Using Android Image Kitchen

Hei MIUI-ers,

What is this all about? Android Image Kitchen is simple a tool to unpack/repack a boot/recovery image. 

Best practice is to edit simple text files inside this app while exporting image/binary/big text files to local storage and edit them with your favorite tools such as "DroidEdit", "Hex Editor", "Photoshop Express" then import them back. By doing this, you are effectively replacing the original files with pertaining file permissions. Flash the boot/recovery image with apps such as "Flashify" or replace existing images for your personal testing to do flashing. Further than that, it is for your imagination.

Our project for this session is how to cook a "Boot.img" to make it functional for our TWRP 3.0 be to flashed in our Mi A1 for porting purposes.

Below we experiment with Kenzo image for Redmi Note 3 SD.

Steps:-

1. Download the Android Image Kitchen Tool then extract.
2. Download kenzo_images_6.3.17_20160129.0000.14_5.1_cn and extract, locate the raw boot.img from the related extracted ROM folder and move it to the Android Image Kitchen folder, as shown below:-

3. Right click & hold, on the "Boot.img" file and move & place it onto unpackimg.bat file and proceed with the on-screen message to "Run", as shown below:-

4. Next goto ramdisk directory and locate fstab.qcom file, as shown below:-



5. Use any text editor to open fstab.qcom file, then use the Find function to find any value containing "Verify" and delete with care, and save it accordingly, as shown below:-

1. ,verify

Copy the Code

6. Now we need to repack the modded boot.img file, double-click to execute "repackimg.bat" hence it will generate a new boot file as "image-new.img" as shown below:-

7. Now you are done with a Modded boot.img image with the modification required to complete your task of TWRP flashing.

Credit:

• osm0sis
• miui.com

DISCLAIMER: DO ON YOUR OWN RISK. Flashing can potentially bricked or bootloop your device.

What You Need to Know About 4G+/LTE-A!

Hei MIUI-ers,

This is my second series of ifelixit and we are going to discuss about, What is 4G+, 4GX, XLTE, LTE-A and VoLTE? Probably most of us doesn't bother or keep track of how fast the technology evolved. Today, we are going touch on LTE-A aka 4.5G or marketed as 4G+. Hence, what the benefit of it for us users or subscribers.

LTE Advanced (4G+) is the next major step in the evolution of our 4G network technology that's expected to support the massive increases in mobile data demand and deliver much higher data speeds for all. 4G+ is another name for LTE-A, LTE-Advanced or 4.5G and it’s basically a faster version of 4G and LTE . It’s a new generation network, designed to meet the growing demand for data traffic, support better quality and increased speeds and offer wider opportunities for use. It allows 4G phones to receive data from multiple bands in the 4G spectrum. So, while standard 4G only uses one band at a time, 4G+ can combine two and more bands for far more increased speeds. Ucom uses 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands at a time.

The speed of 4G and 4G+:
4G+ supports maximum 250Mbps download speed and 50Mbps upload speed, that is, far faster than 4G speed. For better understanding, if a 30 minute HD video takes just 2-3 minutes to download on 4G+, it would take 8-12 minutes to download with standard 4G.

There’s no hard and fast answer as to how speedy LTE-A is. Theoretical peak download speeds stand at around 300Mbps whilst standard 4G LTE stands at 150Mbps. Having said that you’ll likely find that the real world download speeds of 4G normally top out at around 15Mbps, as other factors such as the device you’re using it on, your proximity to a 4G mast and how many other people are on the network all drastically affect the speeds. Similarly you’re not likely to get consistent LTE-A speeds of 300Mbps, but it’s still likely to deliver consistent real world speeds of over 42Mbps and up to 90Mbps, making it at least 3 times faster than standard 4G LTE speeds.

With 4G+ You’ll have: 

• Better quality for watching videos online. For example, with 4G+ we can watch a 720p HD video on YouTube, while with 3G we can only watch a 360p video. Furthermore, with 4G+ any file, be it a movie, game or program, is downloaded 2.5 and more times fast.

• Advantage over the opponent during online gaming. If You spend much time on online gaming, Your chances of winning will increase due to faster connection.
• Faster download speeds. You can download any content 10 times faster. Thanks to 4G+, it takes around 30-60 seconds to download a content of 1000MB, while it takes 9-30 minutes with 3G.

How does it work?
Essentially while standard data connections use one antenna and one signal at any given time, 4G LTE-A uses multiple signals and multiples antennas.

It uses MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) technology to combine multiple antennas on both the transmitter (for example 4G masts) and the receiver (for example a smartphone). So a 2x2 MIMO configuration would mean there were two antennas on the transmitter and two on the receiver and you don’t have to stop at two, the more antennas theoretically the faster the potential speeds as the data streams can travel more efficiently.

That technology is then combined with ‘carrier aggregation’, which allows a device, such as a smartphone, to receive multiple different 4G signals at once and they don’t even have to be on the same frequency, so you could receive an 1800MHz and an 800MHz signal at the same time for example, none of which is possible with standard 4G. Up to five different signals can be combined at once and with each offering up to 20MHz of bandwidth they can be combined to create a data pipe of up to 100MHz of bandwidth. The upshot of all that is that it’s faster than standard 4G, a lot faster.

What’s next?
LTE-A not fast enough for you? Well this is a fast moving industry and people are always looking ahead. So much so that 5G is already in development. The term ‘5G’ literally just means that it’s the fifth generation of mobile wireless systems and you can expect it to be a big jump. The specifics are still being worked out and it’s unlikely to be commercially deployed before 2020, but talk at the moment is that it will theoretically allow for data speeds of up to 10Gbps, which is just a mind boggling number.

What phones work with it?
Not only might you have to wait a while to get LTE-A if you're not on the right Telco or not in a major city, but you might have to get a new phone. Standard 4G phones don’t support it and you simply need to check the specification of the network bands supported.

 
Many newer handsets, particularly high-end ones, such as the Mi 6, Mi Note 2 down to mid-range Redmi Note 4/4X support for inline carrier aggregation 4G+ network only, but most older and lower end handsets don't. The good news is that over time more and more smartphones will arrive with LTE-A support and as it becomes more widespread it should start filtering down to low end devices too.

Source1, Source2

"Solving with simplicity"

Flash Global/China/Stable/Developer ROM Without Unlocking Bootloader

Greeting to Redmi 4X users...

Unlocking the bootloader has been cumbersome recently for most users. Why most want to bother unlocking the bootloader. A few reasons, generally to flash between ROM variants which Global to China or vice versa or between the Stable and developer/beta rom. Why is it necessary to lock the bootloader is due to the safety of the users, especially now doing more secured transaction like banking or using certain apps that required authentic location and so forth. Yet, users want to have the freedom to root but it simply bring issues that the Safety net is in place making it safer for more conscious user with their invaluable data at stake. So what the deal here? This method of flashing seem more than reason yet keeping your bootloader untouched after flashing is done. I guess everyone is excited to try out the MIUI 9, this would definitely help in your quest to flash the Lightning Fast MIUI 9.

Essentials:

• 1. Locked Bootloader or Unlocked
• 2. USB DATA cable (the one that came with your device)
• 3. Before proceeding: Disable Driver Signature Enforcement in Windows 7/8/10 64-Bit
• 4. Install Mi Flash Tool - Avoid any Android Bootloader Interface issues.
• 5. Enable USB Debugging - Goto Settings > Additional settings > Developer options > USB Debugging - Enable (If you have not activated Developer options, then Goto Settings > About phone > tap MIUI version 7 times > You are now a developer)
• 6. Battery is charged at least 50%.
• 7. Preferably Fiber Optic WiFi connection

Download:

• 1. XioMiTool_0.4.0.exe.zip

Using XiaoMiTool:

1. Download "XioMiTool_0.4.0.exe.zip", extract and install accordingly. And follow the images as such:

2. Click Ok, I understand to get started.

3. Make sure you plug your USB cable to the Redmi 4X and your PC.

4. It will then detect the device as shown below.

5. Then select your device.

6. Click "Yes" to start the process.

7. XiaoMiTool will automatically detect your device info, roms which are available to install, which installation method to use and show whether unlocking is required or not. In my case, my Bootloader is still Locked. Do not be alarm, your phone will turnoff and on as required for the Tool to work properly.

8. It will then check for the available ROMs.

9. As shown, the ROMs available to flash without the need to look elsewhere for the ROMs.

10, Then choose the ROM you wish to flash, for my case I wanted a China Developer ROM.

11. It will then confirm the ROM you have chosen.

12. The downloading begin automatically. This requires a high speed internet connection for better result. If you notice, it will download the China Stable instead of the China Developer ROM directly.

13. Stock Recovery is activated on your device and the flashing starts on its own.

14. Installation is done.

15. Now you phone will start rebooting which will take less then 15mins to get to the Lockscreen. Once that happens, go thru the setup, enter your Mi ID and password and quickly goto About phone and activate Developer Option and from there goto Additional Settins/Developer Option and Enable the USB Debugging.

16. Once that's done, click "Ok, done".

17. It will then, start downloading the China Developer ROM.

18. Once the ROM is downloaded it will prepare the stock recovery to flash the ROM.

19. The stock recovery will start to flash and it will be shown on your device as well.

20. You will be notified that the Installation process is finished and successful. Your Redmi 4X will then reboot. Wait for like less than 15min to see the MIUI 8 setup screen.

21. You can opt to support or not, the developer's work.

22. Flashed from MIUI 8 Global Stable V8.2.10.0.MAMMIEA to MIUI 8 China Developer 7.7.20

23. Get ready for the MIUI 9.

That's for now!

Credit: Francesco Tescari

DISCLAIMER: DO ON YOUR OWN RISK. Flashing can potentially bricked or bootloop your device.

"Solving with simplicity"

Redmi Note 4X: Hands-on Teardown & Test Point!

Hei MIUI-ers,

Are you excited to know what's behold within the Redmi Note 4X? Very delighted to share, the very First Teardown or Disassembly Article ever documented for Redmi Note 4X, you will find around. So skip the tireless time to figure out the Test Points for your Flashing or Unbricking Task, maybe. It's Showtime!

Tools:

• Anti-static angle tweezer
• Plastic Crowbar
• Plastic Prying Tools
• Plastic Antistatic Crowbar
• 1.5 Philips screw driver

Note: Word of caution, take pictures of what you disassembling each time as you go, hence you won't be lost when you re-assemble them. And if you feel dizzy, just quit and enjoy the article.

Teardown step by step:Start off with swtiching off your phone, then remove the Hybrid SIM tray with the ejector pin. 

Basically, the back cover is a CNC aluminium body anodised with a black coating which serves as a better heat dissipation for the battery, and plastic on both ends of the phone, the top part will help boost the signal strength.

Next use the plastic prying tool, kind of run it thru the slit around the phone, until it slowly giving more space to allow your fingernail to pry it open. There not much to worry as the fingerprint mechanism, no longer built to the back cover connected by a ribbon cable which need extra care as in the Redmi Note 3 or alike.

Start off with removing the the warranty tamper sticker before you break it to avoid warranty dispute, marked in the blue circle.

Next, unscrew all those red circle screw and put aside it the order of the displacement of the screws, as in the images below. There 7 nos of screw on the motherboard portion fastening the top plastic cover.

Slowly remove the fingerprint sensor using the plastic crowbar and unscrew the screw hidden behind it.

Then, remove the fingerprint sensor ribbon cable using the plastic crowbar. Next carefully remove the Display connector. The flex ribbon cable is secured inside the connector by a locking clip, in order to unlock it, lift up the locking clip with tip of the plastic crowbar tp flip open it. The clip opens up at about 90 degree angle. After that you can pull the cable out as shown below.

Next remove the Micro USB connector, Battery connector, Display connector, Fingerprint connector, Volume rocker connector, Power supply connector and Digitizer IC connector. Now the motherboard can easily be removed.

Next, I pry open the heat sink cum zinc cover, to checkout the processor which is Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 MSM8953 and ROM which happens to be Samsung KMRX1000BM-B614 eMMC ROM of 32GB, along with PMM8952 Power Management Module.

The Goodix fingerprint sensor.

The selfie camera is an Samsung S5K5E8 5MP sensor with 1.12-micron pixel while the primary shooter is a Sony IMX258 13MP 1/3.06-inch sensor with 1.12-micron pixel.

Battery is 3.85 volt Lithium-ion Polymer rated at 4000mAh.

Next let's see what behold on the USB Charging board, remove 6 nos of screws, and another 2 nos after removing the plastic cover holding down and aligning the board.

That's where the vibrator and main speaker is. The USB data and charging port is there, too.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.
Caution: Be careful not to touch any of the contacts on the speaker or the cable, oils can damage them and interrupt the connection. If possible wear an anti-static band and tools.

Test Point

Next, we deal with the Test Point for those having issue with their PC/Laptop not detecting Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 under the Ports (COM & LPT) on their Device Manager.

Assuming, the phone has been pried opened. Here is the effective points.

Step One:

Remove Battery connector.

Step Two:

Use a sharp pointed Angle Tweezer and short the points below.

Most effective Test Points:

Less effective Test Points:

Note: Based on my finding, I classify them as effective and less effective, reason being 9/10 times as compared to 6/10 results to achieve Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 popping up on the Device Manager on your PC. Advisable keep your PC sound level loud, which will help you to know of the activity of the connection.

Step Three:

Immediately plug in your USD DATA Cable while keeping the Test Points short properly, and your PC/Laptop will notify you of a new device being connected and it will download the necessary driver for the Qualcomm HS-USB QDLoader 9008 under the Ports (COM & LPT) on the Device Manager as shown below:

Step Four:

Remove the Angle Tweezer. Thereafter, launch your Mi Flash Tool, as shown below:

 

That's it for the first series of ifelixit.