I have a Samsung S4 Active I537 that is useless to install custom ROMs because it has a top-notched locked bootloader.
I recently purchased a Sony xperia Z1 C6906 with an unlockable bootloader. on 4.4.4 android.
Which are the best brands/phones to get that are easy to unlock bootloaders and install custom ROMs without problems?
I have been told there are tons of solutions in these threads but to be honest, many are hard to follow (too many names and devices, and when I find my device and model, the threads have not working links.
So I figured I'd rather know which devices are good and easy to unlock, root, and anything I wanna do with it.
I may be returning this Sony Xperia if I cant install custom ROMs in it. I have been through threads and youtube videos for 3 hours and havent dont anything productive changes on the phone yet.
By the way... have the developers here thought of pairing with a graphic designer to explain how to install things and so on?
I find a lot of AMAZING work here, but I just can't seem to understand or follow the instructions because a lot of the things explained are different as to what I see on my computer/device most times.
I did managed to root my OnePlus through a video though, that is why I wish I was able to browse through all this great stuff the developers make in an easier/faster/smoothly way.
UPDATE: managed to root SOny Xperia Z1 with this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkQT3nX5yWM
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Hey guys,
after some searching I still don't have a clear answer, so maybe you can help me.
Just one question: Are there any custom roms for the X10, maybe CyanogenMod? Just all except the standard default X10.
and Please give me (if not included) a way to flash my rom/X10.
Thanks in advance!
There are no custom roms. All "modding" available at the moment is debranding and rooting.
silkeslips said:
There are no custom roms. All "modding" available at the moment is debranding and rooting.
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Click to collapse
Nothing other than the apps from the market? Anything special, or just different to enhance the usability for the user or something?
Special homescreens or suchs? (other than the market, as i recall)
there are no custom roms for the x10 has Sony have got everyone by the balls and blocked developers being able to develop for it. I only signed up here on the weekend and this is only what i have pciked up from reading other threads so it may not be 100% but no one seems sure if there are any developers still trying to crack the x10 as they could just develop for another android phone without having to crack it first.
The only customisation you can do is changing your launch bar, themes, icons and fonts and adding certain widgets. Having a rooted X10 will allow you to install certain apps which wont work on non rooted phones.
some questions before i buy this tablet... is it easy to install custom rom on it e.g. as easy as on an htc desire via clockworkmod? Do i need to worry about anything when buying it? (e.g. some models with unlockable bootloader something like that)??
Modding is relatively easy, especially if your already familiar with android and cwm. But there are quirks to the gtab, so you have to read and be aware of them. For example there are 2 different bootloaders out there and you need to use different versions of cwm for both. But overall it's not that hard to figure out. No worries about getting a locked down device. Plus the thing is basically un-brickable.
This site will get you up to speed http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/
Can anyone tells me about the advantages and disadvantages of unlocking bootloader? because i saw some people said that they regret unlocking it. So whats the point of unlocking it? thanks for anyone who willing to explain.
I'm just an user but from what information i got so far (pardon me if anything is innacurate):
Unlocking the bootloader may open up a series of improvements that were not possible before without workarounds, like having a proper custom kernel, a proper Cyanogenmod version etc. Maybe even real multitouch or 16 million colors are possible, but this is a bit harder since someone will need to write new drivers, and it's highly unlikely this will happen but... who knows?
But to take advantage of unlocked bootloader you need to DEVELOP for it first, for now it's like having root enabled without any root app available for it. Also, bricking the x10 was impossible, you could always go to flashtools and reflash your firmware and fix it if you screw up, but with unlocked bootloader there's a chance of actually brick it for real, so you must be extra careful.
Some people are so eager to have the latest novelty that they'll do it first and think about it later. But it's a positive advancement for sure, i'll be lurking the dev threads to keep up with the news.
Hello, I have just preordered my Xperia active from a local salesperson, but from what i see in the development threads, its nothing like HTC phones when it comes to rooting.
In HTC phones all you had to do is, unlock the bootloader with an update.zip file, root it, and then you're free to do whatever you wanna do from CWM.
I really havent understood how the procedure goes in Xperia phones, nor is there a comprehensive guide towards rooting the phone.
So could someone explain in simple steps what i need to do to root the phone? Or even is it worth rooting it since its so new and the development is more or less... inexistant? The only real custom rom I see so far for the mini mini pro and active is the FXP one which is in beta stages AFAIK.
Also about unlocking the bootloader. Losing DRM and TrackID is what makes them know that you have unlocked it therefore you lose your warranty?
Please enlighten me
Comprehensive Xperia Rooting Guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1034087
For the active... there doesn't appear to be much, but if you have 'OCD' like me and like the absolute control... it's worth it. But to each his/her own preferences
Once you unlock, DRM is permanently gone, no more TrackID.
I'm not sure about warranty regulations but there is a way to re-lock the boot loader:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1134335
Hope this helps.
EDIT There's also a way to unlock the bootloader and not lose DRM
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1285285
But there's no current way to relock it if you use that route.
Thanks a lot for your detailed reply.
Although i still got questions regarding custom ROM's. I saw someone mentioning a insecure kernel, and using it before flashing a new ROM. Kernels in HTC devices are simply there for you to find out which one is best for your country and ROM. Is it the other way around here?
Yes i do want the best out of my device, but voiding warranty for something that isnt yet "ready".... It kinda puts me off.
hi dumraden,
The days with simply zip unlocking are gone either on HTC. The HTC Desire S of a friend of mine was locked. They call it S: on ..unlocked was S: off
I could not keep joking about who was so silly to convert his Desire S back to a Desire.. sorry for that
The step with the insecure kernel is to flash a stock rom where we know a method to use an exploit on it. Sony prevents unsigned firmware from beeing flashed to their devices (compare ps3 or PSP). Thus we need to make use of an exploit to get access to the device to make rooting possible. As root we are the master of desaster and can do what ever we want.
Warranty? Okay, there is a possibility to relock the bootloader in case you'll run in the case of needing warranty. Otherwise there are ways to make it that unsuable that even the support cannot wake it up thus find no real reason for the error.
This is not an FXP ROM, it is cyanogenmod ported by Team freeXperia and mainly released by FXP. It is almost ready. The smartkeyboard and camera did not work on my selfcompiled one on friday. FXP claimed camera would work. Could be my fault.. who cares. They'll get it fixed.. I think soon.
Yea i am a prior HTC user, have my Desire Z getting fixed as we talk ( i hope so at least ).
So basically the insecure kernel works as an exploit for us to install custom roms on the phones. Cool thanks for the heads up.
Wasnt FXP working with cyanogen to build a kernel from scratch in order for us not to have to go through the hassle of using a modded stock kernel for the Custom ROM's? As far as i can tell this is a breakthrough for Xperia phones since we will be able to have an AOSP base in order to build from there up. Right?
I have the same rooting problem. I use superOnClick and gingerbreak but didn't work.
I'm new to android so that keep searching and reading xda..
Then I start using android sdk & fastboot and adb mode said in one of the topics, but fastboot didn't work even though bootloader is unlocked.
I'm confused, waiting for help
Sent from my ST15i using XDA App
Its all here. Read some posts
Hi all, I am about to become the proud owner of a SXZ Ultra, and I was hoping someone might be kind enough to provide me with some links to the the most important info to help learn my way around this device. I have experience with Android but have no idea what to expect from the Sony UI nor the rooting procedure etc., so I would be grateful for some pointers to help minimize the learning curve and get the most out of the device as soon as possible. A quick search on the subject of rooting left me somewhat bemused...I am used to the SGA (Samsung Galaxy Ace), which was a totally different type of device with an entirely different procedure for flashing ROMs and rooting.
I have a specific question aside from that - I see that there is an IM750 MHL to HDMI adaptor available from Sony, but I would like to know if this is really necessary - has anyone had success with Miracast or Wifi Direct/DLNA connection with a smart TV so as to be able to send what I want to watch on the TV from the SXZU? I would prefer this to having to connect via HDMI because I have found that mini/micro HDMI connectors on tablets seem to be rather fragile to say the least, and it would also make far more sense for presentations. Thanks for your help.
MHL works well. Some people seem to have no issues with mirrorcast etc but others do...
For rooting read LordManhattan's guide and my downgrade guide both at the top of the general section.
The steps are more or less;
downgrade
Root
Backup TA
Unlock bootloader
Flash rom...
For stock sony firmware you can get the updates via PC companion [PCC] or use flashtool and flash FTF's
Sent from my Xperia Z Ultra using Tapatalk
Thank you. The thing is that if possible I would like to avoid having to unlock the bootloader, but I need Root in order to use Titanium Backup and be able to flash an alternative recovery so I can use Online recovery tools. Forgive my ignorance, but is this possible? Ideally I would like to upgrade to KitKat then obtain Root and flash the TWRP/CWM twin recovery without unlocking the bootloader - it seems to me that there are several advantages to using the stock ROMs, particularly being able to recieve Sony upgrades, at least until they stop supporting the device.
blueether said:
MHL works well. Some people seem to have no issues with mirrorcast etc but others do...
For rooting read LordManhattan's guide and my downgrade guide both at the top of the general section.
The steps are more or less;
downgrade
Root
Backup TA
Unlock bootloader
Flash rom...
For stock sony firmware you can get the updates via PC companion [PCC] or use flashtool and flash FTF's
Sent from my Xperia Z Ultra using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Yes you can get away with not unlocking the BL, if you go that route you don't need to back up the TA either. You will still need to downgrade yo route though. There are several ROMs based on sony firmware, and to be honest will probably be better that pure stock. Some of the upgrades have worked on rooted phones others haven't
Sent from my Xperia Z Ultra using Tapatalk
Thank you. Are any of those custom ROMs available with the latest Kit Kat release? I see that the SXZU is listed by Sony to receive this update, which is primarily why I didn't want to flash a custom ROM right away = and I would like to try Sony's stock configuration first. I have tried CM10, PAC ROM and others in my SGA and frankly I was underwhelmed for the most part, although with such a totally different device I might be pleasantly surprised...
Which ROM would you personally ally recommend?
Sent from my K00E using xda app-developers app
truth57 said:
Thank you. Are any of those custom ROMs available with the latest Kit Kat release? I see that the SXZU is listed by Sony to receive this update, which is primarily why I didn't want to flash a custom ROM right away = and I would like to try Sony's stock configuration first. I have tried CM10, PAC ROM and others in my SGA and frankly I was underwhelmed for the most part, although with such a totally different device I might be pleasantly surprised...
Which ROM would you personally ally recommend?
Sent from my K00E using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
Yes Sony has a 4.4.2 firmware out for the whole range. There is a rooted rom based on this that is very close to pure stock Sony I believe, and then there is Monix's ROM based on Sony's 4.4.2 release that gets good reviews - it is quite customised.
On the custom ROM front there are:
SlimKat - this is my preferred ROM but I'm having trouble building it for this device consistently
Carbon - this is my daily at the moment, I'm doing the unofficial builds of this for now
LiquidSmooth - this seems to get good reviews but doesn't look like it's been updated in about a month
PAC - I was using this for some time and was good
PA - as above
CM11 - Has it's fans and most of the other ROMs use at least some parts of it and it's device tree
AOSP - Don't know what that is up to, not used it
AOKP - as above
PAC - I was using this for some time and was good
PA - as above
Then there is the GPe port that many seen to love