I am expecting my G-TAB on Thursday, and am trying to do all the research I can to hit the ground running. I am on the fence when it comes to which ROM to install. I'm debating on three.
TNT 4.4.0
G-Harmony Gingerbread 2.3.3 with Honeycomb elements
VEGAn-TAB GingerEdition - Experimentals (VEGAn-7-03082011-Experimental)
Does anyone have opinions on these ROM's? I know the Gingerbread ones are experimental, but I was wondering just how stable they are?
Advice?
Thanks!
-J
I use TNT Lite 4.4.0 because it seemed the easiest to install and I love it. I have thought about trying Vegan but why bother if I am already happy. I have had zero problems with it aside from a few random apps not working. The only thing I wish it had was a swipe keyboard but alas...
I am using VEGAn 5.1.1 and love it. It's really snappy. I haven't changed the Kernal yet but may try that later this week, but not sure what that will really buy me as I very happy with it's performance and usability.
I have tried VEGAn 5.1.1, VEGAn 7, Corwins tweaked CM7 and the CM7 with tablet tweaks. Currently running the CM7 tablet tweaked rom and its very fast and stable. All Gapps working fine on it. VEGAn 7 has some problems last time I used it, but if gojimi releases another version I'll probably try it.
I like the various tweaks built in with the CM7, which is why I am partial to those roms. VEGAn 5.1.1 was excellent while I was running it, and the only reason I switched was to try out something new!
I noticed a thread about "The best ROM"...When I recently purchased my gTablet, I was wondering the same thing. I realize that best is subjective and started to do my homework on finding out what works best for me. I am not sure I found that, but I do like the ROM that I currently have, so best or not, I am happy. It occurs to me though, that others will have a similar question. From people who have used more of these ROMs than I have can we put together a list of ROMs, and what they were built to do?
Like anything, there are compromises, and developers need to make decisions along the way. They can chose to optimize this or that, perhaps not both due to some constraints, time, resources, etc. So, I guess I am asking, what ROMs are optimized for what?
Is there a ROM that plays games better than others?
Is there a ROM that plays video better than others?
Is there a ROM that is screaming fast compared to others?
Is there a ROM that allows for more customization that others?
I do not know what the exact criteria is, or what people are looking for from their tablets. I bought mine as a toy. I wanted to play with it and muck around (something I was not willing to do with my phone, well because it is my phone and if I broke it, I would not be happy).
I think that apps were the most important thing to me. I wanted a ROM that was stable and could play lots of apps. I ended up choosing the VEGAn Gingerbread ROM. I know the camera does not work for anything. I believe it has issue with videos, but the apps work great. I am good with this combination.
So, again I ask (after dribbling on and on) what ROMs are optimized for what?
really, the biggest diffierences are the interfaces, but honestly, changing the launcher can accomplish a GUI change in just about any rom.
essentially, there are 2 Android versions available for a stable rom, Froyo (TNT Lite, Vegan 5.1.1, and Calkulin I think, never used it, so I'm not sure) and Gingerbread (Vegan Ginger, and CM7). There should be major differences between Froyo based roms, and Gingerbread based roms. One similarity between them is that they are both designed for phones, not tablets. Changing a launcher will help give it a tablet optimized feel.
I currently use Brillian Corners (1.2 based Vegan 5.1.1 Rom) with Launcher Pro. I use Launcher Pro simply becuase I like the customizable LP widgets. VTL Launcher (a custom version of ADW, basically) is a Launcher that's been modified for tablets.
In addition to the roms themselves, there are custom kernels, that optimize the performance of the machines. Pershoot and Clemsyn are the foremost experts in custom kernel development and tweaking.
So, you can choose a rom based on your needs...as you mentioned, apps. Vegan 5.1.1 worked well for me, to run apps. I had flashed Clemsyn's kernel to run with it. I could still watch videos if hte need would arise, and the camera worked...but honestly, how good can a 1.3 MP camera work on ANY rom...
Anyway, I then flashed to Brilliant Corners to move to the 1.2 dev branch. Roebeet discovered that pershoots Adam kernal already worked, so he had him port it over and include it in the install. So, now, I basically have the same exact setup I had before, only on a 1.2 dev branch for future flashing ease.
I'm running LauncherPro, since I didn't much care for the VTL Launcher's lack of widgets.
Vegan Ginger and CM7 wouldn't work for me, since I do need video support, to keep the 7 year old busy when I want him to calm down.
In any case, customization is the key. You can have any rom, with any kernel, and find what works for you.
The only Rom available that is specifically designed for tablets is Honeycomb. There is no official version, and I didn't include it as an option above becuase it's still in Alpha stage. I wouldn't recomend it for anyone that wants an everyday Rom. It's mainly good for people that want to test it, and assist in the developemnt of it. Once all the bugs are worked out, OpenGl drivers are found, and it's tweaked for optimum performance, then it's a no brainer to go to it. It's made for tablets, it's powerful, and with the correct video driver optimization, it will be, by far, the best Rom available.
This is why I try to encourage people to go to the 1.2 dev branch if they plan on flashing a "legacy" Rom like TNT Lite, or Vegan 5.1.1. If they go to the 1.2 equalivilent, then they are halfway to Honeycomb when it get's ironed out.
if you plan on sticking with Gingerbread, then by all means, stay with 1.1, and use Vegan Ginger or CM7.
I have read a lot of discussions on this site, but have not seen an answer to my question...so, here I go.
I am looking at getting a GTablet...with it on sale now for about $260, the price is really tempting. However, I have not read of a ROM that works COMPLETELY with all of the hardware. Either it "mostly" works, or crashes often, ect. Is there a ROM that works without issue (at least no more issues than the factory ROM)?
Confused?
Here is the lay down
Stock ROM with OC [email protected] .......................working HW acceleration and camera
Enhanced Froyo ROM OC [email protected] HW acceleration and camera
Gingerbread ROM OC [email][email protected] HW acceleration and camera
CM7 ROM OC [email][email protected] have HW acceleration, working camera
Honeycomb ROM OC [email protected] no HW acceleration, no camera
Take your pick, your Gtab should be on BL 1.2 already, do check the tablet status to be sure. Make sure you select ROM build for BL 1.2 if your gtab is BL 1.2 model.
I like VTL Launcher to use with non Honeycomb rom, so check it out. You can get it free in the XDA forum.
Later.
tsukaza said:
Gingerbread ROM OC [email protected] HW acceleration and camera[/QUOTE]
Wait, what? There's a Gingerbread ROM with working HW acceleration now? Woot! Which one?
Hm. I feel I may be a little behind the times...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To get things going, I don't really think I will be OC'ing. It looks like the Gingerbread ROM is stable and the latest release with all functionality. Do you agree? Any particular build, website, or videos you would recommend?
Thanks for the advice!
fre1102 said:
Wait, what? There's a Gingerbread ROM with working HW acceleration now? Woot! Which one?
Hm. I feel I may be a little behind the times...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No there is none. He's mistaken
Sent from my VEGAn-TAB using XDA Forum App
wjones23 said:
I have read a lot of discussions on this site, but have not seen an answer to my question...so, here I go.
I am looking at getting a GTablet...with it on sale now for about $260, the price is really tempting. However, I have not read of a ROM that works COMPLETELY with all of the hardware. Either it "mostly" works, or crashes often, ect. Is there a ROM that works without issue (at least no more issues than the factory ROM)?
Confused?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a good website with info about current roms for the gtablet.
http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/rom.htm
My gtablet is on boot loader 1.1 so I can't tell you much about the new 1.2 roms. If for some reason your tablet is on boot loader 1.1 . This is my favorite rom that everything just works .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1119888
I did replace the music program and the launcher. Here is a link to the vt launcher.
http://vegantab.gojimi.com/vt-labs/vtl-launcher/
Hope this helps. Enjoy
tsukaza said:
Here is the lay down
Stock ROM with OC [email protected] .......................working HW acceleration and camera
Enhanced Froyo ROM OC [email protected] HW acceleration and camera
Gingerbread ROM OC [email][email protected] HW acceleration and camera
CM7 ROM OC [email][email protected] have HW acceleration, working camera
Honeycomb ROM OC [email protected] no HW acceleration, no camera
Take your pick, your Gtab should be on BL 1.2 already, do check the tablet status to be sure. Make sure you select ROM build for BL 1.2 if your gtab is BL 1.2 model.
I like VTL Launcher to use with non Honeycomb rom, so check it out. You can get it free in the XDA forum.
Later.[/QUOTE]
Stand corrected, only Froyo ROMs support Hw acceleration.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I don't get the feeling that anyone has a complete working ROM for Gingerbread or Honeycomb. Since I went ahead and ordered the gTablet, I will be researching further. Can anyone give me some opinions on the best complete working ROM for Gen 1.2? I will be mainly using the tablet for internet surfing, FB, movies, YouTube, and , of course, the occasional Angry Birds.
Thanks Again,
WJones
wjones23 said:
So, I don't get the feeling that anyone has a complete working ROM for Gingerbread or Honeycomb. Since I went ahead and ordered the gTablet, I will be researching further. Can anyone give me some opinions on the best complete working ROM for Gen 1.2? I will be mainly using the tablet for internet surfing, FB, movies, YouTube, and , of course, the occasional Angry Birds.
Thanks Again,
WJones
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go with one of the Honeycomb roms. Just add Opera and Flash and you wont regreat it. Or you can go for the old stable work horse Vegan Tab 5.1.1. It never let me down. Im currently using Honeycomb and now that Ive figured it out Im really liking it. Its got more eye candy then the Froyo rom.
I've tried alot of roms since I got my GTab in October. Currently running Flashback 7.1, a little trick to get into. I suggest trying a few.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
I've been running the Beasty 2.2.1 ROM and everything works. It's Froyo but I'm still quite happy with it.
Have it overclocked to 1.5Ghz and under voltaged. Stays cool and battery easily lasts a day or more.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1084573&highlight=beasty
wjones23 said:
I have read a lot of discussions on this site, but have not seen an answer to my question...so, here I go.
I am looking at getting a GTablet...with it on sale now for about $260, the price is really tempting. However, I have not read of a ROM that works COMPLETELY with all of the hardware. Either it "mostly" works, or crashes often, ect. Is there a ROM that works without issue (at least no more issues than the factory ROM)?
Confused?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same for me but I got an intersting anwser by a guy on XDA forum,
here is it .
This is the message:
Bonjour, Mikyreale!
I would recommend using VEGAN tab 7.0. It is the most stable and most complete Gingerbread operating system for the gTablet. If you want to use the latest operating system, but possibly not as stable, then use the Honeycomb-based gTabComb. I use it and have been very impressed with it.
Regarding gTabComb, I am using beta 3.3, and it has been quite stable so far with few reboots and force closes.
Regarding ClockworkMod (also known as CM), make sure you install version .8 and you can get that from here on xda-developers.
You can get either VEGAN Tab or gTabComb here on xda-developers as well.
I have videos on YouTube that show how to install ClockworkMod and VEGAN Tab. Search for user ehunyadi on YouTube.com.
Take care, and good luck!
Hope it will be good for you, My Gtab should arrive in a couple of days.
Miky
MechAniX.one said:
Or you can go for the old stable work horse Vegan Tab 5.1.1. It never let me down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using 5.1.1 and some times it's flakey (i.e. it's really sluggish if I install a bunch of apps until I reboot, and it needs the .nomedia fix) but overall it works well and I like how it looks/acts with VTL launcher. Gun Bros (Glu) is the only significant app that I can't use.
wjones23 said:
Can anyone give me some opinions on the best complete working ROM for Gen 1.2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brilliant Corners; it's basically Vegan but newer and better, and on the 1.2 bootloader.
Just a couple notes on extra features/items that don't get much mention...
Wifi location: Only works on GB and HC roms
HD Video: Supposedly works on Froyo with full HW Acceleration, but full HW accel doesn't mean much if you can't even open the file. That is to say, so many videos need to be re-encoded to take advantage of the hw acceleration on the stock player, you might be better off just sticking with compressed 720p or 480p (there was a time not so long ago when DVD's were considered the best quality) content, which can play just fine on GB and HC.
Settings: ON many TnT derivatives, the settings app lacks several key controls. Swapping in the stock settings.apk can help to do things like install third party keyboards or access account and sync settings. Details here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=14566837&postcount=331.
Games: Popcap-Peggle and Plants vs Zombies. I have not found any kernel that plays these games consistently other than one specific one for Froyo:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1128866 .
Usability: The handy little cursor location tab in GB and HC is hard to live without once you have used it.
Touch screen: I have found that it is most responsive to touch on honeycomb roms, for whatever reason.. Just anecdotal, nothing i really tested.
A note of personal preference: I have had my gtab for 6 months and still not found a ROM I am totally happy with. I am on a customized version of TnT at this point, and I am about as happy as I can be. I have developed a real affinity for the TnT status bar. I like that it is a little bigger, and easier to press the buttons on. It is easy enough to swap over the standard settings app when you need to use it, as long as you have root. The only thing lacking from my perspective is wifi location and that handy cursor.
Also this is a great thread. Maybe I only think so because I have never found that "perfect" rom. Keep the discussion going and maybe someone will put together a ROM that finally hits the nail on the head...
Personally I would go with vegan ROM the newest version which ever that one maybe, I right now am still on vegan tab Beta 5.1 and I haven't had a single force close or shut down yet.
ant667 said:
...and I haven't had a single force close or shut down yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must have very few apps
tsukaza said:
Here is the lay down
Stock ROM with OC [email protected] .......................working HW acceleration and camera
Enhanced Froyo ROM OC [email protected] HW acceleration and camera
Gingerbread ROM OC [email][email protected] HW acceleration and camera
CM7 ROM OC [email][email protected] have HW acceleration, working camera
Honeycomb ROM OC kerne[email protected] no HW acceleration, no camera
Take your pick, your Gtab should be on BL 1.2 already, do check the tablet status to be sure. Make sure you select ROM build for BL 1.2 if your gtab is BL 1.2 model.
I like VTL Launcher to use with non Honeycomb rom, so check it out. You can get it free in the XDA forum.
Later.[/QUOTE]
I've got a g-tab from my friend and he wants me to flash a new ROM on it..
I see it appears that there isn't a "perfect" ROM that fully works. My question is simply which ROM is the most reliable/stable/fully featured?? I need the camera to work for sure.
I don't wanna try multiple different roms and would like someone to share their experience with the different roms and recommend me a ROM.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MechAniX.one said:
Go with one of the Honeycomb roms. Just add Opera and Flash and you wont regreat it. Or you can go for the old stable work horse Vegan Tab 5.1.1. It never let me down. Im currently using Honeycomb and now that Ive figured it out Im really liking it. Its got more eye candy then the Froyo rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you gotten Flash video to work on it?
Spazmodo said:
Have you gotten Flash video to work on it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
would like to know this as well. i may be missing a step, but i've downloaded opera and the new version of flash and can't get this to work. (set the agent to desktop btw)
Until then, i'm sticking to froyo (Calk+Clem Combo V5) with VTL Launcher. The VTL Launcher gives me HC-like bells and whistles with the stability of Froyo.
gTabComb - camera app
Has anyone been able to fix the camera issue on this ROM?
I have build number GTabComb_b3.3_bl1.2
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
I bought a gtab for my son back in January and, with the help of this forum, rooted it and installed the vegan-tab 5.1.1. Sin then it has been the perfect little tab for him (and me). Is it worth looking into the HC roms now available. I would have to upgrade the boot loader as well but it looks like there are plenty of helpfull instructions on the forum to help me with that. I guess the question is are the HC roms that much better than the nicely running Vegan-Tab we are using right now?
GooseCopVid said:
I bought a gtab for my son back in January and, with the help of this forum, rooted it and installed the vegan-tab 5.1.1. Sin then it has been the perfect little tab for him (and me). Is it worth looking into the HC roms now available. I would have to upgrade the boot loader as well but it looks like there are plenty of helpfull instructions on the forum to help me with that. I guess the question is are the HC roms that much better than the nicely running Vegan-Tab we are using right now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not even close. Once you install HC you'll wonder what took you so long.
Calk Clem V6 Overclocked to 1.5ghz is still the best daily driver imo. It's froyo based and is just too fast and stable for me to move on from.
GtabComb runs on either BL.
I've tried pretty much all of the roms available for the gtab. While I like the look and feel of the HC roms, I tend to go back to Froyo or Gingerbread as they are more stable and run properly. Check into apps that you want to run and whether Flash is important to you.
Flashlight is a new one for me as of tonight and seems fast without issue with any apps yet. Beastrom is one of my favorites.
Sent from my Flashlight V1.1 using xda premium
I like the HW acceleration in 2.2 but people over on Slate droid are making a HW accelerated HC port.
If you want a working camera and good general performance, then Calk Clem V6 Overclocked to 1.5ghz is a good choice, I run VEGanTAB 7.1 BL 1.2 Overclocked to 1.5ghz with working camera, latest ADW EX, Adobe flash and market. Both are super fast and UI similar to Froyo. I personally prefer the old UI over HC.
I see that there are all kinds of mods and Platforms for the Viewsonic Gtab. My questions is: Which current mod is the best to use which allows the user to keep their Camera capabilities, speed, apps and I guess basically everything else. I see that there are many choices to chose from regarding both branches. I just want someone who knows and has the intelligence to make this decision. I am not all that savvy when it comes to these things but I can follow directions and I am not going to pretend that I know things I don't. Any help will be greatly appreciated. BTW, I absolutely loved the video during registration, that was the BOMB, whoever came up with that is brilliant!
Everyone likes a different platform but I stick with froyo Rom because everything works including hardware acceleration. Gingerbread and honeycomb Rom don't have HA. ....yet. the devs are getting close to having a working honeycomb kernel. But before you flash anything find out what bootloader you have 1.1 or 1.2 and what version your tap-n-tap original Rom is. Look for the guides and follow them closely.
kieso said:
Everyone likes a different platform but I stick with froyo Rom because everything works including hardware acceleration. Gingerbread and honeycomb Rom don't have HA. ....yet. the devs are getting close to having a working honeycomb kernel. But before you flash anything find out what bootloader you have 1.1 or 1.2 and what version your tap-n-tap original Rom is. Look for the guides and follow them closely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto, I am now running the latest Froyo from Clemsyn OC to 1.6Ghz, everything works including blue tooth headphone (switch back to internal speakers without issue). If you switch to VTL launcher you will be all set. I am currently using ADW EX large icon mode.
Calkulin+Clemsyn 1.5ghz Froyo Combo VERSION 7 final updated 10/3(bootloader 1.2 only)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1024120
VEGanTAB 7.1.0 is also very nice, working camera also OC to 1.4Ghz
http://vegantab.gojimi.com/
Thanks, I really appreciate your advice!