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TURN GOOGLE'S DEAD WHITEBOARD INTO A 55 INCH TABLET

Google sold the Jamboard for 4,999 dollars plus 600 dollars a year, then switched the service off. One rolled into a recycling center, and a LineageOS flash turned it into a 55 inch 4K Android tablet that runs Half-Life 2.

by Salem Techsperts

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

AutomationDisplays

difficulty
●●●○○
time
an evening
license
license not specified
repo
repo ACTIVE0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

The flash is manageable if you have unlocked a bootloader before, but follow the LineageOS guide exactly. The stock firmware must first be on the specific Android 7.0 build the wiki names (NRT1.240624.004); in the video Andy sideloaded the stock update first. Then you boot to fastboot (hold Power for 4 seconds with the device off), run fastboot oem unlock, flash the dtb image and Lineage Recovery, and sideload LineageOS from recovery. Andy's Windows 11 laptop would not see the device in fastboot; a Linux machine did. His first attempt used the Android TV build, which got stuck on a remote pairing screen because he had no remote, so use the tablet build. The result: a 55 inch 4K touchscreen Android tablet with 4 GB of RAM and 16 GB of storage that ran Half-Life 2, playable at 1080p. Rooting with Magisk did not work for him, and the built-in speakers were poor. The hard part is getting a Jamboard in the first place; this one was headed for scrap.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Official LineageOS 22.2 device (codename baracus_tab), maintained by npjohnson and webgeek1234.
  • —The LineageOS wiki has the install guide: firmware requirement, fastboot unlock, dtb and recovery flashing, sideload.
  • —Hardware needed: a Jamboard, a computer with adb and fastboot, and a micro USB cable.
  • —No hardware modifications: this is a software flash only.
  • —The video used an earlier unofficial build; follow the current official wiki instructions.
  • —The Jamboard service went offline-only on 1 October 2024 and data was deleted on 31 December 2024.

Parts to buy

3 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • JamboardFind
  • Micro USB cableFind
  • Computer with adb and fastbootFind

Can I build this?

Printnothing required
Buya Jamboard, a micro USB cable, a computer with adb and fastboot
Toolscomputer with adb and fastboot (Linux worked when Windows did not), micro USB cable, files from wiki.lineageos.org
Skillsintermediate: fastboot commands, bootloader unlocking, ROM flashing; if you have installed LineageOS on a phone, this is the same process
Timean evening for the flash; Andy spent about 3 more hours getting games running
Cost$: the Jamboard itself is the cost, the software is free; Andy's came from a recycling center
Safetynone beyond ordinary electronics care; this is a software flash. The board is very heavy, so get help moving it

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Google BRICKED Their $5000 Jamboard - I Turned it Into a 4K Android Gaming Tablet19:04

Salem Techsperts flashes a Jamboard that came in for recycling: stock firmware sideload, fastboot oem unlock, recovery and LineageOS flash (TV build first, then the tablet build), then Half-Life 2 at 4K and 1080p. The video used an unofficial build from before the device became official.

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Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the LineageOS install guide for the Jamboard (baracus_tab) (Official install guide for baracus_tab: firmware requirement, unlock, dtb and recovery flashing.)
  2. 2.Check the stock firmware version (The stock OS must be Android 7.0 build NRT1.240624.004 before you start. Enable USB debugging.)
  3. 3.Boot to fastboot and unlock the bootloader (With the device off, hold Power for 4 seconds to reach fastboot, check fastboot devices, then run fastboot oem unlock. This erases the device.)
  4. 4.Flash LineageOS recovery and ROM (Flash dtb.img, then Lineage Recovery, then sideload the LineageOS tablet build from recovery.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • Skipping the firmware requirement. LineageOS needs the stock Android 7.0 build NRT1.240624.004 installed first; the wiki warns the wrong firmware can cause install failure or damage.
  • Installing the Android TV build without a remote. Andy got stuck at the remote pairing screen and had to reflash the tablet build.
  • Fastboot on Windows can fail to detect the device. Andy's Windows 11 laptop did not see it; a Linux machine worked. Try other drivers, cables or another computer.
  • LineageOS does not include Google apps. If you want the Play Store, install a Google apps package following the LineageOS wiki before first boot.
  • Unlocking the bootloader erases everything on the device.

Is this legal?

Unlocking the bootloader with fastboot oem unlock is the standard method the LineageOS install guide documents for this device. Only do it on a unit you own or have permission to repurpose, and check local rules if you are unsure.

Will I get updates?

The Jamboard is now an official LineageOS device (codename baracus_tab, LineageOS 22.2) with weekly builds. The video used an earlier unofficial community build.

Can I still use it as a whiteboard?

Touch works under LineageOS, so any Android drawing app is an option, though Andy noted touch was not very accurate. The original Jamboard app and service are gone.

Where do I find a Jamboard?

Andy's came into a recycling center to be scrapped. They were sold to schools and businesses, so recycling centers and office clear-outs are the likely places.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

If you found one at a recycling center, would you flash it or part it out for the screen?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

Practical notes from our verification: the Jamboard is now an official LineageOS device (baracus_tab) with a public device tree on GitHub and an install guide on the wiki. The video used an earlier unofficial build, so follow the wiki, not the exact steps on screen. Two traps from the video: fastboot did not detect the device on Windows 11 but worked on Linux, and the Android TV build needs a remote, so use the tablet build. The hardest part is not the flash, it is finding a Jamboard.

Salem Techsperts

Andy from Salem Techsperts spotted the Jamboard after it rolled into the recycling center downstairs, brought it upstairs and flashed it instead of scrapping it. The LineageOS port for the Jamboard is maintained by npjohnson and webgeek1234.

Web

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  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
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