Cube T9 ROM/Tools/Mods, etc

[Edius]

`1Here is what I found until now regarding ROM's, drivers, mods..not too much, but usefull for guys who want to flash/reflash.
Official /Factory ROM's:

1. Hosted on my Google Drive due to very low downloading speed from China:
V1.02 - 2014-11-21 description >>> First factory firmware.
Checksums: MD5: 4db3a7dc30e5a780a5c9b4ab16830552
SHA-1: f5248dcc2f9841e874f7e919c4213e0c8375f17a


V1.04 - 2014-12-30 description >>> Improved sliding screen and game fluency
Checksums: MD5: 8624fa2f754930c8e72b1afdae6b0420
SHA-1: fe26b854b19b8ba64680e098b6187b313639394b


V1.07 - 2015-03-04 description >>> Improve Bluetooth keyboard compatibility, improve touchscreen experience
Checksums: MD5: c54c741fc1e43d7fd1761e42d3c93722
SHA-1: e30468a7dec5b6e4ede30844979d9280f21e0e7b



2.Original ROM's link _very slow:
V1.02 - 2014-11-21
V1.04 - 2014-12-30
V1.07 - 2015-03-04


3.Updates OTA (Hosted on my Google drive):
How-To (Instructions to apply OTA packages locally/offline)
V1.05 - 2015-01-07/OTA .zip package checksum
V1.06 - 2015-01-20/OTA .zip package checksum
V1.07 - 2015-03-04/OTA .zip package checksum
V1.08 - 2015-03-27/OTA .zip package checksum


Drivers:
1.Compatible Drivers Cube T9/Cube Talk 9X (Windows x86_x64 bit) click.
2.PDAnet_4150 found in Cube_T9_RileyROM_1.0 click.
3.Drivers Auto Installer/Mediatek (WinXP/7/8/8.1 x32_x64): Instructions click; Download click.

FAQ :
1. Just slightly reworked FAQ from Talk9X - driver installation/flashing ROM (that's 900supersport work here, I just slightly edited text in accordance with T9) click.
2. More complex FAQ about MTK driver installation click.
3.SP Flash Tool guide for T9 click and download here


Root :
Root for T9 can be done until now only with:
TWRP (third party recovery; uses SuperSU) instructions click (tnx to@Lepi for video) ; download click.
KingRoot (PC Edition only;uses SuperUser) click.
VRoot (renamed in IRoot;uses SuperUser) click.


Custom ROM :
Cube T9 Riley ROM (first like always), Thank's Randy.


Custom Recovery
TWRP 2.8.4.0 USB_OTG(all credits @hanuma50 (4PDA forum) for developement);
TWRP 2.8.4.0 NEW_Font Improvements ( all credits devilz-wolit and hocuspocus69 )
TWRP 2.8.6- [inbuilt ability to root T9 (no need any zip file)/new su-binary and supersu to the version (chainfire supersu v2.61)]_all credits goes to @mmrrdd
Download All ; Instructions

Original Recovery
Extracted recovery.img files/FW V1.02_V1.04 for use with SP Flash Tool:
V1.02
V1.04
V1.07

Patches and Modifications

Custom Scatter .txt files for 4_6_8GB system partition ( many thanks to hocuspocus69 and to devilz-wolit ); Instructions here.



Usefull Links:

All Cube ROM's from:
PanBaidu
51cube.com

Cube Official forum (chinese):
bbs.51cube.com

[Edius]

Reserved

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Reserved for later use
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[Edius]

Cube T9/ removal of mate inner layer/ Part 1

In the last few days I have some spare time (pretty boring) so I decided to remove internal mate film.
Idea has come somehow from what I read on 4PDA (thanks @helgiman if you read this...I never succeeded to make an account there).
Already on 4PDA two users has done this mod but with a damaged battery controller in the end...battery will stay dead when plugged charger.
To avoid this battery controller issue please remove black battery wire as soon as back cover is removed.



Needed tools : two very thin screwdrivers, one dummy SD card(a credit card will be also good), soldering iron.
Now, all these steps in order:

1. How to remove back cover (with dummy SD card, etc..thickness is your choice)
Starting from bottom left corner to bottom right corner (clockwise) - screen down.

The "beast" /// is prepared for some surgery.
The "pacient" and some internal detailed photos:


2. Remove these 4 screws

3. Be very gentle when working in touchscreen ribbon area (firstly unglue yellow tape, then remove screw positioned under touchscreen controller).
Bottom Right screw
4.Remove mainboard screw and copper foil from the left side
5.Remove copper foil from the bottom right area and MicroUSB/Speaker ribbon
6.Unglue carefully WiFi/GPS antenna from top left corner

7.Very carefully lift the main camera from slot with a very thin and flat screwdriver (has some glue underneath)

8.In bottom right area you'll find a small plastic box with the third antenna glued on top, with a flat screwdriver raise the base (two plastic clips underneath) and will pop up with ease.

9.Lift plastic box from top right area to expose light sensor and secondary camera
Sensor and camera can be lifted very easy from slots (sorry I forgot to take photos there)

That's all, your "beast" is in pieces on the table.
.....................................

[Edius]

Cube T9/ removal of mate inner layer/ Part 2

Part two...seems like forum limits number of pictures/words on one post

10. Now, lift carefully entire assembly from bottom right corner as here
Keep touchscreen on the table and lift tablet main part just a little, you'll have enough space to peel that damn plastic piece of plastic.
Be very carefull when you peel mate foil, is attached on the screen, not on touchscreen (outside is mate) and do yourself a favour and have some gloves ...greasy from hands is very difficult to clean entirely.
Reassembly process is easy, do these steps in reverse order.
Photo with reassembled T9 is here
Now...RESULTS:

Result is spectacular, screen is the same like in my ex-Cube Talk 9X (old batches with no grain effect)..just beautifull.

Just remember to desolder battery black wire (-) to prevent any damage to battery controller.
I have done this on my own risk..and this approach was different from what @Booshman did.
Is somehow risky but not that much...touchscreen removal with heatgun is more risky in my opinion and is very possible to crack your touchscreen
Process time ~1 hour for me..for all you guys should be very easy with all these pictures.
This was my experience and I shared with you guys.
Do this on your own risk, if you are not very skilled in phone/tablet,etc opening/repairing process just go to a professional.

Regards, Edy.

[Edius]

How to use OTA update.zip

Method 1:
1.Download update.zip (click) and place this file into Internal SD Card/adupsfota (create a new folder and rename in "adupsfota" if doesn't exist already) //
2.Do not extract archive, leave this as update.zip
3.Go to Settings/About Tablet/Wireless update/click on 3 dots in right upper part/Local updates/point to "adupsfota" folder/Update now

Method 2:
Place update.zip file in Internal SD Card root
Go to default recovery/apply updates from sdcard/confirm



Recommendation:
Do not skip any update, reach to the last one in order.
Ex.: If you flash with SP Flash Tool V1.04 and update locally to V1.06 do not skip V1.05, that could damage system apps or worse tablet will be soft bricked.

[giouncino]

Edius, with this mod did you experienced any difference in touch sensitivity?

Congratulation! very good job!

[Edius]

No, touchscreen always worked very well for me.
I don't belive that will help guys with touch screen problems since mate foil is attached to main screen (not to touchscreen) and actually there is no contact between main screen/touchscreen.
Is just only one solution for guys with touch screen problem...take off both screen protectors from outside.

[NFMynster]

The back cover.

Since the backcover is easy to detach, maybe I'm going to spray paint mine black. That would be sweet.
Edit: Shit mate sorry, didn't notice the guidelines

[Edius]

Since the backcover is easy to detach, maybe I'm going to spray paint mine black. That would be sweet.

...............
Please, keep your questions/comments in CubeT9 thread to keep practical form on this thread for future use.

Thank you very much for understanding.

[BamaPanda]

Downloaded 1.05 to my Cube T9, placed in Internal SD Card root ....
Run through manual updates ...still have 1.06.

What did I do wrong?

Thanks

[Edius]

Downloaded 1.05 to my Cube T9, placed in Internal SD Card root ....
Run through manual updates ...still have 1.06.

What did I do wrong?

Thanks

I understand you try to downgrade from V1.06 to V1.05 through local update.
I think is not possible, is not backward compatible.
Flash V1.04 through SP Flash Tool and you'll be able to update to V1.05 OTA or local update with update.zip.
Stay on V1.05 until V1.07 or Lollipop will come to prevent reboots/GPU artifacts.

[BamaPanda]

I understand you try to downgrade from V1.06 to V1.05 through local update.
I think is not possible, is not backward compatible.
Flash V1.04 through SP Flash Tool and you'll be able to update to V1.05 OTA or local update with update.zip.
Stay on V1.05 until V1.07 or Lollipop will come to prevent reboots/GPU artifacts.

Thanks
I was able to download 1.05 to my pc through Google Drive. Got the flash tool. Now ready to flash 1.04, or I may wait for LP or 1.07 as you mention.

Good work here. Thanks again.

[BamaPanda]

Edius.
Thanks for the work on the teardown and pix.

Question/comment. You did not have to use a heat gun to disassemble the T9, did you?

I ask because I am thinking we might get an understanding why Cube chose this new type build with the T9 ...with the internal roll cage and all, rather than a glued together sandwich we see in some other builds.

If this is accurate, it is one more plus for the T9 in my book ...being able to get to the internals easier!

[Edius]

Edius.
Thanks for the work on the teardown and pix.

Question/comment. You did not have to use a heat gun to disassemble the T9, did you?

I ask because I am thinking we might get an understanding why Cube chose this new type build with the T9 ...with the internal roll cage and all, rather than a glued together sandwich we see in some other builds.

If this is accurate, it is one more plus for the T9 in my book ...being able to get to the internals easier!

No heatgun needed.
As I wrote above "Needed tools : two very thin screwdrivers, one dummy SD card(a credit card will be also good), soldering iron (to desolder black wire that comes from battery, as a precaution).

[giouncino]

the heat gun is necessary only if you open the tablet from the front side.