wolficestorm
Lurker
For those that are like me and what to use their android phone (or other device) as a wireless hot spot but only have ad hoc support (thanks Motorola for making the crap-tastic XT300 aka spice), and want to be able to get online with the Zenithink zt180 then i hope this is going to help you. ~edit~: for anyone wondering? yes you CAN use a usb mouse in the port of the tablet!Before you attempt any of this, please note: i have tried this on my zenithink 7" 2gig (with 256mb Ram @ 1.0Ghz Processor). The model says ZT180 0n mine. The instructions and hints are what i have already done, and i assume no liability to what can happen to your tablet, more so if you wish to try this on another model. More so, i am using barnicle on my rooted Motorola XT300, but i am guessing what is listen below will work on any ad-hoc.
FIRMWARE UPDATE
The first thing you want to do before we go any further (if you do not want AD-HOC support see below on how to root properly), is we need to flash the firmware. When i got my tablet (current as of this writing) a week ago, it came with version end.root.20110301, and kernel version root@android #3601. The G-sensor was horrible, the response time even worse. But with this update i can say the G sensor is by far quicker + i did notice in settings> there is now something for joy stick control. Lets get you started!
First you need the zt update zip file (15mb) which you have a choice to download it from
zt-update.zip or MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
or even http://hotfile.com/dl/120952725/5…e.zip.html
Once you have this downloaded, unzip the file (i used 7zip myself as it was open source and utterly free, and a linux cross over..might as well go all the way
) Now when you unzip it, open the folder. You will see another folder called ZT-UPDATE move this somewhere where it is easy to work with lets say the desktop. From here on out the folder i am make reference to is the one you just moved.Second, you will need the system.tar.bz file (128mb) when you download this from:
http://www.mediafire.com/download…an9abf52xd
or MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
or even https://rapidshare.com/files/3604…tem.tar.bz
(Do not unzip the system.tar.bz file, instead move it over to the folder of ZT Update you already have on your desktop)
Third, taking a blank SD card (or one with other files) move the complete ZT Update file onto the SD Card. Make sure your tablet is already turned off. Place the SD Card into the proper slot, then press the home (square button) and the power button. When it comes on it will ask you if you want to continue, press the home (square) button again and let it do it's thing. Make sure the tablet is plugged in, as if the battery dies you will brick the unit.
In Case you need better instructions (or Visuals) i found this: ‪How to Upadate Firmware of 7" UPad ZT-180 to 0603‬‏ - YouTube which is all the information i gave here,
PROPER ROOTING
If you are like me and wanted to find a proper way to root, or if you tried everything else on rooting this bad boy, then i have the answer (at long last) took alot of experimenting (and reinstalling the above firmware), but now i have say i have solved it all
What you need first is MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service this is the universalandroot 1.6.1 apk. myself i used this link ZT-180 Adhoc Switcher download for Android - Softpedia You can either move it along to the tablet via usb or via the tablet's internal sd card. (for those having issues? you need a 5 pin usb cord, the kind that used to come with alot of motorola phones, but now comes with book readers and is the more common plug, then take the other end, put into the port of a laptop, desktop) you need to make sure you swipe the tablet's screen from the top down, so as you see "USB", then clicking that you get a android with the right arm in the air and in the shape of a usb plug).
Once it is on the tablet, install and run it. This is where things get weird...really weird but so works....
Once you run this program, will see 3 options "Install SU" then "root" and "unroot". press the "install SU" menu and select "do not install SU" then click on unroot. (If you press 'root' it says it already is, and honestly doing things in any other order is going to ball you up bad!)
Now click on the 'install SU" menu and again select 'do not install su'. NOW click on root. For some reason it has built in super user privillages.
Once you are rooted, turn the tablet off and then back on again.
~BAM! you have ad-hoc AND are rooted but wait, as a added bonus to this *never* limited time offer, we through in a added bonus for you~
Before someone ask's what app's in the system are safe to remove, i have gone ahead and made notes of the ones i removed myself with no ill harm:
(I think it is called) VB Launcher
~Browser
~Car Home
~Email (NOT GMAIL!!!!! there is a difference)
~Facebook (never use it, why have it?)
~Google Search
~Google Translate
~MSN messenger (personally? i am a Yahoo kind of guy)
~News and Weather (Metro News app for me thanks)
~Quick Office (I have the full docs to go)
~Google Reader
~Skype
~Twitter (i am old fashion, i like face to face conversations of "what are you doing?")
EDIT:
Forgot to mention you could take out DEVtools and Spare parts as well, i have no idea why there are in there to begin with but i looked over them and there was really nothing in them that i could use.
I have attempted to remove Google Places, Google Maps, and Google Location....but could not find them anywhere.
~WARNING!!!! DO NOT i repeat DO NOT REMOVE GOOGLE TALK!!!! IF YOU REMOVE THIS, YOU WILL NOT -- REPEAT -- *WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD FROM MARKET*
~Seeing as you have ordered in such a timely manner we offer this bonus of a bonus gift...call now, googler's are waiting to take your call!!~
(ok, so the coffee has not kicked in and i wanted to add some humor, opps)
With all this talk of fooling around with the TX power (and learning last night the hard way, once you adjust it? you can NEVER undo it), there is hope and a temporary way to do it, PLUS you can turn your tablet into a wifi hotspot, yes you heard that right! This is where i went ZT-180 Adhoc Switcher - SlateDroid.com but honestly? seeing as i can now do everything off the phone why would i need this? maybe if i notice the unit not doing so well i will try it.
If this is alot of information to digest then m'bad
but for those that are like me that wanted to do things nice and easy and (programing) hassel free, or those that were unsure as they do not come from said programming background, then i hope this has helped you!