View Full Version : Any amazing geeks around here?
calcheese
05-04-2007, 03:21
Hey, I was wondering if any of you are amazing with computers and such. I was thinking it would be great to have a modded firmware (3.45). I want to keep the dictionary but I also want MTP! Would that be possible at all? How do people mod firmware anyway? I mean not just images and appearance but changing the menu to include MTP and such! How can I learn?
Michalaq
05-04-2007, 11:53
I'm not sure about this, but someone was saying that the code for the D2 firmware is encrypted or locked somehow, so even a hex-deditor would do no good for editing. Even if it is possible, I dont see any major changes being made as it is. Something you are proposing should be possible, but someone who knows more about this stuff than me should be able to tell you more.
The only way that the firmwate would ever see any significant mods is if Cowon realease the sourcecode at some point, and there is a community of modders willing to tackle it.
Its really not possible without the source code for the firmware.
Michalaq
05-06-2007, 10:05
What are the chances of Cowon releasing the source code?
I realise that they probably won't do it as long as firmware updates are being produced by them, but is it likely after they stop supporting the player? Have Cowon done something like this before?
Thye D2 is one of those devices that has absolutely amazing potential - its processor and touchscreen mean that with a dedicated team and access to the sourcecode it could be modded to do most anything.
I think they released the source code of the firmware of their A2...
It's really in Cowon's best interest to release the D2's source code. They're not making money off the OS, and having various alternatives to choose from (such as Rockbox) can only help sell the player.
They'll also need to provide info on how to recover a bricked D2. I'm almost certain it's just software. They probably plug a dead D2 into a computer, run the software and it forces the firmware onto the player. Just a guess, but that's how I'd design it [smile]
Here's hoping we get a Rockbox firmware someday!
i read that they only released the A2 firmware because they had too....
Michalaq
05-06-2007, 20:07
How so? Was it that buggy?
because it was using some form of open source linux, afaik, but unfortunately I can't remember where I had read that
Yes, there's another thread in this forum that discussed the A2 going open-source. Apparently, Cowon used some open-source code, and part of the deal was that if any of the code was used, then the source code must be made public. so Cowon had to comply.
So far, no one knows if Cowon used any open-source code for the D2, or if they coded the software from scratch. If it's from scratch, then they don't have to release the source code, and sadly, they probably won't [no]
Michalaq
05-07-2007, 09:10
Yeah, it won't hurt if a couple of people write to them saying how beneficial it would be for everyone if the sourcecode was released.
OMG.Guys, please. Nobody needs, or will, to release anything. Do you really think Sony "released" sources for its PSP firmware when a modified hacked firmware was created ( http://www.dark-alex.org/ )? Or Linksys gave its sources away when a custom-made firmware was done for their popular routers ( http://www.dd-wrt.com/ )?
You all chatting here saying stuff like "if they release it". In 99.9% of all cases companies don't realease the stuff they coded. BUT there are people who can reverse engineer the protection on those firmwares and then a) make custom-made fw based on original (with advanced functions) b) write software for those devices. That's exactly what happened in the case of PSP, Linksys routers and numerious other gadgets. D2 (and other cowon products) probaly wont be reversed, since there is not THAT much hype about them = people with skills won't get interested in them. So I guess there's not that much hope...
Well, that's how I see it :)
Welp, Diam0nd, actually they did ! Cowon released their source for the A2, Linksys released their code for wrt54g ... etc. It is just plain simple: If you release them, they will sell ... as the movie says.
Well, on the Rockbox forum, someone's linking the D2's hardware to those of the U3 and a couple other devices. The thinking is that if they can unravel the source code of one of the players, they'll have the key to all of them. So we may get lucky with the D2. Let's cross our fingers [biggrin]
Welp, Diam0nd, actually they did ! Cowon released their source for the A2, Linksys released their code for wrt54g ... etc. It is just plain simple: If you release them, they will sell ... as the movie says.
No they did not. The ONLY source code linksys released is for ONLY ONE model of their routers: WRT54GL (L for linux). Only one, and nothing else. But the DD-WRT is not based on this one released source. Creator of DD-WRT decrypted Linksys firmwares:
hopefully someone of the buffalo engineers/managers reads this here.
"It is completely unneccessary to encrypt the firmware. This decreases just your sales rates since it makes it harder to install 3rd party firmwares which is one of the major advantages of these routers. if neccessary i will unleash the encryption algorithm anytime. but for now you have the chance to change anything in future"
(from: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/index.php )
Cases where manufacturers of devices release their sources are very rare.
james.miller
05-08-2007, 11:11
wrooooong.
dd-wrt is based on Alchemy, which it self is based on gpl'd linksys firmware, firmware that was around before the wrt-54gl was ever released. as the wrt54g was linux based, they had an obligation to release the source code as the GPL stipulates. this can all be found on the wiki page for the wrt54g.
then again, if other manufacturer can get their OS why bother and develop it yourself? While not sell a clone cheaper because you don't have to get you development cost back?...
I know it sucks and i wish they didn't compete like this but until people realize the power it gives to consumers to buy opensource, we're pretty much screwed to follow the cattle-Poders ... :(
As for being lucky and finding GPL code and forcing them to release the firmware (which would be double-dishonest of them if it was the case...) you can try running "strings" on linux on the .bin file for the firmware upgrade... you can gather lots of easy to read information there :)
for example, i found this:
Copyright (C) 1998, Thomas G. Lane
6b 27-Mar-1998
That can be traced back to http://xstandard.com/A4372B00-8D7F-4166-977C-64E5C4E3708E/license-ijg.txt
which is basically a public domain license...
I also found a line saying "Microsoft Corporatio" (without the n) and many references to C++, making us think that we may know how it's developed.
Therefore, we know the CPU and the compiler, it can help to write a firmware decompiler (Too much for my capacities though ;)
Some other quotes include:
ZCopyright MGC 2006 - v. 1.15
Photoshop 3.0
ear, nose and throat department
Some that seems related to a DRM scheme:
RFC2630
aes128cbc
MaDRM_{6FAFCD03-A7EF-451c-8137-A68741C9B491}
XDRMINFO.SYS
etc...
It's really in Cowon's best interest to release the D2's source code. They're not making money off the OS, and having various alternatives to choose from (such as Rockbox) can only help sell the player.
They'll also need to provide info on how to recover a bricked D2. I'm almost certain it's just software. They probably plug a dead D2 into a computer, run the software and it forces the firmware onto the player. Just a guess, but that's how I'd design it [smile]
Here's hoping we get a Rockbox firmware someday!
I too, would love to see some sort of customized firmware for this unit. I think many products especially entertainment type devices should offer multiple forms of firmware and be more open about the internal software where possible; To many of us it's half the product, just as important as the plastic, metal, PCB, and whatever else is inside.
Rockbox on D2 would be a miracle. Why? Because the producer of the SoC of Cowon D2 (Telechips) is reluctant to give any info on the hardware of their production. And by reluctance I mean they never help in any way.
Without such help the rockboxers are actually unable to anything. Remember the Sansa E200 port? Only thanks to the help of the hardware producer they were able to write it. So without Telechips' help the D2 Rockbox won't appaer and since Telechips is sune not to help ...
No they did not. The ONLY source code linksys released is for ONLY ONE model of their routers: WRT54GL (L for linux). Only one, and nothing else. But the DD-WRT is not based on this one released source. Creator of DD-WRT decrypted Linksys firmwares:
(from: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/index.php )
Cases where manufacturers of devices release their sources are very rare.
As you can see from http://www.linksys.com/gpl/ There are many Linksys devices based around Linux (or at least GPL'ed software)... not just the WRT54GL. Linksys at first did not comply with the GPL license (back in 2003, as seen here on Slashdot (http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/03/06/08/1749217.shtml?tid=117&tid=137&tid=193&tid=99)) But they willing released the code which allowed for the reverse-engineering.
Well after hearing about the D2 imitation coming out of China, it makes clear sense why a company wouldn't release the source code. Although they've ripped the user interface and various physical characteristics, their software will still probably be nowhere near as good as Cowon's.
Well, yes... However, your arguement is flawed. Just because it looks like a D2 does not make it a D2. The company copying couldn't just download the source code and drop it onto their product. The code is very specific to the platform. (and if they're using the same platform, then the two units will be close in price.)
but, in theory, they could use the source and alter it to be more compatible with their components...and basically have all the ground work done and paid for by cowon.
[QUOTE=Diam0nd;126171]No they did not. The ONLY source code linksys released is for ONLY ONE model of their routers: WRT54GL (L for linux). Only one, and nothing else. But the DD-WRT is not based on this one released source. Creator of DD-WRT decrypted Linksys firmwares:
Nope Diam0nd ... I use a wrt54G since their first ones, and I can assure you that linksys released their source code YEARS before they got smart and relaunched their router with a bigger price and the Wrt54g"L" version.
From their original wrt54G V1.0 onwards, you got the official linksys code. From there lots of people forked different versions of firmware.
Problem started with the guys at sveasoft, which they did not honour the open source rule, and stated selling an augmented capabilities version of firmware for the wrt54g ... IF you paid, you got the open source. THIS FORK was the one that the guys from dd-wrt got. Sveasoft guys started protecting their code in order for no one to grab it. etc.
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_CASupport_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1169671246380&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper&lid=4638037401B01#WRT54G
I hope that the link I post here works. it is the download center for the gpl source code for LOADS of linksys hardware. In there you can see that companies actually POST their code, and as linksys, do so since their beginnings. I am sorry that you had such a negative, partial image of linksys. I am quite happy with my router and its software availability THANKS to their GPL & sourcecode policies.
james.miller
05-25-2007, 07:30
anbody else want to say what ive already said back up there ^^^ ?
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