Advertise with Googlier.com My Feed Title https://anddisa.de/blog/ My Feed Description en Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:32:00 +0100 Another ART-V2 / Backup and Restore Tools Version (v4.0) is out https://anddisa.de/blog/art-v2-groovy-version-with-work-profile-support-for-backup-and-restore-too-scripts-4_0 https://anddisa.de/blog/art-v2-groovy-version-with-work-profile-support-for-backup-and-restore-too-scripts-4_0 Wed, 04 Nov 2026 13:32:00 +0100 I just published another improvement of my backup and restore tools project Android Backup and Restore Tools Some user reported issues when restoring the backup files to the device. It was found out that for restoring the runtime was still shut down so that on new Android Devices (Android 14+) the encryption key was pulled and so the backup tools were no longer able to access to the devices file systems. So I decided to improve the tools further, i.e. shutdown of the runtime now need to be forced otherwise only the running apps are being shut down. The filter for encrypted and potentially harming data during restoration was being improved a new --rate-limit parameter was introduced. On new USB3.x ports the transfer rate is so high that the buffers are re-created in high frequency which may lead to memory shortage. In those cases the lmkd process may jump in and kill the restoring process itself ... To prevent this behaviour the transfer rate can be limited now.

You can read more about the changes and the parameters on Android Backup and Restore Tools

The rew release can be downloaded directly from my download area

This zip file contains both versions, i.e. the java based OS-independent version as well as the Linux-based *sh based version. Both versions offer the same functionality.

Please not: Starting from now on there will be no longer the separated script-only-zip!

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Android backup
ART-V2 Groovy version (v3.8) is out https://anddisa.de/blog/art-v2-groovy-version-with-work-profile-support-for-backup-and-restore-too-scripts-3_8 https://anddisa.de/blog/art-v2-groovy-version-with-work-profile-support-for-backup-and-restore-too-scripts-3_8 Mon, 02 Nov 2026 12:01:00 +0100 I just published another improvement of my backup and restore tools project Android Backup and Restore Tools Some users notced issues and so I decided to have another look at the tool and to invest a bit more on stability and cleanup. No new functionality was added, but it should be more stable in different environments and more compatible to different versions of Android.

The rew release can be downloaded directly from my download area

This zip file contains both versions, i.e. the java based OS-independent version as well as the Linux-based *sh based version. Both versions offer the same functionality.

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Android backup
LineageOS-20.0 for Huawei Mediapad M5 SHT-W09 (20261007) https://anddisa.de/blog/lineageos-20-0-for-huawei-mediapad-m5-sht-w09-20260928 https://anddisa.de/blog/lineageos-20-0-for-huawei-mediapad-m5-sht-w09-20260928 Wed, 07 Oct 2026 18:00:00 +0200 Another update for my Mediapad M5 (SHT-W09) as today the new security fixes for lineageOS were release, so I updated the build with the Android security patches up to 20261005.

If you are interested in installing you find the packages needed on my download area

Installation is quite easy, but a bit tricky:

  • Download all needed packages
  • Boot into fastboot mode and flash the following three images
    • fastboot flash:raw kernel boot.img
    • fastboot flash:raw recovery_ramdisk recovery.img
    • fastboot flash:raw recovery_vendor recovery_vendor.img
  • then disconnect your USB cable and press both Vol-+ and Power until you see the "Devcie is booting ..." message
  • Now you are in LOS-Recovery and you can
    • adb sideload lineage-20.0-20261007-RELEASE-mediapadm5wifi.zip
  • If you would like to install GApps, too, I suggest you to use MindTheGapps
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Android Mediapad-M5
Taming Idle Battery Drain: Dynamic USB Power for Android IR Blasters https://anddisa.de/blog/dynamic-usb-power-for-ir-blasters https://anddisa.de/blog/dynamic-usb-power-for-ir-blasters Wed, 07 Oct 2026 12:30:00 +0200 External USB-C IR blaster dongles are an easy way to control legacy AV equipment and appliances from modern phones, but they come with an annoying penalty: Android keeps the 5V VBUS rail energized continuously in Host mode, generating 15–40 mA of silent parasitic battery drain all day long.

To fix this, I built a lightweight vendor daemon and loopback socket bridge for custom LineageOS builds that supplies USB power strictly on-demand when transmitting IR codes.

The Problem: Always-On 5V Host Rails

Whenever an OTG accessory is connected, Android assumes it needs continuous power. Even when the phone is sitting in your pocket with the screen off, the dongle's internal microcontroller, 38 kHz carrier oscillator, and status LEDs remain fully active.

Because regular Android apps run inside the unprivileged app sandbox (untrusted_app), they have zero access to /sys/class/typec/ or regulator sysfs nodes due to standard Linux permissions (root:root) and strict SELinux constraints (neverallow untrusted_app sysfs:file write).

The Solution: A Failsafe Loopback Power Bridge

Rather than heavily modifying frameworks/base with custom Binder/AIDL interfaces—which breaks cross-version portability—I implemented an init-level vendor daemon (ir_dongle_power_monitor.sh) confined under a dedicated SELinux domain (elk_usb_suspend):

  • Loopback Socket (127.0.0.1:19850): Uses toybox nc to accept state commands (1 / 0) from unprivileged client apps without requiring root privileges or system signature permissions.
  • Hardware Type-C Toggling: Switches /sys/class/typec/*/port_type between dual (supplying 5V boost) and sink (cutting the power rail completely), while cleanly binding and unbinding the USB driver to avoid bus hangs.
  • Crash-Safe Disconnect Failsafe: If the client app crashes, pauses, or gets killed by Android's Low Memory Killer (LMK), the TCP connection closes and the daemon automatically triggers a failsafe power cut.
  • Device Fingerprinting: Only targets confirmed IR dongles (ElkSmart 045c:* and Tiqiaa/ZaZa 10c4:8468), leaving regular USB peripherals untouched.

Project Documentation & Upstream RFC

I’ve documented the full architecture, init service configuration, SELinux policy, and signaling flow on the project page:

👉 Read the Full Project Overview

I've also opened an upstream RFC at GitHub Issue #121 (android-ir-blaster) proposing client-side socket triggers for the official app, alongside a companion Magisk/KernelSU module so rooted stock users can use the bridge without flashing custom ROMs.

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Android LineageOS Kernel Hardware
Nexus 7 (2012) [WiFi / 3G] received Android 7.1.2 with security patches from 2026/09/05 https://anddisa.de/blog/nexus-7-2012-wifi-3g-received-android-7-1-2-with-security-patches-from-2026-09-05 https://anddisa.de/blog/nexus-7-2012-wifi-3g-received-android-7-1-2-with-security-patches-from-2026-09-05 Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:50:00 +0200 I just updated the rom images for Grouper and Tilapia with the security patched up to 20260927

You can find the links to the downloads on XDA and the sources on my github repository

You can also download directly from my download area by selecting the rom image you need. The "mg" files are intended for people using MicroG while the others are compatible to flash the GApps package.

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Android Nexus7
LineageOS-20.0 for Huawei Mediapad M5 SHT-W09 (20260927) https://anddisa.de/blog/lineageos-20-0-for-huawei-mediapad-m5-sht-w09-20260927 https://anddisa.de/blog/lineageos-20-0-for-huawei-mediapad-m5-sht-w09-20260927 Sun, 27 Sep 2026 16:44:00 +0200 Another update for my Mediapad M5 (SHT-W09), updated with the Android security patches up to 20260905.

If you are interested in installing you find the packages needed on my download area

Installation is quite easy, but a bit tricky:

  • Download all needed packages
  • Boot into fastboot mode and flash the following three images
    • fastboot flash:raw kernel boot.img
    • fastboot flash:raw recovery_ramdisk recovery.img
    • fastboot flash:raw recovery_vendor recovery_vendor.img
  • then disconnect your USB cable and press both Vol-+ and Power until you see the "Devcie is booting ..." message
  • Now you are in LOS-Recovery and you can
    • adb sideload lineage-20.0-20260927-RELEASE-mediapadm5wifi.zip
  • If you would like to install GApps, too, I suggest you to use MindTheGapps
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Android Mediapad-M5
Refining the AI in Malawi: A New Core Evaluator and Future Benchmarks https://anddisa.de/blog/refining-the-ai-in-malawi-a-new-core-evaluator-and-future-benchmarks https://anddisa.de/blog/refining-the-ai-in-malawi-a-new-core-evaluator-and-future-benchmarks Wed, 29 Jul 2026 18:58:00 +0200 With the recent launch of Malawi (available as a native Android app and as a Human vs. Human WebAssembly demo right on the games website, I’ve been closely watching how players interact with the game. While the rules of this 1986 classic are straightforward, making the computer opponent feel challenging, fair, and strategically sharp is an ongoing effort.

In this post, I want to share a quick update on the latest AI improvements and what's happening under the hood.

What’s New in the Latest Update

The main AI opponent in the Android app has received a major upgrade powered by a brand-new version of the OptimalBaseBoardEvaluator. Here are the key technical enhancements included in the latest build:

Alpha-Beta Engine: Faster and deeper AI calculations with optimized move ordering, allowing the computer to look further ahead without slowing down game performance.

Tapered Board Evaluation: Dynamically adjusts positional weights as the game transitions from the opening into the endgame, leading to significantly improved tactical accuracy and better endgame survivability.

Refined Tactical Safety: Enhanced threat-detection logic for 1-step baseline threats and immediate move opportunities, eliminating previous blind spots.

Everything continues to run 100% locally on your device without relying on any cloud servers, keeping the app lightweight and fast.

Behind the Scenes: Benchmarking Other Evaluators

In addition to the main engine, I have been testing specialized evaluators behind the scenes to benchmark and measure AI performance:

CenterDominanceEvaluator: Focuses heavily on controlling central board space to force more dynamic mid-game scenarios.

SniperTrapEvaluator: Specialized in recognizing long-range control patterns and setting tactical traps.

Note: These additional evaluators are currently strictly used for internal evaluation and benchmarking purposes. They are not yet selectable in the public release, but the insights gained from them directly feed into refining the core AI.

Give it a Try!

If you want to challenge the upgraded AI, make sure to grab the latest version of Malawi on Google Play. If you'd rather analyze moves or play a quick local match with a friend, you can also check out the WebAssembly version (Human vs. Human) directly in your browser on the project page.

As always, feedback on the AI's playstyle and difficulty balance is very welcome!

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Board Game Android
ART-V2 Groovy version (v3.7) is out https://anddisa.de/blog/art-v2-groovy-version-with-work-profile-support-for-backup-and-restore-too-scripts2 https://anddisa.de/blog/art-v2-groovy-version-with-work-profile-support-for-backup-and-restore-too-scripts2 Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:16:00 +0200 I am still trying to improve the backup and restore tools project Android Backup and Restore Tools and make it more compatible to different versions of Android. Especially newer versions pull e.g. the security keys from the memory and so they are blocking access to the data area when runtime is being stopped. Due to that I changed to a an "app-stop-strategy" to guarantee consistent backups.

The rew release can be downloaded directly from my download area

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Android backup
LineageOS-20.0 for Huawei Mediapad M5 SHT-W09 (202600708) https://anddisa.de/blog/lineageos-20-0-for-huawei-mediapad-m5-sht-w09-202600708 https://anddisa.de/blog/lineageos-20-0-for-huawei-mediapad-m5-sht-w09-202600708 Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:21:00 +0200 Another update for my Mediapad M5 (SHT-W09), nothing special, but fixed some kernel issues (e.g. GhostLock (CVE-2026-43499).

Unfortunately Surdu Pedru who started the port to the Mediapad M5 Thread on XDA announced that he will no longer support the device, so I need to keep it up to date by my own.

Today I read about the severe kernel issue (which affects a whole bunch of system running linux) and decided to fix this issues for my Lineage-20.0 Build 20260708. If you are interested in installing you find the packages needed on my download area

Installation is quite easy, but a bit tricky:

  • Download all needed packages
  • Boot into fastboot mode and flash the following three images
    • fastboot flash:raw kernel boot.img
    • fastboot flash:raw recovery_ramdisk recovery.img
    • fastboot flash:raw recovery_vendor recovery_vendor.img
  • then disconnect your USB cable and press both Vol-+ and Power until you see the "Devcie is booting ..." message
  • Now you are in LOS-Recovery and you can
    • adb sideload lineage-20.0-20260708-RELEASE-mediapadm5wifi.zip
  • If you would like to install GApps, too, I suggest you to use MindTheGapps
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Android Mediapad-M5
Malawi is Live! The 1986 Tactical Classic Arrives on Android https://anddisa.de/blog/malawi-is-live https://anddisa.de/blog/malawi-is-live Tue, 07 Jul 2026 12:19:00 +0200 The wait is over! Exactly 40 years after the minimalist tactical board game Malawi was honored on the official "Spiel des Jahres 1986" shortlist, a digital adaptation is now live in the Google Play Store.

Bringing this pure, strategic battle of wits to modern screens has been a fantastic passion project. To keep it true to the original experience, the app follows a strict fair-play philosophy: the core game is entirely free to play, with absolutely no pay-to-win mechanics or annoying subscriptions.

I've also integrated some powerful new features for advanced players, including a full Board Editor and an Analysis Mode.

Want to see how it looks and learn more about the project?

👉 Check out the full details and get the app here: anddisa.de/malawi

Happy gaming

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Board Game Android