Hi guys,
I plan to buy on June 14th the Galaxy S2 on Bell Canada network, it will replace my Pre2.
I was wondering if you can recommend me a specific ROM that will get rid of TouchWiz and allow me to run Gingerbread stock. I'm not familiar at all with Android, as I never use it before. That is the main reason why I rather ask the question here instead of searching, as I would not know what to search for.
A little about myself: I'm a Linux head (Redhat advanced + Ubuntu).
Thank you for your your help.
If you realy want to delete touch wiz, you'll have to root your phone otherwise you can't get rid of touch wiz, however you can run a different launcher and having touch wiz on your phone.
Hi Viletung. In WebOS, it takes me about 30 seconds to root the phone.
Yet that retains all the phone settings unchanged, while allowing me to install packages, manipulate data, etc. Is it the same thing with SGS2?
I guess my question is: is it recommended to root the phone? I'm curious if most of Android users root their phone. I know I rooted my Palm Pre/Pre2 phones 5min after I got them. I read on the Internet that certain ROM's are built on stock Gingerbread (without TouchWiz), allowing the phone to save on battery and run much smoother with less used resources. Obviously, if you install a new ROM it will void the warranty.
I'm at a point where I'm learning the basics, so any advice is appreciated.
Hello!
I've installed Lite'ning rom 1.5, which has root access. And to flash it takes about one minute!
When I got this phone, I knew it was possible to root my phone, but I was scared that I would screw something up and break the device.
Now, it's about one month after I got this phone and I must say after rooting the device, deleting some standard Samsung **** (Social Hubs etc..), my SGSII isn't draining battery as it used to do before I deleted some stuff. (Including TouchWiz)
But I have also a JIG, to reset the custom kernel counter, just incase I need my warranty back.
So my final conclusion is; I can't life without root! I like to edit the system icons (battery-, wifi icon and much more).
If you have any questions, I'll try to help you
Rooting, yes do it. It's easy, does no harm, and opens up neat options.
Just get Villainrom which is updated to version 2.0. It's built on android 2.3.4, fixing the 2.3.3 battery drain bug (which occured on all phones running 2.3.3).
If you want your stock gingerbread experience, there is a rom out there which tries to replicate this, but I recommend using a 'better' rom with a custom launcher mimicking Gingerbread. Since there's not a lot of difference than just a different launcher (home-menu).
Most dont root but most are not on XDA and dont know anything bar stock . I would guess most XDA users root .
I'm at a point where I'm learning the basics, so any advice is appreciated.
To a certain extent its been a learning curve for the devs as SGS 2 is different to SGS1 .Expect even more development as the days go by .
jje
Thanks a lot guys for the info.
prodygee said:
Rooting, yes do it. It's easy, does no harm, and opens up neat options.
Just get Villainrom which is updated to version 2.0. It's built on android 2.3.4, fixing the 2.3.3 battery drain bug (which occured on all phones running 2.3.3).
If you want your stock gingerbread experience, there is a rom out there which tries to replicate this, but I recommend using a 'better' rom with a custom launcher mimicking Gingerbread. Since there's not a lot of difference than just a different launcher (home-menu).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I want to have the latest version of Android, I don't really care about Gingerbread. How do updates work on Android (i.e. updating to Ice Cream Sandwich eventually)? On WebOS, updates are done automatically from your carrier or Palm/HP (if you had an unlocked phone like myself). Even if I rooted my phone, I would be able to update the phone firmware with a simple download and retain the rooted aspect of the phone.
About rooting, what did you used? I'm looking at Odin and SuperOneClick... is there something better/safer? One more time, thank you.
Official updates via Kies over PC only .
Rooting is usually lost on update .
Rooting via Chainfire
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
jje
yqed said:
I was wondering if you can recommend me a specific ROM that will get rid of TouchWiz and allow me to run Gingerbread stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you use it for a least a few seconds before ditching it, there's no aosp gingerbread anyway so you're stuck with it until cm7 comes along.
I want to root the phone and replace the ROM mainly because I heard that TouchWiz is running on top of current OS. I could disable TouchWiz, indeed. The issue is: I do not know how upgrades are performed into phone. From the above posts, I have to do it myself is not an automated download/install like WebOS does it.
So, if a new Android version is released, I have to download it myself? For example, my phone comes with 2.3.3 installed but 2.3.4 is released already. Will my phone ask me to download the latest version automatically upon release? I presume not, I have to download and install it myself. Using logic, that is done by either installing a ROM or getting the upgrade from mobile provider.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
yqed said:
So, if a new Android version is released, I have to download it myself? For example, my phone comes with 2.3.3 installed but 2.3.4 is released already. Will my phone ask me to download the latest version automatically upon release? I presume not, I have to download and install it myself. Using logic, that is done by either installing a ROM or getting the upgrade from mobile provider.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's correct, and is one of the main reasons people root their Androids so that when a new version comes out we can download it straight away and don't have to wait for the carrier to officially release it, which usually takes a lot longer than it does for the devs here to put something together. E.g. there are a few ROMs already in the dev forum based on 2.3.4, but there is not yet any official update.
Thanks guys much appreciated. I will probably have more questions, once I have the phone on hand.
yqed said:
I want to root the phone and replace the ROM mainly because I heard that TouchWiz is running on top of current OS. I could disable TouchWiz, indeed. The issue is: I do not know how upgrades are performed into phone. From the above posts, I have to do it myself is not an automated download/install like WebOS does it.
So, if a new Android version is released, I have to download it myself? For example, my phone comes with 2.3.3 installed but 2.3.4 is released already. Will my phone ask me to download the latest version automatically upon release? I presume not, I have to download and install it myself. Using logic, that is done by either installing a ROM or getting the upgrade from mobile provider.
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android phones get new updates over the air when available, just like web os. Only Samsung does their own thing which is different on the sgs2 than on normal android devices. .
Which is, providing updates through an unnecessary software suite called KIES. You won't see an update available message on your phone.
yqed said:
Hi guys,
I plan to buy on June 14th the Galaxy S2 on Bell Canada network, it will replace my Pre2.
I was wondering if you can recommend me a specific ROM that will get rid of TouchWiz and allow me to run Gingerbread stock. I'm not familiar at all with Android, as I never use it before. That is the main reason why I rather ask the question here instead of searching, as I would not know what to search for.
A little about myself: I'm a Linux head (Redhat advanced + Ubuntu).
Thank you for your your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just install a launcher fromthe Android Store. There's plenty of good ones like LauncherPro, GX Launcher, 7 launcher. Their all relatively good and fully functional.
OK, I got the phone (16GB model) today from FutureShop and played with it a bit. It is a great phone indeed...
Phone Info (might be useful for devs)
Network: Bell Canada
Model: GT-I9100M
Android Version: 2.3.3
Baseband Version: I9100MUGKG2
Kernel Version: 2.6.35.7-I9100MUGKG2-CL371789 [email protected] #2
Build Number: GINGERBREAD.UGKG2
Now, on with the usual:
Bell bundled the phone with several crap apps like Self Serve, TeleNav GPS (how stupid is that on an Android), Remote PVR, etc.
I will follow your advice and use the phone for now as is, without any fancy stuff done to it (like a new ROM). I would like to get rid of the Bell proprietary apps (physical delete), let me know if is possible. I guess if the phone is rooted it should be easy, the trick is to know how to delete the apps from the phone.
Another question: How do I install the Samsung drivers, without installing the blotted KIES?
I looked for a clean package with SGS2 drivers only but I could not find anything... All I want is to go to Device Manager and point a directory.
I must admit that Android is a totally new experience, coming from WebOS. I'm pretty much lost, heh. I know I sound like a noob, so please forgive me if I ask some simple questions that I can get the answer with a search or just by reading the phone instructions (haven't had the time to read the documentation).
I read a few guides regarding rooting and I'm still sort confused by some aspects of it which still eludes me.
I have a UK T-mobile S2 which is brand new and while I adored this phone and happy I got this over the 4S. The one aspect I'm not too keen on was the amount of bloatware which this devices comes with.
So using this guide here:
http://reviews.cnet.co.uk/mobile-phones/how-to-root-your-samsung-galaxy-s2-50004972/
1. However, what kernel do I need for it? So many to choose from?
2.I like Touchwiz and I want to keep it however, is there a rom to get rid of all the bloatware that I don't need like T-mobile recommend apps. I'm not sure what rom I need or do I need something else?
3.Unrooting is possible since I may need to send it back to Samsung since there's a screen problem which isn't major but I don't want to send it straight back at the moment.
Thank you for your patience, and help.
just install the right one from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
then use cwm app to make a back up of your current branded rom. Then either download titanium backup form market and use it to uninstall any apps you dont want on there or flash the non branded rom for t-mobile from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1113928
Currently running ICS via XXLPH on a GT-I9100P. Unfortunately, that version doesn't include NFC support, which annoys me, since I paid extra for a phone with NFC hardware.
My question is - I see via the sammobile page that there is a firmware update for my phone more recent than what I have, albeit one with a different PDA to my current one (I9100XXLPH vs I9100PBVLP8).
What exactly does this mean? Does this mean it's simply different software, but still designed to run on the same hardware? If so, it should be compatible with my phone, no? Or are there other things I should be checking for compatibility?
(Also - would that update even help with NFC?)
I recognize that ultimately whatever I do when screwing around is on me. And I realize that flashing a different official ROM is pretty tame compared to all the unofficial ROMs here (though most of them don't seem designed for the P version of the SGS2). But I'd rather not brick my phone at the moment.
Note - this is not a phone I got from a carrier, and I rooted it, so waiting for OTA upgrades is not an option.
Faqa42 said:
Currently running ICS via XXLPH on a GT-I9100P. Unfortunately, that version doesn't include NFC support, which annoys me, since I paid extra for a phone with NFC hardware.
My question is - I see via the sammobile page that there is a firmware update for my phone more recent than what I have, albeit one with a different PDA to my current one (I9100XXLPH vs I9100PBVLP8).
What exactly does this mean? Does this mean it's simply different software, but still designed to run on the same hardware? If so, it should be compatible with my phone, no? Or are there other things I should be checking for compatibility?
(Also - would that update even help with NFC?)
I recognize that ultimately whatever I do when screwing around is on me. And I realize that flashing a different official ROM is pretty tame compared to all the unofficial ROMs here (though most of them don't seem designed for the P version of the SGS2). But I'd rather not brick my phone at the moment.
Note - this is not a phone I got from a carrier, and I rooted it, so waiting for OTA upgrades is not an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
make a bkp of ur exsisting rom and then flash the I9100PBVLP8 and see for the NFC issue if it resolves u can keep it else restore the original one back
since pda is the modem if its diff no issue u can always change the same if its not wrk'ng properly for u
Thank you. So all I should care about in ROM flashing is the underlying hardware? PDA and CSC differences should not brick my phone?
You may want to check this out it should add NFC to any rom.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1407808
Has anyone tried installing stock Android (Lollipop) on the Hudl 2?
It comes with Android 4.4.2 and it's doubtful that I'll get an OTA update. Stock Android would also be a good way to get rid of the embedded bloatware.
stockdev said:
Has anyone tried installing stock Android (Lollipop) on the Hudl 2?
It comes with Android 4.4.2 and it's doubtful that I'll get an OTA update. Stock Android would also be a good way to get rid of the embedded bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also be very interested in getting this :good:
How can we get a stock Android lollipop for it? I want it as well. Because if it's not possible I will return it and ask for a full refund.
Buximano said:
How can we get a stock Android lollipop for it? I want it as well. Because if it's not possible I will return it and ask for a full refund.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck returning it. Unless it is proven faulty, they won't want to know.
With regards to an update, who knows. You cannot, at present, root a hudl2 if you received an ota update.
Tesco have this tablet buttoned down. We all know that root permission gives an android device the opportunity to stretch it's legs. Tesco won't even release any signature code to enable stuff like custom recovery. Pure, stock Android, still requires much information to even begin cooking it. Until sources are released nothing can happen at present. Also bear in mind, this is a UK device and is therefore restricted in the amount of devs willing to support a 'minority' tablet. I'd love to root my hudl2 but the update got me! Every other android device I have is rooted and run custom ROMs. I've even made a couple of ROMs and until we get the source code / access to the locked down boot / access to the signature keys, we are stumped.
I live in Colombia, and the OTA will probably take months to come. The recent apps bug has drove me up the wall, and I've read that the 5.1 update fixes the bug, aside from making the device faster. I don't want to lose the Moto Display, so I don't want to flash a custom ROM. I want to know, can I flash a stock rom with TWRP as if it were any other rom? Does the fact that the rom is for retail US phones make it unusable with Colombian carriers? Do you think it's worth to flash a custom ROM, even if it means I won't be able to use Motorola apps?