What are my options - Motorola Photon 4G

Hey all ssup
Well wanted to ask, my photon is in shipping and I am likely to get it early next week, ain't got no clue which version its been shipped with.
But suppose its. 2.3.5 then what ROM options and/or optimization option I have after rooting and of course the process of rooting.
Its shameful on part of moto to ditch us and on top freakin locking the boitloader, I have tried my bit by getting more than 30 odd people to sign the petitions.
Let's hope this great phone giant abandoned by moto and the devs .
Thanks
Sent from the DAD of all S2s - The Epic Touch.

I'm using Peetr's hybrid rom with planter's ics theme and it looks badass and runs perfectly. I also have the beats audio installed along with the bravia engine. Other than no 4G (which I don't have to begin with here), I have zero complaints. I'm sure there are a few other locked roms that work great as well, but this is simply my opinion.

No doubt looks badass
And 4g is a no go from where I am so it can stay f*****.
gonna try this for sure.
Although I have rooted the photon before but which is the easiest for
2.3.4 and 2.3.5
regards
Sent from the DAD of all S2s - The Epic Touch.

If it comes with 2.3.4 you are lucky man cause then you can unlock your own bootloader and run whatever you want. If you get 2.3.5 use the torpedo method to root. Do a quick search and you'll find it easily.
Sent from my MB855 using xda-developers app.

Related

Anyone else retaining their 2.2.2 virginity, until the "right one" comes along?

Anyone else retaining their 2.2.2 virginity, until the "right one" comes along?
So, is there anyone else who is still simply going to wait for the official AT&T OTA Gingerbread release?
~ Sent from my Motorola Atrix 4G ~
................No!
Yep, going to keep mine stock untill the update. (uk orange)
The locked bootloader update is the real thing. I flashed it and it's amazing. I don't know how I could stay on froyo for much longer.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Im runnings kens gb and cannot see myself back on 2.2.2 every again... its super smooth fast and a beast in my 24 hours with it I love it!
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Don't get me wrong...I've seen all positive from Kenneth's release and definitely am eager to update, but I just wanna wait for the official deal.
~ Sent from my Motorola Atrix 4G ~
I just got out if rehab, somehow I knew when I got out this would be a whole new phone... still on 2.2.2 until I can get on a computer
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Right now I am also waiting for the official release but if it's not here by the end of July then I gotta go update.zip
Yeah, um odds are good if a person is browsing these forums they're interested in modding their phone
Rawr from my Atrix
Excellent point. In fact, thanks for the clarification!
~ Sent from my Motorola Atrix 4G ~
what are you guys worried about? how do you know if you right one if you dont try it?
im pretty sure ken's 2.3.4 is same as the official update thats coming, it doesnt have my testing and debug apps that are found on beta releases. if anything the "official update" from ATT is going to have more bloat and handicaps.
I'm keeping mine at 2.2.2 until the official update comes out. I know there is a slight chance it could brick and have bugs if I update to the beta build of GB.
Sent from my Chuck Norris powered BlueMystblurred Atrix
\m/0_0\m/
I got my atrix about 4 days ago, and I love it. I rooted it and installed gingerblur on the 2nd day, I liked it better than the stock ROM, but then I messed up something with the messaging app (I was transferring my texts from my iPhone to Atrix, needless to say it didnt work) so I had to do a factory reset on my atrix. I did that and then Atrix no longer showed "H+" it just showed H, and the data didnt really work for some reason, so on the second night I had to flash back to stock rom.
I am just going to wait for the official release and then upgrade, I want to enjoy my atrix without a problem lol.
Btw when the official release does come and when we upgrade do we loose everything on our current phone ?
Running 2.2.2, GingerBlur.
All the permabricks going around got me worried.
Can I still OTA running GingerBlur once the official AT&T with unlocked BL comes out or do I have to revert back to a stock AT&T rom?
NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've got a Bell Atrix right now so I need to wait until something extremely reliable comes along before I toss it on for my daily driver. We can unlock our bootloader using 2nd init but it doesn't go without a flurry of bugs.
Very much appreciate the work all the devs have done, but unless I've got an AT&T Atrix I'm going to sit tight for now. Almost traded my friend his AT&T Atrix for my Bell Atrix (I sold him the AT&T one) but the current bugs in the ROMs are still a tiny bit too much. The hacked kernels are extremely alluring though!
I'm new to flashing moto style (done HTC, samsungs before) and my atrix is still very new, so going to hold off for now. Would prefer to start from a nice clean stock gingerbread + stock unlockable bootloader (ie fastboot oem unlock) baseline.
All those bricking references in the various leaked /beta ROM threads are definitely worrying. Gotta say too the much smaller dev/hacking community is totally noticeable, information appears much more scattered and newbie unfriendly relative to HTC/samsung threads, there are few authorative 'this is the 'official' way to do XYZ' sources. So still lurking and reading
I'm waiting for the official OTA. On stock 2.2.2+root+sideloading and it works fine for me. I'm looking forward to a stable CM build for the Atrix though .
Wow. Scared much?? Its really not that bad....
Im far from the smartest guy in xda but its all pretty easy and safe if you read directions and have at least three brain cells functioning
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
I've still got 2.2.2, mainly because I'm waiting for CM7 or something else a bit more stable. I was almost always the first to put ken's P-roms on my atrix, but for flashing an sbf, I want to wait a bit until they're all out of "beta".
Scared? No.
Waiting for a 1.0? yes.

Fellow photon users need an honest opinion....please

So im currently useing the phonton... an i love it, but the truth is im bored with it. I appreaciate all the work the devs do out there an by nomeans am i tryin to rush them. Im 2 days away from my 30 day return window an im gettin antsy an kinda thinkin of swappin for a nexus.... whata you guys think. Should i suck it up an wait for the photon to become a beast or swap for the nexus an flash away.... honest opinions would be great an appreaciated. Thanks
Sent from my PhonyDroid
I wouldn't recommend exchanging it the nexus has a single core no sd card less and slower ram no international capabilities not as hi res screen just to list a couple of reasonto stay
I own a Nexus S too. And I'd say that it's a better device overall even with its single core. What keeps me away from it is exactly your reason of moving away from your Photon - boredom. Have had it for over 6 months. It's old generation hardware already. Wouldn't you rather wait for the Nexus Prime?
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
If you trade in at least swap for a newer device that is closer in specs. Have you considered the EVO 3D or Epic Touch 4G? You could easily swap for another 30 days and then again if you wanted the Photon back or another phone. This would give you a month or so to play around.
It boil down to what you want
if your a flash o holic and want to really go to town...why not get a used unlocked GSM development phone put in a prepay sim as a 2nt phone
I would go with the evo 3d if anything. The nexus has been plagued with radio issues. Or just get your upgrade back and wait it out. I used to be a flash a holic as well but I have slowed down a bunch over the years and find myself sticking to roms that are snappy and well build like cm7 or synergy.
Do what you like, I personally would have probably stayed with the evo 3d if the reception and call quality wasn't so poor. No point in a super phone if I roam all the time and drop calls.
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the opinions. Im stayin with the photon. Biggest reason ill be stayin is no sd card on the nexus. Thanks guys
Sent from my PhonyDroid
IMO, I would stay away from Samsung. My last Samsung phone was total crap.
I tend to prefer HTC and LG phones. In my past and more recently, HTC and LG have had great support for their phones when I contacted the corporate office.
I am loving my photon and I loved my Motorola flip phone back in the old days (the one with one line display that was red and the phone was very bulky).
I am also not the type of person to root my phone. I place more importance on a working reliable phone then my ability to root and flash new roms. From my understanding, Samsung allows rooting and custom roms more so then Motorola does. I also do not root because I do not want to void my warranty ... I'm too busy with work and school to try and resuscitate my bricked phone. I also do not have $600 laying around to replace my photon if it's dead. I'm happy with changing my wallpaper when I'm in the mood. Also, the photon is the best android phone I've had (had the HTC Eris, craptacular Samsung moment, HTC evo shift, and now the Motorola photon).
Having said all that, I find the photon meets my needs but you will have to figure out what is more important to you.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I am a flashaholic as well but my main reasons for flashing were to find optimal battery life, and an overall snappy phone. Once I installed decks rom on my EVO I never flashes another rom. The photon has everything I was trying to achieve in the EVO....so I've really had no urge to flash but I know once we get some good roms going, we will be flashaholics again...lol
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
same here. i found myself flashin daily to try everything on my evo. reason i did it is bc i wanted a fast and amazing phone. with the flashing, i got tired of always building up the phone again and such. i told myself that the next phone ill get, ill just root it and stick with stock other then maybe the kernel.
been using the mopho and havent had the urge to flash yet. sure undervolting would be nice, but i used setcpu the other day and had the screen off setting at 216/312 and when it was too low to keep pandora from not skippin when screen off. so i dont think id need any more under volting.
i use just juice defender and i get about 16 hours of medium/heavy use till she beeps at me (phone calls, lots of texting, and web browser)
i think this phone has excellent audio and sound. and i havent had the mute phone calls other then day 1. on performance mode and latest updates work well for me. I normally reboot my phone after 3 to 4 days just bc electronics tend to like it. did the same with my evo.
honestly, i dont see any other phone out there that could offer more. a world wide phone like this one. use a phone for what its built for, to stay connected to the world.
if you have the urge to flash, id buy one seperate just for the heck of it to flash and pimp out. im super happy with the mopho so far. love having the best signal around the office compared to everyone else.
Ditto to lroy's statement above.
eoliveira711 said:
.... whata you guys think. Should i suck it up an wait for the photon to become a beast or swap for the nexus an flash away.... honest opinions would be great an appreaciated..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait for the Photon to become a beast? Really? How? It is what it is and will be. As for the Nexus, why would you take a step backwards? Just because you can? There is the Samsung Epic 4G Touch coming out in two weeks. You could take the Photon back, use an old phone for 2 weeks and get the Sammy. Then after a couple of weeks you can take that back and get the iPhone5.
If you are looking for enough people to say "yea do it" go ahead.
LouieGrandie said:
Wait for the Photon to become a beast? Really? How? It is what it is and will be. As for the Nexus, why would you take a step backwards? Just because you can? There is the Samsung Epic 4G Touch coming out in two weeks. You could take the Photon back, use an old phone for 2 weeks and get the Sammy. Then after a couple of weeks you can take that back and get the iPhone5.
If you are looking for enough people to say "yea do it" go ahead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the epic 4g an no lie smashed it. Hate samsung. An the photon will become a beast, between dedicated devs an the fact google bought motorola. I love the phone its sexyyyy, an comin from an evo runnin cm7 oc, undervolted themed an sooo on i think im just havein flash withdrawls. I will be keepin the photon an as we speak im gettin a second line with a nexus just to hold me over lolol
Sent from my PhonyDroid
im coming from teh nexus, its one of teh better devices out there... HOWEVER with the new nexus due out shortly and the et4g this month there is no reason to get it. if your not happy with the photon now your not going to be.

[Q] New Photon User

Hey guys:
I'm thinking about switching from my age-old HTC hero to the Photon, but since Moto has locked bootloaders (I see some threads about an unlocked with borked 4g, what is that?), and The Hero has good XDA support, what stuff can we do with this phone? I'd love to help, but ROM's, Kernels, Root, Unlocked Bootloader, and the issues with said stuff need to be known by me, and it's all over the place, so I don't really understand. Happy thanksgiving, and if you can let me know about this stuff it'd be great.
when you unlock the bootloader it breaks the 4G (so you won't be able to use it)
You can relock and get your 4g back.
Apparently devs are working on a solution for this.
I have owned htc inspire iphone 4 and the photon. The photon works great out of the box for me and only can get better. Right now i am unlocked with it overclocked to 1.2 ghz and the magnifier rom. But locked or unlocked to me its worth it. But it all depends on what you like in the phone. Battery life also is pretty good but i got the 3600mah mugen battery and lasts forever it seems now
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
I just switched from my Evo 4G to the Photon this week. The OG Evo had a massive dev community, and it was great, but I am noticing that everything I used to need to hack my Evo to do, the photon does out of the box.
Now just because the bootloader is locked, doesn't mean you can't root. Root on this was actually incredibly easy with Photon Torpedo method. I haven't unlocked my bootloader, and currently, I don't see any reason to. I have root access, which lets me do things like run webtop without a dock, wifi tether, uninstall system apps, and anything else you need root for. As far as your interface, anything you don't like about motoblur can be remedied with a new launcher, like GoLauncher.
So far, I couldn't be happier with the Photon. This phone is amazing. I have 4G in my area, and if you unlock the bootloader you lose that, so for now, I don't want to. The only time I see it becoming a problem is if ICS roms start coming out and Sprint and Moto don't give us an official update.
bradleyw801 said:
Root on this was actually incredibly easy with Photon Torpedo method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Um, hold up! Have you tried the AIO OCR? Once you go OCR, you'll never go back...
and yes, the Photon can't compare to the EVO, (except the kickstand of course!)
I had Evo 4G and got Photon 08/02/2011. 3 weeks later I rooted it, and 4 days later I put it back to stock. Even if they came out with unlocked bootloader, I'm staying put, lovely directly right out the box. I have SPB 3D Shell (which some claim it a resource hog. Maybe? I reboot maybe once a week?) but it gives me a unique look and feel and I like the organization with it. Battery is decent compared to others, I last a work day, but I really to play with mine.
As stated, up to you. Personally, almost any smartphone on the market today has a heck of alot of Pro's compared to Con's!
Thanks so much! Im pretty sure this is the one im going to buy, because my awesome hero has just gotten to old for my liking. Happy Thanksgiving!

motorola razr leaked ics rom is awesome!

check out this Android Police article
and now i feel like buying one. dammit
first posted on Droidrzr.com and confirmed by the devs there. Proves ICS is done and ready by Moto's standards but VZW is holding back.
armus said:
first posted on Droidrzr.com and confirmed by the devs there. Proves ICS is done and ready by Moto's standards but VZW is holding back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any idea about the ICS rom ETA for Razr GSM version?
I thought I read on the Andoid forums that the ICs for GSM devices was avaiable now.
Leaked screenshots (not ROM) also reported here:
http://androidandme.com/2012/02/dev...razr&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews
Makes me a lil excited... Q2 still seems so far away, though and I doubt we'll see it in Q1... Anyone try cheesecakin that bad boy? I'm not rooted, or else I would...
\\Carved into this thread by my RAZR//
http://android-gz.com
Interesting that it's using the standard ICS launcher dock rather than the more Blur'd one from the GSM ICS leak.
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium
That is a blur launcher. It has all the blur look. A lot different from the official Xoom build as well. But don't forget this is Cdma build with VZW bloat
Sent from my AOKP Razr using XDA App
My understanding is that there will be a complete Blur rebuild, with a toned down feel for some ICS functions to shine through.
\\Carved into this thread by my RAZR//
http://android-gz.com
This was good news to read this morning. The screenshots look a lot like a completed build, which means we'll hopefully be getting ICS soon. The only problem I have with the current version of Blur is the uninstallable bloatware, but at least apps can be hidden. I bought a RAZR because I absolutely love Motorola's hardware. As soon as we can get ICS my phone will have the best software too.
how did you guys put up with motorola locked bootloader policy BS? i know many samsung users will be angry if samsung start doing that, but i don't think samsung will do that anytime soon. maybe in 2-3 years they will lock their bootloader, who knows.
I do not mind the bootloader for now, since I bought the phone knowing it is locked. If I buy a Samsung I know it's unlocked and if they lock it, it is a violation of there own policy and therefore gives me a reason to complain.
If it is Motorola's decision to take down the lock of the bootloader allot of heavy-users and programmers will joy that decision, but if they don not, than it is just tough luck. (Nevermind the fact I like it unlocked also)
The Locked Bootloader is a pain... The trend is that everyone is doing away with the locked, Moto being the only company left that has one... The lock problem prevents us from changing the Kernal and thus limits the amount of things we can accomplish with a custom ROM, Which is why at this time there are only a number of ROMs available to use... most are just tweaks of the exisiting Moto Rom....
You can search this forum, there is alittle more info here, plus a petition drive to contact Moto and voice your complaints....
Pretty impressed! Q2 is when? Which months counts to Q2?
romdroid. said:
Pretty impressed! Q2 is when? Which months counts to Q2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would assume Q1(Jan-Mar) Q2(April-June) Q3(July-Sept) Q4(Oct-Dec). To bad it's still unknown for CDMA.
Is there any chance that we can get ICS for Razr earlier than Q2?
If Motorola start leaking ROMs as much as HTC and Samsung do then yes.. but highly unlikely.. However that being said, we already have a leaked test version but obviously not stable enough to be used as a daily. And also on top of that, there are a few devs working on versions of ICS built from source so although we might not get an official Moto build of it before it's released, we can probably still get a decent cooked version of it soon.
using ics for over a week
I was able to dl the 4.0.3 from the server when it first popped up, after it (the d/l) started i restarted my phone and then went to settings and it showed up there as a ota d/l. I've been using it for over a week now and I've had absolutley no trouble with it. I retained root using voodoo and it autmatically reinstalled all my apps on it's own, all my root tweaks work and it's much faster than the .181 build along with being more detailed in the settings. I've reasd horror stories about people bricking their phones but again it went as smooth as butter, It failed 4 times due to me having the beta swype on and not being able to get it off, but after rsd'ing back to stock and taking all the updates and not adding or changing any programs along the way it went on as it should again under my settings tab not the [email protected] route, not sure why this happened maybe after it's identified the phone it "accepted" it as a soak? phone, I dont know but it's as perfect as I would want, I've been playing with the rooting and roms since the og droid, droid x, droid x2 and the bionic which was buggier than my shed, I don't understand where everyone is having trouble installing it, I believe I'm still on the update path as when I check for an update it allows it to happen and I can connect all my accounts including Motocast which I've read the update killed for most people, a few tweaks under the ro.build reconnected my mobile data and when I check to see what *#*#4636*#* it shows my phone info for preferred network type as unknown (which i dont understand) and under motorola services "push connected" as true, which i believe lets me know that this was considered a legit ota update, now I've been rooting and flashing since the og but am far from being an expert in reading this and may be misinterpeting what I'm reading but so far so good and wouldn't go back to GB for anything, and wouldn't understand why anyone would, much faster, 4g stays connected all the time and the speeds are faster there also, has a different overall feel to the system that is more fluid and hasn't had one hiccup to date, a little long winded but I thought i would give my opinion on the build. http://forum.xda-developers.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

Should I get Motorola Photon 4G?

I know some of you will say, "Why not get Galaxy S3?" or Why not get cheaper LG Viper 4G LTE?" The reason is I cant. I cant upgrade to 2012 smartphone without losing my old data plan. If i do that, I will be forced to get new data plan which is $54.99. Im on Sprint Relay Data only for $39.99( Im hard of hearing btw) RIght now, I have Samsung Epic 4G. Pretty old I know and it tend to die fast even with new Galaxy SII battery. I am a techie guy that know how to root and install custom roms. Right now, Im thinking abt getting Motorola Photon 4G since it can be hack to run on tmobile/At&t when I planning to leave Sprint in the future. Is Motorola Photon is a good phone??? (In term of hardware)
I have it and I think its a great phone hardware speaking
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
I have another question. Can I just unlock bootloader, flash different rom, then relock bootloader to get 4G back. Can I do it?
silverhawknike said:
I have another question. Can I just unlock bootloader, flash different rom, then relock bootloader to get 4G back. Can I do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. It's not the rom that's the problem, its having that rom use a non stock kernel. To keep 4g, you would have to use a psuedorom that doesnt mess with the kernel. The only one still in development is MOF's 2.3.5ish rom.
But yes, the Photon is an amazing phone. Without a doubt the best I've ever had. And ICS is supposed to officially drop soon so that means our Jelly Bean and ICS roms will be working flawlessly. The only risk you run in ordering a Photon is that it might already have 2.3.5 on it. If this is the case, you wont be able to unlock thus unable to install any custom roms. If you do choose to get it, order it from ebay or something and make sure to ask the seller to verify it still has 2.3.4 on it by going into About Phone.
alright thanks for clarification
Great choice for you as you can have a very good phone at a affordable price. I am on Cm10 on my photon it's fantastic can give any 2012 phone a value for money competition
Sent from my mopho cm10 jellybean using xda app-developers app
Found MotoPho with Android 2.3.4 on ebay for $160. Perfect! Will be buying on Tues night
Is CM10 is stable now (like very useful for daily driving)?
silverhawknike said:
Found MotoPho with Android 2.3.4 on ebay for $160. Perfect! Will be buying on Tues night
Is CM10 is stable now (like very useful for daily driving)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a steal
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Cm10 is very stable. It has been my daily driver for past two days absolutely no issues except minor niggles already mentioned(white screen in camera but still takes beautiful pictures, camcorder not working etc)
jellybean popping on Cm10
silverhawknike said:
Found MotoPho with Android 2.3.4 on ebay for $160. Perfect! Will be buying on Tues night
Is CM10 is stable now (like very useful for daily driving)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Considering it was released last week it's stable as hell. Obviously it'll take a bit to work out the kinks. Sending/receiving mms messages is messed up for some people, camera is a bit laggy, camcorder doesnt work, noticeable twitching in general due to the lack of 2d libs, overheats slightly, and some are reporting iffy battery life. But the exact same problems exist on our CM9 and that has been out for many months. Basically, it's about as stable as its gonna get without the proper pieces we need from Motorola. Considering they said the Atrix's official ICS build is coming in Q3 and our Photon is nearly the exact same phone, I would say we'll have the pieces we need by the end of August or mid September. Guess we will see. Congrats on getting such a good price!
Need help finding ROM with Vanilla launcher
Just brought Motorola Photon 4G on ebay and it will come on Sat or Mon! I also told him not to update it haha.
Meanwhile, i want a stable vanilla rom and this rom is close as vanilla rom. Can I flash that rom ? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1224896 Or any roms that have vanilla launcher. Not a big fan of ADW launcher btw.
Yeah you should be able to flash that, but it is kind of outdated. If you want to use cm7 you don't have to use adw launcher. Just download a different one.
Sent from my MB855 using xda app-developers app
Hmm, i can do that. What abt CM9 for MotoPho?
silverhawknike said:
Hmm, i can do that. What abt CM9 for MotoPho?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alien is quite dated. No one has worked on that since last year. Technically, CyanogenMod is vanilla android with extra customization options. Blows AOSP out of the water and is clean as a whistle. CM7.2(gingerbread), CM9(ICS), CM10(JB) -- take your pick! Id start out with 7.2 as everything works flawlessly. Once you are familiar with everything and are willing to deal with a few bugs but still stable builds, try CM9 or 10.

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