Root the Motorola Droid 4 on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread

Brandon Orndorff
-
2
Root the Motorola Droid 4 on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread

Motorola Droid 4 Root Utility

Our favorite group of hackers over at XDA, more specifically Dan Rosenberg has already created a utility to root the Motorola Droid 4 on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread. This utility will not only root your Droid 4 but unroot it, install Voodoo’s Rootkeeper app, Safestrap Recovery app, boot into fastboot for debugging and a few other options for the Droid 4.

This is a very easy utility to use and requires almost no thought process to gain root access on your Motorola Droid 4. Make sure you backup anything that you do not want to risk losing like pictures, videos, text messages, etc. Also you will need the correct drivers on your computer for your Droid 4 then its as easy as running the utility.

Instructions to Root the Motorola Droid 4 on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread:

  1. Place your Droid 4 in USB Debugging mode “Settings -> Applications -> Development”
  2. Connect the Droid 4 to a Windows PC Via USB
  3. Extract the Droid 4 Utility on your computer (Download Link)
  4. Open the folder you just unzipped and run “Droid4Utility.bat”
  5. When the Droid 4 Utility opens select option 1
  6. Follow any on screen instructions
  7. Congrats your Droid 4 is rooted on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread!

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7inch Ice Cream Sandwich Tablet

Brandon Orndorff
-
0
Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7inch Ice Cream Sandwich Tablet

According to a press release by Samsung they will be releasing a 7 inch Galaxy Tab that will come with Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The device is said to go on sale in March and be their first Galaxy Tab to run Ice Cream Sandwich. The new device will have a redesigned user interface and new app gallery layout. On top of this it will have the facial recognition and Face Unlock feature that is new to the Android 4.0 platform.

What CNET has to say about the Galaxy Tab 2:
The Galaxy Tab 2 will also be the first out of all Samsung mobile devices to feature its AllShare Play service, which enables users to stream media to their tablet from a PC, Samsung smartphone, or cloud drive.

Other features include a front-facing VGA webcam and rear-facing 3-magapixel webcam; options for 8GB, 16G and 32GB storage, plus 1GB RAM; plus a bodyweight of 0.76 pounds, per Samsung’s release.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 ICS Tablet

We are sure that the new Galaxy tab 2 7inch will prove to be a nice tablet although we aren’t sure yet if it can compete with others that are thinking of releasing smaller tablets as well.

Remove the Motorola RAZR & RAZR MAXX Battery

Brandon Orndorff
-
1
Remove the Motorola RAZR & RAZR MAXX Battery

Motorola Droid RAZR (MAXX) Battery RemovalThe Motorola Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX battery is removable although it takes a little effort the first time you need to remove it. Since Android tends to require a battery pull occasionally especially with the dev community and when modifying devices we have to wonder why Motorola made it so difficult.

I have verified that the battery is removable although will take a bit of tugging and freak out moments. This is such a tough process because Motorola has actually glued the back of the RAZR to the batter and battery to the device. If you do need to remove the battery start at the top and work your way around the back cover slowly breaking it away. This sill break the glue between the layers of the device until the back plate comes off.

Keep in mind that once the cover is off it is easy to snap back on and off. When you are taking the back off also note that the plate is very strong and can handle a good bit of bending while still keeping its shape. Thank you Kevlar. As much bending as we did we are almost satisfied that it can take a bullet.

According to Motorola removing the battery from the Droid RAZR and RAZR MAXX voids the warranty but you have to do what you have to do. If your device requires a battery pull because of an OS freeze we have to assume that Motorola will be lenient with the warranty issues.

Root the Motorola Atrix 4G Running 4.5.141

Brandon Orndorff
-
92
Root the Motorola Atrix 4G Running 4.5.141

Root the Motorola Atrix 4G Running 4.5.141

After updating your Motorola Atrix 4G to software version 4.5.141 you will lose root access. For those of you want to root your Motorola Atrix 4G after updating to build 4.5.141 this is how you do it.

Keep in mind that when typing in the commands during the rooting process you will leave out the quotes.

Instructions to root Atrix 4G running Gingerbread on 4.5.141:

  1. Download and Extract Fastboot Files to your C: drive (Download Link)
  2. Connect your phone to the computer via USB
  3. Put your phone in fastboot mode (restart phone holding volume down button)
  4. Open a command prompt and navigate to C:/moto-fastboot-win32
  5. type “moto-fastboot.exe flash preinstall preinstall.img” press enter
  6. Press “Vol Up” to initiate fastboot protocol
  7. type “moto-fastboot.exe reboot” press enter
  8. Your phone should reboot, wait for it to come back up
  9. type “adb shell” press enter (to restart the shell)
  10. type “/preinstall/dosu” press enter
  11. If step 10 fails type “/preinstall/su” instead and hit enter
  12. type “/bin/mount -o remount,rw /system” press enter
  13. type “cp /preinstall/su /system/bin/” press enter
  14. type “chmod 6755 /system/bin/su” press enter
  15. type “PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/Superuser.apk” press enter
  16. Reboot your phone
  17. Congrats you now have a rooted Atrix running Gingerbread.

Those of you that use this root method for your Atrix running 4.5.141 please let us know any issues you run into.

One Click Root the Motorola Droid 4

Brandon Orndorff
-
4
One Click Root the Motorola Droid 4

Motorola Droid 4 One Click Root Available

Only a week after the release of the Motorola Droid 4 Dan Rosenberg has released a one click method to root it. The root method is currently only available for Windows users.

How to Root the Motorola Droid 4:

  1. Download Dan Rosenberg’s Root Files (Download Link)
  2. Make sure your device is in USB Debugging Mode “Settings -> Applications -> Development”
  3. Plug your Droid 4 into a Windows Computer via USB
  4. Run the “run.bat” file from step 1
  5. Follow on screen instructions
  6. Congrats your Droid 4 is now rooted!

Dan Rosenberg has put a lot of time and effort into creating this exploit and is generous enough to give it away. Please consider donating using the following link (https://www.wepay.com/donations/droid-4-root-bounty). Dan has stated that he will be donating all of the money to the American Red Cross.

Let us know if you run into any issues and again consider donating to Dan Rosenberg to help with his cause.

Is iOS Security an Illusion?

Brandon Orndorff
-
0
Is iOS Security an Illusion?

iOS security is an illusion

Christy Wyatt a Motorola Mobility Executive spoke to journalists yesterday and the highlight of the discussion was iOS security. Wyatt claimed that iOS security is an illusion and that Apple doesn’t have the control but IT for the organization does.

“There’s this sort of illusion that because the Apple App Store is curated…that they’re somehow testing for security and that you can outsource all of your security concerns to Apple,” Wyatt told a group of reporters including Laptop Magazines Mark Spoonauer. “And I think that’s a pretty false sense of security. At the end of the day, the individual responsible for security is the IT organization.”

While most third party app stores like GetJar, Amazon, and App Hysteria have security protocols in place they do seem to let more malware through that iOS devices. This being said malicious software does make it through on iOS devices they are just short lived. In comparison within the US we see little difference in the amount of malware on iOS and Android devices although internationally Android has been hit hard in the past.

Google has put in place a new system called “Bouncer” that scans the market in search of malware and other malicious software. On top of this Motorola has stated that their devices also have security protocols in place through Motoblur to keep them as if not more secure than iOS devices.

Personally we think that iOS is more secure than Android but it all comes down to freedom. If your looking for security and don’t mind having to only use features that Apple says is safe then go ahead. Although anyone halfway technical wants a device that is secure but allows the freedom of choice. In turn with freedom comes the responsibility that you must be sure you know what your doing.

Root the Motorola RAZR GSM Versions (ICS Root Available)

Brandon Orndorff
-
0
Root the Motorola RAZR GSM Versions (ICS Root Available)

There are two different root tools available for the Motorola Droid RAZR, one for the GSM XT910 on version 2.3.5 and the other for the CDMA XT912 on version 2.3.5. The root tool also has an option to root the RAZR on Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich. The root tools come courtesy of XDA member mattLgoff and offers a slew of options for you to play with your Droid RAZR.

Features of the RAZR Utility:

  • Restore the Droid RAZR (6.11.744 & 651.73.30)
  • Root the Droid RAZR 2.3.5
  • Install Voodoo’s OTA Root keeper
  • Install Bootstrap Recovery
  • System Pull
  • Root for Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich
  • Boot into fastboot from debugging
  • Boot into fastboot normally
  • Boot into recovery
  • restart fastboot mode
  • ADB Shell

GSM XT910 Root Tool Downloads
Full (Download Link) MD5: decc8d963b18062ce299144e50de5a29
LITE (Download Link) MD5: c3ec091570e6a28d45f6944d5fdf7892

CDMA XT912 Root Tool Downloads
Full (Download Link) MD5: eeec527cc9396c375c35f49d6ff25016
LITE (Download Link) MD5: f0123b08db89e6ceb5ba24cedeb57262

Let us know how it works for you and ask any questions here as well.  Currently the Root utility only works on windows.  We will keep you updated when other versions besides windows are available.

Google Wallet Vulnerability on Rooted Devices

Brandon Orndorff
-
1
Google Wallet Vulnerability on Rooted Devices

Google Wallet Vulnerability

Recently a Google Wallet vulnerability was announced that allows an attacker to crack a users 4-digit pin quickly. The PIN is used to protect users against unauthorized purchases which creates a waterfall for anyone wanting to steal cash through your device.

Cracking the Google Wallet PIN is only possible (according to Google) if the device is rooted and does not have some sort of lock screen security enabled. If this is the case then anyone can install an app on your device that will reveal the 4-digit PIN that you have created for Google Wallet. After that the hacker can just spend you money through your phone all day long.

Google is aware of the issue and is working on a fix now. They did however offer a statement for users to take note of:

The zvelo study was conducted on their own phone on which they disabled the security mechanisms that protect Google Wallet by rooting the device. To date, there is no known vulnerability that enables someone to take a consumer phone and gain root access while preserving any Wallet information such as the PIN.

We strongly encourage people to not install Google Wallet on rooted devices and to always set up a screen lock as an additional layer of security for their phone.

What it comes down to is if your using a rooted device don’t put Google Wallet on it until there is a fix for the loophole. According to Google if your running your stock Android ROM you have nothing to worry about. We say either way just make sure you don’t lose your phone or let people use it you don’t trust and you should be good.

Google Chrome Browser App Available on Android 4.0

Brandon Orndorff
-
0

Google has finally released “Google Chrome” for Android devices running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Many people confuse the stock Android browser for Google Chrome but this is not the case even though we see no reason Google wouldn’t have included their own browser in the system from the start. One very disappointing aspect of the Chrome Browser is that it does not support Flash currently but if you can get past that give it a shot.

Google Chrome Browser App for Android Features:

  • Speed – Chrome is faster at loading, scrolling, and browsing pages. Google says that Chrome has accelerated all of those features.
  • Search – The Omnibox has gone mobile, meaning users can visit an address or make a search term directly from the address bar. It can also search within a webpage.
  • Navigation – Tabs are now unlimited and easily accessed by pressing the button next to the address bar. Users can close or switch to them, and it works fairly well on an Android phone or tablet. There’s a vertical scrolling card view that shows each open tab.
  • Sync – Information from Chrome desktop – including bookmarks, open tabs, autocomplete suggestions, and history – will sync if you sign-in with a Google account and choose to enable it.

Google Chrome for Android is pretty similar to the stock browser but takes all of the features to the next level. Again you must be running Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich to get the Chrome App. Please let us know what you think about Google’s new release.

Android Kernel Source Released for the HP TouchPad

Brandon Orndorff
-
0

Android on the HP Touchpad

The HP TouchPad just will not die and for good reason. The TouchPad has the hardware to support Android and be a useful tablet, especially for those who got one during the fire sale a few months back. The HP TouchPad Kernel source was released by HP to the ClockworkMod developers to help with the CyanogenMod 9 port to the TouchPad.

HP has been a great supporter of the Android development community since they decided to put a stop to their WebOS.

“HP supports the community and was kind enough to provide us with the Android kernel source and some other GPL components that they modified for the few Touchpads that were accidentally released running Android… What’s interesting about this kernel is it seems to be a totally separate development from the webOS kernel (this was suspected from the very beginning), but now the comments in the code seem to imply that HP had another team working on Android port to Touchpad and that team appears to be totally separate from the webOS team. I wonder if that means there was a plan to ship the Touchpad with Android that were then preempted by webOS plans after Palm purchase.”

Currently there is no Wifi support on the TouchPad running the Android port. With HP helping CyanogenMod in the process we can assume that its now only a matter of time before CM9 is fully functional on the HP TouchPad and with the massive user base we are certain to see support from all avenues.

1...363738...63Page 37 of 63