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Apple iPad Mini 4 (apple-j96)

From postmarketOS Wiki
Note pmOS can't run on its internal storage.However, it's possible to boot pmOS from memory.
Note This device is supported as part of a generic port. Refer to Apple Generic iDevice (apple-idevice) for installation instructions and more information.
Apple iPad Mini 4
CHANGE_ME
CHANGE_ME
Manufacturer Apple
Name iPad Mini 4
Codename apple-j96
Model A1538 (Wi-Fi), A1550 (Wi-Fi/Cellular)
Released 2015
Type tablet
Hardware
Chipset Apple A8
CPU 2x 1.5GHz 64-bit ARMv8 "Typhoon"
GPU PowerVR GX6450
Display 2048×1536 (IPS LCD, 4:3, 7.9")
Storage 16/32/64/128 GB
Memory 2 GB
Architecture aarch64
Software
Original software
The software and version the device was shipped with.
iOS 9.0
Extended version
The most recent supported version from the manufacturer.
iOS 15.8.7
postmarketOS
Category testing
Pre-built images
Whether pre-built images are available from the postmarketOS Installation page.
no
Mainline
Instead of a Linux kernel fork, it is possible to run (Close to) Mainline.
yes
pmOS kernel
The kernel version that runs on the device's port.
6.19.0
Unixbench score
Unixbench Whetstone/Dhrystone score. See Unixbench.
0.0
Generic port Apple Generic iDevice (apple-idevice)
Device package device-apple-idevice
Kernel package linux-postmarketos-apple-4k
Features
Flashing
Whether it is possible to flash the device with pmbootstrap flasher.
Broken
USB Networking
After connecting the device with USB to your PC, you can connect to it via telnet (initramfs) or SSH (booted system).
Works
Internal storage
eMMC, SD cards, UFS...
Broken
Battery
Whether charging and battery level reporting work.
Untested
Screen
Whether the display works; ideally with sleep mode and brightness control.
Works
Touchscreen
Untested
Multimedia
3D Acceleration
Untested
Built-in DVB
TV tuner/DVB device
Untested
Audio
Audio playback, microphone, headset and buttons.
Untested
Camera
Broken
Camera Flash
Untested
IR TX
Untested
IR RX
Untested
Connectivity
WiFi
Broken
Bluetooth
Broken
GPS
Broken
Modem
Calls
Broken
SMS
Broken
Mobile data
Broken
Miscellaneous
FDE
Full disk encryption and unlocking with unl0kr.
Untested
USB OTG
USB On-The-Go or USB-C Role switching.
Untested
Fingerprint
Fingerprint reader.
Untested
Sensors
Accelerometer
Handles automatic screen rotation in many interfaces.
Untested
Magnetometer
Sensor to measure the Earth's magnetism
Untested
Ambient Light
Measures the light level; used for automatic screen dimming in many interfaces.
Untested
Hall Effect
Measures magnetic fields; usually used as a flip cover sensor
Untested
Barometer
Sensor to measure air pressure
Untested
Power Sensor
Sensor to monitor current, voltage and power. Not fuel gauge!
Untested

Contributors


How to enter DFU mode

  • Power off your device and connect it to your computer via USB
  • Hold down Home + Power for 8 seconds
  • Release Power and keep holding Home for another 10 seconds

The screen should stay blank if everything went well.

Installation

You can't currently flash via pmbootstrap, but the kernel can be booted via PongoOS.

Prerequisites

Warning WARNING: Compilation of these tools on Alpine is currently broken. You can get some pre-compiled binaries here.
  • Computer with an Intel CPU (recommended) or AMD CPU (may require using a USB adapter, instructions on how are a todo)
  • palera1n
  • PongoOS
  • pongoterm (You need to compile it yourself, following the steps here)
  • m1n1-idevice
  • linux-apple dtbs
    • Extracted pre-compiled from the linux-postmarketos-apple package.
TODO TODO: Document extracting dtbs from kernel package.

Booting

$ pmbootstrap init
Select 'apple' for vendor, 'idevice' for codename, and '4k' for kernel page size.
$ pmbootstrap install
Optionally enable netboot (highly recommended)
$ pmbootstrap initfs hook_add netboot
Get the linux and initramfs
$ pmbootstrap export
Prep the m1n1 bootloader
$ cat path/to/m1n1.bin \
    path/to/boot/dtbs/apple/*.dtb \
    /tmp/postmarketOS-export/vmlinuz  \
    /tmp/postmarketOS-export/initramfs \
    > m1n1-linux.bin
Use palera1n to boot PongoOS
$ PALERA1N_BYPASS_PASSCODE_CHECK=1 sudo palera1n -p -f -k path/to/Pongo.bin
Boot postmarketOS!
$ printf '/send path/to/m1n1-linux.bin\nbootm\n' | sudo path/to/pongoterm

After displaying the Asahi Linux logo, your device should begin booting postmarketOS ;)

Netboot

Warning WARNING: AFAIK, netboot is currently broken, at least on stable. On edge, it seems to work, but I have not yet been able to successfully get to a TTY.

If you enabled netbooting during the flashing setup you can use it to boot a rootfs. To serve the rootfs, run:

$ pmbootstrap netboot serve

If you see a TTY and a login screen, that means pmOS is working! Now you can go through the usual setup procedures. (using ssh, getting internet, etc.)

Users owning this device


See also