jeudi 17 avril 2014

Mele V2.0.5_2 en_US firmware fixing netflix issue

This firmware is supposed to fix the Netflix issue, thanks to Martinei Gregorio da Silva message, that found that Mele v1.2 version of CedarX libraries were compatible with this firmware.
It is based on Mele V2.0.5 en_US firmware
Same fixes apply, with these additions:
- reverted to Mele_v1.2 CedarX libraries
- added some optimizations in /system/build.prop thanks to
- updated ES File Explorer

Here are the firmware versions:
Customised en_US version: v2.0.5_2_en_US.img
md5sum a9232708517a672e8786cbf2615e5d6d  v2.0.5_2_en_US.img
You need PhoenixCard for this image: PhoenixCardV306

dd-able imgv2.0.5_2_en_US.ddimg.bz2
md5sum 6a23582be63de37b1a4d0ddb06d4e890  v2.0.5_2_en_US.ddimg.bz2
Under linux, to burn it, just perform:
  bzip2 -cd v2.0.5_en_US.ddimg.bz2|dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4096
  sync
Under Windows, use Win32 Disk Imager
sdcard version (sort of live-cd version): v2.0.5_2_en_US.sdcard.tgz
a2b5b32a14c413b859cf229b066a4a6b  v2.0.5_2_en_US.sdcard.tgz
By default, it uses a 4GB sdcard; under linux, uncompress and as root: make DEV=/dev/sdX (X is the device letter of your sdcard)
If you want to change for a 8GB sdcard (you get more space for /sdcard), just change the symbolic link 'partitions.txt' to point to partitions_8GB.txt (rm partitions.txt && ln -s partitions_8GB.txt partitions.txt) before make.

samedi 18 janvier 2014

How to install applications without Google Play support

... with the help of ES Explorer and a Google Play-enabled device.

Google Play can be a pain to install on Mele (and other Google non-supported devices), and if you don't need to have your Mele device in sync with your Google account, there is a simple way to install simple applications.

ES Explorer has a very useful tool: the App Manager. It allows you to send from an Android device (with Google Play) to another Android device (without Google Play) an application package provided that each one has launched ES Explorer and both are connected to a local network.
The main drawback is that the installed applications are no more connected to your Google account (no update notification, no Google account support)
Here is a step-by-step howto, to install Mount Manager app on the Mele device without having Google Play installed.
I took my Android phone, and installed Mount Manager.

On the Mele device, simply launch ES Explorer.
On the Android phone, in ES Explorer, go to Tools->App Manager:
Long-press on the required application:
Then press 'Send' action, ES Explorer will look for available devices on the network:
Once done, you have to check 'Mele HTPC', and press 'Send':
On the Mele device you will get a notification:
Confirm and select a destination directory, for example '/sdcard/Download'. Finally, ES Explorer gives you the choice to 'Open' the package, in other words to install it:
Click on 'Open' to install the application:
That's all!

jeudi 10 octobre 2013

Mele flash kitchen v3

Since this article: http://tmerle.blogspot.fr/2012/09/mele-a2000-my-own-linux-flash-kitchen.html I made some little evolutions.

Here is the Mele flash kitchen v3: mele_flash_kitchen_v3.tgz

The usage is the same.

I added a little script, convert_updater_script_to_sh.sh, that converts an Android updater script (META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script) from an update.zip into a UNIX shell script (I wrote some wrappers for Android functions).
It is useful when you want to apply an update on pre-extracted and mounted system and root partitions (you have to specify their locations to the script).
The -b option is added to mkA10card.sh so that you can blank the sdcard partitions (takes long time) before writing data on them. It is useful if you want to create an archive of the sdcard version (0 are better compressed than random values).

Here are the differences:
mele_flash_kitchen/sdcard/Makefile: fixed boot tar uncompressing error (due to bad userid)
mele_flash_kitchen/sdcard/mkA10card.sh: added -b option to wipe partitions before writing, minor fixes thanks to user Spell
Created mele_flash_kitchen/sdcard/partitions_4GB.txt and
mele_flash_kitchen/sdcard/partitions_8GB.txt (just change the symbolic link partitions.txt to point to what you prefer)
Created mele_flash_kitchen/tools/convert_updater_script_to_sh.sh: a script that converts an Android update script (found in update.zip files) to a shell script. Handy to apply an update on an uncompressed system image.

vendredi 9 août 2013

Mele V2.0.5 en_US firmware

Yet another update of the "Win8" firmware.

Original thread: V2.0.5 firmware release-A100, A1000, A2000, A3600, A3700
update.zip from this forum thread but you will get the Chinese apps and default language.
Only bugfixes in this release (from what I understand from Chinese forums - "other known bug").

Note: I added GappInstaller in this version. You can download the right Google apps, and install them all from GUI. To download, always choose the "Browser" app (and not ES downloader); some javascript stuff need to be run to download properly, be patient. The download status is buggy, check the download status from the launcher.

Customised en_US versionv2.0.5_en_US.img
md5sum 8886691131060437df5322f6af643135  v2.0.5_en_US.img
You need PhoenixCard for this image: PhoenixCardV306

dd-able imgv2.0.5_en_US.ddimg.bz2
md5sum 356a407d4c9cd553faa1df0109d8d6ed  v2.0.5_en_US.ddimg.bz2
Under linux, to burn it, just perform:
  bzip2 -cd v2.0.5_en_US.ddimg.bz2|dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4096
  sync
Under Windows, use Win32 Disk Imager

Edit: Fixed the "./mkA10card.sh "" /dev/sdc" issue in the sdcard version, please re-download it:
sdcard version (sort of live-cd version): v2.0.5-1_en_US.sdcard.tgz
md5sum 00e8d48568e18555bfe930dcb97bb2d1  v2.0.5-1_en_US.sdcard.tgz
By default, it uses a 4GB sdcard; under linux, uncompress and as root: make DEV=/dev/sdX (X is the device letter of your sdcard)
If you want to change for a 8GB sdcard (you get more space for /sdcard), just change the symbolic link 'partitions.txt' to point to partitions_8GB.txt (rm partitions.txt && ln -s partitions_8GB.txt partitions.txt) before make.
I included the "Spell"'s modifications (removed useless libopera.so, added an option to zero partitions before formatting, useful for making dd-able images). make DEV=/dev/sdX BLANK=yes if you want to put zeroes in partitions before formatting. 

To sum-up the functionalities of the Mele firmware:
- DLNA renderer, use UPnP to throw pictures/videos to your TV from your mobile phone (via WIFI).
- Mele mobile phone remote control, control the Mele device from your mobile phone (via WIFI), app described here: Mele mobile phone remote control
- webdav server. Don't know how to use it, but lighttpd is configured on Mele to serve something "webdav".
- adb-over-tcp functionality; from your PC, just perform adb connect your-mele-ip-addr to debug you device

Working Youtube v4.1.23: http://www.google.com/#q=YouTube+v4.1.23+Apk+App
md5sum f03826bf9ac04e18834d855d9e965482  YouTube.apk

What I added/fixed:
- copied some app/apks (from v1.3.1 fw) in order to support gapps (not tested)
- added ES Explorer
- boot defaults to en_US
- deactivated /system/lib/hw/sensors.exDroid.so (fixes 100% system_server bug)
- deactivated u3gmonitor, findms services (consumes lots of CPU and I don't know why)
- added /etc/init.d capability
- added capability to install gapps if zip present in /mnt/sdcard, by a /etc/init.d script
- removed the Chinese applications (you can still find them in the original update.zip in system/preinstall and system/vendor/app, I kept Flash Player).
- added xpad.ko module (found here: MELE A1000 Hacking - XBOX 360 controller support in 3.0.8 kernel)
- added GappInstaller-1.2, a user-friendly app to download and install Google apps.

mercredi 12 juin 2013

Mele V2.0.4 en_US firmware

Yet another update of the "Win8" firmware.
Original thread: Beta V2.0.4
From this thread, an update.zip is provided (you can download and install it via the system settings of the v2.0.3 firmware, but you will get the Chinese apps and default language).

I generated a customised en_US version: v2.0.4_en_US.img
Edit: md5sum 51b3ae29b4eb7938c87548600016ea6a  v2.0.4_en_US.img
Edit: if you want a working Youtube you need the v4.1.23:
http://www.google.com/#q=YouTube+v4.1.23+Apk+App

Edit: dd-able img: v2.0.4.ddimg.bz2
To burn it, just perform under linux:
bzip2 -cd v2.0.4_en_US.ddimg.bz2|dd of=/dev/sdX bs=4096

Edit[11/jul/2013] the sdcard version (sort of live-cd version): v2.0.4_en_US.sdcard.tgz
By default, it uses a 4GB sdcard; under linux, uncompress and as root: make DEV=/dev/sdX (X is the device letter of your sdcard)
If you want to change for a 8GB sdcard (you get more space for /sdcard), just change the symbolic link 'partitions.txt' to point to partitions_8GB.txt (rm partitions.txt && ln -s partitions_8GB.txt partitions.txt) before make.

From the Chinese forum, what is fixed (google translation):
1, solve network problems playback buffer Caton
2, restoring FireAir features, support multi-screen interactive
3, solve standby, the weather does not appear out of the issue
4, resolved after restart av audio output did not save the problem
5, solve AV display output standby, then start box , TV no ​​display problem upgrade:


Reminder:
PhoenixCard image is flashed using this: PhoenixCardV306

Update: I have made a less crappy app in order to install gapps.zip: GappInstaller-1.1
You have to put gapps.zip on an external SDcard and launch this application.

What I added/fixed:
- copied some app/apks (from v1.3.1 fw) in order to support gapps (not tested)
- copied Youtube apk from v1.3.1 fw
- added ES Explorer
- boot defaults to en_US
- deactivated /system/lib/hw/sensors.exDroid.so (fixes 100% system_server bug)
- added /etc/init.d capability
- added capability to install gapps if zip present in /mnt/sdcard, by a /etc/init.d script
- removed the Chinese applications (you can still find them in the original update.zip in system/preinstall and system/vendor/app, I kept Flash Player).
- added xpad.ko module (found here: MELE A1000 Hacking - XBOX 360 controller support in 3.0.8 kernel)

samedi 11 mai 2013

Mele V2.0.3: Fixing "Unfortunately, the process com.google.process.apps has stopped."

After having installed the gapps against the Mele V2.0.3 firmware, this error popup appears:
"Unfortunately, the process com.google.process.apps has stopped"
This is due to the lack of ContactsProvider app.
Adding it makes the error disapear.

Install this: ContactsProvider.apk
This package comes from the 1.3.1 version of Mele firmware

lundi 6 mai 2013

Mele V2.0.3 en_US img+sdcard version

This is an update of the v2.0.1 Win8 firmware.

Original thread: The ultimate single-core fun new firmware V2.0.3 released

This is an update from 1.3.1 firmware but I generated a new firmware image (less issues with previous state).

What is fixed:
- avi/mkv/mp4 issues fixed

Here are the modified versions:
Phoenixcard image: v2.0.3_en_US.img
dd-able img: v2.0.3_en_US.ddimg.bz2
sdcard version: v2.0.3_en_US.sdcard.bz2

Edit: fixed the "Unfortunately, the process com.google.process.apps has stopped" issue after having installed gapps.zip, refer to ->this<- post.


Reminder:
PhoenixCard image is flashed using this: PhoenixCardV306
dd-able img is flashed using:
  - under linux: bzip2 -cd Mele_4.0_V1.3BETA_revised_en_us_4.ddimg.bz2|dd of=/dev/sdx bs=4096
  - under Windows: uncompress the archive before, and then use WinImage
The SDCard version is something like a "live-sdcard". You can run it without affecting the flashed image.
sdcard version, under linux only, run: cd sdcard/; make DEV=/dev/sdx (where sdx is the sdcard device number).

This time I chose to not include APEX launcher.
You can download it freely from hereApex Launcher

<not tested>: To get google apps, from the installed Mele firmware, use the Internet navigator and download this:
gapps-ics-20120429-signed.zip
This will put the file in /mnt/sdcard/Download/, where the init script looks at.

Reboot, wait for the device to reboot and you are done.
The details of what is modified in this firmware from the original version:
- boot defaults to en_US
- deactivated /system/lib/hw/sensors.exDroid.so (fixes 100% system_server bug)
- added /etc/init.d capability
- added capability to install gapps if zip present in /mnt/sdcard, by a /etc/init.d script
- removed the Chinese applications (you can still find them in the original update.zip in system/preinstall and system/vendor/app, I kept Flash Player).
- added xpad.ko module (found here: MELE A1000 Hacking - XBOX 360 controller support in 3.0.8 kernel)