[Q]Personalizing my Desire S - HTC Desire S

I just got a Desire S from my employer which I have to use, and I'm completely new to Android so I don't know much about the OS. I used to be quite active on XDA back when I had WM6.5, but after using WP7 I haven't been looking much at these forums.
What do you guys suggest I do with my phone to get started with customizing my phone? At the moment I'm not too interested in doing things which will break the warranty. Was thinking more about great apps, themes and things like that

Espentf said:
I just got a Desire S from my employer which I have to use, and I'm completely new to Android so I don't know much about the OS. I used to be quite active on XDA back when I had WM6.5, but after using WP7 I haven't been looking much at these forums.
What do you guys suggest I do with my phone to get started with customizing my phone? At the moment I'm not too interested in doing things which will break the warranty. Was thinking more about great apps, themes and things like that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See the thread about recommended apps in http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1207343
read wnp_79's great sticky Android introduction guide
These are my apps stored within App Brain.
There are then loads of other sticky guides and threads to read which should keep you busy for weeks/months.

Related

[Q] New to Rooting

Hello,
I apologize if this is a redundant post but I am becoming increasingly confused as I try and figure out what I'm doing.
I just recently switched from a two year old blackberry to the Inspire 4G. I love the phone and recently had surgery so I am stuck in a chair for a while which is forcing me to find fun things to do with my phone.
I have done some research on rooting the phone but there is just so much information out there and none of it seems to be all that consistant to me. I like the way the phone runs out of the box so I hate to go flashing the ROM and messing with what isn't broken. I would just like someone to clarify what all of this is about so here are my questions...
What is rooting and what are the advantages of it(besides removing bloatware)? What cool things have you done with rooting?
Is there any way to root the phone in order to remove the bloatware and then unroot it easily so my warrenty does not become void?
In other words, I would like to temporaraly root my phone in order to remove the bloatware. Then once this is done I would like it to go back to the way it was before the root with the exception of the bloatware being there.
Is what I want to do possible? Is it easy, and what would be the easiest way to accomplish this? If its not possible what should I do and how should I do it?
I hope this isn't too much, and if I am asking in the wrong place please direct me to the correct place to ask this sort of question. Thanks for all your help in advance!
-Mike
Belongs in General. Read there. Search Google "advantage of rooting my phone "
Read about the ROMS in this dev forum
Link on my signature for my thread on MIUI ROM if you'd like to learn about it.
Without rooting - what you bought is what you got.
Sent using XDA Premium
MrGarak's 1.4.1v3 MIUI
cattleprod's 1.8Ghz cyan0#3.7
I was in your spot a couple weeks ago, but I had come from a jailbroken iphone. All I can say is, there aren't *many* great walkthroughs, so it took me a good day or two of just looking around XDA to finally feel comfortable. If you don't feel comfortable, don't do it, but it takes a little research the first time.
That said, I'm very happy I rooted my phone, and this site has pretty much been my only resource.
Thread moved

[Q] Anybody Running HTC Sense ROM?

Hey guys,
New user here (and a CS major), so I know a little bit about what rooting and flashing is, however have NEVER done it, so implementation wise, I'm very naive about how to do it, and I definitely don't want to mess my phone up. My first Android device was purchased in November of last year with the MyTouch 4G. Made a great decision. Decided to upgrade to a G2X just recently, got it in Friday, purchased the docks for it today (which yes, I am slightly disappointed with)....but I miss the HTC Sense ROM.
Basically I'm wondering if the HTC Sense ROM is smoother and if anybody is using it on the phone yet. Any feedback would be great. Thanks guys!
Also, is there any way to change what the "hard" buttons on the front are set to do? If I rooted it could I change what these buttons did. I'd like to use the 'genius' button that HTC has on their MyTouch 4G instead of search.
I've also read through some of the threads about rooting and flashing to a new ROM. Basically is there anything I should know being a newbie when it comes to flashing and changing the ROM on it? Any hints or tips?
Thanks again!
There are no roms for the G2x yet.
This includes steps for Root: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1050534
Once you have root access, you can go into the Market and download "Rom Manager".
This will download and install a custom Recovery Console which allows flashing.
Again, the phone is so new, there are no available Roms available at this time. We do have Root and Recovery which is 2/3 the way there.
Again, so I'm a little new to this whole rooting stuff, so there is no HTC Sense that will work with this phone because I have found some downloads, but I'm just not sure if they would work.
Again, I'm new here, so I don't know if this is one of those things I will have to wait a while for or what...any idea based on past phones?
GSUFan513 said:
Again, so I'm a little new to this whole rooting stuff, so there is no HTC Sense that will work with this phone because I have found some downloads, but I'm just not sure if they would work.
Again, I'm new here, so I don't know if this is one of those things I will have to wait a while for or what...any idea based on past phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also love HTC Sense. It's the only thing I miss about the MyTouch 4g. I'm not sure which ROMS you are referring to, but there are no ROMS available for our phone yet, including Sense ROMS. I'd be very careful about flashing anything until you're comfortable with the steps, and lingo.
Got the G2X last week, upgraded from a virgin G1. I am also new to the root world. I have been browsing around the site here for the last couple of days. There is a wealth of information here, but it is a little overwhelming... Is there a thread/sticky/website that goes over the basics for a beginner. I apoligize in advance for being a newb.....
Thanks,
Mike
GSUFan513 said:
Again, so I'm a little new to this whole rooting stuff, so there is no HTC Sense that will work with this phone because I have found some downloads, but I'm just not sure if they would work.
Again, I'm new here, so I don't know if this is one of those things I will have to wait a while for or what...any idea based on past phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you really,really,really, need to STOP, and read. not being an ass. but, you're saying you've found some downloads,yet have no idea what they are. ???? or what phone they're for. or if they'll brick your phone. the devs are working on things to make it super simple for people like you to root and install roms. do them a favor by reading. and then, read a little more. ask some questions. post them in the correct section. and take peoples advice. that's the best advice i can give you. and, read the stickies at the top of threads.
WorldWide60 said:
I also love HTC Sense. It's the only thing I miss about the MyTouch 4g. I'm not sure which ROMS you are referring to, but there are no ROMS available for our phone yet, including Sense ROMS. I'd be very careful about flashing anything until you're comfortable with the steps, and lingo.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually work for T-Mobile, I feel pretty comfortable with what I'm doing, and have no qualms about flashing but I will be careful as always about it. Yeah, I REALLY miss the messaging portion and genius button of the mytouch. Would love to get those two options back....
Also about my second question, when flashed does it change the outter "hard" buttons too? For instance instead of search could I use the search button as a genius button?
snp304 said:
Got the G2X last week, upgraded from a virgin G1. I am also new to the root world. I have been browsing around the site here for the last couple of days. There is a wealth of information here, but it is a little overwhelming... Is there a thread/sticky/website that goes over the basics for a beginner. I apoligize in advance for being a newb.....
Thanks,
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In time I think there will more guides/stickies. Unfortunately for you guys, I think the majority of the people that bought a G2x came from previous phones that they were flashing, rooting, and modding. You're in the right spot. XDA is definitely the best place to learn.
GSUFan513 said:
I actually work for T-Mobile, I feel pretty comfortable with what I'm doing, and have no qualms about flashing but I will be careful as always about it. Yeah, I REALLY miss the messaging portion and genius button of the mytouch. Would love to get those two options back....
Also about my second question, when flashed does it change the outter "hard" buttons too? For instance instead of search could I use the search button as a genius button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so far, there's a hack to map the search button to the camera app. it works great. and the same button snaps pics if you like.
I hate HTC sense, and every other android skin for that matter, although certain tidbits of TouchWiz are nice. You won't find sense on the g2x anytime soon, it's designed for HTC phones specifically, so porting it to a different brand would be very difficult and tedious.
GSUFan513 said:
I actually work for T-Mobile, I feel pretty comfortable with what I'm doing, and have no qualms about flashing but I will be careful as always about it. Yeah, I REALLY miss the messaging portion and genius button of the mytouch. Would love to get those two options back....
Also about my second question, when flashed does it change the outter "hard" buttons too? For instance instead of search could I use the search button as a genius button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As was said before, there are no custom ROMs out yet. Once they start coming in, I'd ask that question to the devs so they could potentially make that an option
WorldWide60 said:
In time I think there will more guides/stickies. Unfortunately for you guys, I think the majority of the people that bought a G2x came from previous phones that they were flashing, rooting, and modding. You're in the right spot. XDA is definitely the best place to learn.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, gotta say, that I love the phone, of course coming from a virgin G1, who wouldn't. Looking forward to learning and making it even better.
Thanks for the feedback guys, I found what I was asking. Sorry if this thread was in the wrong location, I guess I'm just antsy to see some HTC Sense ROMS.
crazythunder said:
you really,really,really, need to STOP, and read. not being an ass. but, you're saying you've found some downloads,yet have no idea what they are. ???? or what phone they're for. or if they'll brick your phone. the devs are working on things to make it super simple for people like you to root and install roms. do them a favor by reading. and then, read a little more. ask some questions. post them in the correct section. and take peoples advice. that's the best advice i can give you. and, read the stickies at the top of threads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice job not being an ass *blinks*, I HAVE read the stickies, and spent the past hour or so looking through threads, just looking for a little clarification. I didn't realize that there were different ROM for different Phones. (Thought it might be like Windows to PCs, doesn't matter on the manufacturer of the PC, you can install windows on it as long as it meets bottom end reqs) If I had understood that, I wouldn't have asked the question.
And don't act like I'm not Tech savvy. I fix computers as a side job, I'm a developer and about to graduate with a Computer Science degree from a good nationally certified university. But I haven't worked in phone development at all, so this stuff is something I'm learning about. Again, I was just asking a few questions, don't get your panties in a wad.
You wont see a sense rom anytime soon, this isnt a htc device. Return the phone and wait for the htc sensation
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
sorry bout the "treating you like a newb" lol. i'm just a techie, no dev skills. you probably know more crap than me. i just see "2 posts" and questions about how to root as "oh no, this guy\girl is going to brick their phone!"lol
no offense intended. i just come off the wrong way sometimes.
huntman21014 said:
You wont see a sense rom anytime soon, this isnt a htc device. Return the phone and wait for the htc sensation
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I don't think we'll see a Sense rom but anything can happen. Usually people with Sense and the Genius button go the other way (want a dedicated search and pure android)
The good thing is Sense can be replicated to a certain degree using themed launchers. There are even iPhone themed launchers. I use Launcher Pro because they have several special widgets that function and behave much like some of the Sense variants. The recent release of Launcher Pro has added themes to the mix, and are already lots of "Sense" themed Launcher Pro widgets and dock styles.
As far as the Genius button, I've never used it. I DO know that the Search key is awesome and allows searching in most apps. Also you should download "Google Voice Search" (not Google Voice, that is Visual Voicemail) and map it to a long press of the search button. Then you can just press and hold and say, "map pizza" or "call mom" or "text girlfriend hey I'm running late. see you in 30 minutes."
Hey!
Sense is not impossible, but you're probably not going to see it for a looong time if it does ever happen. HTC's software mantra is "lock-and key"-- only HTC branded phones have the correct permissions/drivers/guts in general to flash Sense ROMs. I've been waiting for one on the Vibrant since release. They got one booting, but it's far from stable and the whole project has been abandoned due to difficulty.
I second the "read, read, read" theme. Go to the vibrant or atrix or nexus s forum for example. (any comparable smart/superphone will do). Read THOSE stickies/posts/comments in alllll the sections. You have to get a feel for the lingo around here. This website comes complete with its own independent subculture. Which is unfortunately titled "geek".
I would say the most important part to learning however, is trying... and then totally ****ing it up and freaking out aaaand, since you don't want to have a $200 brick on your hands, you are forced by circumstance to learn :] As a word of encouragement, I've been from vibrant to nexus one and back and I find that even with all the ass-backwards stuff I did the first time I tried making/flashing zips/unlocking bootloaders/using fastboot for the first time etc., it's actually pretty damn hard to brick a phone beyond repair if you have half a brain.
CS major eh? Went to carnegie mellon myself. The place was full of them :] Being that the g2x has no ROMs, you're a cs major and you're most likely monetarily bound to an open source phone os for the next 2 years, why not download the android sdk and start cookin' up some ROMs yourself??? I've been told by people who do it that it's not that hard to learn. Carpe Diem my friend.
Any questions? PM me. The community around here used to be really really cool and helpful and informative. Now it kind of sucks :/

[Q] [q] help needed now!

im New to all this developers , and Rooting & modifying stuff.
But i really want to learn .
Like i want the basics first like how to root , what happens when you root , what to avoid , i mean i wanna know everything. Is There Anybody ? annnnnyyyybody Who will like to be a helping hand , and teach me the basic nessecities of this Developers world. ?
why don't you just google "android root tutorial" ?
there's plenty of faq's around.
Most of your questions will be answered in your phones "Android Development" forum
What phone do you have?
ok. i'll try that now.
isinisterx said:
Most of your questions will be answered in your phones "Android Development" forum
What phone do you have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And i have an HTC Evo 3D , ive always been in to technology , especially Phones , im just ready to take it to the next level and start rooting .
Yeah, I had a blackberry bold 9780 since the day it was released, and I always used to follow this site on android development. But when the Nexus S was released on Rogers, I had to switch, and it took me a while to figure out how to Root the device but I love everything about this phone and technology for that matter.
isinisterx said:
Yeah, I had a blackberry bold 9780 since the day it was released, and I always used to follow this site on android development. But when the Nexus S was released on Rogers, I had to switch, and it took me a while to figure out how to Root the device but I love everything about this phone and technology for that matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so In a sense , What does rooting do for you.?
It gives you full control of the phone. One some phones, you can't do some things without root. Like screen shot programs need a level of access to your phone that is only available if you root it.
one of the best parts of rooting is having the ability to use customs roms which add a ton of features to your device. You can also over clock for faster speeds, take screen shots,use custom themes to make your phone look cooler, and a lot more.
Cheers
P.S. if this is good information hit the thanks button
If you want to learn some app development you should check out Cornboyz youtube channel.. i was in your position a couple months ago and that helped me a lot. Theres nothing about rooting there but start at tutorial 1 and its an awesome intro to eclipse and android dev
youtube.com/user/CornboyzAndroid
HeZ
AmericanLeqacy said:
so In a sense , What does rooting do for you.?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a member posted above, it gives you full access to your phone. So you can change the rom, kernal, radio band etc. It's a neat thing to mess around with if your into technology and these types of things.
But do be aware that rooting your phone does void your warranty
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
just search through the whole forum, you'll find many many many information
isinisterx said:
As a member posted above, it gives you full access to your phone. So you can change the rom, kernal, radio band etc. It's a neat thing to mess around with if your into technology and these types of things.
But do be aware that rooting your phone does void your warranty
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mess around too much, though, and you brick your phone, so you gotta be careful

What books do you want?

Hi Everyone,
My names Martin and I work for Packt Publishing in the UK.
Im currently looking at a book on Android Rooting, ROMS, themeing etc.
I just wanted input from you on what should be included in the book as the only similar title on amazon has terrible reviews!
If you have any ideas on any other android titles you think would be useful let me know here.
We would also be looking for an author if this book gets through our commitment process as well as technical reviewers. They would most likely come from these forums.
Thanks,
M
This would be very difficult. The reason being, the android rooting and romming game is very fluid. What works one day, may not hold true the next due to software updates. Even rooting exploits are ever evolving. Then add the variance of many many different devices, all with thier own quirks and such. Just saying.
Thanks for the reply.
Understandably given the ever changing releases of android teh subject is a minefield.
I think it is definitely a market for such a book its just finding the right angle.
hmm bro its very dificult
How did you get into Roms, Themes etc???
What resources did you use?
Mart_Packt said:
How did you get into Roms, Themes etc???
What resources did you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the folks mainly this forum. And google ofcourse.
Cause its device specific, in most cases. At least in terms of rooting.
For theming, flashing etc its mainly similar.
But I would say, stuff I've mentioned are the top of the iceberg.
Anyhow, good luck!
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

Help with HTC desire 626s, mods, bootloader, roms. (NOOB)

Hello every one I'm new here and love it!! I'm actually a noob at this but want to learn and gets my attention, something new for once and love everything about electronic a but never looked into it until now and so far love it and no regrets .with that being said I want to learn more about what my phone can be capable of ,been reading alot of forums, info and stuff like that but none fit my category. So since I'm new at this I don't any computer or laptop so a little bit harder for me to find out how to:
MODIFY ROM
REMOVE BOOTLOADER
ROOT MY PHONE
OR ANY OTHER MODS OR APPS
So please if you guys can help me out with anything
I'll appreciate it ,any apps, mods, or downloads that I can do just using
The phone I'll really appreciate just starting this but looking forward on getting computer. Love the, app and forums and definetely
Staying a member and keep learning. Thank you and have a nice day.

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