Greetings everyone.
I would like to root and install a new ROM on my girlfriend's Incredible 2. Now normally I would experiment myself but since it is not my own phone I will not have the opportunity to go flash crazy and try everything. As such I would like to get some recommendations. The main thing would be speed and stability. I do not know what she has done to her phone I just know that it is stock something. I am also unsure of what root method to use but that is simply due to the fact that I haven't been able to check anything yet. I just want to get some groundwork done before I jump in. She is always using her phone so I figured it would be nice to make her experience more enjoyable. Thanks in advance!
Edit:
There wouldn't be something as beast as the Decks reloaded ROM on the Evo would there? That is essentially what I would like to flash for her. Something ridiculously stable that has all the tweaks that I would need to add in. If not just let me know what the most stable rom is and what tweaks I should include as I flash for the lady.
for a good overview of available roms, kernels, radios, tweaks, and s-off guides you might start here
I think you're going to have to use the tacoroot method. that's what I did and I had the most current verizon updates. I just flashed chilly beans pd rom last night and it seems great. incredibly paranoid android I hope that helps
I love paranood but all the tweaks may overwhelm her. Dkstunnas global cm9 ROM has everything working and is fast, viper ROM is the best sense ROM in my opinion, and I also love gingerbread miui. Tazz patriot and macrodroid also have a nice sense 3.6 ROM named Arctic ascension, which is a little faster than venom but maybe less visually awe inspiring, I also made a descended version of that ROM but it is extremely stripped down (made for speed). All the ROMs I mentioned are completely functional and stable, except paranoid, which the newest version doesn't have a working front facing camera, but watch it, I'm sure chilly will get it worked out, he's a good dev, hope I've given you a small idea of what some of my picks are like...
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
Jasonp0 said:
for a good overview of available roms, kernels, radios, tweaks, and s-off guides you might start here
I think you're going to have to use the tacoroot method. that's what I did and I had the most current verizon updates. I just flashed chilly beans pd rom last night and it seems great. incredibly paranoid android I hope that helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kinda outdate post you linked but still a good start ...maybe some one should up date it one day lol
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
Are you doing this for her or for you? Does she want it rooted? If not, leave it be. If she is happy with it then adhere to the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" line if thinking. If she does want it rooted, which type of rom does she want? Does she like sense and prefer not to have to learn her way around a new type of os? If so, skyraider Zeus is really good. Also, nits has some good gb sense roms. If she wants to try something new cm7 is fast and stable. As Jeremy said, gingerbread miui is great, just be careful with themes. Always backup before changing themes as some of them will lock your phone up and force you to restore a back up. It isn't common but I found several that did it. If she wants everything working with no bugs or random restarts, stay away from ics/jb at least until (if) we get source. If she is daring and can work through those issues without freaking out, the ones Jeremy mentioned are sweet. Pacman is one of my favorite roms ever, I just had some bugs that pushed me away for now. And they may be more phone related than rom. Hope that helps.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
Thanks everyone. From my browsing of this forum i think I will just let her pick between skyraider zeus, team venom, magnolia and Gingerbread miui.
I believe these roms to have a good balance from my quick skimming.
Are these the correct links?
http://www.teambamf.net/topic/1737-romgb-skyraider-zeus-13-inc2-update-11222011/
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1383848&highlight=search+this+forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1953899
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1162835&highlight=gingerbread+miui
For OP, concur with what others above already said ... search for both speed & stability involved compromises in balancing out on a rooted custom ROM since you are on XDA searching ...
1. There are 2 stock Sense Rom based on VZW's OTA releases, one by AndyBones with additional tweaks/add-ons and a newer one by CS, stripped of bloatware (she isn't going to mess with NFL or CityKids ID, yada yada) Put TB on it and update Play Store, etc. and once it's done updating the Apps, you are good to go - both maintained full GSM functionality and if you get it unlocked officially by Big Red, you can truely made it a global phone, insert a local prepaid Sim card & have inexpensive voice calling rates everywhere instead of using its partner's Vodafone Sim.
2. Next up is the Nit's Stock Sense v5.0.m-ext4, that's highly finished & polished, everything works with numerous options and it is equal to SkyRaider's Zeus v1.3 rom, both can be overclocked for speed in trading off some battery life - still going to give you a full 20 to 30 hours day of heavy use depending on Apps running, and in the case of DW's identical DI2 running SR Zeus, typically 3+ full days of standby with minimal voice calling/SMS and little or no 3G/WiFi browsing. Installed SRZ on her's since it was released 15 months ago and trouble-free, never froze and zero maintenance. I run between Stock Sense v5 and SRZ and still indecisive, switching every so often - especially when I'm traveling as I use GSM bands for non-US local calling, no re-programming or *#*# codes or menu to cycle thru. I keep copies of CWM's backup on the devices and in cloud storage in case of restoration, but it's been good. Update the kernels and to the newer radios once it's running, and you have a trouble-free device, set-n-forget - switched to a smaller (4 x 1) widget for the clock & weather display on the homescreen and I'm happy.
BTW, I have the newest Google Apps like Currents, Play Book & Play Magazine, etc. running on these Roms - when I don't have my true tablet, the Nexus 7 running JB 4.1.2 with me.
3. CM7's is good, simple & fast and good for changing things, haven't "play" with CM9 global ones lately - apparently most of the issues with camera, bluetooth & minor bugs are smoothly out. Tazz/MD's Sense 3.6 ROM is newer and is functional and refreshing - battery life isn't as good as older GB roms, as I recall. Be prepared for minimal tech support for you loved ones.
4. Nit's masterpiece, Team V's Viper Rom is the newest/hottest and best preview of JB/4.x for the DI2, I like it - TB restore from older GB and other roms might or might not work, depending on the Apps, it's best to do a fresh & clean install after full/deep wipe first. If it wasn't for the exclusive CDMA only or GSM only Rom , set by the initial Aroma installation & somewhat "fair" battery life - I would probably use it as my daily. Once (a big IF) HTC & VZW release kernel sources/codes or rollout ICS updates - serious development will resume as everything is now ported over from other/leaked sources. Paranoid's Rom by Chilly looks good, developer's work with the Nexus 7 set a benchmark that's not easy for others to follow/exceed - I haven't check it out myself but I'm sure it's excellent.
Thanks for the heads up! She has been complaining about how slow her phone seems to be lately so I figured it was a good excuse to root. I didn't see your post until just now, but those rom suggestions seem great! When I did show her a couple of screens she liked the look of MIUI best. Is the link I posted earlier a stable enough version for her? Or should I be looking at a different thread?
bryyando said:
Thanks for the heads up! She has been complaining about how slow her phone seems to be lately so I figured it was a good excuse to root. I didn't see your post until just now, but those rom suggestions seem great! When I did show her a couple of screens she liked the look of MIUI best. Is the link I posted earlier a stable enough version for her? Or should I be looking at a different thread?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Miui variants has been around for a long time - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1830675 - I haven't flashed or use one lately since the HTC Eris days, LOL but from the thread posts, it looks good enough for me, if you like it - go for it. Just backup always and if ... just restore or flash a different one, go back-n-forth - trials and errors work for me all the time (well, almost.) Enjoy.
The most stable miui is the gb 1.12.9. I think that is the right number. If you are using clockwork mode go into Rom manager and download it. There are 2, the other is 1.30.9 it something like that. Most people say that one wasn't as stable as the previous build. If you use the gb Rom get Aero's .7 kernel. A lot of people like the ics build but it may have stability issues that someone not wanting to wipe cache or go through fixes would want to deal with.
Maybe it's 1.12.9 and 1.12.30, I don't remember for sure, but you don't want the one with 30 in the number.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
for a quick rom you should really try INCREDIBLY('<PARANOID2.19.10
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2049902
ltredbeard said:
for a quick rom you should really try INCREDIBLY('<PARANOID2.19.10
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2049902
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not for someone who doesn't want to troubleshoot periodically.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
MRom
Seriously stable cm
It's gb has great battery life (I can go over 2 days with mild usage (tablet does most of my home android stuff and almost all my gaming )
Theme able which is great for customizing it for non nerd users
Plus it's about the only non stock based rom that has rotating lights
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
Related
I'm using Salvage Mod right now, and before that I used Fresh EVO for a very long while, but I'm looking to change once more. What I'm looking for is a ROM that is quick, smooth, and has all features working (For example my GPS doesn't work well currently in Salvage Mod). Could anyone recommend me some names to check out?
NewbieX2 said:
I'm using Salvage Mod right now, and before that I used Fresh EVO for a very long while, but I'm looking to change once more. What I'm looking for is a ROM that is quick, smooth, and has all features working (For example my GPS doesn't work well currently in Salvage Mod). Could anyone recommend me some names to check out?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Synergy RC2. Its fast, stable, and feature rich. I use navigation constantly for work (sometimes up to 20 destinations a day) and its just as good as stock.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Mym's Warm 2.2
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Watcher07 said:
Synergy RC2. Its fast, stable, and feature rich. I use navigation constantly for work (sometimes up to 20 destinations a day) and its just as good as stock.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will definitely be looking into this, thank you!
I was hearing a lot of talk about MIUI so I decided to check that out. It seems...interesting. I'm not sure how I like the removal of the app drawer (Maybe it's back in there now, the video I watched laying out the ROM was months and months old), but it could be worth checking out.
Still open to suggestions. I might end up wiping and flashing a few different ROMs just to get a feel for which I like best.
Sorry I ment Myn's Warm 2.2 get the latest version. It's just like fresh but better
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA Premium App
Synergy was a little boring for me, you're on an AOSP ROM now if you want a good Sense ROM try King's Alliance, lots of themes and such to try. I like EvolvedROM myself and am using the version 2.0. Very quick, nice visuals. If you liked Fresh try Calkulin's EViO 3 v1.0
I'll check out Myn's as well. Also, I don't mind staying AOSP. I don't mind not having sense at all. I actually prefer ADW.
synergy rc 2 with my sd card partition everything is running fine.
Enternal prophecy or miui.
sent from my ummmm....I dunno
skatrwannabe3 said:
Synergy was a little boring for me, you're on an AOSP ROM now if you want a good Sense ROM try King's Alliance, lots of themes and such to try. I like EvolvedROM myself and am using the version 2.0. Very quick, nice visuals. If you liked Fresh try Calkulin's EViO 3 v1.0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree that visually its not great, but there is a fantastic theme made by _Burst_ called plurstaralpha http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1149482 that is significantly cool. I very much recommend the theme as I have tried very many roms and themes and this one for as incredibly stable as it is, looks EXCEEDINGLY cool.
I didn't really like MIUI. I then gave Synergy a shot next and I love it. I'm gonna stick with this! Thanks for the help, guys!
I'm sure you have already figured this out, but MIUI doesn't have an application drawer. You can put all items in a folder, and then dock the folder, but it doesn't have a dedicated drawer. It also doesn't contain 4G capabilities.
You were on an AOSP Rom, so I would advice Cyanogen, if you haven't already looked into it. I am currently running their nightly builds (I flash every time they have an update that intrigues me.) and they are working fine. I'm currently on 143 with no issues. GPS works fine, 4G is working, etc. The Rom is very quick, you can install a different launcher if you wish, but it comes with ADW stock. You can flash customer kernels/Ram optimization scripts to make it fly and contain perfect battery life. I also ran RC1 of CM7.1 and it was fine as well, no issues with any of the features. I prefer the nightlies simply because they add new features into it to "test" before they release them into a "stable" version.
I have no objections when it comes to Sense, except for the bloat that it has. My favorite Sense based Rom I ran on here at the moment would have to be Synergy RC2. It was fast and ran fine, however, HTC has yet to drop the source code for their kernel, so you are stuck with their stock one which provides contributes to the already mildly depressing battery life that Sense will give you.
All in all, there are plenty of awesome Roms on here. People can talk all day about why one Rom is their favorite or why they prefer it over another, it all comes down to personal preferences. I would run the suggested ones that seem to interest you and see which ones you like the best.
Hope I helped, even if it wasn't much.
GeneralSky2004 said:
I'm sure you have already figured this out, but MIUI doesn't have an application drawer. You can put all items in a folder, and then dock the folder, but it doesn't have a dedicated drawer. It also doesn't contain 4G capabilities.
You were on an AOSP Rom, so I would advice Cyanogen, if you haven't already looked into it. I am currently running their nightly builds (I flash every time they have an update that intrigues me.) and they are working fine. I'm currently on 143 with no issues. GPS works fine, 4G is working, etc. The Rom is very quick, you can install a different launcher if you wish, but it comes with ADW stock. You can flash customer kernels/Ram optimization scripts to make it fly and contain perfect battery life. I also ran RC1 of CM7.1 and it was fine as well, no issues with any of the features. I prefer the nightlies simply because they add new features into it to "test" before they release them into a "stable" version.
I have no objections when it comes to Sense, except for the bloat that it has. My favorite Sense based Rom I ran on here at the moment would have to be Synergy RC2. It was fast and ran fine, however, HTC has yet to drop the source code for their kernel, so you are stuck with their stock one which provides contributes to the already mildly depressing battery life that Sense will give you.
All in all, there are plenty of awesome Roms on here. People can talk all day about why one Rom is their favorite or why they prefer it over another, it all comes down to personal preferences. I would run the suggested ones that seem to interest you and see which ones you like the best.
Hope I helped, even if it wasn't much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great post! You seem to know your stuff, mate. Well, as much as I love Synergy if the battery life isn't great, then I might have to give it the boot. As for the CM7 nightly builds...what exactly does that mean? Does it mean there will be a new ROM every night that I would have to download and then flash again? Or is it an automatic update that occurs? Or what?
NewbieX2 said:
Great post! You seem to know your stuff, mate. Well, as much as I love Synergy if the battery life isn't great, then I might have to give it the boot. As for the CM7 nightly builds...what exactly does that mean? Does it mean there will be a new ROM every night that I would have to download and then flash again? Or is it an automatic update that occurs? Or what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They make a new build of the rom almost every night, adding new features and bug fixes to the rom. You can follow the change log, and download the new rom and flash whenever something interests you. You dont have to wipe data, you can just install over the existing rom without losing your settings, but always make a backup just in case.
Gorwin said:
They make a new build of the rom almost every night, adding new features and bug fixes to the rom. You can follow the change log, and download the new rom and flash whenever something interests you. You dont have to wipe data, you can just install over the existing rom without losing your settings, but always make a backup just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Glad to hear that about the data wipe, though. I'm going to have to look into this stuff. Thanks!
Actually, I have one last question! When installing the nightly, do I have to first install the stable version? Or can I just wipe everything and install the 87MB nightly. I ask because 87 megs just seems small for a ROM.
NewbieX2 said:
Actually, I have one last question! When installing the nightly, do I have to first install the stable version? Or can I just wipe everything and install the 87MB nightly. I ask because 87 megs just seems small for a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's 87 Megs because it's Cyanogen. That is exactly why I don't like Sense, due to the "bloat" it gives the Rom. Synergy is about 290MB I believe, Cyanogen is 90MB. Lol the nightlies are the complete Rom, you can wipe and flash them. You don't have to install the stable version first.
Keep in mind, the nightlies do contain issues every once in a while. Like I stated previously, I am on 143 and it is running perfectly for me. I will update once they put an update out that gets me excited.
Edit - You may find this neat, if you like the Sense feel but are on Cyanogen.
GeneralSky2004 said:
It's 87 Megs because it's Cyanogen. That is exactly why I don't like Sense, due to the "bloat" it gives the Rom. Synergy is about 290MB I believe, Cyanogen is 90MB. Lol the nightlies are the complete Rom, you can wipe and flash them. You don't have to install the stable version first.
Keep in mind, the nightlies do contain issues every once in a while. Like I stated previously, I am on 143 and it is running perfectly for me. I will update once they put an update out that gets me excited.
Edit - You may find this neat, if you like the Sense feel but are on Cyanogen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like ADW launcher the most, so I'll be stickin with that bad boy. It's default with CM7 IIRC? That should do it for me. I had no idea Sense took up so much space, though...that is ridiculous.
Since you've got no issues with 143 and have helped me out so much I'll start there if I decide to make the switch. Synergy has some reeally awesome features that I like, but I should be able to part with it if CM7 has it's own weapons. Gonna try to find some videos for it now.
Thanks for all the help, man!
Ok., so Many New ROM's... which make's newbies get confused which is the best.
Best in term's of:
1.stability
2.design
3.compatibility
4.usability
5.user experience
6.support for new updates
7.user friendly
8.no bug's
9.Global mode
10.Battery life.
guy's pls. share your thoughts.... so I/YOU can decide. which is which
Thanks.
If you want sense try This one. It is by far my favorite sense rom as of right now. If you don't want sense OMFGB is the most stable, and fast non-sense rom I have used.
Ok, I'll bite
Best in term's of:
1.stability - Currently running Miui 1.8.19 Very stable. Unity also very stable for me.
2.design - Depends on if you want a Sense based rom or AOSP Rom... Unity for Sense was great. I love Miui for the customization's.
3.compatibility - So far I have been able to use any of the usual apps that I would run with the stock non rooted rom.
4.usability - Miui has been a very usable daily driver for me. MMS works, calls have no issues. Wifi works... Don't use BT so can't say on that.
5.user experience - very good
6.support for new updates - Haven't need to use this yet. But from what I have seen, the support on most of the roms we have available is good.
7.user friendly - I would say that the Sense based roms may be more user friendly to someone that has been using Sense based roms. Miui is pretty simple to get the hang of as well as the other AOSP (Cyanogen and others).
8.no bug's - only bug I have found in Miui, is the soft touch keys don't rotate when going to landscape mode. No biggie as I didn't expect them to.
9.Global mode - Haven't used this yet.
10.Battery life - Battery life has been great with both Unity and Miui. This could be due to the fact of the custom Kernals and being UV'd. Both have easily lasted all day under heavy use. I plug into the charger at night before going to bed, and generally have 40% battery left.
Hope this may help someone out
thanks ...I need more ideas so i can compare ,. keep it coming
I'm running CM7 Nightlies #48
1.stability - extremely stable so far. The only FC I get is when I first boot up ADW EX FC's, but I think it's because I'm impatient
2.design - I love the look of vanilla android. If you don't, or think it's boring, you won't like it. There are boat load of themes, though. And the great thing is all CM7 themes are compatible, regardless of which phone
3.compatibility - I haven't ran into any apps that I can't run
4.usability - very usable. Don't really know how to answer this
5.user experience - excellent, with all the customizable options
6.support for new updates - nightlies, lol
7.user friendly - I would say it is user friendly for anyone who is on XDA. Maybe not your average user, though
8.no bug's - none that I've ran into. Some complain about low volume in calls, but I don't experience that
9.Global mode - haven't tested
10.Battery life - excellent. I can easily get through a day
Edit: I should add that I haven't had a stock rom in god knows how long. So I am very used to little quirks here and there and don't even notice them anymore. Others may
Sent from my finally rooted Dinc 2
As for omfgb the phone was broken when I tried it. Omgb was pretty much flawless. As of now I'm running the gingersense rooted stock with great results.
Sent from my ADR6350 using XDA App
I ran OMFGB for a while, it performed well. I really like it because it is slimmed down AOSP but still has some nice features. Didn't seem to have much bugs, but nightlies can always produce bugs for people. OMGB 1.2 is the stable version of it.
Running Miui now because I wanted something different. Its performing well but it doesnt seem as quick OCd at 1.3 as OMFGB was OCd at 1.3 for me. The theme manager and customization in Miui though are awesome. Battery seems good so far.
Grabbed Skyraider Zeus today.....similar to mik Rom mix.....same great stable performance....with a few more features...at least so far lol
Sent from my ADR6350
ericsignals said:
Grabbed Skyraider Zeus today.....similar to mik Rom mix.....same great stable performance....with a few more features...at least so far lol
Sent from my ADR6350
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any bugs so far?
stelv said:
Any bugs so far?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only bug I have ran into is that it wont install certain skins. Not really a big deal but could be a breaker for some people. I tried honeybread, glasssense, and one other cant remember and none of them worked. Carbon fiber one does though.
I VERY highly suggest ANY ROM posted by "newtoroot" he has four great and different ROMs. They each have a few bugs, it just depends on your taste as to if the things bother you. Some people can use it as a daily others can't.
ihftp69, release a preview ROM of his SkyRaider Zeus, and is, afaik completely bug free 2.1 Sense ROM experience with sense 3.0 components.
MIUI has been my daily driver for about 2 weeks now. Everything works (MMS, BT, Wifi, etc) and the themes are awesome. Very consistent with updates and has a great dev team. Haven't seen any FCs from the system apps. Also, battery life is great.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
Can I run launcher Puerto from miui?
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
TheMavic said:
MIUI has been my daily driver for about 2 weeks now. Everything works (MMS, BT, Wifi, etc) and the themes are awesome. Very consistent with updates and has a great dev team. Haven't seen any FCs from the system apps. Also, battery life is great.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have to echo this remark. Going on a week with MIUI and have had no issues outside of it resetting yesterday while playing around with the music player it came with. Battery is on par with stock, but having a pretty UI means I play with the phone a lot more .
Fasinationinmotion said:
Only bug I have ran into is that it wont install certain skins. Not really a big deal but could be a breaker for some people. I tried honeybread, glasssense, and one other cant remember and none of them worked. Carbon fiber one does though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Skins from this thread work
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1122229
Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk
SR3TLAW said:
Can I run launcher Puerto from miui?
Sent from my Incredible 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what Launcher Puerto is, but you can run Launcher Pro it takes away some of the MIUI experience, but all the menu's and stuff are different. Quite a unique rom
Sent from my finally rooted Dinc 2
I really like the OMFGB roms, very stable, everything works and its fast. I also like the MIUI rom. I really love that fact that I can use the torch from the home lock screen by pressing the home key! MIUI also has a great dev community as well. It's really a personal preference, but as far as performance, I like those two the best.
Here is another vote for MIUI. Great stable ROM.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA App
If you want some sense 3.0 features, the SkyRaider Zeus beat them all in stability and functionality, haven't found any bugs yet. Virtuous Unity came in close 2nd if you can live with the compass being backward, it lag a bit during first startup, overall it doesn't feel as smooth as Zeus even at 1.3Ghz. Gingerbang 1.5 is my number 1 choice if I want something close to stock, very snappy even at stock speed and it gave me the best battery life even after i overclocked to 1.2Ghz.
I switch between GingerSense and MIUI with great results from both. Exchange nuances keep me coming back to Sense-based ROMs, but MIUI in terms of customization taunts me constantly.
Stability has been great on both as well as compatibility.
So, you just rooted your super awesome Android phone, thanks to Rivera82falcon and his awesome guide? You saw my awesome guide for flashing ROMS, and wanted to try it, but didn't know where to begin? Well, you're in the right place.
Also, don't blame me if your phone explodes into a million pieces and one gets stuck in your eye. Nothing you do is my fault. Well, here we go.
STEP ONE: AOSP or Sense?
You probably know what Sense is, but you might not know what AOSP is. It stands for Android Open Source Project. Basically, you are getting a base of stock gingerbread. Now let's talk about the advantages and disadvantages.
AOSP is far faster than most Sense ROMs, and offers more customization as far as themes and kernels. Keep in mind, you can't just install AOSP and put the sense launcher on it. It won't work. With AOSP, you can get Gingerbread, Froyo, or even Ice Cream Sandwich looks for your phone.
Sense, on the other hand, is usually slower, and sometimes offers limited customization when compared to the Theme engines for AOSP. Sense can feel sluggish sometimes, but can be very fast if the ROM is well built. It is not as streamlined as AOSP. On the other hand, you get all the awesome sense apps, like weather, clock, and calendar.
Personally, I switch back and forth between Sense an AOSP. They both have their advantages and disadvantages.
STEP TWO: How Much Is Working?
Many people see an awesome looking ROM and it says ALPHA or BETA, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything to people. They flash it and wonder why their radio doesn't work, or why WiFi won't connect. ALPHA ROMs are ROMs that are in the early testing phase and may have key functions broken or missing. Don't go on a vacation with an ALPHA ROM on your phone. Never flash one if you depend on your phone for your job. A BETA ROM is a ROM that is nearing the end of testing. It may still have broken features, but the core functions such as Radio, Data, WiFi, and SMS are often working. Don't flash this ROM if you are expecting a finished product, you will be disappointed. These ROMs are usually fairly slow as well. A vX.x.x ROM (ex: v1.0.1) is released to the public but probably still has some bugs like Bluetooth, MMS, or some other random issues. This ROM still might not be the fastest, but is still easily able to function. Anybody can flash these ROMs. RLSX (ex: RLS1) ROMs are released and are nearly finished. They may have some small bugs or not be fully optimized, but they are nearly perfect. Final ROMs are complete, and you can expect no further changes, usually.
STEP THREE: What Features/Look Does It Have?
Not all Sense and AOSP ROMs are created equal. Many look very different from each other and have very different features. For example, a Sense 2.1 and Sense 3.5 ROM are very different, and CM7 is very different from PoolParty. Read the entire OP and look at any screenshots provided. Make sure you like the look, so you don't waste time flashing it if you hate the look. That said, there is nothing wrong with flashing a ROM just to try it out.
STEP FOUR: Choosing Your Favorite (My Recommendations)
Sense
-Incredible 2 HD by newtoroot
*Great Battery Life
*Nearly Bugless
*Sense 3.5/Android 2.3.5
Download Link
-Skyraider Zeus
*Sense 2.1/3.0 Mix
*Very fast for a Sense ROM
*Great battery life
Download Link
AOSP
-CyanogenMod 7
*Lots of customization
*Very fast
*Updated very often
*Android 2.3.7
***IF YOU USE THE NIGHTLIES, THERE MAY BE BUGS***
Download Link
-TSM PoolParty
*Android 2.3.7
*Lots of theming
*Very fast
Download Link
SUGGESTIONS FROM OTHER USERS
-MIUI (knipp21)
*Fast AOSP ROM
*Lots of theme options
*Very customizable
*Looks good with GO Launcher and Launcher Pro
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1162835
-Liquid Smooth 3.x (i'manoob)
*Also very fast
*Lots of customization
http://liquidsmoothroms.com/
I hope that this was helpful to people. The next guide will be a noob dictionary.
Very nice writeup man. Kudos.
Sent from my Incredible 2 HD using XDA App
I can vouch for Virtuous Roms. All their work is bug free and visually appealing and user friendly.
Nice write up AC.
collinjames said:
I can vouch for Virtuous Roms. All their work is bug free and visually appealing and user friendly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree Collinjames, the new Affinity ROM is very nice, battery life is insanely good, and it's nearly bug free. My softkeys stopped lighting up so I went back to 2HD RLS1.1
What about including custom kernals AOSP and Sense?
Skyraider Zeus rom is worthy of the incredible, Incredible 2. No bugs which is the most important thing, has never crashed ever on me, that is incredibly important. I don't ever actually use sense exept for the great camera, lockscreen, and weather. But this rom is a no brainer really.
It gives you every option you could think of and has no downside.
I wish this nice little article was up when I was wasting my time trying out buggy roms.
I just feel puzzle about which rom to choose at that moment, thanks a lot for your guide.
liquid 3.x is a good aosp rom as well
Thanks for the post, I like how you broke down the advantages of each.. this has proven to be very helpful.
While i agree with you aosp choices..i think everyone should at least try miui...most customizable rom I've ever used...and looks great with go launcher or launcher pro.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda premium
I will add an "other people's recommendations section" soon. Just because I dont necessarily agree with all of these *cough*MIUI*cough*, but I want people to get all the input they can.
Thanks for posting this. As someone who is new to rooting phones this information is very useful.
---------- Post added at 08:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 AM ----------
AgalychnisCallidryas said:
I will add an "other people's recommendations section" soon. Just because I dont necessarily agree with all of these *cough*MIUI*cough*, but I want people to get all the input they can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I tried MIUI for a few days. Although I like how customizable it is with all the themes available I found it too buggy. I kept getting lockups and reboots. I hoped the 11.18 release would have helped but it actually made it worse. Also, the lack of an app drawer was very hard to get used to. I'm still not sure I like that concept. I guess it's too iPhone-ish for me.
valorian13 said:
Thanks for posting this. As someone who is new to rooting phones this information is very useful.
---------- Post added at 08:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 AM ----------
Yeah, I tried MIUI for a few days. Although I like how customizable it is with all the themes available I found it too buggy. I kept getting lockups and reboots. I hoped the 11.18 release would have helped but it actually made it worse. Also, the lack of an app drawer was very hard to get used to. I'm still not sure I like that concept. I guess it's too iPhone-ish for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine never locks up, what kernel? And use go launcher or launcher pro.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda premium
knipp21 said:
Mine never locks up, what kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but I'm not sure. I would say what ever 11.18 has. I'm still learning all there is to know about rooting so I never paid attention to kernel versions.
valorian13 said:
Sorry but I'm not sure. I would say what ever 11.18 has. I'm still learning all there is to know about rooting so I never paid attention to kernel versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running MIUI 1.11.18 right now along with the aerovan .7 bfs kernel. I haven't had a single lockup. Running buttery smooth.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA App
I also run MIUI 1.11.18 an never had any problems I also use areoevan .07bsf kernel. This rom an skyraider are the two most stable roms I have run.
AgalychnisCallidryas said:
I will add an "other people's recommendations section" soon. Just because I dont necessarily agree with all of these *cough*MIUI*cough*, but I want people to get all the input they can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you try it with a traditional launcher you will love it lol
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda premium
ok, so since I'm still learning here, when you flash a ROM does the kernel get changed too? Or is this something you have to flash in addition to the ROM?
yes it will change it to which ever kernel the rom
is supplied with. You can find the custom kernel you wish to use an then just flash it after the rom just make sure it's for aosp or sense which ever you choose to run.
RRF12 said:
yes it will change it to which ever kernel the rom
is supplied with. You can find the custom kernel you wish to use an then just flash it after the rom just make sure it's for aosp or sense which ever you choose to run.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the explanation. That helps.
Nitrious 1.4.7 ROM
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1486126
Classic v0.1.0
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312414&page=1192
Synergy ROM
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1144447
----------------------------------------------------------------
1) any pros' and cons' with each one?
2) What Kernels each one is on?
3) which one is more "minimalist" inregards to Apps
4) In order from best to least: Battery Life
---------------------------------------------------------------
What I need is a ROM with working 4g, GPS and Camera
The phone is used for work.
I drive all over place, putting 100+ miles a day, so GPS is very important for me.
All my jobs are recieved via Google email.
I rather use 4g to pick my gps loc quickly and get load my emails quickly..
At the moment, I have to wait 3-5min for the email to be recieved and/or open to read. My GPS sometimes tells me, can not find my current location and it sucks. TIME is money in my line of work. Every wasteful minutes I can cut off = more money for me.
Camera and Video Recorder is another thing mandatory in my work. Uploading and sending it to corporate. Speed speed speed (4g)
During my drive time - I use my phone as a radio..
work hours - 10-12hrs a day.. so I need a rom that will benefit me the most.
I make alot of phone calls, alot of emailing, uploading pics and videos (short under 1min). I tend to stay on 4g as much as I can before I switch to 3g or turn it off during downtimes. I would like to have 4g on all day (10-12hr) before recharging. I do have a recharger in my car though, so I would say there is atleast 1-2hrs worth of charge time during my working hours.
I was told to check these 3 roms out but can't see what the difference are.
thank you in advance.
Well. I can only speak on Nitrous as I haven't tried the others. But I will say, if you aren't concerned about having the prettiest toy, its a great one. Very smooth. Expect a stock type of rom with alot of CPU speed tweaks baked in. Very similar to the stock in terms of what it gives you visually. Some nice little graphical changes but nothing impressive.
Its very good for what you are looking for. I never had a problem with the GPS. Battery life was about on par with stock. But I would recommend rom toolbox pro and under clocking the kernel .
I actually always keep this rom on my SD in case something happens crazy with the current one. That way I can always flash back to something minimalistic and stable. Give it a shot...
...I must let you know tho CM9 has been very stable for me as well and you get 4.0.4 opposed to Nitrous 2.3.5
CM9 is so far the best rom I've flashed so far. Only downside is battery life has been iffy at best.
Give MIUI from swiper a try also. 2.3.2 was very nice. Stay away from MIUI ICS builds. They've been quite buggy for me so far.
Hope that helps. GL
With less clutter here than your other thread, I will throw a loop:
Try Cyanogenmod 7.2 everything works nearly flawless. I use gps status app, and if you need more accuracy use galandy's gps fix (search for these).
You do need to flash gapps as well, for your google services. Just download the rom and gapps from cyanogenmod.com
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
I don't agree with trying 7.2 cynogenmod, a great rom, but wouldn't be good for your situation. 7.2 is a AOSP rom which doesn't give you the capability of updating your prl, which should be a priority if your traveling and on the go. Out of the three roms, synergy is outdated and the developers have moved on. Classic 0.1.0 is a optimized base rom that is strippped down and meant for performance. If you like a stock feel, definitely a good choice. Nitrous is a 1.0 sense rom that's very fast, would be my choice of the three. If you want my opinion, I wouldn't choose any of the three. Go with a senseless 1.0 rom, which has sense stripped out. This gives you more internal memory, faster speeds, and makes for a fast phone. Here's my choices based on the public's opinion of what is the best out right now for our EVO.
1. senseless - Alter RC2 rom
2. sense - tommytomatoes finale
3. AOSP - Deck's Reloaded
I simply flash 00001.prl by tecknowfile.
Prl's are fairly universal imo
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
Simple enough then, jump on the bandwagon and get Deck's Reloaded .44, definitely fastes rom on our evo at the moment, has working 4G, and all the google apps are inverted black to give a sexy sleek feel.
With even LESS clutter, read the threads and SEE what the differences are
jwitt418 said:
Well. I can only speak on Nitrous as I haven't tried the others. But I will say, if you aren't concerned about having the prettiest toy, its a great one. Very smooth. Expect a stock type of rom with alot of CPU speed tweaks baked in. Very similar to the stock in terms of what it gives you visually. Some nice little graphical changes but nothing impressive.
Its very good for what you are looking for. I never had a problem with the GPS. Battery life was about on par with stock. But I would recommend rom toolbox pro and under clocking the kernel .
I actually always keep this rom on my SD in case something happens crazy with the current one. That way I can always flash back to something minimalistic and stable. Give it a shot...
...I must let you know tho CM9 has been very stable for me as well and you get 4.0.4 opposed to Nitrous 2.3.5
CM9 is so far the best rom I've flashed so far. Only downside is battery life has been iffy at best.
Give MIUI from swiper a try also. 2.3.2 was very nice. Stay away from MIUI ICS builds. They've been quite buggy for me so far.
Hope that helps. GL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you lost me when you said 4.0.4 vs 2.3.5 - IDK wtf ur talking about.
isnt CM9 - AOSP?
what is MIUI? ICS?
also, what does toolbox Pro do and how do I underclock a kernel? (App? if so, name)
JollyGrnReefer said:
I don't agree with trying 7.2 cynogenmod, a great rom, but wouldn't be good for your situation. 7.2 is a AOSP rom which doesn't give you the capability of updating your prl, which should be a priority if your traveling and on the go. Out of the three roms, synergy is outdated and the developers have moved on. Classic 0.1.0 is a optimized base rom that is strippped down and meant for performance. If you like a stock feel, definitely a good choice. Nitrous is a 1.0 sense rom that's very fast, would be my choice of the three. If you want my opinion, I wouldn't choose any of the three. Go with a senseless 1.0 rom, which has sense stripped out. This gives you more internal memory, faster speeds, and makes for a fast phone. Here's my choices based on the public's opinion of what is the best out right now for our EVO.
1. senseless - Alter RC2 rom
2. sense - tommytomatoes finale
3. AOSP - Deck's Reloaded
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this helped me out alot. also I thought AOSP doesnt have a working 4g or was it Cynmod
you have me intriqued with the senseless 1.0 rom. I could care less for bloat apps and other bs. So the less, the better. With that said, senseless 1.0 = senseless - Alter RC2 rom???
HipKat said:
With even LESS clutter, read the threads and SEE what the differences are
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read each one of them, 2 of them doesnt tell me what kernel they are running and other the info that is stated, I have no idea what it means. It's not like I kept up with all the lingo and terms since I was here last time.
Last thing I remember was Gingerbread coming out.
Also, 1.5 yrs ago, each rom had a detail info of what they had. What apps they added, removed, etc... now not so much.
im slowly re-learning what is new in the evo 4g world.
grrgrrgrr said:
you lost me when you said 4.0.4 vs 2.3.5 - IDK wtf ur talking about.
isnt CM9 - AOSP?
what is MIUI? ICS?
also, what does toolbox Pro do and how do I underclock a kernel? (App? if so, name)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.04 is icecream sandwiched while 2.3.5 is gingerbread
Cm9 is based off ice cream sandwich(4.xx)
Cm7 is based off gingerbread (2.3x)
Tommy finale is based off gingerbread and so is any sense based Rom for the EVO. No ics for awhile
Miui has both an ice cream version and gingerbread version. You're going to have to search that. In order to over and underclock the CPU, you need a custom kernel. If you use tommys Rom (my current setup) I would use the underground kernel by ca1ne. ROM tool box will help with that. Or system tuner. Another good app
Here's the kernel thread : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1570308
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
Sorry bud for the lack of a good explanation. These guys are all correct in directing you to the rom that would suit you best. Especially the last post. I was trying to say to stay away from miui ics for the time being. It's been quite buggy and laggy even with mason kernel compared to team dirts CM9. Mini is great and easy but stuck to a gingerbread base if you like it.
grrgrrgrr said:
this helped me out alot. also I thought AOSP doesnt have a working 4g or was it Cynmod
you have me intriqued with the senseless 1.0 rom. I could care less for bloat apps and other bs. So the less, the better. With that said, senseless 1.0 = senseless - Alter RC2 rom???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Senseless just means that Rosie is stripped out of the rom which takes up to much space and memory. Alter rom comes with Go Launcher Ex baked in as the launcher, but you can choose any launcher your comfortable with. The only reason why I recommend Alter rom is because it is the fastest/snappiest senseless rom available. Using a2sd, I was using less than 60 MB internal space. Great for gaming and battery life. Graynode is the developer and is releasing 1.0 later this week, but RC2 is worth it. Just to clarify, it is a 1.0 sense based rom, similar to what came stock on your Evo, but the Rosie and everything sense has been stripped out of it, hence the name "senseless".
So my upgrade is coming up on November 1st, and I will be looking into getting a new phone in the near future, and I am finally done waiting for this ICS update that isn't coming from HTC. I was wondering if there are any fully functioning roms for the Incredible 2, or if anyone can tell me the one that is closest to fully working. Of course looking for something ICS or above and appreciate any suggestions on where I should begin...
kalojado said:
So my upgrade is coming up on November 1st, and I will be looking into getting a new phone in the near future, and I am finally done waiting for this ICS update that isn't coming from HTC. I was wondering if there are any fully functioning roms for the Incredible 2, or if anyone can tell me the one that is closest to fully working. Of course looking for something ICS or above and appreciate any suggestions on where I should begin...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tried Psycho's CM9 Global yet, but I hear it is pretty much fully functional except for the FFC is upside down or something...I have tried their CM10 Global and it is a smooth running rom, just a couple of little bugs they are working out. Mimicry CM9 based rom is almost fully functional...only thing not working that I know for sure is the FFC. Those are the only roms I have tried recently. I have also read that the Viper Sense rom is pretty good too, but it is Sense 4. I prefer the Paranoid Android, but there are some camera issues with it and a couple of other small bugs that don't affect me that much so I never notice them. Other than that I am out of suggestions, I have not tried UKB, MIUI, or any of the other roms that I hear are great roms.
ThePhantom97 said:
I have not tried Psycho's CM9 Global yet, but I hear it is pretty much fully functional except for the FFC is upside down or something...I have tried their CM10 Global and it is a smooth running rom, just a couple of little bugs they are working out. Mimicry CM9 based rom is almost fully functional...only thing not working that I know for sure is the FFC. Those are the only roms I have tried recently. I have also read that the Viper Sense rom is pretty good too, but it is Sense 4. I prefer the Paranoid Android, but there are some camera issues with it and a couple of other small bugs that don't affect me that much so I never notice them. Other than that I am out of suggestions, I have not tried UKB, MIUI, or any of the other roms that I hear are great roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started with aeroevan's CM9 ROM and it was terribly slow and pretty buggy. I had to reboot it at least once a day. I'm now running Psycho's CM10 Global and it's actually been really great, aside from the nonfunctional FFC, graphic tearing with Chrome, and unstable Bluetooth. Also, the CM10 Global ROM has an issue where after locking the phone it will take 1-2 seconds before allowing you to unlock again.
Why does everyone keep posting questions in general :cries:
Sent from viperDIX
:cyclops:
nitsua98 said:
Why does everyone keep posting questions in general :cries:
Sent from viperDIX
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, this is the only thread I ever check, so I didn't even think about it. Is there a way for me to move it? If not I guess I can just delete it...
IC Tazz has been flawless for me. I tried CM9 and CM10 for a few weeks, they work pretty good but are not 100%.
I'm using the new viper Rom. In the past I've always preferred sense tho. Viper is nice. But I prefer my own non sense widgets. So my phone basically looks the same as it did when running cm10. So I'm not sure what the point of staying on viper. Must say battery life is impressive, especially for a sense Rom. Battery life was one reason why I hated sense. But then my phone doesn't really look like sense anyways since I'm using all the same widgets as I did w aosp. *confused*
Sent from my vivow using xda app-developers app
kalojado said:
:cyclops:
Sorry, this is the only thread I ever check, so I didn't even think about it. Is there a way for me to move it? If not I guess I can just delete it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem man... Just I have minor ocd and it really bugs me... Lol
Sent from viperINC2DIX
nitsua98 said:
No problem man... Just I have minor ocd and it really bugs me... Lol
Sent from viperINC2DIX
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, I can understand that. I've only been around this one for the past few months. Seriously, thanks for the reminder. I won't forget next time haha
for an ics rom, i gotta say viper sense is the most bug-free. both the ffc camera and rear cameras work fine, and you can shoot fine in 720p HD recording, a problem with many other roms.
this was one of the main problems i had with most CM's and aosp roms was that the stock camera sucked. it didnt even compare to the sense camera and pictures looked they were taken with a basic phone. the viper sense camera was great, maybe even better than stock.
as for bugs, i think the only thing was that taking a picture while recording didnt work, i dont think its supposed to though cuz the inc2 isnt designed for it? also for some reason after a reboot it changed from cdma to gsm, and i think the only way to change that it running the aroma installer again.
I'm no expert or developer but there is quite a few Roms that I have found a pretty stable that could be used as a daily driver with no problem. If you're not rooted I recommend trying it and giving some Roms a test run and seeing what you like before ditching your inc2 its a whole new experience.
Sent from my vivow using xda app-developers app
Sadly nit had to pull the ViperINC ROM earlier today due to virtuous teams request... Regarding the use of m10 I think...
Was just about to download and finally move on from GB too...
Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk
are you serious?! i wanted to download that as soon as i got near some reliable wifi. (there's none available where i live so i use wifi tethering)
Fully functional eh? Both dkstunna and Aerovans cm9 & 10 both run nicely. Just have to make some changes depending on your carrier but youll find the solutions by reading the threads. But don't forget most roms are like that woman in the red light district. She's pretty and fun and can do a lot but there is also something under that skirt that is fully functional.
Sent from my Incredible 2 using xda app-developers app
Currently Running: Mimicry 1.5 w/ vivow-tiamat-ics-031412 Kernel, JB_ADRENO_DRIVERS_V2.ZIP.
It's been a pretty solid experience for a few months now.
Condemned Sense's Stock Build Odexed.
Depends on your definition of "fully-functional." For me that means everything that the stock ROM has including FFC, rotating softkeys, 720P camcorder, wifi-tethering, etc. Most of the ROMS listed (excluding stock ROMS) so far have issues with at least one of these things. I don't consider a mentality of "living with minor bugs" consistent with "fully-functional."
Personally my list would include:
- any of the the "standard" Sense 2.1 Gingerbread ROMs like GingerSense, SkyRaider Zeus, etc. (they all use the official 2.65 kernel specifically built for GB)
- Arctic Ascension 2.02 (aka IC Tazz 3.6) - Sense 3.6 using the leaked Chinese v3.x OTA kernel - everything including the stuff I mentioned works on it. It even includes features not even the stock ROM has such as automatic 3G switching when sending and receiving MMS messages.
Try CM 7.2, it was the first rom i flashed. the battery life is extraordinary and it runs fast like hell! only problem is its a bit old fashioned.
I'm currently running ViperSense 1.1, but its just slightly slow because its using a stock kernel
Thanks everyone for taking the time to give me this information. I have been busy but plan to look into these very soon! Much appreciation!
Miui 1.12.9 with Aerovan's 0.7 CFS kernel.