June 14, 2015

Tab 2 A7-30HC Lollipop update S00127 /GC S00120/ DC S00129 with TWRP


Most of the models that you have in hand are ROW versions with GoogleApps (except for TC). For those that wants to install TWRP please read my Warning at end of this article.

NOTE :We have NO support of the TC/N firmware because if you buy TC that means you have bought the China only version either with a "bastardise" ROM that cannot do OTA but modified with Google Apps and we dont know the hardware to recommends if any other version that supports it.(But my best bet is to use the HC ROM)

HC & GC/DC Lollipop SPFlashTool for MT8382
only but NOT for MT8127 USA
                                                                                                                                   
A7-30GC - WiFi +  2G voice/ Ukranian market version is S000120
A7-30F - WiFi only version is S000116
A7-30H - WiFi +  3G voice only version is KitKat S0019
A7-30TC/N - China only version
A7-30DC - WiFi +  3G voice/ data (similar to HC) version is S000129 


This is not what I expected from Lenovo after a delightful use and modding the A8-A5500 (bought 2 pieces of those) about 7 months ago. So I thought this little brother would also be a delight to use but I was totally dissappointed with this HC-MY version it is full of bloatwares that even if you uninstall them there original copies still remains in on your phablet and occupying 250Mb of storage space in your system the only way to remove them is to root and manually delete these copies (after uninstalling them first!!)
PLEASE DOWNLOAD ALL FILES GIVEN ESPECIALLY THIS TUTORIAL FROM INSIDE THE LINKS , SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT N DO. I CANNOT BE ANSWERING TO YOUR QUESTION SINCE MOST OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE ARE CONTAINED IN THE TUTORIALS.

I thought that this will be a delightful toy in my hands since it will be updated to Lollipop soon. But a few days of playing and setting up, I found a serious flaw in the firmware.

2) The flaw is that it doesnt have support for Compass in its kernel, (The A8-A5500/A7-A3300 KitKat version supports compass/gyro)

3) As with most Lollipop version the access to external SDCard by applications is not allowed ,but I have added the mod to enable it plus direct printing from phablet, updated apps and additional Lenovo apps (not bloatwares!) to be installed via TWRP Recovery once you download the ROM it is all provided in the "Install through TWRP" folder.

4) First Root with Kingoroot PC version then install Stericsson busybox 1.23.2  But if you dont care to use SuperSU  and dont intend to make your life any harder root with iRoot/vRoot and use the Chinese Superuser app. :


5) I found out that there are a lot of Playstore Apps are "not compatible" with this model.(A7-30 ROW ) that uses the stock "build.prop". If you want to make all compatible please use my "build.prop" from "4_Install_through_TWRP" for HC/GC/DC only OR please use alternative Market apps : Alternative Market Apps

6) To get the best out of the Camera install LenovoSuperCamera (from Vibe2.0) : Lenovo SuperCamera becoz you have Lenovo ID / SYNCit/ SHAREit installed and this will give you access to bigger Photos/Apps/SMS/Contacts storage that Lenovo has given to owners of Lenovo devices.I DO NOT RECOMMEND the removal of these apps as I find it very useful in backing up my Apps/Photos/Contacts. If using Lenovo SuperCamera , it is linked to Weibo Cloud Storage (which you have the potential to get 1 TERRABytes = 1000GB of Cloud Storage by just joining and registering from Android - no ads)


True Caller comes preinstalled on the Tab2 A7-30HC but it is declared as incompatible with device on Playstore so here is the latest version of the 3 apps. the best call blocker. 

IN CONCLUSION:
I wouldnt recommend this model although I am a supporter of Lenovo products but it is too late already since I bought it (last count 7 pieces PC/Phablets/Phones/Tablets) . It has been updated to Lollipop. I would easily recommend the previous A8-A5500 of which I bought 2 pcs and it was a joy to use BUT NOT this Tab2 A7-30. It as a mistake to had bought this Tab2 A7-30 Model. But a lot of its software short comings can be solved by using my mods.

UPDATE : A7--30HC and GC Lollipop version is now available in SPflashTool format.
The Lollipop A7-30GC version is in the given links (except for S0126 HC version must request)
The Lolliopop A7-30DC version is also given.

WARNING : TWRP Recovery has a small but serious flaw! It cannot "clear dalvik-cache" for HC/DC maybe also for GC (this TWRP is designed for GC) properly and will likely result in "softbrick" with error message "system not found/system not install"

The TWRP for Lollipop "F" only version (cannot use for HC/GC) Not tested because I dont own an F version device.
actual screen capture


Please introduce yourself properly by stating where you're from
the model you are running and the current version on your phablet.
IF YOU DONT GIVE THIS INFORMATION I WILL IGNORE YOUR REQUEST AND FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE DUMB ENOUGH NOT TO ACCEPT THE OFFER OF TWRP RECOVERY DONT COME BACK HERE WHEN YOU SOFTBRICK YOUR DEVICE OR NEED TO INSTALL ANY FUTURE MODIFICATIONS.

For those humans who dont know how to say Thank-you, you are most welcome!
(the funny thing is that only Muslims dont know how to say Thank-you and I being another Muslim have higher regards and pay more attention to non Muslim users, Sorry!)

A little gem of Android app for Telephone Calls

TrueCaller , it can learn your blacklist and spam from other users report to block Calls/SMS/MMS with worldwide database collected from users. This app comes standard with Tab2 A7-30 devices.


Click on this link : True Caller

May 8, 2015

LENOVO A8-A5500HV S029 Update (Final official update from Lenovo)


My favorite Tablet with 3G Voice/SMS/Data /WiFi but too bad it stopped at Android 4.4.2 KitKat updates only. No hope for Lollipop unlike ASUS models that came out the same time as this model.
Powered by MTK8382 QuadCore 1.3Ghz SoC is sufficient for its task. But it has decent specs unlike the later model Tab2 A7-30 which has poor camera specs even though it is on Lollipop now.

Lenovo A5500-F - Wi-Fi only (Mediatek MT8121)
Lenovo A5500-H - Wi-Fi + 3G (Data only)
Lenovo A5500-HV - Wi-Fi + 3G (Voice)

                             Recovery firmware SPFlashTool+ TWRP / HV only plus update S029

A8-5500F only KitKat firmware MT8121 cannot use on HV

April 22, 2015

A CHEAP BUT POPULAR MODEL ! LENOVO A369i Dual Core MTK 6572

Not to be confused with the clone A369 (without the "i") that is a clone phone having only 256Mb RAM as reported by some users. This original Lenovo phone has a small 512Mb not enough by todays power users standard but  good enough as gift for grandmothers/mothers/grandpa for their use. With root access some of the apps can be removed. Done that with the ROOT.zip for A369i.
This is an original ROW/WW version S201. in SPFlash Tool format and have to manually root by Vroot before installing TWRP and then install Root package and it will remove the Chinese Root.




April 10, 2015

LENOVO A880 _A889 MT6582 JellyBean 4.2.9


Both model are nearly identical in the firmwares with only a small exception the A880 has a 5Mp main camera and  A889 has 8Mp main camera the rest are the same and the TWRP can be shared between them and also the modem files can also be shared. The A889 factory ROM modem file has the tendency to loose IMEI/Baseband after flashing so it was swapped with the A880 modem file to ensure that it doesnt loose IMEI/Baseband.
This is an updated version update to SuperSU2.48.




March 30, 2015

Lenovo S939 Vibe 2.0 S1507 full GApps and Prerooted


My most successful Lenovo ROM for S939 Vibe2.0 build S1507 with Full GApps and Prerooted with SuperSU/busybox/daemon and updated GPS settings for Asia/Europe, updated some Lenovo apps and added small utilities.