I am considering a new tablet and Amazon has a refurbished 8.4 for less than $200. It is the right size tab for my needs and the specs are better than my Asus TF700.
Does this device have any limits on what bootloaders can be unlocked? I don't want to be stuck with a safestrap device… I want a custom recovery that allows TWRP and custom ROMs.
Not seeing any 5.x ROMs for this device.
Should I consider this device, or is it nearing its "end of life" for support and development?
TWRP is easy with Odin. I've successfully installed CM11, SlimKat, and a couple of ROM posted on XDA. Lollypop - no idea.
I bought 8.4 Wifi from BestBuy and bootloader is easily unlocked.
I would expect Samsung to release one last update of Lollipop seeing as how it's only 1 year old, but you never know.
There is CM12 Lollipop Nightly in Original Development section. It's really stable for a nightly. It works flawlessly for me.
Does OTG work on this device on custom ROMs like the CM12 nightly?
duckredbeard said:
Does OTG work on this device on custom ROMs like the CM12 nightly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes OTG works on cm12
Verstuurd vanaf mijn Nexus 5 met Tapatalk
IMO this is a dead device. only get if you plan to switch it to a custom rom like CM11 or CM12
check sammobile firmware list... there hasn't been anything new for this device since November (5 months) and even THAT was 4.4.2, which is an already out-of-date version of android
if you look in this forum history, there are various gullible people who were saying we would have already had a major update (or 2) by now... i say "ha-ha!" to them, they were so wrong
Another vote for CM12. It runs faster than TouchWiz, and looks nicer as well. Who need stock software when you have CM?
All Android tablets are unfortunately considered "disposable" by the manufacturers. They crank out a new version every year (or less), sell a few tablets, then rinse and repeat. Even if you moved onto something else, it would also be obsolete in less than a year.
The hardware works fine, and I plan to use it for some time yet. I don't expect any dazzling new tablets in the near future. Just incremental updates on what we already have. Cranking out "more of the same" is pretty much the name of the game in tablets for now.
Already got the tab. Second time it booted up I had it rooted. Third time booted had twrp installed. Fourth time booted had cm12.
Still getting settled in and it is soo much faster than my tf700.
Cyanogenmod has team up with qualcomm. They are supporting snapdragon 400,600,800 with future cyanogen mod and their own store. So i see some hope here . Correct me if i m wrong
Related
Even though Galaxy Nexus is no more officialy supported by Google and stuck at Android 4.3, KitKat Roms emerged quickly and evolve rapidly - thanks to our crazy devs!!! :victory: So how you all handling this? Still at 4.3... already jumped to a 4.4 rom?
I know it took a long way for 4.3 roms to reach that point where everything works near perfect and I think that Cataclysm or SlimBean are such examples. So, some will prefer the comfort of this instead of jumping into the unknown and start dealing with bugs and the trial and error procedure???
As I write this Android 4.4.2 is rolling to newer Nexus devices, my new Nexus 7 already running this and something tells me, since none of the factory images for 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 are officialy on google's page, that another update maybe coming soon. Since our phone is not officialy supported, devs will strugle merging new code to their sources and adapting it for gnex. How do you see this evolving?
To end this, it's been 2 years after the release of GNEX and our forum still is in the top 5 list. Quite impressive if you ask me. Tell that to Google... Galaxy Nexus is a legendary phone even though it's not the sharpest out there. And I am sure its "endurance" over time, will make it even more legendary!
PS: Working on a cool Zooper Skin. Will let u know when it's out!
It will continue, but the gnex population will gradually move on. The new incomers will not likely join at the rate the existing users leave to upgrade to a new device.
If it's any indication, Nexus One and Nexus S development are still continuing and they are older than the Galaxy Nexus. At some point when newer android versions get too resource intensive (KK tried to improve the memory management) then we will start seeing users preferring to stick with an older version.
I will continue with my Galaxy nexus and I'm still very happy with it especially so because of the talented developers here at XDA. I'm currently using the 4.4 KK rom : [ROM] [UNOFFICIAL] CyanogenMod 11 for the Samsung Galaxy Nexus with gapps 20131207. This ROM is now my daily driver and I won't be going back to 4.3 :good:
Thanks for this post, I'll subscribe!
myself, I've been thinking of sticking with Cataclysm for a while. But can I ask those who already use a 4.4 rom if they noticed any signifcant improvement on battery life or multitasking?
wrong thread. sorry
itasoulas said:
Even though Galaxy Nexus is no more officialy supported by Google and stuck at Android 4.3, KitKat Roms emerged quickly and evolve rapidly - thanks to our crazy devs!!! :victory: So how you all handling this? Still at 4.3... already jumped to a 4.4 rom?
I know it took a long way for 4.3 roms to reach that point where everything works near perfect and I think that Cataclysm or SlimBean are such examples. So, some will prefer the comfort of this instead of jumping into the unknown and start dealing with bugs and the trial and error procedure???
As I write this Android 4.4.2 is rolling to newer Nexus devices, my new Nexus 7 already running this and something tells me, since none of the factory images for 4.4.1 and 4.4.2 are officialy on google's page, that another update maybe coming soon. Since our phone is not officialy supported, devs will strugle merging new code to their sources and adapting it for gnex. How do you see this evolving?
To end this, it's been 2 years after the release of GNEX and our forum still is in the top 5 list. Quite impressive if you ask me. Tell that to Google... Galaxy Nexus is a legendary phone even though it's not the sharpest out there. And I am sure its "endurance" over time, will make it even more legendary!
PS: Working on a cool Zooper Skin. Will let u know when it's out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not one to sit by idly and wait for confirmation of a stable new Android version. When 4.4 was released I flashed it right away. Whats the fun in not "jumping into the unknown"?
I dont think small updates are that hard for developers to merge into our current builds. We are already on 4.4.1 and I'm sure that 4.4.2 will be on our devices soon as well.
KitKat has been running great on my device. I dont know of any issues we have now that havent been fixed yet.
jsgraphicart said:
I'm not one to sit by idly and wait for confirmation of a stable new Android version. Wn 4.4 was released I flashed it right away. Whats the fun in not "jumping into the unknown"?
I dont think small updates are that hard for developers to merge into our current builds. We are already on 4.4.1 and I'm sure that 4.4.2 will be on our devices soon as well.
KitKat has been running great on my device. I dont know of any issues we have now that havent been fixed yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well...my GPS could be better. I'm seeing at best 30ft accuracy with about 8 satellites locked in with pretty low SNR values.
Im still on 4.3, Slimbean. Waiting for Slimkat to evolve just a litle bit more :good:
alpha-niner64 said:
Well...my GPS could be better. I'm seeing at best 30ft accuracy with about 8 satellites locked in with pretty low SNR values.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't had any issues with GPS. It pinpoints pretty fast for me.
And by the way, cyanogenmod just updated us to 4.4.2.
I will be continuing to use my Galaxy Nexus until the 'Nexus 6', it can totally hold up to most of the competition. Currently using the last 4.4.1 Galaxy Nexus Maguro CM11 ROM with ASKP/Franco/Mpokang/Fancy/Stock kernel.
Do GPE devices get updated about as fast as Nexus devices?
How about typical timing of custom ROMs compared to releases for GPE?
The GPE is more expensive than stock (at least, in the US based on sales for the stock edition) and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it.
Apologies if I missed something in search.
foosion said:
Do GPE devices get updated about as fast as Nexus devices?
How about typical timing of custom ROMs compared to releases for GPE?
The GPE is more expensive than stock (at least, in the US based on sales for the stock edition) and I'm trying to figure out if it's worth it.
Apologies if I missed something in search.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Play Editions are second to get the updates, usually within a week of the nexus devices, while the lg V500 still hasn't recieved kitkat yet.
Really, I wouldn't worry too much about kitkat or not. A lot of hype. There are a couple of stable roms for the lgv500 now, and only a stock starter rom for the gpe as it is already bare bones, and with the edition of xposed and a custom kernel, doesn't really need anything else. All of the roms are running kitkat as far as i know.
The only note of interest here is that the lgv500 (not GPE) does not currently have the screen adjusted in any of the roms that I know of -- Somebody please correct me if I am wrong about that. There is however, someone working on a custom kernel for the 500 to fix that issue.
Hate to say it but you may want to check out the 8.4 galaxy tab pro.
This tablet line has really sparked my interest but there are almost no roms (only cm11 that I see) and I'd like a nexus experience with physical buttons.
How long before we get some news on the GPE tab pro? Seems like that is what's holding back rom development for this line, correct?
kronikwisdom said:
This tablet line has really sparked my interest but there are almost no roms (only cm11 that I see) and I'd like a nexus experience with physical buttons.
How long before we get some news on the GPE tab pro? Seems like that is what's holding back rom development for this line, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's out for a very short range, thats why there are no roms so far. I dont think it will get a Play Store Edition :crying:
kronikwisdom said:
This tablet line has really sparked my interest but there are almost no roms (only cm11 that I see) and I'd like a nexus experience with physical buttons.
How long before we get some news on the GPE tab pro? Seems like that is what's holding back rom development for this line, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say that what is holding back ROM development is a complete lack of developers...
With my CM11 device tree repos, it should be relatively straight-forward for someone to build other source based ROMs. But, none have appeared.
Then there is the world of ROMs that are based on the stock ROM. We don't have anyone that has stepped up and made the standard debloated ROM. Sadly, that means that there probably aren't any people that know how to do that either.
That said, the hardware is great and I get to piggy-back on a lot of the work that Cyanogen does for the Note 3 which makes some of the hardware support very advanced. FWIW, I'm quite happy with my purchase.
As much as I love my 8.4, A black 32GB Google Play edition would pretty much require me to buy another :good:
crpalmer said:
I would say that what is holding back ROM development is a complete lack of developers...
With my CM11 device tree repos, it should be relatively straight-forward for someone to build other source based ROMs. But, none have appeared.
Then there is the world of ROMs that are based on the stock ROM. We don't have anyone that has stepped up and made the standard debloated ROM. Sadly, that means that there probably aren't any people that know how to do that either.
That said, the hardware is great and I get to piggy-back on a lot of the work that Cyanogen does for the Note 3 which makes some of the hardware support very advanced. FWIW, I'm quite happy with my purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. I really wish I had the equipment and know-how to use your kernel and device tree and build SlimKat (my ROM of choice). Hopefully more folks will buy this tablet as time goes by, and we'll get some more talent in here. I did have a pm conversation with someone from the Slim team who expressed a little interest in the device, so fingers crossed.
From my Pro Tab 8.4
crpalmer said:
I would say that what is holding back ROM development is a complete lack of developers...
With my CM11 device tree repos, it should be relatively straight-forward for someone to build other source based ROMs. But, none have appeared.
Then there is the world of ROMs that are based on the stock ROM. We don't have anyone that has stepped up and made the standard debloated ROM. Sadly, that means that there probably aren't any people that know how to do that either.
That said, the hardware is great and I get to piggy-back on a lot of the work that Cyanogen does for the Note 3 which makes some of the hardware support very advanced. FWIW, I'm quite happy with my purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any chance your work will be submitted to be an officially supported Cyanogenmod device?
Or is it too much work to be a maintainer for a device.
Thank you so much for your work already.
Dazog said:
Any chance your work will be submitted to be an officially supported Cyanogenmod device?
Or is it too much work to be a maintainer for a device.
Thank you so much for your work already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My goal is to make it official when I have everything working. But, I have to finish it first... I already maintain one device so adding a second wouldn't be that big a deal.
I just couldn't hold out any long. Picked up the black on yesterday and WOW this screen is amazing. I'll be running CM11 from your thread by lunch, and will help to provide feedback over there. thanks!!
I was wondering why any root/rom discussion seems to only be focused on the 8.4; are there reasons the 10.1 isn't included (I realize less people seem to be getting the bigger tab). Looking to love my 10.1, as the 8.4 is too small for my reading needs. Thanks for any info!
djroese33 said:
I was wondering why any root/rom discussion seems to only be focused on the 8.4; are there reasons the 10.1 isn't included (I realize less people seem to be getting the bigger tab). Looking to love my 10.1, as the 8.4 is too small for my reading needs. Thanks for any info!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two reasons. One, I have a tab pro 8.4... Two, the 8.4 is based on the snapdragon 800 (msm8974) processor which is very well supported on other devices. The 10.1 is an Exynos processor which is not well supported by source built android roms.
crpalmer said:
Two reasons. One, I have a tab pro 8.4... Two, the 8.4 is based on the snapdragon 800 (msm8974) processor which is very well supported on other devices. The 10.1 is an Exynos processor which is not well supported by source built android roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick and helpful reply. Pretty new to Android world, but I loved switching from my iPhone 5 to the Nexus 5 so much, and how easy it was to root, and add Franco and Gravity Box, that I jumped on the 10.1 to replace my iPad Air. Knew Nexus' were known for being easy to root, but didn't know about Samsung's Knox Warranty Killer! But still mostly pleased, and as I despise Apple's $200 for 64gb(- os) policy, love being able to carry around 3000 books, several movies, and 30gb of flac music.
Hopefully it will be safe to root soon.
I just totalled my S4 Mini (i9195). The phone is alive but the LCD is totally smashed.
Been running CyanogenMod 11 for a couple of years. Once the ROM got stable I've been really happy with the hardware and software.
My question is what to do now.
Fix the phone and just carry on with CyanogenMod 11
Fix the phone and upgrade the ROM -- what's everyone using for day-to-day use; is it LineageOS? I like CyanogenMod 11 because it's not tied to Google, PrivacyGuard and LED notifications, otherwise fairly minimal. I don't want really want to go back to the unstability I remember of the early CyanogenMod 11 milestones.
Upgrade the phone to a new one. I'm not sure one is suitable; my main criteria are small size and switchable battery, custom ROM.
I'm fairly technical but new to posting on XDA. Hoping you can help me past some of the jargon and codenames. What are people using their S4 Mini day to day (not experimenting) doing?
Thanks -- Mark
wheelsofsteel said:
I just totalled my S4 Mini (i9195). The phone is alive but the LCD is totally smashed.
Been running CyanogenMod 11 for a couple of years. Once the ROM got stable I've been really happy with the hardware and software.
My question is what to do now.
Fix the phone and just carry on with CyanogenMod 11
Fix the phone and upgrade the ROM -- what's everyone using for day-to-day use; is it LineageOS? I like CyanogenMod 11 because it's not tied to Google, PrivacyGuard and LED notifications, otherwise fairly minimal. I don't want really want to go back to the unstability I remember of the early CyanogenMod 11 milestones.
Upgrade the phone to a new one. I'm not sure one is suitable; my main criteria are small size and switchable battery, custom ROM.
I'm fairly technical but new to posting on XDA. Hoping you can help me past some of the jargon and codenames. What are people using their S4 Mini day to day (not experimenting) doing?
Thanks -- Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are going to keep your phone it sounds like CM13 would be best for you as it is very stable and you will get much newer security patches (though it looks like Arco will not be updating it any further for now). It has Privacy Guard and you can flash a smaller Open GApps package to keep Google to a minimum .....
LinageOS is already very stable but there are a few small bugs (maybe a big one with the dialer as some people have reported in last few days having no audio on calls) as you would expect on a "TEST" ROM, but some are using for daily driver with no real problems. Maybe give it a look once it's gone "official".
It's almost impossible to get a new phone with good spec and small size now especially one that has such a great custom ROM's available.
It's almost impossible to get a new phone with good spec and small size now especially one that has such a great custom ROM's available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just came across the S5 Mini.. Seems like it might be the last phone that fulfill my hardware requirements and it won't cost me much more to upgrade than to repair my current phone. Did all the S4 Mini crowd move to the S5 Mini or is there good reason to stick with the old? For example, worse support for the hardware.
Thanks for the ROM tips, I will definitely try version 13 once I have a working phone just to see. If I really don't like it I can always consider going back to 11.
wheelsofsteel said:
I just came across the S5 Mini.. Seems like it might be the last phone that fulfill my hardware requirements and it won't cost me much more to upgrade than to repair my current phone. Did all the S4 Mini crowd move to the S5 Mini or is there good reason to stick with the old? For example, worse support for the hardware.
Thanks for the ROM tips, I will definitely try version 13 once I have a working phone just to see. If I really don't like it I can always consider going back to 11.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, S5 Mini will probably be a good choice, though not as much development by the looks of it, but we S4 Mini owners have been spoilt. Don't think that many people upgraded to it, but I don't really know.
IronRoo said:
but we S4 Mini owners have been spoilt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup I think I have, and until now took it for granted that most of the phones were reverse engineered to the same level.
I made a decision and ordered the parts to repair my S4 Mini, that will be my day-to-day phone. When I get it I might spin up CM13 for a test. As for a 'new' phone that will have to wait. Thanks for the advice.
wheelsofsteel said:
Yup I think I have, and until now took it for granted that most of the phones were reverse engineered to the same level.
I made a decision and ordered the parts to repair my S4 Mini, that will be my day-to-day phone. When I get it I might spin up CM13 for a test. As for a 'new' phone that will have to wait. Thanks for the advice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take the Lineage OS 14.1 build from arco68. and TWRP 3.03 from neozone75 Much more performance,longer battery life,and my s4 mini boots packed with a lot apps in under 1min. when flashed, don't miss to set the preferrred network type in Mobile radio networks- if you have no LTE contract set it to 3G . good luck for repair
I currently use a Moto X Pure Edition with Straight Talk (AT&T) prepaid, and a custom ROM (with Xposed)... and my requirements for a new phone are removable storage, under $500, an AMOLED screen, and the ability to root and install Xposed (and a headphone jack).
I don't understand the lack of popularity surrounding this phone and was posting this here to see if I was missing something. No other phone has a great screen, form, battery, and price that I've come across.
The phone is currently on sale on the Moto website for $350 in both colors so I need to make a decision soon...
Thanks in advance for any responses and I apologize if I've posted this is in the wrong place.
The phone's great. The battery last the whole day, it's fast, the camera it's okay, and it doesn't have any major problem.
The only thing I don't like it's that the phone it's not very popular, so there are not many roms for it and development is not as big as with other phones (There's not even official LOS for this phone).
As I see, you like to root and install custom roms, and if you're planning to do so with this phone, I wouldn't consider you bought it.
I can root it and at least install Xposed though, correct?
And is there an unofficial LOS rom for this phone?
If so/if not what's the best rom for this phone?
Yes, there's an unofficial LOS 15, but take into account that it still have problems, and currently, there's no complete way to go back to stock in case you don't like it.
I think you can install Xposed and Root the phone, but don't forget to back up everything!
If you thinking of rooting the phone amd installing custom ROMs, then
my opinion is.. Don't buy the Moto Z2 play.
The main reason is that , till now there is no sure shot way of going
back to completely stock with a locked bootloader, in case you don't like
the overall community support for the phone which may make you think
of going back to stock to re-sell it.
Secondly, i have came to know that the phone is not that popular overall,
hence there are hardly any developers for making custom ROM's for this phone.
Before this phone being my daily driver, i had a Galaxy S4 mini as my daily
driver which is almost a 5 year old phone, and i enjoyed installing and trying
out alot of Custom ROMs on it, Till date the community for the S4 mini hasn't
shrinked much and is still active, just checkout the XDA community for S4 mini
and you will be surprised how many developers used to support it, and still are
supporting it.
Moreover The S4 mini has Stock firmware available on its official site of Multiple
android Versions.
So coming from a phone which still has such an active community, I got disappointed after seeing the Z2 Play forums.
I have my Moto Z2 Play rooted with Xposed installed, came to know of the lack of support only after I unlocked the bootloader and rooted it, wanted to re-sell it, but the stock Firmware for my Z2 play version is not available.
flashnub said:
If you thinking of rooting the phone amd installing custom ROMs, then
my opinion is.. Don't buy the Moto Z2 play.
The main reason is that , till now there is no sure shot way of going
back to completely stock with a locked bootloader, in case you don't like
the overall community support for the phone which may make you think
of going back to stock to re-sell it.
Secondly, i have came to know that the phone is not that popular overall,
hence there are hardly any developers for making custom ROM's for this phone.
Before this phone being my daily driver, i had a Galaxy S4 mini as my daily
driver which is almost a 5 year old phone, and i enjoyed installing and trying
out alot of Custom ROMs on it, Till date the community for the S4 mini hasn't
shrinked much and is still active, just checkout the XDA community for S4 mini
and you will be surprised how many developers used to support it, and still are
supporting it.
Moreover The S4 mini has Stock firmware available on its official site of Multiple
android Versions.
So coming from a phone which still has such an active community, I got disappointed after seeing the Z2 Play forums.
I have my Moto Z2 Play rooted with Xposed installed, came to know of the lack of support only after I unlocked the bootloader and rooted it, wanted to re-sell it, but the stock Firmware for my Z2 play version is not available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as I can get Xposed on it everything would be okay I'm thinking. I intend to unlock the bootloader and reselling it isn't a concern (although if it dies in the first year I'd like to be able to return it to Lenovo/Motorola or something).