[Q] advantage of a custom kernel ? - Atrix 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

hey
just curius, what would the advantages be of a custom kernel for the atrix ?
normally i think custom roms is good if you have some flaws on the phone you want to fix (filesystem on SGS or too low internal memory on the desire) but the atrix is more or less perfect as it is so why do people complain so much about the locked bootloader ?

Get rid of blur, and anything that runs in the background you can't stop from running. Wifi hotspot without paying. Less lag. Less force closes. Those are a few possibilities.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Made2Last said:
Get rid of blur, and anything that runs in the background you can't stop from running. Wifi hotspot without paying. Less lag. Less force closes. Those are a few possibilities.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so basicly zero advantages since this can be done without a custom kernel ?

Pretty much xD
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PixoNova said:
Pretty much xD
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
i wonder why people complain so much about the locked bootloader then

Theres really not too much. My evo friends are always talking about how the custom kernals are more efficient but we have so much power its not an issue. They always have problems with there custom roms and kernals. Everything never works all the time.
But they could make our phone more customizable, the possibilites would be endless if we had a unlocked bootloader.

JayRolla said:
Theres really not too much. My evo friends are always talking about how the custom kernals are more efficient but we have so much power its not an issue. They always have problems with there custom roms and kernals. Everything never works all the time.
But they could make our phone more customizable, the possibilites would be endless if we had a unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah thats what i figured, custom kernels is good on the old phones lige galaxy s, htc desire etc.

jalabert said:
yeah thats what i figured, custom kernels is good on the old phones lige galaxy s, htc desire etc.
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Click to collapse
yeh i kind of think thats motos point with the locked BL basicaly there saying that there phones are good the way they are and don't need to be fuxed with.... personally i am pretty content with it as it.. just threw launcher pro on .. didnt even really freeze motoblur stuff with titanium(cuz i dont know how or what to freeze) but as for lag... never once had a problem with it.. even on the lapdock things run smooth as i could ask for.. great device... absolutely great... people can say what they will about moto... but i definitely think they stepped up there game with this device..

jalabert said:
hey
just curius, what would the advantages be of a custom kernel for the atrix ?
normally i think custom roms is good if you have some flaws on the phone you want to fix (filesystem on SGS or too low internal memory on the desire) but the atrix is more or less perfect as it is so why do people complain so much about the locked bootloader ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think one of the main advantages is a custom recovery. This allows for the easy implementation of roms, themes, and hacks via zips. Nandroid backups is another useful feature.
With custom kernals comes overclocking, undervolting, kernal optimizations, screen fixes, and many other tweaks.
The fuss about it is this....its our bloody phone. We pay hundreds of dollars for a device and should be able to what we want with it. Its the same as the sony vs geohot fiasco. Its our hardware, let us play.

The phone is great now. Id say the most powerful android device. But in six months or even a year from now there will be devices just as or more powerful on the market. Without kernel access devs can't fine tune or maximize the hardwares potential. So in six months when you could have the latest and greatest ported over to your atrix to keep up with tech trends well be stuck with what moto allows us to have.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

You can put stock gingerbread on the atrix?
Its nice to have the gingerbread notification status bar and keyboard in the roms available, but they didn't just change things cosmetically with GB.
Also what happens when Motorola stops supporting the device after maybe one big software release? Locked bootloader means no new version of android past what Moto may deliever us.
This hardware is quite capable, but that doesn't mean Moto won't release an Atrix 2 next year and but the next version of android on that and leave us out in the cold.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

I think one of the most important benefits is a fringe benefit - with an unlocked bootloader, more devs are motivated to work on the device and hence more customization options even though many of them don't really require a custom kernel.

Related

Why are YOU running a custom ROM?

So.. why are you running a custom ROM? Give reasons
I ran it because mainly of battery life and awesome speeds
Post yours here so maybe others will flash a custom ROM too.
You can also post what you personally do after you flashed if you'd like
draikz said:
So.. why are you running a custom ROM? Give reasons
I ran it because mainly of battery life and awesome speeds
Post yours here so maybe others will flash a custom ROM too.
You can also post what you personally do after you flashed if you'd like
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To fix what Samsung failed to do since the release.
Thank you XDA
Oh yeah that's also one of my reason
Sent from the dirty little green robot.
Mainly because roms make our phones like they should have been....I mean with a computer can you not custmise stuff the way you want? Why not a android also..That and because I am kind of a geek when it comes to making my phone opped out as much as possible...
And also because it helps the following scenario...lol:
Newish to android geeky girl walks up to me and says, "Oh, I see you have a Vibrant? That phone sucks because it doesn't have basic stuff like working GPS or Froyo." then I can reply by saying, "Mine does, here let me introduce you to the world of flashing...and no that's not a euphemism."
I wanted to be rooted and for some reason the stock rom didnt way to stay rooted so, bam, nero v3. No more un-rooting problems.
Stock is gay.
Custom is good.
Some guys tune thier cars & some guys tune their electronics.
its only natural to want to get your moneys worth out of a device.
I paid full price for my Vibrant (couldn't upgrade)
Had I not figured out how to load better roms.. I prolly would have thrown it through the window of the Tmobile store, or at the samsung corporate office.
Only because it uses some tweaks for speed up and fixes those little enjoying bugs?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
I run a custom rom so i can play Dungeon defenders smoothly.
I rooted because I wanted to try new apps that were only available on froyo. Other reasons were o wanted to unleash the full potential of this beast. Its much snappier with an improves battery life. I wanna say 'thank u samsung' for making me go ahead and root coz u were not willing to update ur flagship phone in a timely manner.
*** Sent from my Samsing Vibrant using xda app
I wanted to push this phone to the limit and you cant do it with stock.
Got tired of waiting on samsung to release froyo
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I'm surprised only over person did it to run froyo apps, haha.
Sent from the dirty little green robot.
i want to get what i paid for.. remove restrictions.. and yes i get bored a lot of times with the same stuff..
All the cool kids were doing it...
80% for Froyo
10% for speed
10% for battery life
10% for awesome factor
_____________________
110% reason to run custom
Speed. Lag fix and overclocking. I wouldn't have had a reason at all if Samsung didn't use RFS. I can honestly live without froyo, it is nice though. I probably still would have rooted anyway just because The only gizmo I haven't modded yet is my PS3. As soon as it's confirmed sony can't block psn use and there is a safe proven method to get back to stock it will be done.
draikz said:
So.. why are you running a custom ROM? Give reasons
I ran it because mainly of battery life and awesome speeds
Post yours here so maybe others will flash a custom ROM too.
You can also post what you personally do after you flashed if you'd like
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
because we are android smart phone users, not iphone users.
But then you can jailbreak an iphone and it will give nearly the same effect. Haha.
Sent from the dirty little green robot.
1. Tired of waiting for updates
2.battery life
3.improved performance
4.customization (steveie boy says people like iphones cause they're all the same,,,idiot)
5.I'm flash happy!
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] Locked Bootloader and Custom Roms

I've been looking around the web for a while and can't find an answer.
Does the locked-bootloader on the RAZR make it impossible to install a custom ROM on the phone?
I really want to get this phone but only if there is a chance I'll be able to put a custom ROM on it.
neurostu said:
I've been looking around the web for a while and can't find an answer.
Does the locked-bootloader on the RAZR make it impossible to install a custom ROM on the phone?
I really want to get this phone but only if there is a chance I'll be able to put a custom ROM on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a quote from a user on Rootzwiki about the locked bootloader (user Soapinmouth posted this, not me)
I disagree i think the razr is going to be the hottest selling Droid since the og. You have to remember the people that even know what a bootloader is are an extremely small % of buyers, and then there's those that do and still buy it like me.
In all honesty the locked bl is way overblown, id say a good 75% of the community has no idea what the locked bl even prevents.
It
DOES NOT prevent custom roms
DOES NOT prevent overclocking
DOES NOT prevent rooting
It
Does prevent custom kernals
Well that's a relief, so a chance MIUI would be on this bad boy?
ImAustinJacobM said:
Well that's a relief, so a chance MIUI would be on this bad boy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Miui and cm7 would need custom kernels, so no.
Sent from my skinny mopho o/c and all.
bricky23 said:
Miui and cm7 would need custom kernels, so no.
Sent from my skinny mopho o/c and all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although they did find a way to unlock the bootloader of the bionic so there is a chance they could find a way to unlock the RAZR too.....one can always hope!
Sent from my GT-P7510 using xda premium
bricky23 said:
Miui and cm7 would need custom kernels, so no.
Sent from my skinny mopho o/c and all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Droid x has both w/o custom kernels thru the magic of 2nd init.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
I cannot WAIT for overclock. Push this thing to 1.8GHz+ and I'll keep it the full two years. With proper memory management (custom user values and/or 4.0) this phone is as future proof as you're gonna find in the next 6-12 months. Who wants Samsung plastics and no Gorilla Glass?
Isn't overclocking going to be out of the question without a custom kernel?
sovrce said:
I cannot WAIT for overclock. Push this thing to 1.8GHz+ and I'll keep it the full two years. With proper memory management (custom user values and/or 4.0) this phone is as future proof as you're gonna find in the next 6-12 months. Who wants Samsung plastics and no Gorilla Glass?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol why would you want to OC that high? Only benefit you'd get are higher bench scores and maybe a few more fps in some games. Also imagine the heat as this phone alreayd runs fairly hot. I doubt there is anything in Android that requires even more than a 1ghz DC. Pretty much all the performance issues we see now are due to poor coding. Also the software doesn't atm doesn't have proper hardware acceleration I believe? iPhone 5 with a 800mhz DC, hell even a single core has a smoother UI than most Android phones. Not an apple fan or anything, just stating what I have seen and facts. Good example is the HTC Rezound is 300 mhz "faster" than the RAZR and the RAZR performs quite better. Hardware is nice yes, but it's nothing without the proper software optimizations. If we do get to overlock I'd probably just pump it to 1.4 - 1.5 , since I think atm that's the point before you get diminishing returns.
Edit: Speaking of temps battery/cpu are at like 103-104 while watching Netflix with full screen brightness. I wonder how high the clock speeds can go without bumping voltage.
bricky23 said:
Miui and cm7 would need custom kernels, so no.
Sent from my skinny mopho o/c and all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
disagree.. i had MIUI (official) and CM7 (unofficial port) on my Milestone 1 which had locked bootloader as well. and RAZR will get unlocked eventually, Motorola said that.
a.mcdear said:
Isn't overclocking going to be out of the question without a custom kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dx got over clocked too.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
It will get something no doubt. CM7 doesn't natively support webtop on atrix 4G so that would also apply for the razr...
Astrowe said:
....and RAZR will get unlocked eventually, Motorola said that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure the bootloader can be unlock ?
EVEALEX62 said:
Are you sure the bootloader can be unlock ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, Moto has explicitly said it will be unlockable so unless they were purposefully lying, I would say yes.
I read here (sorry it's in french forum) the bootloader is lock .... Because I must do a choice betwen GN and RAZR and I like more the Razr but if it s lock I chose the GN ....
When do you think we can say really if the bootlader is really lock or not ?
The BL is locked. However, it'll be unlocked with ICS update, coming in late december this year or january 2012.
The locked BL will make you unable to flash proper custom ROMs, only "hacked" ones and it isn't possible to make a decent and really performancewise custom ROM at the moment with a locked BL.
It will prevent you to install custom kernels, too.
Anyway, don't worry, from the statement Motorola made, if they won't unlock it with ICS (they will as they've done the same thing on ATRIX w/GB) they'll be suable as they've made a public statment confirming a thing that has made us to buy a 560 euros device.
Thanks for that, I hope because I prefer this phone ....
EVEALEX62 said:
Are you sure the bootloader can be unlock ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
positive, i'm absolutely sure it will get unlocked. Motorola already said that several times now..
So a locked bootloader will not prevent one from installing a custom ROM but only a custom kernel?
What's the difference between a ROM and kernel?
The XT720 is locked and had miui, overclocking and about a dozen roms.
Besides, I thought safestrap basically solves this problem for us?

A Sad Love story...

I used to be a crack addict... er a blackberry user.
The Bold 9000 was my pride, loved it to death, but it lacked a proper browsing experience and a proper camera with autofocus.
Switched over to the 9700 and still no proper camera and browsing experience.
Wind mobile released the Amaze 4g and I knew I had to have it. I was eyeing the sensation but paying $400-500 was turning me off, and the fact that I wouldn't have warranty as well.
Picked up the Amaze on Monday I believe.. HUGE upgrade from my 9700.
But the more I play with it... the more disappointed I'm getting. This is my first android phone, and I really hate the bloatware, and am kind of annoyed that my first experience with android wouldn't be a stock one so I could get to know the OS in and out before throwing in any theming/extra apps into the equation.
The bootloader is currently locked down with S-ON, which is surprising as hell because Telus unlocked its bootloader, and WIND advertises itself as being the transparent customer loving company that will do anything for its customers. And I know that there won't really be a way to get stock gingerbread without having bootloader unlocked soo...
I have 10 days to return the phone, and I need help making the decision. Return it and stick with my Bold 9700, and hope that it gets the Galaxy Nexus in the near future, or keep it and learn to love Sense.
You can unlock the bootloader from htc's site and one click root it. Bloatware is very easy to remove then and you don't have to switch roms. You can keep stock without the bloatware.
jimczyz said:
You can unlock the bootloader from htc's site and one click root it. Bloatware is very easy to remove then and you don't have to switch roms. You can keep stock without the bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That site doesn't support WIND Mobile Amaze 4gs...
It doesn't show any Amaze but it still unlocked mine. Did you try it?
Edit: I see where they list the T Mobile Amaze. Didn't when I unlocked mine.
jimczyz said:
It doesn't show any Amaze but it still unlocked mine. Did you try it?
Edit: I see where they list the T Mobile Amaze. Didn't when I unlocked mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope doesn't work. Doesn't give an error code or reason though.
I use to have the sensation which was a very similar phone to the amaze I was looking for reason to keep the amaze too. reason's why I kept the phone were because it just works. Usually every android phone I've had I wanted to fix something by rooting it and changing roms but with this one I haven't it has great features camera, screen size, looks and build quality etc... I'm not saying root is not needed but I am saying I like this over stock android there are still plenty of options to customize but it picks up where stock Android lacks and that's better features and looks. Stock android right now is ugly unless its a galaxy nexus which not everything has been fixed or made to look better sense has lots of better apps n features like the dialer, looks nice and can dial contacts by spelling the name stock dialer cant, camera is nicer with more options, drop down has quick options to turn on different things quickly, n there's more. This is why I kept it and like it because the reason cm7 exist is so stock android can be customized and have some options in OEM phones with custom uis like touchwiz or sense etc. So thats my two cents stock Android is great but it no longer carries the huge speed improvement that so many people were after before with dual core phones so unless your getting the galaxy nexus the amaze is great phone to keep and hopefully HTC keeps there word and updates us to ics or a dev brings us ics in the future.
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using XDA App
ebatr8 said:
I use to have the sensation which was a very similar phone to the amaze I was looking for reason to keep the amaze too. reason's why I kept the phone were because it just works. Usually every android phone I've had I wanted to fix something by rooting it and changing roms but with this one I haven't it has great features camera, screen size, looks and build quality etc... I'm not saying root is not needed but I am saying I like this over stock android there are still plenty of options to customize but it picks up where stock Android lacks and that's better features and looks. Stock android right now is ugly unless its a galaxy nexus which not everything has been fixed or made to look better sense has lots of better apps n features like the dialer, looks nice and can dial contacts by spelling the name stock dialer cant, camera is nicer with more options, drop down has quick options to turn on different things quickly, n there's more. This is why I kept it and like it because the reason cm7 exist is so stock android can be customized and have some options in OEM phones with custom uis like touchwiz or sense etc. So thats my two cents stock Android is great but it no longer carries the huge speed improvement that so many people were after before with dual core phones so unless your getting the galaxy nexus the amaze is great phone to keep and hopefully HTC keeps there word and updates us to ics or a dev brings us ics in the future.
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC widgets are cool, apploader is much nicer than touchwiz IMO, but it's the mass amount of HTC included apps that piss me off. That and random apps like flashlight that I'll never use.
Flashlights pretty useful here yo lol yea I could understand that but nothing rooting can't fix of course
Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using XDA App
There is no amaze listed when downloading the sync software. I picked the sensation and everything worked fine. You are mainly downloading the sync program for the drivers that are included.
Sent from my HTC Amaze 4G using XDA App
rbaruch said:
The bootloader is currently locked down with S-ON, which is surprising as hell because Telus unlocked its bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you talking about? How is the TELUS bootloader any more unlocked than the Wind one? And TELUS is S-ON too. They all are.
marleyfan61 said:
What are you talking about? How is the TELUS bootloader any more unlocked than the Wind one? And TELUS is S-ON too. They all are.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I meant to say is your phone's boot loader is at least unlocked. I'm unable to Flash custom roms or root
Actually the telus bootloader can no longer be unlocked so we're in the same boat.
Sent from my HTC Amaze using XDA App

What are the chances of Custom recovery, ROMs and Kernels on this phone?

Have been an Android user since November 2009 when I got my OG Droid, was rooted and ROMed in January after the 2.0.1 update came out and dev's cracked it. I really want a Note 2 but want to be sure we will see ROMs, Kernels and recoveries. From reading the Dev section it seems SBOOT is locked and we can't even get kexec at this point. It sounds like the VZW version may just be locked down too tight to get anything other than just Root. So, given all this, what do you guys think is the liklihood of use seeing custom ROMs, kernels and recoveries on the VZW Note 2?
bose301s said:
Have been an Android user since November 2009 when I got my OG Droid, was rooted and ROMed in January after the 2.0.1 update came out and dev's cracked it. I really want a Note 2 but want to be sure we will see ROMs, Kernels and recoveries. From reading the Dev section it seems SBOOT is locked and we can't even get kexec at this point. It sounds like the VZW version may just be locked down too tight to get anything other than just Root. So, given all this, what do you guys think is the liklihood of use seeing custom ROMs, kernels and recoveries on the VZW Note 2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROMs is fairly easy. The way the phone was rooted is how one would also do a custom ROM at this point. If we are to get more than that, we're going to need to find a way to unlock the bootloader, which so far, has been futile, but it was also people that have never really done it before trying. Hopefully, an unlock method is found, and we can then go with custom recoveries and kernels, along with easier to flash custom ROMs.
imnuts said:
Custom ROMs is fairly easy. The way the phone was rooted is how one would also do a custom ROM at this point. If we are to get more than that, we're going to need to find a way to unlock the bootloader, which so far, has been futile, but it was also people that have never really done it before trying. Hopefully, an unlock method is found, and we can then go with custom recoveries and kernels, along with easier to flash custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So they would have to be just custom versions of the stock ROM correct, since you would have to continue using the stock kernel. Is AOSP basically impossible without unlocking the boot loader and getting custom kernels? I don't want to have to rely on VZW and Samsung for updates, at their pace 4.3 will be out and this will still be on it's current 4.1.1.
just gotta wait for a leak from someone important....hopefully it doesn't take as long as it did for the s3!
bose301s said:
So they would have to be just custom versions of the stock ROM correct, since you would have to continue using the stock kernel. Is AOSP basically impossible without unlocking the boot loader and getting custom kernels? I don't want to have to rely on VZW and Samsung for updates, at their pace 4.3 will be out and this will still be on it's current 4.1.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could do something that looks like AOSP, but no, I don't think you could get true AOSP until we get custom kernels.
I've been in Android for a few years now, and I've always defaulted towards AOSP since I hate the heavy overlays that these OEM's place on our devices, but this is the FIRST time in a long time that I will be saying this: why would you even want custom ROM's for this device?
I mean that, honestly. It's perfect. Sure it's nice to get root and modify certain things, but for the most part I don't see any 3rd party ROM trumping stock for this phone. Just the S Pen alone is reason enough to never want to leave stock.
I wasn't really lurking the Note 1 ROM scenes so I don't know how well developers were able to port S Pen functionality over to ROM's like CM10 etc, but I don't imagine they'd ever be able to fully integrate it to the level it is on stock.
And given the immense battery life, top notch performance on stock, I don't see a need to "trim the proverbial fat" of the actual firmware anyway. It's just, perfect.
You can have custom ROMs without getting rid of spen features. I agree with you that I wouldn't want an AOSP ROM but shaving a little weight off this thing wouldn't hurt
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Honestly, I'm just waiting for a rom that's debloated, deodexed, has unlimited multiview, wifi toggle, adjustable homescreen, etc. etc. Nothing major, unless some one comes up with some neat ideas on how to integrate the S Pen into the ROM for a better user experience. We've got a good dev community, so I remain optimistic that something cool will come our way.
i agree...i see no need for aosp on this device at this time. just need root and hopefully cwm recovery. samsung has touchwiz dialed in pretty well. however aosp will have its place when this device quits getting updates.
I'd just like it open and custom kernels I don't mind touchwiz on this type of device
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Honestly the S Pen is NOT at all what is drawing me to this phone, really couldn't care less about it to be honest. What IS drawing me to this phone is the bigger screen from my G-Nex, the faster processor, the bigger battery and the improved screen. Also the improved radios and data conenction from the notoriously bad G-Nex radios is a huge draw, but none of this is about the S Pen. I know I may be in the minority with my opinion here, but that's at least what I want, and to be honest, when is having more ROMs for a device worse than having less That's why I want AOSP ROMs and custom kernels etc.
bose301s said:
Honestly the S Pen is NOT at all what is drawing me to this phone, really couldn't care less about it to be honest. What IS drawing me to this phone is the bigger screen from my G-Nex, the faster processor, the bigger battery and the improved screen. Also the improved radios and data conenction from the notoriously bad G-Nex radios is a huge draw, but none of this is about the S Pen. I know I may be in the minority with my opinion here, but that's at least what I want, and to be honest, when is having more ROMs for a device worse than having less That's why I want AOSP ROMs and custom kernels etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
But I will admit that I am PLEASANTLY suprised at how nice TW is. With an AOSP JellyBean launcher and lock screen I am really enjoying this thing. I am not sure what could really improve this bad boy other than some cleaned up stock ROM and OC kernel.
Sent from my Super Famicom
xxxxmarkxxx said:
I'd just like it open and custom kernels I don't mind touchwiz on this type of device
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I'd a custom kernel going to give you over stock performance? A few added features maybe, but it didn't seem like this phone needs undervolting or overclocking.
bose301s said:
Honestly the S Pen is NOT at all what is drawing me to this phone, really couldn't care less about it to be honest. What IS drawing me to this phone is the bigger screen from my G-Nex, the faster processor, the bigger battery and the improved screen. Also the improved radios and data conenction from the notoriously bad G-Nex radios is a huge draw, but none of this is about the S Pen. I know I may be in the minority with my opinion here, but that's at least what I want, and to be honest, when is having more ROMs for a device worse than having less That's why I want AOSP ROMs and custom kernels etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aosp roms are the hardest to get on cdma devices, plus isn't this chip a new one as well? Many hurdles to jump over before that happens.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2
If we could have per app DPI on TW, that would be really cool. I'm confident we'll get this thing unlocked soon enough tho.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
im with the others...im very impressed at this UI of this phone. i would like a recovery and perhaps and overclock but the overclock isnt even needed IMO. other than that (thought id never say this) the stock rom nailed it. its apparent the people at samsung not only know what they are doing but listen to the consumer. i dont know how many of you are boaters but phones are like boats. you will never find the perfect one. however judging from the reviews so far this is about as close as it comes...from my point of view anyway..
and to think i was hesitant about getting it. i stood in the store for 30 minutes contemplating it. the rep was about to give up when i said "okay im pulling the trigger". first time i have ever bought a phone and not been 100% sure when i walked through the door.
I guess I have also been spoiled by the phones I have had, the OG Droid and the Galaxy Nexus, honestly I don't think any one phone has had a bigger and more vibrant community than the OG Droid, not even the Galaxy Nexus. I would like to be able to stay on the cutting edge of Android though, knowing that if a new version is released I should have it within 24-48 hours if not less. I am using 4.2.1 on my Nexus and quite like it, seems even smoother than 4.1.2 and also like the few new features, mainly the quick settings panel and PhotoSphere. I know the Galaxy series was one of the originators of the quick setting panel but I like Google's implementation quite a bit. Would just be weird to give up using CM after doing so for almost 3 years now. All decisions to consider. May pick up the phone at Best Buy and see if I like it an return it if I still prefer the Nexus.
There is a thread about them trying to get CM10 on the Note 2, but the VZW version might be the hardest.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2019535
Would it be useful to start a bounty for a bootloader unlock and custom recovery or for CM and AOSP on it? If so I would donate, just wondering what you all think.
I have said in a lot of devices forums in the past that the amount people will be able to do is proportional to the amount of effort and the support the communities give. In this case you guys have already bought adamOutler a phone, and he has torn it down, we have started to analyze the bare bones, and I'm sure hes looking for an unbreakable mod. With this being said lets address a couple of the questions at hand:
First off it does not look like their will be an easy fix to the fact that the bootloader is locked. The way that it looks in the white paper are their are efuses that are used as both a hardware key and possibly a configuration bit. Once this is set it cannot be unset. All hope is not lost though. With adam's UART he has found a couple loading points that might be inject a new bootloader and kernels and such there. However this is a shot in the dark, as it utilizes the fact that there is some security code loopholes in the boot chain to allow for injections.
Secondly there is always the possibility of custom roms. Using subsystems such as 2ndboot and such you can always make it so that you load a new system image onto the existing one, though this means longer boot up times. Also there is another cool thing out there called kexec (this may or may not be enabled in the default kernel). If enabled in the kernel, the kernel can shut down proc1 and then re initiate with a new kernel ontop of it. If properly coded all phones with the root ability have the ability to do this if they can issue a kexec. Kexec has been ported over to many phones, and some of which dont have kexec enabled in the existing kernel. This makes it so EVERY DEVICES THAT HAS ROOT HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO HAVE CUSTOM ROMS. However with kexec not being enabled on ever phone, it makes it hard to program ever phone to have the right kernel injection points.
The last thing is that to the best of my knowledge the bootloader code is not public, which makes it very hard to find vulnerabilities, however it does not mean that they never get found. Time. Time is all we ask for, as this is not our only job and it takes alot of hard work from devs free time to work and develop. With all that being said im sure in time someone some where will find a link.
Wondering if there is any way I can help. I am not new to Android, however I have never gone past using already fully known and documented things, standard rooting etc. I am interested in getting to know things better so if I can be of any help let me know.
Man I think this will be the last time I buy a Samsung phone from Verizon. The way they force samsung to lock down the bootloader is crazy.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

Root or not?

Man just got the s4 and this thing is just fabulous I dont even know if its worth rooting. Can anyone elaborate how much different this device is with a custom rom?
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Better. Root or return. You're on a developer forum.
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Ok will root then good enough lol
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Root it because you may need root access at some point or another
Sent from my DROID RAZR using xda premium
I'm coming from two "less-than-flagship" phones, the Droid Eris and Droid Incredible 2. Both had shortcomings in the performance department, and were completely neglected for updates (DINC2 is still on Gingerbread.) My main reasons for rooting were:
1. Latest Android features and versions
2. Better performance
3. Removing Verizon apps that I didn't want (NFL mobile, Verizon apps, etc.)
4. Amazing customization opportunity and a variety of rom types to try (AOSP, PA, AOKP, MIUI, etc.)
For the S4 in the week I've owned it, I can cross 1 off the list for sure. Right now this phone is running the latest and greatest version of Android. So upgrading for a newer version is not possible.
Performance would, unfortunately, improve with a custom rom. I say unfortunately because it should be really hard to code a launcher that makes this beast lag. But I've definitely noticed some delay/stuttering while stock. Obviously this thing is lightyears faster than both of my prior smartphones.
Removing apps I don't want and further customizing the phone is a big lure, though. I think I will ultimately root, but I'm waiting to see how the roms and mods evolve. I have to hand it to our devs, though. This thing is attracting a TON of action, and I have no doubts we'll see some great roms.
I hope my experience helps a bit, though it was a bit long.
I rooted for one reason. That being said it was a pretty big reason (for me) and all the other options didn't hurt in making the decision.
The biggest problem I had with the phone was that you are limited to using only certain apps if you want to run multiple apps on the screen at the same time. As far as I know the only way around this is to root it.
If you decide to root don't attempt it 10min before you need to leave for work like I did. I suppose if you've done it before you could run through the process pretty quickly but the first time requires some patient attention to detail and time enough to trouble-shoot unexpected problems. I had to go a day without my phone till I had time to correct my mistakes.
I would do it. I did last night and it was very simple with the all in one tool. If you aren't into crazy modding, theming, and such, im sure there will be several roms that will be directed towards people that want as close to stock as possible without all the bloat and better performance/battery life.
Sent from my rooted Galaxy S4 via tapatalk 2.

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