Giveaway of the Day Forums

1. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   I just boxed up a tablet to return to Amazon... I got it this afternoon, set up a new Google account, installed an app to check specs, uninstalled the app, removed the account, attempted a reset [have no idea if it actually works to reset anything], & filled out the return BS on Amazon. Besides being an Android tablet, everything else on Amazon's page was a lie.

   Unless you [over] pay for a name brand, e.g., Samsung, it's unfortunately common practice for the manufacturer to alter the software to report whatever specs they want. That way they can use a lower cost CPU, less RAM, less storage, and an earlier version of Android, and unless you take the time to verify everything, you have no way of knowing that you didn't get close to what you paid for. More well known reporting apps like AIDA64 won't do it, since the device's software has been designed to fool them. You have to install Termux, a Linux terminal emulator, then add & run inxi. [If you keep the device you might want to uninstall it, or else keep it from auto-starting which is the default.]

   play.google[.]com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux&hl

   termux[.]dev/

   android.stackexchange[.]com/questions/242663/how-to-verify-if-device-is-reporting-fake-technical-specs-like-android-version

   Run Termux
   Type pkg install inxi -y then Press ENTER
   Type inxi then Press ENTER

   Posted 6 months ago #
2. 

   gergn
   Member

   This makes me think of "sjoemelsoftware" (Dutch) or "cheating software" or "fraudulent software." In the context of, for example, the Volkswagen emissions scandal, the term "defeat device software" is also commonly used.

   Volkswagen customers have filed for and received compensation. Their CEO has been prosecuted. Could you try something similar?

   Posted 6 months ago #
3. 

   ChrisS
   Administrator

   Could you try something similar?

   It would be pointless to try.

   VW defrauded the government and directly benefited from the sale of the vehicles.

   Amazon pays return shipping, refunds your money and thus doesn't materially benefit from the sale of fake items. Arguably, the sale of fake items costs them money.

   It's also likely that the TOS state that by clicking the "Buy" button you're agreeing to binding arbitration in the case of a dispute. That dispute will be resolved by Amazon paying return shipping and refunding your money.

   However, even if you did have a case it would be as a member of a Class Action Lawsuit. If the judgement were $1 Billion then each member of the Class would get $10 and the lawyers would get the rest. So, the illegal fraud would be followed by legal fraud.

   Posted 6 months ago #
4. 

   mikiem2
   Moderator

   Besides, the manufacturer would disappear overnight. ;)

   ----

   Trying to research further I couldn't find much info, but here's what I found:

   More info on inxi...

   smxi[.]org/docs/inxi-options.htm

   An alternative I found is Fake Device Test, which *seems* to have a good reputation. The in-depth storage test writes to every bit of storage, verifies the write, then clears & writes to every bit of storage, then verifies again, which can take quite a while -- reviews say some also use it to check microSD cards.

   play.google[.]com/store/apps/details?id=mark.fakedevicetest&hl=en_US

   If/when checking a phone or tablet etc. another test app that may be of interest is DRM Info. Streaming services like Netflix require DRM to watch video at anything greater than SD resolution. For Android that means Widevine L1, which devs can implement for free, but it requires certification, which the manufacturer may not bother with. DRM Info will tell you if a device has Widevine, and what level built into the Android OS. Most web browsers also have Widevine built-in, but it may need to be turned on through the dev type settings.

   play.google[.]com/store/apps/details?id=com.androidfung.drminfo

   Finally, this is my *limited* understanding after reading a Bunch of online posts... Android may be based on Linux, but it diverges quite a bit, e.g., when it comes to the Android kernel. A given copy of Android may use a Linux-based kernel with a version number that matches the version of Android, or it may use one of several earlier versions, which may or may not be patched up to date with the latest. Android 15 & 16 may use kernel versions back to android11-5.4 for example.

   source.android[.]com/docs/core/architecture/kernel/android-common#compatibility-matrix

   Posted 6 months ago #

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