Amazon Fire 7 2019 (amazon-mustang)

From postmarketOS
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
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Original software Android (Fire OS)
Original version 7.1.1 (Fire OS 6)
postmarketOS kernel 4.9.77
Hardware
Chipset MediaTek MT8163V/B (64-bit quad-core)
CPU 4x 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU Mali-T720 MP2
Display 600x1024 IPS
Storage 16 GB
Memory 1 GB
Architecture ARMv7
Type Tablet
Features
USB Networking
Broken
Flashing
Partial
Touchscreen
Works
Display
Works
WiFi
FDE
Mainline
Battery
Works
3D Acceleration
Audio
Broken
Bluetooth
Broken
Camera
Internal storage
USB OTG
Partial
NFC
Sensors
Accelerometer
Magnetometer
Ambient Light
Proximity
Hall Effect
Barometer
Power Sensor
Misc
Built-in DVB
Camera Flash
Keyboard
Touchpad
USB-A
HDMI/DP
Ir TX
Ir RX
Stylus
Memory Card
Haptics
Ethernet
FOSS bootloader


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