Develop Bugs

[Q] Xperia Play Beginners guide?

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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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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Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
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

2.3.4 on rooted r800x

ive unlocked and rooted my US verizon play back when it first became possible, never relocked it. but now im looking to get the 2.3.4 update on it and cant find where to start. i saw the nordic rom but nothing about it says i can use it on my r800x without brick. im hoping to not have to unroot/update/reroot again. what ever happened to being able to update before any ota via roms and CCW. i dont even know why i have CCW on my play anymore because ive found nothing flashable.
thanks

Dominus11 said:
ive unlocked and rooted my US verizon play back when it first became possible, never relocked it. but now im looking to get the 2.3.4 update on it and cant find where to start. i saw the nordic rom but nothing about it says i can use it on my r800x without brick. im hoping to not have to unroot/update/reroot again. what ever happened to being able to update before any ota via roms and CCW. i dont even know why i have CCW on my play anymore because ive found nothing flashable.
thanks
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There are versions of the FreeXperia ROM that work for CDMA (R800x), and the older DoomLord kernel works on the R800x also. Those are flashable. Further, R800x does not have a 2.3.4 update yet. We are just now getting 2.3.3 via the OTA.
As to applying the update, I would wait until there is a verified flashtool file that can be applied for those of us who are unlocked. Otherwise the process is to relock (and wipe the device) update, unlock (wiping the device again), and then load root binaries back in via a temp-boot of CWMR (ClockWork Mod Recovery).
I'm not particularly certain what you are referring to as CCW. As far as to update before any OTA via ROMs, well that is when you have leaks. There haven't been leaks for the firmware or updated stock bits for us. SE is usually pretty close to the vest on their stuff.
So, are you complaining because you didn't bother to look or search out any of this information, or are you pissed because you don't have leaks and a larger dev community for your device? We have a niche device. The R800x is an even further minor variant amongst an already niche device on a hardware manufacturer that largely doesn't get much attention. The devs are doing some awesome work considering what they have to work with. Further, all this development isn't free. It costs somebody time and often money. Have you chipped in to the cause? Bought one of the devs a beer?
I fail to see any legitimate issue you are bringing forth.

im sorry i did not mean to come off as ungreatfull or complaining for that matter. i appreciate the dev work done with this device and couldnt ask for a better community. what i am merely looking for is if there is something clear cut and easy before i start trying the not so stable roms on my daily driver. also by ccw i meant cwm somehow haha (clockworkmod incase i didnt abbreviate right again).
further proving my point, through all the threads that i had read before posting this i had gotten the general assumption that 2.3.4 was available in the US and therefore for my device. i started this thread to clear up such issues as this before bricking my device by trying anything i may have though was CDMA US, (whether country or region matters i dont know yet?) because my device version is less popular i need to be very cautious in that matter.
i thank you for your help, and would appretiate further clarity and help navigating the forum for my device.

Dominus11 said:
im sorry i did not mean to come off as ungreatfull or complaining for that matter. i appreciate the dev work done with this device and couldnt ask for a better community. what i am merely looking for is if there is something clear cut and easy before i start trying the not so stable roms on my daily driver. also by ccw i meant cwm somehow haha (clockworkmod incase i didnt abbreviate right again).
further proving my point, through all the threads that i had read before posting this i had gotten the general assumption that 2.3.4 was available in the US and therefore for my device. i started this thread to clear up such issues as this before bricking my device by trying anything i may have though was CDMA US, (whether country or region matters i dont know yet?) because my device version is less popular i need to be very cautious in that matter.
i thank you for your help, and would appretiate further clarity and help navigating the forum for my device.
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Heh, my apologies for rolling out the lynch mob there.
Truth is, that I do believe that 2.3.4 is available (in minor amounts) as an OTA in North America (R800i on AT&T I think, maybe Rogers or otherwise as well, not sure). However there is no 2.3.4 release yet for Verizon/R800x. We just got 2.3.3 on OTA, and haven't found a verified extract for the OTA yet so that we could just get the system.sin and kernel.sin to flash only using fastboot/flashtool/etc.
Basically you have to be very careful if you are using the R800x that you don't flash using a R800i or R800a firmware or release. If you flash only the system.sin from the package, you would be fine (but with no phone calls, data, etc), but if you did the entire restore, you would brick your phone due to it modifying the TA/Bootloader in ways that are very unfriendly to the R800x.
As far as CWM (ClockWork Mod Recovery), don't try and flash it to your system. It is included in the FreeXperia ROM (CM7 variant), but otherwise just use the fastboot boot image edition if you want to flash things in and not have to do it by hand. If you need a link to that, I can probably dig it up for you. Just don't flash it ^_^
As far as Rom Manager by Clockwork, on this phone it is largely useless at the moment unless you have FreeXperia as your ROM. If you are stock, you don't need it.

thank you very much I will be looking around and doing one further research on this. I will also be posting back into this thread if you don't mind staying subscribed. Hopefully we can bring out the true potential of these devices in short time

[Q] Confused about Verizon R800x options

Can someone please clarify the available options for customizing the Verizon Xperia Play model R800x? With all the different versions of the Play, and all the threads here, and then changes upon changes, I've gotten a bit confused. Here is what I -think- is available at this time:
Root - this is most easily accomplished by using the ZergRush method described elsewhere. (Took me about 5 minutes or less to achieve root via this method.)
Firmware - R800x 2.3.3 Full 3.0.1.E.0.88 FTF is the most recent stock firmware from Verizon. It will completely restore your phone to stock, replacing any missing software. The easiest (only?) way to flash this to your phone is to use FlashTool.
Bravia - I remember reading something about this being an enhancement to the look of videos and photos when viewed in the Gallery. It can be installed in a manual fashion and is enabled after a reboot.
And that, as far as I can tell, is that. The Bootloader can not be unlocked by conventional methods and references to the paid (illegal ?) method have been pulled from the forums. Without the Bootloader being unlocked, custom ROMs, recovery, overclocking are all unavailable. I think that also includes Fastboot mode, although I never used it anyway.
So, have I missed anything? Is there anything else I missed, some really cool functionality I'm missing out on, whatever?
Thanks for the clarification. I'm trying to move beyond Noob status with this phone without bricking it in the process.

The Bootloader can be unlocked by contacting those members. That their threads have been wiped doesn't mean they're not doing the stuff. My thread has been recently updated to mention the issue.

I'm working on porting some of the cool mods from ths other versions. And don't be too scared of a brick I've bricked mine more times than I can count and I've been able to recover it every time.
Sent from my R800x using XDA App

CM7 or CM9 and a Story

Hey I've asked a similar question in the past although didn't ask it properly and I HAVE searched many a time so I thought I'd ask and a good answer would be extremely appreciated so here goes:
I bought my Play (R800a) the day before Ice Cream Sandwich was cancelled for the device *Sadface* and then I soon after discovered that without paying extra for a Test Point unlock I was stuck with a pesky locked bootloader. Now, I thought this was the end for me but then I discovered something amazing! I can still install CWM and flash firmware via Flashtool, So did this mean custom roms on a locked Bootloader?! Yes, yes it did! Now that wasn't the end of my hassles, I also discovered that flashing kernels was impossible with a locked bootloader but what did that matter to me? I just figured I'd ignore Kernels all together, I'm fine with that!
>So what that made me wonder was are there any versions of CM7 or (preferably) CM9 that do not require a custom Kernel? And if so what firmware should my phone be on for it? I am currently on .42 but If it means a custom rom I'm happy to change!
>Next, if there are no safe versions of CM7 or 9 for a locked Bootloader, what other amazing roms are out there that I can use?
>If I were to stay on the stock rom should I update to something else from .42 or stick with it?
ps. Please do not go and say I should just buy a Test Point unlock, I have absolutely no money, I'm 17 with no Job and my parents don't have money either (I just lent mum my money the other day to buy milk).
pps. Will updating the firmware via flashtool wipe my phones memory? If so is titanium backup the best backup tool? (I am rooted)

I am Carrier unlocked (Previously locked to Telstra Australia)

Unfortunately most of the GOOD roms use different kernels...especially the CM7 and 9....so you would more than likely have to pay to unlock your phone. Still reading you post, just though I'd put what I've read from the forums here.
Searching around the dev section is normally your best bet to find roms that run through locked bootloader. Make sure you do a nandroid backup before you restore using the rom you choose. Using Titanium Backup is good for backing up games, save data and the data for those games. In your case you should look for GSM locked bootloader roms in the Dev section.
Sent from my R800x using XDA

brsingr said:
Unfortunately most of the GOOD roms use different kernels...especially the CM7 and 9....so you would more than likely have to pay to unlock your phone. Still reading you post, just though I'd put what I've read from the forums here.
Searching around the dev section is normally your best bet to find roms that run through locked bootloader. Make sure you do a nandroid backup before you restore using the rom you choose. Using Titanium Backup is good for backing up games, save data and the data for those games. In your case you should look for GSM locked bootloader roms in the Dev section.
Sent from my R800x using XDA
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Click to collapse
Okay thanks mate I'll have a look around!

[Q] Xperia Play r800at Troubles

Hello, I was posting here because I've been having a great deal of difficulty really getting anything done with it. What I'd like to do is either unlock the bootloader, or at least root it to my computer to flash on a new ROM.
In order to root it, I was told to put it in MSC mode, allow unknown sources, and enable USB debuggin, all of which I've done. However, when I go to root it using either SuperOneClick, Doom method, or flashtool, I continually get errors, either saying ADB server is out of date, killing..., or in the case of the doom method that it cannot write any files because they are read only. Somebody mentioned you an overwrite your r800at with an r800i rom to make this work, but the link in that thread lead to some virus (I assume it was taken down a while ago). I put it to a stock AT&T ftf, and still no luck.
My problem lies in the fact that some of the threads I'm looking at are YEARS old at this point, most of the links are dead, and some of the advice is contradictory. I figured then that I could just get somebody to unlock it for money, but all the threads point to alejandrissimo, who I believe is now inactive.
All I would like is to root my phone and put on a new rom, preferably of ICS, with minimal difficulty. I've sunk something like 10 hours into it at this point, and now am the proud owner of a phone with the exact same firmware I started with. I've wiped my contacts like 8 times, and to be honest I'm just getting frustrated with the whole thing. I hate the idea of having bloatware all over my phone though.
So if anybody knows a good way either to root the r800at (and if possible could provide active links to the software), or somebody I could pay to unlock it and skip all this work, I'd really appreciate it.
Thanks for reading, have a good one.

I can't help you with unlocking bootloader (i have r800i with unlocked bootloader), but maybe i can help you with root
You didn't say what firmware are you using, but in general use Doomlord's zergrush method v4 for firmware .42 and below or Eroot on newer firmware (it's on chinese but it have one big button with word "ROOT" on it :silly: )
That is only for rooting and with that you can debloat stock firmware or use ROMs for locked bootloader.
SWM_installer V5 , should work on locked bootloader (once you get root) so you can flash custom GB roms.
To be able to install ICS/JB/CM/MIUI ROMS you must unlock your bootloader because they all don't work on stock GB kernel, and you need unlocked bootloader to be able to flash custom kernels
Here is some links, but i hope R800a users can help you more with unlocking bootloader
Xperia Play Index - ROM'S, FIRMWARE, KERNEL'S, GUIDE'S, THEMES, MOD'S
[MEGATHREAD][GUIDES][18th Dec][4Noobs] All My Tutorials!
Cyanlabs ROM Kitchen & Windows Helper Application

Thanks
First, thank you for the very informative response. Here's some additional info, I am not sure if it will be helpful to you
My current Android version is the stock AT&T 2.3.3 and my build number is 3.0.1.b.0.285. I'm honestly not sure which of these things is helpful, but I'll try that Chinese rooting method. Got a long work shift tonight, but I'll report back later.
Thank you so much, I really do appreciate it!