Update March 2021:
Fixed the download links at the bottom of the page. All versions can also be found here: Ainol Novo 8 Firmware links
Comments locked as this release has been superseded, head to Ainol Novo 8 News to see the latest version.
Original post:
The first release of my firmware has been a huge success, with downloads in the hundreds, users from across the globe and plenty of feedback I say thanks to you all.
Now that's out the way on to the important part of this post ;) VERSION 2.0 IS HERE! After a lot of positive feedback and because there were things that needed fixing I have been working on a second release quite heavily since the first was posted. It's not perfect, some bugs are still there but it's a definite step forward from the first release. Check the readme at the end of the post for the full lowdown.
Forum Links:
Screenshots:
Download links:
Ainol Novo 8 Adv 2.3.4 Version 2.0
The Readme.txt:
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Ainol Novo 8 Advanced 2.3.4 Rooted English Rom
Version: 2.0 (23/11/11)
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Author: Nebular Nerd (aka Oberth & thedaybeforetomorrow)
Homepage: nebularnerd.blogspot.com
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About:
After manually de-Chineseing every firmware and trying to cram in
all the basic Google apps and such that are needed I set upon
creating an all English firmware, The result is a that can be flashed
ready to run with all the Google stuff and a few choice extras bundled in.
Using the current 2.3.4 beta as a base I removed, replaced
and added and tweaked various things to give a decent firmware that will
make you proud to show off your tablet with the unfortunate brand name.
(Hands up all those who have had a laugh when telling someone who makes it)
*Non native english speakers may not get this silly schoolboy joke :)
While I take credit for the putting everything together in one easy to use
package the real credit should goto all those people I sourced the component
parts from. As of writing (23/11/11) there have been over 300 Downloads from
hosts with download counters so there are a lot of you out there giving V1.0
a go, lets see what happens with 2.0 :)
Enjoy the firmware :)
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Changelist / Whats New:
19/11/2011: Version 2.0
*NEW* Multi Language support.
...Google apps and firmware seem ok, other apps are dev dependant.
*NEW* Default Wallpaper
...Thanks to EgFox @ DeviantArt eg-art.deviantart.com
*NEW* Google Books, Google+ Added to rom
*NEW* Dolphin HD Broswer added
*NEW* Facebook added
*NEW* Skype added
*NEW* FlashPlayer 10.3 apk added to zip for installation latest 11.x causes
...serious performance issues with any flash media.
*NEW* LCD Resolution added, handy for making things bigger in the
...absence of the normal Small,Med,Large settings. Also semi fixes iPlayer
...performance issue. Use it to set dpi at 200 and iPlayer is watchable.
*FIXED* Calendar now works, no longer force closes.
*MODDED* Headphone volume output level no longer deafens you.
*UPDATED* Better readme.txt layout.
*UPDATED* Latest YouTube and Google Music.
8/11/2011: Version 1.2
Tidied and formatted readme.txt.
6/11/2011: Version 1.1
Minor update to correct bug in build.prop preventing Chainfire and Tegra
games from working.
5/11/2011: Version 1.0
1st Release.
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Installation
Flashing this is a breeze, simply copy all the contents of the zip to your
SD Card, insert into your Novo 8 and boot into Recovery with Power & Vol+.
Once booted perform the 3 wipes and then install the update and reboot.
If you spot the error about the factory_update_param.aml file missing
when booting into recovery mode just ignore it. I dumped the automated stuff
as it bricked my unit the first time round when flashing the stock beta and I
had to do a recovery with the original firmware release. The automation seems
to get stuck now and again causing the brick so it's safer to take the manual
route.
When first booting the homescreen will go black/blank for about a minute.
Don't panic this is quite normal it's just everything unpacking and setting up.
Set up your wifi, add your Google account and off you go.
Post install use FileBrowser or AppInstaller to install Flash 10.3 off the SD
card, this seems to be the best performing version I have seen. Do not update
to later versions as performance drops so far that basic flash files seem to
have a hard time playing.
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Features:
* Fast and Smooth 160dpi rom with build.prop tweaks to improve various things.
* Full English Rom set to UK region, no hidden Chinese menus to pop out at you.
...All Chinese only apps removed or replaced with english versions.
* Latest Market 3.3.11 with heavily modified build.prop to show as many apps as
...possible. This does actually show and install a far wider range of apps than
...before. Some stuff is still not showing but it's about the best we can get.
* AC3/DTS Hardware Decoder works. Stock Video Player will handle most stuff
...Download Big Buck Bunny from their site in 1080 MP4 & H.264 as test files
...If it all is working both will play smoothly and seek should work. I test
...these and other files from 16GB Class2 MicroSD in a USB reader. It will play
...really large stuff from a NTFS formatted external drive as well.
...Test file for this is a 13GB 1080 AVC/DTS MKV file that plays without issue.
* 3G Modem support, confirmed working with these dongles.
...Huawei E160 3G USB Dongle (by ompudsman @ MP4Nations)
...Huawei E1750 3G USB Dongle with Virgin UK sim. (by GFZ @ XDA)
...Huawei E173u-2 3G USB Dongle (by Razy @ My Blogspot Page)
...Any other 3G Dongles working? Help the community and let us know :)
* Uses the free version of LauncherPro because it does seem the best for this
...model, the Chinese firmwares had hard coded Chinese menus in the
...LauncherProPlus.apk The market will allow you to purchase the Plus Unlocker
...if you want those features.
* Preloaded with Google Browser, Gmail, Maps, Streetview, YouTube,
...Google Music, Latitude, Google Books, Google+, Google+ Messenger,
...Google Search, Calendar and Car Home.
* Preloaded with Facebook, Skype and Dolphin Browser HD.
* Google accounts will sync Contacts, Mail and Calendars correctly.
* YouTube plays HQ videos just fine without stutter or lag.
...(Assuming you have a good wifi signal and net speeds)
* The stock video player plays most MPG, MP4, MKV files with AAC, MP3, AC3
...audio. It's not set as the default player but use file explorer to pick
...a file and it should pop up in the dialog box and it will set all the
...formats it can play to use it.
* Most of the Games and Apps I have tried while testing work fine. Get
...Chainfire3D and buy the Pro key to enjoy some of the nice Tegra Games.
...I shall add a list of Tegra games that work to my blog.
* Wifi seems better under the new firmware.
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Bugs:
Most of these bugs are related to the base firmware, and are being looked into.
* Tablet likes to wake itself up now and then for no real reason.
...(Possible data connections causing it to wake)
* Sometimes the Power button does not work so you can't turn off the screen or
...power off. There are apps that will shutdown the unit but be cautious of data
...loss if you are installing or copying something let it finish first and wait
...a few seconds
* If the Screen is off and the Power button is not behaving another key will
...turn it on.
* Sometimes the Power Off dialog appears for no reason.
* Your Novo may disappear off the Market site for a while or completely. Mine
...went and then came back about a day later, this is down to the modified
...build.prop You can still download apps directly through the Market app on
...the Novo regardless.
* Some of the best apps are still not available in the market, Dolphin Browser
...Facebook and Skype to name a few. This is down to Google Market and not much
...seems to beat this last hurdle. I have added them in but they will not
...update.
* Possible others bugs (Let me know by posting on my blog or one of the threads)
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To Do List:
* Fix all power bugs (Lots of Work)
* Make Video Player the default app for video files.
* Add widgets to homescreen automatically.
* Work out how to make Flash part of the rom. For now use the apk included to
...install 10.3
* Fix iPlayer performance both in app and browser, close as I can figure this
...one it's Flash not performing but YouTube and other flash files play ok
...so it's a puzzler, best I can recommend is to use LCD Resolution to drop to
...200 dpi and you can get watchable streams at Medium quality through the app.
* Other stuff I think of.
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Sources used:
* https://tinyurl.com/63pnbl6 The base for my rom was this prerooted one.
...(Translated, may not load first time especially in Chinese busy times)
* https://tinyurl.com/64xhw3y I used the Browser and Google Music from this one.
...(Translated, may not load first time especially in Chinese busy times)
* https://tinyurl.com/29c6jlx The rom I currently use on my HD2 which I lifted
...most of the original Google stuff from.
* https://tinyurl.com/6y57c4s The tweaks used for the Market.
* https://eg-art.deviantart.com/ EG-Fox gave permission for the wallpaper used.
Other various sources for stuff about some of the other little tweaks.
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Disclaimer:
As with any custom firmware there is a risk of things going wrong so if it
bricks your unit try a recovery image from Ainol and start again, if you are of
a nervous disposition or the type of person who sues for a hobby please do not
attempt to install this. The rom works fine on my unit and others have tried
without issue, however mileage does seem to vary with this tablet.
