N00B question about ROMs (not asking for advice!). - Touch Pro2, Tilt 2 Windows Mobile General

So, I've been trying to decide whose, if any, ROM to install, and to that end I've been looking at some of the kitchen software to see how they're made. It looks to me as if the ROMs are really just collections of available software with certain customizations. They don't seem like truly reverse-engineered, hacked versions of Windows Mobile. For one thing, no offense meant, but the number of people capable of disassembling WM and hacking it can't be that large. Setting registry keys is one thing; rewriting the code is something else. Yet there seem to be dozens of ROMs.
Am I wrong here? Are these ROMs really hacked versions of WM, or are they just variant collections of software with different settings and customizations?

EWAdams said:
So, I've been trying to decide whose, if any, ROM to install, and to that end I've been looking at some of the kitchen software to see how they're made. It looks to me as if the ROMs are really just collections of available software with certain customizations. They don't seem like truly reverse-engineered, hacked versions of Windows Mobile. For one thing, no offense meant, but the number of people capable of disassembling WM and hacking it can't be that large. Setting registry keys is one thing; rewriting the code is something else. Yet there seem to be dozens of ROMs.
Am I wrong here? Are these ROMs really hacked versions of WM, or are they just variant collections of software with different settings and customizations?
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Click to collapse
I shouldn't be answering 'cause I don't know much....
...but I think your characterization is more-or-less correct.
AFAIK, since WM is not open source, nobody re-writes the WM guts of these roms...nor re-writes HTC Sense.
The Windows Mobile Development and Hacking board probably has definitive answers.

EWAdams said:
So, I've been trying to decide whose, if any, ROM to install, and to that end I've been looking at some of the kitchen software to see how they're made. It looks to me as if the ROMs are really just collections of available software with certain customizations. They don't seem like truly reverse-engineered, hacked versions of Windows Mobile. For one thing, no offense meant, but the number of people capable of disassembling WM and hacking it can't be that large. Setting registry keys is one thing; rewriting the code is something else. Yet there seem to be dozens of ROMs.
Am I wrong here? Are these ROMs really hacked versions of WM, or are they just variant collections of software with different settings and customizations?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, these ROMs take what the Chef considers the best of various versions and combines them, plus they add the extra (free) tools that they deem to be the best. Then they cook them together and tweak the results until it is stable for the target device. So it is "pick and choose" components, based on a specific WM 6.x version.

stevedebi said:
You are correct, these ROMs take what the Chef considers the best of various versions and combines them, plus they add the extra (free) tools that they deem to be the best. Then they cook them together and tweak the results until it is stable for the target device. So it is "pick and choose" components, based on a specific WM 6.x version.
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Thanks for the clarification. That being the case, I won't bust butt trying to pick a new ROM as long as I'm happy with what I've got.

EWAdams said:
Thanks for the clarification. That being the case, I won't bust butt trying to pick a new ROM as long as I'm happy with what I've got.
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Well...the stock rom is fine if you like it. But the best custom roms do have some significant differences -- improvements, in many opinions -- over the stock rom....more than just reg tweaks. No, not modifications to the actual WM code, but significant things that make a difference in speed, etc. I'm not a rom cook, so I can't tell you exactly how or what. But as a rom user I know what I like.
I have no interest in trying to convince anyone...just sayin.

How did you choose yours?
MCbrian said:
Well...the stock rom is fine if you like it. But the best custom roms do have some significant differences -- improvements, in many opinions -- over the stock rom....more than just reg tweaks. No, not modifications to the actual WM code, but significant things that make a difference in speed, etc. I'm not a rom cook, so I can't tell you exactly how or what. But as a rom user I know what I like.
I have no interest in trying to convince anyone...just sayin.
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Speed and battery life are what I'm chiefly interested in, and you can usually improve both by clobbering unnecessary background processes. I want a system that's lean and mean.
I see you use Valkyrie. What made you choose that one in particular? Just curious.

EWAdams said:
Thanks for the clarification. That being the case, I won't bust butt trying to pick a new ROM as long as I'm happy with what I've got.
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I use Energy ROMS, and he cooks in lots of neat extras. For example, Total Commander is cooked in, and there are several other utilities and applications, like the GPS tools that test the GPS connection.
I do find that I have to tweak the battery, advanced settings, and B&B Tweaks to get the battery life where I want. But the ROM is really great for usability.

EWAdams said:
Speed and battery life are what I'm chiefly interested in, and you can usually improve both by clobbering unnecessary background processes. I want a system that's lean and mean.
I see you use Valkyrie. What made you choose that one in particular? Just curious.
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Newcomers to Valky roms usually comment on how fast it is -- "wow yow" and all that. I've been an exclusively-Valky user for so long -- 5 or 6 months -- that I don't really have anything to compare it to anymore...but it certainly seems plenty fast. And the new releases are definitely faster than those from, say, a couple of months ago. I should mention that I only run Valky versions that are based on WM6.5.5 with Sense 2.5, so I can't comment on other flavors.
I'd say that rom-cook agent_47's Valkyrie roms are a little more spare -- less stuff built in -- than NRGZ28's NRG roms...and that's fine with me -- may help speed.
I also have to say that cook agent_47 genuinely seems like a nice guy. If people post bug-reports he posts fixes ASAP (as much as his school duties permit)...instead of telling them to bggr-off. I'm not saying other chefs aren't helpful...just that agent_47 is particularly so. And that matters to me.
After a long time on one cook's rom, people (me, but not just me) get so used to that cooks style that another rom may objectively be as-good-or-better but it won't seem so because it's different than what one is used to. I discovered this when a long-time NRG user and I "swapped" roms and tried the other guy's fave. Neither of us could stand it for long (like, less than a day) and switched back to the rom-line to which we'd become accustomed.

Thanks for the info. Alas, I have a Sprint CDMA phone, and it doesn't look as if the Valkyrie ROM is available for it. Guess I'll have to check out the Energy ROM.

I tried my first ROM yesterday (Energy) and the difference is night and day. It is honestly like a new phone....snappy and clean...heck it looks better than the SPB shell which I bought too quickly instead of trying ROMS first lol

shaolin95 said:
I tried my first ROM yesterday (Energy) and the difference is night and day. It is honestly like a new phone....snappy and clean...heck it looks better than the SPB shell which I bought too quickly instead of trying ROMS first lol
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It also uses way more memory than Mobile shell.
Personally, though I own MS and download NRG CHT 2.5, I disable all of them and simply use SPB Pocket Plus. Not flashy, but very functional.
If I weren't using that, I would use SPB Mobile shell - but you have to customize it to fit YOUR needs, or the capabilities are wasted. Also, check out Vostradamus application to customize the MS:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=574264

OK, next stupid question.
Flashing a ROM replaces the registry, so you need to have all your tweaks backed up. I'm cool with that -- I can export particular keys that I care about. But does it wipe ALL your files and applications as well? If so, I don't understand these people who flash ROMs all the time -- I would think they would be perpetually reinstalling their apps and restoring from backup. I'd love to fool around with two or three different ROMs, but not if I'm going to be putting everything back on the phone each time I install a ROM.

EWAdams said:
Flashing a ROM replaces the registry, so you need to have all your tweaks backed up. I'm cool with that -- I can export particular keys that I care about. But does it wipe ALL your files and applications as well? If so, I don't understand these people who flash ROMs all the time -- I would think they would be perpetually reinstalling their apps and restoring from backup. I'd love to fool around with two or three different ROMs, but not if I'm going to be putting everything back on the phone each time I install a ROM.
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Yes you lose all your programs and files. But only the files that are stored on your phone memory. Not the ones on the SD card.
Most roms have some sort of autoinstall. This way the apps will be installed automatic.

stevedebi said:
It also uses way more memory than Mobile shell.
Personally, though I own MS and download NRG CHT 2.5, I disable all of them and simply use SPB Pocket Plus. Not flashy, but very functional.
If I weren't using that, I would use SPB Mobile shell - but you have to customize it to fit YOUR needs, or the capabilities are wasted. Also, check out Vostradamus application to customize the MS:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=574264
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Click to collapse
Well, it may use more memory as you say but the end result is the same to me, a better looking , faster, snappier phone so more or less memory, it still beats the crap out of my previous configuration.

EWAdams said:
Flashing a ROM replaces the registry, so you need to have all your tweaks backed up. I'm cool with that -- I can export particular keys that I care about. But does it wipe ALL your files and applications as well? If so, I don't understand these people who flash ROMs all the time -- I would think they would be perpetually reinstalling their apps and restoring from backup. I'd love to fool around with two or three different ROMs, but not if I'm going to be putting everything back on the phone each time I install a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As other post suggested, some/many roms support an automatic-restore function call "User Customization" -- UC for short. It works such that after the new-rom-flash is complete UC reinstalls all of your apps and saved registry settings from a couple of folders on your sd card. I've only used the version that comes with the Valkyrie roms, "Silent UC", and it works fine, automatically, without requiring input from me.
There's another type of app/everything-restoring app called Sashimi. It's more-powerful, but I haven't bothered to learn it as silentUC works well for my purposes.

MCbrian said:
As other post suggested, some/many roms support an automatic-restore function call "User Customization" -- UC for short. It works such that after the new-rom-flash is complete UC reinstalls all of your apps and saved registry settings from a couple of folders on your sd card. I've only used the version that comes with the Valkyrie roms, "Silent UC", and it works fine, automatically, without requiring input from me.
There's another type of app/everything-restoring app called Sashimi. It's more-powerful, but I haven't bothered to learn it as silentUC works well for my purposes.
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Many thanks. It looks as if it's just a question of having the CAB files available on the SD card, and a configuration file. Sounds pretty straightforward, although presumably I have to find all the keys that my applications set in the registry, too, and turn them into CAB files. Is that what you do?
Also gotta find out how to extract CAB files from desktop Windows .EXE installers... I know that's around here somewhere...

EWAdams said:
I have to find all the keys that my applications set in the registry, too, and turn them into CAB files. Is that what you do?
Also gotta find out how to extract CAB files from desktop Windows .EXE installers... I know that's around here somewhere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the registry entries, yes, you can convert to .cabs, or -- with Silent UC, at least -- just save/export them as .reg files and it will put them where they're supposed to go when it runs on the new rom.
Winrar or 7zip will open/extract .exe files and if there's a .cab inside you can get it that way.

shaolin95 said:
Well, it may use more memory as you say but the end result is the same to me, a better looking , faster, snappier phone so more or less memory, it still beats the crap out of my previous configuration.
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Actually, I find it also uses a lot more battery as well.
The latest NRG ROM goes below 60 MB available RAM when loaded with the programs I use. That isn't enough if one is going to use Opera 9.7 as a browser for any length of time.
Of course, it depends on what your particular likes/dislikes are, and the things which matter to you. That is the nice thing about burning ROMs - there are so many from which to choose.

stevedebi said:
Actually, I find it also uses a lot more battery as well.
The latest NRG ROM goes below 60 MB available RAM when loaded with the programs I use. That isn't enough if one is going to use Opera 9.7 as a browser for any length of time.
Of course, it depends on what your particular likes/dislikes are, and the things which matter to you. That is the nice thing about burning ROMs - there are so many from which to choose.
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Click to collapse
Indeed...always nice to have choices.

I am addicted to the Energy Roms, they work the best for me and I tend to stick with the Titanium based roms without any Sense. Not because I don't like the Sense UI, but because the Titanium roms are so much more snappy and the battery life is fantastic.

Related

Best / Reliable 6.1 Roms

Hello, I see a handful on 6.1 Roms in here. Short of loading each one of them. Which is more reliable or keeps on top of updates if needed?
Im Currently using the MRH. And I Dont know much kinda new in a way to upgrading my phone. But It just seems like there is alot missing with this rom.
sammyboy405 said:
Hello, I see a handful on 6.1 Roms in here. Short of loading each one of them. Which is more reliable or keeps on top of updates if needed?
Im Currently using the MRH. And I Dont know much kinda new in a way to upgrading my phone. But It just seems like there is alot missing with this rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u have to load each because each user here may have a different experience with each because for me one rom maybe perfect next person may crash left and right and so on so only way to know is trying each like i like pvh 19400 although am now trying pvh19900
To a fellow OK State alumn, I have tested at least a dozen different 6.1 ROMS and this one
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=376223
has been the cleanest, fastest, and most stable one for me. Just add the applications you want.
Much thanks! Yea thats the one i was toying around with. There are so many apps out there. I dont know where to start. and which ones would tailor towards my use.
i downloaded and tried them all,
Quite happy with the one ive got now, many have loads of apps but you start to loose available RAM when that happens.
best just to try a few and see which one best suits what you want to do, suggestion though is to keep your PIM and other things backed up incase you need to do a hard reset in the event of a freeze
Just keep on this forum as often as you can. It took me months to find out what I wanted and what worked. Just be patient and play around. It is more of a hobby to me than anything.
less questions and read read read the thread posts!! try a few with features u like! all the cooks have great roms if u know how to use them....
Best ROM
I have install and test almost all the WM 6.1 ROMS.
Like the other guys say you really have to test out a ROM as you might like some features over others.
In my time i have found the following:
TNT ROM WM6.1 to be the best all rounder - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=376945
Only thing i don't like about it is the startup speed. Every with the animation disabled and the network auto config it still makes a good long while.
Blinky ROM WM 6.1 Super fast and really cool - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=383751
My favourite ROM so far but does not come with many applications
im using pays rom 6.1, use it for a month now. stable and quite fast
level5_HTC said:
Blinky ROM WM 6.1 Super fast and really cool - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=383751
My favorite ROM so far but does not come with many applications
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its what I have and his review is spot on. Its very fast, probably the fastest I have ever used and incredibly fast startup time. It was missing many of the programs I like but thankfully I already had them on my storage card from playing with a Schaps Lite ROM a while back. I think my last changes will be a flashlight software like vjcandela and something better for BT transfers but all in all this is a great ROM and will definitely keep me happy until the next Schaps is released.
I like PDAViet build 19900... It is SOOOOOOOOO fast and had a remarkable 28Mb of ram left after installing it with almost 70Mb storage memory. Now down to about 25MB ram and 45Mb storage as I've put a heap of 3rd party apps on...Cheers...
the last Binky 6.1 WM 3.5 is a great slim one and you have the possibility to install your own apps after flashing
but guys, I can't beam files using the f***ing IR port... anyidea about it?

Poll: Which WM 6.1 ROM?

Just a quick poll for my own curiosity if nothing else, which WM 6.1 ROM are you using?
If not one of the above, please add a post explaining which.
Also, are there are any newer benchmarks available than those shown here?
You forgot "Binky11's ROM". Best I have used so far.
We seem to be getting a few 'others', but no indication which they are?
I'm currently using Faria's/Dr. Puttingham's ROM but it seems a little unstable, as the OS freezes on me forcing me to pull the battery to reset. I installed it yesterday, with 2 freezes already. I think I'm going to try another one. I use an 8525 btw.
-PB
PDACorner's ROM's have been the cleanest and most stable for me. He is always using the latest builds. I am currently using V.14. build 20226.
Personally I stay away from super storage ROMS. I don't have a need for them, and maybe by sheer coincidence I've only had 1 hard-reset for all the ROMs I've tried, whereas it seems like other folks were having them more often.
I've been a fan of the pdaviet ROMs, but lately have been happy with CRCs... not sure if you need to break out his dev ROMs from stable, since one is just a progression to another.
Stable, with good available program memory.
I used schaps 4 for ages, but I find myself more and more taking a simple "no options" rom (like the PDACorner rom) and adding the dialer, interface, and applications that I really want, instead of using some rom someone else builds.
So I guess you could say I use PDACorner with LOTS of mods.
CRC's 11.2 and 12.2 is the same
Basically re numbered. I too have issues with BS ROMs, my device seems not to agree with it! I would love to try again in the near future, but I use my device for business and can not afford hard resets at all. I go with CRC's ROM for weeks with the only need to power off and on again with side button every other week.
I don't know why but I can't seem to find others that would not hard reset on me, yet.
I have been using Alex's v5.att.161.home ROM for months now, and I love it.
yesod7 said:
I have been using Alex's v5.att.161.home ROM for months now, and I love it.
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Hmm, it is a hermes forum, ... you've got a tilt.
zocster said:
Hmm, it is a hermes forum, ... you've got a tilt.
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Click to collapse
Oh. Right. Well, uh, if you ever get a Tilt, you should use this ROM...
i think the "others" are older WM 6.0 ROMs. im still using sleuth 3.1 from 7/5/07! =P. it's a PITA to backup data then upgrade, then resync data.
but i'm looking forward to upgrading soon, i think wm6.1 improves performance+stability yes?
JediFonger said:
i think the "others" are older WM 6.0 ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, i am sick of using WM6.1 to do the ASSync issue which seems to be present even in the official ROM's
Dvha79_ddt
Its always updated with the latest build. Its clean and stable. Suits my taste.
for what it's worth see my signature...
I have tried at some point just about every 6.1 rom I can find on this forum.
The PDAcorner v16 seemed good, and VERY fast, but I didnt like the UI or the idea of how long it would take me to get it how I like it.
I LOVE CRC's roms, they are clean, stable, and fast. Using 12.2 atm! with a 8meg page pool, dam fast!
For those who speak of the "latest build" ala PDA Viet and PDA corner...is there actually a noticeable difference when u flash to a later build ROM? I love flashing a new ROM but it takes me such a long time to get it tweaked to how i like it, so i don't do it so much and then when you consider that you can try the same ROM with so many Pagepool settings, sigh....i could be spending HOURS testing ROMS and just don't have the time to play with them all and at diff settings. That is why I am VERY glad for a thread like this, cause it seems to be frowned upon to compare the ROMS on this site (or mainly to ask the oppinion for a ROM)...i don't exactly understand that, why not discuss and compare them?
what i am wondering, are the latest builds considered to always be the best? i feel like there are so many factors (including unknown ones) that attribute to a ROM being a good working ROM.
for those who have tried lots of the PDAVIET ROMS, any thoughts on which is/are the best?
I can't pick one of the ROMS on the list, but i will say this, i've been on WM6.1 for a while and am considering trying 6.0 again to get a new frame of reference to tell if one is indeed better than the other for me
Shamanix`s WM6 Ultimate v2 FINAL [SuperStorage] With add on's
I'm using CRC12.3 at the moment, but I'm not all that rapt in it.
PDV has had some good ones. Does a nice clean install and removes rubbish that other ROMs leave behind. Got rid of a bug that had plagued me for months.
PDACorner has had some good ones.
Randomize had the best package that needed the least customising by me.
I guess I'm just a ROM junkie.
Been thinking of upgrading to a Samsung i900, but then I'd miss all this fun.
Dillsnik said:
I love flashing a new ROM but it takes me such a long time to get it tweaked to how i like it, so i don't do it so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use UC/sdconfig.txt to re-install all your favourite programs that run from internal RAM. Most of the stuff I want to add back in runs off my SD card. I just keep the cabs in a separate folder on my SD card and work through them. Only takes a few minutes.
Biggest hassle I had was with contacts and email settings.
But PIMBackup restores contacts in a flash, and Settings Savior restores all my email accounts (about 4 or 5).
Now I can re-flash and be back in operation in under 30 minutes.

Advanced Config Tool vs Custom ROM

I've got a stock Sprint ROM in which I'm using the Advanced Config Tool and I'm curious is a custom ROM would be significantly better (faster, longer battery life, etc). Anyone have any insight on this matter?
I had a Touch that I bounced around to various ROMS, only go to back to stock Sprint for the stability. So, rather then doing the same with the Diamond, I'm looking for some advise as to what I'm getting already (with the advanced config tool).
ivtec20 said:
I've got a stock Sprint ROM in which I'm using the Advanced Config Tool and I'm curious is a custom ROM would be significantly better (faster, longer battery life, etc). Anyone have any insight on this matter?
I had a Touch that I bounced around to various ROMS, only go to back to stock Sprint for the stability. So, rather then doing the same with the Diamond, I'm looking for some advise as to what I'm getting already (with the advanced config tool).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just try the tool for your self....whats the worst you can do...a hardrest
if you mess things up
Oh no, I am using the tool and I like it. I was just curious if anyone knows how much faster an all out custom ROM would be... Yes, I could flash some myself, but that would be a lot of work if I just have to go back to stock (as I did with the Touch). But, if the custom ROM is significantly better then the advanced config tool alone, then I might consider giving it a try.
ivtec20 said:
Oh no, I am using the tool and I like it. I was just curious if anyone knows how much faster an all out custom ROM would be... Yes, I could flash some myself, but that would be a lot of work if I just have to go back to stock (as I did with the Touch). But, if the custom ROM is significantly better then the advanced config tool alone, then I might consider giving it a try.
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I tweaked my phone as much as i could and did improve but Shine On 2.4 is faster!
I would rather use a cooked Rom because, the the chefs (almost ) always know what they're doing, and they have the experience with tweaking to perfection.
Sometimes when they experiment with things it causes unstability, but they're only doing it to develope the perfect Rom. When using the cooked Rom's you alsow contribute to the chef work, and to this forum, in the search for perfection.
Is there a poll to compare all ROM's that are out there?
MegadethPantera said:
Is there a poll to compare all ROM's that are out there?
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Click to collapse
Sticky's Sticky's
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=415194
Significantly faster....no question!
Why?? Lots of reasons...from more available memory ("junk" removed), better memory management to page pooling up to 16mB
Most likely more stable as well (if using a well tested ROM)
Read thru the posts and convince yourself.........
You can only do so much tweaking with registry and/or Advanced Config. Further improvements needs to be cooked into the ROM.
Ok... So it sounds like there is fairly significant difference between the tweak tool and a custom rom. I had figured as much, but I was hoping the tool would have been close, because I just got all my icons set up perfectly.
But, I hate having the knowledge that the phone could be better, faster, etc. Too bad HTC or Sprint or whoever couldn't just get it right from the start! Oh well, I'm going to try a custom ROM one of these days...
Thanks Gang! Oh, and a bit off topic, but when I go to the custom ROM, I'm going to lose the Sprint crap, but the one item I actually use is Sprint music. I bet I can find a cab with it, but I am also going to lose the Sprint Music icon on the Music tab of TF3d. Any way to get it back there? Thanks.
I think AlphaZero has a ROM called "V7 SprintFlavor" that has all the Sprint stuff. Check it out.

htc hd2 touchflo on at&t tilt2

I am a little new to XDA...but I cant really find a straight answer to a question I have.
I just purchased the tilt2...love it. Unfortunately, I watched videos on the new hd2, and while I don't want the phone....gotta have my keyboard....I think a couple of the touchflo tabs make MUCH more sense.
So basically, I am wondering if cooks on here feel that at some point they will be able to offer some of those features in .cab files?
I dont want a whole new rom, I tried that on my original tilt...and it just never worked perfect, gps problems, some menus didnt look right. I really just want the phone to work perfectly like at&t intended...but with the new contacts tab, email tab, and maybe the new home screen that allows weather backgrounds and I believe allows a couple contacts straight on it.
Anyway...based on how people have been able to pull apart software for these phones...does this sound possible? or is touchflo simply too complicated to only pull parts of it out? I wouldnt want to simply entirely replace my at&t tilt 2 touchflo version with the hd2 version because I have heard that you would lose landscape mode for touchflo?
Anyway...just wondering if I can hope for this...or if I simply need to accept what I have until the touch pro 3 comes out?
p.s. I am assuming I would need that new version for what I wanted..unless hacks are possible? Basically I love the new email tab that allows you to read your emails right from there instead of showing them in an envelope.
I like the new contacts tab much better....more functional than that rotating carousel thing.
New today screen is nice with the weather background...and I like the idea of contacts on that screen.
No, you aren't going be able to change your TF3D with a simple .cab file.
It would require the flashing of a new ROM.
the HD2 'Sense' interface is Manila 2.5 and is in many ROMs over at the development section. Since Manila 2.5 is only designed for the HD2, when using the interface there is no landscape support for when the keyboard is slid out.
No one in xda-deveolopers has shown the ability to be able to take some features from Manila 2.1 and mix them with 2.5. If they could, I'm sure HTC would hire them in a heartbeat. HTC has an entire team of paid workers that create the Manilas. It takes time and skill and LOTS of work.
I would recommend just flashing a good Manila 2.1 ROM. Get rid of your AT&T bloatware. NGRZ's Photon ROM (in my signature) is a good place to start. It is very fast, stable, and comes preloaded with a ton of useful apps.
You will have less problems with his ROM than AT&T's stock ROM.
skyler17 said:
No, you aren't going be able to change your TF3D with a simple .cab file.
It would require the flashing of a new ROM.
the HD2 'Sense' interface is Manila 2.5 and is in many ROMs over at the development section. Since Manila 2.5 is only designed for the HD2, when using the interface there is no landscape support for when the keyboard is slid out.
No one in xda-deveolopers has shown the ability to be able to take some features from Manila 2.1 and mix them with 2.5. If they could, I'm sure HTC would hire them in a heartbeat. HTC has an entire team of paid workers that create the Manilas. It takes time and skill and LOTS of work.
I would recommend just flashing a good Manila 2.1 ROM. Get rid of your AT&T bloatware. NGRZ's Photon ROM (in my signature) is a good place to start. It is very fast, stable, and comes preloaded with a ton of useful apps.
You will have less problems with his ROM than AT&T's stock ROM.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for the response...I figured that was the case.
So let me ask you...I am very nervous about flashing the ROM on my brand new expensive phone. My main concerns:
1. Is their an easy way to go back to the stock setup?
2. When i flashed my first tilt, I had radio problems that never really got fixed
3. What advantage does that ROM have over the stock...other than space? I find the stock ROM has pretty decent speed honestly
4. My main concern: I don't like losing any of the functionality of the stock ROM...I actually like the default ATT opera page, etc.
5. If I could find a ROM that would simply remove things like the ATT mall, but otherwise leave everything else stock..and work just as good as stock...gps, opera, keyboard mapping, etc. I would do it. Oh...I wouldnt mind having custom wallpaper on all tabs.
acolona said:
Thank you for the response...I figured that was the case.
So let me ask you...I am very nervous about flashing the ROM on my brand new expensive phone. My main concerns:
1. Is their an easy way to go back to the stock setup?
2. When i flashed my first tilt, I had radio problems that never really got fixed
3. What advantage does that ROM have over the stock...other than space? I find the stock ROM has pretty decent speed honestly
4. My main concern: I don't like losing any of the functionality of the stock ROM...I actually like the default ATT opera page, etc.
5. If I could find a ROM that would simply remove things like the ATT mall, but otherwise leave everything else stock..and work just as good as stock...gps, opera, keyboard mapping, etc. I would do it. Oh...I wouldnt mind having custom wallpaper on all tabs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's some feedback:
1. Right now, no -- since the Tilt2 has just been released, many folks are waiting for someone to successfully dump the stock ROM in case we need to go back.
2. Many of the custom ROMs do not include a new radio -- you'll just have to read up and decide which ones you like.
3. Every custom ROM has a different advantage. In some cases its visual, in other cases speed, stability, and some are just highly experimental with features taken from other phones.
4/5. Again since the Tilt2 is so new, give it a little time. Usually there are some chefs who feel the same way you do and will use a stock ROM and just make minor tweaks like taking out some unnecessary bloat and adding some useful programs.
I would recommend if the stock ROM is working ok for you, to stick with it for the time being until some more ATT specific ROMs start getting developed and you find one that will suit your individual needs.
pinoymutt said:
Here's some feedback:
1. Right now, no -- since the Tilt2 has just been released, many folks are waiting for someone to successfully dump the stock ROM in case we need to go back.
2. Many of the custom ROMs do not include a new radio -- you'll just have to read up and decide which ones you like.
3. Every custom ROM has a different advantage. In some cases its visual, in other cases speed, stability, and some are just highly experimental with features taken from other phones.
4/5. Again since the Tilt2 is so new, give it a little time. Usually there are some chefs who feel the same way you do and will use a stock ROM and just make minor tweaks like taking out some unnecessary bloat and adding some useful programs.
I would recommend if the stock ROM is working ok for you, to stick with it for the time being until some more ATT specific ROMs start getting developed and you find one that will suit your individual needs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4/5. Perfect, thats a great answer for me. I think that's what I really want is a stock ROM with some tweaks for speed and bloat.
A. Does a stock tweaked ROM usually mean I dont need to worry about fiddling with radios? and the GPS and stuff works just like stock?
B. Any specific ROM chefs that you know of that I should follow that typically do these types of ROMs?
oh..this is unrelated, but does anyone know why I am having issues running software that seems to work fine on other touch pro 2's...I keep getting errors about .net versions being wrong. I tried installing the .net compact package from Microsoft..but it just says it fails during install. This is kind of a pain because I can't get some really common apps to install.

Which cooked ROM is best for Tilt 2.

I have a Tilt 2, and although I love the phone, had it for two months now, it can be a clunker if I don't power it down frequently. Looking for a good, stable cooked ROM that will speed things up, get rid of the AT$T cotton candy and be able to use all the functions of the phone.
Anyone have a favorite. My current system is stock , (2.1.19183217.0)(is not sense version). Can I use Sense 2.1 or 2.5 on my phone?
pduncan said:
I have a Tilt 2, and although I love the phone, had it for two months now, it can be a clunker if I don't power it down frequently. Looking for a good, stable cooked ROM that will speed things up, get rid of the AT$T cotton candy and be able to use all the functions of the phone.
Anyone have a favorite. My current system is stock , (2.1.19183217.0)(is not sense version). Can I use Sense 2.1 or 2.5 on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The e2 ROM and the WCX ROM are both cooked specifically for the Tilt2. Your hardware keyboard should work with either one with no modifications or additional mapping.
It seems to me that the e2 ROM keeps a few more of the AT&T specific software, but in my opinion both ROM's are pretty much the same with personal preference being the deciding factor.
If you flash just about any other ROM, you will also have to install a cab to remap the keyboard to the AT&T setup, and may even have to do some modifications in the picture messaging.
e2 has a version without HTC Messaging which many people believe presents a lag problem in just about any ROM. He has a version with the older ArcSoft which is probably what you are used to.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=644537
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=681667
People always ask "what is the best ROM", but what is best depends on what you want in the ROM: aesthetics, features vs. lean & fast, what apps are cooked in, etc.
Personally, I've been using the Energy ROM on my Tilt2, and I love it. Great combination of eye candy, speed and stability. After you flash the ROM, just run the Carrier Provisioning in Tools, and it will map the keyboard to the ATT layout. Everything else works perfectly on ATT's network without any tweaking for me, NRG has already figured out the carrier specific settings to make it amazingly easy.
IMHO if you pick a ROM that is designed *specifically* for the Tilt2, then you are restricting your choice greatly. Most/all of the other ROMs should work fine on a Tilt2, just with a cab needed to map the keyboard (which is trivial).
I would ignore the Tilt2 bit, and just pick a ROM that looks good to you, and give it a try.
Yes, you can use either Sense 2.1 or Sense 2.5 on your phone, also there are other front-ends too, like Cookie, MaxSense, Titanium, etc, etc.
steviewevie said:
IMHO if you pick a ROM that is designed *specifically* for the Tilt2, then you are restricting your choice greatly. Most/all of the other ROMs should work fine on a Tilt2, just with a cab needed to map the keyboard (which is trivial).
I would ignore the Tilt2 bit, and just pick a ROM that looks good to you, and give it a try.
Yes, you can use either Sense 2.1 or Sense 2.5 on your phone, also there are other front-ends too, like Cookie, MaxSense, Titanium, etc, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a cab which will map the ENTIRE AT&T Tilt2 keyboard, I'd like for you to post it. I agree that it is trivial, BUT, I've never yet found a keyboard cab which will map ALL keys, including the OK key, to work properly. I have tried many different ROMs on my wife's Tilt2, and yes, many of them look great. However, IF it is important to you to have the AT&T mapping exactly right on all keys, like it is to my wife, I have not found any of the others which will do that with an "add-on" keyboard mapping cab. As I said in the beginning, if you have one which will do this, please, please, please, send it my way. It would open many doors, and many other ROMs for me to try.
Personally, I never even open the hardware keyboard on my Verizon Touch Pro2, so keyboard mapping is not a big deal to me, but the first thing she does when she pulls the Tilt2 out of her purse is pop open the keyboard, so that has been a big issue in our search for a good ROM for her use.
redpoint73 said:
People always ask "what is the best ROM", but what is best depends on what you want in the ROM: aesthetics, features vs. lean & fast, what apps are cooked in, etc.
Personally, I've been using the Energy ROM on my Tilt2, and I love it. Great combination of eye candy, speed and stability. After you flash the ROM, just run the Carrier Provisioning in Tools, and it will map the keyboard to the ATT layout. Everything else works perfectly on ATT's network without any tweaking for me, NRG has already figured out the carrier specific settings to make it amazingly easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem I've had with Engery rom and every other rom that insists upon using transparent sliders and clocks is the "bleeding" through on the contacts page. In my opinion, that bleeding through looks very unprofessional and unfinished. See picture below:
Xebec said:
The problem I've had with Engery rom and every other rom that insists upon using transparent sliders and clocks is the "bleeding" through on the contacts page. In my opinion, that bleeding through looks very unprofessional and unfinished. See picture below:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you would prefer to have the last row bottom completely covered?
stevedebi said:
So you would prefer to have the last row bottom completely covered?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it is not really the last row, it scrolls up for even more rows. Once you scroll up past the slider bar, it would visible.
I like the energy roms but the e2 and wcx are the only ones with AT&Ts agps settings it seems. I've tried the .cab of AT&T nokia and google settings but it's still difficult getting a lock on other "generic" roms instead of the AT&T specific roms.
keyboard map
GaryMcQ said:
If you have a cab which will map the ENTIRE AT&T Tilt2 keyboard, I'd like for you to post it. I agree that it is trivial, BUT, I've never yet found a keyboard cab which will map ALL keys, including the OK key, to work properly. I have tried many different ROMs on my wife's Tilt2, and yes, many of them look great. However, IF it is important to you to have the AT&T mapping exactly right on all keys, like it is to my wife, I have not found any of the others which will do that with an "add-on" keyboard mapping cab. As I said in the beginning, if you have one which will do this, please, please, please, send it my way. It would open many doors, and many other ROMs for me to try.
Personally, I never even open the hardware keyboard on my Verizon Touch Pro2, so keyboard mapping is not a big deal to me, but the first thing she does when she pulls the Tilt2 out of her purse is pop open the keyboard, so that has been a big issue in our search for a good ROM for her use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try this. i use it on my tilt2 and havnt found any mapping issues. except for the OK key LOL but the OK key pops up bottom right, right next to you're thumb anyway.
Energy Rom gets my vote....awesome...a lot faster and more responsive than stock plus it looks better to me as well.
Guys, I have no need for ATT bloatware, HTC messaging, MS stuff like Marketplace, MyPhone, etc. Even stock music player is crap. Prefer to install separate programs. Free MB is of great interest. ROM working with GPS is a must. Functionality, speed, free space is much preferable to looks.
Could you give me some leads if you encountered any "lite" ROMs for ATT Tilt 2 out there?
Thanks.
pduncan said:
I have a Tilt 2, and although I love the phone, had it for two months now, it can be a clunker if I don't power it down frequently. Looking for a good, stable cooked ROM that will speed things up, get rid of the AT$T cotton candy and be able to use all the functions of the phone.
Anyone have a favorite. My current system is stock , (2.1.19183217.0)(is not sense version). Can I use Sense 2.1 or 2.5 on my phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Becareful!... this is how it starts, one innocent post and then bam! your a ROM junkie... On here day and night, chasing the dragon, looking for next best ROM.
Green Eyed Misfit said:
Becareful!... this is how it starts, one innocent post and then bam! your a ROM junkie... On here day and night, chasing the dragon, looking for next best ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Truer words were never spoken. I have no idea how, or when, even why it started. But man I'd like to have a quarter for every minute I've patrolled these forums searching for that ever elusive perfect ROM.
My name is Gary . . .and I'm a ROM junkie . . .
I have had my tilt2 for 3 weeks and I searched and searched for specific tilt2 stuff. Even though I was really nervous to flash it I flashed the "Energy Standard sense" ROM and it was great. I used the TILT2 keyboard cab and it worked perfectly. I use my Tilt2 on T-mobile so it had provisioning for that cooked in as well. I wanted a little more "polish" and adjustment to it and so I now have the "Energy Dinik Glass" (June.7) ROM and it is amazing! No issues so far.
Just an fyi...for some reason all the energy roms I have flashed have really slow touch sensitivity but within a few minutes and a soft reset everything is speedy as normal.
GaryMcQ said:
Truer words were never spoken. I have no idea how, or when, even why it started. But man I'd like to have a quarter for every minute I've patrolled these forums searching for that ever elusive perfect ROM.
My name is Gary . . .and I'm a ROM junkie . . .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=652857
steviewevie said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=652857
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks... i felt so alone!
Chasing the ROM dragon *LOL*
Guys, I must confess that I'm guilty of the same thing as well. However, I think that part of it is encoded into our DNA. The other part (if you're married to a penny pincher like I am) comes from our spouses. Let's be honest about this...guys love gadgets. That's why we have Spike TV & G4 (Thank God for G4!!) My point is this...since my wife won't let me go and buy the next latest, greatest phone each time a better one comes out, my only alternative is to change what I already have - hence the constant changing of ROMs.
Recently, it became a necessity because I had been a FUZE user and was devoted to TAEL's ROMs for quite some time. But then when I got the new car and the Tilt 2 was the only thing that would work on it (bluetooth car audio functions), I knew where I had to go to make the boring 'stock' Tilt 2 into something that I could use and be efficient and effective in my job. That's where NRG comes in. With no disrespect to the other ROM makers in the Tilt 2 forum, NRG has come through for me time and again. There are very nice things from the other guys, but NRG seems to know exactly what I NEED and he puts it out there. Mind you, I'm not even talking about the bleeding edge 23xxx stuff. I'm merely talking about the tried and true stable 21xxx ROMs that get delivered. Sure there's an occasional bug sometimes (who hasn't seen one?), but he's quick to fix them and the next release to us. (Which reminds me, I need to make a donation to him today because he has pulled my ass from the fire more times than I care to count.)
I'm sorry if I got on a soapbox, but this whole forum makes me very emotional. Before I knew how to flash ROMs and knew what was out there, a phone was merely a phone. But then all you guys came info my life and you shared your knowledge with me without condescension or bellittling.)
That's my two cents for what it's worth.
GulMiguel said:
...
That's my two cents for what it's worth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your post!
I see you are using ROM : EnergyROM 21903/Sense 2.5/Cookie Home Tab/May 16
It looks like I cannot get that anymore, therefore I need to go to:
Energy.RHODIUM.21905.Sense2.5.Cookie.Jun.11.7z
?
Thanks!
So there's really no way to completely remap the keys on a Touch Pro2 ROM to match the AT&T keyboard? I only got my TP2 a few weeks ago, but I've been travelling and haven't had the internet to test out many new ROMs (just threw on Energy ROM before I left). Been using an unmapped keyboard for a few weeks now...
Just curious if there's a better way.

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