Database Users

How To Prevent Kindle Fire 6.2.1 Update

Posted this on Gizmodo last night - not sure if people would still find it useful.
http://gizmodo.com/5870339/how-to-keep-your-kindle-fire-rooted-and-update+free
Bascially: just install DroidWall and whitelist the applications you want to give access to. Even though I would rather do this for now, TWRP + 6.2.1 w/built in su does seem tempting though.

this has already been posted to the XDA forums....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20599145&postcount=13

krelvinaz said:
this has already been posted to the XDA forums....
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20599145&postcount=13
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was the first one to post about it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=20569169&postcount=221
My post count was too small to create a standalone post or insert URLs.
And actually, zirooo just copied and pasted my Gizmodo article, although he did include a helpful image.

You would have to block all amazon services including video, store, etc.
It might be easier to turn off the wifi.

LukeQr said:
You would have to block all amazon services including video, store, etc.
It might be easier to turn off the wifi.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, you can selectively choose Video and Appstore. Enabling those did not cause the update to download.

The only way to know for sure would be to use the device for a couple days as many suggested blocks didn't show them selves to be ineffectual until a number of days went by.

Well here is why I think this one works for real:
Before installing DroidWall, the instant my Kindle would connect to Wi-fi, my bandwidth would spike to 600kbps (as per my Tomato router). There were no other applications that would be running, so I attributed that to the update. After installing DroidWall, the massive spike ceased.

[Q] The touchscreen game compatibility issue

I get why we've ended up with this issue of so many games and apps not being compatible, but is getting the manifests updated really the ONLY way to solve this?
There are plenty of other devices - android sticks in particular - which don't have touch screens either, and yet they have access to far more games and apps on Google Play. I assume they're claiming they do actually have a touchscreen.
Is there a simple way to tell if they are doing this? Is there really a good reason why we can't just have a software update for the MOJO so that it does then look to the Google Play store as if it has a touch screen? That would really solve this problem instantly.

woozle said:
I get why we've ended up with this issue of so many games and apps not being compatible, but is getting the manifests updated really the ONLY way to solve this?
There are plenty of other devices - android sticks in particular - which don't have touch screens either, and yet they have access to far more games and apps on Google Play. I assume they're claiming they do actually have a touchscreen.
Is there a simple way to tell if they are doing this? Is there really a good reason why we can't just have a software update for the MOJO so that it does then look to the Google Play store as if it has a touch screen? That would really solve this problem instantly.
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Click to collapse
Mad Catz have to work on it really fast or the mojo gonna go into a trash !!!!!
yes they are a lot a very lot of game that are not compatible and the only way to make it work is to use tincore keymapper but the app require root !!!
i love this device but i'm really disgusting of the mad catz work

Or they could just release a way to root the mojo, which will allow us to apply a 30 seconds fix and then install anything directly from the play store (and hide those damn navigation buttons)
I still have 3 days before my return period expires and I'm strongly tempted to do it.

paulatz said:
Or they could just release a way to root the mojo, which will allow us to apply a 30 seconds fix and then install anything directly from the play store (and hide those damn navigation buttons)
I still have 3 days before my return period expires and I'm strongly tempted to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes root is the solution for everything on this thing
Is a MCZ staff member who know how to root it ???

Dead-neM said:
Yes root is the solution for everything on this thing
Is a MCZ staff member who know how to root it ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might be AN answer, but it's not the answer. I don't want to root my device, thanks, and I shouldn't have to.

If we get root, we can fix all the issues in minutes. Seriously, that's the only thing holding the MOJO back from being perfect for me. If I had root, I would fake my device, download all the apps I've spent hundreds on, use tincore, and just have fun playing....Like I thought I would be able to do out of the box.
However, if I wasn't knowledgeable about root or familiar with Android....I would have already returned the system as broken. I still have until Tuesday, next week, to make that decision.
Best course of action for MadCatz is to ship these pre-rooted and have a HUGE update and make HUGE announcements and do some HUGE advertising.....Otherwise, I'm really afraid the MOJO will flop in a HUGE way.
Lets just pretend we're all the BETA testers.....Real release to general public hasn't happened yet.
That sort of makes me feel good, but I still think everyone with a current firmware edition MOJO should get a Google Giftcard for all the stress and trouble we've had.....as BETA testers. HA!

ExtremeRyno said:
Best course of action for MadCatz is to ship these pre-rooted and have a HUGE update and make HUGE announcements and do some HUGE advertising.....Otherwise, I'm really afraid the MOJO will flop in a HUGE way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right... name a company that sells android products rooted? As in a 'proper' company.
There's a reason why they don't, and fixing this shouldn't take root. If you want root, fine, but that's a different point.
I'd still like someone to answer my question about why other similar devices DON'T have the touchscreen issue.

woozle said:
Right... name a company that sells android products rooted? As in a 'proper' company.
There's a reason why they don't, and fixing this shouldn't take root. If you want root, fine, but that's a different point.
I'd still like someone to answer my question about why other similar devices DON'T have the touchscreen issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In fact it's explain by Mad Catz that the most of app have a line code who look like that "device.have.touchscreen=True"
And inside mojo there is nothing tell the google play or app that the device have a screen so you can't see them
The other device (tv box, chinese thing) probably fake a hd screen into the system

woozle said:
Right... name a company that sells android products rooted? As in a 'proper' company.
There's a reason why they don't, and fixing this shouldn't take root. If you want root, fine, but that's a different point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I get what you're saying...The MOJO should just WORK the way it was advertised. Fixing it shouldn't take root, you are 110% correct.
However, I believe one of the selling points of the MOJO was that it is supposed to be (as implied by MadCatz on various occasions) unlocked, open, and hackable.
As for the touchscreen issue, MadCatz has stated something along the lines of releasing all their specs to Google so the MOJO is a Google Certified device, or some such, which I assume includes that the MOJO doesn't have a screen. Plus, what Dead-neM mentioned.

ExtremeRyno said:
No, I get what you're saying...The MOJO should just WORK the way it was advertised. Fixing it shouldn't take root, you are 110% correct.
However, I believe one of the selling points of the MOJO was that it is supposed to be (as implied by MadCatz on various occasions) unlocked, open, and hackable.
As for the touchscreen issue, MadCatz has stated something along the lines of releasing all their specs to Google so the MOJO is a Google Certified device, or some such, which I assume includes that the MOJO doesn't have a screen. Plus, what Dead-neM mentioned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, and I already said that in my original post. And my point was why can't Madcatz do that too? There are plenty of Google certified devices that don't have this problem, so I assume Madcatz haven't tried.

woozle said:
Yes, and I already said that in my original post. And my point was why can't Madcatz do that too? There are plenty of Google certified devices that don't have this problem, so I assume Madcatz haven't tried.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep it's look like they made a noob style console

I just noticed that not even the games in the tegra store, which are explicitly marked as "controller" are not installable. seriously, this is a scam pure and simple. you cannot commercialise something as having access to the entire play store, and then it only support 5 apps out of several millions. even my old Nokia has more games than that s supposed console.
release an official root NOW and it may be saved, still overpriced for an unfinished piece of cheap crap, but at least working. at th moment it's just a glorified dolphin browser set-top box

To do things officially and properly we have to run M.O.J.O. through Google's certification processes, which means we can't claim we have a touchscreen in order to get around the content filtering on the Play store - the CTS test procedure will include tests for every hardware feature you declare and include actual tests for each component. If we declare we have a touchscreen then it will attempt to display an image on said touchscreen and expect some human interaction to confirm it's working. Clearly that will fail at that point and things could go no further.
There are plenty of the controller enabled games in Tegrazone that work fine (and more besides - check the list of games on mojo.madcatz.com). Of those that aren't, both Nvidia and Google are working with developers to change things on top of the efforts that we've been making. Seriously, you will see more and more titles being updated to include support over the coming weeks and months, plus other updates from us that I can't reveal right now.
In the meantime, if you see an app that you think you want on M.O.J.O. then tell the developer and us - we have an email address for this very purpose and it's in the manual - gamesupportrequest[at]madcatz[dot]com.
This is a new category of Android product and support for it is only going to increase this year so keep watching and we'll make sure we keep you all updated with anything new that occurs.

Mad Catz Rich said:
To do things officially and properly we have to run M.O.J.O. through Google's certification processes, which means we can't claim we have a touchscreen in order to get around the content filtering on the Play store - the CTS test procedure will include tests for every hardware feature you declare and include actual tests for each component. If we declare we have a touchscreen then it will attempt to display an image on said touchscreen and expect some human interaction to confirm it's working. Clearly that will fail at that point and things could go no further.
There are plenty of the controller enabled games in Tegrazone that work fine (and more besides - check the list of games on mojo.madcatz.com). Of those that aren't, both Nvidia and Google are working with developers to change things on top of the efforts that we've been making. Seriously, you will see more and more titles being updated to include support over the coming weeks and months, plus other updates from us that I can't reveal right now.
In the meantime, if you see an app that you think you want on M.O.J.O. then tell the developer and us - we have an email address for this very purpose and it's in the manual - gamesupportrequest[at]madcatz[dot]com.
This is a new category of Android product and support for it is only going to increase this year so keep watching and we'll make sure we keep you all updated with anything new that occurs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok if you go into this way i think you will got into the wall !! I'm sorry to say that but nobody is happy by the mojo on this forum list of app that are compatible is ridiculus!; come on guys listen to us
Make a tool to root the mojo or a big update in the month and let the fan service do their job until you see your mistake !! dam

Mad Catz Rich said:
To do things officially and properly we have to run M.O.J.O. through Google's certification processes, which means we can't claim we have a touchscreen in order to get around the content filtering on the Play store - the CTS test procedure will include tests for every hardware feature you declare and include actual tests for each component. If we declare we have a touchscreen then it will attempt to display an image on said touchscreen and expect some human interaction to confirm it's working. Clearly that will fail at that point and things could go no further.
In the meantime, if you see an app that you think you want on M.O.J.O. then tell the developer and us - we have an email address for this very purpose and it's in the manual - gamesupportrequest[at]madcatz[dot]com.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And you couldn't respond to that test with mouse input or the controller then? isn't that the point? surely the other methods of input are meant to cover this. You say this yourself in all your marketing blurb - you specifically use the example of Angry Birds and say the controller achieves this.
As for what apps - ok, all of them then? seriously, as the other guys have said, that's not workable. I won't know what app I want until I've tried it. That's HOW this works. Some people not even have other devices - weird as that might sound - and if they can't use an app on MOJO they won't.
The product is OUT now. I just saw it on the shelf in Selfridges. People aren't going to expect to have to wait weeks or months to use apps that they can already use on all their other android devices. Seriously, I've held back so far but I AM hugely disappointed that this is in such a bad state. I've sideloaded some apps, but there are just so many - all the protected apps, and I've bought loads of them on my other devices - that I just can't do that with.

I've used AppMonster to rip a large number of protected apps to sideload to the MOJO. It's inconvenient, but it works. Most of them give me an initial "License Check Failed" the first time I load. I open Google Play, and that clears up.....most of the time. The apps I was unable to get to pass the license check, even after loading up the Play store, I was able to use by selecting the app from "My Apps" and using the "OPEN" button within the Play app. That's the only way I can get PPSSPP and FPSE to properly run.

ExtremeRyno said:
I've used AppMonster to rip a large number of protected apps to sideload to the MOJO. It's inconvenient, but it works. Most of them give me an initial "License Check Failed" the first time I load. I open Google Play, and that clears up.....most of the time. The apps I was unable to get to pass the license check, even after loading up the Play store, I was able to use by selecting the app from "My Apps" and using the "OPEN" button within the Play app. That's the only way I can get PPSSPP and FPSE to properly run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But FPSE is available on Google Play for the MOJO, and loads without issues, so I'm not sure what you mean...

With FPSE, I kept getting license errors (and yes, I downloaded directly from Play to the MOJO) but had to open through the Google Play store. Other apps, such as Horn and Paper Monsters which I sideloaded required opening the Play store before I was able to use the games.

ExtremeRyno said:
With FPSE, I kept getting license errors (and yes, I downloaded directly from Play to the MOJO) but had to open through the Google Play store. Other apps, such as Horn and Paper Monsters which I sideloaded required opening the Play store before I was able to use the games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm, and there is actually some quirk with Google Play anyway - Riptide 2 refuses to do cloudsaving, insists it needs an update to Google Play Services. Indeed, the version of Google Play Services on there is far from the latest, but I don't know how to force it to update - a number of the Google Play components are older... none of which is likely to be helping.

woozle said:
Hm, and there is actually some quirk with Google Play anyway - Riptide 2 refuses to do cloudsaving, insists it needs an update to Google Play Services. Indeed, the version of Google Play Services on there is far from the latest, but I don't know how to force it to update - a number of the Google Play components are older... none of which is likely to be helping.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi yes the reason is the google play services said is the latedt version but is not search on xda for the real latest

Complete video tutorial from open box to root, XBMC, Google Play Store, etc.

Hey there! I put together a complete video walkthrough for converting your FireTV to an XBMC box.
This includes:
Root
Preventing Amazon updates
Making XBMC the launcher
Installing apps to XBMC homepage
Demo of Mupen64+(N64 emulator) and Reflector (Airplay)
Remember, if you are buying a new FireTV, make sure to follow the instructions here to make sure it doesn't update to an unrootable version. In short, either block access at the router level, or disconnect wifi / ethernet right after you start the device and connect to the network, before the download of the new version can finish.
Enjoy! Let me know if you'd like me to do video walkthroughs of anything else, like using stickmount, connecting to Windows computers over the network, etc.

hotterpop said:
Hey there! I put together a complete video walkthrough for converting your FireTV to an XBMC box. This includes:
Root
Preventing Amazon updates
Making XBMC the launcher
Installing apps to XBMC homepage
Demo of Mupen64+(N64 emulator) and Reflector (Airplay)
Remember, if you are buying a new FireTV, make sure to follow the instructions here to make sure it doesn't update to an unrootable version. In short, either block access at the router level, or disconnect wifi / ethernet right after you start the device and connect to the network, before the download of the new version can finish.
Enjoy! Let me know if you'd like me to do video walkthroughs of anything else, like using stickmount, connecting to Windows computers over the network, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet, nice!

Great walk through wish I could use the whole lot.
Mainly using xbmc and its a great improvement on my Pi but as I am in UK no root so a "here's what you can do with unrooted AFTV" vid would nice, having said that the llama trick for short cut works great and I don't think I need much more

Great Effort. You should do another tutorial using FireTVUtility. I would be easier, w/o any commands to type directly in adb shell.

Legolas2 said:
Great Effort. You should do another tutorial using FireTVUtility. I would be easier, w/o any commands to type directly in adb shell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll look into it. It doesn't look like it really needs any help though- I haven't used this program in particular, but my experience with pc-side all in one solutions is that if they work, they work, and if they don't, there's not much the user can do to fix it. It also seems that the developer is pretty active, so any video I make may be out of date rather quickly. That being said, if other folks agree that there should be a tutorial for this, I'll put it together.
Thanks for passing this utility on, though. Tools like this were essential to me when I started messing with cm 10 on an old phone of mine last year, which extended its useful life until I got my (glorious) OnePlus in July. My experience there really hit me with the modding bug, and I have been messing with android since. The purpose of the video was to help introduce people to the idea that android is open and ready to tinker with, in addition to taking advantage of the FireTV's potential with Kodi. If you have any more requests though, I'd love to hear them, and I'll do my best to fulfill them as time permits

Launcher
Hey, Thx for the awesome Video. Just a question....How do you get it to automatically boot into XBMC? I want to use XBMC as my home screen/launcher like you have shown in your video. I really appreciate it! Thanks!

Correction: HDExposed section
Kdurahm said:
Hey, Thx for the awesome Video. Just a question....How do you get it to automatically boot into XBMC? I want to use XBMC as my home screen/launcher like you have shown in your video. I really appreciate it! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there,
Sorry about the confusion. Looks like in my hasty editing I accidentally cut out a step. I've added an annotation to the video that addresses this, so you should be set if you re-watch minutes 21-25 of the video. I accidentally forgot to include that you need to go into the Modules section of HDExposed and, using a mouse, check the two boxes there as well before you reboot.
Thanks for pointing that out!

This is a great tutorial! Thank you
I have a couple of other fire TVs to root that I'm going to pass off to my friends. If
I complete the root and disable the ota updates at my house, when they plug it in their home, the firetvs won't loose the root right? Should they still add the 2 sites to block
On their router?

Berrybare said:
This is a great tutorial! Thank you
I have a couple of other fire TVs to root that I'm going to pass off to my friends. If
I complete the root and disable the ota updates at my house, when they plug it in their home, the firetvs won't loose the root right? Should they still add the 2 sites to block
On their router?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there!
Glad you like my walkthrough. If you use the router-level blocking method, it will need to be applied to any and every network the FireTV connects to. This is a great way to guarantee that the FireTV does not update, but should only be considered a temporary method until you can disable updating permanently on the device itself. If you go to around minute 14 of my video, you'll see how to disable the update function on the device itself. This is the only way to guarantee that the device won't update in the future, no matter what it connects to.
Because of the issue with devices connecting and automatically updating to an unrootable version, I'd recommend you do the network-level update blocker (like it sounds like you've already done) and then use the device-level root prevention I described in the video.
Please let me know if you have any questions

Berrybare said:
This is a great tutorial! Thank you
I have a couple of other fire TVs to root that I'm going to pass off to my friends. If
I complete the root and disable the ota updates at my house, when they plug it in their home, the firetvs won't loose the root right? Should they still add the 2 sites to block
On their router?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ultimate protection is having CWM aka custom recovery install. On top of the disabled OTA Update. Both done very easily with the AFTV Utility app mentioned above... Everybody should keep their routers blocking the IP's. Specially if you are going to be working on non-rooted AFTV's. But you can run an CWM'd AFTV on an unblocking router if it can't be helped.
hotterpop said:
Hey there!
Glad you like my walkthrough. If you use the router-level blocking method, it will need to be applied to any and every network the FireTV connects to. This is a great way to guarantee that the FireTV does not update, but should only be considered a temporary method until you can disable updating permanently on the device itself. If you go to around minute 14 of my video, you'll see how to disable the update function on the device itself. This is the only way to guarantee that the device won't update in the future, no matter what it connects to.
Because of the issue with devices connecting and automatically updating to an unrootable version, I'd recommend you do the network-level update blocker (like it sounds like you've already done) and then use the device-level root prevention I described in the video.
Please let me know if you have any questions
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although I would wait for the next release of both apss (adbFire & AFTV Utility) since so much has change the last 24 hours (unlock bootloader + new CWM). I would love to see a video using the AFTV Utility app to take care of all including the new options. Including the Mount external USB storage script.... It would be massive but all encompassing. I think the only thing waiting for an update is RBox's [XPosed] Mod's... Specifically the menu items part...

Sounds great. Post here when the new software is ready and I will get recording!

hotterpop said:
Sounds great. Post here when the new software is ready and I will get recording!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great.. Will let you know when it gets posted..

hotterpop said:
Hey there!
If you go to around minute 14 of my video, you'll see how to disable the update function on the device itself. This is the only way to guarantee that the device won't update in the future, no matter what it connects to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there an adb command to verify the "pm disable com.amazon.dcp" status. I ran this command months ago and have had no unwanted updates ruin root on the Fire TV. Perhaps, it is not necessary but just looking to be sure.

mjbxx said:
Is there an adb command to verify the "pm disable com.amazon.dcp" status. I ran this command months ago and have had no unwanted updates ruin root on the Fire TV. Perhaps, it is not necessary but just looking to be sure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know, but if you don't have router level blocking and you haven't received any updates, you are safe. Usually the update occurs quite quickly.

hotterpop said:
I don't know, but if you don't have router level blocking and you haven't received any updates, you are safe. Usually the update occurs quite quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for bumping, I just wondered if there was any advance on the new software/video?
I have an untouched UK AFTV and just waiting for this video with new software for the complete start to finish setup before i do something wrong!
Let me know if im better off just following your first video if this new software stuff is not going to be released for a while.
Thanks

My recommendation is always to code by hand. That's how I learned, and I feel like it's a great way to learn about how Android really works. That being said, it's not for everyone, and I understand any nervousness you may have.
I'll probably have the video using the tool by the end of the week.

hotterpop said:
My recommendation is always to code by hand. That's how I learned, and I feel like it's a great way to learn about how Android really works. That being said, it's not for everyone, and I understand any nervousness you may have.
I'll probably have the video using the tool by the end of the week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately im not very technically minded, and would end up messing up unless I followed a guide from someone who knows their stuff!!
I will keep it in the wrapper until you can bring out the new video, id feel a lot safer and not end up bricking it or non rootable forever!
If i can make one request, I really will just want to use the AFTV for XBMC and maybe some emulators... So if its possible to include how to have the quickest access to XBMC from boot, id really appreciate it. Not sure how easily that is done with a non rootable AFTV?

swiss_lis said:
Unfortunately im not very technically minded, and would end up messing up unless I followed a guide from someone who knows their stuff!!
I will keep it in the wrapper until you can bring out the new video, id feel a lot safer and not end up bricking it or non rootable forever!
If i can make one request, I really will just want to use the AFTV for XBMC and maybe some emulators... So if its possible to include how to have the quickest access to XBMC from boot, id really appreciate it. Not sure how easily that is done with a non rootable AFTV?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand your concern. However, I would definitely consider rooting the device. While you can use XBMC and play emulators on the FTV without root, it is pretty inconvenient. Rooting isn't hard, and shouldn't be something that scares you at all.
If you are willing, my video shows you exactly what to type every step of the way. There's lots of support if you get lost, and you can always ask me questions here- I don't mind looking up documentation for you if you need it. If you have access to your router, once you have blocked the update sites there, you will be safe to take as long as you need to.
I'll try to have the other videos done soon. I wish I had more time in my life right now for stuff like that, but you know we all have to make a living somehow
I'll be sure to post in here when the tutorials are done.

swiss_lis said:
Sorry for bumping, I just wondered if there was any advance on the new software/video?
I have an untouched UK AFTV and just waiting for this video with new software for the complete start to finish setup before i do something wrong!
Let me know if im better off just following your first video if this new software stuff is not going to be released for a while.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
swiss_lis said:
Unfortunately im not very technically minded, and would end up messing up unless I followed a guide from someone who knows their stuff!!
I will keep it in the wrapper until you can bring out the new video, id feel a lot safer and not end up bricking it or non rootable forever!
If i can make one request, I really will just want to use the AFTV for XBMC and maybe some emulators... So if its possible to include how to have the quickest access to XBMC from boot, id really appreciate it. Not sure how easily that is done with a non rootable AFTV?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those that bought their FTV's in the UK or GER & did not import US FTV's. The best you can hope for right now is block the two IP's so it doesn't keep auto updating. In case there is ever a new rooting option. UK & GER FTV's can not be rooted. You should setup your FTV with XBMC & anything else you would like within the unrooted options.
Once you have properly blocked update IP's & boot up & check your FW version which 99.99% chance it will be 51.1.4.0_user_514006420 (Unrootable) . You should feel safe to play with your FTV...
What router do you have ?? This link just shows you pictures of different IP blocking router interfaces like Tomato, DD-WRT, Asus, NetGear, Untangle, OpenDNS..
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-block-amazon-fire-tv-update-to-ensure-rooting/
This one tells you what to block now...
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-setup-a-new-fire-tv-without-blocking-root/
Method 1: Domain blocking with Router – Recommended Method
1. Before powering on the Fire TV, go into your router’s settings and block access to the following two domains:
amzdigitaldownloads.edgesuite.net
softwareupdates.amazon.com
If you do not know how to do this, you can refer to my guide or search the internet for instruction for your particular router.
NOTE: Do NOT block firs-ta-g7g.amazon.com as it is unnecessary for blocking updates and will cause problems during the initial setup if blocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start enjoying your FTV as soon as you block those IP's correctly after verifying the FW you's came with...

Want to thank you both for good indepth responses.
I will be giving it a go tomorrow hopefully. Hoping that if i block updates for now then a root option may become available somewhere down the line, but till then i will enjoy the improvement of XBMC on the FTV rather than my rather slow raspberry Pi.
Many thanks guys

Rooting and Fixing Samsung Galaxy Tab E (SM-T560NU) (and fixing -504 issue)

Disclaimer: I know this should go in the correct subforum for my device, but I'm having trouble navigating this site, altogether. I only see subforums for a handful of devices. So if there is a better place for this thread, I apologize
Oh, where to begin. My wonderful girlfriend got me this tablet back in october, since i said it'd be nice to have a linux based tablet so i wouldn't have apple telling me what i can and cannot do with my device (she saw that as a hint, even though it was more social commentary, but I'll take it). Anyway, I found the 16GB limitation problematic, so I decided to root it so i could use some sort of sshfs app to create a slow multi-terabyte harddrive space to steam small files (like music) from. Seeing as i had the thing for only a week and it's kind of expensive, even for a nurse, to buy for me, i chickened out and made due with a small 8GB microSD card which i just happened to have laying around.
Fast forward to a few days ago, I ordered from Amazon a 128GB microSD card (also from samsung), and decided to try to make due with that. Only to find out (and, if you're able to help me you've probably met the following issues yourselves) that the seemingly largest apps refuse to let you move them to external storage. Even better, there's some apps like Star Wars KOTOR (2.5GB) that say they let you move them, but in reality they stay on internal storage and create empty folders on the external medium. And then many apps cannot write and read to and from SD cards (like DOSbox Turbo), for reasons that completely stump me (which leads to me having to move dos games back and forth when i want to play one that saves). I then read about this wonderful feature called "Adoptable Storage," and promptly go through all sorts of things to try to enable it, only to find out that, since I have Android Version 6.0.1 from Samsung, that feature was disabled by them. After using the email support to berate them (they don't have a suggestion box), decided to try to come here and figure out how to properly root this device and figure out how to solve my space issue (I have 128GB of space that I need to use, but have no idea how to use it for what i need to use it for). By the way, a small shoutout to Samsung support, despite my very terse response, there clearly was a human being at the other end and this human was very, very civil and said that they'll pass it on as feedback (I got the impression that the employee either had the same issue or at least wanted me to know that there have been alot of complaints about this issue).
Anyway, now that that wall of text is over, this is how far i've gotten.
I know that XDA is reliable, they've had problems in the past with malware, but it was unintentional and the ship has been cleaned. I don't know about anywhere else, so the rooting instructions i find elsewhere i assume are probably correct, but i don't know where to get files for the process that i can trust, outside of XDA (and i'm having trouble finding the files i need, here).
I have a nice little article from techbeasts.com ( techbeasts.com/install-twrp-and-root-samsung-galaxy-tab-e/ ), but I don't know where their downloads came from and how many people checked them out for windows and android trojans and such.
So...
1. Is that article accurate for android 6.0.1?
2. Are those files safe (free from corruption and viruses)?
3. If they're not safe, where can I get safe files?
4. I like to develop programs, and I want to be able to develop apps for android as well. Once rooted, how does one test how their app would work on an unrooted device to ensure the app follows the "proper procedures?"
5. How do I deal with apps that are root sensitive? The point of all this is so that I can keep using my apps, so if they all break because i'm rooted that defeats the purpose.
6. Other than having to be careful with what i do (I've used Linux for years, and I occasionally like to code in assembly), that it voids my warranty, and that screwing up can make for a really bad day, is there anything else that I should know? This is, indeed, my first touch screen device outside of Nintendo products, because my V3xi is fine for me as a phone.
EDIT:
7. Forgot the most important question: How would I go about getting adoptable storage working on this device once it is rooted?
Forward: Given the nature of my question, the URL is absolutely necessary. After I've gotten my "10 useful posts" I'll fix the URL for future viewers.
EDIT2: Decided to take a chance. Ran into some issues finding the "stock firmware" which I ended up having to do. For those that have problem getting TWRP to stick, you gotta flash the stock firmware of the version you have currently installed. I tried to flash the original that it came with, which, for some reason, it didn't like at all.
Oh, and don't turn off OEM mode after everything's done. I assumed that after everything was installed it wouldn't second guess it and i could safely turn it off for added security if any app went rogue or something. Nope, must keep it on, so do regular backups. Turn off auto-updating, etc. I hear there's some sort of app that lets you "update safely." Not sure what it is, but unless you *NEED* it, don't do it.
And as a bonus note (so it shows up in the archives), some apps didn't install right (either google or the app developer's fault, but these apps weren't tied to this process [pokemon go and just about all the final fantasy games]). The kicker about this is is that you will not notice this UNTIL you uninstall the app, and reinstall it. Deleting the data before uninstalling the app will make it unstable. To find the data, i used
Code:
du / | grep "pokemon" > pokesearch.log
, since i knew that there should not have been a pokemon related directory on my droid at the time, since i needed to reinstall pokemon go because it was acting really fruity. Deleting the folders (actually, the last entry contains the rest, so it's easier just to delete the last one) allowed me to avoid the -504 issue (not to be confused with 504).
Code:
[email protected]:/data/data/com.termux/files/home # cat pokesearch.log
4 /mnt/expand/07aa2c40-4a8f-428c-afb9-7495df69eb26/user/0/com.nianticlabs.pokemongo/cache
1192 /mnt/expand/07aa2c40-4a8f-428c-afb9-7495df69eb26/user/0/com.nianticlabs.pokemongo/code_cache
12 /mnt/expand/07aa2c40-4a8f-428c-afb9-7495df69eb26/user/0/com.nianticlabs.pokemongo/shared_prefs
4 /mnt/expand/07aa2c40-4a8f-428c-afb9-7495df69eb26/user/0/com.nianticlabs.pokemongo/files
1220 /mnt/expand/07aa2c40-4a8f-428c-afb9-7495df69eb26/user/0/com.nianticlabs.pokemongo

Message me if have the same tablet on a system root
Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk

denakor said:
Message me if have the same tablet on a system root
Sent from my SM-S907VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We can talk here for the benefit of the community. Any problems you might have should be documented for the sake of the community. But, yes, the -504 error i mentioned above can only be solved through root, so, yes, i was successful.

Kohlrak said:
We can talk here for the benefit of the community. Any problems you might have should be documented for the sake of the community. But, yes, the -504 error i mentioned above can only be solved through root, so, yes, i was successful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same tablet
---------- Post added at 09:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:28 PM ----------
keith thibodeau said:
I have the same tablet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tablet just updated itself after I tried to root it .. MM 7.0.1 but I didnt ask it to

I disabled automatic updates (from settings and google play, 'cause it's in both places) to prevent this problem. There might be a new firmware for the tablet, but i'm sticking to this version. I'm not sure you can downgrade after you upgrade, though. You can take a shot, though, if you're not afraid of loosing data. I doubt this process will brick as long as you can get the official firm ware on backup incase something goes wrong.

Kohlrak said:
We can talk here for the benefit of the community. Any problems you might have should be documented for the sake of the community. But, yes, the -504 error i mentioned above can only be solved through root, so, yes, i was successful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now it seems impossible to root without pc

Nova Widgets Still Possible (without ADB)?

Platform: Fire HD 8 (6th edition)
OS: 5.4.0.1
Willing to rollback?: Yes (it has broken some email functionality)
Launcher: Nova paid
I have activity launcher installed, as well as launcherhijack v3.
I have set the home screen button in accessibility, and have Nova enabled as the home. I have Nova enabled as the launcher, but have not deleted the fire launcher, as I would prefer not to.
The issue I'm having is that I can't seem to use widgets. I have read up on adb use for the fire, but Windows doesn't want to play nicely, and I don't currently have a linux machine available (yes, I could VM one, or setup a bootable USB, but I'm looking for a solution that would work with what I have currently in place).
Issue: Any time I go to place a widget on a Nova launcher screen, it brings up the list per normal, but when I go to place the widget, I get bounced back to the Kindle settings UI, and am unable to sort out a workaround.
Any suggestions would be appreciated, particularly if they don't require ADB, as so far Windows does not want to allow me to update the ADB drivers (it shows them as current stock drivers and functioning, as well as stating that the ones from google are a no-go).
Sadly, pushed the update when I did not expect it, so all of this was done after update rolled out. Play store was isntalled prior, and settings are for allowing debugging and developer settings, so at least I got the play store on prior to the update (which apparently some people are having issues with). For me, the store is working well, as is sideloading, which is why I'm thinking there must be a reliable solution to get widgets functioning in Nova without needing to ADB command it on.
Thank you,
--bb

No, you definitely need a working adb, it's your gate to all Fire HD hacks and improvements. If you can't - stay with Amazon bits and don't ask questions like this here.
Thanks to @DragonFire1024, we have a pretty nice hack to enable widgets on any launcher; it's very easy to apply and use. But PLEASE don't complain about prerequisites, if you can't get adb working on Windows, it's better to stay off all hacks and actually this site. Just enjoy your Amazon Fire HD (it's pretty cool even with OEM software installed).

Agreed! There is no need to be rude to those who are just learning. I appreciate those like Dragon who gives help to others without making them feel like idiots. With the help of this forum, I have gotten everything but gmail working! And that weird go to black screen and back to lock screen when I swipe application off the screen. An sure it will get fixed.

The widget script might work in a terminal emulator. Jack Pals on the play store is by far the best. Just search for terminal emulator for Android, place the script in the internal storage and try running it in the emulator. I honestly don't know if that will work though as all the hacks I do are usually with ADB.

DragonFire1024 said:
The widget script might work in a terminal emulator. Jack Pals on the play store is by far the best. Just search for terminal emulator for Android, place the script in the internal storage and try running it in the emulator. I honestly don't know if that will work though as all the hacks I do are usually with ADB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I will give that a try.

Let's try to keep the comments directly related to Q&A for this device.
Getting snarky with other users and starting a back and forth argument is off-topic, and usually rude (both violations of the rules).
So, please; keep the Off-topic back and forth off the thread. If you are offended by, or feel another user's comment violates the rules, simply REPORT the comment and do not engage the other user further. No need to add MORE clutter.
Thanks for your cooperation.

sensboston said:
No, you definitely need a working adb, it's your gate to all Fire HD hacks and improvements. If you can't - stay with Amazon bits and don't ask questions like this here.
Thanks to @DragonFire1024, we have a pretty nice hack to enable widgets on any launcher; it's very easy to apply and use. But PLEASE don't complain about prerequisites, if you can't get adb working on Windows, it's better to stay off all hacks and actually this site. Just enjoy your Amazon Fire HD (it's pretty cool even with OEM software installed).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please explain to me how I can update the ADB? I'm not familiar with how to do this at all.

https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/

Yeah, but...
bladebarrier said:
https://www.xda-developers.com/install-adb-windows-macos-linux/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is where I started, but I have been unable to find a way to find anything mentioning ADB (much less enable it) on our Fire HD 8 (7th Generation).
I have been looking through multiple guides for the past 20 minutes, but the newest firmware seems to have hidden or disabled the ability on the actual device. I am logged into the tablet on the main account, but even under "Device Administrators" it says "No available device administrators".
Did Amazon manage to lock these down to be nothing but a pimp for Amazon (as was their intended goal)?
Edit: Fire OS 5.6.1.0

Did Amazon manage to lock these down to be nothing but a pimp for Amazon (as was their intended goal)?
Yes, they did. It's the razor and blades business model. Such as one item is sold at a low price (or given away for free) in order to increase sales of a complementary goods.
When you go into the Setting then into Device Options, is Developer Options at the bottom of the list? If it isn't I think you need to tap the Serial Number 7 times, then it should appear and that is where you can enable ADB.
The dedication of the members of the xda forums are the only reason why a lot of devices such as these manage to reach their potential. I'm pretty new here (joined in February) but I never seen any member give up on a device. What most see as frustration, including myself, a lot of the members here not only see a challenge but an opportunity.

caldersm44 said:
Agreed! There is no need to be rude to those who are just learning. I appreciate those like Dragon who gives help to others without making them feel like idiots. With the help of this forum, I have gotten everything but gmail working! And that weird go to black screen and back to lock screen when I swipe application off the screen. An sure it will get fixed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For now without a rooted device the kick to the lock screen cannot be fixed. That is an unfortunate event which is a result of disabling fire launcher without root. Gmail is give or take. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. If I really had to take a guess I would say Google and Amazon are fighting between each other to get Gmail to work or stop working. It seems when enough users complain Gmail stops working within a few minutes it works again in a couple days later Amazon stops it. I would go back to an old version of Gmail, take your pick and keep trying different versions from there. If he older versions don't work that I'm at a loss at the moment. I do not currently use Gmail on my Amazon tablets. Only because I get too much mail lol. however with that having been said I have never had a problem with Gmail on any of my Amazon tablets with or without root.

dondraper23 said:
Did Amazon manage to lock these down to be nothing but a pimp for Amazon (as was their intended goal)?
Yes, they did. It's the razor and blades business model. Such as one item is sold at a low price (or given away for free) in order to increase sales of a complementary goods.
When you go into the Setting then into Device Options, is Developer Options at the bottom of the list? If it isn't I think you need to tap the Serial Number 7 times, then it should appear and that is where you can enable ADB.
The dedication of the members of the xda forums are the only reason why a lot of devices such as these manage to reach their potential. I'm pretty new here (joined in February) but I never seen any member give up on a device. What most see as frustration, including myself, a lot of the members here not only see a challenge but an opportunity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reminder of how to enable Developer Options - it has been a while since I had to do that. ADB is now enabled!
Thanks to everyone in the xda-developers community!

AnotherNameFFS said:
Thanks for the reminder of how to enable Developer Options - it has been a while since I had to do that. ADB is now enabled!
Thanks to everyone in the xda-developers community!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it enabled! It's one of those steps that is easy to forget

Why are you saying that he should get off the site. Thats rude