Meta enables ADB on deprecated Portal devices [video]
Meta enables Android Debug Bridge (ADB) on deprecated Portal smart display devices, allowing custom development.
Andrew Bosworth, Meta's CTO, announced that developer tools shipped for Meta Quest now work on Portal devices. He demonstrated a custom home hub application built using these tools. The update enables ADB (Android Debug Bridge) access on Portal devices, allowing developers to build and sideload applications. A detailed blog post from Meta's developer site provides instructions for building apps using newly published AI skills that document the Portal's technical specifications and constraints.
What HN community is saying
Commenters welcomed the move as rare good news from Meta, though many noted the bittersweet context: Portal was a discontinued product that Meta had deprioritized. A former Meta researcher explained that the company had previously refused requests to open up the hardware due to concerns about leaked cryptographic keys on the device. Users reported mixed success enabling ADB in settings, with some noting it works despite UI quirks. Several discussed repurposing the hardware as a Linux kiosk or smart display alternative, citing its solid industrial design and speaker quality despite software abandonment.
Parallel discussion emerged about Amazon Echo devices facing similar restrictions, with users sharing that older Echo Show models already allow rooting and discussing AI tools for reverse engineering. Skepticism surfaced about the privacy implications of owning Meta hardware regardless of ADB access.