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New Sony A7 series source code enabling access to whole OS?
  • A few days ago @nabfathi15 published a chunk of source code on his twitter account that can allegedly be used to develop custom software on a whole bunch of recent Sony cameras: the A7S, A7S II, A7R, A7RII, A6000, RX100M3 and others. He says that this code provides low level access to the entire camera.

    Is there anyone out here with java skills and a Sony camera to verify this?

    The Source Code info.rtf file reads:

    App Source Code include

    • Sony Imaging Source Code
    • Sony Base Source Code
    • Sony FW Source Code
    • Sony TimeLapse Example Source Code
    • Sony AVI Source Code (Use by TimeLapse App Example)
    • Sony Util Source Code.

    This is not 100% Source Code of the Sony Camera System
    This is at least 80%.
    I will release other alternative Source Code.

    Why this is helpful ?

    Anyone who have a experience in Java/Android Coding can build a application based on the actual source code
    This give you the possibility to call specific function of the camera.
    You can control the entire camera and even build third party control.
    AVI source code is a good example of what is possible to do.

    The last few weeks I discover how to reverse engine the system.
    How to gain access by injecting code and bypass root permission problem.
    I’ve been able to dump important information about the system.

    To let you know, that source code has nothing to do with the PlayMemories camera remote API SDK.
    The Camera remote SDK provide only a way to control your camera remotely not to gain low-level control or build strong app etc…
    Sony will never share the source code of their system layer, because they are needed to make important app for your Camera and this will be problematic, anyone could control the camera in a high advanced way.

    I’m going to repeat, the source code I share is bigger than you think, far more bigger than what was release recently, because it include all the boot process, layer control, dsp/soc control, etc… that give the capability to the play memories app to gain low-level access and third party control.
    Again you can build third party app based on the actual source code and make something really big of it.

    Right now I’m finding how to flash the firmware by using a SD Card in a certain service mode (something I share on Olympus camera in the past). But with this big open source code, it is completely useless, you can even install apk directly from the SD Card without the need of PMCA anymore, you only need to build an Android app for that and place your apk on SD card.

    Few problem with the Sony System.

    • Sony can block that by removing in the future play memories access or restrict completely.
    • Sony can release a firmware and block everything
    • You mostly need to respect what have on the source code and limit your application to specific priority, also work under GB SDK.
    • When you reset the camera, you lost the application.
    • At the moment, you will need to install the APK using the PMCA website. https://sony-pmca.appspot.com (mostly work with IE explorer, main problem with other browser is that they disable the NPAPI function) but you can try. Here’s the source code of PMCA by ma1co https://github.com/ma1co/Sony-PMCA-RE

    Basically you have class/string for certain function of the camera
    XAVCS4K for example -> public static final int XAVC_S_4K = 2130772533;
    This is just a example, I’m not going to explain the entire source code.

    Camera compatible ?

    Basically almost all the play memories camera, including a6000.
    RX100M3, etc…

    Do want you want to do with the source code, have more to come, I have confirmation that one sure coder build a android app based on this that will offer extra features.

    Enjoy and be creative.
    I’m done with Sony Camera.
    Nab

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