Related
I noticed that this thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=437576) was closed recently and to be honest I didn't think it was entirely fair.
Yes, it's true that we should all read the guidance, and yes, it's also true that individual preferences will determine which might be the 'best' ROM.
However, there are 2 reasons why I think that closing the thread was unfair.
First of all, there is too much information, and a lot of it is simply too technical. I want to update my 6.0 ROM because I am using one of sleuth's old ROMs from January. I'm not sure whether to go for a 6.0 or 6.1 ROM. I haven't seen any post which summarises what the strengths and weaknesses are. My understanding is that the benefits of improved usability and battery life are offset by greater instability and slower response, one of the big drawbacks of WM6. So for me, I want usbility, stability, speed, speed and more speed. I don't want to wait a while after pressing a button and I don't want to have to use the stylus. What is the point of having all this cool hardware if it's painfully slow and awkward to use?
For me this is more important than free RAM, video dialling and YouTube. I have no idea which are the fastest ROMs, or whether a WM6.1 ROM can be as fast as a WM6.0 ROM. Also, how bad is the instability? Does this mean crashes every day, couple of days, every week?
There is a lot of mention of Hyperdragon and Manila but I have no idea what this is. Actually I think that Manila is some form of accelerated 2d driver. But what is 'a 2d driver' and how does it differ from 'a 3d driver'?
You can get lots of detailed technical information, but the more basic issues don't seem to be documented. There are so many ROMs, how is a newbie supposed to choose? Flashing the phone and reinstalling/reconfiguring everything is not an instant process and it can take quite a while to get your phone configured just right. Even if you read all the detail, I suspect that newbies will still be somewhat in the dark. Most of us don't have time to try out 3 or 4 ROMs before we settle on the right one.
Finally, the original poster specified (some of) his particular preferences or selection criteria if you like. It should have been possible for people to make recommendations based on this. If some think the question is a bit lame, they will say so. More enlightened users might post links to some information that is genuinely useful, instead of posting something like. "Search the forum, the information is there". Yup, sure, but the phone will probably be obsolete before you find it. Leaving the thread open will allow the debate.
I understand how you might not want lots of posts about the same thing, but if that is the case, then it indicates that the information is not as accessible as it could be. I think it would be useful if for each ROM posted, the chefs could summarise the main points and benefits. For example is the OS 6.0 or 6.1, how fast it is compared the standard. Is there a benchmarking tool? What are the unique benefits? What are the known issues? Some ROMs posted have really excellent documentation, some not, but it doesn't give me any basis for comparison in relation to the things that are important to me - and others I suspect.
This kind of debate is interesting and relevant to me and I suspect some other too.
So if anyone would care to comment on their views on ROM choices, particularly in relation to speed and stability, I would be really grateful.
bigstick said:
This kind of debate is interesting and relevant to me and I suspect some other too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be me.
So if anyone would care to comment on their views on ROM choices, particularly in relation to speed and stability, I would be really grateful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... And Battery life please
im not trying to come down on you but i think your missing the whole point of this site. lets go with battery life for a second. if you had read (and this isnt that technical) the battery does have some to do with the rom but more to do with the radio and what you use the phone for. speed is also dependent on what programs your running. the problem is like has been stated before this site is about not being a spoon fed prossess and trying each rom yourself. if you want to compare them the do just that..let us know what you think bu post in the correct rom. not realy all that difficult
Checkout Windows Mobile 6.0 vs Windows Mobile 6.1 thread
bigstick said:
So if anyone would care to comment on their views on ROM choices, particularly in relation to speed and stability, I would be really grateful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've already commented on my ROM choice over at the Windows Mobile 6.0 vs Windows Mobile 6.1 thread here (only one day old since the last post). I see you posted in it too.
To summarise, for me the HTC official WM 6.0 ROM is miles ahead of their latest WWE WM 6.1 version in terms of general reliability, speed of GPS functioning and reception strength and even simplicity (including WMP program related files not being dumped into my microSD cards music folder). As for customised ROMs, there are posts about that in the same thread.
The site is meant to be how it is. If you never read and do the research yourself you will never figure out how to do this on your own. Yeah, it may be hard to start, I think my first flash took several hours, reading and re-reading the directions, but now I can flash + get all my apps and settings right in less than a half hour. And about how fast the ROMs are, there is really no way to judge that, because they are all updated very frequently and most people re-flash, new bugs show up, things slow down, things speed up, it would just be too hard to keep track of it all in one spot, and it is alot easier to just read. You really need to use a ROM for a few days to get a feel for it, and you can use something like PIM backup so you won't actually lose anything between flashes. Battery life can't be judged good either, because it seems that radios perform differently in different areas, so everyone is always searching for that perfect radio, which is ever-elusive, some get a GPS fix in 10 seconds, but eat 30% of the battery doing it. Some take 3 minutes but you can talk for 324 hours before the battery dies (exaggerations) There are just too many options and too many combinations of radio/ROM/SPL/location that it would be some form of retarded to track it all, and on top of that, all of these people here do this on there own time and dime. Sure there are donations, but no one can pay the rent with the donations received here, why ask them to take more of their time to test and keep detailed statistics (BTW, just because they cooked a ROM dosent mean they magically know if you will like it or not). Last thing, do you buy pants based on online reviews? No? Thats because your ass is different from mine, my ROM might not tickle your fancy, just like when you try on some pants that don't work or fit, what do you do with a ROM? Try a different one. Not meaning to bust your balls, but this is not a simple process, and you've got to do some reading. Yeah, it sucks, but so does not being able to take a pill and instantly know calculus.
Actually, this sort of response is exactly what I was hoping to get.
Sure, different people have different preferences, and posting opinions and justifying their choices is something us novices can learn from. It gives us a starting point to research the ROMs which look most promising.
Regarding the battery life and radio thing - I know, but the thread on V6.0 vs v6.1 specifically mentioned different battery life. I'm sure most of you guys are using suitable radios, I mean you aren't going to choose one for crappy performance are you? So this indicates that the OS version (or the radios available for them) have different performance.
I've already done a lot of reading, but the sad fact is, I still don't have the answers to some basic questions. I do believe (from what I have read here) that a WM6.0 ROM will be faster and more stable than a V6.1 ROM, but I don't know to what extent. Is the difference noticeable? Do the latest Hyperdragon and Manila ROMs make the kaiser the zippy usable phone we wanted when we chose it?
So, even if people just post what ROMs they currently use, why they chose them, how they compare with others they may have used, and give us the benefit of their views and expertise, I think some of us could learn a huge amount.
So, I'm really not trying to be a whiny pain in the butt, just learn a lot more to help me with research.
I actually have an idea, if the MODs would let it fly and possibly sticky it: A comprehensive, detailed ROM review thread. I could make a post for each ROM a user submits a review to me for, and then take the ones that actually have decent content and recommendations and aren't like "Yeah I really enjoy this rom, great rom" and edit the posts accordingly, or have one giant post, or perhaps a wiki page if one doesn't already exist for that purpose.
I'm not much on programming or that great with technical skills to cook, but an up to date review thread could definitely be my way of being able to give back to the community.
i guess you didnt search first
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=409867&highlight=rom+comparison
yeah, figured someone probably got the idea before now. I've never seen that tick through the threads though, guess that's why. When he starts updating again the mods oughta sticky it. My bad on an unoriginal idea.
For starters, if you have an issue with a MOD closing a thread, please PM them. Do not call them out in public.
Second: The previously mentioned thread was closed because there are rules against "best ROM threads" because as Jimmy said, ROMs are very subjective, and there is no definitive answer to suit everyone.
Third: This thread is now being closed as well. As it has already been said, you need to do your research on the different ROMs available. It only takes a few minutes to read up on any given ROM because the chef usually updates one of the first few posts with reported issues and their fixes.
If you require any further clarification, please refer to the announcement at the top of the Kaiser forums.
Hey hows it goin guys...im new to the forums here and im new to windows mobile as well, just recently switched over to the mogul from the instinct and well im wayyy more satisfied with it than I ever was with my instinct.
Right now i'm running a custom ROM on my Mogul, Titanium v. something...it definately improved the usability of the device over the default OS, but still is a little laggy for my taste. Not to fear ill be getting a touch pro either tomorrow or monday so that's where my real interest currently lies.
Lemme get to my point.
Basically i'm here to introduce myself considering ill probably be spending alot of time here (and to be honest, at other forums as well) after I get my pro, and also cause I have some questions about stuff i'd like to understand. Before I ask anything i just wanna make it clear that i personally am very knowledgeable when it comes to techincal aspects of the computer world in general so I don't have too hard of a time understanding majority of things.
Now for my questions.
1. What is the difference between using the default sprint rom or a custom one? Advantages vs. disadvantages? What should I be considering in selecting a ROM for use? What's the best one? What is a 'kitchen'?
2. What is the difference between the different radios? What are the disadvantages/advantages of using different ones? What is the purpose of changing to a different radio? What's the best one?
3. Any important/useful tweaks/hacks/software I should know about to improve the usage of my device? If i'm going to be venturing into the world of 'custom ROM flashing' and 'radios' and etc, what else do I need to know? What different factors should I take into account that will affect the stability of my device?
I think I had some other things I wanted to ask but I can't remember them right now, if i think of them later i'll post.
And I understand that I could probably search and find the answer to some of these questions, but I feel that by asking them this way i'll probably get a better answer. I have a basic understanding of my above questions right now, but i'd like to have a better-than-basic understanding if you know what I mean.
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds to this, I appreciate the help.
shailigum said:
Hey hows it goin guys...im new to the forums here and im new to windows mobile as well, just recently switched over to the mogul from the instinct and well im wayyy more satisfied with it than I ever was with my instinct.
Right now i'm running a custom ROM on my Mogul, Titanium v. something...it definately improved the usability of the device over the default OS, but still is a little laggy for my taste. Not to fear ill be getting a touch pro either tomorrow or monday so that's where my real interest currently lies.
Lemme get to my point.
Basically i'm here to introduce myself considering ill probably be spending alot of time here (and to be honest, at other forums as well) after I get my pro, and also cause I have some questions about stuff i'd like to understand. Before I ask anything i just wanna make it clear that i personally am very knowledgeable when it comes to techincal aspects of the computer world in general so I don't have too hard of a time understanding majority of things.
Now for my questions.
1. What is the difference between using the default sprint rom or a custom one? Advantages vs. disadvantages? What should I be considering in selecting a ROM for use? What's the best one? What is a 'kitchen'?
2. What is the difference between the different radios? What are the disadvantages/advantages of using different ones? What is the purpose of changing to a different radio? What's the best one?
3. Any important/useful tweaks/hacks/software I should know about to improve the usage of my device? If i'm going to be venturing into the world of 'custom ROM flashing' and 'radios' and etc, what else do I need to know? What different factors should I take into account that will affect the stability of my device?
I think I had some other things I wanted to ask but I can't remember them right now, if i think of them later i'll post.
And I understand that I could probably search and find the answer to some of these questions, but I feel that by asking them this way i'll probably get a better answer. I have a basic understanding of my above questions right now, but i'd like to have a better-than-basic understanding if you know what I mean.
Thanks in advance to anyone who responds to this, I appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow link below
Hey guys,
I got a mytouch yesterday and LOVE it...but I already have the itch to mod it.
I came over from a HTC Herald (well a T-Mobile Wing), so I have some experience in this kind of thing....but it seems "rooting" android is a bit (a lot) more technical and difficult. By the end flashing the Wing was a 5 minute job...now I'm reading this forum and have no idea where to start.
So..........some questions, if you don't mind.
1- What is the advantage of rooting the phone? Obviously it allows you to access system files and stuff...but what's out there right now? How are these ROMs different than the stock stuff? I've heard a bit about multitouch...is that true? What else?
2- If I do root the phone, I assume it clears everything off (including my apps I downloaded)? Is there an easy way to back this thing up? And after the process is complete, is there an easy way to redownload all of the apps, or will I have to write them down somewhere to get again?
3- Whenever donut comes out....what happens then? Are the roms usually updated with the new stuff, or might there be issues? Or are the roms so far ahead that donut will be meaningless?
I think I had another question but I'm forgetting it now...anyway, this is a start.
And I apologize in advance for whatever info is already out on these topics. I read much of this forum, and it's tough, because there are so many posts regarding this stuff, it's difficult to sort out the good information.
mikeybags said:
Hey guys,
I got a mytouch yesterday and LOVE it...but I already have the itch to mod it.
I came over from a HTC Herald (well a T-Mobile Wing), so I have some experience in this kind of thing....but it seems "rooting" android is a bit (a lot) more technical and difficult. By the end flashing the Wing was a 5 minute job...now I'm reading this forum and have no idea where to start.
So..........some questions, if you don't mind.
1- What is the advantage of rooting the phone? Obviously it allows you to access system files and stuff...but what's out there right now? How are these ROMs different than the stock stuff? I've heard a bit about multitouch...is that true? What else?
2- If I do root the phone, I assume it clears everything off (including my apps I downloaded)? Is there an easy way to back this thing up? And after the process is complete, is there an easy way to redownload all of the apps, or will I have to write them down somewhere to get again?
3- Whenever donut comes out....what happens then? Are the roms usually updated with the new stuff, or might there be issues? Or are the roms so far ahead that donut will be meaningless?
I think I had another question but I'm forgetting it now...anyway, this is a start.
And I apologize in advance for whatever info is already out on these topics. I read much of this forum, and it's tough, because there are so many posts regarding this stuff, it's difficult to sort out the good information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1 there are many benefits that the average user typically wouldn't need... but, the best off the top of my head are of course installing cooked ROMs, having the ability to make system changes as you see fit, access to tethering applications, access to apk's that allow things like multitouch an array of programs built into your phone... the list really does go on... each ROM has its own elements; some are faster, some include multitouch in a lot of programs, some are based on the GUI known as Rosie developed by HTC (which is probably by far the most wanted implementation by newbie root users), the ROMs differ with each chef, so theres really no nailing it on the head
2 typically, any of the recovery images that are loaded onto your ROM when you're going through the root process will allow you to reload a nandroid backup... search up on nandroid and this will give you all the answers you need to know about system and program backup
3 roms being updated just really depends on the community and the chef of that ROM... when parts of donut were released, most of the chefs on this site started to implement them immediatley into their ROM's for the public... if you want true support from your chef of your specific ROM, then donate, simple as that... its their time they're putting in, so give them compensation as you see fit
Thanks for the response. Donating is definitely key, these guys deserve to be compensated for what they do, even if it is just for hobby. That goes without question.
Do the ROMs speed the phone up or smooth anything out at all? Not that I've had much issue with that, but coming from a wing I'm a bit paranoid about that.
PS....the fact that programs don't "Close" when you exit them is odd. I got a task killer but it's still crazy that I have to go into that to close everything. Probably my only complaint with android so far.
I've been a regular reader of these forums since researching my first Android purchase. Over this time I have seem many new ROM projects born. I would like to argue that many of these projects are so similar that they are pointless.
I'm calling out anyone whoever made a new Hero/HTC-Sense ROM. Seriously. When you saw the 10 other Hero guys out there, what made you think it was better to release your own flavour instead trying to participate in an existing project?
I've taken a look, and as far as I can tell, there should only be 3 non-factory ROM projects:
- CyanogenMod, because of the effort Steve goes to stay 100% legal and teeter on the bleeding edge of Google's source code
- 1 Hero/Sense UI ROM, because we actually only need 1, why don't you guys work together, sheesh
- 1 Blur rip-off ROM, because goodness knows there are going to be people who actually think it's a great idea
Just because Android is based on Linux, doesn't mean we have to make all the same mistakes that has dogged and doomed Linux from the beginning. We don't need to splinter into a billion different distributions, at least not yet. Looking at the feature lists for many of these similar ROMs, the only thing that is different is additional locales or small bug fixes, hardly worth the effort of repackaging. /sigh
*end nerd rage*
i doubt they end. its their project, they build it how they like it and they share it. people do not have to download it. there are many reasons why they release their own, they have more freedom to do what they want. in past rom devs work together then they split up due to differences. working together is all fine and good but this isnt a utopian world haha, people have different opinions on how to move forward with a project.
just because you dont want to download and try different builds dont mean they should stop
jokeyrhyme said:
I've been a regular reader of these forums since researching my first Android purchase. Over this time I have seem many new ROM projects born. I would like to argue that many of these projects are so similar that they are pointless.
I'm calling out anyone whoever made a new Hero/HTC-Sense ROM. Seriously. When you saw the 10 other Hero guys out there, what made you think it was better to release your own flavour instead trying to participate in an existing project?
I've taken a look, and as far as I can tell, there should only be 3 non-factory ROM projects:
- CyanogenMod, because of the effort Steve goes to stay 100% legal and teeter on the bleeding edge of Google's source code
- 1 Hero/Sense UI ROM, because we actually only need 1, why don't you guys work together, sheesh
- 1 Blur rip-off ROM, because goodness knows there are going to be people who actually think it's a great idea
Just because Android is based on Linux, doesn't mean we have to make all the same mistakes that has dogged and doomed Linux from the beginning. We don't need to splinter into a billion different distributions, at least not yet. Looking at the feature lists for many of these similar ROMs, the only thing that is different is additional locales or small bug fixes, hardly worth the effort of repackaging. /sigh
*end nerd rage*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand how you feel, but isn't that what this site is for? If we only had those three ROM's, then this would be a very boring site. I personally like when people take other ROM's and tweak it to their liking. I don't have a clue on how to cook ROM's, but others do, and they might make one that fits my needs. Just my opinion though....
jokeyrhyme said:
I've been a regular reader of these forums since researching my first Android purchase. Over this time I have seem many new ROM projects born. I would like to argue that many of these projects are so similar that they are pointless.
I'm calling out anyone whoever made a new Hero/HTC-Sense ROM. Seriously. When you saw the 10 other Hero guys out there, what made you think it was better to release your own flavour instead trying to participate in an existing project?
I've taken a look, and as far as I can tell, there should only be 3 non-factory ROM projects:
- CyanogenMod, because of the effort Steve goes to stay 100% legal and teeter on the bleeding edge of Google's source code
- 1 Hero/Sense UI ROM, because we actually only need 1, why don't you guys work together, sheesh
- 1 Blur rip-off ROM, because goodness knows there are going to be people who actually think it's a great idea
Just because Android is based on Linux, doesn't mean we have to make all the same mistakes that has dogged and doomed Linux from the beginning. We don't need to splinter into a billion different distributions, at least not yet. Looking at the feature lists for many of these similar ROMs, the only thing that is different is additional locales or small bug fixes, hardly worth the effort of repackaging. /sigh
*end nerd rage*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a regular reader you should know that there are about 5 different versions of Hero floating around to base off of. There are 2 different versions of blur. There is also pulse, donut, cupcake, and variations on them.
Hero includes: Tattoo (a specialized mix of donut and sense), the sense ui merged with magic, the official release Hero, the non-official beta Hero, and the Sprint Hero. (And if you ever read the threads, we do all work together) There are also multiple opinions on BFS and a2sd, which allows for variations.
Blur has both a Hero and a Cyanogen based version, depending on which way they decided to go to get the supporting files for the main system.
The rest are obvious, and I don't feel like going into that much detail.
If we all followed your beleif, updates would take twice as long and not have nearly as many features. Rather than Drizzy, JustAnotherCrowd, Cyrowski, and myself all waiting for the one day we all have 2 hours to meet on google talk, share files, and build an update... JAC relelases an update, Cyrowski writes a new boot image, I restructure the way a2sd operates, and Drizzy comes along and adds in some new apps he restructured to work on that build. Some people choose to stop somewhere along the path and stick to that ROM, others go all the way down the road. If there were only one update, most Devs would spend half the day just telling people how to disable, remove, or add the feature they integrated.
I just dont see how less is more in this case. If you don't like all the updates, do what I do. I have the ones I actually read followed, and I only ever take a quick glance at the first page of posts before checking those. If I miss anything important, it is only ever by a day. If it's that important, it inevitably gets bumped to the first page long before it becomes so old that I surely learned it somewhere else.
*end informed response*
twistedumbrella said:
*end informed response*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe.
Okay, I get that there's a matrix of every possible version of Android against every different sort of UI (ie Hero+Donut, Blur+Cupcake, etc). My shortlist is obviously too short. But it's difficult to pick out, for example, the best Hero ROM. And I can see the same thing happening with Blur as it becomes more and more in vogue.
Watching 3 different Hero versions, you might decide that ROM A almost perfectly suits your needs except for the bug that only got fixed in ROM B. And ROM C has both the features and the bug fix, but has an ugly custom UI somewhere. So then you think to yourself "why don't I just make package D?". The only way you'll know anything for sure is to spend time trying out however many different ROMs knowing very well that there's a chance you'll be forced to compromise. The only differences between many of these ROMs seems to be the Android version, pre-installed applications and custom kernels.
I know I came off fairly irate and impetuous in my original post. But when you can see all these talented developers producing so many different forks and reproducing so much effort, it can be very frustrating for an enthusiastic end user.
twistedumbrella said:
As a regular reader you should know that there are about 5 different versions of Hero floating around to base off of. There are 2 different versions of blur. There is also pulse, donut, cupcake, and variations on them.
Hero includes: Tattoo (a specialized mix of donut and sense), the sense ui merged with magic, the official release Hero, the non-official beta Hero, and the Sprint Hero. (And if you ever read the threads, we do all work together) There are also multiple opinions on BFS and a2sd, which allows for variations.
Blur has both a Hero and a Cyanogen based version, depending on which way they decided to go to get the supporting files for the main system.
The rest are obvious, and I don't feel like going into that much detail.
If we all followed your beleif, updates would take twice as long and not have nearly as many features. Rather than Drizzy, JustAnotherCrowd, Cyrowski, and myself all waiting for the one day we all have 2 hours to meet on google talk, share files, and build an update... JAC relelases an update, Cyrowski writes a new boot image, I restructure the way a2sd operates, and Drizzy comes along and adds in some new apps he restructured to work on that build. Some people choose to stop somewhere along the path and stick to that ROM, others go all the way down the road. If there were only one update, most Devs would spend half the day just telling people how to disable, remove, or add the feature they integrated.
I just dont see how less is more in this case. If you don't like all the updates, do what I do. I have the ones I actually read followed, and I only ever take a quick glance at the first page of posts before checking those. If I miss anything important, it is only ever by a day. If it's that important, it inevitably gets bumped to the first page long before it becomes so old that I surely learned it somewhere else.
*end informed response*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
twisted your roms are always the most polished and daily functionable
i appreciate your input on these forums as well as drizzys and jac's
im glad there are multiple possibilities so i can see which one runs the best for my intended uses
party a may use their phone for internet texting and facebook
when party b may use their phone for calls email and business
party A is using XXXHerorom that runs his needed functions the quickest and most efficient way possible
party b is using XXXherorom that runs his needed functions the quickest and most efficient way possible
jokeyrhyme said:
I've been a regular reader of these forums since researching my first Android purchase. Over this time I have seem many new ROM projects born. I would like to argue that many of these projects are so similar that they are pointless.
I'm calling out anyone whoever made a new Hero/HTC-Sense ROM. Seriously. When you saw the 10 other Hero guys out there, what made you think it was better to release your own flavour instead trying to participate in an existing project?
I've taken a look, and as far as I can tell, there should only be 3 non-factory ROM projects:
- CyanogenMod, because of the effort Steve goes to stay 100% legal and teeter on the bleeding edge of Google's source code
- 1 Hero/Sense UI ROM, because we actually only need 1, why don't you guys work together, sheesh
- 1 Blur rip-off ROM, because goodness knows there are going to be people who actually think it's a great idea
Just because Android is based on Linux, doesn't mean we have to make all the same mistakes that has dogged and doomed Linux from the beginning. We don't need to splinter into a billion different distributions, at least not yet. Looking at the feature lists for many of these similar ROMs, the only thing that is different is additional locales or small bug fixes, hardly worth the effort of repackaging. /sigh
*end nerd rage*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't agree and don't understand your frustration. You use what you want to use, let other people make their own decisions.
I happen to prefer Enomther's roms because they are more customizable in terms of what is included on the rom through the expansion pack and expension pack setup. I don't like arbitrary modifications as I prefer to have my phone close to vanilla Android but have performance improvements added. But going by your opinion it should not exist. Who are you to determine which rom's are pointless? I really don't understand the fuss. Different people have different preferences. If you prefer limited/no choice get an iPhone.
Unfortunately each Rom runs differently on each phone. My friend has the blurry screen problem while I dont. He can only run a few selected roms some of which doesn't do what he wants to do. I have gone though about 30 different roms before settling on one and quite frankly I think its pretty fun. I am on the bleeding edge of. techology.
I wish I would make a Rom. I have so many ideas for one.
The concern about multiple builds makes sense, but other folks have mentioned that different builds fix different things.
I've tried many of the Hero flavors, but sadly (unless I simply missed it) none of them have fully gotten bluetooth to work. I prefer using bluetooth for calling, and so far only Cyanogenmod's roms seemed to be able to nail this on the head. It's what I've been using for quite some time, and has proven to be the quickest and most stable.
It would be great if they all worked on just one version of the Hero rom, but it won't happen. Just imagine how many more are going to pop up when the official SenseUI shows up for the Saphire.
Eh
I completely disagree with the OP. Everyones needs are different and having a build thats just right for you is a luxury that you wouldn't get on most other types of phones. I really don't see an issue with having multiple builds even if they are fairly similar. Its not like we are wasting development time, there is no downside. Some may argue it makes it harder for users to find a good rom, but the bottom line is anyone who is flashing their android phone has an interest in technology and is going to enjoy trying out different builds. And once you've tried a few builds you get a pretty good idea of what your looking for in your ideal build making it much easier to choose. Using your Linux example, between work and home I use 3 different distributions everyday, the reason being each has strengths that make it ideal for specific applications, its not a problem or a mistake, its simply not everyones needs are the same.
Even for the novice like me it is not too hard to make sense out of what is available. I never liked when people do not read full thread before posting a question. Is it a problem of impatient generation or just a simple laziness? IDK.
Also, it has been a exiting jorney for me to learn everything about my phone and tremendous possibilities. Fear of bricking and yet the desire to try new stuff.
There are useful bits and pieces in almost every thread except yours, sorry to say that. There is nothing that can replace user's feedback and their own disoveries that are not necessarily coming from devs or people remotely in the field of android development.
Cease the proliferation of similar ROMs!
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Click to collapse
I also disagree with this thread. More choice is better for everyone!
Also if there are 2 similar roms, as a user rather than a dev you can still take the bits you like from both and make it your own.
jokeyrhyme really? have you made any roms or customized anything for your personal use? if so did you like it? if not, how come you didnt make one custom rom? is it because you dont know how or just rely on others to do it for you? there are soooooo many ppl with different "styles, perceptions and ideals" that one extra rom might be their next rom of choice!! whats wrong with a larger amount of variety? who gives you the right to try and call everyone out when they are the ones spending the time to learn, make and fix all the bugs for everyone when it started off for them selves?!?!? this thread is a joke and is taking up space in development. request for it to be moved to the trash or general. which ever is easiest.
WTF?
Ok at this point i'm kinda getting sick of this whole android forum. Way to much fighting, ignorance, complaints like damn who gives a **** (sorry just vex) who does what or doesnt do what or makes what or doesnt make what. If you dont like something...move onto the next. I mean those who alert the devs/cookers (whatever you choose to call them ) to issues with the rom only for the betterment of the rom are in the right. But when i see dumb **** like "this person's rom does this and that" i get pissed..just reflash that rom sit down shut up and think about that little life of yours that obviously is worthless since you can spend time downing people's work and yet you can make a rom or troubleshoot a rom on your own. Y'all need to relax yourselves find **** that works for you and stick wit hit. If it aint what you want..move on silently. dont fault the creator just move the hell on. Dont post dumb threads like this and most off DONT SAY ****!!! it's these very same forums dedicated to development of our devices that make our devices that much more amazing so dont flood the forum with dumb ****!!!. Show respect to our developers, give em props for taking time out of their lives to make our android experience benificial and super amazing.
I also disagree with OP's sentiment. I'd rather there be as many ROMs as possible than to have my choice restricted to a handful.
And daeshawn you're right, some people are so rude and unappreciative. I just ignore the douchebags and try to contribute as positively as I can.
I completely understand what you're saying. These forums can be really overwhelming at first. But honestly, I enjoy switching between different builds of Android just to see what they're like. Some people want APPS2SD, some don't. Some people want to split FAT32/EXT3/Swap, some don't. There are simply too many combinations for a small set of ROMs to handle.
sigh..... guess well never find the middle of the tootie pop
If a middle ground were to exist it could go something like this:
Everyone can do whatever they want as far as their ROMs go. Perhaps, for new people who might otherwise be overwhelmed with choices, the Q&A (if it doesn't already) could link to a few long-running, stable ROMs that typically accomplish the very basics. And once people get a chance to try those, figuring out what you want becomes a little simpler and the tons of threads start making some coherent sense.
It's like "which is better, Cyanogen's rendition or Enom's" and the answer, for a lot of people, is that it depends. There might be similarities and both ROMs ultimately accomplish a lot of the same things (root, A2SD, compcache, linux swap, etc.) but preferences remain. I like one, you like another. There's no reason both developers, each of whom presumably likes their own, can't go on making what they want to make and offering it out there. More over, the experienced users are already aware of the alternatives.
It's really newbies that might find the choices overwhelming.
As for reinventing the wheel with every ROM, many threads already provide credit to a variety of developers, so clearly the work gets around. Just because they all do it at their own leisure and in the order of their choosing doesn't mean the developers are living in closed bubbles. Maybe the colab work that needs to be done is already being done even if it's not obvious. More over, even if two ROM cookers decide to both implement similar changes apart from each other, the choice to do so is totally in their court. Their time and their money and their brains.
There is kind of, for me, a question of stability. I have a fair confidence, for example, that Cyanogen is not going to drop Android development entirely any time soon and his ROMs will continue to exist with updates and bug fixes. Other developers share this sense of stability, but it's not an all around type of thing. There are ROMs out there now that are interesting because they are cool and new, but will they still be maintained a year from now is another question entirely. And I think that's a legitimate concern and reason for wanting at least a few long-lasting ROMs. Because, essentially, if 5 devs work on something and one gets bored, there's still 4 left. Conversely, if there's only one dev and he/she decides they're done, now what?
Just my $.02
I've no issue with the number of roms.
however, what is missing is a simple resource that lists them and a summary of features.
trying to wade through all the post to see what does what is a total ball ache. I think this is more the problem than the number of roms.
An up to date one pager that showed the current status of what was available would be perfect.
Well, I totally deserve all the hate this thread has brought my way.
*bows head in shame*
I agree that if there was ever a place to test out dozens of difference features, then this is that place. So it's totally appropriate to have as many different ROMs as there are demands for different features and such.
I do think more could be done to draw new users towards stable and long-term projects, as has been suggested by sleepykit and moa77. Maybe that's really the solution I was after. An update to the listing or something perhaps?
Sorry about being a poohead, I'll be good now.
*hugs all round*
PS. I changed the topic title to be less evil and more open.
hi could you post some good beginners reading guides on anything related to whatever you do since im new. im new so i ask questions like http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2392704
actually someone new won't even know what bluestack is.
i have to start reading up on all this stuff. it doesnt have to be on this site, just readings so i have a better understanding of all this
pleaseeeeeeeeee
phonebroken said:
hi could you post some good beginners reading guides on anything related to whatever you do since im new. im new so i ask questions like http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2392704
actually someone new won't even know what bluestack is.
i have to start reading up on all this stuff. it doesnt have to be on this site, just readings so i have a better understanding of all this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you mentioned your eager to understand what goes on here at XDA I would highly recommend taking a look at this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2073370. It contains links to approximately 108 guides that explains everything from what is logcat and compiling Android from source to explaining about MODs and Tweaks, to how to compile and modify your own Android ROMs. Also if you still have any questions feel free to ask me I'll be happy to help you out .
Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium
great! though i need an overview guide --
like what is a rom?
why would you want to port or create roms?
why do you want to log?
same with the other topics
none of these seem especially helpful or specific to my problem :/
i think the "Tools and mods,tweaks" and "Misc" sections has the most helpful things
but the guides needs to be ranked. there's a lot of bad info out there
phonebroken said:
great! though i need an overview guide --
like what is a rom?
why would you want to port or create roms?
why do you want to log?
same with the other topics
none of these seem especially helpful or specific to my problem :/
i think the "Tools and mods,tweaks" and "Misc" sections has the most helpful things
but the guides needs to be ranked. there's a lot of bad info out there
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To answer your questions:
like what is a rom?
A ROM as defined on the XDA wiki and the Android terms glossary thread is:
The ROM holds the Operating system and other components such as the bluetooth and wifi stacks. The ROM is accompanied by the Radio, Ext_ROM, SPL and IPL. Carriers such as T-mobile or Vodaphone taylor the ROM to their specifications and version numbers do not carry the same meaning across different carriers. IF the carrier you use supports the device well they will usually release regular ROM updates.
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Rom/Firmware:Read-Only Memory and technically speaking, it refers to the internal storage of a device, which is supposed to contain the operating system instructions that needn’t be modified at all during the device’s normal operation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why would you want to port or create roms?
Developers create and port ROM's for a variety of reasons. One reason is because they want the latest version of Android on a device that doesn't officially support the latest version of Android. For example the last officially supported version of Android on the Nexus S was 4.1.2 but developers compiled Android 4.3 for it so Nexus S users can enjoy all the latest features and benefits of Android 4.3. A second reason is because developers add features and performance enhancements that the original device manufacturer never could have envisioned or left out. Cyanogenmod, AOKP, and Paranoid Android are all perfect examples of custom ROM's that were developed to increase performance and add many new features. A third reason, is that if you like a ROM but it isn't available for your device, developer's will port it over do the device they want it on (Note: This process can range from very simple to extremely complex) so they have that ROM's features on there device. A fourth reason is theming, some times user's will create custom ROM's that include a heavily modified or changed user interface and then distribute the changes. However ROM's that are just themed and no other changes made are becoming less prevalent due to additions of universal theme engines such as the XPOSED Framework .
why do you want to log?
Logging allows developers to see where the problems are and what is causing certain functionality such as Wifi, graphics, touchscreen, app problems, etc. to not work correctly. The log gives a detailed report of what is not working and a starting point troubleshooting where the error occurs. Developers then look at the logs and fix the error messages they are receiving. Without logs it would be close to impossible to fix any problems you ran into when developing a ROM.
Another set of guides that is an excellent source of information is -NickHalden-'s Guide Ride-From a Newbie to a Dev, Get all you need here. It takes you like you wanted from just understanding the basics, all the way up to developing ROM's and other cool stuff yourself. It also includes a very helpful numerical order that you can follow along so you don't miss any important information along the way. Also I am curious as to what you mean by "but the guides needs to be ranked. there's a lot of bad info out there"? Can you give an example? Additionally you can rate threads and see the threads ratting if they have one at the top of the thread for what users have rated it, this is usually (Though not always) a good indication of how helpful people have found the information in that thread. And if you have any other questions let me know I'm always happy to answer them .
thanks so much! i obviously didn't know what i was getting myself into... you explain these basics really really clearly so you have a talent for it =)
oh the threads do have ratings. didn't notice it. that's great!!
i think that these helpful things should be more central, like the info you gave is very helpful, and places like wikipedia, etc. won't explain it's relevance very well
i have a question on mobile + tablet though. so most people likely don't user their phones to type very much, but being able to type is important to me and i don't think the current state is good
so i wanted to know when you think 'they' will develop a phone that is much bigger but smaller than the smallest current laptop
last i check the smallest was http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Yoga-11S-Ultrabook.96315.0.html
and smallest keyboard were
http://www.ianker.com/product/98APIPAD-02BTA
http://androidspin.com/2012/09/19/j...-worlds-smallest-fordable-bluetooth-keyboard/
or a tablet with a keyboard that is smaller than the current state because it's too big
so basically the current is too small and too big for what some of us need, and i wanted to know if someone can predict when they're come out with the perfect size for some of us
phonebroken said:
thanks so much! i obviously didn't know what i was getting myself into... you explain these basics really really clearly so you have a talent for it =)
oh the threads do have ratings. didn't notice it. that's great!!
i think that these helpful things should be more central, like the info you gave is very helpful, and places like wikipedia, etc. won't explain it's relevance very well
i have a question on mobile + tablet though. so most people likely don't user their phones to type very much, but being able to type is important to me and i don't think the current state is good
so i wanted to know when you think 'they' will develop a phone that is much bigger but smaller than the smallest current laptop
last i check the smallest was http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Yoga-11S-Ultrabook.96315.0.html
and smallest keyboard were
http://www.ianker.com/product/98APIPAD-02BTA
http://androidspin.com/2012/09/19/j...-worlds-smallest-fordable-bluetooth-keyboard/
or a tablet with a keyboard that is smaller than the current state because it's too big
so basically the current is too small and too big for what some of us need, and i wanted to know if someone can predict when they're come out with the perfect size for some of us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding a central place to find information the easiest way to find it to often search either using XDA's "Search All Forums" button in the upper right hand corner, or to use Google and search something such as "xda {your search term here}" or "{your search term here} xda" (For example "xda root nexus 10" etc.). Another way to find things is simply browse through the massive amount of helpful information that can be found on XDA simply by browsing around, I have learned countless, countless things this way. If there is a specific subject or topic your interested in let me know and I'll be happy to help you look for it or point you in the right direction. To answer your keyboard question, this is a interesting dilemma as an incoming computer engineering student problems like the one your described are very fascinating to me. I suspect what will happen in the future (2-3 years or sooner) is that we will see fold-able screens that we can roll up and put in our pockets or much more flexible keyboards that you can roll up into your pocket will be developed. But overall the keyboard and real typing experience you mentioned is a very real dilemma.
phonebroken said:
thanks so much! i obviously didn't know what i was getting myself into... you explain these basics really really clearly so you have a talent for it =)
oh the threads do have ratings. didn't notice it. that's great!!
i think that these helpful things should be more central, like the info you gave is very helpful, and places like wikipedia, etc. won't explain it's relevance very well
i have a question on mobile + tablet though. so most people likely don't user their phones to type very much, but being able to type is important to me and i don't think the current state is good
so i wanted to know when you think 'they' will develop a phone that is much bigger but smaller than the smallest current laptop
last i check the smallest was http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Lenovo-IdeaPad-Yoga-11S-Ultrabook.96315.0.html
and smallest keyboard were
http://www.ianker.com/product/98APIPAD-02BTA
http://androidspin.com/2012/09/19/j...-worlds-smallest-fordable-bluetooth-keyboard/
or a tablet with a keyboard that is smaller than the current state because it's too big
so basically the current is too small and too big for what some of us need, and i wanted to know if someone can predict when they're come out with the perfect size for some of us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something like this maybe?