Chinese companies have released a number of tiny devices designed to let you run Android apps on your TV over the past year or two. Some of the best models feature Rockchip RK3188 ARM Cortex-A9 quad-core processors — and if Android isn’t your cup of tea, hackers have been running Ubuntu and other Linux-based operating […]
bootloader
Google Nexus 5: How to root, unlock the bootloader, install custom recovery (video)
Google’s Nexus 5 smartphone is the first to ship with Android 4.4 KitKat, and the stock software is pretty nice. But if you think you might want to install a custom ROM or custom recovery, it’s a good idea to unlock the bootloader right away – because it’ll wipe all your data, and it’s a […]
Booting Ubuntu on the Asus Transformer Book T100
The Asus Transformer Book is a tablet/notebook device with a 10 inch touchscreen display, a keyboard and touchpad, and an Intel Atom Z3740 Bay Trail processor. It ships with Windows 8.1 software, and it works pretty well as a Windows tablet, notebook, or even desktop PC. But what if you want to use a different […]
ZaReason ZaTab ZT2 is a $299 hackable Android tablet
Linux system builder ZaReason has introduced its second Android tablet. The new ZaReason ZaTab ZT2 is now available for $299. It has a higher-resolution display, faster processor, more RAM, and a lower price tag than last year’s model, but it’s still kind of pricey and underpowered compared with other Android tablets on the market. What […]
FlashCast makes running custom Chromecast firmware easier (if you have a hackable Chromecast)
The Google Chromecast is a $35 device which you can plug into a TV to stream content from the internet to your television while using your phone, tablet, or PC as a remote. Officially only a few apps and services including YouTube and Netflix are supported at the moment. But the Google Cast SDK is […]
AT&T Samsung Galaxy S4 bootloader unlocked
The US version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone has a locked bootloader which prevents users from easily loading custom firmware on the phone. That’s not surprising, since most Android phones sold in the US have locked bootloaders which make installing custom recoveries or ROMs such as CyanogenMod or Paranoid Android difficult. But while the […]
HTC One bootloader unlocked, custom recovery loaded
The HTC One smartphone features a speedy Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor, a high resolution 4.7 inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel display, 2GB of RAM, and an all-metal case. But some folks might be wary of pulling the trigger if they’re not fans of the HTC Sense software that comes with the phone. It looks like […]
Bootloader unlock tool released for latest Motorola devices
Want to install a custom ROM on your Motorola smartphone? Up until now that’s been easier said than done on some of the latest Motorola devices, thanks to bootloaders which were locked down tight. But security researcher Dan Rosenberg has figured out how to crack open those bootloaders, and he’s released the tools to do […]
Kindle Fire HD bootloader cracked, CyanogenMod 10 is on the way
Amazon’s latest Kindle Fire tablets are faster than last year’s model, have updated software, and the Kindle Fire HD models also feature higher-resolution displays than the original Kindle Fire. But this year’s models also have locked bootloaders, which makes it a bit trickier to replace Amazon’s software with a custom operating system than it was […]
Motorola Atrix HD Developer Edition phone with unlockable bootloader on the way
Motorola is (slowly) following through with its promise to offer Developer Editions of new smarpthones. What that means is that you can choose to pick up a version of some of the company’s latest phones with an unlockable bootloader so that you can install custom firmware or make other changes. Developer Editions of the Droid […]