Hi,
I recently started getting into Android and all that comes by it, so in case I'm dead-wrong about something, please excuse me and let me know.
I'd like to ask, since I plan on buying the LG G3, and as far as I'm concerned it, as of now, does not have an unlocked bootloader,
What's the level of customization that could be achieved with root only? And what does an unlocked bootloader allows you to do, besides flashing a custom ROM.
A reference to any guide of such would be awesome.
Thanks!
An unlocked bootloader essentially means we can't flash recovery and thus can't install custom ROM's and kernels as of now. Which in terms of "level of customization" means that we can't flash ROMs based on AOSP builds like CM or PA etc.
So for now we're stuck with the stock LG ROM. But having said that, we have root and then Xposed framework. So we can then pretty much customize everything on the stock ROM. Using G3 Tweaksbox Xposed module you can theme about most of the SystemUI elements. That include statusbar icons, color, navigation bar icons and colors, Phone app, Messaging app, Settings, etc. There are tons of Xposed Modules out there to do pretty much almost anything you'll get on a custom ROM by default.
With the Tasker app you can automate almost every action, with Greenify you can hibernate automatically most apps that you run in the background & if you give it root access it can pretty much greenify useless System apps as well.
In short, while you can't *completely* customize everything and completely get rid of some of the crap that OEMs put in, with Xposed Framework & modules and with some really nifty build.prop tricks you can get pretty close to being satisfied with the customizability of your phone.
If you're new to Android though and have never tried custom ROMs you'll be amazed at the sort of stuff that even just root access can do and once we get the bootloader unlock, you'll get even more blown away with flashing new ROMs and checking them out.
Google a bit for something like "Best Root apps for Android" and you'll find that most well known Android blogs have listed the majorly used apps and what you can do with it. You'll get a pretty good idea
if4ct0r said:
An unlocked bootloader essentially means we can't flash recovery and thus can't install custom ROM's and kernels as of now. Which in terms of "level of customization" means that we can't flash ROMs based on AOSP builds like CM or PA etc.
So for now we're stuck with the stock LG ROM. But having said that, we have root and then Xposed framework. So we can then pretty much customize everything on the stock ROM. Using G3 Tweaksbox Xposed module you can theme about most of the SystemUI elements. That include statusbar icons, color, navigation bar icons and colors, Phone app, Messaging app, Settings, etc. There are tons of Xposed Modules out there to do pretty much almost anything you'll get on a custom ROM by default.
With the Tasker app you can automate almost every action, with Greenify you can hibernate automatically most apps that you run in the background & if you give it root access it can pretty much greenify useless System apps as well.
In short, while you can't *completely* customize everything and completely get rid of some of the crap that OEMs put in, with Xposed Framework & modules and with some really nifty build.prop tricks you can get pretty close to being satisfied with the customizability of your phone.
If you're new to Android though and have never tried custom ROMs you'll be amazed at the sort of stuff that even just root access can do and once we get the bootloader unlock, you'll get even more blown away with flashing new ROMs and checking them out.
Google a bit for something like "Best Root apps for Android" and you'll find that most well known Android blogs have listed the majorly used apps and what you can do with it. You'll get a pretty good idea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info!
Another question, what is exactly the xposed framework?
Ruttix said:
Thanks for the info!
Another question, what is exactly the xposed framework?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Taken from the Xposed website, I believe this explains it pretty nicely
Xposed is a framework for modules that can change the behavior of the system and apps without touching any APKs. That's great because it means that modules can work for different versions and even ROMs without any changes (as long as the original code was not changed too much). It's also easy to undo. As all changes are done in the memory, you just need to deactivate the module and reboot to get your original system back. There are many other advantages, but here is just one more: Multiple modules can do changes to the same part of the system or app. With modified APKs, you to decide for one. No way to combine them, unless the author builds multiple APKs with different combinations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To clarify a bit more, you first root your phone, install Xposed Installer, install the Xposed framework from the Xposed installer and then download & install xposed modules. 'Modules' are essentially just like apps that you install and then enable from the Xposed Installer app. These modules hook into the Xposed framework and can do stuff like root apps can - UI modifications, extending capabilities of default apps like Phone, Messaging, etc.
http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.installer
You can find the Xposed XDA subforum here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed
Ruttix said:
Thanks for the info!
Another question, what is exactly the xposed framework?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
xposed is an app that exposes the core of your operating system (it exposes them to modules made for xposed) to allow modifications that you normally can't do without custom roms.
if4ct0r said:
Taken from the Xposed website, I believe this explains it pretty nicely
To clarify a bit more, you first root your phone, install Xposed Installer, install the Xposed framework from the Xposed installer and then download & install xposed modules. 'Modules' are essentially just like apps that you install and then enable from the Xposed Installer app. These modules hook into the Xposed framework and can do stuff like root apps can - UI modifications, extending capabilities of default apps like Phone, Messaging, etc.
http://repo.xposed.info/module/de.robv.android.xposed.installer
You can find the Xposed XDA subforum here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the extra information. It does, however, leads me to a follow up question.
There's a tool posted here on the forum, called TweakBox, I think. My question is, are the customizations available there a derivative from the xposed framework?
Ruttix said:
Thanks so much for the extra information. It does, however, leads me to a follow up question.
There's a tool posted here on the forum, called TweakBox, I think. My question is, are the customizations available there a derivative from the xposed framework?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. The G3 Tweaksbox is an Xposed Module like I mentioned. You can install the app from the play store or get the apk from the thread and install it manually. You'll need to have Xposed Framework installed before that though.
if4ct0r said:
Yes. The G3 Tweaksbox is an Xposed Module like I mentioned. You can install the app from the play store or get the apk from the thread and install it manually. You'll need to have Xposed Framework installed before that though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing I can't seem to figure out here, those modules, do they come with the framework, or does it supplement tools for developing them?
Ruttix said:
One thing I can't seem to figure out here, those modules, do they come with the framework, or does it supplement tools for developing them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The modules can be obtained independently from XDA threads or from the playstore. These are essentially Android apps which use the Xposed modules APIs to achieve there purpose.
Think of the Xposed Framework as a layer that allows apps(referred as modules) to do stuff by exposing some methods that they can use. (I'm trying my best to explain here without being too technical)
What you need to do is to install the Xposed Installer app, open the app and install the xposed framework from it. That will deploy the framework on the OS. You can then install the modules either by finding them on XDA or again by opening the Xposed installer app and going into the downloads section (you can access a whole repository of modules from thr Xposed installer itself. That being said, it's not the only place to find these modules.)
Once you download the modules and install them like you would any APK, you'll need to enable the module(again from the Xposed Installer app) and reboot your phone. The module would now be active and can be used like any Android app.
The best way to learn is to experiment. ☺ Xposed is quite safe and will not brick your device unless you do something really stupid.
if4ct0r said:
The modules can be obtained independently from XDA threads or from the playstore. These are essentially Android apps which use the Xposed modules APIs to achieve there purpose.
Think of the Xposed Framework as a layer that allows apps(referred as modules) to do stuff by exposing some methods that they can use. (I'm trying my best to explain here without being too technical)
What you need to do is to install the Xposed Installer app, open the app and install the xposed framework from it. That will deploy the framework on the OS. You can then install the modules either by finding them on XDA or again by opening the Xposed installer app and going into the downloads section (you can access a whole repository of modules from thr Xposed installer itself. That being said, it's not the only place to find these modules.)
Once you download the modules and install them like you would any APK, you'll need to enable the module(again from the Xposed Installer app) and reboot your phone. The module would now be active and can be used like any Android app.
The best way to learn is to experiment. ☺ Xposed is quite safe and will not brick your device unless you do something really stupid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually do have some experience with linux and some with programming.. So basically the framework allows you to use APIs you otherwise wouldn't be able to use?
Ruttix said:
I actually do have some experience with linux and some with programming.. So basically the framework allows you to use APIs you otherwise wouldn't be able to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You meaning the module developer. Yes. Check out the Xposed XDA subforum, there used to be a module developer guide in there somewhere.
Say, is this framework for all android devices?
Or are these modules specific for each device?
The Xposed framework is generic. AFAIK it works on all rooted android phones.