Transform a low cost S912 TV Box into a killer TV Box DIY

[scooter2014]

Plex/kodi both good apk for users. Pirate apk not produced by them and not thier issue. Just pointing out the repository is NOT kodi.

[X92-2GB]

Plex/kodi both good apk for users. Pirate apk not produced by them and not thier issue. Just pointing out the repository is NOT kodi.

Both my box and tablet are using builds from the official sites. What I am experiencing is with the operation or lack of with the installed downloaded or zip repositories. They fail to properly function with connectivity.

what I explained is due to two different devices unable to use Kodi as freely as with phone apps with total lock down. Which is a rant, but in reality safe and effective for my needs over opening up a can of worms just to have a shell within android run videos, and be not so clean with interaction and function. Just the facts on my end, and others may find differing results, due to how they setup their devices with security lock down.

[X92-2GB]

Back to final troubleshooting and 100% compatibility with phone apps.

I finally gave in to use a mock gps app to run in background as a service to allow all streaming apps to use LAN connectivity when expecting location to be set though wifi. Fake GPS does that, and allows me to switch locations via favorites, when opening the app in the notification pull down.

Just make sure your location is set to use the default device, as other settings will effect location detection by apps and Fake GPS functionality.

[X92-2GB]

After getting everything bug free with my lock down, I started on manual patches to sys files that were released near the start of the year. Those patches are...

Google Account Manager, which was for Android 7.1, and now is replaced with 7.1.2 version.
Web viewer, Contacts Sync, Calender Storage provider, Phone, media provider, and other system apk files.

Also I moved all my side loaded apps into system, for permanent save when reset.

testing how some apps like Solid Explorer functions as a system file. Had to make it a user file to correct the issues.

Once I finish up with system tweaks I will backup and try flashing once more, various 6.0.1 firmwares to find one that works. If I cannot, I have something to fall back onto, as there are some things I can only do in 6.0.1 to keep my build mods the most secure and functional to my needs.

[X92-2GB]

Phone, and media provider had to be restored. I found if you side load the new system APK files they update and can be forced integrated into the firmware permanently through Titanium Backup.

I did not bother with updating Google setup apps, as they are not used much within the system. So they are left as Android 7.0 compliant, as they should be 7.1.2 like all the other system APKs.

There was a few system APKs that were done as 7.0, just like the CTS APKs. Could have been part of the compilation process, and over looked.

All but iTV Hub can operate as a system APK, for now... not sure, but I am unable to save login settings, when the app closes. Could be one of my lock downs have effected it. NatGeo has an odd frame stutter issue. Again my lock down may be effecting it.

Too bad, 7.1.2 sucks at what 4.4.2 can do for lock down. Maybe Google play services have more to do with it, but I have left the services left mostly untouched for both the streaming apps and Google play services.

Can't wait to get 6.0.1 flashed next month if possible.

For all the time troubleshooting, I should have paid a wee extra and got a 6.0.1 box, even though it is older and and its main board is not as compact.

[X92-2GB]

The recent update to iTV fixed the issue with login failing to be saved, now forced back to being a system app, and working fine.

I will uninstall Nat Geo and reinstall and see if it corrects the frame jitter.

[X92-2GB]

OK, I tested some custom firmwares earlier last month, and went back to stock firmware.

Now no matter which firmware I flash, I cannot get to boot (brick) or fails earlier than 11% most of the time at 4%

tried forced erase and so on with USB burn tool.

any options?

[X92-2GB]

OK, I buttoned up my setup, after sorting out all the issues within the OEM firmware. It's all backed up, and replaced with a custom firmware. Because my bootloader is for 7.1.2, I can only do 7.1.2 firmware flashes (without erasing my bootloader). Believe me, i have tried many ways with various USB tool revisions to erase the bootloader, and it will not without an OEM firmware being loaded.

I admit once you figure out Android TV, the TV apps are the way to go. I will be replacing the launcher with TV launcher and rescaling my display similar to my original mods to my OEM firmware. Just the display pitch on this firmware i am using is 320, previous was 240.

Still working away with the fresh load, will have more info next week. As most of my work diving into 7.1.2 for the first time, should stick well if not better with this firmware that i am using now.

Dumping Kodi and YouTube, as most of all the TV and Phone apps do what i need and are much smaller in size.

[X92-2GB]

After a bit of work... I lost SBS, STV, History, Nat Geo, and Sci-Fi. No biggie, just SBS was almost too good to give up. But I gained the ability to play TV apps. It is actually a gain, as History and Nat Geo are too lame compared to BBC iPlayer. Nice to get Fox and FX as separate apps once again. Bummer that HBO is just as lame in not authenticating with Xfinity, and is useless. But it was limited by detecting external displays on the phone app, and blocked anyTV use.

Funny thing, is that Xposed for Magisk seems to be less problematic on 7.1.2 than rooted SU version. Just had to find the proper Xposed installer that was released late March.

Still contemplating setting cache to be switched from Art to Dalvik, not too noticeable with FC issues as before.

Found some of my Hosts file entries don't play well with some TV apps. Will search through the entries and make changes once I identify what can be safely remove.

Still need to adjust the system a bit. A few system apks from the developers build were not updated. Not as bad as the OEM firmware, but a few need updated to 7.1.2.

Testing TV Launcher and once completed will remove lean back keyboard and launcher, as they are data wasters. A TV should only consume what it needs for playback, not for on screen information. Nothing like comic book graphics in background, from TV app shortcuts.

[clarkss12]

I have gotten use to the Google Leanback Launcher with Google Assistant and now I can NEVER go back....... hahaha.. To be noted, I have/had more than 2 dozen (pushing 3 dozen) of these Android Boxes/Sticks in the last 5 years. They are making terrific progress on their Firmware.......

[X92-2GB]

Well, I am as anti Google as I can be, while using Android.

I am a low or no background data person. Less is more for me, thus the reason for TV launcher.

Donno, but the lean back keyboard is super small on the screen, at least with my settings.

HA! I have had only one tablet for over 3 years, and can't think of anything better, after I had customised it. Problem is that no other layout is available on newer devices, that's like it.

I don't mind new devices, just not one is properly setup and bug free... One must tweak the #$&+ out of it to get it right. There use to be a time, when producing a well designed product and sticking with it till nothing else can be done to make it better. Just dump another new designed product that has not been proven, outside of the test environment.

[X92-2GB]

Found some replacement TV apps that may install, once I remove the phone apps. Most TV apps will fail trying to upgrade over a phone app. Removed my Xfinity Stream app and installed a clean install of Xfinity Stream for TV. No problem... so once I have time I will finish up some of the phone app replacements with the TV versions.

Side note, the new BBC America TV app is not as crisp as the phone app on displaying video. Maybe it was the live reared pre recorded content I was watching at the time. May have to test with a more recent programme being streamed live to find out if there is a difference.

[X92-2GB]

After the weekend the box decided not to boot up anymore. Would just be a blank screen when powered up. Oddly, I only installed a few apps during that time and watched TV over 8 hours during the weekend. Donno if storm hit it with a power surge while sleeping or just failed on its own.

Did few tests today, but not much gain with operation. USB flash tool detects the device when I plug it in to USB, and accepts a flash without any error. Still no boot screen.

Will look at it tomorrow, and try a few firmwares I stocked up on, hopefully I can jail break the locked boot loader with a 6.0.1 firmware and flash a good custom 6.0.1.

[X92-2GB]

So far no change with power on, able to flash a number of firmwares and the recently released Z69 mini, which is much like my box, but has a hugely bloated firmware, which takes almost 20 minutes to flash.

I have a feeling the S912 failed or a power issue from storm over night, which burnt out a power stage on my device.

Currently freezing the main board and will test later on to see if it powers up and produces a display. If so I know the problem is hardware related.

[X92-2GB]

Frozen or not, the device is dead. Could be a bad bootloader, CPU or RAM.

Will mess with it off and on randomly... will post a want here on the forum for links to stock firmware upgrade from 6.0.1 to 7.1 for S912 devices with 1GB or 2GB (sticks and boxes). Maybe it's just a bad bootloader and may be resolved with upgrade firmware.

I found a thread on a stick user who had found a fix, and listed his firmwares to try out. If a bootloader can be loaded in such way, most likely, it will work on most any device.