Hello, in this guide I am going to describe how to side load android apps on the lenovo smart clock 2.

Requirements.

A device to use the google home app.

A List of apps you want to install, make sure you have a keyboard and home screen launcher in mind.

Not a requirement but basic understanding of the talk back screen reader will be helpful.

Next some things to be aware of.

While ADB is in developer settings I haven’t found a way to connect the clock to a pc using the dock I tried a usb C to A cable but that did not work.

The draw over other apps permission is unavailable.

Here are the specks that we are working with.

Processor

MediaTek™ MT8167S Processor (1.50 GHz)

Operating System

Android 10

Display Type

4.0" LCD IPS Touchscreen

Memory

1 GB

Hard Drive

8 GB Flash We have about 3.3 GB free.

Finally, I am visually impaired so the way I describe things may not make sense for some. If you have trouble understanding please let me know.

Note You are doing all this at your own risk. However, everything is easy to undo with a factory reset.

Instructions for factory resetting.

• Flip the mute switch to muted.
• Press both volume buttons for ten seconds.
• A window should now come up asking if you want to reset. If nothing is pressed the device will auto reset in a minute.
• OK, let’s start.
• Find a website where the apk is that you want to install.
• Now find a way where that website will come up in a google search.
• Note do to how google displays the search button may not be available, so we will have to rely on Google’s auto complete feature.
• Examples:
• If you were looking for nova launcher, you would be using nova launcher.ap we will want google to finish adding the K.
• Add this word to your calendar. For example,nova launcher.ap
• Make sure this is the same calendar that the clock is signed in to.
• Next open the google home app. Find your device click on settings then accessibility.
• Next click the switch next to screenreader.

Your clock should now start talking or making sounds.

If so, ask google “what’s on my calendar?” Swipe right until the event you added is spoken or highlighted.

Next swipe down and right in a single motion an L shape.

Swipe right until copy last utterance is selected double tap, if successful the menu should disappear.

It may take a few tries to get it.

Next open the same menu, (swipe down and right.)

Swipe until talkback settings is selected. Double tap again.

A new screen should appear.

Now swipe, swipe a lot until privacy policy is selected.

Double tap, a browser should now open.

Swipe and double tap to allow all the permissions.

Next swipe until google apps is selected. Double tap then find search and double tap to activate.

Find the search box, double tap to get into it.

Now swipe up and right in a single motion

If successful a new menu should come up. Find edit then activate paste.

If the text gets pasted in the search box, you can now turn off talkback.

Back on your phone flip the switch next to screenreader.

Now here is where things get difficult, the text should be in the box, But I was not able to see the search button with talkback. If you see the button, try turning off

talkback and pressing it

If the search button does not show up here is where you will have to rely on Google auto complete suggestions.

You should have a pretty good idea of what to do from here.

Note that when you download something a window will come up with all downloaded files. The first time you install an apk you will have to click allow from this source when that window comes up.

Notes.

I recommend you install something like nova launcher, for a replacement home screen.

When you install a replacement home screen you will have to click always on the new window that will pop up.

If you want to get back to the regular clock interface, launch the home app.

Any questions feal free to ask.

Remember doing a factory reset will clear all changes made.

I followed this guide and installed Last Launcher as launcher and mapping volume keys to "Home".

However, my clock now seems seems to reboot itself once a day. After reboot the clock ends up showing last launcher instead of the default Home/Clock app. Anyone else having this problem?

I'm guessing they already patched this exploit. It's effing stupid if they spent the time to patch something that people actually want to work.

Unfortunately it doesn't work for me. Just tried it but when pressing the 'privacy settings' it doesn't do anything except flash for a second and stays on the settings page. I tried rebooting it and trying it again multiple times too.

I'm guessing they already patched this exploit. It's effing stupid if they spent the time to patch something that people actually want to work.

I doubt anything had been fixed in this old device. What version are you on? Rooted my device like 3 days ago with latest firmware installed.

What"s not working? Choosr Talkback settings -> privacy policy in the dialog.

I doubt anything had been fixed in this old device. What version are you on? Rooted my device like 3 days ago with latest firmware installed.

I ended up removing "Rotation" because it really has a permissions problem.

I used "Shortcut Maker" to create shortcuts to some of my favorite Spotify playlists and TuneIn Radios and added these shortcuts as "favorites" in "Lanceur Discret".

They are always visible and are almost 1-click actions (TuneIn auto plays but Spotify requires a press of the play button), so it's really nice.

Cheers

1. Settings menu -> send feedback —> (say something) -> Legal Help Page
   • This opens a locked down browser that we need to break out of still since it can't download anything.
2. The goal at this point is to find any link that uses http since this locked down browser doesn’t appear navigate through cert errors. I did this by:
   1. About Lumen (bottom of page) -> Lumen (Hyperlink in first paragraph)
   2. From here you have two options. You can get out to twitter, or scroll down to their blog posts. I found a blog post from 1/26/2023 that had a http link.
3. Before opening the link, create an A Record (I had trouble with CNAMEs) for the IP behind that domain name to a self-hosted web server.
4. On that self-hosted website, have a plaintext URL for http://f-droid.org.
5. Press and hold to highlight the full URL, and you should have an “Open” option in the context menu, click that. Nothing will appear to happen, but close the current browser window, then quit out of giving feedback. You’ll find a full browser awaiting you to then download packages from f-droid with.

FWIW as one data point: I just took a new-in-box unit through the full rooting process (here) successfully today, including activating it for the first time using the Device Utility app, letting it run through a firmware update on the clock from the shipped firmware (1.52.257161) to the latest (1.56.285116), and then rooting it using the TalkBack screen reader method.

Perhaps the problem you were seeing with the Privacy Policy link crashing is region-specific, or depends on successful internet access to that privacy policy page, or something similar? I notice that you're in detailed control of your network there to place custom DNS records - were you doing any other MITM or network filtering at the time that the device was failing to connect by chance? Trying to narrow down contributing factors for other folks to be aware of... I know a lot of Google products are sensitive to MITM attacks via certificate pinning or HSTS.

Unfortunately for me, however, I found out that if you set a pattern (and I would imagine any kind of lock would do this), the device will not boot, it will just hang on the Lenovo logo. Does anyone know a way to fix this, or do I really just need to buy a new clock? Many thanks

P.S. I have tried rebooting multiple times and doing the factory reset shortcut (volume +/- for 10 sec) and it does not work. The screen is receiving taps (which I can see because I turned the option on in dev mode), but it just stays stuck on the lenovo screen

I'm currently using Nova Launcher and use a clock face widget I made with KWGT. Instead of moping on how I can't get a wallpaper to work, I used the black backdrop to my advantage and made a DMD-style clock face that's been working pretty well.

It pains me that I can't get Draw Over Display or Read Notifications permissions without jerry-rigging some special jumper cable for ADB. Would really love to have gestures for Home and Back instead of using the volume buttons. Oh well. Still, a step up from the Smart Clock Essential I was previously using!

Unfortunately it doesn't work for me. Just tried it but when pressing the 'privacy settings' it doesn't do anything except flash for a second and stays on the settings page. I tried rebooting it and trying it again multiple times too.

I'm guessing they already patched this exploit. It's effing stupid if they spent the time to patch something that people actually want to work.