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I got my moto g power 5G 2024 today, and I set it up offline, no SIM card, or WiFi setup, and I already unlocked the bootloader.

The instructions are on XDA Forums, there’s’ a link somewhere on this site I think.

According to Treble Info, the moto g power 5G 2024 supports GSI, if anybody is wondering. Not like you’ll find this site if searching for that, I couldn’t find shit about GSI for it.

Goodbye warranty. Not that I give a shit.

You can find the firmware here. Or use their shitty Windows program, I can’t though. Probably doesn’t work in Wine.

In the process of rooting it, first I have to download firmware, to get the boot.img.

Can I only use Android 14 ROMS if I don’t update to 15? Hmm, guess I’ll download the newest firmware too.

Haven’t used it enough to know how much slower it is then the iPhone 15, if I care, I wouldn’t have bought a $150 phone.

LOL says to use SP Flash Tool to flash firmware, mtkclient doesn’t work, so I doubt SP Flash Tool does. Get a boot loop. Had to unplug phone, and hold power button down or something.

Which zip file has that DA file? And the moto g power 5G 2024 probably uses a different DA file.

Maybe the firmware file. Slow download speed. My SP Flash folder doesn’t have any DA files. mtkclient is better, not sure SP Flash even works for me, without doing even more work. Might on my desktop, but I mostly use laptop now, even though it has issues.

Not in firmware file, at least not the old version.

Wrong version of SP Flash “SP_Flash_Tool_v6.2228_Linux”, where the fuck did I get that? Cause it isn’t here.

LOL, might explain why it doesn’t work, and might be malware. Got it from the site with an s at the end, most likely.

“error while loading shared libraries: libpng12.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such fil
e or directory”

It doesn’t work either, cause I have no libpng12. Version not available in Ubuntu 24.04. Might have to use my old Ubuntu Distrobox.

Don’t follow old info to install an old deb file of it, doesn’t work. Trying the compile instructions now.

Maybe this will work, same CPU.

If not, I’ll have to use a script to flash the official firmware, as long as it doesn’t run any lock or unlock commands, it might be safe. But if it doesn’t boot, I’ll have a hard time fixing it.

Now redownloading V6 of SP Flash, apparently that version is needed.

DaHandler - Device is protected.
DaHandler - Device is in Preloader-Mode.
DAXML - Uploading xflash stage 1 from DA_BR.bin
DAXML - Successfully uploaded stage 1, jumping ..
Preloader - Jumping to 0x2000000
Preloader - Jumping to 0x2000000: ok.
DAXML - Stage 1 successfully loaded.
DAXML - Uploading stage 2...
Progress: |██████████| 100.0% Written (0x2A5/0x2A5, ) 6.39 MB/s
DAXML - Successfully uploaded stage 2.
DAXML - Successfully uploaded stage 2
DAXML - SLA is disabled
DAXML
DAXML - [LIB]: DA XML Extensions failed.

Good luck.

DaHandler - Device is protected.
DaHandler - Device is in Preloader-Mode.
DAXML - Uploading xflash stage 1 from DA_BR.bin
DAXML - Successfully uploaded stage 1, jumping ..
Preloader - Jumping to 0x2000000
Preloader - Jumping to 0x2000000: ok.
DAXML - Stage 1 successfully loaded.
DAXML - Uploading stage 2...
Progress: |██████████| 100.0% Written (0x2A5/0x2A5, ) 7.15 MB/s
DAXML - Successfully uploaded stage 2.
DAXML - Successfully uploaded stage 2
DAXML - SLA is disabled
DAXML
DAXML - [LIB]: DA XML Extensions failed.
Dumping sector 0 with flash size 0x400000 as boot1.bin.

Doesn’t work either, that file doesn’t exist. I tried two different preloader files. Hmm, didn’t try the old one from the old firmware, didn’t even extract that I don’t think.

Failed to dump sector 0 with flash size 0x400000 as boot1.bin.

File from old firmware doesn’t work either, does img need to be converted to bin somehow? According to XDA Forums, no, they are the same thing, with a different extension.

MT6855V/AZA

Maybe that’s why it doesn’t work.

And this script might still work, waiting for it to finish booting.

No way to backup phone apparently with mtkclient or SP Flash Tool, unless you can get the right files. Almost done booting. Put the latest firmware from here on it.

(bootloader) Preflash validation failed

So it can’t be rooted?

Checking if OEM Unlock is still on in settings, I tried unlocking it with fastboot again, and said it’s already unlocked.

Says it’s already unlocked in Developer Settings.

Oops, downloaded a pre release, there’s a bug report here. Trying version 27 now.

Nope, that’s broken too.

But update the firmware as Android 15 is faster, then 14 that it comes with.

Trying this now. “A-only device” well, not trying after reading that, LOL. Somebody said to use that, my phone is AB.

Why the fuck do you have to use an ARM64 device to install? Not on my desk. Maybe just push the apk and install that way.

Rooting may be the last thing I do, if it works. Then off to bed. Don’t want my sleep messed up anymore.

Still doesn’t work with version 27. Lots of rebooting too, while reinstalling it.

fastboot flash vbmeta --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta.img

Maybe that’ll fix it. LOL, downloaded the wrong 27 too. So I might not have needed to do that. Going to reflash that with enable instead. You have to reset it when doing that too.

Don’t bother, I think if you unlock bootloader, it already did that. So probably was already disabled, LOL.

fastboot flash vbmeta --enable-verification vbmeta.img

Maybe you can do that.

And it finally flashed without an error. No idea if the vmeta was needed, or just the right 27 version.

And another reboot. Maybe I can get the GSI /e/OS installed.

And you might want to extract the archive on your computer first. This phone takes a long time to extract it.

Finally rebooting, to try and boot /e/OS.

It’s booting, slowly.

How do I get root with GSI /e/OS? There’s just one img file in the archive, no boot.img. Didn’t inspect the image file though.

Maybe that adb command works. No adb command, might be in Developer Options though, see here.

Rebooting to see if it worked. And if you run adb reboot, it will reboot into stock ROM, open the DSI Sideloader, and tap reboot to GSI or whatever it said.

Need to go to bed though. Don’t need to stay up till 1 AM.

And the Magisk might work now, makes you reboot. Might reboot into stock ROM though,

If you know the “dynamic_system” partition, you can use adb shell “reboot dynamic_system” to reboot into it. See here. Too lazy to try and figure out which partition it is. Or maybe I should run the other command while /e/OS is booted, or better run mount.

Maybe eSIM only works if you have GApps, lame.

WiFi works, I copied a text file to phone, then copied and pasted the long random password.

Well, look up eSIM real quick, then off to bed.

But by default, your notes, are stored on iCloud. And this script, may not work if everything is in a shitty iCloud folder. I got the needed file by using idevicebackup2.

Well, I may do without my notes, as you apparently can’t make a local folder in the shitty Notes app. Only if you disable iCloud.

There is an app that syncs iCloud notes with Linux, no idea if it works anymore. But what format are the synced notes? I’m not doing any work to convert them.

I just want a bunch of text files, or some other format, that doesn’t require more then a text editor to view.

Won’t turn Mac mini on to use some app either. Even though I do need a script from it. I need to look for a Time Machine backup extractor for Linux. Then I don’t need to turn it on. TIme Machine backs up to my desktop and an external drive. No need to even plug the external drive in. Also, that drive is backed up to my desktop too, well not the Time Machine partition.

Depending on the macOS version, it has built in spyware. Or maybe all macOS versions do. No thanks. Too lazy to block it from the internet. And what’s stopping it from changing it’s MAC address? And if you only allow certain MAC addresses to the internet, what’s stopping it from changing to one of those allowed devices? It can scan the network and find other Mac addresses. Maybe put it in it’s own VLAN, and hope it doesn’t break through the VLAN. Too much work, and too much risk.

If you want access to it over your network, the safest option is to unplug your internet. But what’s stopping the Mac from installing spyware to your other devices?

You could copy what you need to a USB drive, but what’s stopping macOS from installing spyware to the USB drive and infecting Linux when you plug it in?

Tinfoil might stop it. Cover your drive in tinfoil. Maybe your head too.

You probably shouldn’t have a phone or anything else that stores data. Not even a piece of paper.

A locked bootloader won’t prevent somebody from getting your data. Even if the data is encrypted. Might be harder to access and/or take longer.

Might not even be able to access it until sometime after you’re dead. But if they keep the data, eventually, they will be able to access it.

Even if a Quantum computer can’t, what’s after Quantum computers?

Also, the government most likely has secret tech, or the military. Just watch Skinwalker Ranch. If you don’t believe in Aliens, that means humans have very advance tech.

No an iPhone won’t save your data from dicktators either.

Tech was clearly made for mass surveillance.

WiFi can be used to spy on people too, convert it to images, and you can see people walking by a store or whatever. The way WiFi currently works, allows somebody to exploit it, and collect data, that can be converted into images.

I’m too lazy to find the WiFi spying article. Read it on my phone.

And no, you don’t need a WiFi device on you. There just needs to be other WiFi devices on the network that you walk by.

You’re screwed if you live in an apartment, I doubt getting rid of your own WiFi would do any good. Your neighbors, can generate images of you in your apartment, see you taking a shit, or shower.

Maybe if you pad the walls & ceilings & floors in tinfoil, no WiFi signals will get through.

That might be the best solution, if you want a cheap 5G phone. Motorola phones are on sale, the moto g power 5G 2024 is $150. No idea if GSI ROMs work on it.

But it can be rooted apparently. So you can block the Google crap, and maybe remove as much of it as you can.

iOS isn’t a great option, unless you can jailbreak what you have, as you’d need root to have a chance of blocking Apple’s shit from the internet, Apple can and probably does bypass VPN firewalls.

I should have never trusted anything that sends data back to anyone. Apple makes you pay a lot for their phones and Macs, and they still collect a massive amount of data from you. Seeing how they completely kiss Trump’s ass, that’s a massive rip off.

Don’t believe Apple’s lies, that they believe in privacy. They used to believe in protecting the environment, but their boss Trump, says global warming is a hoax.

If I live long enough, 5G won’t be a thing anymore, if there’s even any cell towers. And all the new phones will be locked down junk. But I probably won’t have any money either, so I really won’t give a shit if I have a phone or internet.

If GSI ROMs work on it, you could try porting Ubuntu Touch to it maybe. Too much work for me. Not even sure what kernel it’s compatible with, I think my Rabbit r1 uses a 4.x kernel, and the moto g 5G power 2024 might use a 5.x kernel.

You could put non open source apps in the Shelter profile, if you plan on using or trying to use any. Some may require you to do crap, if you are rooted, and don’t have GApps. And some might not work at all without GApps. I don’t care enough about apps, if they don’t work, so I won’t do anything to try and get it to work. I might try hiding root if needed from the Ultra Mobile app, just so I can get an eSIM. Or try to get an eSIM.

If I can’t use the Ultra Mobile app, I’ll just request my port info, and port it somewhere. I think Tello gives you the eSIM without using the app. Maybe even when changing the eSIM or getting a new one. Ultra Mobile might not have required the app when signing up to get an eSIM, but apparently does if you want to change it. You could try calling them, but too much work for me. If I have to call them, I’ll be asking for my porting info. If they ask why, perhaps I’ll say “you suck”.

Ultra Mobile app might just say the phone isn’t compatible. And if they make it a pain in the ass to get an eSIM, goodbye Ultra Mobile it will be. The phone clearly said it has eSIM when I bought it. So it should. And if it doesn’t work in /e/OS, then I’ll look for a different ROM. Assuming any GSI ROM will work on it.

Yes /e/OS can be rooted, at least the community version can be. Unless that was old info I found. Said there’s two ways, one you might be able to run some adb command, and the other is a more traditional way, with Magisk. Don’t use the wrong Magisk site, you might be in for a bad time if you do.

If you really want a new battery for the LG G Watch W100, try searching for “CS-LGW110SH”, and you might have better luck finding a replacement battery.

One site, that may or may not ship from the US, wants over $40 for it. That’s after the $5 shipping charge, and would take a while to get here.

If you plan on using Gadgetbridge, you can find the known supported watches here. Ones that use the Da Fit app, can be cheap.

The model R50Pro, multiple brands sell a watch with that model, and it uses Da Fit, and is listed, well with a space so R50 Pro. It can be had for under $20 on Amazon. You could get any Da Fit watch, and test your luck. All the R50Pro watches, are probably the exact same watch. So I’d buy the cheapest one you can find, until you give up looking for the cheapest one. The IOWODO one is under $20, don’t know if any of the other R50Pro ones are cheaper.

eBay should have it too, but might not be as cheap, unless you don’t have prime or know somebody with prime.

If not in the US, the battery for the LG G Watch W100 can possibly be had for cheaper. I think it’s around $20 from Canada. The tariffs from the corrupt government make it not worth buying from outside the country.

There’s some other site with the battery, but one site with reviews of places, they have two bad reviews. Didn’t feel like researching anymore then that. They are in the US too. And still more then a Chinese smart watch.

I’d get an Amazfit watch, probably a Chinese brand, but I don’t want to spend over $70 right now. I have an old one, but probably needs a new battery, and don’t know where the charger is. Might not be as easy to replace the battery on that as the LG either, if you can at all. Also, under $20 for the other watch, is probably cheaper then battery + charger + tools.

Maybe it’ll last at least a year.

Somebody on Reddit, said the battery in there Amazfit was still good after two years. Makes sense, they cost more then the cheapo Chinese watches.

Amazfit was most likely my first smart watch, but using with iOS sucks. That could get better in the near future. But I should have stayed with Android, and used custom ROMs. With most if not all Google crap removed. Whatever Google crap is left, can be blocked with a firewall.

And I probably could have got a good Ubuntu Touch phone when I bought the iPhone 15 I have. Might have been cheaper too. Or if I waited and saved enough money for a phone, I could have got a good Fairphone.

You are way more limited on watches, if you use Ubuntu Touch or any other Linux on your phone though. Unless you know how/want to, get other watches working with say Amazfish. Looking at the code for Gadgetbridge, could help speed the process up. But if I had a 5G Ubuntu Touch phone, I would probably just spend over $40 on the battery for my LG G Watch W100, and maybe not use the current latest Ubuntu Touch. Cause it needs to be rebuilt last time I looked, so good luck using any watch with the latest version, unless you know how to rebuild it. I could probably rebuild it and get Amazfish working, but I’m incredibly lazy, and would rather get it from the store.

Obviously I put AsteroidOS on my LG G Watch W100, the only reason I bought it. If I knew finding the right battery from a US seller, would be such a pain, I would have got a different watch. I think one of the supported ASUS watches might be a better buy if in the US for AsteroidOS. But look for batteries first, and make sure it’s your skill level to replace it. I won’t attempt if it doesn’t have screws. Probably lose water proofing, and too much of a pain in the ass.

First the rubber thing that keeps the other band from flapping around ripped.

Just noticed when putting it back on after charging, one side of the band ripped off from the rest of it, from where it inserts to that side on the watch.

I assume it ripped, I suppose an animal could have chewed on it, but I doubt it.

I wonder how long it’s been like that as well. Might have been wearing it all day like that.

I might not look for an old band, like the one it came with. Getting a new phone that isn’t compatible with it anyways. Won’t be buying a new band either.

That was a waste of $19. The cheaper bands probably last longer.

Probably shouldn’t have bought the LG Watch I bought either, as Android can be used with cheap Amazfit watches. It can be used with the LG Watch as well, even with AsteroidOS on it. But it needs a new battery. So I need either a battery, or a different watch.

And that’s assuming I get the right Amazfit, that will work with Amazfish, or I could try using their app, but I probably wouldn’t let the app go online. Also, won’t be using the stock ROM on my phone most likely. There’s a GSI build of /e/OS, I will probably try.

Hmm Amazfish isn’t on F-Droid. Oh it might only be for Linux, like Ubuntu Touch. Well, maybe don’t bother with Amazfit then.

A battery would be cheaper then a new watch. Just need one that comes with the tools, don’t have the spudger thing, if I do, no idea where it is. Not sure I have a screwdriver small enough either.

There’s Gadgetbridge for Android. Looks like it does AsteroidOS. Supports a bunch of Amazfit watches too. Including the newest Bip, Bip 6. And you have to pair with the shitty vendor app first. Probably not worth it. Might need to phone home.

Damn, that app doesn’t support my Bose headphones. I was looking for an app, pretty sure I put Android in the search, and the app was mentioned on Reddit five years ago, and is still a beta for iOS. Looks like AI is incredibly stupid. Doesn’t know the difference between Android and iOS, or just shows very outdated info. Cause I can’t find any Android app with that name.

If you don’t have a watch, or need a new one, for Android, just get a Bangle.js or wait till you can get a Pebble. And the same might apply to a Linux phone as well. But getting a new 5G Linux phone, is expensive in the US.

Does the BL-S2 battery even work with the LG G Watch W100? Less capacity then the BL-S1, and I think the original battery is S1. Rather have the same capacity. And no sellers with battery + tools in the US on eBay.

LOL, search engine is useless, links to shit on Amazon that’s no longer available.

Well, maybe I shouldn’t have bought this watch, living in the US anyways.

Canada has a compatible battery, but that means tariffs, and there’s apparently a national strike from postal workers.

batteryclerk.com has the smaller capacity one, but cheaper on eBay. Might be worth it, if it had the tools too. But still kind of lame, probably won’t last as long as the same capacity if it was new. Might last longer then the old battery in it though. And look at the bad reviews. Make sure you research any site you order from before buying, if they have bad reviews on their own site, well yeah probably avoid them.

And somebody said it wasn’t the right battery, but for which watch? It says more then one watch. So maybe BL-S2 won’t work for W100, or maybe it will, who knows.

And those reviews are 100% useless. Didn’t know that battery would work in a APC UPS. Better off looking at feedback for a battery on eBay, and seeing if somebody mentions the W100 for that battery.

And that site repairs stuff, doesn’t sell smartwatch batteries. I thought AI was going to solve every problem in the world?

Well, it looks like, according to that search engine, there’s no good place to buy smartwatch batteries. Ahh well, I guess no watch it is, or a possibly dying on me watch if I use the one I have.

LOL, on my other search, for the battery, not where to buy smartwatch batteries, the site I clicked is some lame ass forum. Just says the battery info, not where to buy it. Probably nobody uses that forum. And the post is from 2014. Are they selling it? Do they still have it?

You can find the battery on Amazon, without tools, and right capacity, or about right, but probably ships from Hong Kong. No thanks on giving a corrupt government money.

Well, it’s the worst watch to buy in the US for AsteroidOS, if you want a replacement battery with the same capacity. The only option, may be to replace the cells in the existing battery pack. Or pay high tariffs.

Not sure I care enough to buy a lower capacity battery, that comes with no tools. Too lazy to look for tools to order separately.

And no ifixit doesn’t have the battery, maybe in the past they did.

7pcs Screwdriver Set 7in1 Repair Kit Opening Battery Tools for GPS,Kindle,Garmin

Does that come with the spudger thingy? Says Garmin, and they make watches, I think. And Kindle probably needs a spudger thingy. The description doesn’t say. One thing in photo might be it. Too lazy to look on ifixit, and their spudger might look different anyways.

And it’s around $10. They have the lower capacity battery too, so they might ship together. But not sure I want to spend around $10 on the tools. I’d like a bundle, so I think I’m getting a good deal, even if it’s $10 more.

Hmm, that might make this a $60 watch. Maybe I should put the watch on eBay, sold as is, with AsteroidOS, and say it needs a new battery. Start bidding @ $1.

They also say to open the watch, and get the battery info. Well, I know it’s a higher capacity. I checked in AsteroidOS, and I think dmesg, said so. In that case, maybe it only works for some W100 watches, bummer.

I don’t want to order tools, wait for tools, open watch, then order battery or not. Too much waiting. And since the capacity doesn’t match, waste of $10.

Well I give up trying to find it, don’t bother putting US in your search, it shows eBay UK.

At least not an unlocked phone, and/or if you don’t go to the store. And if it’s a year old model, maybe really don’t bother.

All the phones must be in the back, didn’t see any glass things with the phones locked up. Also, didn’t even see anything anywhere about the phone their site says. Didn’t want to stay there longer, just to find out they don’t actually have it.

Them going to the back of the store, and looking for it, will take longer then just opening a glass thing. And then you really have to pay attention to what they give you as well.

Easier to order the phone from Motorola. You could order on Best Buy’s site for delivery, but you might get a return more likely then Motorola. You could test your luck with a pickup, they’ll just cancel and refund if they don’t have it, in other words, a waste of time.

Oh and they don’t have any Minecraft games for the original Nintendo Switch apparently at the store either. I didn’t want that, but who I was with did.

If I ever buy a phone again, I won’t bother with Best Buy.

We should have just went to GameStop for the game, or nowhere, if they didn’t want it bad enough to go there. If they still want to buy it, they will probably buy online.

If you buy from Motorola, it might only take 1-2 days to get it anyways. No having to waste time going to Best Buy, and finding out they don’t actually have it.

With a year old android phone model, you shouldn’t need internet to even install stuff. All you need is to know where to get apks, and how to send it to the phone using adb. It can have internet, after I change the ROM, or get a firewall and remove as much Google crap as I can. It can be rooted I think, so I can use a root firewall, which will work better then a VPN firewall.

Hmm, probably won’t ever buy a new phone, as by the time I would need one, they’d all have a newer Android, and permanently locked bootloaders. Well, maybe not a cheapo/no name brand. You probably won’t find that at Best Buy, and maybe not even in the US by that time. That’ll be expensive, who knows how high the tariffs will be then. No phone will be better then paying money to a corrupt government anyways.

I think it’s just the Amazon, Verizon, and AT&T Motorola phones you can’t unlock the bootloader on.

Was thinking about getting a Motorola phone from Best Buy, but maybe not if I have to wait a week to unlock the bootloader. It also has to be connected to the internet, so that’s a week of data collection.

Want eSIM, and those cheapo/no name phones, might suck for custom ROMs. Apparently Qualcomm® is better for GSI roms.

See here and here. Still the case in 2025 for a 2024 unlocked phone? Well, screw Motorola then.

Is BLU a no name brand? I heard about them a really long time ago. But they might have no 5G phones with a Qualcomm® processor.

Well, you could keep stock ROM, and root it, and remove and/or disable all the spying crap. Easier to use a GSI with no gApps, or with the micro thing.

MediaTek might be easy to root. And you might be able to back phone up with mtkclient. If it doesn’t work with mtkclient, it might not be easy to root. Well, one of their best phones is only $180, the Motorola I’d want is $200. Maybe I should just root it and remove/disable stuff. I refuse to wait a week. Might need to be logged into a Google account too. Can you even set it up without doing that?

MediaTek can have all kinds of issues with GSI roms, like no internet, and a bunch of other things. I forgot what MediaTek CPU my Rabbit r1 has, but if it’s the same, as the BLU Bold K50 5G perhaps Ubuntu Touch could be ported to it. Not by me though, too much work.

Oh wait, probably no eSIM. Don’t want to pay $10 for a SIM card, nor port my number.

According to this, no eSIM, but two regular SIM slots.

According to this, only two of their phones support eSIM, are either 5G? Think that site is lying, or talking about an eSIM adapter. According to some spec site, neither of those have eSIM, and the G61S has a Unisoc CPU. No idea how easy it is to root a Unisoc phone. Since I’ve only heard about those CPUs recently, maybe pretty easy. Since nobody uses them, probably full of security holes.

A possible work around was posted on Reddit 10 months ago, and somebody said it worked two months ago. The person from two months ago, said it worked with a 2023 model. So might not work. Don’t have the link, was using the crapper, so it’s on my phone.

But basically don’t connect it to internet. If it won’t let you get to settings without connecting to WiFi, unplug WiFi from internet, or if using VLANs, on the router, block the entire WiFi from internet. I’m lazy so I’ll unplug it from switch. If I have to connect to WiFi. Don’t put a SIM card in it until you unlock it either.

If you already connected it to the internet, it phoned home, but you might be able to connect to a different WiFi with no internet. Either setup a WiFi hotspot from something, or if using OpenWRT, you could try changing the SSID, and the MAC address. The MAC address for the WiFi, not Ethernet, I assume you can in OpenWRT.

You can change MAC address in Linux, so you should be able to. Just SSH into it, and do it manually if you have to.

So maybe I will get a Motorola phone, just remember to not connect to WiFi, if I do, unplug WiFi AP from switch.

But maybe don’t buy from Best Buy, they have a restocking fee if I return it. Does Walmart have a restocking fee? If so, might as well buy from Best Buy. And might as well not return it. It might be doing nothing for a week.

Also, you might have to use the US Motorola site to get unlock code. If it redirects you to a non US Motorola site, perhaps use a VPN.

Here is a forum post about unlocking Motorola phones.

I wonder if I have to use a non US site to unlock it, LOL.

I’d get the $150 Motorola, but it has a MediaTek CPU. GSI roms might have issues. Bummer, cause I’d save $50.

I don’t care about warranty, so I’ll risk it. And if it has a problem, I won’t buy Motorola again.

And they do it to prevent “theft”. If not connecting to internet works, all the thief has to do, is not connect it to internet. Sounds more like a dick move.

Hmm, might not be able to enter “brom” mode, on the MediaTek CPU Motorola phones. Also it has “Dimensity” not Hello, so mtkclient might not work at all.

The old MediaTek ones can run GSI and TWRP for flashing GSI. But you have to downgrade firmware, as Motorola is a massive dick, and disabled bootloader unlocking on them.

What about the moto g power 5G 2024? If you search for GSI roms for that phone, you’ll find nothing. I’d save $50, if the moto g power 5G 2024 will work. It has 8 GB of RAM too, and I don’t care about the CPU performance. But newer MediaTek are in the same ball park as Qualcomm® anyways.

LOL, the phone I originally wanted, for $130, the moto g 5G 2024, this site says it has the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 CPU. Motorola’s site says otherwise.

Dumbass AI search, says to read documentation on mtkclient, if it supports the MediaTek Dimensity 7020. Good luck finding any documentation on supported CPUs. I’ll search the issues then. I have no idea what MTXXXX it is, maybe MT7020?

Nothing if you search for 7020 on issues.

And why do I need Windows drivers to unlock it? I can use mtkclient with the Rabbit r1, with no drivers, thanks to Linux. i can’t even install those Windows drivers. Guess everybody still uses Windows, even though it’s spyware.

Nice site, it refreshed itself. I should disable auto refreshing somehow, not the first shitty site to do so.

Probably the same way you unlock the bootloader on other Motorola phones. Unless it’s Verizon or AT&T, and that might include their MVNOs.

Might be too much of a risk to buy the power. No idea if bootloader can be unlocked, and rooted, and/or GSI works.

LOL, this is Windows only, and uses Python, but might not work for newer chips. Just use mtkclient, in any OS.

No, such free tools cannot bypass the newer security protocol found on recent chipsets like your Dimensity 6300.

From here. So no mtkclient might not work with the power 2024. Or at least the unlock bootloader doesn’t work.

Oh paid tools. Name of them? And how much do they cost? And do they work in Linux? Haha.

Well, guess I need to search for “MediaTek paid tools” or something.

LOL, good luck finding what they speak of, one link on one side, has something that they said is shady…

This person uses something I think somebody said was shady. LOL. Well, that’s just a driver for Windows, still might be shady. No idea what the paid tool they use is.

Still looking at thread, to see if they say the name of tool.

Searching for “MediaTek bootloader unlock tools” now. AI said “Bugjaeger” is one.

You need the Google Play Store to get the paid version. No thanks.

There’s an iOS app, but can it unlock the bootloader without a code? Might cost $40 though.

Doesn’t look like it’s for unlocking bootloaders, no idea why the AI mentioned it.

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Not all links on Github are safe.

LOL, to find chipset, you need the phone, and an app. I need to know, before I buy it though.

The specs site says the chipset is “Mediatek Dimensity 7020”, so it’s not MTXXXX?

MediaTek Dimensity 7020 (MT6855)

From a forum, so I was right it’s MTXXX. That spec site is a liar.

So mtkclient doesn’t work. They need some special file to use the other program.

Better spec site. Says the MTXXXX under type.

Hmm “auth_sv5.auth” how did they get the auth file for their phone? The boothole is patched with MT6855.

Just search for that on a search engine. XDA has one. And there’s a forum post with ones for Meizu. None of them may work though. And the “auth_sv5.auth” is probably the same file the forum links to.

More flash tools. LOL, they don’t mention mtkclient, fucking Windows fan people.

“NCK Pro Box” site is broken, if that was the right site. And Windows only.

The models for the 2024 power is XT2415-x XT2415V, from here.

Here is the tool from some link somewhere above, screenshot looks the same. Doesn’t support the 2024 power though.

All the paid tools appear to be Windows, might not work in VM. Bummer.

Probably getting the power 2024, there’s root instructions on XDA for it. Compiling TWRP might be possible as well. There’s a link to a device tree for it. No idea why no compiled version. If there’s no way to reboot it if it’s frozen, I won’t bother with TWRP.

If I get $100 for my Apple Watch, the phone will only cost $50 + tax. Hopefully Best Buy has it. Don’t want to wait. You unlock it the regular way, unless you can find a tool with an exploit for it.

Didn’t work in a root Distrobox in Fedora Kinoite.

Only had to compile two things in openSUSE, libirecovery and libimobiledevice-glue. Everything else can be installed with zypper.

And I had to make a udev rule. I was too lazy to get it work as root, couldn’t open DISPLAY or something.

But the only blob it saved was from 26.0.1 or something. I’m still on iOS 18.7 or something. Should have been saving those blobs since I got the phone apparently.

Was using SideStore, with my main Apple Account. They say to use a burner account.

Are VPNs still broken in iOS? Most likely. Just like I thought, Apple’s own shit can bypass the VPN, so using a VPN to block shit, won’t work with iOS.

Best to get a hotspot of some kind, with OpenWRT, and block Apple’s shit on there. Don’t use a SIM card on the iPhone.

/e/OS can be put on a Motorola – moto g 5G 2024. But you might have to buy it from Motorola. Also, might take over a week to unlock the bootloader. Somebody said it took over a week to get the code.

Don’t know what other newer 5G phones work with a custom ROM like /e/OS. That’s one of then newest phones supported by /e/OS.

Won’t buy a Pixel. Too expensive, and not giving Google money.

The OnePlus Nord N30 5G might work, but not for /e/OS, and over $200. The Moto is cheaper.

Sideloading is mostly pointless, unless you are into piracy. The only stuff I want requires root.

If you search for “bootloader” on the reviews on Amazon for the Moto phone, they couldn’t unlock the one bought from Amazon. I assume Best Buy is the same way. Guess you do have to buy from Motorola. Somebody said that on Reddit too, I forgot how old the post was.

So good luck getting the phone the same day, if you want to unlock the bootloader. That is cheaper then a hotspot.

Too bad the TCL Flip 4 5G can only be bought locked. No need to put a different Android on that. I wouldn’t use any of the internet crap most likely. Unless I used the hotspot.

Hmm Motorola says their sale ended on October 3rd.

Also, the Moto phone is the same price currently from Best Buy, Amazon, and Motorola. Yet, you can only unlock the bootloader on the one from Motorola apparently. Makes zero sense.

Interesting, somebody bought it from Walmart, and was able to unlock the bootloader. So maybe it is Amazon only.

The carrier locked version can be had for $40. And the Walmart iOS app sucks, it’s slow. Somebody claims it wasn’t unlocked from Walmart. Walmart’s site won’t let me enter the correct zip code in LibreWolf, so I had to use my phone to see if they had it. But probably not worth the risk. Also, you might have to go into the store to buy from Walmart.

Not worth the risk buying from Best Buy, there’s apparently a restocking fee if you return it. And nobody mentions anything about the bootloader, at least with no space between boot and loader.

Maybe don’t waste money on a Motorola phone, if you somehow relock the bootloader, good luck fixing it. Older phone, but might apply to all Motorola phones.

Too bad there isn’t any info on some 5G BLU phone on XDA. Did I already try searching? BLU is cheaper. And I really don’t give a shit how bad the phone is.

The BLU F5 is only $100.

Right, I can’t search on XDA Forums, there is no search on the top, at least in LibreWolf.

Well, BLU might be useless, no ROMS for the F5.

I prefer no unlock code needed.

TCL 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G seems cheap for what you get, no idea if you flash it with something else though. I want the display mostly. I’ll put it in Max INK mode 24/7. Some of their TVs are fine.

Must be too new, bummer.

Even the older ones have no custom ROMS. Well that sucks.

LOL, search for oppo 5G on Amazon, find none, search search engine, and it finds something on Amazon. Good job with your broken search Amazon.

Well, oppo must not sell much in the US anymore. Too expensive.

What about UMIDIGI? Cheap. Wow, the official site, might have info on ROMS, rooting, ETC. Sounds like a winner, for a budget brand. Screw Motorola. Well, nothing in the forum for the UMIDIGI G9 5G. Just the official firmware and the tool to flash it.

Their damn forum, doesn’t have all models. Go to user development forum, not ROM. But no recent posts. Damn.

Maybe this will help. Old post, might be outdated info. Also, I don’t want gapps.

UMIDIGI might not work very well in the US. T-Mobile allows some of their stuff, but apparently not all. Bummer.

Wonder which ones work. And wonder what ROM I can put on it. Might be cheaper on eBay, can order myself in that case. Nice. And screw Motorola.

The UMIDIGI F3 5G might work, and only $100. Need to find ROMs for it before I pay $100 though.

Also need to go to bed.

Need the Treble Check app, but not buying it without knowing. Oh well.