This post is roughly 11 years old; originally published on March 22, 2013! The information presented here may be out of date and inaccurate.
I bought a budget Android tablet a little while back that turned out to be really rather good. However, there were issues with the initial firmware.
Ployer released a firmware update in November 2012 and again in April 2013 which addressed these issues. Here’s the translated change log.
- Increase the volume buttons on the vertical screen.
- System, audio and video decoding, browser, Flash player, 3G module, boot animation module BUG repair.
- Update NandFlash, Mali, Wifi module drivers, while addressing some CTS tests BUG and the stability of the system as a whole has been further enhanced.
- Optimize Flash stability, improve the efficiency of the implementation of the DDR.
- Default input method Sogou input method.
- Update Google Pinyin input method.
However, the official Ployer firmware comes pre-loaded with a selection of Chinese applications and defaults to a Chinese language.
I decided to have a go a making my own custom firmware for the Ployer Momo8 IPS with the following goals.
/data
partition.I think I’ve been fairly successful. My firmware includes Android 4.1.2 features and even some Android 4.2 features. Until someone successfully ports cyanogenmod to the Ployer Momo8 IPS or Ployer release a 4.2.x update then my firmware is the most complete “Google Experience” you’ll find for the device.
Below are the changes I made to the official Ployer Momo8 IPS firmware.
This release is mainly a fix for Google+. The builds are running now and will be available for download later today.
maxp2ga0
is now 76 in:PlusOne.apk
to the version in 13.137The purpose of this release is to refresh some system apps, address some compatibility issues and to offer versions of my custom firmware based on both 20130325 and 20121120.
framework.jar
patch as it introduces incompatibilities of its own./system
partition.Settings -> Language and Input
.Magazines.apk
(Google Play Magazines)Music2.apk
(Google Play Music)PlusOne.apk
(Google+)Talk.apk
(Hangouts)This release is focused on stability, adding the new Google Play features announced at Google I/O 2013 and also includes everything from the previous releases.
maxp2ga0
is now 100 in:/etc/firmware/nvram_RK901.txt
was previously 74./etc/firmware/nvram_RK903.cal
was previously 76./etc/firmware/nvram_RK903.txt
was previosuly 72./etc/firmware/nvram_RK903_26M.cal
was previously 60.maxp5ga0
, maxp5gla0
and maxp5gha0
are now 100 in:/etc/firmware/nvram_RK903.cal
were all previously 80./etc/firmware/nvram_RK903_26M.cal
were all previously 80.Books.apk
(Google Play Books)GestureSearch.apk
Currents.apk
GoogleEars.apk
(Sound Search)GmsCore.apk
(Google Play Services)Magazines.apk
(Google Play Magazines)Maps.apk
Music2.apk
(Google Play Music)Phonesky.apk
(Play Store)Talk.apk
(Hangouts)TalkBack.apk
(Accessibility)Videos.apk
(Google Play Movies)This version includes everything from the previous release plus the changes below.
/system
partition from 375M to 428M/system/lib
/system/lib
/system/lib
and fonts from /system/fonts/adobefonts
Chrome.apk
but updated /system/lib/libchromeview.so
from Chrome 26.0.1410.58Authenticator.apk
CalendarGoogle.apk
Currents.apk
Drive.apk
Earth.apk
Gmail.apk
GooglePlayBooks.apk
GooglePlayMagazines.apk
GooglePlayMovies.apk
GooglePlayMusic.apk
GooglePlayServices.apk
Keep.apk
Maps.apk
Phonesky.apk
(Play Store)PlusOne.apk
(Google+)Street.apk
YouTube.apk
/data
partition to 2GB.UCBrowser_V2.1.1.219_Android3_pf147_(Build12110718).apk
dopoolplayer
iReader_android_v2000_108044_guanwang.apk
including shared objects from /system/lib
.market_hd.apk
qiyiyingshi_V3.0_mumayi_e3d3e.apk
qq_mini_hd_1.9.1.apk
sougoushurufa.apk
including shared objects from /system/lib
.zhonghuawannianli_ECalendar_V3.2.3_mumayi_3ee39.apk
build.prop
ApkInstaller.apk
RkExplorer.apk
RKUpdateService.apk
including shared objects from /system/lib
.RkVideoPlayer.apk
/system/lib
.Calculator.apk
: Adds different calculator panels.Galaxy4.apk
: Smaller APKHoloSpiralWallpaper.apk
: Smaller APKLiveWallpapers.apk
: Smaller APKLiveWallpapersPicker.apk
: Smaller APKMagicSmokeWallpapers.apk
: Smaller APKNoiseField.apk
: Smaller APKPhaseBeam.apk
: Smaller APKSoundRecorder.apk
: Smaller APKVisualizationWallpapers.apk
: Smaller APKandroid.hardware.camera.autofocus.xml
android.hardware.camera.front.xml
android.hardware.ethernet.xml
android.hardware.sensor.accelerometer.xml
android.hardware.sensor.light.xml
android.hardware.touchscreen.multitouch.xml
CalendarGoogle.apk
Gmail.apk
GooglePlayMovies.apk
GooglePlayMusic.apk
GooglePlayServices.apk
PlusOne.apk
(Google+)Maps.apk
Phonesky.apk
(Google Play Store)Street.apk
YouTube.apk
Chrome.apk
but updated /system/lib/libchromeview.so
.framework.jar
so that Gameloft titles work.build.prop
to make the Ployer Momo8 IPS masquerade as
another brand or model of Android device. I will not be making this change, please
don’t request it.busybox
is included in the ROM, no sym-links are created.Please consider donating to this project. It is nice to have the effort I’ve
put into this custom firmware recognized. I don’t ask for much, it is at your
discretion, but just think how happy I’ll look when I am sipping the beer you
bought me 😄
You’ll need Rockchip Batch Tool which include the RockChip USB drivers and the firmware flashing utility. I’ve modified Rockchip Batch Tool to default to English language and removed old logs and transient data to reduce the size of the download. You’ll also need the firmware itself.
Download Rockchip Batch Tool and the STOCK RECOVERY version of the ROM. Unzip both archives once they are downloaded.
Flashing this ROM will will effectively factory reset your tablet, wipe your installed apps, app data and preferences. If you have rooted your tablet you might want to consider making a backup with Titanium Backup * root. If you have not rooted your tablet then you could use Helium - App Sync and Backup.
Settings
-> Developer options
and untick USB debugging
.RKBatchTool.exe
.RKBatchTool
choose firmware file, click the Switch
button. The
device icon should change to green to indicate a successful connection.Upgrade
./data
, /cache
and /mnt/sdcard
) will be formatted./mnt/sdcard
is the internal memory, not the microSDHC card inserted in the card reader.The first boot may take a little longer than usual. You will be presented with the Welcome wizard where you can configure language and locale, etc. You can optionally enter your Google Apps or Gmail account credentials and doing so will prompt for which Wifi network to associate with.
I’ve also made a video showing how to flash the firmware. Frankly, the hardest part is getting the Rockchip drivers installed.
wipe cache partition
advanced
-> wipe dalvik cache
++++++Go Back++++++
reboot system now
Booting to recovery can be achieved using the pre-install Quick Boot app.
The Ployer Momo8 IPS only has one hardware button (power) so CWM is controlled with gestures.
The Power button also acts as select, which I find to be the most reliable way to select an action.
Short answer, possibly.
Of all the WiFi networks I have access to, only one causes the Ployer Momo8 IPS to encounter weak signal and intermittent connections. When using the Official Ployer firmware on that WiFi network, connecting more than 5 meters from the access point is unreliable and maintaining a connection is almost impossible.
Using my firmware I can connect and maintain a connection up to about 10 meters from the access point. My testing, and the feedback from others suggests the my firmware improves the WiFi signal by 8 to 10dBm.
From my testing the Momo8 IPS appears to have issues with some wireless access points, possibly related to the chipset in the access point or the Momo8 IPS, but I’ve not been able to pin it down. That said, I’ve got access to 2 Draytek Vigor routers and the Momo8 IPS does not work well with either of them. Every other wireless network I’ve connected to works well.
For example, at home I stream 720p movies via DLNA over WiFi and watch them on the Momo8 IPS using MX Player. It works perfectly and never buffers or lags. However, your mileage may vary.
Short answer, it’s the safest option.
There are 6 different ROMs (official or otherwise) that I am aware of for the Ployer Momo8 IPS. They all have slightly different partition layouts. If you flash one of my CWM RECOVERY ROMs over a ROM using a slightly different partition layout, it will almost certainly soft brick the tablet. The STOCK RECOVERY will always correctly format the partitions directly after a flash, thereby mitigating the risk of soft bricking the tablet.
Read the comments here, there are several useful tips. You can also use the comments here to see if anyone can offer assistance. Alternatively, go the Ployer Momo8 forum on Slatedroid, read what others have done and ask for help.
The differences Ployer made between 20130325 and 20121120 is not well documented. I did some additional analysis of what changed between the November 2012 and April 2013 releases from Ployer, you can find my notes here:
In addition to whatever Ployer changed, this is how my 20121120 differs from 20130325.
/system
partition on the 20121120 version is 375MB, therefore the
following system apps are not included:AdAway.apk
Authenticator.apk
Books.apk
Currents.apk
Feedly.apk
GestureSearch.apk
Keep.apk
Magazines.apk
Videos.apk
YouTube.apk
Some people have reported that WiFi is more reliable when using a firmware based on 20121120. Due to the size of the custom firmwares and the bandwidth they consume, custom versions of my firmware based on 20121120 are only available to donors.
Your feedback is welcome, please use the comments are below.