Amazon’s Fire TV devices run a custom version of Google’s Android software called Fire OS that feature Amazon’s app store, Amazon Prime Video, and other Amazon apps and services instead of Google’s. But hackers have found a way to replace Fire OS on Amazon’s 2020 Fire TV Stick and Fire TV Stick Lite with an […]
bootloader unlock
Lilbits: Unlocking the Galaxy Z Fold 3 doesn’t kill the cameras anymore (plus Firefox, Intel, and Plasma Mobile news)
Shortly after the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 launched this summer, hackers figured out how to unlock the foldable phone’s bootloader and root the device. But there was a catch: if you unlocked the bootloader, the phone’s cameras would stop working. So users had to choose between unlocked and rooted or… you know, fully functional […]
LG’s bootloader unlocking tools will no longer be available after December 31
LG shut down its smartphone division earlier this year, but promised to continue providing Android updates for its latest flagship phones through 2022. Want to keep using up to date software on an LG phone after that? Your best bet may be unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom ROM. But you’d better hurry up, […]
New Fire HD 8 bootloader unlock method doesn’t require opening the case
It’s been possible to unlock the bootloader and root the latest Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet since January. But up until recently the only known method for doing that involved prying open the tablet’s case, identifying points on the motherboard, and shorting them to enter bootrom mode. But now there’s an easier way. Xda-developers forum […]
2nd-gen Amazon Fire TV Stick hack: Unlock the bootloader, install custom recovery
Amazon’s 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick (the 1080p model that has a list price of $40) is powered by a MediaTek processor, much like Amazon’s Fire tablets. So it should come as no surprise that the same exploit that hackers have been using to unlock the bootloaders and root the latest 7 inch and 8 inch […]
ZTE offers official bootloader unlock for Axon 7, Axon Pro smartphones
The ZTE Axon line of smartphones offer high-end specs at upper mid-range prices: the new ZTE Axon 7 smartphone sells for $400, and you can pick up last year’s Axon Pro for $350. But what if you want a bit more control over your phone than ZTE gives you out of the box? Now the […]
Unlock Verizon Moto X (2014) botloader to install Android 6.0 yourself
Motorola’s 2014 Moto X smartphone may not be cutting edge anymore, but the 5.2 inch full HD smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, and 802.11ac WiFi is still a pretty usable device. And if you have a carrier unlocked model, Motorola has been rolling out Android 6.0 updates for the phone. […]
Nexus 5X: Now you can unlock, root, and install custom recovery
One of the things that tends to set Google Nexus phones apart from other smartphones is just how easy it is to modify the software running on the phones. While things have gotten a little more complicated with the introduction of new security features for the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P, it is already possible […]
Lilbits 310: Google protects Cardboard
Google Cardboard is a platform for turning your smartphone into a virtual reality headset using a folded piece of cardboard and a few lenses to adjust the focal distance. It’s probably the cheapest way to experience VR, assuming you’ve already got a phone. A growing number of mobile apps let you do everything from explore […]
Moto G (2015): Root, Bootloader unlock, and custom recovery
Less than a week after the Motorola Moto G 2015 model went on sale, folks have already figured out how to root the phone and install a custom recovery. This opens the door for running apps that require superuser permissions, making complete backups of your device, and installing custom updates, firmware, or even replacement operating […]