[Q] New android user + SGSII - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi all
I am placing an order for the SGS II. Was previously an iOS4 user now switching to Android for superior performance
I was wondering what should I do/modify when I first get my SGS2 ? I am reading a bit on rooting (is this the jailbreak term for android..??). I want to download free games and apps like Whatsapp and Tapatalk.
Which rom should I be looking at ? Lite'ning ? CM7 ? Or should I just leave it stock Gingerbread 2.3 or whatever ? I want the best performance out of my SGS2 and should I be overclocking it? Maybe not coz I want awesome battery life as well..
What advice or suggestions would you seasoned folks give me ?

Hi and Welcome to xda.
You wont need to root to achieve what you want but it will open up a world of possibilities. To install any app you just have to tick unknown sources within applications in the settings.
All the info about rooting can be found here :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
which will include clockwork recovery which is a recovery image that will allow you to flash mods/kernels/roms etc. It has a bunch of other features like nandroid backup (backup your whole system and recover it at any point), wipe battery stats and much more.
Here is what my Galaxy S2 has consumed today which has made it more pleasing for me :
[26/7][XXKG3] VillainROM 2.3 for SGS2 < The ROM Noonski couldn't drain the battery on
followed by the latest modem which is within that thread.
[Kernel][GPL] Ninphetamine-2.0.2 - Now with 100% less Samsungyness
[MOD] CirclesMod - stock KE2, KF1, KG1/2, CM7, Villain, Cognition, Lite'ning, TK In blue
6/26-Update-Pendo's TransBlue Market (flashable zip)
and finally one of my own :
Black dialer for KE4/KE7/KE8/KF1/Villain
Overclocking is not necessary imo with this phone as its fast enough for me as it is at the moment and I don't want any extra battery drain.
I hope some of this helps.

I was exactly in youe situation last week, switching from i4 to SGS2.
Now I've bit the bullet, and have both.
If you're looking for superior performance...hahaha! is all I can say.
Keep in mind the following:
-stock firmware will not get you to 24h of battery life. More like 16-17h.
-operating system still has to catch up with iOS in terms of speed and fluidity
-if you're coming from iOS, please be aware that on Android you cannot configure Yahoo Mail or Hotmail on push, only IMAP pull.
-music management is a joke compared to iOS, even on third-party players as PowerAmp. Android has an issue with coverart, tags are not transferred correctly, playlists are...let's say barbaric compared to iPod & Co.
I am not unhappy that I tried Android on the best Android device out there today, it's only that it has its drawbacks compared to iOS.

Let me get this right. I can only have 1 root (jailbreak) and multiple roms (addons) ?

1- You can have multiple Custom ROM's without rooting. You should do rooting, if you want to access system files (like Administrative mode) and mod them and etc. I'd advice you to root.
2- Each and every ROM has it's own feature and drawbacks, so that depends on you which you want more. I, for myself, always use Stock ROM.
3- As you are new to Android (like me), I'd suggest you to not flash this and that whenever you want. Just keep it simple to get the best.
All above are only IMO, others may and will vary.
Regards.

dtancu said:
I was exactly in youe situation last week, switching from i4 to SGS2.
Now I've bit the bullet, and have both.
If you're looking for superior performance...hahaha! is all I can say.
Keep in mind the following:
-stock firmware will not get you to 24h of battery life. More like 16-17h.
-operating system still has to catch up with iOS in terms of speed and fluidity
-if you're coming from iOS, please be aware that on Android you cannot configure Yahoo Mail or Hotmail on push, only IMAP pull.
-music management is a joke compared to iOS, even on third-party players as PowerAmp. Android has an issue with coverart, tags are not transferred correctly, playlists are...let's say barbaric compared to iPod & Co.
I am not unhappy that I tried Android on the best Android device out there today, it's only that it has its drawbacks compared to iOS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are mostly drawbacks from running stock as opposed to iphone. Iphones are "plug and play" smartphones, android is... Depending on your needs. As for playlist support, built in it can be a pain, but then again you're coming from a very restrictive environment to a very permissive one... So you're bound to have snags.

Should I root to a Lite'ning ROM out of the box or just try stock first ??
I have heard some good things about Lite'ning

i would use stock for about a week to understand what you're modifying and whats android really like . then go play around with roms. what roms you ask? specifically ones that have big changes to start with. I.E. stock android (no TW), MIUI, CM7, etc etc.
once you understand the majority of your options, you can delve into lesser things like roms with more specific/personal modifications .
the idea is to have you understand your options since android is such an open system, you have a loooot of choices
I'm all up for fair comparisons, but please don't mind the iOS comments. not because of what it says but because:
1.) it isn't the topic of this thread
2.) he seems to be a beginner as well, but without the open attitude like you do to learning about android.

Related

Requests for Michy's next ROM graphics

====
EDIT: As Michy has asked for graphics requests, he apparently already has something in mind for his 5.2 / 6.0. Yea! So be sure to post with any requests as to what you want the next ROM to look like.
====
You have to hand it to Michy. 4.1 and 5.1 are both fast, smooth, and (almost completely) trouble-free ROMs with tons of useful programs. And for both SPLs!
To tell the truth, until I flashed 4.1, I had regretted HardSPLing my device. Most of the ROMs I tried up until then were troublesome and just as slow as my stock WM6.0.
So in a way, this post is thanks to Michy. Gran bel lavoro Michy!
In another way, it is a request for something new. I know I am not the only one on this forum that gets nervous if he hasn't flashed a new ROM this month... I'm feeling the itch! I need my fix!
Anyway, thought it might be interesting to see what kind of ROM people wanted. Give your vote and comments please.
hi,
please just add your graphic-style request, so i can have an idea for a 5.2/6.0.
bye
Michael,
Good to see you are considering a new rom. In truth your 5.1 seems flawless and it's hard to imagine how much better you can make it. Thanks for your great work.
One suggestion I would give to make your next ROM easier to understand is: if you are going to include lots of apps like you usually do, it might be a good idea to put them in folders in the start menu according to their usage.
A Multimedia folder could contain YouTube Player, TCPMP, MP3Trimmer, Camera, Audio Manager, and Album links.
VoipCall, Slick, Messenger, Fring, Flash SMS, Call Firewall and others could be grouped in a Communications folder.
And some things like FTouchFlo, GSen CFG, GSen, GSenToggle, IContactConfig, PDM, PocketScreen, PIM Backup, PsShutXP, QuickGPS, RegEditor, SIM Manager, SynchroTime etc, etc, could easily be put in the Tools folder you usually include.
By doing this, you allow the person using the ROM to have easier access to the programs that they install. Because people are more likely to frequently use the programs that they install, rather than ones that come pre-installed.
Another suggestion is about the applications you include with your ROMs. I think I understand your logic in including lots of apps: the space is there in the ROM, so you might as well use it as long as the apps don't degrade performance. That's strong logic, and I agree with it. My suggestion is to only include apps that have reached a developmental dead-end; i.e. apps that are stable, and are no longer currently being developed. For example TCPMP, VNCViewer, and DotFred's Task Manager aren't updated very frequently - they make perfect additions to your ROM. Other apps, like YouTube, Manila 2D/3D, S2U2, ThrottleLauncher etc, are still in active development and can/should be updated from time to time. It is possible to update and install over the apps in the ROM, but then you have just wasted that space in the ROM.
As far as graphics are concerned, I am of two minds.
1) I have always really liked the touch/kaiser grey-on-white-with-blue-highlights. Very professional.
2) However, recently I have flashed my Hermes with PDACorner's Pro V.25 and I really appreciate the usefulness of the colors he uses in his status bar. Colors like that would really be useful against the flat black bars of the DiamondVGA.tsk you always include... They take a little getting used to, but make it really easy to know what is going on with your phone with simply a glance.
And this is a light and robust little Comm Manager that looks great with the skin in post eight.
And as always, thanks for your consideration. I wish I had the time, patience and talent to build such ROMs.
Not much more to add from my side, thanks larsuck!
- Make it as fast as possible without losing 5.1 stability
- Ahm...make both startup gifs like the ones from AP4.0, just with your name (I know, plagiate, but it looks great)
- Real-VGA, all programs/thumbnails should work and look according to chosen dpi, especially with 128dpi (seems to be the best choice)
- Remove time&date permanently from taskbar, so that all buttons can be seen and clicked without problems
- In short: please make it look like the original x7510 screen
Program wishes: maybe some program for real contacts import/export with edit-function on PC, I'm currently using xmlcontactsbackup but perhaps there are better choices.
Many thanks
just to renew my ROMs, i'm going to make a 5.1 Last Build Edition, with the last build i found on xda (20921). If this build will work well.......you'll have a new rom to falsh
There we go again weare just a bunch of rom addicts,lol, so far I been playing wit 5.1 is nice and respond qick only problems found so far is the bluetooth stack, (if the new build has something as AP4 Ill be in heaven) and Slic if I try to use it will give a BSD with a message saying fatal system exception or something, that was funny because it was the first time I have seen a BSD in WM, no a biggie for my I just do not use the app .
The programs included are useful but I rather get rid of duplicates e.g if you think icontact is better than stock contact manager get rid of the stock one( Im not complaining on that ,you have done a good job there so far).
the graphics just keep them consistent across the rom e.g not a black today a green communications and a white phone screen.
And if touchflow 3D was included working reliably that would be a plus.
Larsuck mention below to add mature apps only to the rom, I do not agree, why, because we will flash to newer roms during the development of the app so if a rom has the latest opera and a newer one appear we will have a newer rom sooner with the newer opera or whatever anyway, and because when a app reach its end of development time usually means that there are newer apps better and so its no point to keep developing the oldest ones ( not always the case) so as long the apps in the rom are solid stable just include what you think is useful.
Great job Michi and many thanks
I ask for two things...but only one is possible me thinks.
If you could get hootgaming working on your next rom, now that would be something. Something tells me it won't be possible as getting hold of the client .cab for winmob seems rather difficult.
Back in reality...I tend to use Claunch on my today screen as it works well but the only buttons that are any good tend to be based on the Iphone. Any app like this with an original button interface would be fantastic.
Keep up the good work.

EnergyROM "Business" Edition

I'm thinking of another ROM line, to be good enough to use for business (so it has to be very stable) and with toned down, professional graphics. This will very much be a "clean" ROM, with no extra BS apps or addons. Can I hear some suggestions please ?
Looking forward to it..
As you already know, I'm not a huge fan of the HTC apps/enhancements, so I would leave those out with the option of installing via cab, or have them in the ROM with a working toggle to turn them off.
I would say do as many of the "under the hood" tweaks you can do without sacrificing stability.
As for graphics, I already like your taskbar in your WM6.5 series, and I think that could stay. I'm not sure what changes you would have in mind for graphics, but I think the graphics you have now are pretty clean.
Are you thinking of a WM6.5 ROM or a WM6.1 ROM? I didn't see that mentioned, so I thought I would ask since you've done both in the past.
i think you should go with stock graphics people customize if they choose. my ideal business rom would be like juicy's cdma one
"It's business, It's business time!" - Flight of the Conchords
I think this is a GREAT idea. Would this be 6.1 or 6.5? 6.5 is very close to being capable of generating a "stable" ROM.
Even though this is business oriented, I think anyone would much appreciate the style (icons, themes, graphics) that you put into your ROMs. Same would hold true for most of the enhancements. Maybe trim down some of the fluff.
simple is the Best
go for it am sure will be a good Rom.
Good Luck
WOW, another one. jeez, you gonna be busy LOL. I get frustrated sometimes with just the one version. More power to ya
What about a stock looking version? I know some people would like a ROM that is much better than the crappy one that comes preinstalled. I think you might get a lot of hits from a lighter ROM that looks semi-stock. As stable as stock, but with all the enhancements and tweaks you can squeeze into it. Possibly a 6.5 and 6.1 version.
I think it's a very good idea and in my opinion the ROM must be based on WM 6.1. Email/SMS/MMS/Vido call/WIfi/ must work without a hitch. You could include opera 9.7b and maybe IE 8.
These are my suggestions. Merci.
P.S. i only use your roms!
mdalacu said:
I think it's a very good idea and in my opinion the ROM must be based on WM 6.1. Email/SMS/MMS/Vido call/WIfi/ must work without a hitch. You could include opera 9.7b and maybe IE 8.
These are my suggestions. Merci.
P.S. i only use your roms!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Newer versions of PIE only work with 6.5 as far as I know. I agree that the most stable ROM is going to be 6.1, but if you go with 6.5 I would suggest an older build. 23001 seems like a turd to me. Went back to 21820 and its twice as fast with no bugs.
3 important things for a business ROM:
1. As clean as possible (only essential progs. installed, like Pim Backup, Adobe Reader, Pocket RAR, Google Maps, GPS Test)
2. Stable = reliable
3. Good battery life
jmckeejr said:
23001 seems like a turd to me. Went back to 21820 and its twice as fast with no bugs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol i know what you mean
I have reverted back to 21018. After playing around with 4 later builds and a little go with 6.5 I am back here to old faithful. Very fast, battery burns lean, and every build i have tried later than this had some problem or other. slow/buggy or battery destroyer.
Easy to Use Dialer
Dialer:...................Accurate - consistent - easy to use - good speaker phone / mute / automated menu support
Three interfaces:....TF3D2 – Titanium – Win Phone Basic Text interface
Graphics:...............Clean with color - Landscape mode 6.1 style (quick easy buttons) Portrait Mode Action softkey
GPS:.....................Good stand alone support (no data plan)
MMS:....................Support for the largest attachments the carriers will allow
SMS:....................Good support for text conversations
Weather:...............Good support for text and graphic reports in all interfaces
Stocks:.................Good support for text and graphic reports in all interfaces
Wifi / Networking:...Corporate and HotSpot support
Programs Tab:........(TD3D2) 3 or 4 column option with app names under icons
Good battery life Business does not mean Boring – It means Practical Predictable Performance​​
Apps
I would say:
Remote Desktop
World Card
Adobe Reader
Office Suite (obviously)
Google Maps AND Live Search
All of the basics for GPS- QuickGPS, aGPS settings, etc.
Live Messenger (for Office Communicator support)
Those are the 'business' tools that I use most. Does that help?
yes yes yes
thank you for start takeing this as trend
please under the hood basic application
some applications in my rom i cant even remember when i used them
the most imprtant is Battary vs application ( i have charger at the car,home , office., .......poof....)
any small clock tic will eat somthing from the phone
Ram and heat.
my x1 cracked because of the heat, my ear after a good call get fride.
some rams goes above 60%
example i tried yesterday to put my phone in full withe new cocked rom( backlight full and battery power on ) the battarey draind in less than 2 hours, without any call or sms ... nothing
but applications like email,office,sms,organizer and contacts will be fine
yes please Business Edition is great what ever under the hood
Loved the Energy Rom3......but it was lacking (I could not find anyways) Voice Command applet. I use blue-tooth headset continually and have calls/messaging/reminders etc routed thru blue-tooth headset. Would love to see that in the business edition. That's mostly what this phone is used for.
bassam said:
example i tried yesterday to put my phone in full withe new cocked rom... ...nothing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those **** roms are terrible...
This is an awesome idea... The chrome version was cool... but perhaps more emphasis on productivity. A nice action screen that brings up all of the things you would use on a daily basis and keeps them right at your fingertips... I know I need to take notes at a moments notice in my job... and it's hard to get things where I need them to be sometimes...
Also contacts and appointments are of the utmost importance... Constantly scheduling things and changing them around, it's nice to have things in an easily accessible spot...
Though I don't spend much time on the phone lately... I would imagine bluetooth would be crucial as well... and having as much control from the headset as possible would also be nice...
Then of course some "hey check me out *****es" graphics and apps that are streamlined and professional looking enough to show your boss when you pull the phone out and he asks "what the hell is that thing?"
That's just my $ 750,500,000 ZWD
Quite honestly, your current ROM is fit for business and displays appropriate graphics and tones. The add-ons are typically ones the manufacturers have missed and allow a much better experience than stock. I work with professionals everyday and when I show off ROM's from XDA, they often say if I had seen that at ATT or T-Mobile, I would have purchased this phone vs. Blackberry or iPhone.
This sounds like what I've been waiting for!
A simple WM6.5 interface that is stable and fast. No touchflo, as we all know that is not for business users. I think the best thing for this special business line, is that all the under the hood settings come pre-configured, and don't give us the option to make advanced config changes. I seriously waste so much time trying to tinker with the settings, and eventually make the device less stable.
Also this line should have one application for each function. I rarely need 15 chat clients, and 10 media apps!
Great idea.. Make sure to add Stock and Weather to Chome 6.5 These are helpful for those business travelers on the go with an eye on the market.. The JML Stocks plugin is sweet!!!!
Is this really needed?
I'm nearly new with this machine, but a very heavy Bussiness user of HTC PDAs for 5 years.
Comming from an Hermes, I have flashed your Energy Magic Rom 20090630 after two week of trying the stock one and threads reading here, and for me your main rom is fast, accurate, conservative with battery and completly perfect for work.
If someone feel titanium or tf3d improductive, it could be dissable. And the same could be done with the new menus and notification style.... To change three or four options in the default behaviour of your rom, that could be made with a few clicks here and there, don't justify a new line of roms.
Just my though...

[Q] Problems with developing a custom GS2 rom for medicinal purposes.

Hello to you all people of XDA, firstly I must state that I've scoured the forums far and wide and have yet to find some valuable info regarding my problem.
So what we're doing is developing (or trying to, as is obvious from this post) a custom rom for the Galaxy S2 which would be used for a single medical application for sensor tracking and the processing and displaying of said data on the SGS2, while at the same time sending it to his/her doctor.
What we need to be able to achieve with this rom is to put it into the hands of the end-user (a chronical patient which will in turn be able to stay at home instead of being hospitalized) and be able to completely lock down the phone for his use (I know, it sounds terrible) so that he loses the phone/sms/games/youtube/internet functionality as we need the phone to run as stable and for as long as possible without any additional battery stress (the constant sending, processing and processing of data seems enough of a problem for now).
I've searched into some custom roms but we eventually came up with the need for a stock Samsung rom which could be modified as we want to.
See this is where the problem begins, we can't seem to get the phone rooted, the ROM customized and then unrooted again so that the phone can't be fiddled with anymore, except when it's completely dead and we need to fix it.
So to cap it all up:
It needs to allow for a custom load and bootscreen (I almost got this to work)
It needs to be completely locked down for the end user.
It has to have full BT, NFC and WiFi functionality
It has to be able to call out and reciev calls, but only to/from specific numbers (911, doctor, etc..)
It has to basically allow for 2-3 programs to be running, while the others simply don't exist on the phone.
I am terribly sorry if anything like this has been asked about before, I swear I put 2 days of me life into researching already.
Any help, any help at all, ideas and solutions, but mostly links are welcome.
Thank you and good day to all.
Just a detail, but the SGS2 doesn't have the NFC functionality. Project seems to be possible, I would look into CyanogenMod sources if I was you.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Why are you afraid of leaving the phone rooted and in hands of the patient?
Is he so uncritical that he can search the web and find means of unrooting a mobile phone and then get around to actually doing it?
LucLucLuc said:
Hello to you all people of XDA, firstly I must state that I've scoured the forums far and wide and have yet to find some valuable info regarding my problem.
So what we're doing is developing (or trying to, as is obvious from this post) a custom rom for the Galaxy S2 which would be used for a single medical application for sensor tracking and the processing and displaying of said data on the SGS2, while at the same time sending it to his/her doctor.
What we need to be able to achieve with this rom is to put it into the hands of the end-user (a chronical patient which will in turn be able to stay at home instead of being hospitalized) and be able to completely lock down the phone for his use (I know, it sounds terrible) so that he loses the phone/sms/games/youtube/internet functionality as we need the phone to run as stable and for as long as possible without any additional battery stress (the constant sending, processing and processing of data seems enough of a problem for now).
I've searched into some custom roms but we eventually came up with the need for a stock Samsung rom which could be modified as we want to.
See this is where the problem begins, we can't seem to get the phone rooted, the ROM customized and then unrooted again so that the phone can't be fiddled with anymore, except when it's completely dead and we need to fix it.
So to cap it all up:
It needs to allow for a custom load and bootscreen (I almost got this to work)
It needs to be completely locked down for the end user.
It has to have full BT, NFC and WiFi functionality
It has to be able to call out and reciev calls, but only to/from specific numbers (911, doctor, etc..)
It has to basically allow for 2-3 programs to be running, while the others simply don't exist on the phone.
I am terribly sorry if anything like this has been asked about before, I swear I put 2 days of me life into researching already.
Any help, any help at all, ideas and solutions, but mostly links are welcome.
Thank you and good day to all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Block all internet access apart from ones you want or you can just setup iptables rules, shouldnt need root apart from when setting it up
As far as removing programs, just delete the apks from the zip, or before you remove root. My sig has a list of all apks in a upto date rom and what they do.
You can use gemini app manager to control autoruns (stop them etc) also to block (hide and disable apps)
As far removing root, your best bet is to once you are done, use adb (from the android sdk) to remove the superuser.apk then flash the stock kernel back, as far as I know without superuser apps cant grain root permisions.
OR
This app will allow you to block any app behind a password
This app will block incoming and outgoing sms and calls on white and blacklists
Custom boot logo (the first screen before the animation)
Custom boot animation need to go into system/media, I am not sure about the format but there are loads around, like this thread has loads, stock kernel should support them.
I hope that helps
Most of that is easily possible.
If you listed the apps needing removed, the apk files just need deleted.
To control calls, you can use a third party app from market for that.
It's possible to have the custom rom unrooted, and easily flashed, regardless of how badly the phone gets rooted
Boot animation is easy anyway... If you can provide it in a zip like other ones (zip containing numbered png's) then it's a piece of cake.
A little bit of clever firewall stuff would prevent any web traffic, in or out, except to your defined server, which is obviously a concern when a phone is handling sensitive medical info.
genieass said:
Why are you afraid of leaving the phone rooted and in hands of the patient?
The phones are going to be used by around 500.000 people in a year, it's not that we want to take anything away from the user, it's more about not having any problems with the firmware - like ever.
Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
genieass said:
Why are you afraid of leaving the phone rooted and in hands of the patient?
The phones are going to be used by around 500.000 people in a year, it's not that we want to take anything away from the user, it's more about not having any problems with the firmware - like ever.
Thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LucLucLuc, not sure where you live, but you're entering the patient confidentiality minefield with big, big boots.
Apart from the legal considerations, your question is definitely OS related and not device related.
I see what you want, but legally - where I live anyway - it's too much of a grey area to get involved with.
I use call recording a lot for referrals and info from other doctors, but I've always asked the other party if they're OK with it. I won't record patient conversations, and I won't accept any files whatsoever that have seen RIS or PACS first - not worth it.
Can't see it's worth your while, but I'd appreciate it if you keep me informed should you decide to work on it.
Big boots indeed
We are from Slovenia, Europe.
I'm actually just a student doing the research and some basic Android programming, thank god I wasn't let into the bigger of the projects
But yes, this project is a colaboration of several european firms and you can read more about it at chiron-project.eu - it's a very very interesting project afaic.
I don't think we'll be swimming with lawyer piranhas soon though, the project uses sensor data (which sorta is a privacy issue) which will be monitored on a tablet running Android (currently testing the Galaxy tab 10.1 - we were lucky to order one before Steve had another one of his fits), proccessed in real time and then stored on the central server, from where it will only be accessible by the patients doctor.
Patient consents are dealt with before we even start talking about mobile hospitalizations.
It's very encouraging to see some actual interest, if anyone wants to know more about anything related to this project contact me at [email protected]
Thanks again for all the help.

UNA ROM, Private, Fast, And Good Looking:)

After weeks of hard work we (Setmov and uncle Fab) proudly present you the first Una ROM for the galaxy Grand 2 I7102, based on 4.3 XXUANG4.
DISCLAIMER​
As usual, your phone your responsability, we won't take any responsability if it flies out of the window or if your girlfriend/boyfriend runs away with it.
PLEASE, DO READ OP COMPLETELY AND CAREFULLY BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, ANSWERS TO MOST PROBLEMS ARE THERE​
WHAT IS UNA?​
Una is a new concept that takes security to a new level.
Are you tired of seeing so much blatant, outrageous and shameless invasion of your privacy and data mining hidden behind nice sentences like "enhanced use experience" or "complete integration with the system"? We decided to develop secure ROMs where privacy means just that – Private!.
It’s free of charge, we are a non profit structure and we are not here to make big bucks
WHAT UNA ISN'T​
UNA isn't a way to help you to stealthily buy massive destruction weapons to foment a coup d'etat in your favorite banana republic or to prepare the third world war.
UNA secures what leaves from your phone (ie your personnal data doesn't leak and no app can look over your shoulder to spy your activities), but it can't completely secure what comes into your phone.
Why is that?
Because it's just not possible to fully secure a phone from what comes into it, and anyone claiming to be able to do it is either a liar, or an ignorant, or both.
There are too many attacks, some not well documented, if documented at all, and some unknown to the public, and there are too many ways to hack a phone, especially if the user doesn't use his/her common sense.
If you are the type of person that installs apps from shaddy source and/or warez web sites (sites offering cracked paid apps) chances are that at some point you will unknowingly install a malware or a spyware. The same applies if you click on any link, specially on SMS' and emails, if you let any pop out window appear or if you don't protect your lockscreen with a password/pin/pattern and let anyone get physical access to your phone.
A bit of judgment and common sense can save you a lot of trouble, but there's unfortunately nothing UNA can do about it.
Then, if you use your phone to call through GSM your provider will know where you are. If he didn't you wouldn't be able to make any call, the signal has to find you and there's nothing UNA or anyone can do about it.
The only way to prevent that is to disable the phone functions (but then your phone will turn into a wifi only device) and reenable them when needed, head to the scripts section to learn how to do it.
Last but not least, bear in mind that the agencies have armies of tech savvy henchmen and 10 storeys computers, and tricks we can't even imagine, so think twice and use your brain before you attempt to outsmart them...
UNA IS FOR YOU IF:​
. You are willing to learn how to use an unconventional ROM and generally speaking to understand how things work, even if it sometimes requires a little effort to fix this or that little problem (bear in mind that it took us a lot of work to develop Una to where it is now),
. You don't mind a few little occasional bugs here and there that come from all the restrictions the ROM contains,
. You want to take back ownership of your phone from google’s claws.
UNA IS NOT FOR YOU IF:​
. All that you care about is the latest gimmick in the latest OS,
. You can't live without the google’s apps,
. You are the kind of person that never reads through the OP and only scroll down to the download section, and then complain that things don't work and/or ask stupid questions that have already been answered in OP.
An example? One guy makes a mod and writes clearly in OP that it's specifically for 4.2.2. Then some people complain: "it doesn't work on 4.4.2"...
ARE WE PARANOID TIN FOIL HATS? OR TERRORISTS? OR CARTEL BOSSES?​
Nope, we only are people that don't see why we shouldn't be in control of our phones. Or why our phones can be wiped remotely, why apps or updates or who knows what can be downloaded and installed without asking for our consent, why SMS' can be sent without us to know, why we should pay for the bandwidth used for data mining and unwanted downloads, and why all those activities should deplete our battery and kill our RAM.
You think we are overreacting here?
You don't have to take our word for it, just download and install Network Log from here:
https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=network+log&fdid=com.googlecode.networklog
Give it root permission, start logging and open some web pages. Come back to Network Log after a few minutes and see for yourself, you'll be surprised (or maybe horrified?) to find out that your android system, your settings, your kernel etc. connect to all sorts of funny IPs, including and foremost google’s.
Now you see what we mean?
It's time to go for Una
UNA'S FEATURES​
. Rooted.
. Deodexed.
. Zipaligned.
. Busybox and sqlite installed.
. Init.d support and scripts.
. Auto start disabled for most apps.
. About 120 system apps, 40 framework jars, 30 permissions xmls and 25 libs removed, plus files here and there.
. Very low RAM and CPU consumption, more than 8 hours screen time with the WIFI on, 1% battery decrease every 10-12 hours while in stand by.
. Heavily and extensively modified system, in order to make it secure and prevent it from leaking your data.
. App Settings, Firewall and Xprivacy built-in, and already applied out of the box to make sure you are well protected.
. Xprivacy is a fantastic tool but it has one big limitation, it can't restrict the Android System from accessing your serial numbers and leaking it. For that reason these IDs have been edited as follows:
build.serial (androidboot.serialno), ro.boot.serialno and ro.serialno are both set to "1",
android id is set to "id",
net.hostname is set to "1".
. Wlan serial number set to "00000001" (this number identifies you everytime you connect to the internet, and Xprivacy can't do anything about it).
. USB ID (iSerial) set to 1.
. Unreadable cp access.
. Vulnerabilities patched thanks to Master Key Multi Fix.
. ADB disabled (can be re-enabled, see below).
. By default ADB, all google access (including youtube, blogspot and google search), the Live Wallpaper Picker and the Media Storage are disabled. You can re-enable some or all of them, instructions are in the "HOW TO USE THE ROM" section.
. Plenty of under the hood modifications to make the ROM fast and fluid.
. Multi-purpose navigation keys.
. Call button in contacts.
. Because secure doesn't mean ugly, the whole ROM has been themed with a beautiful green color (if there are enough requests other themes will follow), transparency, and Lollipop HD wallpapers.
. Multiwindows have been revamped, they are no longer only static in Samsung style but now they can float and be resized/minimized too, like on a computer.
. All apps can be opened in floating mode.
. KK style quad view multiwindows.
. Heaps of hand picked and carefully scrutinized open source apps.
There are 2 non open source apps (Greenify and Quick Pic) but they are safe, believe me, I have thoroughly examined them. Still, you can always uninstall them if you feel like it.
In time we will develop our own apps, but first we want to see how people respond to the Una concept...
Installed apps/tools​
. 920 Editor, to create and edit scripts or text files.
. AF+ Firewall.
. Alarm clock.
. APG, to encrypt messages.
. App Settings, to restrict apps' permissions, change DPI on a per app basis and more.
. Arity, a calcultor.
. Conversations, a secure and encrypted chat, modded by uncle Fab for increased security.
. Fdroid, an alternative to the Play Store, and all the apps are open source!
. Floating stickies, to make small notes on the fly.
. FTP Server, to copy files to/from your phone wirelessly.
. Ghost Commander, a very powerful dual panel root file manager.
. Gravity Box, a theming engine.
. Greenify, to make apps behave by hibernating them when not in use.
. K9 Mail, an email client.
. Kernel Adiutor, if you feel like playing with kernel tweaks (but you have to know what you are doing).
. Lightning, a fast and light weight browser.
. Master Key Multi Fix, a patch to some vulnerabilities.
. Network Log, to check where your apps connect and chase unwanted connections.
. Open Camera.
. Tor (Orbot) for Android, modded by uncle Fab for increased security.
. OS Monitor, to monitor and kill your phone's processes, and more.
. Pale Moon, based on Firefox for Android, for a full desktop experience with Mozilla add-ons preinstalled for enhanced security.
. PDF Reader.
. Preferences Manager, to edit the otherwise difficult to read shared_prefs files in data/data.
. Quick Dic, a good selection of free dictionaries.
. Quick Pic, a Gallery app.
. Rmaps, a maps app where you can download maps from various sources for offline use.
. Search Light, a torch.
. Terminal Emulator, fire up your commands and show your phone who is the boss!
. Text Secure, a secure and encrypted SMS app, modded by uncle Fab for increased security.
. Tint Browser, another fast web browser.
. Urecord, to record sounds with different sample rates.
. USB Mass Storage Enabler, to connect your phone to any computer (note that it only mounts the external SD).
. Viper4Android FX, a powerful sound enhancer.
. Viper4Android XHiFi, some more sound enhancements.
. VLC, a video and music player favourite.
. WI-Fi Privacy Police, to secure your connections even better than they already are.
. Xposed Installer, a great framework that enables apps like App Settings or Xprivacy to work.
. Xprivacy, last but not least, the best privacy app.
WHY DO WE USE A 4.3 ROM AS BASE INSTEAD OF THE LATEST 4.4.2?​
Because when it comes to privacy Kit Kat 4.4.x is a complete
disaster, the newer the android version the more buit-in spying there is (and the more difficult it is to remove it), despite google's sweet talk about "enhanced user's experience.
Lollipop seems to be even worse, but that's another story.
INSTALLATION​
As usual, make a backup first!
Do backup your contacts and whatever is important because all your apps and data will be erased (your sd card contents won't be deleted though).
Do backup your /system/csc folder, in case you need it for later.
Do backup your efs folder (VERY IMPORTANT).
Open an android terminal from your phone and type:
su
enter, then type:
busybox dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p11 of=/sdcard/efs.img
enter, this will create an efs backup caled efs.img in your sd card.
To restore it, first make sure the efs.img is in your internal sd card, then type:
su
enter, then type:
busybox dd if=/sdcard/efs.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p11
enter, your efs will be restored in no time.
If that sounds like too much work you can use the scripts provided to backup/restore your efs, instructions are in the scripts section.
To install the ROM you need a Custom Recovery and Philz' comes highly recommended.
We chose Philz since AFAIK it's the only one that allows you to lock you recovery with a password (if your recovery is not password protected it wouldn't take more than 2 minutes for someone to disable your pattern or pin protected lockscreen and access all your personal data on the phone).
I'm not sure whether there's a Philz recovery or not for the Grand 2, if there isn't then CWM or TWRP will do.
Custom recovery installation instructions
You need to have Samsung drivers installed.
Boot your phone into download mode (press volume down and power at the same time).
Open Odin 3.07 and connect your phone.
Click on the PDA slot, navigate to where the Custom Recovery is located and select it.
DOUBLE CHECK AND MAKE SURE THAT "RE-PARTITION" IS UNTICKED (only "Auto Reboot" and "F.Reset Time" should be selected).
Click start and wait while Odin flashes the Recovery.
If everything went well your phone will now auto-reboot into the system. Go into recovery, you should see your brand new Custom Recovery.
If you are still on stock recovery then repeat the above steps, but this time untick “Auto Reboot” in Odin.
When in recovery, if before you reboot you see a text on the screen displaying “yes – disable flash recovery”, select it to avoid stock recovery overwriting the Custom Recovery.
Download Una for Grand 2 from here (click on the menu at the top right and go to the download section):
http://unaos.com
Unzip the ROM and copy it to the backup folder that is inside the clockworkmod folder in your sd card (if there's no backup folder create it by choosing "mkdir" in Ghost Commander).
Boot into recovery.
Go to restore from sdcard, choose 1970-01-01.10.06.02, and go for it!
IMPORTANT!!!​
If you are on Kit Kat (4.4.2) you must downgrade first to stock 4.3 before you attempt to install Una ROM, otherwise you may end up with a bricked phone.
Here are 2 threads to assist you in the downgrading process:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-grand-2/general/how-to-downgrade-galaxy-grand-2-sm-t2857767
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-grand-2/help/downgrade-to-4-3-t2857183
If it works please report here so that other people will know, thanks in advance!
Once it's done reboot, congratulations, you have installed Una ROM on your phone!
HOW TO USE THE ROM​
. Swipe down to access the applications drawer.
. Swipe up to turn off the screen.
. Go to settings and set a stong password/pin/pattern protected lockscreen (recommended).
. Go in recovery and set a recovery password (recommended).
. Long pressing on the menu key toggles expanded desktop (full screen, no more navigation bar and no more status bar).
. Double pressing the menu key kills and hibernates the current application.
. Long pressing the recent key brings you back to the last application (convenient to switch from one app to another).
. Between the home and the back key there's a supplementary key that can display up to 12 apps (editable in gravity box).
Double pressing that key shows the sound panel, long pressing it shows the reboot menu (note that there's an option to take screenshots in the reboot menu).
. You can open an app in full screen mode by dragging it from the Flash Bar (the side bar), then you can drag and add more windows to the view (up to 4 on the same screen).
Or, you can open apps in resizable and movable floating mode by clicking on them (double tapping the top bar minimizes them into a bubble, double tapping the bubble restores them).
. Go to /system/etc/security/cacerts, check the certificates that are there (you'll find the certificate's name approximately by the middle of the file), and erase the ones you don't need/like.
When you want to transfer files to/from your phone open the USB Mass Storage Enabler app and enable mass storage, that's it. When you are done, don't forget to eject your phone from the computer and to reenable MTP from the app.
. When you install a new application, by default it will be fully restricted in both Xprivacy and the Firewall.
Before you open the newly installed app wait until the Xprivacy icon appears in the status bar, then and only then can you open it.
Most likely the app will crash.
Go to Xprivacy, open its settings and then usage data, you will see what restrictions caused the crash. Re enable some, provided that they are not too invasive.
Many apps require "load.Library" to be allowed in the shell section, that's ok.
Others may need to access the sd card, that's in the storage section and it's ok to allow it for apps that really need to access the storage, like players, cameras or file managers (for other apps try to keep it restricted).
Root apps obviously need "su" and/or 'sh", and sometimes "exec", in the shell section.
Always try to enable as few fields as possible, and bear in mind that data requested by an app is not necessarily needed for that app to work (especially true for identification, internet and mcc/mmc access).
Lastly, give the app internet access in the Firewall if, and only if, it needs it, and restrict some more permissions in App Settings.
If you can't tame the app consider uninstalling it and look for a similar one that has less built-in spyware.
SCRIPTS​
. As said above, by default ADB, all google access (including youtube, blogspot and google search), the Live Wallpaper Picker and the Media Storage are disabled.
If you want to re-enable some or all of them, open the script folder located in system/etc.
Click on the desired script and choose edit.
Copy the whole text and paste it into the Android Terminal, voila, the script is automagically executed.
. You will see more scripts to disable/enable the Bluetooth, the FM Radio and the Phone.
If you disable the Phone and later want to re-enable it do as follows:
untick App Settings in Xposed's modules section, re-enable Phone, reboot, then enable App Settings again.
. Some scripts will enable you to backup/restore your efs partition and flash a recovery.img (to restore or flash an .img, make sure it's in your internal sd and execute the script).
. Other scripts can enable/disable am and pm, but don't play with it unless you know what you're doing.
. You can uninstall the Live Wallpaper Picker, the Wallpaper Chooser and the Media Storage if you want, or keep them disabled and resurrect them when needed.
. If you are very privacy concerned you should consider using the "uncle's phone lite" mod because it enables you to call with only the Phone and the Telephony Provider apps (CSC, Contacts, Contacts Storage, Logs Provider and STK are completely de-activated). That's the method I use to make calls, but you have to know that the dialler forces close after you complete the call (not a big deal in my opinion but still, I may look into it one of these days). You'll find the mod in the add-ons section.
ENCRYPTION​
If encryption is your thing we have you covered with the following installed apps:
APG, Conversations, K9 Mail and Text Secure.
BUGS​
. Quick Dic won't download any dictionary, actually it's not a bug but a Una restriction since Quick Dic downloads from a google owned web site.
If you need to download dictionaries, temporarly enable google by running the "enable_google" script (don't forget to disable it again when you're done). After you've run the script go to the firewall, open its settings, go to "Set custom script" and click "OK" (do the same if you decide to disable again google's stuff).
. For some reason the ADW Launcher doesn't allow transparency in the navigation bars while in portrait, I'm working on that.
. You can't download anything from Lightning and Tint Browser, that's because the Download Manager and the Download UI have been uninstalled. If you need to download something, copy the link and paste it in Pale Moon, it has its own download engine.
. I didn't have time to properly and restrictively set Text Secure (the SMS app), because I don't own this phone and the person I borrowed it from wanted it back ASAP. Sorry about that, you'll have to do it on your own (if you want to make it simple just restrict its internet access).
. All the installed apps work, but other apps you install may crash. I call that kind of apps "google’s henchmen", they only work if the play store services or the bla bla app are installed and of course they won't on Una since all that garbage has been removed.
If I install your app, why do you want to force me to install your boss' app too? Forget about those apps and search Fdroid, you'll find what you need...
. Depending the way you use your phone you may have to fine tune Xprivacy and reenable some permissions, I'm sorry for the inconvenience but it's impossible to set Xprivacy for all users since we all have different ways to use our phone.
ADD-ONS​
. Sony Xperia Keyboard, flash it in recovery.
Credits KristianCarl for porting it, and unclefab for theming it in green.
It's not open source and that's why it's not included in the rom by default, but it's my every day keyboard because it works fine and because I themed it to make it look nice.
Don't give it internet access in the Firewall.
In Xprivacy, only allow "loadLibrary" in the shell section. You may have to enable a few fields in the contacts section depending your phone's configuration.
In App Settings, restrict "Read_Phone_State" and "Record_Audio".
I removed the Chinese Keyboard, tell me if you want it and I'll readd it.
. Universe Wallpapers
If there are enough users' requests then I'll upload the following:
. Uncle's phone lite (with clipboard and dialer) for hardcore users. It's safer than using the regular phone configuration, but the dialer forces close when you hang up the call. Flash it in recovery, wipe dalvik-cache, reboot.
. Completely disable internet access for the Android System. Lightning and Tint Browser won't connect anymore since they use the same web engine as the Android System, but Pale Moon still works thanks to its build-in web engine. Flash it in recovery, wipe dalvik-cache, reboot.
RECOMMENDED NON OPEN SOURCE APPS​
. Pri-fy, from chainfire the root master:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2631512
. Logging Test:
http://androidsecuritytest.com/
UPDATES?​
I'm working on some improvements on kernel and system level to make Una even more secure, but I will release them for the Grand 2 if, and only if, there are enough users' feedback for the current version, because it's a lot of work to implement such stuff in a ROM.
No ETA though, you'll have to be patient because now we have to design and release Una for many other phones.
Still, any suggestions/comments/bug reports are welcome, help us to improve Una!
FEATURE REQUESTS​
Yeah, sure, we'll see what we can do but we don't promise anything
SCREENSHOTS​
I didn't have time to make screenshots since I ran short of time, so the ones you'll see here come from another phone.
They are very similar in shape, layout and color though, and you'll get the idea.
That's all for now, enjoy the ROM!!!
The Una team
CREDITS​
Big thanks to:
F-Droid
M66B (Xprivacy)
Rovo89 (Xposed)
Tungstwenty (App Settings, Master Key Multi Fix)
Ukanth (AF+Firewall)
Jecelyin (920 Editor)
Kraigsandroid (Alarm Klock)
Thialfihar (APG)
Arity (Arity calculator)
Siacs (Conversations)
Ppareit (FTP)
Ghost Squared (Ghost Commander File manager)
Mohammad Adib (Floating Stickies)
C3C076(Gravity Box)
Oasisfeng (Greenify)
K-9 Dog Walkers (K9 Mail)
Grarak (Kernel Adiutor)
Anthonycr (Lightning)
Xperiacle (Multiwindows Manager)
Pragmatic Software (Network Log)
Mdwh2(Open Camera)
The Guardian Project (Orbot)
Eolwral (OS Monitor)
Moon Child and Cyansmoker (Pale Moon)
Droidapps (PDF Reader)
Simon Marquis (Preferences Manager)
Thad Hughes (Quick Dic)
Q-Supreme team (Quick Pic)
Robert.Developer (Rmaps)
Search Light (Search Light)
Jackpal (Terminal Emulator)
Anasthase (Tint Browser And Tint Browser Adblock Addon)
Thomasebell (Urecord)
Mohammad Abu-Garbeyyeh (USB Mass Storage Enabler)
Zhuhang (Viper4Android FX and Viper4Android XHiFi)
Videolan.org (VLC)
Brambonne (Wi-Fi Privacy Police)
i dont own a galaxy grand 2 , although i may have to get one , but thank you for sharing your work. i'm not a developer so i can only imagine ( which probably falls way short ) of what this took to build.:thumbsup:
"all i can really do , is stay out of my own way and let the will of heaven be done"
Please do a 4.4.4/4.4.2 version. What about the security? Like anyone can hack into your phone....
salimtn said:
4.3 ?! Not interrested
Sent from my SM-G7102 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Laurisss said:
Please do a 4.4.4/4.4.2 version. What about the security? Like anyone can hack into your phone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your useful feedbacks.
PLEASE, DO READ OP COMPLETELY AND CAREFULLY BEFORE ASKING ANY QUESTIONS, ANSWERS TO MOST PROBLEMS ARE THERE
WHY DO WE USE A 4.3 ROM AS BASE INSTEAD OF THE LATEST 4.4.2?
Because when it comes to privacy Kit Kat 4.4.x is a complete disaster, the newer the android version the more buit-in spying there is (and the more difficult it is to remove it), despite google's sweet talk about "enhanced user's experience.
Lollipop seems to be even worse, but that's another story.
And NO, not anyone can hack into your phone, but many can and google already did it!
salimtn said:
4.3 ?! Not interrested
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you soooooo much to take time to reply and show how much consideration and respect you have for someone that worked about 100 hours to build a rom and share it for free with the community.
It feels sad to know that you won t run Una rom on your phone, and thanks again for informing us that we won t count such a great person like you amongst our users, but maybe next time you should read OP:
UNA IS NOT FOR YOU IF:
. All that you care about is the latest gimmick in the latest OS,
. You can't live without the google’s apps,
. You are the kind of person that never reads through the OP and only scroll down to the download section, and then complain that things don't work and/or ask stupid questions that have already been answered in OP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You see guys?
It s thanks to that kind of person that so many devs have left, leave, or will leave the forum...
Please do a 4.4.4/4.4.2 version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As written in OP there might be updates:
I'm working on some improvements on kernel and system level to make Una even more secure, but I will release them for the Grand 2 if, and only if, there are enough users' feedback for the current version, because it's a lot of work to implement such stuff in a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, time will tell, but so far if you were me what would you think/do?
Thanks for your valient efforts.
But most of the phones would have been upgraded
to k.k. and downgrading them to 4.3 is rather risky.
Even I wonder whether I can downgrade to 4.3 add you rightly mentioned
about 4.4 and 5 android versions.
Even then I will try to down grade to 4.3 and also
try this room. I am willing to take the risk for the developer.
salimtn said:
4.3 and a cute dev. ?! Still not interested ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still not interested?
Such a pity, people like you are every devs' dream and it would have been a real honour to count such a VIP like you amongst our users.
Thanks for letting us know, next time we ll try to do our best to satisfy demanding users like you...
wrishaba said:
Thanks for your valient efforts.
But most of the phones would have been upgraded
to k.k. and downgrading them to 4.3 is rather risky.
Even I wonder whether I can downgrade to 4.3 add you rightly mentioned
about 4.4 and 5 android versions.
Even then I will try to down grade to 4.3 and also
try this room. I am willing to take the risk for the developer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your support. With this attitude you are definitely repaying every effort made.
wrishaba said:
But most of the phones would have been upgraded
to k.k. and downgrading them to 4.3 is rather risky.
Even I wonder whether I can downgrade to 4.3 add you rightly mentioned
about 4.4 and 5 android versions.
Even then I will try to down grade to 4.3 and also
try this room. I am willing to take the risk for the developer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really dislike 4.4 because it s full of spying, but on the other hand I definitely could build a 4.4 rom for the Grand 2 cuz I can understand that not many people want to take the risk to downgrade.
The only problem is that I don t own the phone, and that the person I borrowed it from doesn t want me to install 4.4 on it, because of knox and because 4.3 runs well.
One thing you have to bear in mind is that latest android version doesn t mean best version, and since 4.1 it s actually been quite the opposite.
Google install 2-3 gimmicks to "enhance users' experience" bla bla, and at the same time strengthens its grip on android.
It got particularly bad with 4.4, and I read reports that it went even worse with 5x...
unclefab said:
I really dislike 4.4 because it s full of spying, but on the other hand I definitely could build a 4.4 rom for the Grand 2 cuz I can understand that not many people want to take the risk to downgrade.
The only problem is that I don t own the phone, and that the person I borrowed it from doesn t want me to install 4.4 on it, because of knox and because 4.3 runs well.
One thing you have to bear in mind is that latest android version doesn t mean best version, and since 4.1 it s actually been quite the opposite.
Google install 2-3 gimmicks to "enhance users' experience" bla bla, and at the same time strengthens its grip on android.
It got particularly bad with 4.4, and I read reports that it went even worse with 5x...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
spying? Meh. 80% of people are on kitkat and a few are on lollipop. No reports of something hack-ish.
Laurisss said:
spying? Meh. 80% of people are on kitkat and a few are on lollipop. No reports of something hack-ish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most people don t realise they are being spyied.
Do one test.
Download network log from here:
https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdfilter=network+log&fdid=com.googlecode.networklog
Install it, open it, give it root access and start logging by clicking "logging on" on the top.
Then do some browsing, going to this or that site, but don t go to any google related web site (no search, no youtube etc.).
Come back to network log, you will see that your phone connected to many funny addresses, including of course google, and that quite a lot of data has been transfered both inbound and outbound.
That s just a small test, there s actually much more than that but you ll get the idea.
You could make another test with xprivacy, and if you do so you ll see that all apps request various private data like ids and cell towers location.
The thing is that the higher the android version the more difficult it is to prevent that data mining, data mining that is little more than spying by looking over your shoulder.
Una roms have been designed to prevent that, and more (see OP), but it s up to everybody to install it or not.
I really appreciate your Hard work , I can imagine how much hard work you would have done by working on a phone which you do not own , borrowing it again and again , testing the ROM on someone else's phone and the fear of bricking it . But as someone mentioned in the thread many users are on 4.4 . Many here fear bricking there devices while downgrading it. The mere fact that you have to downgrade your device to use the ROM is what cause of lack of users . personally I really liked what your ROM offers. Just to help you for further development H6 is the most stable and without Knox count firmware. Some 60-70 % users who flash custom ROM are on this firmware and even many custom Roms use it as a base . Hope to see this ROM on kk .
Best of luck.
unclefab said:
I really dislike 4.4 because it s full of spying, but on the other hand I definitely could build a 4.4 rom for the Grand 2 cuz I can understand that not many people want to take the risk to downgrade.
The only problem is that I don t own the phone, and that the person I borrowed it from doesn t want me to install 4.4 on it, because of knox and because 4.3 runs well.
One thing you have to bear in mind is that latest android version doesn t mean best version, and since 4.1 it s actually been quite the opposite.
Google install 2-3 gimmicks to "enhance users' experience" bla bla, and at the same time strengthens its grip on android.
It got particularly bad with 4.4, and I read reports that it went even worse with 5x...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely I wanna going to try this rom. I never said 4.4. Or 5 is best versions of android.
But the fact is downgrading is some what risky. Eben then I am going to try.
No need to pay me for taking sweet.
wrishaba said:
Definitely I wanna going to try this rom. I never said 4.4. Or 5 is best versions of android.
But the fact is downgrading is some what risky. Eben then I am going to try.
No need to pay me for taking sweet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn t read everything about the downgrade procedure, but of what I have read you have to odin flash a specific KK version first, and then a specific 4.3.
Anyway, if it s really that risky maybe you shouldn t try and wait until we manage to release a 4.4 Una rom.
The problem is that the person that owns that phone uses it for business purposes, so I have to be very careful not to loose all the whatsapp, bbm etc. contacts and settings, and if it was ok to backup her rom, work on making una during nights and then restoring her original rom in the early morning, it would be a different story to switch from 4.3 to 4.4 to again 4.3 every night...
Let s see if I can convince her to use 4.4 as her daily rom, but I can t lie and tell her that 4.4 is better than 4.3, and I don t think she will accept to sacrifice her phone.
I meet her again next month and I ll keep you informed in case she accepts.
For now what you can do if you want to make your phone more private and secure is to follow what I explain in my security thread (check my signature "how to secure your phone").
unclefab said:
I didn t read everything about the downgrade procedure, but of what I have read you have to odin flash a specific KK version first, and then a specific 4.3.
Anyway, if it s really that risky maybe you shouldn t try and wait until we manage to release a 4.4 Una rom.
The problem is that the person that owns that phone uses it for business purposes, so I have to be very careful not to loose all the whatsapp, bbm etc. contacts and settings, and if it was ok to backup her rom, work on making una during nights and then restoring her original rom in the early morning, it would be a different story to switch from 4.3 to 4.4 to again 4.3 every night...
Let s see if I can convince her to use 4.4 as her daily rom, but I can t lie and tell her that 4.4 is better than 4.3, and I don t think she will accept to sacrifice her phone.
I meet her again next month and I ll keep you informed in case she accepts.
For now what you can do if you want to make your phone more private and secure is to follow what I explain in my security thread (check my signature "how to secure your phone").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All builds prior to NK1 are without KNOX.
NH6 is good and speedy.
I'm a dev too, and I don't recommend the over-VIP experience you're using to grab customers. I ain't sure, but it looks humiliating to you to give picky users a VIP experience.
Just tell them to get the hell off the thread if they hate the idea (I really like it and would've upgraded if I was a TW user. I use AOSP CM).
Also, the screenshots are from a Grand 1, and our device is SM-G7102, not I7102. You mixed up with the Grand 1 i9082.
Oah you know, customers is maybe not the right word, unless they pay which is not the case!
Then I don t know if that can be called a vip experience, but I understand your point, maybe sometimes I m too nice, what to do...
For the screenshots, I didn t mix 'em, I explained in OP that I didn't have time to make any since I ran short of time, and that the ones I put here come from another phone.
A galaxy grand i9082, yep, well done, you have a sharp eye!
They are very similar in shape, layout and color (apart from the cascade icon to minimize windows that Samsung has removed after 4.2.2, a big mistake to my opinion), so people can get the idea.
WaseemAlkurdi said:
I'm a dev too, and I don't recommend the over-VIP experience you're using to grab customers. I ain't sure, but it looks humiliating to you to give picky users a VIP experience.
Just tell them to get the hell off the thread if they hate the idea (I really like it and would've upgraded if I was a TW user. I use AOSP CM).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In some ways you are right, but we think that being professional is not a bad thing, despite the fact that the forum is full of picky users, ready to make bad comments even without trying the product. Of course, we can and we will also give a VIP experience, but it is reserved for the ones that will earn it.
In any case we appreciate your support. Thank you
WaseemAlkurdi said:
All builds prior to NK1 are without KNOX.
NH6 is good and speedy.
I'm a dev too, and I don't recommend the over-VIP experience you're using to grab customers. I ain't sure, but it looks humiliating to you to give picky users a VIP experience.
Just tell them to get the hell off the thread if they hate the idea (I really like it and would've upgraded if I was a TW user. I use AOSP CM).
Also, the screenshots are from a Grand 1, and our device is SM-G7102, not I7102. You mixed up with the Grand 1 i9082.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When downgrade strucked at boot logo "samsung".
Thai version. 4.3. What to do wasim? Any idea.
Odin flash failed. Again flashed NH6. Again boot loop.
Pllllzzzzz download link
Sent from my SM-G7102 using XDA Free mobile app
wrishaba said:
When downgrade strucked at boot logo "samsung".
Thai version. 4.3. What to do wasim? Any idea.
Odin flash failed. Again flashed NH6. Again boot loop.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I recall, wiping (data/cache/Dalvik cache) from recovery worked.
You're lucky you ain't in a hard brick
Note that you need ClockWorkMod Recovery to wipe Dalvik.

Using Old Versions of Android OS?

Hi
What are the problems/ issues of using an old version if the phone is only used for calls/ texting/ email (not GMail)? After rooting a device and removing Bloatware and Google what's the potential issues in using the device? I only use my phone for calling and texting and keeping notes, some photos, few emails. No banking/ shopping apps, no social media. I like having a very basic phone, so most of the upgrades in the UI would probably not be important to me. I plan to upgrade at some point but I need to have a phone with a 4" or smaller display and it's got to be around $50 used.
I have a couple of older Samsungs that are small, which I prefer. One is running 4.4.2, is rooted and is in the process of removing most Google apps ( I have installed the Brave browser but limited data use) and the other is even older running Gingerbread that I plan to re-purpose for a signal generator but might consider using as backup.
New to Android and still learning, so any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
PS. I was planning on moving to Lineage but I managed to buy a Samsung with an unlockable bootloader so just rooted it and started removing stuff I don't need. Seems to be OK for the most part.
kellyvotrenom said:
Hi
What are the problems/ issues of using an old version if the phone is only used for calls/ texting/ email (not GMail)? After rooting a device and removing Bloatware and Google what's the potential issues in using the device? I only use my phone for calling and texting and keeping notes, some photos, few emails. No banking/ shopping apps, no social media. I like having a very basic phone, so most of the upgrades in the UI would probably not be important to me. I plan to upgrade at some point but I need to have a phone with a 4" or smaller display and it's got to be around $50 used.
I have a couple of older Samsungs that are small, which I prefer. One is running 4.4.2, is rooted and is in the process of removing most Google apps ( I have installed the Brave browser but limited data use) and the other is even older running Gingerbread that I plan to re-purpose for a signal generator but might consider using as backup.
New to Android and still learning, so any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
PS. I was planning on moving to Lineage but I managed to buy a Samsung with an unlockable bootloader so just rooted it and started removing stuff I don't need. Seems to be OK for the most part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
there might be some downsides, one of them being that your device doesn't have the latest security patches implemented. Another one is that some apps might not work anymore as their minimum API version is higher than your current OS.
Beside this, there are no real downsides of running an older Android version. If you got your device setup according to your needs, then there is no real issue at all in case you don't store any sensitive information (bank account username/password for example, but this applies to all mobile devices in my opinion) on your device.

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