A hacker named GaryOderNichts, known for reverse engineering work on the Wii U, has successfully managed to run custom code on Nintendo's Alarmo device without physically opening it up. This achievement was accomplished using just a USB connection.
The process involved decrypting the clock's firmware and uploading it to an external USB. When the Alarmo searches for the file and can't find it, it becomes possible to load encrypted firmware binaries into the device. GaryOderNichts demonstrated this by displaying a picture of a cat on the Alarmo's screen.
This breakthrough has opened up possibilities for customizing the Alarmo. Some enthusiasts are already speculating about running DOOM on the device, as it's become a tradition to port this game to various unconventional platforms.
The Alarmo is powered by an STM32 microcontroller, the same chip used in the Game & Watch Zelda Edition. To facilitate this hack, wires were soldered to the SWD debug pins, allowing access to registers and memory using a program called "OpenOCD". However, there are limitations due to the STM32 being readout protected, which prevents direct examination of the internal flash memory.
While the current capabilities are limited, this proof-of-concept demonstrates that the Alarmo has potential for running custom software. GaryOderNichts is continuing work on bypassing further security measures, including getting past the RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) and Secure Access Mode.
It's worth noting that these modifications are unofficial and not supported by Nintendo. The primary intended use of the Alarmo remains as a sleep aid and alarm clock device.
Looking into the Nintendo Alarmo
While everyone was waiting on news for the successor of the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo released the Alarmo. A small plastic alarm clock that ...
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Random: Someone's Figured Out How To Run Custom Code On Nintendo's Alarmo
And now people want DOOM on there, because of course they do
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