Pipo M9 Pro - Finless 1.4 ROM

[Finless]

On one hand your right, but here in the Netherlands Are severall apps that won't work on a Samsung device. So thats why I have to change the name. Also, there are alternatives for Googleplay where I can get the apps who won't show up anymore. it is just the stupid fact that an app say's: Sorry I can't install on a Samsung device. But with the tip from Rodentkj I could change it myself. Problem solved.

On the other hand, Riley changed it from Samsung to Pipo in the M8pro rom because a lot of people asked for it. So there must be more to it than just a name.

It is clear you did not read my readme!!!

I gave you in the ROM the original build.prop. It is called build.orig. All you need to do to make everything Pipo is to rename build.prop to build.old and rename build.orig to build.prop. NO editing required just simple file rename. FYI just changing MODEL can cause other issues! It is best to use the build.orig instead of editing.

I spend a lot of time writing my instructions and giving ability to do things people want. It helps if you read the readme!!!

Sorry to be harsh but sometimes RTFM! You would not have even had to ask about this had you read my readme I spent a lot of time writing.

Bob

[Starcopy]

It is clear you did not read my readme!!!

Sorry to be harsh but sometimes RTFM! You would not have even had to ask about this had you read my readme I spent a lot of time writing.

Bob

Nah, no problem. I did read it, but misunderstoot that part:

7) 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.
Yuur device will show up in google play as Samsung device not a Pipo!

I read it as to do when you want a Samsung, that was my bad. That's sometimes the problem when you not a native.

[Playonlover]

Be careful with Power Button

Thanks Randy!

Bob

Hi Bob and other M9 pro Owners:

Love my M9 Pro, but since Bob just got one I thought I would post one small issue to be very careful during use. I had to post so that others are more careful than I. I bought a cover that did not cover the top corners and it slipped out of my hands and fell and moderately hit the ground (about1.5 feet up), not overly hard, but it did give it a little shock. Everything worked afterward, except the power button. Even though the shock was no where near the power button, when it hit ground it jarred the tablet enough to permanently depress the power button. I put an App on called gravity screen that solves the no power button problem by turning on whenever the tablet is not lying on a table and off when set on the table.

The power button, upon opening my tablet, was very flimsily attached by a very small mini soldered connection point, even to the point of the fact that even a hard push on it could break it. Needless to say. get a good cover that protects the tablet the best from shocks and be careful with the power button use. Just and FYI.

Thanks for new ROM Bob! Love you and Randy,and all you do for all of us!

[Finless]

Nah, no problem. I did read it, but misunderstoot that part:

7) 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.
Yuur device will show up in google play as Samsung device not a Pipo!

I read it as to do when you want a Samsung, that was my bad. That's sometimes the problem when you not a native.

OK sorry.... I wish I had a translator for my readme

We will move on from this and look at it as a good thing

Bob

[Finless]

Playonover, I took my tablet apart to fix the wifi issues. Mine was BAD wifi and shorted antenna....

While Pipo seems to be a good tablet maker they are tied to cheap China manufacturing that sucks!
While I had mine apart it is clear why these only cost $240 or so and not $900 like a iPad. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

But hey... I love mine over my wife's iPad any day!

Bob

[rodentkj]

Playonover, I took my tablet apart to fix the wifi issues. Mine was BAD wifi and shorted antenna....

While Pipo seems to be a good tablet maker they are tied to cheap China manufacturing that sucks!
While I had mine apart it is clear why these only cost $240 or so and not $900 like a iPad. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!
Bob

Agreed. There is a reason these tablets have top end specifications yet relativity low cost. The workmanship shows the reason. Sadly the heartbeat of the tablet, wifi, is very poorly done.

I started a thread about my wifi fix. Hopefully others can benefit.

http://www.freaktab.com/showthread.php?8568-Pipo-M9-Pro-wifi-antenna-modification-instructions

It should be noted that this 100% resolved my wifi issues with roms other than Finless.
Note saying that the wifi changes Bob made in his rom does not help. But rather the hardware change I made completely resolved the wifi issues I was seeing without any software changes implemented in the Finless rom.

My 2 cents.

[Finless]

Note saying that the wifi changes Bob made in his rom does not help. But rather the hardware change I made completely resolved the wifi issues I was seeing without any software changes implemented in the Finless rom.

My 2 cents.

My ROM changes will NOT fix the BS hardware issues. I had to take my tablet apart and do similar to what you showed in your post. The REASON is shoddy manufacturing AND design! No ROM will fix a bad tablet that is screwed up hardware wise!

Pipo needs to get on this fix FAST... or some reseller will be EATING a lot of return product!

I already told geekbuying that until this is fixed by Pipo, they probably should NOT sell this tablet!

Wifi is key to a tablet user and DAMN IT, it should work! Unfortunately China doesn't seem to get this. This has been a long standing issue since 2011 with the Arnova, Archos, etc which were first on the scene with cheap tablets. This shitty antenna thing has been around for 2 years! Look at a youtube video I made a long time ago about the same damn issue!

It's NOT rocket science to fix but.... You cannot expect users to have the skills needed to make that mod... PIPO... FIX THIS ASAP!

Bob

[rodentkj]

Pipo needs to get on this fix FAST...
Bob

Sadly it prob will never be resolved.
The M9 Pro will live it's life out just like other Chinese manufactured tab with inherent problems. We as consumers just have to live with it. Or figure out how to work around the issues.

The production runs for stuff like this are typically large to keep costs down. And it's unlikely what has been built will ever be reworked. Assuming any type of "fix" was implemented by the Pipo crew.

Chronic GPS issues plague this tablet too. Likely the same problem as wifi. Poor cabling. Poor workmanship.

Anyway. The train has derailed. Time to get back on track..

Bob. I need to reflash my tab. I mucked it up trying to figure out the tun.ko thing with my VPN.
You think the new rom you are working on will be out in the next couple of days? If so, I'll wait to reflash.

[Finless]

Bob. I need to reflash my tab. I mucked it up trying to figure out the tun.ko thing with my VPN.
You think the new rom you are working on will be out in the next couple of days? If so, I'll wait to reflash.

It will be out tomorrow for sure!

Bob

[rodentkj]

It will be out tomorrow for sure!
Bob

Great. Thank you sir.

[madsega]

Have you done a factory reset after flashing the rom ? It's the 1st thing to do before or after firmware flash.
There's nothing weird ,probably you made a mistake with flashing,as i mensioned the 1st thing i have seen in your video was that the first checbox in the flashtool was checked while if you opened the flashtool in Finless rom folder that checkbox in UNCHECKED. In your first post you are saying that you have everything followed by the letter,so that's the proof it isn't true.
Such a little mistake can cause such problems.
I had Finless 1.4 to,no probs with wifi

Yes, I followed everything to the letter mate
The 1st option isn't checked by default (true) but I selected it because I thought it was the different boot screen. I guess that was my mistake (think I miss-read somewhere that that was the new boot screen). Then again, you couldn't blame me for selecting the option (which was there to select :P), it's like saying "why change 4GB app space when default is 2". The options are there for each to customize his/hers own install right? This is not necessary a bad thing as it might help developers understand that something like this can happen and how to fix it.

As you might have noticed, I didn't record the process from start, just figured I should after I already started. Also, to your recommendation I formatted to factory default.

Couple of notes: the wifi problem still persists (being a hardware issue as stated before) but, now when it disconnects, it does a good job of reconnecting immediately 8 out of 10 d/c, which is a very good ratio. I believe it's because of the wifi tunning (#10)

The screens swipe/change very fluid, everything looks nice and tidy.

Being my first custom ROM installed, I would definitely recommend it.

As a side note, with original firmware or the latest firmware from Pipo website, even with Finless 1.4, the tablet reboots when I run Antutu and it reaches 21% progress (CPU Float test). It's not that big of a deal, but would this suggest a hardware problem of some sorts. Tried another benchmark (GFXBench 2.7.0) and at some point, tablet also reboots. CPU & GPU both lousy or what?

Thanks for all the advice and thank you Bob for a great ROM.
Cheers

[colinabroad]

PIPO Fix Wiring problems

Sadly it prob will never be resolved.
The M9 Pro will live it's life out just like other Chinese manufactured tab with inherent problems. We as consumers just have to live with it. Or figure out how to work around the issues.

The production runs for stuff like this are typically large to keep costs down. And it's unlikely what has been built will ever be reworked. Assuming any type of "fix" was implemented by the Pipo crew.

Chronic GPS issues plague this tablet too. Likely the same problem as wifi. Poor cabling. Poor workmanship.

Anyway. The train has derailed. Time to get back on track..

Bob. I need to reflash my tab. I mucked it up trying to figure out the tun.ko thing with my VPN.
You think the new rom you are working on will be out in the next couple of days? If so, I'll wait to reflash.

It sounds like I need to pop over to the factory and see what they are doing!! This is the bug bear of my life here in China and I have my own soldering stations in my factory where only people trained by ME are allowed to do any work. I have spent ten years here and have yet to come across a factory that uses ANY good techniques on the hand soldering of components, connectors or wires! Lets see if they (PIPO) are reading and respond with an invite!! I may even go over to their facebook page (with a VPN of course!) and say hello!

[rodentkj]

This is the bug bear of my life here in China and I have my own soldering stations in my factory where only people trained by ME are allowed to do any work. I have spent ten years here and have yet to come across a factory that uses ANY good techniques on the hand soldering of components, connectors or wires! Lets see if they (PIPO) are reading and respond with an invite!! I may even go over to their facebook page (with a VPN of course!) and say hello!

Sadly this seem to the be the baseline when it comes to mass produced budget electronics. Uness your the Samsung, Apple or Microsoft's of the world, large production just does not get attention to detail.

The correct and more robust antenna connection to use would be below.
However it costs much less to run a lead to the PCB and solder a wire to it. Thus the Pipo M9 Pro.

[colinabroad]

Quality

Sadly this seem to the be the baseline when it comes to mass produced budget electronics. Uness your the Samsung, Apple or Microsoft's of the world, large production just does not get attention to detail.

The correct and more robust antenna connection to use would be below.
However it costs much less to run a lead to the PCB and solder a wire to it. Thus the Pipo M9 Pro.

Excellent photo! I is actually cheaper to do it properly - I have proved this time and again over here, but the penny pinchers sill rule even over here and when someone tells them its cheaper to make the wrong way it gets done. They seem to forget the cost of repairs and loss of credibility. This SMD connector would actually cost LESS to put on the board as there would be no manual labour. The cost of that labour can go towards buying the two connectors needed to make the correct reliable connection between antenna and board. Simple really -lets hope Pipo are watching! Maybe I will copy Anna with a link?

[Finless]

Excellent photo! I is actually cheaper to do it properly - I have proved this time and again over here, but the penny pinchers sill rule even over here and when someone tells them its cheaper to make the wrong way it gets done. They seem to forget the cost of repairs and loss of credibility. This SMD connector would actually cost LESS to put on the board as there would be no manual labour. The cost of that labour can go towards buying the two connectors needed to make the correct reliable connection between antenna and board. Simple really -lets hope Pipo are watching! Maybe I will copy Anna with a link?

I believe this is because the factory never sees all the returned devices as defective! Some distributor etc probably eats them! Even if the factory did get them back I doubt seriously they try to spend the labor to fix them. If the fall out from this is 1% they probably don't care!

Bob