If there is anyone out there still following these comments, I've been able to work an exploit on the MovieBeam player which gives me complete access to the system. While the player is running I can telnet to a shell prompt and inspect and modify the contents of the fileystem. I can also install and run my own code on the machine. This is a significant step in the direction of being able to repurpose these devices (for anyone so inclined).
In the next week or so I'll try an set up a web site with the exploit details.
Yes, we're still following. Please let us know -- I would like to assist the effort.
You mention the filesystem is a modified ReiserFS. Is the partition table itself fairly standard? In other words...I have a virgin box (never even been powered up). I'd like to image off the drive before I start tinkering.
The partition table is a standard one and contains valid data. The problem with drive access is that they used a secure hard drive mechanism that requires software on the player to unlock the drive. You must then hot-swap the drive over to a standard Linux system to access the drive contents. The timeout on the lock is very short (about 3 minutes) so you would not be able to get much data off the drive before it locks again.
My current hack requires you to hot swap your drive once to install some software on it. You can subsequently reinstall the drive into the player, boot the device and have full shell access including access to the hard drive contents.
The movie files are locked with DRM and are unlikely to be easily playable so there is little information on the hard drive that is of interest. My primary interest is being able to reimage the device and use it as some form of internet appliance.
Makes sense. Is the entire root filesystem on the chip, or are parts of it on the hard drive? Is there anything that prevents permanent changes to the filesystem on the hard drive?
The root filesystem is in firmware and two separate partitions are found on the hard drive (again, locked to work only with the moviebeam player). It is possible to make permanent changes to the contents of the hard drive. I'm investigating if it is possible to unlock the drive permanently. Now that I have root shell access to the running system many possibilities are out there.
I'm working on documenting the hack but have been very busy at work. Next week some time...
One more thing... if you are interested in having early access to the hack details, contact me at my email dexter DAWT reilly AT gmail DAWT com. I'll probably beta test it with a few people before making the site public.
Ww are very interested in your technical work on the MovieBeam box. Please contact me at john.ferguson@frontseatmedia.com so we can have a private conversation.
I've been following this forum closely as well, If anything I'd like to be able to re use the hard drive for something, I bought the box for $50 just to play with it, Service wasn't even available here. How would it do as a networked media playback device? If anything I may put a Mini-ITX mobo in it if it will fit if not than a Nano-ITX in it's nice slim case.
The N9 has arrived. What we can say from our first experience is that we're in the presence of a fantastically designed device with a gorgeous AMOLED screen and some highly responsive performance.
The most commented posts on Engadget over the past 24 hours.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
If there is anyone out there still following these comments, I've been able to work an exploit on the MovieBeam player which gives me complete access to the system. While the player is running I can telnet to a shell prompt and inspect and modify the contents of the fileystem. I can also install and run my own code on the machine. This is a significant step in the direction of being able to repurpose these devices (for anyone so inclined).
In the next week or so I'll try an set up a web site with the exploit details.
-dex
Dex:
Yes, we're still following. Please let us know -- I would like to assist the effort.
You mention the filesystem is a modified ReiserFS. Is the partition table itself fairly standard? In other words...I have a virgin box (never even been powered up). I'd like to image off the drive before I start tinkering.
Chris,
The partition table is a standard one and contains valid data. The problem with drive access is that they used a secure hard drive mechanism that requires software on the player to unlock the drive. You must then hot-swap the drive over to a standard Linux system to access the drive contents. The timeout on the lock is very short (about 3 minutes) so you would not be able to get much data off the drive before it locks again.
My current hack requires you to hot swap your drive once to install some software on it. You can subsequently reinstall the drive into the player, boot the device and have full shell access including access to the hard drive contents.
The movie files are locked with DRM and are unlikely to be easily playable so there is little information on the hard drive that is of interest. My primary interest is being able to reimage the device and use it as some form of internet appliance.
Makes sense. Is the entire root filesystem on the chip, or are parts of it on the hard drive? Is there anything that prevents permanent changes to the filesystem on the hard drive?
The root filesystem is in firmware and two separate partitions are found on the hard drive (again, locked to work only with the moviebeam player). It is possible to make permanent changes to the contents of the hard drive. I'm investigating if it is possible to unlock the drive permanently. Now that I have root shell access to the running system many possibilities are out there.
I'm working on documenting the hack but have been very busy at work. Next week some time...
-dex
One more thing... if you are interested in having early access to the hack details, contact me at my email dexter DAWT reilly AT gmail DAWT com. I'll probably beta test it with a few people before making the site public.
-dex
Dex,
Ww are very interested in your technical work on the MovieBeam box. Please contact me at john.ferguson@frontseatmedia.com so we can have a private conversation.
Regards,
John
I've been following this forum closely as well, If anything I'd like to be able to re use the hard drive for something, I bought the box for $50 just to play with it, Service wasn't even available here. How would it do as a networked media playback device? If anything I may put a Mini-ITX mobo in it if it will fit if not than a Nano-ITX in it's nice slim case.