Hey all, I'm thinking of getting a ( new) phone as I've had my vzw gnex for 2 yes now. As far as now I'm thinking of staying w vzw as I have unl. Data and honestly all the other carriers seem just as shady as vzw.
OK now on to what I was wondering. Since I plan on staying on my unl. plan I'm gonna buy a phone outright (craigslist, eBay, swappa, ect) so I don't lose my plan. Since I don't know what version of android the s4 will be running will the s4 be able to be rooted whether I get it with 4.2., 4.2.2, 4.3? I see the bootloader is not able to be unlocked so would that mean there are no custom kernels available? Since having the gnex I've been spoiled with full access to do whatever and however I want...ROMs, kernels, mods you name it. I know w the s4 I'll be limited verses the gnex but just curious on HOW limited?
Would you even advise against/for getting the s4?
Thanks in advance and at possible jumping into the s4 community...
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
The only version of the GS4 that has a bootloader exploit is the MDK version, so if you can find one of those then you'll be pretty much all set to flash whatever you want to. Any other version past that- ME7, MI1, or the latest MJ7 have locked bootloaders with no current workaround. Another thing to note is that once you upgrade there is NO way to flash back to an earlier firmware. ME7 and MI1 both have root methods, however the latest update MJ7 doesn't have a "safe" rooting option at the moment. The only version that's 4.3 is MJ7.
If you are on ME7 or MI1 you can use a special program called Safestrap to flash roms, however they have to be on a Touchwiz kernel (no AOSP roms) and you won't have full access to the storage on your device (read the Safestrap thread for more info). If you don't want to do that you can use Xposed to customize without flashing roms, although I find a lot of stuff kind of buggy, so I only use it for Greenify on mine.
I have ME7 and currently I've: rooted, disabled WiFi notification, disable e911 icon, increased the default volume, installed the International Dialer, and used Xposed for Greenify. I'm happy with how my phone runs and the battery life, but I definitely feel limited with a locked bootloader.
OK , some info to chew on. sucks. I am so spoiled w the Nex that any phone I look at can't unlock the BL and is severely crippled.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
if you can find a developer edition s4 it comes with an unlocked bootloader. other than that, try to find an mdk version, and you can use the loki exploit.
Related
Handing my S4 over to my boss who wants stock TW on it. I got the phone day 1 when it was released and put TWRP and have run some form of AOSP since then. What's a good TW ROM that close enough to stock? Also I know there was some stuff that broke rooting methods in the later builds we've gotten (ME7 I think?), will flashing these builds have any effect on my recovery/root?
czonin said:
Handing my S4 over to my boss who wants stock TW on it. I got the phone day 1 when it was released and put TWRP and have run some form of AOSP since then. What's a good TW ROM that close enough to stock? Also I know there was some stuff that broke rooting methods in the later builds we've gotten (ME7 I think?), will flashing these builds have any effect on my recovery/root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've heard Bonestock or Clean Rom are good TW roms, but as I have ME7 and a locked bootloader (I don't use Safestrap) I can't comment on them. If you flash ANY of the new updates you will lose the ability to unlock the bootloader, and will not be able to flash most roms anymore. If you use ME7, or to a lesser extent MI1, you can use Safestrap to flash roms, but will be severely limited on storage options.
Another thing you could do is flash back to MDK stock (what your phone originally came with), root it, freeze the updater apps, and hand it to him. It'll be bone stock without the risk of auto-updating.
Well I broke the screen on my fully rooted and unlocked boot loader Galaxy s3.
My question is at the price to fix my s3 or get a s4 is going to be cheaper to just get a s4
but where are they at on rooting this device from what I see the software is up to MJ7 but the boot loader is still locked unless you have older software like MDK is this correct.
XRSTOY1 said:
Well I broke the screen on my fully rooted and unlocked boot loader Galaxy s3.
My question is at the price to fix my s3 or get a s4 is going to be cheaper to just get a s4
but where are they at on rooting this device from what I see the software is up to MJ7 but the boot loader is still locked unless you have older software like MDK is this correct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to fix screen for under $100. MJ7 can be rooted only, no custom recovery. S4 is a very nice upgrade from S3, you can probably pick one up around $320 - 350 on the cheap. If you like flashing, pick up an MDK version on Swappa, otherwise, you can just debloat, like I have done.
XRSTOY1 said:
Well I broke the screen on my fully rooted and unlocked boot loader Galaxy s3.
My question is at the price to fix my s3 or get a s4 is going to be cheaper to just get a s4
but where are they at on rooting this device from what I see the software is up to MJ7 but the boot loader is still locked unless you have older software like MDK is this correct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
safestrap is available for ME7 and MI1 base versions which allow TW stock kernel (4.2) base roms to be loaded. Hashcode is presently developing safestrap to run on MJ7 and MK2 kernel (4.3) base so we can load up 4.3 based Roms like HD11.0.
I have 10.2 hyperdrive running via SS and my GS4 phone rocks. I can live with this whether or not Hashcode gets SS to work with 4.3. This is still the best phone out there
So my girlfriend has wants her S4 rooted. I have the S3 and its quite different as far as rooting goes. I am also on sprint whereas she is on verizon (although thats not such a big deal).
Anyways, what I would like to have clarified for me is this: She is currently unrooted with stock MK2. From what I have read you can only root and install compatible roms with safestrap. The main thing she wants is KitKat and possibly CM. Is there any way for her to get either of these. Also, would it be possible to revert back to stock and flash KitKat with the OTA from verizon when it is released?
Thanks for any help.
BioBot said:
So my girlfriend has wants her S4 rooted. I have the S3 and its quite different as far as rooting goes. I am also on sprint whereas she is on verizon (although thats not such a big deal).
Anyways, what I would like to have clarified for me is this: She is currently unrooted with stock MK2. From what I have read you can only root and install compatible roms with safestrap. The main thing she wants is KitKat and possibly CM. Is there any way for her to get either of these. Also, would it be possible to revert back to stock and flash KitKat with the OTA from verizon when it is released?
Thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no way for her to get KitKat or CM or anything AOSP. Hopefully the next OTA will have an exploit, but there hasn't been a cracked bootloader since the first version of firmware on the initial releases. Realistically, never going to happen.
I recently bought a Gs4 on verizon running the latest 4.3 mk2 software and I hate touchwiz. Its just so packed with useless stuff that makes the phone slow. Since I cannot install a custom recovery on this phone I was thinking of trading it for an lg g2 and wiping the os and installing kit kat on it from cyanogen mod. What do you guys think should I do the trade?
egomez7737 said:
I recently bought a Gs4 on verizon running the latest 4.3 mk2 software and I hate touchwiz. Its just so packed with useless stuff that makes the phone slow. Since I cannot install a custom recovery on this phone I was thinking of trading it for an lg g2 and wiping the os and installing kit kat on it from cyanogen mod. What do you guys think should I do the trade?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2406733
Well other than Nexus phones i don't like LG even a little bit. Just not a phone I personally would buy. I like the Samsung phones as I'm now selling my MDK based S4 on swappa.com and got a Note 3. I used to be a CM fan with my Droid Bionic, but I've grown to like TW a lot. The stats are nice but it would also have to have good real world battery life over the S4. My S4 is amazing with battery.
Plus what CM did to a lot of people/developers when they went commercial, I will more then likely won't use CM again.
egomez7737 said:
I recently bought a Gs4 on verizon running the latest 4.3 mk2 software and I hate touchwiz. Its just so packed with useless stuff that makes the phone slow. Since I cannot install a custom recovery on this phone I was thinking of trading it for an lg g2 and wiping the os and installing kit kat on it from cyanogen mod. What do you guys think should I do the trade?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't install a custom recovery. Technically this is true. Unless you have an MDK Bootloader, you cannot install a custom recovery in the way you most likely want to. However, you can root your phone to debloat it so that it is not so slow. You can also install an application by Hashcode called Safestrap recovery. It basically allows you to flash touchwiz based roms on your phone on a different slot, without modifying the stock rom. You will have to deal with a custom system status, but if you use saferoot to root your S4, you will not have to worry about tripping KNOX so you can always flash stock recovery via ODIN in case of regaining warranty, etc.
Honestly from what I've seen, I wouldn't do the trade. If anything, you should get the Moto X dev edition. The developer edition of the Moto X allows you to flash whatever you want pretty much as long as it is compatible with your device. I have not read the warranty but they do say if you have the developer edition, the warranty is not void by flashing. I believe if you are with verizon you can switch out the phones if it has not been 14 days since you started the contract. I won't be buying the Galaxy S5, S6, or Swhatever... I mean the features are nice and all but there should be an option to delete the crap you don't use without having to root.
go here for this..http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2406733
Hey guys, I have been out of the custom ROM, kernel, theme, etc routine for quite a while now. I don't plan on getting back into the "crack flashing" habit and I am not even sure I want to get back into custom ROMs...but I thought I would at least stop by here and see if anything "big" or new has happened that would be important to me.
I am thinking about trying Hyperdrive RLS15 as I always ran Hyperdrive ROMs because of the stock feel, but I am not sure. To be honest the stock ROM with ROOT has been just fine.
Now a days I just like a phone that will work forever without any bugs and it seems that the stock ROM does that just fine for me.
I AM ROOTED - MDK base
Anyways, are there any suggestions, stockish ROMS, baseband updates, etc that I should be aware of or try out?
Here is my current phone info:
Android Version: 4.2.2
Baseband: MDK
Build: Stock MDK
Note that I have purposely NEVER updated from MDK so I could use the unlocked bootloader. I have thought about upgrading since I don't do much of the custom ROM stuff anymore, but not sure if it would be worth losing MDK...
Anyone?
I would stay on mdk bootloader I wish mine was unlocked. Stock 4.4.2 is nice I think I seen one for mdk users. Is not a huge upgrade but I do like the white notifications icons and full screen album art on lock screen. I'm like you I just want root for titanium and tether then I freeze the bloat. I'm done with instable galaxy nexus crack flashing consumes your life.
Sent from S4 using Tapatalk
Members are expected to do there own research as there is now more ways to brick a phone with all the security added to them.
ROM suggestions are meaningless as no one has your taste/setup/usage so you should invest the time to read the threads and be sure you know how to install the ROM properly