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Amazon Fire 7 2017 (amazon-austin)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Amazon Fire 7 (2017)
File: austin.jpg
Manufacturer Amazon
Name Fire 7 (2017)
Codename amazon-austin
Released 2017
Type tablet
Hardware
Chipset MediaTek MT8127
CPU 4x 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7
GPU Mali-450 MP4
Display 1024 x 600 IPS
Storage 8 GB, up to 256 GB microSD card
Memory 1 GB
Architecture armv7
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
Android Lollipop (Fire OS 5)
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
Android
postmarketOS
Category downstream
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
no
Device package device-amazon-austin
Kernel package linux-amazon-austin
Features
Flashing
It is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Works
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Works
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.
Untested
Camera
Untested
Connectivity
WiFi
Partial
Bluetooth
Partial
GPS
Untested
Modem
Calls
Untested
SMS
Untested
Mobile data
Untested
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching
Works
Sensors
Accelerometer
Auto screen rotation works in desktops e.g. Phosh or Plasma Mobile
Untested

Users owning this device


Unlock the bootloader

The bootloader can now be unlocked through a new hardware method: https://forum.xda-developers.com/amazon-fire/development/unlock-fire-t3899860

How to enter recovery mode

Press and hold Power + Volume Up

Installation

This assumes that you already have Linux distro installed and the bootloader on the tablet is unlocked. Don't worry if it looks complicated. If you are unsure of something ask on the postmarketos matrix or leave a comment for help.

  1. Install pmbootstrap as stated in the Installation_guide, does not matter which options or device you pick.
  2. Once that is done download and drag the two folders in the git repo into "/home/YOURUSER/.local/var/pmbootstrap/cache_git/pmaports/device/testing/" also displayed as "~/.local/var/pmbootstrap/cache_git/pmaports/device/testing".
  3. Run pmbootstrap init and select amazon as manufacture and austin as the device, mate, lxde, xfde, are confirmed working.
  4. Run pmbootstrap install
  5. Boot into twrp and wipe all partitions including data
  6. Boot into the hacked bootloader from the twrp options
  7. Run pmbootstrap flasher flash_rootfs --partition userdata (system partion is too small to flash!) and once it is done flashing run pmbootstrap flasher flash_kernel
  8. Unplug the device, wait 10 seconds and then hold the power button. Once it is powered on YOU MUST boot it into twrp at least once as it needs to restore the AMONET exploit, until you do that the device will not boot.

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.

Device problems

  • Mainline will highly unlikely be ever supported.
  • 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.

See also