Hi,
I am currently searching for detailed information about the different firmware update processes (only those performed over the air).
I am especially interested in the security mechanisms used by the manufacturers (and operators?). I know that usually OTA updates are signed by the manufacturer (e.g. Android updates provided by HTC) - are there any details available on the data structure of the firmware packages?
Is the structure somehow standardized or is everything proprietary?
I assume that here on XDA-Dev there are a lot of people knowing those details but I did not manage to find the relevant information until now - could someone point me to the relevant threads/persons?
Thanks in advance,
AndroJ
Related
Hello
Here is a little question, is it possible to create a universal android rom.
Today, cyanogenmod allow us to have different flavour of android for many devices. But cyanogenmod is not universal and requires specific hacks for each device.
I know that Android is based on a linux kernel, that kernel should beallow an automatic detection of the devices specifications....
Moreover, Motorola initiates its Ara project. This new concept should be linked to an evolutive version of Android.
Is there anyway to see one day an android repository to upgrade and costumize your phone/phablet/tablet. With an essential package (OS) and options (launcher/Touchwiz....).
An universal evolutive OS should be a way to solve
- android fragmentation.
- security update
- Easy update without formatting your device
- OTA update for all devices (Samsung, Cube, HTC....) even for olders or chinese models
bart47 said:
Hello
Here is a little question, is it possible to create a universal android rom.
Today, cyanogenmod allow us to have different flavour of android for many devices. But cyanogenmod is not universal and requires specific hacks for each device.
I know that Android is based on a linux kernel, that kernel should beallow an automatic detection of the devices specifications....
Moreover, Motorola initiates its Ara project. This new concept should be linked to an evolutive version of Android.
Is there anyway to see one day an android repository to upgrade and costumize your phone/phablet/tablet. With an essential package (OS) and options (launcher/Touchwiz....).
An universal evolutive OS should be a way to solve
- android fragmentation.
- security update
- Easy update without formatting your device
- OTA update for all devices (Samsung, Cube, HTC....) even for olders or chinese models
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not going to be the one to say its impossible but its very unlikely. Different devices use different modems, kernels, and other system requirements. The CM team may be able to come up with something like that but you won't see it anytime soon if it happens. There are some ROMs out there that are in 1 big AROMA zip file and they all have the same features but the bases meet the requirements of the specific device.
bart47 said:
Hello
Here is a little question, is it possible to create a universal android rom.
Today, cyanogenmod allow us to have different flavour of android for many devices. But cyanogenmod is not universal and requires specific hacks for each device.
I know that Android is based on a linux kernel, that kernel should beallow an automatic detection of the devices specifications....
Moreover, Motorola initiates its Ara project. This new concept should be linked to an evolutive version of Android.
Is there anyway to see one day an android repository to upgrade and costumize your phone/phablet/tablet. With an essential package (OS) and options (launcher/Touchwiz....).
An universal evolutive OS should be a way to solve
- android fragmentation.
- security update
- Easy update without formatting your device
- OTA update for all devices (Samsung, Cube, HTC....) even for olders or chinese models
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I doubt it's possibility. Different phones have different kernels/coding for hardware. All Android phones uses Linux kernel, but are coded differently, and that's why we have different/custom kernels. Phones/phablets/tablets have different UIs, which will result in larger updates. Furthermore, u said "essential package" which is hardly possible due to large file size and company issues. For example, Samsung has TouchWiz (and all it's bloatware ), while HTC has Sense (and the bloatwares ), and to stuff everything in a single ROM /Update, it's simply too much. (A update from Samsung would cost 100-300mb, and if what u say is true, OTA updates would cost 600mb~. (Take into account the stock Android launcher.)) I doubt Samsung would like this idea too. Companies like Samsung and HTC have their own launchers to differentiate themselves from others, and if consumers have a choice, they might use other launchers other than their own. (E.g. a Samsung user wants to use Sense, while preserving the Samsung hardware.) Though I would very much like to see this in the future, this is technically impossible. Hoped this explained your question.
Smack that thanks button If I helped!
Always make a nandroid backup before trying anything risky
Sent from my fabulous N7105 powered by Illusion ROM and Plasma Kernel.
Sent from dat small country called Singapore.
P.S. Quote my post for replies ASAP.
This is literally impossible, All devices would need to be designed to perform for that rom. Not only that but not a single one of those companies would agree to it. They'd actually attempt to make their own os before doing that, and the reasoning is simple, each company is in this race for themselves not as a team effort. For this to happen would be going the route of IOS, which android is not.
Sent from an Xposed LG-G2/LS-980
Edit: I was told to ask this in this section of the forum so here goes.
Hi,
some time ago i bought a 50€ chinese tablet to mess with. It has android v4.0.4 on it and is very slow/ has a lot of useless stuff. In my attempt to educate myself on Android OS, I'm trying to build my own custom rom for it using this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1801690
I'm at the point where I could repack my work and flash it to this tablet, but all i've achieved so far is simplified version (less random apps and few tweaks here and there) of existing rom.
I want to update this tablet's android version but I'm completely unsure how I'm supposed to do that and google isn't being of any help as the search results are just bunch of those irritating blog posts that in nutshell just explain how to plug your usb cable into your pc.
No updates are provided by the manufacturer himself (duh).
Do I have to get desired android version's source code and integrate it with existing files or something?
Any help is appreciated.
Hey everyone,
I hope that this is the right place for my thread (if not, if you will redirect me it will be appreciated).
As part of my academic research, I am checking the using habit of mobile users, and I have records from the end of 2014.
I want to check how many of the users used the latest android version (and how many updated their phone to an unofficial version). Thus I want to compare their android version to the latest version that was available for their device that time.
I am seeking for a list of the latest android version for the common devices at that time, but i couldn't find anything relevant online (I saw some list in the past but now i cant find it..)
Does anyone have an idea where can I find something like that ?
Thank you !
Hello,
I have an MTK device (Ixion MS155, with MT6737 chipset, to be pricese) that I flashed with a custom ROM. Unfortunately, being new to flashing, I carelessly didn't backup the NVRAM with the IMEI numbers, which got reset to Null. I know that this problem can be addressed through the MTK Engineer Mode. But to activate the right menu option, I need an auxiliary package usually called CDS_INFO.apk, which was not included in the ROM. I found some versions of that package online, but they don't seem compatible with my specific device and/or ROM combination (one version almost works, but it seems that it was compiled against a different Android API/ABI version). This is not a very popular device model, so there are not many ROMs available for it, and I've not yet found one that is capable of running Engineering Mode with the right menu options.
Now, my main question is this: I did find a repository on GitHub (can't post a direct link: user Danile71, repository android_kernel_zte_run4g_mod, path /tree/master/mediatek/packages/apps/CdsInfo) with the source code for CDS_INFO.apk (as well as other low level packages like EngineerMode.apk itself). What could really help me is compiling these packages against the Android 7.1 API/ABI (which I believe would be API version 25). Now, I don't have any direct experience building APK packages from source. Could some kind soul help me out and build an appropriate version of these packages? CDS_INFO.apk and EngineerMode.apk would be sufficient for my purposes, but they might have some other internal dependencies.
Please let me know if there's a better subforum where to direct this request. Thank you in advance for any help!
Hello friends! I have been reading a few different forums and sources regarding roms, but I had a few question to which I cannot find any answers to. I hope you all may be able to help provide me with some information.
I have read numerous forums with people who want to flash newer versions of android on their devices, or even revert back to their stock rom, but what about a custom rom that is a lower android version than what the tablet stock was ? Is that even possible, provided you compile it with android's open source code?
I have 4 lenovo tab 10 tablets - they are all painfully slow, and always have been. It doesn't matter if you clear the cache, disable programs, factory data wipe and reset, etc.
I understand that the reason the tablets are so slow is the hardware that it comes with - especially the 1GB of ram limitation.
For this reason, I wish to be able to flash kitkat on the devices to improve performance. I don't mind if many playstore apps wont run on the device, I just wish to be able to use it to surf the web and read a few e-mails. And believe me or not, the tablets in their current state can barely do that!
Anyhow, if I was to get the source code for kitkat, would I need to somehow port over the drivers from the stock firmware, or would this not be possible because the stock firmware is lollipop? I am having difficulty understanding if the kernels are related to the operating system version or if they can be used with different operating systems. The same is true for the "drivers", which I believe I had read are binaries?
Any help you guys could provide I would appreciate greatly! I don't care about building or getting a custom rom that has all sorts of programs and icon packs, I just want a bare bones kitkat install with chrome and google play capability to download a few minimal apps.
Thank you all for your time and help, and I hope to hear back soon!