Smart Remote: Video not supported on a5000 - workaround attached

Having just purchased an A5000 I was a little disappointed that the movie function is not available via the Sony Remote API.

So I poked around and found this in “com/sony/imaging/app/srctrl/util/ModelInfo.java”

    public boolean isMovieRecSupported() {
        if (!Environment.isMovieAPISupported()) {
            return false;
        }
        if (this.modelName == null) {
            Log.e(TAG, "ModelInfo is NULL");
            return false;
        } else if (movieRecNotSupportedModelName.contains(this.modelName)) {
            return false;
        } else {
            if ("DSC-15-03".equals(ScalarProperties.getString("ui.model.mame"))) {
                return false;
            }
            return true;
        }
    }

and this

    private static final List<String> movieRecNotSupportedModelName = Collections.unmodifiableList(new C01921());
    private String modelName = null;

    static class C01921 extends ArrayList<String> {
        C01921() {
            add("ILCE-7");
            add("ILCE-7R");
            add("ILCE-5000");
            add("ILCE-6000");
        }
    }

Now, I’m just pissed!

[mungewell]

So what happens if I just change the model name?

$ telnet 192.168.1.102
Trying 192.168.1.102...
Connected to 192.168.1.102.
Escape character is '^]'.

BusyBox v1.13.4 (2012-07-17 15:11:04 JST) built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

/ # bk.elf r 0x003e0005
id:003e0005 size:16 data:
49,4C,43,45,2D,35,30,30,30,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,
/ # bk.elf w 0x003e0005 49 4C 43 45 2D 35 30 30 31
id:003e0005 size:16 data:49, 4C, 43, 45, 2D, 35, 30, 30, 31, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 00, 
/ # bk.elf r 0x003e0005
id:003e0005 size:16 data:
49,4C,43,45,2D,35,30,30,31,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,

Yep, and remote movie function works…

[tengine525]

mungewell,

Hello. I was wondering if you could help me with telnet into my Sony a6000 to change the device ID? I’ve ran the GUI and installed a few tweaks, however I’m trying to possibly unlock the ‘live view’ on the a6000 as you did with the a5000.

I can get remote view for the a6000 to work on my phone, however it does not seem to work inside of Sony’s Imaging Edge software. My goal is to basically use it as a webcam (without external dongles) if I can unlock the live view.

I realize there are better options, but I have this cam sitting here and if I’d love to use it if I could instead of spending another $100+ on a webcam that is very difficult to find right now.

Thanks.

-edit- I realize this is an old post.