asciilifeform: ( i cannot rule out the possibility that it was built in cooperation with, or at the facility of , infineon; it is stamped 'TWN' so this is at least theoretically hinted )
asciilifeform: google baked it as a replacement for the infineon.
asciilifeform: it is not an infineon, this is more or less certain
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: to complete the picture, my initial interest in cr50 was in the debug functionality; the thing can override #WP signal and rewrite the EC and boot roms , via usb snake. so it'd be quite convenient to have access. however the factory firmware locks it.
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: i definitely noticed the change.
asciilifeform: |\n: only chromebook. afaik all recently-rolledout units, have it
asciilifeform: |\n: best suspicion thus far is that it is a 'hardcopy fpga' (cheap, relatively, method for getting chip baked, they apply a custom metallization mask to a stock crystal)
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: asciilifeform's orig plan was to sell cleansed c101pa machines. if this said cleansing requires lifting a bga, and attaching a manufactured replacement , we will be talking about considerably different cost than if the machines can be cleansed in 10min via software, via debug snake.
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: the way it is connected now, the box won't actually power up without it
asciilifeform: but conceivably you could , at some expense, come up with a pad-for-pad substitute, and lift the thing, then solder to the balls
asciilifeform: so far we know that it handles the power button signal; the reset magic combo on the kbd; and the 3.3v rail bringup. it also handles the usb debug functionality that you get with the cable linked earlier
asciilifeform: if these are found, and found to work, it is likely to be the shortest path to proper jailbreak
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: in re cr50, i am specifically interested in whatever factory test pads exist , with which the thing may be filled up with initial fw on manufacture
asciilifeform: ( the cr50 rom is ~not~ kept in the winbond spi rom where the boot loader ( google's crippled coreboot ) lives )
asciilifeform: all i've been able to find is that 1) it is an arm cortex-m , prolly licensed 2) started life as fpga ( see google's src, comments repeatedly refer to earlier vers as 'fpga' , then , later, 'g-chip' )
asciilifeform: but ideally yes, would strip it properly
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: even simple xray would give you basic info, such as the number of balls in the bga, and possibly the routes of the test pads (it ain't a very crowded pcb)
asciilifeform: and definitely interested in getting one xrayed. you got an xray machine, swiftgeek ?
asciilifeform: i am however accumulating a pile of c101pa boards
asciilifeform: swiftgeek: i do not currently have a 201
asciilifeform: you will get a (very limited, pretty much all you can do is to read version strings and gpio voltages) command prompt
asciilifeform: |\n: i noticed today that there is 0 discussion of cr50/h1 in ru net
asciilifeform: |\n: as trinque points out -- you will get much more enthusiastic audience if you introduce yourself, and register a key, establish as person
asciilifeform: |\n: recommend to read the logs, and make use of the search
asciilifeform: alternatively , somebody might give you voice, such as now , and you can speak for 30min.
asciilifeform: |\n: ideally, you go and register gpg key with deedbot. then , let's say i rate you, and then you can speak whenever you have something to say.
