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Hey guys! I'm picking up an Xperia Play in a couple of days and was looking for some general advice about the phone. This will be my first Android device, I've been on WebOS/Garnet for my last two phones. I'm just a little overwhelmed with the options presented by the Play and Android in general. For instance, I'm not sure if I should root my phone or not - what are the advantages?
Any other general guides to Android/the Play would be wonderful if any such guides exist. I'm looking to deck this thing out with every emulator on the market as well as get the PSXperia hack up and running (I've downloaded the program, but can't figure out how to use it).
You can sense my overall noobishness in general, I'm sure. Any advice or tips about this device would be great. I'm really excited about the Play and getting comfortable with Android. Thanks everybody!
kershner25 said:
Hey guys! I'm picking up an Xperia Play in a couple of days and was looking for some general advice about the phone. This will be my first Android device, I've been on WebOS/Garnet for my last two phones. I'm just a little overwhelmed with the options presented by the Play and Android in general. For instance, I'm not sure if I should root my phone or not - what are the advantages?
Any other general guides to Android/the Play would be wonderful if any such guides exist. I'm looking to deck this thing out with every emulator on the market as well as get the PSXperia hack up and running (I've downloaded the program, but can't figure out how to use it).
You can sense my overall noobishness in general, I'm sure. Any advice or tips about this device would be great. I'm really excited about the Play and getting comfortable with Android. Thanks everybody!
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congratz im waiting for mine is the mail right now lol
rooting allows you to have full access to the file system sorta like a administrator
on a windows machine since out the box you cant edit files or remove bloatware without root you cant install certain programs from the market without root
also having root and unlocked bootloader allows you to flash a custom recovery image which will allow you to flash customs roms(a custom version of android dev by a user here on xda or anywhere in general)
yes i highly recommend but if you ever plan on returning the phone to verzion for example you will have to revert it back to stock
and for the program psxperia you need to install the latest version of java from java.com
and if your on a windows machine you double click the psxperiatool.JAR file
and it should run not sure on OSX
in the end you made a good choice on choosing android as mainstream as it became its still a powerful system way better IMO than ios or even webos
since android has so many developers theres gonna be an endless amount of programs
will post new finds myself etc
edokassiah said:
and unlocked bootloader allows you to flash a custom recovery image which will allow you to flash customs roms(a custom version of android dev by a user here on xda or anywhere in general)
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You cannot flash the recovery image directly or you will mess up boot partition, you need to flash a kernel with embedded recovery built in
Thanks for the info. I'm confused about the locked/unlocked bootloaders. How do I know which one I'll have? And how "easy" of a process is rooting the phone if I don't plan to install any custom roms or anything?
Also, how does transferring .apk files from my PC to the device work?
kershner25 said:
Thanks for the info. I'm confused about the locked/unlocked bootloaders. How do I know which one I'll have? And how "easy" of a process is rooting the phone if I don't plan to install any custom roms or anything?
Also, how does transferring .apk files from my PC to the device work?
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If you havent unlocked your bootloader yourself it is locked there are many risks and advantages to unlocking your bootloader, but if you dont intend to flash custom roms there really is no need, just like with root, if you dont know what it is, you probably wont need it
transfering .apk's from your pc is easy, just copy the .apk to your sd card, then use a file manager to find the .apk, tap on it and the installer will pop up , you need to tick unknown sources in settings though
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1176367
AndroHero said:
You cannot flash the recovery image directly or you will mess up boot partition, you need to flash a kernel with embedded recovery built in
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hes asking about android in general not aiming specifically at the xperia play
If I root my phone, do I have to switch everything back in order to get updates? All I really want to root my phone for would be to remove bloatware/speed it up a bit, is there a better way than rooting?
There is plenty of tutorials here, I suggest that you read, read, and then......read some more
_terror_ said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1176367
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Thanks so much for this link, it's seriously going to help me while rooting my phone. This might be a dumb question, but bear with me - better safe than a bricked phone. The guide to rooting in that link says that I need to flash my Play to the .184 Generic UK firmware...am I understanding it correctly that I need flash this firmware onto my American Verizon Play? I want to make sure nothing is going to get screwed up regionally, as I'm going to want to keep getting OTA updates and all that.
Just to share my own experiences since I'm new to the Xperia Play (previously had an Acer Liquid.. crappy hardware but great community of devs.. anyways..)
I'd recommend rooting your phone off the bat - the simple reason is rooting will involve wiping your phone's data, so if you already have a few months of use that means having to restore everything which is tiresome. First thing when my phone arrived was follow the rooting guide here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1116090
After that however I wouldn't recommend messing around TOO much with custom firmwares and such etc.. get used to the phone as it is and figure out what you like, don't like. if your like me within a few weeks or months you'll want something new - this is when you might want to start looking at messing around with the phone - new home launchers or even a new ROM (if your phone can have it's boot loader unlocked, from what I understand mine can't). The games and Emulators should keep you busy as is
The only customizing I've done to my phone is rooting it with Gingerbreak and using the leaked Sony Launcher.
I realize this is a pretty nooby thing to do that annoys all the veterans, but I consider this to be a fairly crucial piece of information I need before I attempt to root my phone, so I'm just gonna go ahead and bump this thing before it gets lost in the shuffle.
In order to root with a locked bootloader on an American Verizon XPlay, I need to flash to the .184 generic UK firmware, then root, then OTA update, correct?
kershner25 said:
I realize this is a pretty nooby thing to do that annoys all the veterans, but I consider this to be a fairly crucial piece of information I need before I attempt to root my phone, so I'm just gonna go ahead and bump this thing before it gets lost in the shuffle.
In order to root with a locked bootloader on an American Verizon XPlay, I need to flash to the .184 generic UK firmware, then root, then OTA update, correct?
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No. That method will not work on the r800x (verizon xplay) to root yours you will need to see [How-to] R800x Root
Dont worry about annoying people lol . Who cares what others think? Everyone has to start somewhere.
But it would be better with a stickied thread for new users to look @.
So now, instead of the 3 step process linked previously in this thread, I have to unlock the bootloader and do a whole bunch of other stuff? This method is like 100x more complicated. Is there no other way? I don't intend to install any custom roms, I strictly want to root solely for freezing bloatware.
No i dont think so. You would be better asking for help from other r800x owners in that thread.
The exploit gingerbreak uses on 2.3.2 was patched in 2.3.3 (worldwide) and was also patched by verizon before they released the handset on 2.3.2. Up untill the bootloader was unlocked on the r800x rooting was not possible.
Ask in that thread and you should recieve the help/info you are after.
hiya mate right ive rooted and put on custom recovery but now its screwed up my cam , wifi , and the market so be warned im trying to fix this problem as we speak
---------- Post added at 10:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:27 PM ----------
im new to this to really but having a play with no cam and no wifi and no market. the market is there but cant dwnload nothing is taking the piss can anyone help me please
Mozza2k11 said:
But it would be better with a stickied thread for new users to look @.
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There is one already stickied in the Q&A section.That it has gone practically unnoticed counters this statement.
kershner25 said:
Thanks so much for this link, it's seriously going to help me while rooting my phone. This might be a dumb question, but bear with me - better safe than a bricked phone. The guide to rooting in that link says that I need to flash my Play to the .184 Generic UK firmware...am I understanding it correctly that I need flash this firmware onto my American Verizon Play? I want to make sure nothing is going to get screwed up regionally, as I'm going to want to keep getting OTA updates and all that.
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Click to collapse
Their is not such thing as a bricked phone
always is a way to fix it and usually its as simple as flashing a FTF
or whatever stock rom your device uses takes like 5 minutes tops lol
and logsemans guides will tell you anything you need to know
just use them for refrence
Xperia Play Super Compilation (Q&A Sticky)
and if you head down the path of rooting and stuff
messing with files
you wont be able to get ota updates lol.
it will "brick you"
I recentally made a quick video with tips for android users/beginners if you want to watch it. Thought it would help people. http://youtu.be/Pd5DerUoEcY
Hi guys I've come from Samsung galaxy. Ore as it was bricked so fancyed a change I know this is no way as powerfull as the note but I have a couple of questions which maybe asked before but oh we'll
1.Is the play as good graphic wise as the psp
2.I know there are many roms but which one should I choose I'm after the latest gb close to stock with all the good tweaks lol
3have I made the right choice as I was going to get the iPhone 4s lol is they any problems with the play
Thanks hope someone can answer nicely lol
1. Depending on the game you're playing, the graphics can certainly surpass the psp's level
2. You could get the CM7 rom if you want the cyanogenmod experience (needs unlocked bootloader) or use the DooMKerneL on the updated stock rom (also needs unlocked bootloader) (bootloader MUST be unlocked to flash any non-stock kernel). Otherwise, your best bet is simply updating the firmware to the latest version
3. That's up to you whether you made the right choice or not, as they're on completely different platforms and can't really be compared efficiently. The main reason to get the PLAY is the hardware buttons for gaming, and that it's android.
jacklebott said:
1. Depending on the game you're playing, the graphics can certainly surpass the psp's level
2. You could get the CM7 rom if you want the cyanogenmod experience (needs unlocked bootloader) or use the DooMKerneL on the updated stock rom (also needs unlocked bootloader) (bootloader MUST be unlocked to flash any non-stock kernel). Otherwise, your best bet is simply updating the firmware to the latest version
3. That's up to you whether you made the right choice or not, as they're on completely different platforms and can't really be compared efficiently. The main reason to get the PLAY is the hardware buttons for gaming, and that it's android.
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Thanks for the quick response can I ask it's all different here as far as flash it's brand new so what do I do to flash cm7 and would like to have a full clean install don't know if it's the same like on note boot into cwm and wipe date ect can that be done also is everything working in cm7 builds
Thanks agagin
Sorry one more are the games a cut down version of the Original or are they full
Well if you have the UK PLAY (R800i) I think you can still unlock it from http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/ though I'm not entirely sure. If you can't unlock it there, you can visit http://unlock-bootloader.com/ and unlock it for $24 (he has to buy a credit for the program that costs $24 so he doesn't even profit). Unlocking will void your warranty (although there is a method to relock it). Custom kernels often include the CM recovery, although there is an app on the market that can install the recovery to the system partion instead (there is no dedicated recovery partition in the PLAY).
I'm not sure what you mean by "cut down versions" of the games, as most games have ad-versions and paid-versions (if you're expecting actual psp games to work without an official port then you're mistaken). You'd have to look at the android market to find the games you want, and look for games that say "Xperia PLAY optimized" (those games allow using the physical gamepad)
jacklebott said:
Well if you have the UK PLAY (R800i) I think you can still unlock it from http://unlockbootloader.sonymobile.com/ though I'm not entirely sure. If you can't unlock it there, you can visit http://unlock-bootloader.com/ and unlock it for $24 (he has to buy a credit for the program that costs $24 so he doesn't even profit). Unlocking will void your warranty (although there is a method to relock it). Custom kernels often include the CM recovery, although there is an app on the market that can install the recovery to the system partion instead (there is no dedicated recovery partition in the PLAY).
I'm not sure what you mean by "cut down versions" of the games, as most games have ad-versions and paid-versions (if you're expecting actual psp games to work without an official port then you're mistaken). You'd have to look at the android market to find the games you want, and look for games that say "Xperia PLAY optimized" (those games allow using the physical gamepad)
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Wow ok thanks if honest I'll prob leave it for now as stock unless it's really worth it then I will what I ment by cut down games is say a game for psp and same one for the play will the one on play be cut down like FIFA 12 will it be different from psp to the play version thanks
Well, I've heard from various people on this forum that FIFA 12 indeed doesn't live up to the psp version. It really depends on how hard the developer works to port the game
heys guys i just bought a brand new xperia play, i need to know because my root status and bootload status is at : No, is there a way around it to unlock and install custom rom?
also what is the highest version of android i can go to?
also what games use the control pad without needing an sd card, need to wait untill 2moro before i get one.
Thanks
nathanmcc said:
heys guys i just bought a brand new xperia play, i need to know because my root status and bootload status is at : No, is there a way around it to unlock and install custom rom?
also what is the highest version of android i can go to?
also what games use the control pad without needing an sd card, need to wait untill 2moro before i get one.
Thanks
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Don't know a way around the "Bootloader unlock: No" thing. You may wanna search for this.
Most good games are very big files so you will need an SD card (I'm surprised your Play didn't come with one though).
Highest android version available is the latest possible ICS release. 4.0.3 seems like a common one with custom ROMs right now since that's what the Beta uses.
All versions of the Play can be unlocked, rooted, filled with custom ROMs and modified as much as almost any other android phone!
Hope this helped!
Look to unlock-bootloader.com for information on unlocking your bootloader. As for games that don't need to go on sd card... I've been playing a game called Aeon Avenger, but it automatically installed to my sd. I'm not sure what would happen if you didn't have one, and it would be worth a try, if it wasn't a paid app.
To find games in the Play Store that make use of the control pad, search "Xperia Play optimized."
Go google for Alejandrissimo or Jinx13 I used Jinx13 when I unlocked my bootloader ; but you can only go up to 4.0.3 is the highest i think (correct me if im wrong ).
Hey, I have an xperia play 800i and am wanting to no the best way to get the most out of my phone, I was just wondering whats the best things to do to it? Like what have you xperia play users done to to it? What are the must haves any help is appreciated, thanks.
I have my play rooted. It was the one click way I think.
unlock your bl.
flash doomlords kernel
overclock it
additional:
create ext3 partition on sd card for link2sd to increase your internal memory
Thanks but without the links to what your talking about, I dont no what your really talking about, thanks for replying tho.
I good place to start out would be to root you phone, instructions found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312859
From there, you can decide if you want to unlock your bootloader and flash custom ROMs.
As I mentioned above I have my phone rooted, thanks anyway.
i think that's a good question.
i remember having the same thought when i picked up my wife's phone to 'do up'
anyways you need to first check out all the various gingerbread/ICS roms in the development section.
see if you are happy with stock or would like a little 'difference'
do note that compared to stock there are always chances of a few bugs which you definitely can live with.
next or alternately i would suggest you check out all the emulators & games out there.
it's a play, so that's probably the first thing you would want to do
am guessing you new to this, so do a LOT of reading in this section, the Q&A section and the dev section... am sure you'll soon find more than enough ways to get the most off your phone.
enjoy
Yea im pretty new to this, ive rooted it and tried a few scripts thats it, ive been reading thru threads for bout 2hrs ha, theres loads of different stuff. I use my phone a lot so if I overclock it what would be safe? Or should I even overclock it? What have you done to your phone?
So I had a r800at a while back and the emulator gaming experience was unparalleled with any other device. Went onto the Asus padfone and then to the note 2 while using a ps3 controller but that setup just doesn't work for me 100% I kept thinking about how I used to play with the xperia play and it was just such a more compact package.
I picked up a r800i on craigslist for 80 bucks and wanted to root it again and go to the nxt rom. I still have everything installed on my computer. I just needed some quick guidance of how to root and install everything again. Also wasn't sure if the r800i root was different then the r800at.
I believe I used flashtool to do everything. But just needed a quick reminder please. Thank you.
Sent from galaxy note 2, tablet in my pocket! ^_^
I think u've already answer ur Q. Flashtool definitely able to root ur phone. Dont matter which letter u hav at the end of R800. But if want a much simple way, just unlock ur bootloader & flash a custom kernel. Not only u'll root ur phone, u'll also gain init.d support.
Regards,
Sdojoin
If you want to install NXT, you might just unlock the bootloader and install a kernel like Doomkernel. You can find tutorials here.
ridder215215 said:
If you want to install NXT, you might just unlock the bootloader and install a kernel like Doomkernel. You can find tutorials here.
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Thanks to both of you for the help.
I'll pass on the doomkernel. I didnt need it last time so I think I'll be fine. I wont be using the play as a phone this time purely as a portable emulator machine.
I'll read a bit at the links when I get home and reply if I need anymore help. I dont think I should ><