Database Develop

[Q] Return my Chromecast and buy one that I can root?

I got my Chromecast just a few weeks ago and I'm a Best Buy "Reward Zone" Member. Being a Reward Zone Member gives me up to 60 days to return purchased items back to the store....with a receipt, obviously. When I got mine, it was quickly automatically updated and I was never afforded the opportunity to root my Chromecast. Do ya'll think I can package my Chromecast back up and return it to Best Buy and purchase another one that is HOPEFULLY still running the original version that allows for it to be rooted? Basically what I'm wondering is if I return my Chromecast back to my local Best Buy retail store and buy another one, will the "newer" one that I pick up still be running the original system that they initially shipped with that enabled for users to root it? I'm asking because I really have wanted to root this thing, but just never have been able to, due to it receiving the automatic OTA shortly after using it for the first time a few weeks ago. I wouldn't think that the more recent Chromecasts would come shipped with the newer OTA's already, would they? I'm just hoping to pick up another one that I can actually root. Ya'lls thoughts?

Why?
The number of unrooted devices is truly tiny, so developers for it are fleetingly few. Also there's no significant advantage to being unrooted.
Couple that with the infetesimal chance of getting an original release device from Best Buy begs the effort.
I don't mean to be unduly negative but such little chance for such minor gain, again, why?

Maggard said:
Why?
The number of unrooted devices is truly tiny, so developers for it are fleetingly few. Also there's no significant advantage to being unrooted.
Couple that with the infetesimal chance of getting an original release device from Best Buy begs the effort.
I don't mean to be unduly negative but such little chance for such minor gain, again, why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you mean "rooted"

Thank you, correct, rooted.

I think that if you can have a rooted chromecast, it's a good thing.
I do admit that at present there are no advantages to being rooted.
But the future is unknown.
Example : what if google decides to never permit the general developer casting apps like fling or allcast? Theoretically, developers can totally rewrite the chromecast firmware to be the device they want it to be. However it will be very difficult or impossible to install such new firmware on an unrooted chromecast.
So the only benefits are unknown future imaginative features which google may never allow.

I bought another Chromecast from BestBuy on Friday and it still had the original firmware. This BestBuy had been sold out of Chromecast already, so this was probably their second or third shipment. So it's definitely possible to get an original firmware Chromecast, although there is no guarantee.

ften said:
I bought another Chromecast from BestBuy on Friday and it still had the original firmware. This BestBuy had been sold out of Chromecast already, so this was probably their second or third shipment. So it's definitely possible to get an original firmware Chromecast, although there is no guarantee.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not for sure, likewise for anyone else, when Google will be shipping these devices with updated firmware, so I'm gonna take my chances and get another one soon. And the reasons mentioned in the above posts are the main driving factors for my decision. If I'm going to spend $35 of my hard earned money, I'm gonna get every penny out of it that I can. Being locked down like Google has us now, was not in my plans when I first bought this thing.
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Well, guys...I did it today. I returned my Chromecast and switched it out for another one. I haven't hooked it up yet, but hopefully it's the original version.
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

jsdecker10 said:
Well, guys...I did it today. I returned my Chromecast and switched it out for another one. I haven't hooked it up yet, but hopefully it's the original version.
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you check if it is the original version without getting the OTA firmware installed?

hachuelo said:
How can you check if it is the original version without getting the OTA firmware installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must not allow the chromecast to connect to a wifi ssid / network which has Internet.
In my case, I had an old asus (dd-wrt) router laying around. I powered it up with nothing plugged into it. No rj45 cat 5/6 cables connected. Switched my phone wifi to this wireless ssid network. Ran the chromecast app, it found the chromecast, set up the chromecast to use this no Internet network by selecting it & typing in the router's password. After setting up the chromecast, the app shows the firmware version as being 12072.
If you allow the chromecast to connect to a wifi network which has Internet, then it will quickly auto update to a firmware version which can not currently be rooted.

HowardZ said:
You must not allow the chromecast to connect to a wifi ssid / network which has Internet.
In my case, I had an old asus (dd-wrt) router laying around. I powered it up with nothing plugged into it. No rj45 cat 5/6 cables connected. Switched my phone wifi to this wireless ssid network. Ran the chromecast app, it found the chromecast, set up the chromecast to use this no Internet network by selecting it & typing in the router's password. After setting up the chromecast, the app shows the firmware version as being 12072.
If you allow the chromecast to connect to a wifi network which has Internet, then it will quickly auto update to a firmware version which can not currently be rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok.So in the case that I can have a device with an older "rootable" firmware is there any way to stop the the firmware upgrade from Google if I connect a rooted Cromecast to the Internet?

hachuelo said:
Ok.So in the case that I can have a device with an older "rootable" firmware is there any way to stop the the firmware upgrade from Google if I connect a rooted Cromecast to the Internet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rooted firmware bin files from tvall have the auto update function disabled.

I just got my Chromecast a couple of days ago and have been reading several threads. I connected it to WiFi with no Internet and found that it still has 12072. Is there any way ti still use Allcast or Fling if I use one of tvall's images to disable updates? I found a previous version of the Chromecast apk and installed Allcast B4 but Allcast just comes up with a blank page. I thought it might be possible to stream local content with no Internet access.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4

deercreek said:
I just got my Chromecast a couple of days ago and have been reading several threads. I connected it to WiFi with no Internet and found that it still has 12072. Is there any way ti still use Allcast or Fling if I use one of tvall's images to disable updates? I found a previous version of the Chromecast apk and installed Allcast B4 but Allcast just comes up with a blank page. I thought it might be possible to stream local content with no Internet access.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Technically, I'd say that you would be able to, since it wouldn't be using the internet to stream the video. I'm FAR from an expert on all this though...lol
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

deercreek said:
I just got my Chromecast a couple of days ago and have been reading several threads. I connected it to WiFi with no Internet and found that it still has 12072. Is there any way ti still use Allcast or Fling if I use one of tvall's images to disable updates? I found a previous version of the Chromecast apk and installed Allcast B4 but Allcast just comes up with a blank page. I thought it might be possible to stream local content with no Internet access.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was actually wondering the same thing too...if we would be able to use the "Fling" PC Java program and/or the "AllCast"/"AirCast" Android apps, just as long as our Chromecasts are on the original (v.12072) firmware..
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

jsdecker10 said:
I was actually wondering the same thing too...if we would be able to use the "Fling" PC Java program and/or the "AllCast"/"AirCast" Android apps, just as long as our Chromecasts are on the original (v.12072) firmware..
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couple of questions:Where I can find Fling? The link in dropbox is dead. The firmware in my Chromecast shows 12072 can I still root the device?

hachuelo said:
Couple of questions:Where I can find Fling? The link in dropbox is dead. The firmware in my Chromecast shows 12072 can I still root the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You had better do it QUICK, and I mean SUPER-HUMAN QUICK !! lol You're probably up the creek if it's been on for any decent amount of time. As far as I know, as soon as you turn it off and whenever you power it back up, it'll install that automatically downloaded OTA that it has already downloaded behind the scenes and stored on its memory. This is what *SHOULD* happen...just what I've heard by things I've read on here.

jsdecker10 said:
You had better do it QUICK, and I mean SUPER-HUMAN QUICK !! lol You're probably up the creek if it's been on for any decent amount of time. As far as I know, as soon as you turn it off and whenever you power it back up, it'll install that automatically downloaded OTA that it has already downloaded behind the scenes and stored on its memory. This is what *SHOULD* happen...just what I've heard by things I've read on here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you rooted yours? I'm gonna try tomorrow I got to borrow an USB otg cable from a friend.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

hachuelo said:
Have you rooted yours? I'm gonna try tomorrow I got to borrow an USB otg cable from a friend.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, my first Chromecast installed the auto-OTA and each following update after leaving it plugged in, so I just went and got another Chromecast a few days ago. I ordered the recommended OTG cable from Amazon.com this past Thurs or Fri night. It's scheduled to arrive here at our house sometime around the end of this week(Thurs-Sat) sometime. After it gets here, I'm gonna root it before playin around with it. And if you're wondering, YES, the 2nd Chromecast that I got is STILL sitting in the box, just waiting for the OTG cable to arrive. It's too tempting to take it out and play around with it, but I know I had better just hold off till that cable gets here, otherwise I'd be just throwing that money that I spent on the cable down the drain.

jsdecker10 said:
Nope, my first Chromecast installed the auto-OTA and each following update after leaving it plugged in, so I just went and got another Chromecast a few days ago. I ordered the recommended OTG cable from Amazon.com this past Thurs or Fri night. It's scheduled to arrive here at our house sometime around the end of this week(Thurs-Sat) sometime. After it gets here, I'm gonna root it before playin around with it. And if you're wondering, YES, the 2nd Chromecast that I got is STILL sitting in the box, just waiting for the OTG cable to arrive. It's too tempting to take it out and play around with it, but I know I had better just hold off till that cable gets here, otherwise I'd be just throwing that money that I spent on the cable down the drain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any ideal of which OTG cable from amazon to get? I see them from 1.00 to 10.00. I don't want to spend more than I have to.
Just ordered my chromecast to pick up in our local best buy and want to root it in case it has the older firmware.
Thanks

Any news on 4.4?

I'm assuming no, since I haven't seen anyone talking about it anywhere. I was just curious if anyone had heard anything about an official 4.4 update for our tf701's. I'm sure we'll get one. Who knows when though.
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app

tbonestl said:
I'm assuming no, since I haven't seen anyone talking about it anywhere. I was just curious if anyone had heard anything about an official 4.4 update for our tf701's. I'm sure we'll get one. Who knows when though.
Sent from my HTCONE using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have only had 4.3 for a little over a month now on this tablet. I doubt we will get it soon but Asus is known to be great with updates. My guess is we will see it around the end of March.

Yeah I reckon another month or 2 and they'll start rolling out. They always seem to do new builds from Feb to April.

My question is..
Will 4.4 be the last update for this device. .
Sent from my New Transformer Infinity Pad TF701T using Tapatalk HD

xRevilatioNx said:
My question is..
Will 4.4 be the last update for this device. .
Sent from my New Transformer Infinity Pad TF701T using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one knows for sure but a general rule of thumb: each device usually gets about 18 months of updates. Some a little more, some less. The TF701 will most likely get another big OS update after KitKat.

devilsaces said:
We have only had 4.3 for a little over a month now on this tablet. I doubt we will get it soon but Asus is known to be great with updates. My guess is we will see it around the end of March.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Italian version is still at 4.2.2 :crying:

wolfymozart said:
Italian version is still at 4.2.2 :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disgrazia!!!!

what is the itlian sku?
back in dec early jan i was complaining of no jp update.
i mentioned they said no updte was coming and i escalated to manager on issues with device.
anyway they called me back today! lol
like 3 weeks after the update came saying there will be an update for the device late this month.
i asked what version he didn`t know.
then i told him about 5 days after speaking to him i got the 4.3 lol
i don`t think asus know what they are doing. clearly the product manager was made redundant on this device or at least i`d like to think so.

Nvidia released KK for the tegranote. Hopefully this tab is not far off.

I recently had some sort of small update pushed to my TF701. It was not an OS update, clearly, but a firmware update for stability and other stuff. Has anyone else had an update come to their 701? I do have 4.3, which installed as soon as I started using the tablet for the first time.

If I remember correctly an update showed up in settings after doing the first manual update(where you place the zip @ /sdcard)

something tells me that returns and repairs trippled the actual sales number i recon we would be lucky to get an update soon they probably cut all but 1 person who is working on it part time, and moved onto the next product.

malos1984 said:
something tells me that returns and repairs trippled the actual sales number i recon we would be lucky to get an update soon they probably cut all but 1 person who is working on it part time, and moved onto the next product.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you honestly believe that? Returns and RMAs are never reported as a sale or considered one in either retail outlets or warehouse fulfillment centers, it's recorded as product loss. There will be an update, and it's likely not going to be too far off.

zaelin said:
Do you honestly believe that? Returns and RMAs are never reported as a sale or considered one in either retail outlets or warehouse fulfillment centers, it's recorded as product loss. There will be an update, and it's likely not going to be too far off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1

zaelin said:
Do you honestly believe that? Returns and RMAs are never reported as a sale or considered one in either retail outlets or warehouse fulfillment centers, it's recorded as product loss. There will be an update, and it's likely not going to be too far off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol
i think maybe you misunderstood my statement.
I was merely saying that asus got the devices returned so many times that the sales were likely less then the amount of times they got sent in for repair or swapped over.

I idk i think this device is likely doing well. People might be holding off because they don't see a selection of roms. There might have been a rush to get this thing sorted out before Christmas. Idk. Affected the build quality a little. But that was then and this their mainline. Its whats running down the line. So I think quality is what people will get from this point on. Like most new device as was with the xbox,ps4 etc a delay do to quality issues. And then they got sorted. People of course want to see all their favorite roms. So hopefully we see 4.4 soon.

YayYouFixedIt said:
I idk i think this device is likely doing well. People might be holding off because they don't see a selection of roms. There might have been a rush to get this thing sorted out before Christmas. Idk. Affected the build quality a little. But that was then and this their mainline. Its whats running down the line. So I think quality is what people will get from this point on. Like most new device as was with the xbox,ps4 etc a delay do to quality issues. And then they got sorted. People of course want to see all their favorite roms. So hopefully we see 4.4 soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not convinced there is a relationship between sales and number of roms available. Maybe the version of OS supported plays some part? I.e., if this came out with Android 4.4 it would probably sell a lot better.

ASUS announces 4.4 Kit Kat updates rolling out. But nothing for their you latest transformer infinity pad. WTF
http://www.androidcentral.com/android-44-kitkat-being-prepped-few-asus-devices
Sent from my K00C using Tapatalk

xRevilatioNx said:
ASUS announces 4.4 Kit Kat updates rolling out. But nothing for their you latest transformer infinity pad. WTF
http://www.androidcentral.com/android-44-kitkat-being-prepped-few-asus-devices
Sent from my K00C using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THey haven't said they won't release it - that is just a press release for the padfone and fonepad series by the looks of things.

sbdags said:
THey haven't said they won't release it - that is just a press release for the padfone and fonepad series by the looks of things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Understood. But not even a mention for the Infinity Transformer Pad. Supposedly their flagship Tablet. We're pretty much on the back burner. Some of those Padfone releases aren't until the 3rd quarter. Yet they still had a press release
It leaves me to believe, we won't be seeing it until the fall as well . It they would have mentioned in that release, I would feel better about seeing it before the end of the second quarter.
Sent from my K00C using Tapatalk

4xxx serial US Chromecasts in the wild

This might be old news as I haven't had a chance to visit much recently, but 4xxx serial Chromecasts are in the wild in the US.
There are 4xxx serial units with the older packaging (got some 41xx) as well as newer packaging.
Haven't had a chance to check if they're rootable via HubCap yet, but I'm guessing they might not be.
Newer packaging has a different seal sticker as well as different front art, and also has "Mfg date" sticker.
Didn't pick up the newer packaging ones, I think I have enough at the moment.

bhiga said:
This might be old news as I haven't had a chance to visit much recently, but 4xxx serial Chromecasts are in the wild in the US.
There are 4xxx serial units with the older packaging (got some 41xx) as well as newer packaging.
Haven't had a chance to check if they're rootable via HubCap yet, but I'm guessing they might not be.
Newer packaging has a different seal sticker as well as different front art, and also has "Mfg date" sticker.
Didn't pick up the newer packaging ones, I think I have enough at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to pick up one in Great Bend, KS at Wal-Mart with serial #4819. Has the same packaging as shown in your pictures and I got it for $25, was near the checkouts near a pretty long row of Blu-Ray/DVD's. They had fifty or so still left and I saw more in the electronics section.

The serial number makes no difference to rooting, it's the shipped firmware version.
My chromecast I got months ago is 4113 and rooted no issues at all, this thread is pointless.

theronkinator said:
The serial number makes no difference to rooting, it's the shipped firmware version.
My chromecast I got months ago is 4113 and rooted no issues at all, this thread is pointless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second part is what I wanted to know. Thanks, though yours is probably the "old" packaging, yes?
Considering I started the Rootable Serial Numbers thread... there is a bit of method behind my madness.
The point here is - if Google has revamped the packaging, likely they will start shipping a non-rootable firmware with it, and then we go back to "Okay, with what serial number did the newer (unrootable) firmware start shipping with?" just like the old days.

bhiga said:
The second part is what I wanted to know. Thanks, though yours is probably the "old" packaging, yes?
Considering I started the Rootable Serial Numbers thread... there is a bit of method behind my madness.
The point here is - if Google has revamped the packaging, likely they will start shipping a non-rootable firmware with it, and then we go back to "Okay, with what serial number did the newer (unrootable) firmware start shipping with?" just like the old days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My packaging is the same as your picture, same bottom, same man of steel on the back, only difference is it doesn't have the row of apps on the front, the text is slid down the chromecast pic at the top, but that's probably just a uk thing.

theronkinator said:
My packaging is the same as your picture, same bottom, same man of steel on the back, only difference is it doesn't have the row of apps on the front, the text is slid down the chromecast pic at the top, but that's probably just a uk thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the rev 2 packaging, with lens flare on the Chromecast.
The original packaging didn't have lens flare on the Chromecast on the front, Man of Steel on the back (it was a baby) nor did it have the Hulu Plus icon.
Rev 2 packaging shortly preceded the end of units shipping with the first FlashCast-rootable firnware (build 12072).
Save for refurbished/RMA/used units, most/all units with the rev 2 packaging should have HubCap-rootable firmware builds.
So now we wait to see if history repeats itself and units with non-HubCap-able firmware (build 19085+) follow or coincide with this new packaging.

Motorola Experimental Nexus 6 Confidential Property?

Hey guys, I seem to have fallen into a unique device. I managed to get my hands on a Motorola Experimental Nexus 6 that had Moto's development software on it so I flashed stock 5.1 it has labeled on the bottom...Motorola Confidential Property Not For Sale. It has the Motorola Logo upper left corner and 0411-23666 in the upper right corner with a chip inscription as well. The back of the device doesn't even have Nexus on it. See picts 64gb XT1100. I already have a 64gb xt1103 so I kinda don't know which one i should sell on swappa. Any sugestions I plugged in my T-Mo sim card and it works fine so no provider issues to speak of but which device should I keep? Does this thing have collector value?? Your thoughts?

swappa or ebay.. you might find a collector willing to pay a little more.

The XT1100 nexus 6 however has no CDMA as its the international version, so i.would recommend testing that and 4G

That's pretty cool.. What are you thinking about selling it for?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

kos26 said:
That's pretty cool.. What are you thinking about selling it for?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless it was like HTC and had a S-off engineer bootloader really not worth any premium. It just an extremely used N6 if was used for testing. Also may have subpar hardware depending where it was in the testing cycle.

prdog1 said:
Unless it was like HTC and had a S-off engineer bootloader really not worth any premium. It just an extremely used N6 if was used for testing. Also may have subpar hardware depending where it was in the testing cycle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The device came with Moto's internal software and Is a fully tested and compliant unit. I am more than happy to show bench test results. But I tried swappa and they killed it right away, Ha..Ha. As for "extremely used" NOT..Its flawless..funny It had pictures in it from Motorola engineer... But I am a straight shooter and have been on Ebay for 9 years 692 @100% I stand for 100% and swappa the same. If an offer works for me and a buyer I am ok with that; :good:

wiseguyy said:
The device came with Moto's internal software and Is a fully tested and compliant unit. I am more than happy to show bench test results. But I tried swappa and they killed it right away, Ha..Ha. As for "extremely used" NOT..Its flawless..funny It had pictures in it from Motorola engineer... But I am a straight shooter and have been on Ebay for 9 years 692 @100% I stand for 100% and swappa the same. If an offer works for me and a buyer I am ok with that; :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just saying if nothing different like an engineering bootloader it is just a used Nexus. Even engineering bootloader irrelevant on N6 because it is unlockable. There is no premium to this device except is older than any on the street in my opinion. It was premium if could obtain before N6 was released. Year later it just another N6. If IEMI is blacklisted it is a brick.

Some preprod units had an HDMI out chip (i.e., MHL or something like that).

I say keep it if it works as expected. If the Nexus brand was more popular I would say sell it because it is a rare device and people would be more likely to throw money at it.

prdog1 said:
Just saying if nothing different like an engineering bootloader it is just a used Nexus. Even engineering bootloader irrelevant on N6 because it is unlockable. There is no premium to this device except is older than any on the street in my opinion. It was premium if could obtain before N6 was released. Year later it just another N6. If IEMI is blacklisted it is a brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
md1008 said:
I say keep it if it works as expected. If the Nexus brand was more popular I would say sell it because it is a rare device and people would be more likely to throw money at it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I posted it on Craigs list and had an immediate response from an IT Manager over at Cal State University of Long Beach we met at a Starbucks and upon inspection and testing he immediately offered me 600. So like I had previously stated I tested the phone and listed it on Swappa so of course it couldn't be blacklisted and the device was in flawless condition the teacher did mention HDMI so I would have to think it wasn't just another used Nexus or I would suspect the man wouldn't have been so quick to whip out $600. :laugh:

wiseguyy said:
Well I posted it on Craigs list and had an immediate response from an IT Manager over at Cal State University of Long Beach we met at a Starbucks and upon inspection and testing he immediately offered me 600. So like I had previously stated I tested the phone and listed it on Swappa so of course it couldn't be blacklisted and the device was in flawless condition the teacher did mention HDMI so I would have to think it wasn't just another used Nexus or I would suspect the man wouldn't have been so quick to whip out $600. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no guarantee that it has HDMI, unless he actually confirmed it by looking at the hardware version reported by the kernel. HDMI was removed at "some" stage before shipping, and there is no way of telling by the pictures you provided whether that test device was from before or after that change.

doitright said:
There is no guarantee that it has HDMI, unless he actually confirmed it by looking at the hardware version reported by the kernel. HDMI was removed at "some" stage before shipping, and there is no way of telling by the pictures you provided whether that test device was from before or after that change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well without a doubt he checked on the HDMI and all internal software and tested it and confirmed it prior to paying me so he got exactly what he was after. I received a text today if I had access to any more of these units. Only time will tell...

New Fire 7 (2015) does not charge at all out of box

I just bought the 2015 Fire 7 new from amazon.com with the idea of unlocking it for LineageOS, etc.
(2015 model since it can be unlocked without opening the device)
So it arrives today and doesn't turn on which is strange because almost all devices ship with some level of charge.
I plug it in and it turns on. The problem is the battery meter shows its charging at about 20% so I unplug the cable and the device immediately dies. It does this again and again and will not charge at all.
I understand that this isn't the highest quality of device and there are a lot of reviews stating it stops charging after a few months, but for something sold by an OEM as large as amazon this is completely unacceptable for it to not charge brand new right out of the box.
The charge level increases much faster than normal so I'm guessing its not getting charged at all and the percentage is the OS reading it wrong.
I'm going to be contacting Amazon shortly for a replacement but I was wondering if anyone knows a fix I didn't think of or has a similar experience with this issue.

Unless you are an older OS pre-5.3.2, you will have to open it. It sounds like you got a defective one, since it is 2+ years old sitting dead in a amazon warehouse the battery went to die. You can leave it on the charger for hours and see if it ever does anything, but i would return it and get a newer one. Opening and the shorting the clk is easy though.

Michajin said:
Unless you are an older OS pre-5.3.2, you will have to open it. It sounds like you got a defective one, since it is 2+ years old sitting dead in a amazon warehouse the battery went to die. You can leave it on the charger for hours and see if it ever does anything, but i would return it and get a newer one. Opening and the shorting the clk is easy though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your response.
I did try leaving on the charger for a while and I think its safe to assume its just not going to work. There's no sign of the battery working at all, not even for a few seconds. I'm questioning if its even connected properly, probably not.
It's just unfortunate that I was ready to unlock this but now I have to have it shipped back and wait for a replacement (and hope the replacement doesn't have an issue). Even though this is a cheap tablet, it makes me feel like Amazon has no sense of quality control now.
I checked after it booted up and surprisingly this one still had 5.1 on it.
According to the thread you can still unlock a 2015 model w/ 5.3.2+ without opening it as long as you downgrade (downgrading bricks the device until finished unlocking)
k4y0z said:
If you're on a newer preloader, there are two options:
Open the device and short the pin marked in the attached photo to ground while plugging in.
Downgrade to 5.0.1 firmware via adb sideload in Amazon recovery, then proceed to use the left volume button to enter boot-rom.
NOTE: Using option two will brick your device until you have successfully finished the process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

KemikalElite said:
Thanks for your response.
I did try leaving on the charger for a while and I think its safe to assume its just not going to work. There's no sign of the battery working at all, not even for a few seconds. I'm questioning if its even connected properly, probably not.
It's just unfortunate that I was ready to unlock this but now I have to have it shipped back and wait for a replacement (and hope the replacement doesn't have an issue). Even though this is a cheap tablet, it makes me feel like Amazon has no sense of quality control now.
I checked after it booted up and surprisingly this one still had 5.1 on it.
According to the thread you can still unlock a 2015 model w/ 5.3.2+ without opening it as long as you downgrade (downgrading bricks the device until finished unlocking)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lmao, 5.1.1? Thats almost imposible..

Rortiz2 said:
Lmao, 5.1.1? Thats almost imposible..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Likely the Android base version; common point of confusion. That said, I have seen an occasional refurb arriving with an ancient build of FireOS (how??). Seems Amazon's refurb process is lacking in QC.

Davey126 said:
Likely the Android base version; common point of confusion. That said, I have seen an occasional refurb arriving with an ancient build of FireOS (how??). Seems Amazon's refurb process is lacking in QC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm 99% sure it was the Fire OS version since stock settings software updates page shows the Fire OS version and not the Android version.
It was showing build date or last updated 2016.
I don't remember the exact version since I only glanced at it but it definitely showed Fire OS 5.1.x
I'm worried because I might not be so lucky with my replacement, but if they keep taking them off the same shelf there might be a good chance.
Edit: It would appear that the last tangerine model has been sold making every new 2015 fire 7 out of stock. Seeing as this is the old gen I highly doubt they will be restocking it. This just keeps getting better and better.

KemikalElite said:
I'm 99% sure it was the Fire OS version since stock settings software updates page shows the Fire OS version and not the Android version.
It was showing build date or last updated 2016.
I don't remember the exact version since I only glanced at it but it definitely showed Fire OS 5.1.x
I'm worried because I might not be so lucky with my replacement, but if they keep taking them off the same shelf there might be a good chance.
Edit: It would appear that the last tangerine model has been sold making every new 2015 fire 7 out of stock. Seeing as this is the old gen I highly doubt they will be restocking it. This just keeps getting better and better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe they give you a fire 7 2017 xD

Rortiz2 said:
Maybe they give you a fire 7 2017 xD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon just updated the page again. 5th gen back in stock on April 20th. All good.
I'm still within the return window so its going to be an Amazon credit refund and if its not back in stock after the few days it takes to process the return I guess I'll have to order a 2017 and decide between not having root and breaking the tablet trying to open it (I'm really bad with hardware stuff).
All I know is Amazon's stock experience is the worst thing that can be done to a tablet. Having AOSP on my 2011 Fire was the best.

KemikalElite said:
I'm 99% sure it was the Fire OS version since stock settings software updates page shows the Fire OS version and not the Android version.
It was showing build date or last updated 2016.
I don't remember the exact version since I only glanced at it but it definitely showed Fire OS 5.1.x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Timeframe is right for FireOS 5.1.x (5.1.1-5.1.4). Must have dug that one out of a dusty closet in the basement.
---------- Post added at 10:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------
KemikalElite said:
All I know is Amazon's stock experience is the worst thing that can be done to a tablet. Having AOSP on my 2011 Fire was the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hardly. FireOS v6 is reasonably agreeable and somewhat customizable. Really a matter of personal preference. While most of my gizmos run custom ROMs (Moto's being the general exception) I'm perfectly happy with an unrooted but tweaked HD 8 2018 for the tasks asked of it.