[Q] Some questions from a first time ROM flasher - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've been a long time follower of XDA forums. In fact although I say this is my first time flashing ROMS that only refers to modern smartphones. I have previously (with the help of XDA forums) flashed a couple of XDA phones and my Sony Ericsson w880i too.
I've recently moved to the Galaxy S3 but before that I was an iPhone user which meant that I used to browse these forums envious of all the amazing things people were doing with their Android phones.
I dont regret moving to Android and the Galaxy S3 is (in my experience) better than any iPhone I've ever had including the new iPhone 5 too.
Now that I've had the s3 for a while and I'm more comfortable with Android, I want to look into flashing a custom ROM or two onto my device before I settle with the ROM that best suits me. So with that in mind I have a few questions that hopefully you can answer for me.
1) Backups. I have downloaded lots of apps, I have several hundred contacts, I have lots of SMS messages that I dont want to lose, I dont want to lose my calendar entries or my music customisations. Some of you posters here seem to flash different ROMs to your phone every day/week so I'm guessing you will be able to tell me which is the best way to backup my information and restore it safely and quickly.
2. Suitable ROM. I know that there is no such thing as the best ROM for everyone but certain ROMs will be more suitable for me than others. What I'm looking for is quality audio for calls, built-in reliable call recording of both sides (I do phone interviews), the best music audio, light build, fast response and long battery life. I'd also like a ROM which is fully compatible with all the phones features. I dont want to waste my time with ROMS where the WiFI, camera, 3G, bluetooth or other features dont work properly.
3. Hacks/Mods. I cant seem to find a list of the most popular (and reliable) hacks and mods avaialble for the Galaxy s3. I've heard there are some great ones for the camera and the audio drivers but I haven't found any place where they are listed together. So if it exists could you point me to it and if not then could you share your favourite hacks with me please.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions and hopefully (after my long iPhone exile) I can start benefitting from the wonderful world of flashing ROMS too!

1 - Titanium Backup PRO is the only way to go, i also recommend Lookout Mobile security
2- I use AOSP ROM's as most of the bloatware is gone and they are far more advanced than Samsung based ROM's but from what im looking you want i think you would be better off with a ROM like Android Revolution, Dragon ROM or Omega,again there are dozens of ROM's to choose from i recommend you take some time out to check their different features.
3- As above take some time to search the S3 forums there are many brilliant mods and hacks to be got.

I was hoping for a few more responses and suggestions. I like the features of the MIUI rom but I dont like the iOS look.

1. Backups:
I would go as well with Titanium Backup Pro for Apps & Data (non system)
For contacts & calendar just use gmail to sync them. This will automatically restore your contacts & calendar entries once you flashed a different ROM.
For music customization as well as SMS I am not sure, but there are at least solutions for SMS backups
2. ROM:
I am using Stock JB Rom (latest french version). Works pretty well so far and had no need to go custom ROM yet.
3. Mods:
The only additional things I install after flashing a new ROM are the extended power menu (as it is not included in stock ROMs obviously) and Syiah kernel (also includes some Audio tweaks in sTweaks) & config files for better battery life
Hope it helps you

Related

[Q] Eris non-active rom

ok ive looked through here and have been doing kiddy style roms but no luck with makeing a rom to match what i have in mind. first, i have a android eris. second, im looking for a rom, or help to build one, that is for a phone that is deactivated. i.e. i transfered the line to another phone and started to flash new and different roms to learn as i go. third is that im looking for a rom thats not a "phone" rom more of a pocket pc rom. i dont need (let alone have ability) to send messages or make calls but insted i use with my wifi and connect while around the house/work. while i mainly use for games i also use for things like web, gmail, xda app...so on and so forth. can anyone tell me, post, or help me with what apk's to remove from favorite rom to make a more personal style for myself and my girl? thanx.
ps personal rom i like best so far is xtrSENSE5.0.1.

[Q] Andoid 2.2 or 2.3 or 2.3.5? and why are there so many roms?

I know, there are some Questions like this but there are not many answers...
I have an x10 mini pro nad never used a custom rom before.
No i see that here are a lot of different roms with different andoid versions and a lot of them didn't work very well (at least there are some users that talk about different bugs)
so i asked myself:
should i use a custom rom, and if, wich should i choose.
i never use my phone to take photos but i listen to a lot of music and surf trough the web. sometimes i think, that my utms thing could work better (maybe with a customrom) and that my battery could work a bit longer.
It woult be great if the laucher would work a bit fast (i use golauncher)
Also i use a lot of this googlestuff (mail, calander, maps...) and the gps thing and i want to use this stuff also with a custom rom.
so... what are the differences in all these roms? wich should i choose and which should i forgot? or are you say "no way noob, go away and let your phone like it is"
sorry but english isn't my local language
Hey if you want a nice and stable rom try using cyanocomb
Its fast it looks cool and the battery lasts longer than any other rom
Or if you want a gingerbread rom try ginger dx i heard its fast and stable and since it has cyanogenmod 7 you will have access to over 200 different themes
Sent from my G2 via XDA running MexDroidMod PreGhostChilli
wasn't able to add my googleaccount with CyaNoComb v1.4... :/
so i'll restore to backup point and try another one i guess...

[Q] How to chose between roms?

Hello everybody,
since i am new to android roms, i found the amount of available roms pretty overwhelming, just making it harder for me to choose one that could fit my needs.
I was searching for a feature comparison of the (or some) available roms, something like a table or so, but i wasnt able to find one. Is there something (regularly) updated like this out there?
It would be very nice, if you guys could recommend me some roms to take a look at, or to link some resources for a general overview of different roms!
My (personal) needs for a rom:
Its very important for me, to use a stable rom, which allows usb-debuging because i am developing android games.
I would love to use the latest android version and a rom which allows to update to later versions. And updating without deleting all the installed apps and files would be heaven on earth.
Motion controll is nice, but as far as i could extract from this threads, there is no stock jelly bean rom with this feature enabled, because its Samsung related, is that right?
I hope to find some answers on my questions.
Regards, psdev
Try wannam lite. Its my favorite
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Maybe give a shot on Android Revolution HD and also Omega Rom. These roms are my favourite.
I saw that omega rom seems like the most famous one. But as i told i have no idea how it compares to others, could you please explain what it makes it so famous? (is it recently updated, does it has more features...)
But thanks so far for your answers!

Thoughts on the New LENS Miui Release.

So, Just days after making my post about my thoughts on the latest stable Miui.us Rom which is version 2.10.26.3 I was looking through the original dev section and came across (almost as soon as it was put out) The Miui Lens edition. Which was originally titled to imply that the rom was able to be used right off the bat as a daily driver, so I downloaded, and installed it. And here was my original impression.
Before the first update release the rom was uninstallable, but this was fixed.
I installed it to realize that I stupidly had not installed gapps, so I picked from one of my default gapps version I keep on my SD card, and installed it.
I got back into the rom, to realize that out of the hardware keys (back, home, recent apps) the only one working, was back.
Within minutes, this rom was updated to fix said issue. And I currently have all buttons working, that said I am having a haptic feedback issue where none of the buttons make the phone vibrate, this was not enough of an issue to get me off the rom, so I continued and until today was waiting for another update to hopefully fix the issue, but even with said update, issues are existant that still make phone usage not completely satisfying, as it was in the Miui.us 2.10.26.3 version of this rom.
Usability current Testing results, and thoughts:
I would like to start out here by saying that I have every intention of going back to the lens release of miui as soon as I can confirm that it is stable enough for ME to use as a daily, which for me, generally means that everything I do on the phone has to function properly, without the need of downloading a separate application, or having to fix things manually. I like the lens release of the rom more SPECIFICALLY because of the developer. His releases of the Miui rom are getting better, not worse, and I likely believe that he will create the perfect Miui rom for our phone faster than the developers at Miui.us.
1. Miui Launcher Configuration is functioning properly
2. Miui Themes is currently functioning properly as long as an account is set up, during the set up process.
3. Miui Music test showed first, that the app was functioning properly, however upon secondary test of setting configuration I realized that when
the Id3 tag correction and album art download was enabled without setting up an account during setup process, that the music app would F/C
I rebooted and cleared my cache and dalvic.
4. Headphone test (Brought to you by the Lens Rom Forum) failed, without an application (headphone toggle) from the Marketplace any -----------headphones plugged into the device, will not output sound. The device will remain on speaker.
5. Miui Sound Recorder, upon initializing sound record brings the emergency notification (Internal Application Error)
6. Miui Music Visualizer on both lockscreen and widget are responding to system sounds only (such as a notification, or a previously enabled or defaulted touch sound. They do not respond to music.
7. Miui will not detect that music is playing and alter the lockscreen to music format for you, because of this, to access the lockscreen music controls you must double tap on the...dongle to drag and unlock, to switch to the music control lockscreen, this is not a major issue, however with the visualizer not working, the controls, and the widget look a tad bland for Miui. (odd how that works)
8. The Miui Virus Scanning Application is functioning properly (a test was done with a known app to contain a virus, it was found and removed)
9. The Miui Shake to organize on home screen is not currently an available feature for this rom.
10. The Miui Notes application is functioning properly.
11. The Miui Setup Process was completed without error.
12. Miui Wifi download speeds seem comparable to sense. However an issue with rom abuse may cause you to loose ALL internet access until phone was rebooted, I cannot test further as I am still currently unaware of how this happened. But after I got this rom, I was preforming tests on it to test stability for 3 hours straight without letting the device sleep, after 3 hours (and some odd minutes) my internet, while displaying I had a perfect connection in 3g, and wifi, would not download an app, load a webpage (tested on 3 separate browsers), or allow internet access to an application.
13. The Miui firewall application, Seems, to be functioning properly, however when first setup it did not block the first incoming call from test subject. All others, were blocked respectively.
14. The Miui Camera featured in this rom (actually a camera from a previous AOSP rom) is functioning properly, with all settings configured, It is not a Miui Camera but a modded camera none the less, and has interesting features, that I will miss, upon loosing this rom.
15. All Miui Notification configurations are working properly
16. Miui sound mods have been enabled on this device, allowing me to hear my ringtone from 3 rooms away in an apartment (currently not so on cm10, and Paranoid android (tho I do love that rom))
17. Miui Online music, notifications, themes, album art, and id3 tag correction will only work if an account is set up at the initial boot of the room during setup.
18. The Miui Torch is working without issue on this rom.
19. Awesome beats v3 is untestable at the moment but assumed working, as headphones can be enabled.
20. The Miui Built in equalizer is working properly on this rom.
21. The Komodo Sweep to Wake OC kernel is currently working properly on this rom.
22. Live wallpapers are working correctly on this rom
23. Miui Weather Widgets cannot function without a translated version of the Miui Weather Application that can detect US cities (not yet available)
24. The Miui Clock application seems to be functioning properly (tested alarm, timer, timezone config, and stopwatch)
25. The Miui Smart Dialer seems to be functioning properly
26. The Miui Call Record feature seems to be functioning properly (tested on a call with test subject)
27. Lockscreen wallpaper changer, homescreen wallpaper change, and live wallpaper change are functioning properly .
28. There is not a Miui Toolbox application on this rom (No root configuration other than what is listed in settings)
29. Adblock for android seems to be working on this rom.
30. Notification dual touch re-size seems to be functioning correctly on this rom.
31. Lucky patcher confirmed installed properly on this rom.
32. LBE guard and App control Miui Applications are functioning properly on this rom.
33. Prompt requesting root access is working properly on this rom.
34. Anreboot, and goo manager are working properly on this rom.
35. Dual core AOSP mod is functioning properly on this rom.
36. All but weather widgets are currently functioning properly on this rom.
37. Google voice (brought to you by the Lens rom Forum) is not currently working on this rom.
-I would like to point out, that sprint is partnered with google voice, and you can set it to replace your actual voicemail, and text you visual voicemail, making all your texts go to you, and all calls go to you, you have visual voicemail, and regular voicemail. It will also screen your calls and blah blah, idk what the app is for if it already does that, if you know something that you would be missing, please inform me promptly.
38. Lucky patcher patch confirmed working on all different configurations on multiple applications.
39. Flash for JB is working perfectly on this rom.
40. the Miui Browser is functioning perfectly on this rom.
41. the miui contacts application is functioning properly on this rom.
42. The miui messaging application is working properly on this rom.
43. The Miui Torch application is functioning properly on this rom.
44. The miui (breaking news) I just got another music F/C on lockscreen double-tap access
45. The miui Compass is working properly on this rom.
46. All lockscreen transition options are working properly on this rom.
47. 3g, 1x signal bars seem to be accurate in comparison to sense rom.
48. Calendar, reminders for calendar, and notifications for calendar are working properly on this rom.
49. GPS is gives me results accurate to 100 meters on this rom instantly, on Miui.us I get an instant lock to within 20 meters.
50. Mirror widgets are working properly on this phone.
51. Bluetooth is working properly on this rom.
If you have something you would like me to test other than the 51 things i have already tested for you please let me know below and I will try to get around to it within 1-2 days. I will keep a backup of this and of The Miui.us rom and keep them both updated, i will also, keep both of these posts updated to the best of my ability.
Thank you very much, and i hope you have a wonderful day.
Who are you?
Who are you?
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
I am...
I am a rom addicted htc user who wants to provide information for those who don't wish to flash a rom, and then find problems, when they could have looked to someone to tell them in the first place, and saved themselves the trouble.
I am also a rom addicted htc user who wants to see the roms I have loved on other devices (like the Miui rom) brought to the phone I love.
So I test to ensure that no one who is looking for a daily driver has to go through the pains of downloading a broken rom without them knowing about it when the information about the problems was nowhere to be found, but the good things about the rom displayed clearly in plain sight.
Thank you for replying to my post, and I hope you have a wonderful day.
If you're gonna do this you should make a general ROM review thread instead of making a new one every time you review a different ROM. Every time you write a different review in the thread just update the op with a link to the post with that review. Its not a bad idea what you're doing. It would just be better for everyone, including yourself, to have them consolidated into one thread.
Thank you for viewing my post.
youdug said:
If you're gonna do this you should make a general ROM review thread instead of making a new one every time you review a different ROM. Every time you write a different review in the thread just update the op with a link to the post with that review. Its not a bad idea what you're doing. It would just be better for everyone, including yourself, to have them consolidated into one thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Definitely understood youdug, actually thinking about creating a thread and moving all old OP review threads down a notch, so that the new review can be made more easily readable by people with quick running attention spans as the thread is updated, using multiple edits thats gonna be a hassle though at the moment while i have a time restricted limit on editing and posting, i was also posting them in seperate threads so that they would be viewed quicker and i could assign multiple tags to each, but i hadnt really thought about how i could put them in one thread while making them easily accessible.
Will definitely create a general rom review thread and find a way to make it work and once again...
Thank you for viewing my post, replying on my post, and i hope you have a wonderful day.
igotlostintampa said:
I am a rom addicted htc user who wants to provide information for those who don't wish to flash a rom, and then find problems, when they could have looked to someone to tell them in the first place, and saved themselves the trouble.
I am also a rom addicted htc user who wants to see the roms I have loved on other devices (like the Miui rom) brought to the phone I love.
So I test to ensure that no one who is looking for a daily driver has to go through the pains of downloading a broken rom without them knowing about it when the information about the problems was nowhere to be found, but the good things about the rom displayed clearly in plain sight.
Thank you for replying to my post, and I hope you have a wonderful day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please don't flash my rom
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Internet
flex360 said:
Please don't flash my rom
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol
i recommend that you make you own rom and review it
Assuming the authenticity of your post I suggest a pro and con approach to reviewing. Saying that a certain feature is working just makes your review look like a college textbook.
"Thoughts on the New LENS Miui Release."
My thoughts are that it, and a few other ROMs, aren't GPL compliant.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1644784
Go easy on the guy, he is doing a service for the noobs
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
flex360 said:
i recommend that you make you own rom and review it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking wow, amazingly harsh considering I watched this rom coming together over xda via communication between lens and various testers since he doesn't even have the device.. Maybe consider knowing how things came about b4 criticizing?? Just my 2 cents.. No intent of offense whatsoever..
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
thankyou...XHAUS
and the others....
I will try and update my rom fully and comply with the gpl compliance rule...
I may have been mistaken but...I thought GPL only complied to Kernels and maybe source based roms.....
If i am doing something wrong..;.Please let me know through PM and I will be sure to fix whatever is wrong....
But to all you evo users
and to all miui users this projects that i am doing for the evo lte is all thanks to the testers.
I couldnt have completed the rom since I dont have the phone..But thanks to the testers here
We all made this happen
Thank you for replying to my post.
Shad Stang said:
Assuming the authenticity of your post I suggest a pro and con approach to reviewing. Saying that a certain feature is working just makes your review look like a college textbook.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for replying to my post. I could make it that way but im going to have to figure out how to do so without leaving some things out for testing, I suppose I could test and not post all the results from my testing on the forum and only post that things are working or that they aren't and I appreciate you taking the time to reply to my post.
@flex 360
I hope you do not take this as a REVIEW of the rom, but simply as what is working and what isn't, and im only displaying this information for the people who don't want to take the time to go through 100 pages of a forum to find out if a problem has been solved, just to find 20 pages later that another problem has shown up, Im not displaying this for people testing the rom as they want to go through and find the issues that you may have missed and comment on them to help development. Im writing these from the viewpoint of someone who doesn't want to test a rom, but does want to use it, because I am certain you know that there are a lot more of those people out there than people willing to test the rom.
But if you would like me not to post a view on your rom, I suppose I will not, but I can already promise you, that sometime in the past I have already flashed your rom onto my phone and used it for atleast a little while.
@fpineda101
Thank you for replying to my post, and I am glad that you understand what I am trying to do here along with some others. I am starting to understand that these "reviews" are coming off, to some people, in a different way than I intended them to. Although I would have left the term "noob" out of my comment I appreciate your understanding.
@sparytrainor
Thank you for replying to my post. I sincerely wish you would have read the entire OP before making a comment such as that. I gave many compliments to Lens throughout the entire thing, and I still believe he will have the rom working perfectly on our phones before anyone else out there because of how much effort he is putting into the development of his rom, I in no way intended to state anything negative about his rom, But to give information to people not looking to test, what is working, and what is not. Now that I understand how it is coming off to you and others I will begin to choose my wording more carefully.
Also, I had the rom within minutes of it being posted on xda-developers, and watched as it developed through the forum for a few days. To claim that I should look into knowing the person when I was one of the first to download and await progress is an incorrect assessment.
I also know that he is creating this rom without having the actual phone, which is inspiring, and another reason I attempted to compliment him throughout the entire process of the OP.
@Lens_Flare
Thank you VERY much for replying on my post. I do very much appreciate it and I hope you took no offence to my OP as I in no way intended for it to come off negative. I also hope that you understand my original (and previously stated) purpose for these threads. I am simply stating to the people, (not testers) but the majority, who are looking for a rom to stick with, that they can enjoy from start to finish.
I expect you to be the first to complete this rom for our phone and make it fully functional, WHICH IS ASTOUNDING because you do not have the actual phone. In all respects I look up to you and all rom devlopers on this phone as I am not one who currently possess is the ability to make one, and to be honest if I ever wanted to gain the knowledge and EVER create a rom, it wouldn't become popular as it would be a rom I could not post on this site (for legal reasons based on the apps and features that the rom contained, such as lucky patcher and black mart)
@All Rom Devs on xda-developers.com
I honestly had hoped that I would not have to clarify, least of all to you, my intentions for these threads. I simply originated with thoughts similar to those of the majority (the initial thought being, I want something different) and not as a tester of these roms, but as I came across a few (some not listed on xda-developers.com) and I realized that some of the roms that I REALLY wanted to try on my phone, fall in love with, and never switch from again, claimed no-where on their rom thread what the rom was currently missing, or what was broken (please note: I do not mean ALL roms on this site, but a few) and upon asking, I received the response (Flash, and see for yourself) which I at the time, I was not completely willing to do (as i generally have a pretty busy schedule, and cannot waste time flashing 3-4 roms a day). So i came to the thought everyone does, if you cant find someone to do it for you, do it yourself. Which lead me to do something that i do not generally want to do, but the majority of people downloading your roms are not testers, so i decided to take upon myself. Which is create these threads, and attempt in a way to make the issues seemingly understandable to people who do not even possess the proper knowledge required to understand what is wrong with the rom, even if told to them bluntly. Which i apologize to the majority, but again, is most people.
So if my reviews have AT ALL offended or been taken negatively by any rom developer, or even tester on this site. I sincerely apologize and i will begin to consider the wording in these "reviews". Because i in no way mean to offend, or be harsh, or state anything negative about your rom other than what the majority of people looking will want to see quickly. I view this as supporting your roms, as when a person who knows nothing about rom development, and has no appreciation for the rom developer (which i must sadly say is the majority of people seeking a rom) sees that your rom has ANYTHING AT ALL WRONG WITH IT (by their standards) that was not clearly stated to them, and they aren't willing to accept it, it will be much more difficult to get them to return to the rom, or their friends, or anyone they tell, or anyone who watched the youtube video they make, or anyone who reads their blog. Saddly this is how i must view the majority, and how i must explain to them what is wrong, in order to keep such a thing from happening to any of your wonderful roms that i have tried. I wish to see all of your roms become popular, be boasted about to people on the street by the majority, and see you flourish in the results of the incredible work you are doing to bring these roms to our phone, and this is a way i see to do it. I see one day walking past another on the street and hearing the name of the rom that i watched be developed on this site, And i wish to add my 2 cents in with these threads or this thread (which it is going to become)
Thank you all for viewing, and replying to my post, and i hope you all have a wonderful day.....
Sent from my EVO using Xparent Red Tapatalk 2
This is kinda needed for these aosp roms so people don't clutter the development threads with questions on what is or isn't working. We all know not everyone reads the OP or searches before posting
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Thank you for replying to my post
fpineda101 said:
This is kinda needed for these aosp roms so people don't clutter the development threads with questions on what is or isn't working. We all know not everyone reads the OP or searches before posting
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for replying to my post, your reply means alot to me with you being one who has contributed so much
fpineda101 said:
This is kinda needed for these aosp roms so people don't clutter the development threads with questions on what is or isn't working. We all know not everyone reads the OP or searches before posting
Sent from my EVO using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
What's with all the hate.. Dang people
Sent from my EVO using xda premium

[Q] Custom ROMs Advice

Hello People.
I have seen here many people asking what rom is best for them and i understand that it is entirely a personal choice.
That said, i would really appreciate any advice as this will be my first Custom ROM.
I rooted my Samsung Galaxy s4 a while ago (almost as soon as i got it actually) so that i could remove some very annoying apps.
Having done that i was quite happy with the vanilla kitkat on my phone untill very recently, when I was told that i could not update the os because the phone was rooted.
With that I have now decided that, since i will get no more updates i may as well try a custom rom.
Here is the problem. I have looked at loads of ROMs on here and i have no idea what to try.
I am looking for a ROM that is very similar to the stock kitkat (maybe with some of the annoying stuff removed).
That can potentially improve my battery life, I will also try inverted colour schemes (or a ROM that allows you to customise your colour scheme).
Looks and the like are less important to me as i adapt very quickly to new layouts ect.
I use google for my contacts, and calendar so it is important that this will still work normally (I.E. sync gmail contacts and calendar with contacts and calendar apps on phone).
Ideally still have the stock kitkat keyboard as I really like that (and have tried others but always reverted back).
And critically must have no google or samsung apps that are not crutial to operation of the ROM, i will install what i need (althought i suspect that all ROMs conform to this anyway).
I will try any (reasonable) suggestions in response to this post, only after reading the reviews of any suggested ROM.
I apologise in advance if this is in the wrong place, and If there is any further information that is needed just ask.
Thank you all in advance.
Alex

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