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Amazon Fire 7 2019 (amazon-mustang)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Amazon Fire 7 (2019)
Amazon Fire 7 showing the weston demo UI
Amazon Fire 7 showing the weston demo UI
Manufacturer Amazon
Name Fire 7 (2019)
Codename amazon-mustang
Released 2019
Type tablet
Hardware
Chipset MediaTek MT8163V
B
CPU 4x 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Mali-T720 MP2
Display 600x1024 IPS
Storage 16 GB
Memory 1 GB
Architecture armv7
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
Android (Fire OS) 7.1.1 (Fire OS 6)
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
Android (Fire OS)
postmarketOS
Category downstream
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
no
pmOS kernel
The kernel version that runs on the device's port.
4.9.77
Device package device-amazon-mustang
Kernel package linux-amazon-mustang
Features
Flashing
It is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Partial
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Broken
Battery
Charging and battery level reporting works
Works
Screen
Display works. Ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Works
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Untested
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Broken
Camera
Untested
Connectivity
WiFi
Untested
Bluetooth
Broken
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching
Partial
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Untested

Contributors

Maintainer

Users owning this device


How to unlock bootloader

The bootloader can now be through a hardware method: https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/orig-development/fire-7-2019-mustang-unbrick-downgrade-t3944365

How to enter flash mode

Press and hold Power + Volume Up

Installation

Due to the fact that fastboot doesn't work even after using the amonet exploit, you will need to export the boot image and flash it with twrp. Then flash this dummy zip which will force twrp to reapply the amonet exploit.

Another option is exporting a flashable zip that can be flashed using twrp. Refer to Installation Guide for postmarketOS

Amonet

Amonet is an lk exploit used to boot an unsigned kernel. Sources of amonet are available here: https://github.com/xyzz/amonet/tree/mustang. This exploit is installed by a bootrom exploit. But probably some 2nd stage bootloader is a good idea.

Mainlining

There is some work on mt8163 mainline, for amazon-karnak, but it will be easy to get it on mustang. For now serial console and simplefb is working. Pwrap and pmic seems to be working. https://github.com/mt8163-mainline/linux

Device problems

  • Mainline is not yet usable.
  • Panfrost (driver for mali-t720) is wip, and not avalible in downstream (Merged in linux 5.2)
  • This device use exploit due to locked bootloader. See #Amonet.
  • This device's bl is not very good for running linux, due to it appends much of bad cmdline params, and some things in device tree.

Useful information

  • Serial/UART
  • 921600 baud 8N1
  • RX & TX pads are on the back of the board clearly marked. A cheap RS232-to-USB will work.

Please approach with caution since the display flex cable (top center) is glued onto the board but the board can be flipped over while it is connnected.

See also