture and having played with alternative custom ROMs - I'm taking to the forum boards in hope of finding a solution to bring life back to this box. Hopefully the solutions we come up with here can benefit many in this situation.

Here is what I've gathered:

- The box uses a custom 'Worldmax TV Launcher'.

- The box appears to have a box ID embedded which is linked to a registration date. The launcher locks out when the registration date is older than 2 years.

- By setting the clock back under time and date, I'm able to continue using the device momentarily - before it syncs the time again. Even after turning off 'automatically sync time and date', the device syncs automatically when trying to set it to a historic date.

- I have access to Android Settings, but nothing else if I do not renew the subscription.

- After carrying out a Factory Data Reset and then skipping the initial setup, I'm able to setup WiFI and enter the Playstore before the activation check takes place.

- I was able to extract the following Build.prop and CPU info:

Build.prop

ro.build.id=MHC19J

ro.build.display.id=MHC19J.20200427 test-keys

ro.build.version.incremental=20181122

ro.build.version.sdk=23

ro.build.version.preview_sdk=0

ro.build.version.codename=REL

ro.build.version.all_codenames=REL

ro.build.version.release=6.0.1

ro.build.version.security_patch=2016-08-01

ro.build.version.base_os=

ro.build.date=Tue Apr 10 12:35:08 CST 2018

ro.build.date.utc=1523334908

ro.build.type=user

ro.build.user=aimin.he

ro.build.host=wyst

ro.build.tags=test-keys

ro.build.flavor=g9x-user

ro.product.model=WorldMax TV 4KHDR

ro.product.brand=Worldmax

ro.product.name=g9x

ro.product.device=Worldmax

ro.product.board=Worldmax

# ro.product.cpu.abi and ro.product.cpu.abi2 are obsolete,

# use ro.product.cpu.abilist instead.

ro.product.cpu.abi=armeabi-v7a

ro.product.cpu.abi2=armeabi

ro.product.cpu.abilist=armeabi-v7a,armeabi

ro.product.cpu.abilist32=armeabi-v7a,armeabi

ro.product.cpu.abilist64=

ro.product.manufacturer=ShiningWorth

ro.product.locale=en-US

ro.wifi.channels=11

ro.board.platform=gxl

# ro.build.product is obsolete; use ro.product.device

ro.build.product=g9x

# Do not try to parse description, fingerprint, or thumbprint

ro.build.description=g9x-user 6.0.1 MHC19J 20181122 test-keys

ro.build.fingerprint=MXQ/g9x/g9x:6.0.1/MHC19J/20181122:user/test-keys

ro.build.characteristics=mbx,nosdcard

AIDA64 Info:

Core Architecture: 4x ARM Cortex-A53 1.51 GHz

Instruction Set: 64bit ARM v8-A (32-bit Mode)

CPU Revision:

r0p4

Hardware: amlogic

Installed RAM: 1GB

Internal Storage Space: 4870 MB

Questions

Has anyone found a work around to bypass the renewal? Could the launcher potentially be modified to bypass the check?

I have found this thread which mentions that Aidan's Custom ROM for S905X worked through means of flashing via the SD card method. Although this would mean we lose the use of Worldmax TV streaming features. Link to ROMs: https://bit.ly/aidansroms905x

What other ROMs are recommended as an alternative to the above?

I'm aware there are a few alternative options for streaming Asian IPTV (for example - loading a custom ROM and then installing an app like LiveNetTV or Mobdro). Does anyone have any other recommendations in this space?