Hacking [APP] GatewayFlash

[wchill]

Despite not having a Gateway flash kit or even a 3DS anymore, I thought I might whip this up for GBAtemp (since I plan on buying the two). (It's really been a while since I've been on here, hasn't it?)

So, we all know how the Gateway requires separate microSD cards for each game. This can really be annoying if you have multiple games you want to play! And with microSD cards being so easy to lose, this can be a real problem.

Hence, I introduce to you...
GATEWAYFLASH

GatewayFlash is an app I've written for rooted Android devices. It allows you to flash new ROMs onto your microSD card straight from your phone/tablet. Convenient if you don't want to carry around tons of microSD cards for all your games!

How it works:
1. Root your device. (You can find rooting guides on forum.xda-developers.com or by searching on Google)
2. Install the app from here (free) or from the Play Store (donation, automatic updates)
3. Download/copy ROMs to your device's internal storage
4. Insert microSD card into your device, either via microSD slot or by USB OTG + microSD reader (latter option is useful if your device doesn't have a slot or you use a microSD in your device for bulk storage)
5. Unmount your microSD card if it has a filesystem on it (ie. you haven't used it for Gateway yet)
6. Open the app and select a ROM to flash
7. Long-press on the filesystem you want to flash to (lists only external storage devices) and confirm flash.
8. Wait.
9. Remove and put in your Gateway.
10. Enjoy your games!

Quick picture tutorial

Buy from the Play Store ($2.99) if you like this app and get automatic updates!!

Changelog

• 1.0.1: Fixed bug preventing flash under certain conditions
• 1.0: Initial release

 

[wchill]

Q: What is root and why do I need it?
A: Root is having full access over the entirety of the Android device (analogous to, but not exactly the same as, jailbreaking on iOS). Without it, we are unable to do many system-level operations, such as in this case writing to the microSD card directly.

Q: My Nexus 4/Nexus 5/Nexus 7/Moto X/HTC One/LG G2/other Android device doesn't have a microSD card slot! What can I do?
A: You can buy a USB On-The-Go adapter and use it with a microSD reader; it'll still show up. Some additional configuration may be required if you go about this method, however.

Q: Why's the flash taking so long?
A: Your microSD card might be slow. For a class 10 microSD card, expect the flash to take about 7 minutes for a 4GB ROM. I will add a progress bar and background flashing to the next release.

More to come...

 

[DAHU75]

Great app , thanks so much for this , very usefull , thanks for sharing

 

[krzz]

Awesome. Thanks you!


Btw I can't buy it from the play store, your link is not working.

 

[wchill]

Awesome. Thanks you!


Btw I can't buy it from the play store, your link is not working.

Yeah, I just published it. The Play Store takes time to update its listings. The link should be working in a few hours.

 

[mainframe004]

Wow, this is a really clever app. Definitely going to use this!

 

[my2k2zx2]

Does this only work for Gateway, or can it be used for the r4i 3ds?

 

[wchill]

Does this only work for Gateway, or can it be used for the r4i 3ds?

I believe it should work with either.

 

[Wiki'd]

This is really awesome and for that I'd like to give you my appreciation for your work. But somehow I feel it would have been better if this was here around the early release days of Gateway, simply because Gateway has promised a multirom support in the near future, so if that occurs, it would mostly make this app redundant.

I am really sorry if I sound harsh, as that's not the intention. I just wanted to inform you about that, but nevertheless, your work is highly appreciated, please do more!

 

[wchill]

This is really awesome and for that I'd like to give you my appreciation for your work. But somehow I feel it would have been better if this was here around the early release days of Gateway, simply because Gateway has promised a multirom support in the near future, so if that occurs, it would mostly make this app redundant.

I am really sorry if I sound harsh, as that's not the intention. I just wanted to inform you about that, but nevertheless, your work is highly appreciated, please do more!

Eh, no big deal. I threw this together in < 6 hours, including testing. Hoping someone can find it useful, since the 2.0 beta doesn't have multirom support.

 

[Coto]

it's a good idea..

nice!

 

[justinkb]

Good idea!

 

[hundshamer]

You can buy a USB On-The-Go adapter and use it with a microSD reader; it'll still show up. Some additional configuration may be required if you go about this method, however.

Here's an alternative OTG SD card reader. http://dx.com/p/c310-otg-tf-card-re...74106?tc=USD&gclid=CP3fqPKinLsCFcY7MgodYEsAHQ

 

[Super.Nova]

That's way too cool, man!
Thanks a million

 

[hashcheck1]

Great job buddy exactly what I needed on my 96Gb Samsung Note 3 actually asked about an app for this exact this a while ago

 

[player3]

My question is whether it will format the card. It won't work if it simply copies the rom over.

 

[Nurio]

My question is whether it will format the card. It won't work if it simply copies the rom over.

He tested it, so I assume it works.
Besides, if he makes an app like this, I think he at least know this.

 

[player3]

He tested it, so I assume it works.
Besides, if he makes an app like this, I think he at least know this.

How did he test it if he doesn't have a gateway or a 3ds?

"Despite not having a Gateway flash kit or even a 3DS anymore..."

 

[Nurio]

How did he test it if he doesn't have a gateway or a 3ds?

"Despite not having a Gateway flash kit or even a 3DS anymore..."

Friends who have Gateway, perhaps?
Admittedly, I don't know...

 

[hashcheck1]

It works just like win 32 flasher app we use. It writes a raw img file to SD. Becareful however as your intelnal microsd will show up aswell. Also op when gateway have multi rom support maybe add a option to copy to fat 32 per gateways standard when released and maybe Like the nes hunter pro app show our collections with the cover pics or even the banner pix inside the rom. (There is tools to extract these.