Related
Long story short, about a year ago i got a Motorola Bravo (Android) phone for a few weeks but returned it because I couldn't really afford a data plan at the time. About a month ago I switched back to smartphones, this time for good, and now have a Samsung Galaxy SII.
The motorola phone had some AWESOME user-friendly features, such as resizing of widgets. Is this taken out because of Touchwiz or was that an older version of Android that's now obsolete? What all does Touchwiz take away functionality-wise? What does Gingerbread (2.3.6 to be specific) look like without Touchwiz?
I've yet to root my phone (the only reason I'd have right now is more battery life) but if I could reove Touchwiz and get some serious UI improvements, that'd definitely be a gamechanger for me
Motorola has Moto blur I think
HTC has sense
Samsung has TouchWiz
The clean Androind would be an AOSP based rom, like CM9/AOKP
I don't know if you understand me, I think I'm drunk or something right know can't remember
Oh
Galaxy Nexus is like what it looks witout the Touchwiz.
ScelestusAnimus said:
Long story short, about a year ago i got a Motorola Bravo (Android) phone for a few weeks but returned it because I couldn't really afford a data plan at the time. About a month ago I switched back to smartphones, this time for good, and now have a Samsung Galaxy SII.
The motorola phone had some AWESOME user-friendly features, such as resizing of widgets. Is this taken out because of Touchwiz or was that an older version of Android that's now obsolete? What all does Touchwiz take away functionality-wise? What does Gingerbread (2.3.6 to be specific) look like without Touchwiz?
I've yet to root my phone (the only reason I'd have right now is more battery life) but if I could reove Touchwiz and get some serious UI improvements, that'd definitely be a gamechanger for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure to go the MIUI route if you're on GB or go the AOKP route if you're on ICS. Those are good starting points if you want to see some nice UI improvements. If you decide to go AOKP make sure to mess around in ROM control.
AOSP stock apps on ICS (AOKP/CM9) are much nicer than touchwizz/samsung ics apps.
UI Ranking
#1 AOSP (AOKP,CM9) and MIUI [all ICS based]
#2 MIUI GB , Sensation ROM GB (Samsung based rom), AOSP GB (CM7) (LunarUI theme)
#3 Stock Samsung ROM or Stock CM7 [both GB based]
Recommend Choice is AOKP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574718
Just make sure you know what you're doing when you flash
You just need a different launcher. Try go launcher.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Biporch said:
Motorola has Moto blur I think
HTC has sense
Samsung has TouchWiz
The clean Androind would be an AOSP based rom, like CM9/AOKP
I don't know if you understand me, I think I'm drunk or something right know can't remember
Oh
Galaxy Nexus is like what it looks witout the Touchwiz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh yeah! Now that you mention it, i remember reading about Motoblur.
Cryosx said:
Make sure to go the MIUI route if you're on GB or go the AOKP route if you're on ICS. Those are good starting points if you want to see some nice UI improvements. If you decide to go AOKP make sure to mess around in ROM control.
AOSP stock apps on ICS (AOKP/CM9) are much nicer than touchwizz/samsung ics apps.
UI Ranking
#1 AOSP (AOKP,CM9) and MIUI [all ICS based]
#2 MIUI GB , Sensation ROM GB (Samsung based rom), AOSP GB (CM7) (LunarUI theme)
#3 Stock Samsung ROM or Stock CM7 [both GB based]
Recommend Choice is AOKP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1574718
Just make sure you know what you're doing when you flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are these custom Roms or just the normal Android OS without the company's additions to it? I have gingerbread atm (I'd rather wait for ICS until the official release from AT&T)
hobbs said:
You just need a different launcher. Try go launcher.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried Go launcher. I didn't like how it was basically an OS on top of the normal OS. They both were running at the same time and I had to rearrange my apps to make them the same as they were. I just want the Android OS without the stupid additions/subtractions from Samsung/Motorola/etc >.<
However I have to say, I do like how Go Launcher doesn't require rooting
ScelestusAnimus said:
I tried Go launcher. I didn't like how it was basically an OS on top of the normal OS. They both were running at the same time and I had to rearrange my apps to make them the same as they were. I just want the Android OS without the stupid additions/subtractions from Samsung/Motorola/etc >.<
However I have to say, I do like how Go Launcher doesn't require rooting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize, right, that Touchwiz is a launcher too? And even vanilla Android builds use a launcher? When you use Go Launcher, it's not running "on top of" what's already there; it's replacing Touchwiz.
I'm sorry, but you can't have vanilla Android OS without installing it in the form of a custom ROM. Samsung makes their own builds of Android, which is what you have. If you want something else, somebody else has to build it...meaning the developers on this forum.
mattdm said:
You do realize, right, that Touchwiz is a launcher too? And even vanilla Android builds use a launcher? When you use Go Launcher, it's not running "on top of" what's already there; it's replacing Touchwiz.
I'm sorry, but you can't have vanilla Android OS without installing it in the form of a custom ROM. Samsung makes their own builds of Android, which is what you have. If you want something else, somebody else has to build it...meaning the developers on this forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe it just felt like that because I could cancel it at any time and go back and forth between normal touchwiz and Go launcher. I know this is a versatility feature, but I'd rather have that disabled, as crazy as it may sound.
But that's good to know. I didn't know a launcher was REQUIRED, just thought it was what most people did. I'll look into other launchers.
Is there still one where you can resize the UI elements and stuff like that?
ScelestusAnimus said:
Maybe it just felt like that because I could cancel it at any time and go back and forth between normal touchwiz and Go launcher. I know this is a versatility feature, but I'd rather have that disabled, as crazy as it may sound.
But that's good to know. I didn't know a launcher was REQUIRED, just thought it was what most people did. I'll look into other launchers.
Is there still one where you can resize the UI elements and stuff like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As mattdm said, all Android builds require a launcher. Otherwise you'd have no usable GUI. When you were switching back and forth between GO and TouchWiz were you using a home/launcher switcher, or were you just using the default ui to choose one each time you went to your home screen?
You can have several launchers installed and use a switcher to make one "stick" until you decide you want a different look/feel.
Some prefer GO or LauncherPro. I use ADW EX and TouchWiz. ADW and LauncherPro are very configurable. VERY. Both have their ardent fans. I've not used GO.
PS: You do NOT want the ability to change launchers disabled. ;-)
ScelestusAnimus said:
Maybe it just felt like that because I could cancel it at any time and go back and forth between normal touchwiz and Go launcher. I know this is a versatility feature, but I'd rather have that disabled, as crazy as it may sound.
But that's good to know. I didn't know a launcher was REQUIRED, just thought it was what most people did. I'll look into other launchers.
Is there still one where you can resize the UI elements and stuff like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhh... touchwiz lets you resize certain widgets... (UI elements) pretty sure go launcher and adw ex do too...
Biporch said:
The clean Androind would be an AOSP based rom, like CM9/AOKP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CM9 uses the Trebuchet launcher. as it has been hammered multiple times, all roms use some sort of launcher. I'm not sure what AOKP uses, but I'd wager its either Trebuchet, nova, or apex..
0p3nsrc said:
CM9 uses the Trebuchet launcher. as it has been hammered multiple times, all roms use some sort of launcher. I'm not sure what AOKP uses, but I'd wager its either Trebuchet, nova, or apex..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it comes with both apex and nova. They are fairly similar but each have a few unique features.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
0p3nsrc said:
CM9 uses the Trebuchet launcher. as it has been hammered multiple times, all roms use some sort of launcher. I'm not sure what AOKP uses, but I'd wager its either Trebuchet, nova, or apex..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tasks came with trebuchet. I switched to nova and I'm fairly sure that apex came on it too.
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium
ScelestusAnimus said:
Long story short, about a year ago i got a Motorola Bravo (Android) phone for a few weeks but returned it because I couldn't really afford a data plan at the time. About a month ago I switched back to smartphones, this time for good, and now have a Samsung Galaxy SII.
The motorola phone had some AWESOME user-friendly features, such as resizing of widgets. Is this taken out because of Touchwiz or was that an older version of Android that's now obsolete? What all does Touchwiz take away functionality-wise? What does Gingerbread (2.3.6 to be specific) look like without Touchwiz?
I've yet to root my phone (the only reason I'd have right now is more battery life) but if I could reove Touchwiz and get some serious UI improvements, that'd definitely be a gamechanger for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, Welcome to Samsung!
A little background.
AOSP = Android Open Source Program. Meaning, a open source of code editable by anyone.
Touchwiz/Motoblur/Sense = Not AOSP, they were written as a launcher/GUI for each phone by their developer (Motorola/Samsung/HTC). On top of that, these GUI/Overlays have their fingers into everything on a phone, this is why updates take so long. Google creates a new version of Android and passes it to the phone manufacturer, they in turn need to take that new version and paste their GUI/Overlay on top of it, this takes time and money. Further, once the phone manufacturer finishes updating, they need to give the software to the vendor (VZW/AT&T etc) who add more bloat/custom crap to the software.
Custom ROM's, are and are not AOSP, Some are pure AOSP like AOKP or CM (Cyanogenmod), they are written by groups of people, all of whom work in concert to bring you the ROM. Then there are custom ROM's that are not in the realm of AOSP. For example, I use Phone Bricker, written by LilChris here on XDA. This ROM is not really Open Source as it's written by one person, the author may give out the source, I don't know.
So what would your phone look like w/o Touchwiz? CM9/AOKP is as close as you'll get. Those ROMs use the closest to stock version of Android.
To confuse matters even more, there are Launchers, Go Launcher/Apex etc. They operate as yet another GUI on top of a GUI, inside a ROM. So you could have a stock, unrooted Galaxy S2, with Touchwiz and Go Launcher, and customize it to make it look like you want it too. Or, you could root your phone, Update to CM9 (running Ice Cream Sandwich btw), and use the launcher that they have there, or change that to Go Launcher.
The options are endless, read read read. I am new to Samsung, I came from Motorola where things are done quite a bit differently. I can tell you this though, you are infinitely better off with a Samsung phone than a Motorola Phone. Not only does Motoblur blow chunks, but Motorola is a terrible company as far as software updates go. Toss in locked bootloaders... anyway, I hope the above answered your question.
Wink
Hello guys,
I am looking for Jelly Bean ROM ( I mean JB look, i don`t like samsung overlay on android) but with all special functions of Samsung Galaxy s 3 such as S Voice, Smart Stay and touch options( zooming with two fingers on picture in gallery etc.) I spent whole day on searching but didn`t find any maybe looking in wrong place? or just doesn`t exist?
Also i would like to add that it isn`t my very beginig on flashing roms. Previously I had HTC Desire HD with plenty roms tried.
Please help
Basics including rom list .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1927113
AOKP /AOSP are non Samsung roms
jje
I would suggest a custom deodexed sammy rom (wanam, omega etc) with http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1730397 and nova or apex launcher! Thats as close as you can get.
Lownita said:
I would suggest a custom deodexed sammy rom (wanam, omega etc) with http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1730397 and nova or apex launcher! Thats as close as you can get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And does the "pan to move icons" works? I have already found http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886332 MS Team HD 5.0 and it doesn`y support it but just it so it`s very acceptable. Another thing, but propably in every rom, lack of S Planner widget.
Would totally love this combination as well. Mainly so I can keep WiFi tethering which Vanilla JB ROMs don't have.
Nice to hear that I`m not alone
S Planner and other samsung applicatins might be in the rom, depending if the author put it in or not. I can not give you that specific advice because I am using cm10. So you gotta check some roms out and see whats in there.
You also have the option to flash deodexed stock rom and then vertumus theme, so you got the complete Samsung stuff. Here you get the rom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1704185
Oh and perhaps also check this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1911572 Has the JB look out of the box
http://galaxys3.roms-db.com/ also very neat when trying to find a suiting rom!
Apex or Nova launcher with holo locker.
Sent from my GT-I9003 using xda app-developers app
I have been using SuperNexus Build 5 for a few months now: great ROM, very light and super stable.
But obviously, being AOSP-based, I miss the Samsung proprietary features (radio, better camera, etc.)
I'm wondering if there is any ROM based on Samsung stock (and therefore incorporating all the Samsung features) providing plain vanilla Android experience, just like on Google's Nexus devices, as SuperNexus does.
I've tried CodecROM, but it is still too heavily themed for my taste.
Try installing those mods on InsertCoin
Customized ROM Cleaner
4.2 Apps
JB Domination
Tried http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2005845 ?
Frag1le said:
Tried http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2005845 ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll definitely give it a try.
Thanks!
FoxHound 1.6
degiovab said:
I have been using SuperNexus Build 5 for a few months now: great ROM, very light and super stable.
But obviously, being AOSP-based, I miss the Samsung proprietary features (radio, better camera, etc.)
I'm wondering if there is any ROM based on Samsung stock (and therefore incorporating all the Samsung features) providing plain vanilla Android experience, just like on Google's Nexus devices, as SuperNexus does.
I've tried CodecROM, but it is still too heavily themed for my taste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using FoxHound Rising 1.6 right now since last friday and I have to say that It's really nice, provide Aroma Installer a lot o tweaks and a nice Original Android look and feel. I can use the FM radio, it brings updated google apps and all the Sammy's features that I tried until now works.
The only bug that I've found is when I tried to add an event for a contact like a birthday, the contact app got a FC.
All the rest are fine until now.
Here you can read about the features http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1708371
If you want to try it you can get it from here http://www.gearengine.it/?dl_name=http://www.gearengine.it/wordpress/FoxHound/GSIII/FoxHound_Rising_1.6_Full-Essential_JellyBean.zip.
Best Reagards
degiovab said:
I have been using SuperNexus Build 5 for a few months now: great ROM, very light and super stable.
But obviously, being AOSP-based, I miss the Samsung proprietary features (radio, better camera, etc.)
I'm wondering if there is any ROM based on Samsung stock (and therefore incorporating all the Samsung features) providing plain vanilla Android experience, just like on Google's Nexus devices, as SuperNexus does.
I've tried CodecROM, but it is still too heavily themed for my taste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should try ultimarom. It exactly what you are looking for. On flashing you can select which app you want and which you don't.
Sent from my Galaxy S3
Try using any of the Sammy based roms and use holo locker and holo launcher. That's what I do and I haven't looked back.
Sent From My Omega'd Galaxy S3 ...
xmrenegade7 said:
Try using any of the Sammy based roms and use holo locker and holo launcher. That's what I do and I haven't looked back.
Sent From My Omega'd Galaxy S3 ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but it won't change settings and other apps
rl421403 said:
You should try ultimarom. It exactly what you are looking for. On flashing you can select which app you want and which you don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow! Tried UltimaROM v8.0 and I love it!
Thanks a lot for the suggestion! :good:
degiovab said:
Wow! Tried UltimaROM v8.0 and I love it!
Thanks a lot for the suggestion! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had been using UltimaROM for the same reason you are.
Before UltimaROM, I tried almost all roms here but I could not find anyone that close. It's a great rom.
Right now I am trying SuperNexus 2 rom from last 2-3 days. It's very light and feels very smooth. You might want to try it if you are romholic.
rl421403 said:
Right now I am trying SuperNexus 2 rom from last 2-3 days. It's very light and feels very smooth. You might want to try it if you are romholic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed I tried SuperNexus 2 (since I've been using SuperNexus Build 5 for months I'm a huge fan of Faryaab's work), but the way Android 4.2.1 manages the sdcard is awful (I do not really believe multiuser is needed for a smartphone... maybe it's useful for tablets).
Overall I could not find any significant improvement with 4.2.1 so I decided to stay with 4.1.2 and UltimaROM seems to me the best 4.1.2 Samsung-stock based rom with possibility to get AOSP look and feel (and now I have radio, working camera, voice recorder, etc.).
Thanks again!
degiovab said:
(and now I have radio, working camera, voice recorder, etc.).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I miss that too.
I will be re-flashing Ultima this weekend.
alternative to stock rom
I really don't like the stock look of the phone. The lockscreen is the only exception. So, I'm exactly looking to go as much as possible away from stock Samsung appearances.
I recently used UltimaRom, which I believe is one of the best I've tried so far, but the stock dialer, contacts etc menus made me go back to Resurrection Remix or ReVOLT tipe of roms. Now, because I'm new at this whole customization thing I'll put some possibly silly questions below.
Here we go:
1. Can I put stock samsung apps like radio, s memos etc, etc. on a random rom? That way to avoid changing the whole rom.
2. What is a AOKP based rom and is that the type of rom I should look for? RRemix and Revolt both are AOKP based roms and their appearance is nice, but i experience fc's with them. There two roms have different dialer, contacts and during call look that I like better that any stock rom.
3. It is possible to use Sammy-based rom and just somehow replace the terrible menus with the menus from like RR and Revolt, but keep their custom looks.
I am struggling already few weeks to find working, lite, fast rom, that will be as far as possible from samsung-based roms, but at the same time stable and reliable daily driver.
I'm am not so much into experimenting with roms, more into finding one and sticking with it from that point on. I tried a lot of roms already - RR,Revolt, MIUI, UltimaRom and others. They are all either stock but stable or pretty customized but experimental. Please give me some advice.
Thanks.
Samsung Galaxy S3 I9300
xmrenegade7 said:
Try using any of the Sammy based roms and use holo locker and holo launcher. That's what I do and I haven't looked back.
Sent From My Omega'd Galaxy S3 ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the same thing at all...
gneus said:
2. What is a AOKP based rom and is that the type of rom I should look for? RRemix and Revolt both are AOKP based roms and their appearance is nice, but i experience fc's with them. There two roms have different dialer, contacts and during call look that I like better that any stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AOKP (android open kang project)/AOSP (android open sorce project) is base android platform. And AOKP/AOSP based roms means they use base Android platform and add some additional features from their own like adding some apps or some theme/styling. If you like vanilla android look then you should try CM10.1 because that's base of most AOSP based roms.
gneus said:
1. Can I put stock samsung apps like radio, s memos etc, etc. on a random rom? That way to avoid changing the whole rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung phone apps will only work on samsung based roms. They will not work on other roms because samsung based apps only work with touchwiz framework (by samsung) and unless you add touchwiz framework support in other roms, apps simply will not work and you will experience FC. But there are always alternative apps available, so I don't think it's a big deal.
gneus said:
3. It is possible to use Sammy-based rom and just somehow replace the terrible menus with the menus from like RR and Revolt, but keep their custom looks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is also a themeing platform for Samsung based roms, it's JB DOMINATION if I am not wrong. This framework styles some general elements in samsung rom to provide feeling of AOSP platform. Rom developers used this framework and styled their rom to develop a good balance between samsung features with AOSP looks.
If you are a developer, you can try modifying any rom but if you are looking for a existing samsung rom to completely look like AOSP then you are out of luck. I don't think there is one.
As I mentioned above, if you are fond of AOSP looks then you might want to try CM10.1 rom. You will get clean android system.
I have tried many roms in past 3 months and I can only vouch for CM10.1 and SuperNexus 2. Both of these are good roms and do not include any unnecessary apps or styling. But give you great Android experience.
I'm hoping a developer can answer my question.
I'm running CM 10.1 Nightly (The latest one 31st Jan) on my SIII and it's superb.
I've started flashing the CM 10.1 ever since the first Nightly came out and have reverted back to Samsung's TouchWiz for the sake of some cool features such as the "Voice Enabled music player" and the "motion settings".
Is there any way I can add those functions to the CM 10.1 I'm running?
Thanks in advance.
well, you can't...
it needs to be ported, what's probably will not happen
Reply.
eytan123 said:
well, you can't...
it needs to be ported, what's probably will not happen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see...but I really loved those features on my Samsung. That's the only reason I ever went back to it.
Ahh well...I still love the CM look far better than the ****ty TouchWiz.
You can always use a 3rd party launcher or use a theme like JB Domination
Yeah but a 3rd party launcher wouldn't give him the motion settings etc.
It'll give him inly the looks that he just stated he dislikes...
he's talking about a 3rd party launcher in a Sammy-based ROM to give him an AOSP feel, alongside with the Domination theme
Add-ons
Glebun said:
he's talking about a 3rd party launcher in a Sammy-based ROM to give him an AOSP feel, alongside with the Domination theme
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, all I was asking for is the motion functions that are found with the stock TouchWiz and if there's a way to flash them on by keeping the CM 10.1.
I'm not talking about looks, nor themes.
All I want are the functionality that includes raising phone up to call and what not.
You were given the answer to that question. People are just trying yo help you. The only way to have that functionality is to flash a Sammy-based ROM. If you don't like TouchWiz, you can flash Domination theme and use a custom launcher, which will give you the complete AOSP feel
I tried
Glebun said:
You were given the answer to that question. People are just trying yo help you. The only way to have that functionality is to flash a Sammy-based ROM. If you don't like TouchWiz, you can flash Domination theme and use a custom launcher, which will give you the complete AOSP feel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that. The second I use a launcher it defies the point of having the "buttery" smoothness of either the stock TouchWiz or CM Rom.
Nova launcher + widget locker just made my device slow, so thanks anyway for all your help guys .
It seems like most of the users don't like touchwiz roms, everybody has an opinion about it and I am curious. Why should I and why shouldn't I move to the stock Android? Can anybody tell me the pluses and minuses of stock android?
Pluses:
CM, vanilla android, fast and beautiful
Minuses:
Unfixable bugs. Occasional glitchyness.
Theshawty said:
Pluses:
CM, vanilla android, fast and beautiful
Minuses:
Unfixable bugs. Occasional glitchyness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, people say it's more customizable, do they mean themes or mods? I couldn't find much customization for stock, where should I look?
theori1 said:
Also, people say it's more customizable, do they mean themes or mods? I couldn't find much customization for stock, where should I look?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even touchwiz roms are customizable with jkay settings. but aosp or aokp roms do not have all the samsung stock features like s-voice and like so that they are very lite and are very fast. camera has some issues on aosp and aokp roms unlike stock sammy. you can find customizations in thems section. http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1567 :good: