---- datatemplateentry project ----
template : projects:display_template
title : Hacking a 'Video Brochure'
shorttitle : Video Brochure Hacks
participants_ : [[people:raphael_wimmer|]]
keywords_ : video brochure,
status_ : ongoing
start : 27.07.2023
end :
photo_img :
shortdescription : Documentation of our efforts to reverse-engineer, repurpose, and hack a 'video brochure'.
abstract : Documentation of our efforts to reverse-engineer, repurpose, and hack a 'video brochure' - a cardboard brochure with an embedded video player board based on the Actions Semiconductor V100 chip
----
more to come...
- Other names: video brochure, video business card
- Price (new): [about 10-30 €](https://edv-werbeartikel.de/videokarten-broschueren/video-visitenkarte.html)
## Hardware
- **Display:** GL1043026-N6 4.3 inch, 480x272 px RGB
- **CPU:** [Actions Semiconductor V100](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/actions-semiconductor-launches-the-v100-chipset-for-personal-3d-cinema-headsets-300313216.html) (MIPS-based, \video decoding support) (datasheet)
- **RAM:** Hynix, tbd
- **NAND Flash:** [Samsung K9F1G08U0D-SCB0](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Samsung_K9F1G08U0D-SCB0.jpg), 1 Gb / 128 MB
## Hacks / Mods
### Playing the video(s) in a loop
Here's the simple hack that will allow the video to loop: Create a 1-byte text file. Rename it and change the extension to "z.mpg". Put the file in the card's video directory. On my card from last year, the video directory has a slightly different name.
Here's how it works: The card's operating system plays every video in the directory, in alphabetical order, then it stops. If it does not recognize the video format, it goes back to the first file and plays everything again. It will do this until you unplug it.
[BillsBayou on Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/df4f8x/comment/f8qfwey/?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
## Further reading
Video Brochures:
- [Reddit: How to repurpose LCD of a video brochure and add an HDMI port?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/pe73j3/how_to_repurpose_lcd_of_a_video_brochure_and_add/) (2021)
- [Reddit: Upcycling some stupid freebie: if you open the card a promotional video (with sound!) is played. Is there a way to get access to the storage? (more description in comments)](https://www.reddit.com/r/diyelectronics/comments/jr9g48/upcycling_some_stupid_freebie_if_you_open_the/) (2020)
- [Reddit: Circuit board from a video ad that Lenovo mailed to me. What is this IC?](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskElectronics/comments/df4f8x/circuit_board_from_a_video_ad_that_lenovo_mailed/) (2019)
- [Stack Overflow: Where can I find more information on this mysterious IC? (V100 ZJ51VMP)](https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/463323/where-can-i-find-more-information-on-this-mysterious-ic-v100-zj51vmp) (2019)
- [Thingiverse: Marketing Video Player Enclosure](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4755435) (STEP / STL)
- [Short overview of V100 IC](http://www.zxfelec.com/mainchip-v100.html)
- [Tweakers.net: Wat is dit voor minicomputertje?](https://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_messages/1832569) (2018, different IC!)
- [Electronic Junk Mail Teardown](https://www.bigmessowires.com/2017/05/08/electronic-junk-mail-teardown/) (2017, different IC!)
- [Imgur: Can anybody identify this board?](https://imgur.com/gallery/FJc25) (2015, different IC!)
- [Hackaday Forums: Parts scavenging from promotional flyer w/video player (!)](https://web.archive.org/web/20170908213644/http://forums.hackaday.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5038) (2014, different IC!)
Misc:
- [Reverse Engineering MIPS Bootloader](https://reverseengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/11096/reverse-engineering-mips-bootloader)
- [Reverse engineering an obfuscated firmware image E02 – analysis](https://sviehb.wordpress.com/2011/09/09/reverse-engineering-an-obfuscated-firmware-image-e02-analysis/)
- [Dumping a NAND flash - Part 1](https://maehw.wordpress.com/2017/04/07/dumping-a-nand-flash-part-1/)