OK folks. My first ROM for the new AMLogic Quad Core box - Tronsmart S89 Elite.
This is just a start and my first ROM. I did spend a lot of time on this mainly due to learning!
Expect more updates very soon as I learn more, fix more, and hopefully Tronsmart releasing more!
This is for the Elite version with 8GB memory. It is not for the Standard version with 16GB!
So you might ask..... Why is the ROM file size so small?
Well this is not really a full ROM. In other words it does not erase /system and completely replace it. What this does it modify /system replacing files, removing files, etc. The reason is we have not figured out yet how to make the flashable IMG with the flash tool like the stock ROM nor have we figured out how to unpack the full IMG into its parts. But nothing wrong with this ROM update process! It does what I normally would do in Linux to make a full system. That is the beauty of ZIP update files! It keeps the download small and update process is faster. However you will need a SDcard to flash this ROM.
WARNING!
This ROM update assumes you have a stock ROM flashed where /system has not been modified in any way!
So if you rooted your ROM already you should flash the stock ROM before using this package.
While it still may work, I guarantee nothing as to how it will work (bugs I may have fixed etc).
The reason is mainly how I root the ROM. I have modified boot.img to install the su daemon!
Rooting for KitKat requires the SU daemon to be run as a service. The best way to do this is modify boot.img. Without modding boot, Superuser for KK uses the install-recovery script in /system. This is not completely secure! Even my root ZIP update I just released is not modifying boot.img. This ROM does!
I have also added files to support init.d in boot not in system.
_____________________________________
Features and release notes for my 1.2 ROM:
1) Properly rooted using SuperSU. What does properly mean?
Android 4.4.2 requires SU to be running as a daemon now. There are many ways to run this as a daemon.
Most roots so far are using a install-recovery.sh script or if init.d is enabled, a init.d script.
This means you could lose root if messing with these scripts which some rooted apps do!
What I have done is started the daemon in init.rc thus eliminating the need for boot scripts!
This took me a while to learn to do! Enjoy a BETTER ROOT!
2) Updated Google framework and Play Store core files. The ones in the stock ROM were out of date.
On first boot NOTHING will need to be updated once you logon to Google Play.
That is as of this date.
This may fix paid APP install issues but I do not know as I never have bought APPs and can't test.
3) Debloated of junk APPs and Google Apps you can get from Google Play.
There was quite a few useless hidden apps in this KitKat release! Some of them did not even work.
I did remove XBMC and other pre-install APPs as well. I like a CLEAN ROM that you the user can setup the way you want.
Having APPs in /system leaves that junk in there forever (unless you delete them by hand with a root explorer).
In the zip I do provide you the XBMC APK that came with the ROM if you want it.
4) As always, full init.d support! If you do not know what that is... ignore it. For geeks that want to use it. It is there!
This time around due to updated security in 4.4, init.d was a lot harder to get working.
Again I had to figure it out!
5) I added the stock AOSP KitKat launcher if you want it. I prefer it over the stock Launcher.
On first boot you will be asked which you want.
6) Build.prop edit to open up the Google Play store to APPs that normally say "not compatible".
I am spoofing a Samsung device that will show almost any APP as compatible.
Your device will show up in google play as Samsung device not a Vega S89! Understand this please.
I also left the original build.prop in the ROM called build.orig.
If you want to go back, just use ES FIle Explorer or a root file explorer and rename build.prop to build.old
Then rename build.orig to build.prop.
Go into settings, apps, all and go into the Google Play app. Clear the cache and data.
Reboot! You should be back to showing up as a Vega.
7) I added a reboot APP that will allow optional reboot options like reboot to recovery for easier updates.
8) Carrier spoofs for better APP compatibility.
9) The usual tweaks I do for better performance e.g. buffers sizes, etc etc.
______________________________________
As always, unzip this download and READ the READ me for more information and instructions for how to flash this ROM!
______________________________________
Here is the download link.
ROM -> Tronsmart S89 Elite - Finless ROM 1.2 (93 megs)
Enjoy,
Bob
This is just a start and my first ROM. I did spend a lot of time on this mainly due to learning!
Expect more updates very soon as I learn more, fix more, and hopefully Tronsmart releasing more!
This is for the Elite version with 8GB memory. It is not for the Standard version with 16GB!
So you might ask..... Why is the ROM file size so small?
Well this is not really a full ROM. In other words it does not erase /system and completely replace it. What this does it modify /system replacing files, removing files, etc. The reason is we have not figured out yet how to make the flashable IMG with the flash tool like the stock ROM nor have we figured out how to unpack the full IMG into its parts. But nothing wrong with this ROM update process! It does what I normally would do in Linux to make a full system. That is the beauty of ZIP update files! It keeps the download small and update process is faster. However you will need a SDcard to flash this ROM.
WARNING!
This ROM update assumes you have a stock ROM flashed where /system has not been modified in any way!
So if you rooted your ROM already you should flash the stock ROM before using this package.
While it still may work, I guarantee nothing as to how it will work (bugs I may have fixed etc).
The reason is mainly how I root the ROM. I have modified boot.img to install the su daemon!
Rooting for KitKat requires the SU daemon to be run as a service. The best way to do this is modify boot.img. Without modding boot, Superuser for KK uses the install-recovery script in /system. This is not completely secure! Even my root ZIP update I just released is not modifying boot.img. This ROM does!
I have also added files to support init.d in boot not in system.
_____________________________________
Features and release notes for my 1.2 ROM:
1) Properly rooted using SuperSU. What does properly mean?
Android 4.4.2 requires SU to be running as a daemon now. There are many ways to run this as a daemon.
Most roots so far are using a install-recovery.sh script or if init.d is enabled, a init.d script.
This means you could lose root if messing with these scripts which some rooted apps do!
What I have done is started the daemon in init.rc thus eliminating the need for boot scripts!
This took me a while to learn to do! Enjoy a BETTER ROOT!
2) Updated Google framework and Play Store core files. The ones in the stock ROM were out of date.
On first boot NOTHING will need to be updated once you logon to Google Play.
That is as of this date.
This may fix paid APP install issues but I do not know as I never have bought APPs and can't test.
3) Debloated of junk APPs and Google Apps you can get from Google Play.
There was quite a few useless hidden apps in this KitKat release! Some of them did not even work.
I did remove XBMC and other pre-install APPs as well. I like a CLEAN ROM that you the user can setup the way you want.
Having APPs in /system leaves that junk in there forever (unless you delete them by hand with a root explorer).
In the zip I do provide you the XBMC APK that came with the ROM if you want it.
4) As always, full init.d support! If you do not know what that is... ignore it. For geeks that want to use it. It is there!
This time around due to updated security in 4.4, init.d was a lot harder to get working.
Again I had to figure it out!
5) I added the stock AOSP KitKat launcher if you want it. I prefer it over the stock Launcher.
On first boot you will be asked which you want.
6) Build.prop edit to open up the Google Play store to APPs that normally say "not compatible".
I am spoofing a Samsung device that will show almost any APP as compatible.
Your device will show up in google play as Samsung device not a Vega S89! Understand this please.
I also left the original build.prop in the ROM called build.orig.
If you want to go back, just use ES FIle Explorer or a root file explorer and rename build.prop to build.old
Then rename build.orig to build.prop.
Go into settings, apps, all and go into the Google Play app. Clear the cache and data.
Reboot! You should be back to showing up as a Vega.
7) I added a reboot APP that will allow optional reboot options like reboot to recovery for easier updates.
8) Carrier spoofs for better APP compatibility.
9) The usual tweaks I do for better performance e.g. buffers sizes, etc etc.
______________________________________
As always, unzip this download and READ the READ me for more information and instructions for how to flash this ROM!
______________________________________
Here is the download link.
ROM -> Tronsmart S89 Elite - Finless ROM 1.2 (93 megs)
Enjoy,
Bob
.gif "HELL YEA!!")
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