Related
I have been a long time Cell phone modder, and I have just gotten my first Android Phone, the HTC Evo 4G.
I have been reading androidforums.com and these forums for about a week now trying to get my head wrapped around things, but I still have some lingering questions.
I feel I have a good grip on how to get my phone rooted/nand unlocked, but its the what to do after that, which bothers me.
What I would like to accomplish:
More customized look and feel
Better battery life (without disabling half the features of the damn phone)
Free Wifi Hotspot
Removal of the pre-packaged crapware
Froyo
What I would not like to lose in the process:
Any of the phones functionality, including GPS/4G/Camera/Video/Bluetooth/etc.
Nice features that Sense has, such as Facebook contact syncing
Reliability or usability of the phone in general
As I have gotten older, my desire to mod has become less and less, and I get more tempted to just leave the phone alone and wait for OTA updates to come out, but when I just tried to do the wifi hotspot and learned I would have to pay an additional $30 on top of the $10 "premium data access" I made the decision to root. That being said, I don't want my phone to be something I am flashing every day. I want it to be as stable as possible so that I can get it all set up how I want without having to worry about re-flashing and losing all my data week after week to keep up with bugfixes and such.
What I don't understand is the differences between all the roms. The opinion at large seems to be that CM6 is the way to go, but it seems a lot of stuff is broken in CM6 atm, like 4G among other things.
Since this is my first android phone, I am already getting used to the Sense UI, but I have seen some other peoples home screens that just look amazing.
I guess what I am looking for is some advice, or a bit of a rundown (since I cant find all of this information in one place) about what is the best course of action to get from point A(stock phone) to point B(customized rooted phone which is "stable") over a path of least resistance.
Thanks in advance!
[also making this same post on androidforums.com]
You can accomplish everything you mentioned except froyo. If you do not want to lose any functionality then flashing a froyo rom is out of the question right now because they all have small issues. CM6 is a froyo rom.
The difference between roms is some are based on 2.2 (froyo) and others are based on 2.1 (stock for evo). Then they also differ in terms of what comes pre-installed, some remove all bloatware even sense and others do not, and then there are some in between. Any rom based on 2.1 will likely have everything working. I can tell you from experience that Damage Control and Backed Snack worked very well on my phone. The best thing to do is just try them out. Once your phone is rooted it is very easy to switch between roms.
Lastly the easiest way to achieve root is using simple root program which can be found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=720565 (that link is assuming you have latest OTA update, if not search for simple root and you will find the one pre update)
try dc 3.2.3 very stable release(has all the features working; 4g, camera, ect) and has good battery life(don't need to disable half of your phones features), it also allows for a lot of customization(DCupdater allows you to download themes and flash them straight from your phone), and you can pick and choose what bloatware to remove using DConfig, a froyo release is suppose to come out sometime this weekend.
Another option for you is to root and then flash the latest rooted "stock" rom. then flash the latest radio and wimax. then you can use a file manager to remove bloatware. I use "root explorer" from the market. be careful what you remove as removing some things can cause problems. I am currently running this on one of my evo's with no problems everything works and battery life will get me through a day. if you need more info as removing the bloatware feel free to pm me and ill help with what i can. I'm sure using the stock rom will be sufficient for you. On the phone i have running i have all features enabled and am pushing my pop3 accounts through gmail, 4g wifitether, all works just fine.
Hi Folks - I'm trying to find the top 10 reasons why phones are rooted. I want to change the way Android is distributed, software is managed and patches are applied. Please list all your reasons that you think are important
There is only one reason to me. Because I own my device and I want the ultimate root control over it. However, I and probably most other people on this site are not representative of the normal population of phone owners that absolutely do not need root access since for them it would be dangerous.
So far, I only have two, but they are important enough to me. I like having free wireless tethering without paying my carrier anymore. Also, I like the ability to backup my apps and other data to my SD card in case I must wipe my phone or transfer it to another phone. Its a shame there is still no official method to do this on Android phones, whereas Apple can do it with their iPhones and iTunes.
Rooting gives me the power to tweak my phone however which way I want and it may also give me access to features found only other phones like S-Voice for example.
The other major reason is performance. I really care about performance and is willing to squeeze out every ounce of performance the hardware is capable of. Of course, a balance of performance plus great battery life is crucial. Rooting allows me ultimate control of my phone.
stevep2007 said:
Hi Folks - I'm trying to find the top 10 reasons why phones are rooted. I want to change the way Android is distributed, software is managed and patches are applied. Please list all your reasons that you think are important
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of my main reasons (in no particular order) are:
Custom ROMs (although I'm not sure how it works on phones outside of the HD2 )
Ad blockers
Backup/restore abilities (i.e. Titanium Backup)
SetCPU
Market Enabler
A2SD/Link2SD
CF3D
ICS Launchers which can add widgets from the app drawer
Ability to uninstall system apps/bloatware
Generally having full control over my phone and what I do with it
Some of my reasons are
* Custom Roms
* Custom Kernels
* Mods - such as 15 bar toggle e.t.c
* Learn how to theme and cook roms
Excellent extended functionality -- That's what smartphones are for -- FUNCTIONALITY
Titanium Backup, and all the other root apps XD
Breakaway from bloated stock roms -- we WANT SPEED in the custom roms
Updates to the latest OS version -- enjoy the best of Android
That's why I rooted
Only one reason for me: Freedom!
customization
control
superior speed/battery life
less clutter
less intrusive (phoning home)
titanium backup
easy flashing of custom recovery
that said a good oh *bleep* button in case I mess up my phone.
I rooted to install custom ROMS and hopefully get better battery life by getting rid of bloatware. So far much faster, but I'm yet to see battery improvements. Changing kernals is really fun tho.
.for me allways about improving battery life and improving performance with after market mods that the manufacturers don't see as important ie, by debloating and removing all unwanted apps, updating radio firmware to improve cell phone reception, improving kernel optimization and tweaks running new launchers and widgets make to work faster on new os and software versions.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
ROOT ? Own your phone
Destroy bloatware! Free up precious internal memory! Overclock that sucker! Tether my laptop! Plus its excellent to do stuff correctly and NOT brick your phone!
if you have to ask question like that, you shouldn't root your device... but for me, the reason why to root is to gain ultimate control over my device, because it is MY device
For me its just a way not to use google account. I think its unacceptable that they would require personal info and collect such on their costumers. Especially since I payed for a SE product and would like atleast to have a File Manager Installed or be able to use calendar WITHOUT sincing it to some random server. Its just that I red the Terms Of Agreement and I don`t agree some times.
Not that it changes anything in the end....
The ladies appreciate it..?
I just want to full control my device..
and I think it is save because we can reset our phone if it is crashed.. :laugh:
Ad free, titanium Backup, droid Wall, div. Roms, backlight notifications
Now with Verizon including work teather with shared everything why root.... I unrooted mine because of that.....
Sent from my ADR6400L using xda premium
If you don't know what you do its safe not to root your phone. If you delete system files you phone will not start. I have my phone rooted because i am the boss. Not my phone.
I never really got the point of rooting. I mean I have all that I need on jellybean anyways. I don't really need more customization.
Stock Jellybean and Project Butter VS. CNA 3.5.0 and Franco Kernel?
Does it actually make the phone faster? cuz I dont think my phone with stock jellybean has ever lagged
ChickenSwagger said:
I never really got the point of rooting. I mean I have all that I need on jellybean anyways. I don't really need more customization.
Stock Jellybean and Project Butter VS. CNA 3.5.0 and Franco Kernel?
Does it actually make the phone faster? cuz I dont think my phone with stock jellybean has ever lagged
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then dont root lol I root because I use titanium backup, love flashing ROM's currently cm10 <3, custom kernels ftw (the options they offer are great! yes Franco im talking about you)
Plus with custom ROM's some allow theming so you can make your phone exacly how you want it to be. If stock is how you want it to be then stay on it and enjoy Android Jelly bean
Personally, its the little things that make it worthwhile. Things you never realize make a different until you have them such as:
Calender on lock screen
smaller Nav bar height
Custom app icons
Lock screen wallpaper
Skip music track with volume buttons
App/data backup and restore
Etc
Might not sound like much but you find them hard to live without after a while.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
A few good reasons on my own:
1) Titanium Backup
2) AdFree: no ads at all in my phone. EVER. Not only because it's annoying but also because it consumes more battery
3) Undervolt
It's a personal choice... rooting allows you access to the internal system to make mods and changes to system files... but it also means more chances of screwing things up if you do something wrong (you can always restore though)... so apps require root access to do things which aren't allowed by default in Android... like backup apps, change host files...
Unlike commonly noted, it has nothing to do with custom ROMs... that requires you to unlock your bootloader... yes, most custom ROMs come with root capabilities, but with ROMs like CM10, you have to option of enabling & disabling root whenever you want...
Rooting opens up other possibilities such as ad-blocking. That's my favorite benefit. There's also free wifi tethering and with most custom ROMs, users can apply themes.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
ChickenSwagger said:
I never really got the point of rooting. I mean I have all that I need on jellybean anyways. I don't really need more customization.
Stock Jellybean and Project Butter VS. CNA 3.5.0 and Franco Kernel?
Does it actually make the phone faster? cuz I dont think my phone with stock jellybean has ever lagged
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting opens up many doors. Battery savings, faster phone, better quality photos/video, tweaks to the way everything looks etc basically you can modify every aspect of your phone to your liking
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus
rygran87 said:
Rooting opens up other possibilities such as ad-blocking. That's my favorite benefit. There's also free wifi tethering and with most custom ROMs, users can apply themes.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Ads? i never get any ads.
Secondly, backup is done by google sync as well.
Wifi tethering? you mean data hotspot? if so, jellybean already has that feature built in
Everyone has their reasons. I unlock and root because I can add little bits of functionality that help me in daily use. In order of personal priority:
1) I run stock JB because it's awesome but the kernel I run allows for a no compromise in speed yet better daily use battery life combo - 4.5 to 5 hrs screen on time, and lag free even when multi tasking a lot, can't get that with stock on a standard battery, I've tried
2) I like the stock experience but I like a couple of simple mods to increase functionality like a t9 dialer, battery percent and louder sound mod (because I use the speaker phone a lot in my work calls and stock is simply not loud enough)
3) Several apps have powerful functions that need root access - For e.g. I use Tasker because it makes my phone actually work like a smartphone and helps automate things so I don't have to think about them, like changing my phone profile to vibrate only when I walk into a movie theatre or turning off the slide/pin lock when I'm at home/work and turning it on again when I'm out, on its own.
4) I'm not big on customization like changing the navbar colours etc but if I was, a rooted phone let's you customize to your hearts content.
to be in complete control of my device. for that you need superuser privledges, same as administrative privledges on a windows machine.
Can't forget about improving battery life :good:
adfree. battery savings with custom kernels. root explorer = awesomeness. being able to carve unnecessary junk out of system folders. volume boosters.
there are many reasons. it's not for everybody, but it certainly is for me.
Well my phone is nothing more than a toy for me don't use it for work nor anything like that . Hell I hardly make calls . I root for the fact I can and I like to see what I can do to this thing .
Don't know what half this stuff means but if I don't like the effects I just change ROMs ex.
I really good at following directions and have yet to brick a phone .
Oooo and because I hate iPhone .
"JB:CM10:HYBRD"
"ParanoidAndroid. 2.14"
because stock colors look like crap. white looks yellowish
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I rooted to ad away and roam control
--------
Sent from my Jelly Bean powered Nexus Snarf 4G
It is easier to stay stock when you have a shiny new os installed. If you were stuck with a phone that was running 2.3 it suddenly becomes much more appealing.
Sent from my Sony Tablet S using XDA Premium HD app
AdAway.
ChickenSwagger said:
I never really got the point of rooting. I mean I have all that I need on jellybean anyways. I don't really need more customization.
Stock Jellybean and Project Butter VS. CNA 3.5.0 and Franco Kernel?
Does it actually make the phone faster? cuz I dont think my phone with stock jellybean has ever lagged
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't rooted my Galaxy Nexus either, even after rooting and ROMing my previous phones. No shame in that.
It is a Nexus. Its sole purpose of existence is to be rooted.
Amen.
My first device I rooted was a windows phone, don't recall the name now but then went onto the Eris and then the Nook. Had my Nexus for a half year before I felt the need to root it and mostly I root to have control over the look and feel. I enjoy the customizing as well as trying out the various different ROMs out there. It also makes for great dinner conversations with my boys (all in their mid-twentys') as we debated who has the best ROM and what developers are doing what. :silly:
I agree rooting isn't for everyone and no one should feel they have to...
As the title asks, whats the point of rooting this phone? It doesn't help that unlocking bootloader isn't free, it doesn't have a lot of roms/kernels for it either? And in a performance stand point, would those kernels/roms improve performance even? Hence this is on stock android, youd automatically assume its optimisation would be A+, tho, not for this phone in terms of ram management, but what about CPU and GOU performance? Ive asked on kernel posts and none have answered, leading me wondering, and I'm obviously no pro and just want to really know what's going on with "improved gpu effeciency" sort of updates to kernels, like, i get what it means, but in what way? Does if give more fps to games or something? . Granted that rooting gives you more freedom to do anything, but theres a big draw regarding to privacy, which is no problem to me, of course, but some apps like bank apps disable access to rooted devices, does exposed work for pie or is it still in development?
Tldr
All I'm asking is it worthit?
Do roms improve performance?
Do the kernels improve performance regarding games and such?(on my good ol phone the zenfone 2 it did, quite a lot)
Is exposed fully working for pie?
I've not bothered to unlock this phone. I will, however, say that even if the custom roms only have comparable performance, it would be worth it just to be rid of the Evenwell task killer Nokia allowed to be bundled into the stock rom, as long as the custom roms are problem free.
I just unlocked cuz it's cool to have root, themes etc. Regarding roms look here
Plenty of development for treble enabled devises.
Downside I guess is when u got twrp installed one will no longer recieve system updates untill one installs custom rim.
You right, root gives you more freedom that stock on any phone ever made will never provide, sadly.
Sent from my Nokia 6.1 using XDA Labs
I am unlocked since July 2018. Sadly, custom roms are not bug-free and I was lacking important features for day-to-day usage (alot of issues with treble roms and hotspot for instance, which is mandatory for me since it is my only internet access point). Every time I try roms (aospex/treble) I finally come back to stock because at least, almost everything I need is working.
Imo, it would be better to stay on stock. Magisk (+xposed if you want this specific module) is working on Pie. You just gotta uninstall Magisk partly before applying Nokia's OTAs (but as of now, with the improved system-as-root support, it may not even be necessary in a few updates, who knows).
Btw, you still get otas when unlocked, + never flash twrp and just boot the image using fastboot when needed, that way you'll avoid lots of trouble
If you have to ask about it then just don't do it
I couldn't imagine how bored I'd get with my 6.1 without root. No themes, no modules, no way to downgrade etc
hi, goodday to everyone!
i'm on a poco f3 and new to this phone's development scene.
i previously owned an Axon 7 and was on custom roms for 1.5 years.
since i'm relatively new to this phone i'm asking:
Is it worth unlocking and doing custom roms on this phone?
i'm completely fine on the stock rom but lately have been thinking about going custom rom.
the main reasons are:
better performance(cause i game on this phone)
maybe better battery-life?
root access(i really miss the youtube vanced)
and as someone who undervolted their gaming laptop, undervolting and updating the Gpu drivers for better performance.
my primary question is: how many trade-offs i'm doing for achieving these goals? are they even possible all at the same time?(cause i'm pretty sure you need specific kernels for undervolting)
thank you for your answers in advance, and hope you have a great day!
Hi,If you want a nice youtube...i suggest youtube revanced.You can install without root and it's latest youtube version.Anyways,you can take a look HERE
Hi. Since only needed Adbock and Youtube Vanced, I just unlocked the bootloader and rooted the stock rom. Also debloated be removing most unused apps. This works fine for me and I don't have any problems or features not working. Banking apps, Netflix, etc. work fine with the appropriate patches. Battery life is still very good, after more than a year with the phone.
Only drawback is that you have to re-apply root after each system update. But it is always the same procedure and it doesn't take too long.
Andreasgbrv2 said:
Hi,If you want a nice youtube...i suggest youtube revanced.You can install without root and it's latest youtube version.Anyways,you can take a look HERE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh, thank you very much!
kurtschmeichel said:
Hi. Since only needed Adbock and Youtube Vanced, I just unlocked the bootloader and rooted the stock rom. Also debloated be removing most unused apps. This works fine for me and I don't have any problems or features not working. Banking apps, Netflix, etc. work fine with the appropriate patches. Battery life is still very good, after more than a year with the phone.
Only drawback is that you have to re-apply root after each system update. But it is always the same procedure and it doesn't take too long.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the responce! but here's the thing, although those things are nice, to me the main benefits of custom roms are the updated gpu drivers, and the undervold to potentially improve performance and battery-life.
Stock is good enough already for this phone. I went into custom roms for fun (ArrowOS, CRDroid, EliteROM, PixelOS) but each have benefits and drawbacks that closely make it a breakeven exercise.
My main benefits from customizing are
- better battery life (less bloat + more control via Greenify on root, etc.)
- Google Photos unlimited
Things I miss from MIUI are better sound quality, camera and built-in dual-apps.
SSMP1 said:
hi, goodday to everyone!
i'm on a poco f3 and new to this phone's development scene.
i previously owned an Axon 7 and was on custom roms for 1.5 years.
since i'm relatively new to this phone i'm asking:
Is it worth unlocking and doing custom roms on this phone?
i'm completely fine on the stock rom but lately have been thinking about going custom rom.
the main reasons are:
better performance(cause i game on this phone)
maybe better battery-life?
root access(i really miss the youtube vanced)
and as someone who undervolted their gaming laptop, undervolting and updating the Gpu drivers for better performance.
my primary question is: how many trade-offs i'm doing for achieving these goals? are they even possible all at the same time?(cause i'm pretty sure you need specific kernels for undervolting)
thank you for your answers in advance, and hope you have a great day
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of these - no
Can do all on stock + stock is best in terms of performance