Hi guys
I just ordered a new fire tv off ebay and am wondering if i can root it. This thread gives some clues, but doesnt actually answer my question.
So, if I do everything by the book and block the IPs first on my router, before plugging it in, I should be able to root? Or do the newer models already have unrootable firmware?
jassjulius said:
Hi guys
I just ordered a new fire tv off ebay and am wondering if i can root it. This thread gives some clues, but doesnt actually answer my question.
So, if I do everything by the book and block the IPs first on my router, before plugging it in, I should be able to root? Or do the newer models already have unrootable firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some Fire TVs are shipping with unrootable firmware. There is no way to know if it's rootable until you power it up. Basically, if you power it on and the first screen cycles between english and german, then it's unrootable. If it's just english, then it's probably rootable. More info here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-dete...ersion-and-rootability-on-first-setup-screen/
AFTVnews.com said:
Some Fire TVs are shipping with unrootable firmware. There is no way to know if it's rootable until you power it up. Basically, if you power it on and the first screen cycles between english and german, then it's unrootable. If it's just english, then it's probably rootable. More info here: http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-dete...ersion-and-rootability-on-first-setup-screen/
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Any news on the next version of the root if there are any new holes found? etc? I have given a firetv to my parents without rooting and it got updated to a non root version. I'm planning on switching our units and I'll keep the unrooted one until the root comes out.
Related
Hi Everyone,
A friend of mine was telling about the FTV and I thought I'd look into it. I currently have an ATV2 with XBMC installed. For the most part it works pretty good. Icefilms is hit and miss, but I don't use it very often. ATV2 is kinda getting slow and after reading about the FTV I want one. I was wondering if someone can sort me out.
First,
If I buy a unit from Amazon can it still be rooted? I heard there was a software update in June and wondering if it's been locked up like Apple does with their stuff?
Second,
I use a Harmony One remote and heard Flirc works with the Harmony Remote. Can anyone confirm this?
Third,
That same friend who told me bought the FTV said he watched a youtube video on the FTV with XBMC installed on it and said it ran really slow. Now the video was from April, so I'm hoping XBMC has made some big improvements so it works well with FTV.
Thanks,
Chevy
Yes
If you get a FireTV you will need to use URL blocking in your router to block the amazon URLs for updates before connecting the FireTV to your network. Then you will be able to use GeoHot's Towelroot to root it and disable the Amazon updater. You will want to look into SPMC (a modified version of XBMC with special patches for Android devices, etc.)
It general it is much better than ATV2......FLIRC works with Harmony remotes although I haven't got around to setting mine up yet.
All the necessary info is here on the forum. Just read through some of the the threads.
Since I don't wanna make a whole topic,here is something that makes Fire TV chug a little.
Try this expirimental WebGL thingy in Chrome for Android on Fire TV.
http://www.chromeexperiments.com/detail/eye-texture-raytracer/
It even makes my mouse controls lag a bit,but otherwise does a nice job considering how extreme the test is.
Edit:More things to look at on a Fire TV using Chrome or Opera browser.
http://www.threejs.org/
Thanks all. I'm going to get one. One question though, I was looking on eBay and found a bunch that were already rooted and had xbmc or spmc already installed. In the description they were saying "get them while you can as the new version is unrootable". Anyone think it's OK to buy from eBay or just go with Amazon?
Thanks,
Chevy
chevy2410 said:
Thanks all. I'm going to get one. One question though, I was looking on eBay and found a bunch that were already rooted and had xbmc or spmc already installed. In the description they were saying "get them while you can as the new version is unrootable". Anyone think it's OK to buy from eBay or just go with Amazon?
Thanks,
Chevy
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Click to collapse
Is it cheaper/more expensive? Definitely get it from amazon. That way it is fully warrantied under your name if you have any problems they will help you. I got mine from Best Buy and it had the firmware 51.1.1.0_user_511069920.. It downloaded the next update automatically which is 51.1.1.0_user_511070220 (the last rootable firmware). I even clicked "check for updates" and it never pushed the un-rootable version.
I think they sent out a limited roll out of the unrootable firmware since the according to amazon this is the same version I have.
sorry cant post the link since im a new user search google for "amazon fire tv firmware" should be the first link
I would recommend to block the updates either on the router by blocking the amazon domains or using adb and disabling the apk which updates the ftv
chevy2410 said:
Thanks all. I'm going to get one. One question though, I was looking on eBay and found a bunch that were already rooted and had xbmc or spmc already installed. In the description they were saying "get them while you can as the new version is unrootable". Anyone think it's OK to buy from eBay or just go with Amazon?
Thanks,
Chevy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was in the same boat as you couple of weeks ago, had a ATV2 got a FTV for someone else and realized how much faster and better it was so I sold my ATV for $250, and bought a FTV for myself. On top of that I bought 2 more to install xbmc and sell
Anyways, the FTV runs wicked fast with XBMC, not sure what you saw but there is a pretty good video here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6G23u1TtluE
I'd say just buy one from amazon, too bad they were just on sale for $84 a few days ago and staples even had them down as low as $65 after some coupon.
The rooting is simple and fast and to disable the updates is just 1 command you type in. I wouldn't pay more for a unit that's already rooted unless I didn't know wtf I was doing.
I would recommend to block the updates either on the router by blocking the amazon domains or using adb and disabling the apk which updates the ftv
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know what the URL is for blocking the updates?
The rooting is simple and fast and to disable the updates is just 1 command you type in. I wouldn't pay more for a unit that's already rooted unless I didn't know wtf I was doing.
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Click to collapse
I'm pretty handy at rooting and so forth. I've rooted my wife and myself android phones over the last few years so this should be pretty straight forward. I think I'll just get it through Amazon, just in case I need warranty or something.
Thanks,
Chevy
chevy2410 said:
Do you know what the URL is for blocking the updates?
I'm pretty handy at rooting and so forth. I've rooted my wife and myself android phones over the last few years so this should be pretty straight forward. I think I'll just get it through Amazon, just in case I need warranty or something.
Thanks,
Chevy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are instructions here, http://www.aftvnews.com/ for taking a new box and installing without getting updates and then blocking updates.
Thanks to everyone for all the info. I bought one from Amazon and should have it on Tuesday.
Chevy
Hi guys,
My Fire TV already have updated the latest Fire OS version. root fails.
Is there has some solutions to get the root right now? Is it possibility that to root Fire TV in the latest Fire OS version, or is it possibility in the future.
Thanks,
Griffin
Nope
mag13 said:
Nope
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you give some details ? I am thinking is should to sell my Fire TV, and buy new one for root
griffinqiu said:
Could you give some details ? I am thinking is should to sell my Fire TV, and buy new one for root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the forum - everything is here
griffinqiu said:
Could you give some details ? I am thinking is should to sell my Fire TV, and buy new one for root
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Click to collapse
That should work. I just received & rooted my 3rd AFTV tonight. Bought it online @ Staples last Thurs. I've bought 3 total from Staples. One last month & two last week. Been lucky to have never gotten an update nag screen on first setup. All of mine have come with FW 510055620. I have also heard BestBuy in-store AFTV's are rootable. I am finding it hard to find post about AFTV in the USA not being rootable if one follows the guides over at AFTVNews.com to the letter at the time of unboxing. I only know of one buyer from Staples that said he was not able to root 2 AFTV's.
Y314K said:
That should work. I just received & rooted my 3rd AFTV tonight. Bought it online @ Staples last Thurs. I've bought 3 total from Staples. One last month & two last week. Been lucky to have never gotten an update nag screen on first setup. All of mine have come with FW 510055620. I have also heard BestBuy in-store AFTV's are rootable. I am finding it hard to find post about AFTV in the USA not being rootable if one follows the guides over at AFTVNews.com to the letter at the time of unboxing. I only know of one buyer from Staples that said he was not able to root 2 AFTV's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My one (from staples) is unrootable as well.
So yes, unrootable fire tv are out there in the US.
wbc1228 said:
My one (from staples) is unrootable as well.
So yes, unrootable fire tv are out there in the US.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right.. But so far they have been very rare. You are just the 2nd person out of dozens & dozens (participated in two threads over at SlickDeals regarding FireTV's) that have received unrootable FireTV's... Did you make a note of the serial on the box ?? What router where you using ?
I have bought new one, and rooted. thank you everyone
griffinqiu said:
I have bought new one, and rooted. thank you everyone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell us where you bought from to be able to see root this?
Hi, I want to first thank every body working on this to give us the best experience possible with our aftv boxes.
I know root is currently unavailable for newer aftv versions. So, I was wondering if there is someone currently working on getting that sorted out and if is making any good progress. I wish he/she/they are progressing.
If so, which version is the one is currently being worked on?
PS. Admins, move this to the appropriate forum if needed.
I am also interested by this whole thing, as I got my AFTV from Amazon Germany this week and think that many others will get it from the same batch (unrootable latest version) mine is turned off as I have no way to block the update addresses... It's horror to have a new toy and not be able to play with it...
Of course, I would be willing to test everything you throw at me to get root working
Was thinking of picking up a second Fire TV (my first one is rooted with Xposed and XBMC launcher). I see from your post that new versions from Amazon can't be rooted yet. Anybody know if the ones in Staples are on versions that can't be rooted?
ks-man said:
Was thinking of picking up a second Fire TV (my first one is rooted with Xposed and XBMC launcher). I see from your post that new versions from Amazon can't be rooted yet. Anybody know if the ones in Staples are on versions that can't be rooted?
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Click to collapse
I got mine at staples about two weeks ago. It was the last they one they had at the time, but I was able to root it, no worries.
Yup, I picked one up on Wednesday and was able to root it without issue. They still had a bunch there. Thanks.
Think I just bricked my FireTV. Just wondering if the new FIreTV's are still rootable. I know that the stick isn't but was hoping to order another from Amazon or Staples and get a rootable one.
yazyazoo said:
Think I just bricked my FireTV. Just wondering if the new FIreTV's are still rootable. I know that the stick isn't but was hoping to order another from Amazon or Staples and get a rootable one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you find old stock somewhere (B&M) they are not software rootable, you could always do the hardware root
yazyazoo said:
Think I just bricked my FireTV. Just wondering if the new FIreTV's are still rootable. I know that the stick isn't but was hoping to order another from Amazon or Staples and get a rootable one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found a bunch of rootable fire tvs about a month ago at Best Buy and Staples in my area. Your best bet is to go to the store and check the serial numbers with the serial checker on aftvnews.com. My Best Buy keeps all the fire tvs out on the shelves, so it is easy to check them before buying them, but Staples keeps their's in the stock room. Buying them online is probably not gonna work.
I have read many articles and am very confused about the Fire TV2 4K.
Does this EMMC Hardware Root method still work on the latest version 2 Fire TV? (https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/hardware-root-via-emmc-chip-t2885344)
If so, can someone point me in the right direction as to where to buy one of these devices (https://shop.exploitee.rs) as this seller seems to always be out of stock?
Thanks for your help.
Just wanted to bump this as I had similar questions and all the videos I have found so far show the Gen 1. A gen 2 vid or images would be helpful
wfarid said:
Just wanted to bump this as I had similar questions and all the videos I have found so far show the Gen 1. A gen 2 vid or images would be helpful
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I don't think anyone ever tried it on the FTV2. The risk of damaging it outweighed the reward. You're best bet is to block updates and hope for a root solution to the version you are on. There is currently a way you can block updates from a shell. I would block the updates before amazon patches this blocking method.