[MOD] HBO Nordic on root (app+guide)

Hurtcake · Dec 20, 2012

So HBO decided to block access to their service as long as you were trying to watch from a rooted device. If I'm gonna pay for the service I want to choose which devices I want to use. Un-rooting is definitely not an option.

So here's a little guide to avoid the root-check done by the application.
I've created one and attached it to the post.

There are some issues with CM10, and some tablets. I'm not a app developer, nor do i know java. Would appreciate if anyone could give a hand with any issues that should come to light.

*******Guide*********
First you need a couple of things
1. Download the latest APKTool and the equlient apktool-install for your preferred OS.
2. Download SignApk.zip

3. Extract files to a folder. e.g "c:\Apktool"

4. Extract "framework-res.apk" from /system/framework/ on your device.
Place this in the same folder as you extracted the previous files.

5. Extract the HBO-app using Titanium backup or similar
Place this in the same folder as you extracted the previous files.

6. Open CMD and navigate to folder

Code:

cd c:\Apktool

7. Install Framework and give a friendly name to your framework. You might get multiple if you create for different devices. In this case i name it M8

Code:

apktool.jar if framework-res.apk m8

8. Extract the APK with you framework of choice. Use t (tag) to choose

Code:

apktool.jar d -t m8 com.hbo.android.app.apk

9. Edit files
From the newly extracted folder, open MainActivity.smali in notepad
com.hbo.android.app\smali\com\hbo\android\app\activity\MainActivity.smali

10. Find and delete

Code:

    .line 196
    invoke-virtual {p0}, Lcom/hbo/android/app/activity/MainActivity;->checkRoot()V

Save the file

11. Rebuild the application

Code:

apktool.jar b com.hbo.android.app com.hbo.android.app.new.apk

12. Sign the application

Code:

signapk.jar certificate.pem key.pk8 com.hbo.android.app.new.apk com.hbo.android.app.new.signed.apk

Transfer and install app on device
Clear Dalvik Cache just to be sure.
Enjoy

Note. If you get any compiling errors at one time, I cant really help you.
Go to this thread and ask politely.
Be sure you have the latest "aapt.exe" from the thread above.
Also be sure to use the right framework.res.apk for you device. That might also create these errors.

Please leave a response if its working or not, and what ROM\Device you're using

Update:
HBO v1.1:
Guide still works and confirmed working on my I9300. Attached file to post

HBO v1.2:
Hadn't noticed the latest update.
Guide still works and confirmed working on my I9300. Attached file to post

HBO v1.3 Attached

Confirmed working on:
S3 i9300 (Omega 34, Stock, UltimaROM, WanamLite), TF101 (Revolver ICS), TF707 (HW overlays enabled), Note II (Stock), Nexus 7 (SmootROM, Stock), G-Box Midnight (Stock), Nexus (Stock)

braverterror · Dec 20, 2012

Log-in okay but FC on playback.

HTC Sensation / ARHD 6.8

Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium

Hurtcake · Dec 20, 2012

Okay, can you try compiling your own version, using the framework-res.apk from your HTC?

braverterror said:
Log-in okay but FC on playback.

HTC Sensation / ARHD 6.8

Sent from my HTC Sensation XE with Beats Audio using xda premium

braverterror · Dec 20, 2012

I am getting the same error with my own version

Hurtcake said:
Okay, can you try compiling your own version, using the framework-res.apk from your HTC?

Tiketti · Dec 21, 2012

Nexus 7 3G, 4.2.1 works

Nexus 7 3G, stock rooted 4.2.1.

And it's working beautifully! Thank you very much, Hurtcake.

edit: Mentioned a wrong device. Forgot it wasn't the phone I installed this on but the tablet...

Hurtcake · Dec 21, 2012

Maybe it's not working on HTC. Can you post the red logcat lines that the app produces? Someone else may know what to do.

braverterror said:
I am getting the same error with my own version

braverterror · Dec 21, 2012

Solution found. Change of bootloader from HTC dev unlocked to JuopunutBear HBOOT didt the trick. Thanks

Hurtcake said:
Maybe it's not working on HTC. Can you post the red logcat lines that the app produces? Someone else may know what to do.

ookkeri · Dec 21, 2012

Working beautifully with Note2 (HyperNote 0.4, RedPill 1.0) and Nexus7 (CleanRom v3 franco kernel r31).

Thank you!

Untouchab1e · Dec 21, 2012

Ridiculous that HBO refuses to function on root devices..

m@f · Dec 21, 2012

Hi..
Is this the procedure the same for another apps?

I have an app from the Danish television provider Stofa given me the same problem that i can't play the app on rooted devices..

Sendt fra min GT-I9305 med Tapatalk2

Hurtcake · Dec 21, 2012

m@f said:
Hi..
Is this the procedure the same for another apps?

I have an app from the Danish television provider Stofa given me the same problem that i can't play the app on rooted devices..

I believe so. The function name may be called something different. The rest should be similar.

braverterror said:
Solution found. Change of bootloader from HTC dev unlocked to JuopunutBear HBOOT didt the trick. Thanks

Glad you found a solution

m@f · Dec 21, 2012

Hurtcake said:
I believe so. The function name may be called something different. The rest should be similar.

I'll give it a try within few days... Christmas time doesn't give me much time playing with my toys..:banghead:

Sendt fra min GT-I9305 med Tapatalk2

m@f · Dec 21, 2012

1234567890

m@f · Dec 21, 2012

The Danish App.

m@f · Dec 22, 2012

Manage to get the framework working now...

Looking forward to find the solution.. I´ll try as well now deleting some of the line I belive can be the tricker and test it..
If you find the "golden key / line" please advise me...

/M@F

m@f · Dec 22, 2012

Damn.?
Have some problems with compilation.. could be issues related to my Java.. tried with easyapktool as well.. even without modification of my apk I get compiled errors..

Don't have the time right now for errorhandling this problem, so if other find the way to do it I would appreciate...

Sendt fra min GT-I9305 med Tapatalk2

Hurtcake · Dec 22, 2012

You'll might have more success asking around in this thread
I've also sent you a PM

m@f said:
Damn.?
Have some problems with compilation.. could be issues related to my Java.. tried with easyapktool as well.. even without modification of my apk I get compiled errors..

Don't have the time right now for errorhandling this problem, so if other find the way to do it I would appreciate...

Sendt fra min GT-I9305 med Tapatalk2

m@f · Dec 23, 2012

Hurtcake said:
You'll might have more success asking around in this thread
I've also sent you a PM

Hi..

Thanks a lot.. will look at it after christmas time..

Sendt fra min GT-I9305 med Tapatalk2

Silppa · Dec 23, 2012

What is wrong?

Code:

c:\apktool>apktool b com.hbo.android.app com.hbo.android.app.new.apk
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\res\values\styles.xml:118: error: Error retrievin
g parent for item: No resource found that matches the given name '@*android:styl
e/Theme.Light'.
c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\res\values\styles.xml:129: error: Error retrievin
g parent for item: No resource found that matches the given name '@*android:styl
e/Theme.Holo.Light.Dialog.MinWidth'.
c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\res\values\styles.xml:142: error: Error retrievin
g parent for item: No resource found that matches the given name '@*android:styl
e/Widget.ProgressBar.Small'.
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutExce
ption: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sdk-version, 7, --target-sdk-vers
ion, 16, -F, C:\Users\Aleksi\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL1140071533913893449.tmp,
-I, C:\Users\Aleksi\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S, c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\
res, -M, c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\AndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.jav
a:255)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:324)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResources(Androlib.java:269)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:192)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:174)
        at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:188)
        at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:70)
Caused by: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sd
k-version, 7, --target-sdk-version, 16, -F, C:\Users\Aleksi\AppData\Local\Temp\A
PKTOOL1140071533913893449.tmp, -I, C:\Users\Aleksi\apktool\framework\1.apk, -S,
c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\res, -M, c:\apktool\com.hbo.android.app\AndroidMa
nifest.xml]
        at brut.util.OS.exec(OS.java:83)
        at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.jav
a:253)
        ... 6 more

c:\apktool>

samiljan · Dec 26, 2012

A perhaps easier way is: (tested with version 1.0 of the HBO app)

1. Edit /system/build.prop and make sure that ro.build.tags is something other than test-keys.
2. Remove the Superuser app (and use SuperSU instead)
3. Delete /system/xbin/which (this might make some scripts fail to work, but i doubt it. It is just a symlink to busybox anyways)

These are the three things the checkRoot function is checking. An interesting point is that it uses which to see if it can find su, but even if which can't find it it reports that the device is rooted. Only if the call fails (like when which is missing) is accepts the device.

[MOD] HBO Nordic on root (app+guide)

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