Hi guys! What you think? Is it possible to bring new Android into SGS2?
I was watching at Hong Kong conference. So I'm excited. Probably I'll buy new phone - Galaxy Nexus. So what's your opinion? Is it possible? I'm noob .
Very possible. Google Nexus is not that much of a hardware leap from the SGS2. It will come to the SII
lorddeadxiter said:
Hi guys! What you think? Is it possible to bring new Android into SGS2?
I was watching at Hong Kong conference. So I'm excited. Probably I'll buy new phone - Galaxy Nexus. So what's your opinion? Is it possible? I'm noob .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
watched the event myself as well... Not too much impressed tho... Its coming on verizon for now.
Give it time… you'll see a ROM or two out by Thanksgiving IMO. The sdk has been released, and once the Nexus hits the market, and a system dump is "in the wild", devs will cook ROMs like crazy!
Sent from my DROID3 using xda premium
doop - I think so after week it will be new rom here.
ceo.mtcl - Why? It looks phenomenal!
jjhiza - I agree with you
Is ICS's native GUI hardware accelerated by GPU?? From the demo, it doesn't seems perfectly smooth to me. Although Android 3.x was promoted as hardware accelerated GUI, I still find it very laggy scrolling through the homepages when there are some widgets. Putting it besides iPads, it's really a negative to Android.
Not supposed to say this maybe, but I'm underwhelmed by the UI in ICS. Had the same feeling about much of Honeycomb, really.
The UI is looking more and more Metro-like and ultra minimalist to the point of absurdity with every iteration. :shudder:
Flame away, but Gingerbread looks far better to me aesthetically. Give me the under the hood fixes, better multiprocessor support, etc. , but leave what works alone, IMO. If I wanted a Win-doze phone 7 device, I'd buy one.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/19/google-confirms-nexus-s-will-get-ice-cream-sandwich-for-real/
Hi, can I know WHEN I will install Android 4.0 on my Galaxy S2?
one month.... two months...or more?
Thank you very much
Blisset said:
Hi, can I know WHEN I will install Android 4.0 on my Galaxy S2?
one month.... two months...or more?
Thank you very much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
9 months.
No but really that's a question only Samsung can answer. We have the SDK but we need a system dump and even then who knows what hurdles we have to jump to get it to function properly.
Just keep an eye on various development sections.
esk02k said:
9 months.
No but really that's a question only Samsung can answer. We have the SDK but we need a system dump and even then who knows what hurdles we have to jump to get it to function properly.
Just keep an eye on various development sections.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have already a system dump
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...am-sandwich-galaxy-nexus-system-app-dump.html
esk02k said:
9 months.
No but really that's a question only Samsung can answer. We have the SDK but we need a system dump and even then who knows what hurdles we have to jump to get it to function properly.
Just keep an eye on various development sections.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Earlier with cyanogenmod I would say And I am not looking for anything else because ics will be gimped to death by touchwiz
Okay, so we've already seen Ice Cream Sandwich running on the Nexus S, but that was decidedly... unofficial. We've just heard straight from Google's Gabe Cohen that the Nexus S will definitely be getting ICS. In fact, both he and Matias Duarte think most Gingerbread devices will see an upgrade, saying: "Currently in the process for releasing Ice Cream Sandwich for Nexus S. Theoretically should work for any 2.3 device." It's hardly a surprise and there's no specific word on timing just yet, but hopefully it won't take long to move that vanilla Android device up to something with a breaded exterior.
I guess that would be a yes, I can't see Samsung not updating a hugely popular handset (which has yet to have a real update) but I can not see them doing it anytime soon unless they drop the 2.3.5 update like they did with 2.3.4 to look at ICS.
As you know for Google phones it's immediately but for other brand it takes some time. Personally I think it will be after 3 or more months for official Samsung ROM.
They'll want to sell Galaxy Nexus for Christmas, but I don't expect Samsung to release for the SGS2 until New Year.
esk02k said:
9 months.
No but really that's a question only Samsung can answer. We have the SDK but we need a system dump and even then who knows what hurdles we have to jump to get it to function properly.
Just keep an eye on various development sections.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ARE YOU SERIOUS? 9 months? In 9 months Samsung ships Galaxy S4 with Android 5.0...
But system dump of Galaxy S2 or Galaxy Nexus?
Have we have to wait the Samsung official 4.0 firmware for S2?
Android 2.3.5 was out on July and Samsung official 2.3.5 for S2 was out in October... It takes 3 months, pheraps 4 monts, not 9...
<rumour>SGS2 will get ICS faster than you think. </rumour>
what can we do with the system dump that has been posted?
Intratech said:
<rumour>SGS2 will get ICS faster than you think. </rumour>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, any additional info on that "rumor"?
Intratech said:
<rumour>SGS2 will get ICS faster than you think. </rumour>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course it will kids...as soon as this stuff is out in the wild there'll be buggy stuff, and then good stuff. Wasn't the firmware for the SGS2 out before the phone was?
Everybody say:
OOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
see the calm waters rippling on a sandy beach
OOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
Hello folks, i'm new to this forum and new to the world of smartphones. own a windows phone but have an inquiry about android which i'm sure my genious brothers here will have an answer to. if i buy an android device that has android 2.3 gingerbread and is not upgradeable to version 4.0 ICS, will the apps work fine on the phone. i have the habit of using my phones for atleast 2 years. so if i'm using an android 2.3 version phone for the next 2 years, will the apps work on my phone? like they wont ask for update of the operating system of the phone?
like in Iphone you need to have the last ios to install and use instagram. is the same case with android too?
huzefaonline said:
Hello folks, i'm new to this forum and new to the world of smartphones. own a windows phone but have an inquiry about android which i'm sure my genious brothers here will have an answer to. if i buy an android device that has android 2.3 gingerbread and is not upgradeable to version 4.0 ICS, will the apps work fine on the phone. i have the habit of using my phones for atleast 2 years. so if i'm using an android 2.3 version phone for the next 2 years, will the apps work on my phone? like they wont ask for update of the operating system of the phone?
like in Iphone you need to have the last ios to install and use instagram. is the same case with android too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google will be phasing out old versions of android, and developers may make the switch to newer android systems as well. Currently, about 60-80% or more of the apps currently can support Gingerbread, since Gingerbread devices make up 50% of android devices in the world. (More info here.) I figure, your phone could probably be supported for another year.
If you are clinging on to a phone for 2 years, get a good one! Most ICS Android devices are not too expensive. If your phone is a popularly branded one (Samsung, HTC, Motorola), and if you are willing to take risks, you might be able to upgrade the firmware in your machine, unofficially though.
Now let me type this out for you....
Every time Google releases a new os they release the platform sdk along with the actual source code.... Next developers download these and start building their apps.... Assume that you are a developer and you set the build sdk to a higher android version say ICS then if your phone is on gb you can't run it so it is at the helms of the developers to decide to support an older platform or not.... And forward compability is possible in android reverse compability may or may not work.... Any doubts post it below I would be happy to respond sir...
sent from cyanmobile powered Beni
thanks for the prompt response guys and clearing my confusion i'm currently using htc hd 7 windows phone 7.5 but the battery really sucks so was thinking of changing the phone and buying an android one but the phones i was checking are out of my range. can you please suggest some good cheap android ics phones?
huzefaonline said:
thanks for the prompt response guys and clearing my confusion i'm currently using htc hd 7 windows phone 7.5 but the battery really sucks so was thinking of changing the phone and buying an android one but the phones i was checking are out of my range. can you please suggest some good cheap android ics phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the budget? There are a bunch of xperias with ics (some even upgradable to jb).
There are plenty cheap stock ICS phones, built by LG and Samsung, such as the Galaxy Ace. Look around for the best value for money.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
xudsa II USERT said:
There are plenty cheap stock ICS phones, built by LG and Samsung, such as the Galaxy Ace. Look around for the best value for money.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lulz. bad advice. the galaxy ace came default with froyo, upgradeable to gingerbread, but if anyone buys it now it'll came default with gingerbread.
but definitely not came default with ics and not upgradeable to it either, officially.
i own one previously.
imho ace is not what op is looking for. by todays standard, amv6 phone is a big no-no.
I heard rumors that google is still not working on Android 5.0 'key Lime Pie', and they will also not present it on Google I/O this month.
Apparently they will release a newer version of a Jelly bean ROM, Android 4.3, apperently with codename 'Android 4.3 JWR23B'.
Rumors told me that Google already tested Android 4.3 on a galaxy nexus 7 and nexus 4.
What my question is:
The Samsung galaxy tab10.1 had a timid start with android 4.2, it was laggy and it didn't respond at times, but it turned out to be one of the fastest ROM ever on my galaxy tab10.1 after hard and long work ( i'm flashing pershoot's ROM's (CyanogenMod) now since 11 months), thanks to pershoot.
Will there also be any chance to run a newer android version on this tablet after Android 4.2?
since there were doubts that android 4.2 would ever work on this tablet and turned out to be this smooth, it's giving me alot hope, what do you think?
-what do you think, android 4.3 or 5.0?
-what could be new in android 4.3/5.0?
Let me know!
I heard rumours about the last android version for dual core processor device is 4.2.2 to maintain the quality of later version (4.3++). Can't recall where I read it but if this true then the GT10.1 will stop at Jelly Bean 4.2.2. but, anything is possible..
On my 2nd thougt,if the above is true, this might be the opportunity to the level 17 API's developers and below to strengthen their apps stability, performance and thus give maximum performance to the devices. This might be a good news too.
I think if google upgrades it to android 4.3, most likely there will be bug fixes, like the strange back button It's supposed to bring us to the previous screen until we get to the home screen, but at times, it'll take you to places in apps you've never been, skips screens you've been too, it basically works only half of the time. and if i take a look on my parents's ipad, and if i rotate the screen, the transition is extremely smooth.
If i rotate my galaxy tab or my asus transformer it's kind of... Choppy... If i search the internet, the browser can't follow the speed of your finger on any device i've been on yet, maybe a little bit more browser responsiveness would be great, i'm not saying it isn't smooth yet, but it could be better!
And maybe they will work on more battery life? And if they're already working on it, maybe they should work on a new way to stay connected with people, what i mean is, don't use a stupid samsung app or asus vibe or whatever manufacturers use to connect to a social website, but make it a built-in app?? Like ubuntu does or WP8.
Let your fantasy work..
I don't know why this has been moved to q&a but okay
4.3 coming ,no 5.0 for a while ,
Was reading galaxy s3 going to be oldest device to receive 4.3 , source sammobile xda
Sent from my GT-P7500 using xda app-developers app
gordonx10i said:
4.3 coming ,no 5.0 for a while ,
Was reading galaxy s3 going to be oldest device to receive 4.3 , source sammobile xda
Sent from my GT-P7500 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hoppa i think google will present it today on google I/O ? let's wait
I have a Galaxy S2 phone (running Ice-Cream-Sandwich), but i flashed a larger 'System partition' and 'Data partition' ( 1GB & 6GB respectively ), which is much larger than the Stock version.
Ok, imagine this comparison:
THREE identical GalaxyS2 phones:
* 1st phone: Adroid 4.0.3 (Ice-Cream-Sandwich), running Nova Launcher.
* 2nd phone: Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), running Nova Launcher.
* 3rd phone: Android 5 (Lollipop), running Nova Launcher.
in ALL 3 cases, i will be using Nova Launcher. So my Visual experience will be identical.
so, what is the point of bothering to upgrade the Phone OS ?
- as far as I have heard, upgrading OS on the Galaxy S2 will slow down my phone anyway.
is there something I have missed ?
easybullet3 said:
I have a Galaxy S2 phone (running Ice-Cream-Sandwich), but i flashed a larger 'System partition' and 'Data partition' ( 1GB & 6GB respectively ), which is much larger than the Stock version.
Ok, imagine this comparison:
THREE identical GalaxyS2 phones:
* 1st phone: Adroid 4.0.3 (Ice-Cream-Sandwich), running Nova Launcher.
* 2nd phone: Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean), running Nova Launcher.
* 3rd phone: Android 5 (Lollipop), running Nova Launcher.
in ALL 3 cases, i will be using Nova Launcher. So my Visual experience will be identical.
so, what is the point of bothering to upgrade the Phone OS ?
- as far as I have heard, upgrading OS on the Galaxy S2 will slow down my phone anyway.
is there something I have missed ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll be less vulnerable to security hole that has been patch up in latest OS. There have been numerous report about hacker able to steal your phone data back on 4.0-4.2.
Also new features and possible bug fixes. Your question is like why to buy a new car when your 20 years old is the same color, it has 4 doors as well, etc.
By the way, pretty bad approach judging an os by just the visual appearance. Furthermore i don't believe samsung did not change the UI at least slightly between those versions. Not to mention the UI is not just your launcher.
Just one big change between 4.x and 5.x - in the latter, the apps run in ART, before they ran in dalvik. Art supposed to be faster as - and i don't remember exactly the technical details - but the code is pre-translated when they are installed and not upon run-time.
There can be no comparison of what launcher you have on what phone compared to what OS version it has.
I've used several phones over the last 18 months, the one I bought off eBay running android 4.0.4 ice cream sandwich was c***.
I then had several phones running 4.1 or 4.2 jelly bean, these where better, much more "stable"
I have a galaxy s1 running 5.1.1 lollipop, and a brand new moto e purchased with 4.4.4 kitkat but now upgraded to 5.1.1 lollipop and by co insistence I run nova too, and as far as I'm concerned, lollipop is streets ahead of anything else, with kit kat a close second, but my opinion is not based on what launcher each phone has, its based on a range of variables, calling, texting, ease of use, bugs, music, and internet browsing.
Running the latest software means a device is less vulnerable to security issues, will be running at peak performance and small bugs will be fixed.
For anyone to say I have three phones running nova so I don't need to update to a newer software is quite frankly naive, stupid and irresponsible, but that's your choice and just my opinion, its a bit silly to judge latest OS but how it looks, remember how it looks is just one small thing, Samsung haven't changed touchwiz much since the year dot have they?
I prefer a stock look on any phone I use that's why I went for a moto e, flashed omni ROM on my s1 and run nova to get rid of the awful touchwiz and run the latest OS on my phones.
Sent from my Moto E using XDA Free mobile app
Reidwan said:
You'll be less vulnerable to security hole that has been patch up in latest OS. There have been numerous report about hacker able to steal your phone data back on 4.0-4.2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ivan39 said:
There can be no comparison of what launcher you have on what phone compared to what OS version it has.
.... the one I bought off eBay running android 4.0.4 ice cream sandwich was c***.
I then had several phones running 4.1 or 4.2 jelly bean, these where better, much more "stable"
I have a galaxy s1 running 5.1.1 lollipop,
.... and as far as I'm concerned, lollipop is streets ahead of anything else, with kit kat a close second,
its based on a range of variables, calling, texting, ease of use, bugs, music, and internet browsing.
Running the latest software means a device is less vulnerable to security issues, will be running at peak performance and small bugs will be fixed.
For anyone to say I have three phones running nova so I don't need to update to a newer software is quite frankly naive, stupid and irresponsible, but that's your choice and just my opinion, its a bit silly to judge latest OS but how it looks, remember how it looks is just one small thing, Samsung haven't changed touchwiz much since the year dot have they?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your replies guys:
i want to share my personal reasons (based on what you said):
i have had ALL THREE of the above OS running on my GalaxyS2. (IceCream Sandwich, JellyBean and Lollipop).
its currently with Lollipop running Nova. (but its way too slow on my phone and killing my battery).
so, my thoughts were to Downgrade to Jellybean (which I know will be much faster) for my phone and use a Nova Launcher.
- (I have a feeling that KitKat will also be slow on my device).
As for the issues you both pointed out:
- Security issues that you both mention. Seriously, I am not concerned by any security vunerabilities or people stealing my data. I have nothing important worth stealing on my phone. i am 0% concerned by security.
- However, if some small Bugs have been fixed, then obviously that is a PLUS. (from my memory, I didnt have many issues with Jellybean, though ICS seemed to crash a lot).
- You mentioned: "Calling, Texting, Browsing" is improved with more recent versions. BUT, arent these just Apps ? Browsing is Chrome. Chrome on jellybean or Lollipo is the same Chrome app. FUnctioning exactly the same, no ?
and SMS and Phone and contacts again are Apps.. part of the Google Apps (Gapps). and i can also download any 3rd party phone or SMS. so I didnt really understand how a latter version of OS can be better browsing, phone and SMS. (again, i am not concerned with security if that was your point).
I am on a Galaxy S2 that has increased System and Data partitions. but its still limited by speed.
with every version of OS i go up, my phone slows down slightly.
is there something (apart from the above) that I am not aware of ?
IYes there is something else you are missing.
You have an s2, I have an s1, its not my daily phone, its my work phone.
I noticed like you that the higher version OS I used, the phone did indeed slow down.
It slowed down due to hardware limitations of the device, not the Newer OS slowing the phone, its was the phone slowing the OS down..........
In my personal experience, my s1 also drained the battery whilst on lollipop, kit kat didn't drain so much , but was very laggy, and jelly bean (4.3.1) was about the best choice between performance and stability, didn't lag but had much less in the way of tweaking options.
I also had a phone from a Korean manufacturer (huawei) that I hated the horrible ui, installing Nova over the usual ui, and after a few days the phone became laggy, froze and crashed a lot.
Now for the bad bit.
1. Are you mad?
You say you are 0% concerned about security?
HELLO!
Do you know what its like to be the victim of identity theft?
Dont you understand saying "I have nothing on my phone" is like saying there is no petrol in my car......
What about your contacts?
What about your own personal data like passwords and emails?
Your phone number?
Android constantly updates any security issues with things like this, it is very important and you should be concerned about it, not display such naivety in this nasty place of a world, someone will always try to take advantage of you or people that show no concern for their or their contacts security, believe me.
2. Again, you show no understanding and much naivety by suggesting browsing, calling and SMS are just the same app.
Let me correct you, its not.
The chrome I use on my moto e is not the same chrome that was on it before it upgraded from kit kat to lollipop, yes its a better, and improved version, but no, not the same, neither is the built in browser, the dialer or the messaging app.
You suggest you can use or replace the stock apps with 3rd party apps, yes you can, and no one or nothing can stop you doing that.......
But have you stopped for a second to consider the small fact that using Nova launcher and other 3rd party apps over the stock ones may been the cause of your problems?
Just because you have increased partition size does not mean throwing 100 apps on it will make it work faster or better than before, you are still limited by physical ram and processing speed, and I'm sure your s2 processor isn't anywhere near as fast as the processor on my moto e?
Yes you may have noticed a difference by increasing partition size but in my own experience, and reading lots other peoples experiences on here, lots of problems can be attributed to having too many apps bogging the system down, and nova is known to be a big ram hogger!
This is what crashed my Huawei
And I agree with the previous post that it may be a bad idea saying what your phone looks like is a reason or no reason to update the OS.
Its entirely up to you if you choose to update or not, no one can make that choice only you, but I fear by the nature of your post and what you have replied that you don't have that much experience and don't really know what you are talking about.
Its not my intention to offend or upset you, but you don't display the knowledge to press you argument, i suspect many here on xda will not even bother replying to you or may just laugh at you, I'm not going to lecture you, ive probably embarrassed you enough so I'll shut up.
Sent from my Moto E using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 03:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:37 PM ----------
I'm sorry if my reply was harsh, I was not meant to be harsh, but I want make you realise your phones performance is not dictated by the launcher, although the launcher you use can have a dramatic effect on your phones performance.
Have you tried other launchers?
Your post doesn't say if you have, so I suggest you try holo or L launcher, something lightweight, test and report how you get on, goto play store, have a good look around, mini launcher is another one to consider.
Forget nova, let's assume Nova is your problem.
Try other launchers.
Get rid of the 3rd party apps.
All of them.
Just keep essential apps, no bloat and nothing unnecessary.
Again, test for a few days, report back.
Downgrade your android version to 4.3, again, don't install anything unnecessary and test, see how you get on.
Report your findings after a few days.
Stop advertising the fact you have an increased partition, it won't have any effect on performance and just throwing lots of apps on your newly larger partitioned storage will still bog it down.
Forget it, but its still there, its not going to have any effect on your overall performance, so don't tell anyone about it, there's no point.
Please let us know his you get on, but promise to try my suggestions first, OK?
There is a reason I said things the way I did.........
That is when I started messing around last year with my S1 and had problems with lag, crashing and various other issues, I did not research what was causing my problems, it was only the fact I had a shed load of 3rd party apps slowing my S1 down and when I posted here on xda that fact, I was made fun of and people called me stupid, I'm not suggesting you are stupid, but take time to experiment and don't assume anything, this can be sorted but only with some time and effort from you.
Sent from my Moto E using XDA Free mobile app
ivan39 said:
It slowed down due to hardware limitations of the device, not the Newer OS slowing the phone, its was the phone slowing the OS down..........
In my personal experience, my s1 also drained the battery whilst on lollipop, kit kat didn't drain so much , but was very laggy, and jelly bean (4.3.1) was about the best choice between performance and stability, didn't lag but had much less in the way of tweaking options.
You say you are 0% concerned about security?
Do you know what its like to be the victim of identity theft?
What about your contacts?
What about your own personal data like passwords and emails?
Your phone number?
You suggest you can use or replace the stock apps with 3rd party apps, yes you can, and no one or nothing can stop you doing that.......
But have you stopped for a second to consider the small fact that using Nova launcher and other 3rd party apps over the stock ones may been the cause of your problems?
Have you tried other launchers?
I suggest you try holo or L launcher or mini launcher, something lightweight
Forget nova, let's assume Nova is your problem.
Get rid of the 3rd party apps.
All of them.
Just keep essential apps, no bloat and nothing unnecessary.
Downgrade your android version to 4.3, again, don't install anything unnecessary and test, see how you get on.
Please let us know his you get on, but promise to try my suggestions first, OK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow!! really, i wasnt expecting such a detailed reply.
honestly, thank you very much for the time and effort you put into your reply. (really, no offence taken at your harshness).
and hopefully others that stumble on this subject (in my position) will learn from the input on this thread.
OK.
the only thing that you wont like to hear, is about security, i'm still not worried about it as much as yourself...
(but everything else you said, I agree with)
[About the Security topic]
my reason:
i know tonnes of people who are on ICS or Jellybean still (because that is what came with their phone). they maybe upgraded once (from Gingerbread to ICS, or from ICS to Jellybean).
all these people i know are way less technical than I am !! and they wouldnt have a clue how to update their phones that they have been carrying around for 4+ years.
there must be litterally millions of people around each country (grandparents, non-tech people, kids of around 8 to 12 years old with a smart phone). and all on the same stock version of android that originally came with their phones.
(Android Version 'Market Share', currently shows 50% of the market using kit-kat and beyond... and the remaining 50% using jellybean and before).
[source: wikipedia Android Version Page]
so, not wanting to have the latest android version (coz of improved security) means I am in the same boat as half of all the worlds android users.
anyway... no point wasting time about security. that is the only part I am of a different opinion with you. (and even if you feel I am being silly,,, I am not a worrier,,, even if they get my contacts and start annoying my friends or emailing whoever or deleting my facebook or reading my emails. or even pleasuring themselves to my family photos,, honestly i am not gonna lose any sleep over it).
i'm sure most people dont want that. and of course i dont either. but also i'm not sacrifice the speed of my phone (which I use so many times per day), just coz I feel safer about security with a more recent OS that my phone is trying to keep-up with (resulting in a slowly user experience).
Everything else that you said really ressonated with me.
i only know the TouchWiz and Nova. so Yes, I will try holo or L launcher or mini launcher.
Currently I have Lolipop and Nova and a basic Gapps package and about 50 apps downloaded.. (though many are not being used).
i have this hunch, that (for me) my best option will end up being a simple return to a Jelly Bean Custom (unbloated) Rom, with a launcher that doesnt hog the RAM too much.
My 50 Apps on the phone will probably end up being more like 30 in the end after I have weeded out the bad ones.
if I can find a good KitKat Rom that is stable, unbloated and highly recommended, then I might be happy with that too
PS: Ok, i wont bragg about my amazing supersonic 1GB system partition and 6GB of data.. Lol .. (ok,, sorry,, couldnt resist)..
PPS: seriously,, this lollipop is crazy battery drain on my phone! it ran out in under an hour!! just one photo was eating up 1% each time!
i had way more apps (with ICS and Jellybean last month) and never had this kind of battery drain !
sorry for the long winded reply.
(kind of a thanks for your original replies)
I will report my findings here.. but it may be slow,, coz I dont have much time for app data saving, and backups this next week.
Well at least we agree!
I can't really compare my S1 to your S2 (mine has a super extended 9gb partition that some people say having is total madness) since I updated it to lollipop the battery drain was mad, totally crazy.
But for a 5year old phone that was officially only supposed to run android 2.3 gingerbread, I had an amazing time boasting to my work colleges I had the latest version of android, but was humiliated and embarrassed by the 5hr battery time (on stand by with data and WiFi on)
I too used nova with a lollipop theme, uninstalling nova smoothed out general running, it was a tad more stable, but i like you assumed the launcher was the be all and end all, I had no idea that some launchers absolutely killed the battery or consumed so much ram.
I also wrongly assumed having such a large internal partition was fine to put loads of apps, themes, ringtones ect.
I had around 40 apps on my S1 when general stability was lost, it was laggy, crashed, rebooted and force closed all the time.
So after being made fun of in the omni ROM forum here on xda, I took the plunge and downgraded to kitkat, again, I lost general stability but going through my own investigations and testing and retesting, i found my gapps package was the culprit.
I flashed a smaller gapps package and general stability was restored, but I still had laggy start ups and force closes.
I downgraded again to cm10.2 (android 4.3.1) and that cured my problem once and for all.
I had similar issue a fortnight ago when I got my brand new moto e on contract, I got a bootloader unlock code from Motorola and didn't waste anytime rooting and flashing cm12.1 (android 5.1.1) but after a few days it became unstable, so I'm now testing other custom roms, the best for moto e I've found being paranoid android lp 5.1.1 and cr droid lollipop that I'm running now, but I'm not running nova on my moto e, as the trebuchet or launcher 3 whatever it is called is just as configurable as nova, I'm running a cm12.1 theme and I'm very happy with my set up, but I only have about a dozen apps like Facebook, YouTube and gmail installed, and it is the most stable configuration I've ever found in a custom ROM.
I do wish you well, im very glad you agreed with my reply, and I do wish you well, I just think its a shame I don't have an S2 to hand so I could help you out, there's nothing worse than having problems with our phones!
Good luck
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