Hello everyone,
What exactly does Clean Rom do? How is it different from what comes with the phone stock? Will Clean Rom mess with the updates that are pushed to our phones? Any big differences between layout?
Sorry for all the questions. I'm just not familiar with modifying my phone.
Must read more. Spend as much time as you can reading in the dev section. Clean ROM removes all of the ATT bloat and adds functionality like the FM radio and remapping the 3 dot menu button that takes up screen real-estate to the recent apps softkey. The recent apps can be accessed by holding down the home button, like we're familiar with. It also has performance and battery tweaks (says so in the changelog, haven't been using it long enough to notice). I flashed it the day before yesterday and I'm liking it.
Sent from my HTC One X
Clean Rom doesn't use profane language, think of it as the Will Smith of Roms...
Sent from my HOX running WCX
Did you bother to go to the Development forum, and read the CleanROM threads? They very well describe the features of each version of CleanROM.
You don't ever want to install an OTA update once on a custom ROM. It won't be compatible. Either it won't install, or it will remove root, or it will totally bork the system. The devs typically keep their ROM updated to the newest firmware base, and often long before the OTAs go out. So there is virtually never a benefit to updating via OTA (even if it did work).
Most custom ROMs prevent you from even getting an update pushed in the first place. Kind of a non-issue there.
To the OP, if you want to flash custom, just do it. Spend a few days on Clean, try out Smokin's ROM, too. Just find something you like. Worst that can happen is you RUU back to stock.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
SoberGuy said:
Most custom ROMs prevent you from even getting an update pushed in the first place. Kind of a non-issue there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on the device, and I believe the carrier (and maybe the custom ROM as you mentioned). I've gotten OTA notification, and even able to download OTA (didn't install it, just to see if it would actually download . . . some have said custom ROMs will prevent that too) on 2 previous HTC devices on custom ROMs. But one was a Canada Bell phone used on AT&T, and the other was the WiFi-only Flyer tablet. So it may be that AT&T somehow directly blocks OTA to rooted phones.
redpoint73 said:
Depends on the device, and I believe the carrier (and maybe the custom ROM as you mentioned). I've gotten OTA notification, and even able to download OTA (didn't install it, just to see if it would actually download . . . some have said custom ROMs will prevent that too) on 2 previous HTC devices on custom ROMs. But one was a Canada Bell phone used on AT&T, and the other was the WiFi-only Flyer tablet. So it may be that AT&T somehow directly blocks OTA to rooted phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think att can see your on a custom ROM, it has to do with if the developer is able to include that ability or not.
Thank you for the replies!
I'm trying my best to understand how Clean Rom works. Is it the same thing as rooting a phone? Any disadvantages of using Clean Rom?
I'm just curious about how it works because I tried jailbreaking my iPhone and that made it very crash prone. It's a bad example but it's the reason why I never tried using custom software again but I'm interested in giving this a try. I only get about 2 hours screen time and about 12 hours of screen off time for my phone to die.
I did the HTC battery test and my phone went down to 92% so I'm pretty sure it's not the battery that's wrong with the phone.
RPTheLefty said:
I'm trying my best to understand how Clean Rom works. Is it the same thing as rooting a phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears you need to do more reading to get a better understanding or root, ROMs, etc.
Root is just a change of permissions on your phone. It allows the user and apps access to system files that are normally restricted. Nothing more, nothing less.
Clean ROM (or installation of any custom ROM) is a total replacement of the firmware or operating system of the phone (also called a "ROM"). Clean ROM in particular is mostly based on the latest stock firmware version, but cleaned up to remove bloat, optimizations to make it faster and smoother, and some cool added features. There are 3 different versions of CleanROM. Just read the threads for each version to learn the differences.
I don't really keep up with iPhone stuff. But my understanding is that jailbreaking adds functionality, but makes the system less stable.
Whether a custom ROM on Android makes the phone more or less stable depends on the ROM. Some are ported from other phones, to give new UI look or functions, but can be a bit buggy at first. But any good ROM will be stable once it reaches "maturity" and the bugs are worked out. They can be very stable, and even more stable and smoother than the stock ROM. Which is one of the points of running a custom ROM.
CleanROM in particular is based on stock firmware, just cleaned up. So its very stable. Just as stable as stock, a bit smoother in some places, and with some awesome added features. Any disadvantages? Not really. But you need to unlock the bootloader to install any custom ROM, which voids the warranty. nd flashing anything to the phone has the risk of damage if you don't follow the instructions properly. Thats the only downsides I can think of (for any custom ROM, not just for CleanROM).
Redpoint had an excellent summary.
If you're looking for battery life improvement, there are significant advantages to a custom ROM. Some will allow you to adjust the clock rate for the processors. So you can turn the up a bit (overclock) to get incredible performance, or you can turn them down a bit (underclock) to get better battery life.
If that's your main goal, I personally suggest Sick Sense from Smokingl337. He has incorporated this into his ROM, and the reports I've seen have been positive. I had used his ROM before, and I did like it. The day I flashed CleanROM due to a minor bug, Smokinl337 updated his ROM to fix that bug. Figures! But I'll be going back to Sick Sense pretty soon, I'm sure.
Hopefully you can find something that works for you.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
Different kernel or different radio may also help battery life.
But you need to root, SuperCID, and unlock bootloader to do any of these things (including flashing custom ROMs). So head over to Development and start reading:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671237
There is also a clean rom developers edition that takes out most of the HTC sense... there is the cm9 alpha 4 rom that seems very stable...
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2
OP, I was in your shoes last week. New to android/roms etc. I rooted, unlocked the bootloader and flashed Clean Rom. Just follow the instructions in the associated threads and you'll be fine.
Related
im hoping to generate a consensus from this post. i see some ppl like to sbf before each new rom install and other not. is it necessary and why>?
From my understanding of the ROM development for the android platforms that still have to have proprietary frameworks, ie: Motoblur (droid2/X) and Touch Wiz (Galaxy S) you are not wiping and installing a whole new operating system like you do when you flash a HTC phone. So youre really just adding onto what you already have as a base. So it would be like taking a car and taking out stock parts and swapping for performance parts like exhaust, intake, etc.
This is just my understanding, it could be wrong. But my opinion and preference is when you change development teams like team defuse to say Jrummy16 roms, I like to SBF to stock to have a clean base. Sure its a PITA, but it keeps things from going horribly wrong.
gammaxgoblin said:
im hoping to generate a consensus from this post. i see some ppl like to sbf before each new rom install and other not. is it necessary and why>?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SBFing before installing a new ROM is something I would recommend. I have had slight problems such as the clock keeping the color from the ROM before it, and just minor stuff like that. I really don't think its needed but I would say if you plan on keeping the new ROM for a long amount of time it would be better to SBF first just so you know that everything is going to be okay.
I would also advice to sbf back to stock, reroot and then insstall the new custom rom you want to run.
the only reason is since the roms are all diffrent then one another and have to generall base (besides stock) then flashing (sbf) to stock is a good idea to have the rom running at the fastest most stable potential.
Hello,
Ever since the latest update from HTC to Desire S I have been thinking about unlocking, rooting and flashing custom a ROM into my Desire S. I have been reading in this forum to get information if its possible after the last update and also if it would be worth it. It would seem that the easiest way is to unlock the bootloader with HTCdev.com and then continue with the backup and flashing of a new ROM. Can anyone confirm this method?
I've of course heard the arguments that the custom ROMs use less battery and are more stable but when I read through the forum I always manage to find people having problems with connectivity and battery life, even in the latest CyanogenMod ROMs. This makes me a bit hesitant to make the step into a life of custom ROMs since I dont want to get there and realising that my original phone worked better. So can someone confirm that they custom ROMs actually are better in any of the following critera:
- Stability
- Speed
- Battery efficiency
Secondly I would like some tips about good ROMs for the Desire S. Of what I've managed to find out CynaogenMod seems like a good choice. MIUI seems to look to much like iOS for my taste. And I'm not sure that I want or need a Sense ROM, I am currently having a hard time figuring out why sense is something I should use. How stable are the latest Sense 3.5 ROMs vs. CynaogenMod?
I will be very grateful for any thoughts and tips, especially if you are a noob like me. I have only ever jailbroken an iPhone 3G and that process was extremely easy and seems to differ quite a bit from unlocking, rooting and flashing an Android phone.
Thanks,
Andreas
edit: Is there any big difference between the nightly build and the "stable" build of CynaogenMod?
thebiffman said:
Hello,
Ever since the latest update from HTC to Desire S I have been thinking about unlocking, rooting and flashing custom a ROM into my Desire S. I have been reading in this forum to get information if its possible after the last update and also if it would be worth it. It would seem that the easiest way is to unlock the bootloader with HTCdev.com and then continue with the backup and flashing of a new ROM. Can anyone confirm this method?
I've of course heard the arguments that the custom ROMs use less battery and are more stable but when I read through the forum I always manage to find people having problems with connectivity and battery life, even in the latest CyanogenMod ROMs. This makes me a bit hesitant to make the step into a life of custom ROMs since I dont want to get there and realising that my original phone worked better. So can someone confirm that they custom ROMs actually are better in any of the following critera:
- Stability
- Speed
- Battery efficiency
Secondly I would like some tips about good ROMs for the Desire S. Of what I've managed to find out CynaogenMod seems like a good choice. MIUI seems to look to much like iOS for my taste. And I'm not sure that I want or need a Sense ROM, I am currently having a hard time figuring out why sense is something I should use. How stable are the latest Sense 3.5 ROMs vs. CynaogenMod?
I will be very grateful for any thoughts and tips, especially if you are a noob like me. I have only ever jailbroken an iPhone 3G and that process was extremely easy and seems to differ quite a bit from unlocking, rooting and flashing an Android phone.
Thanks,
Andreas
edit: Is there any big difference between the nightly build and the "stable" build of CynaogenMod?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best advice I can give you is, try it yourself
After unlocking the bootloader and flashing a custom recovery, you can backup your current rom, to revert back to it whenever you want.
Most (if not even all) custom roms are faster and have a lighter battery consumption then the stock. The stability depends on how "fresh" a rom is. But all 3 creteria are not carved in stone, battery drain is often deppending on which user you are. As poweruser you won't see much difference, cause the battery cosumption advantage is at idle.
Stability is in most common more or less only depending on the rom, but if you use root apps in beta or alpha state there also can be freezes or reboots.
When it comes to speed, the question is, do you want to overclock it or maybe underclock,...
You see there are many possibilities^^
I personaly like cyanogen most, it's fast, stable and has no bloat, but it's not as eyecandy as sense and the standard apps are unfortunatly not as handy as the sense ones, but there are many replacments at the market^^
The difference between Stable and nightly is that the stable release is tested, the nightly rolls out almost every day and is build by an bot. They are released after building it, the tests for them are made by people like me who want to have the latest source with latest features^^
Regards
EDIT:
Maybe this [GUIDE] Complete tutorial for beginners... and this [GUIDE] Maximum Battery - Maximizing your battery life with CM7 ROM could be interesting for you, also take a look at the [INDEX][02 NOV 11] ROMS/RECOVERY/ROOT/HBOOT/RADIOS/TWEAKS/GUIDES/etc thread.
Have to agree with Tectas there... there is no perfect ROM. If there was, everybody would be using the same ROM and there wouldn't be so many different ROMs out there. Your personal opinion about a ROM will bias you towards it eventually, but to get to that stage you have to try out a couple of different platforms to allow you to make a mental picture of what you want in a ROM and which ROMs give you that...
If you want suggestions, then you should try out at least 5 categories of ROMs:
1. AOSP : Stock gingerbread. Vanilla UI. No bells and whistles, just the OS the way google built it.
2. CyanogenMod. No introductions required here. Google is your friend. (And YouTube)
3. MIUI (its looks very different from both the other builds, but you can skin it to death and it has a pretty big fan community behind it). Minus all the bloatware, fast and good battery life...and possibly the best stock music player of the lot - except maybe the Sense 3.5 player with beats audio(untouched).
Again, personal tastes - apples and oranges.
4. Sense 3 Official ported ROMs : Most popular ones currently are by Lowveld and Proxuser, tweaked to perfection. Stock pre-rooted ROMs are also available, but then there's nothing custom about them. Excellent lockscreen, beautiful animations and transitions, smooth UI and groundbreaking social network integration throughout the OS. The most functional, bug free and battery friendly one is Hyperion. (personal opinion). Added bonus is that the customer support is awesome!! (general opinion)
5. Sense 3.5 Official ported ROMs : The latest addition to our phone, skimmed off the newer HTC devices like the Sensation XL (aka Runnymede) and Bliss. These are the best looking (subjective) and have amazing functionality and built in widgets. The most notable here, with absolutely no issues at all is the Endymion ROM, by lowveld. Proxuser also has a Runny port for the Desire S, but there are unresolved issues on that one. Prox is a great developer and i'm sure he'll come around to solving them soon.
Why you would buy a HTC phone if you don't want Sense is something that completely eludes my tiny brain. But for those that want a non-sense ROM (has a ring to it, doesn't it) there's AOSP, and MIUI, Cyanogen. In the Sense corner, are the Official HTC ROM ports, both Sense 3 and 3.5.
You'll have to try them out on your own to see what tickles you in the right way...
DISCLAIMER: I am human. I have opinions. They may be wrong.
I have answered this question at length for the benefit of those looking for opinions, and speaking the universal truth is beyond my capabilities. So please don't be offended by any comments about any ROMs above. In their own little way, each is a little better than the other. It's called choice. We all have it... (Well, at least the ROOTED ones!! )
EDIT: Info corrected. Thanks to Tectas.
enigmaamit said:
Why you would buy a HTC phone if you don't want Sense is something that completely eludes my tiny brain. But for those that want a non-sense ROM (has a ring to it, doesn't it) there's AOSP, and MIUI. In the Sense corner, are CyanogenMod, and the Official HTC ROM ports, both Sense 3 and 3.5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sry, but cyanogen got nothing to do with sense, it's pure aosp
And why someone uses it, cause it's damn fast and the first official place to get updates or are there any sense roms with gingerbread 2.3.7 ?
And you can also set the hell out of it.
Ah and btw miui is based on cyanogen
Swyped from my HTC Desire S
Tectas said:
Sry, but cyanogen got nothing to do with sense, it's pure aosp
And why someone uses it, cause it's damn fast and the first official place to get updates or are there any sense roms with gingerbread 2.3.7 ?
And you can also set the hell out of it.
Ah and btw miui is based on cyanogen
Swyped from my HTC Desire S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Tectas. Post edited.
Like i said. Opinions... i could be wrong.
enigmaamit said:
Why you would buy a HTC phone if you don't want Sense is something that completely eludes my tiny brain. But for those that want a non-sense ROM (has a ring to it, doesn't it) there's AOSP, and MIUI, Cyanogen. In the Sense corner, are the Official HTC ROM ports, both Sense 3 and 3.5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because HTC have the best build quality and they're damn sexy
Thanks all for the answers. I have now tried to flash a custom ROM, the stable version of CynaogenMod to be more precise.
I say "tried" since it didnt work. I managed to unlock the bootloader with HTCDev.com. I also managed to install Clockworkmod and root the phone. And made a backup. And it all worked. But when I installed the ROM I got stuck on the HTC logo. So I restored the backup. And it worked.
So Im happy that the phone works but Im irritated that I couldn't install the ROM. I read something about HTCDev not unlocking kernel, only system partition, can that be the case? I will just make a list of all the steps I have taken and maybe someone can help me figure out what I did wrong =)
1. Unlock bootloader with HTCDev. It says unlocked. I still have HBOOT 2.00.0002. Is that a problem?
2. Used fastboot to install ClockworkMod. Worked great.
3. Used ClockworkMod recovery to install SuperUser I believe its called. The icon showed up in the apps drawer.
4. Used ClockworkMod "install zip from sd card" to install the CynaogenMod zip. Like described on CynMods wiki. No error that I remember.
5. Reboot and stuck on HTC logo. Does not show up when using "adb devices" and charging light does not light up when connecting the phone to the charger.
6. Press and hold Volume up + Volume Down + Power to reboot/shutdown phone and pulled battery when it went black.
7. Power down + Power to boot into recovery. Restore backup.
8. Rooted again since backup was taken before root. Superuser is back in the app drawer.
9. Wut should I dooo? =)
Thanks for any help. Its hard to find the right answers sometimes even using google and forums search.
edit: HTC seems to make pretty solid and affordable phones. With a UI thats at least okey. Thats why I bought it =) But Im a tech guy and likes to try new things (and also hates that skins does not work on latest Desire S update) so now Im venturing into the dark lands of custom ROMs... =))
When toy flash a new ROM you have to wipe data and cache. Especially when the ROM is as different as the cyanogen from the previous one
Swyped from my HTC Desire S
I have wiped Data and Cache. I have not touched the "dalvik cache" or whatever it is called.
This is the text I followed:
"Select the option to Wipe data/factory reset.
Then select the option to Wipe cache partition.
Select Install zip from sdcard.
Select Choose zip from sdcard.
Select the CyanogenMod update.zip."
It would seem that the HTCDev.com unlock is not as good as the revolutionary version... Seems a couple of other guys have had the same problem.
Dalvik is the virtual machine where the Android apps run in.
Ok, damn. Sry I have no experience with the the htcdev unlocking procedure, I used xtc-clip, cause when I got mine there even were no possibility to unlock with revolutionary^^ Maybe try revolutionary or a custom sense ROM, but without the advantage of a custom kernel your experience could be the half.
Edit: I'm just wondering, cause only system can't be true, recovery has also it own partition.
Swyped from my HTC Desire S
The revolutionary method is not viable for me since I have HBOOT 2.<something> from the latest Desire S update. I tried a method from another trhead about EVO that was supposed to make flashing work after unlocking with HTCDev but with the same result: just showing the HTC logo. I am now restoring my backup again.
And I dont really know if I should clear dalvik cache since the guides dont mention that.
The tip I tried was in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=17219728&postcount=292
You can downgrade your hboot to use revolutionary, it works with htcdev unlocked, the thread is also somewhere here.
You can try to wipe Dalvik cache, but a cache wipe should also include that.
Edit: The downgrade guide is at the index thread i linked before
Swyped from my HTC Desire S
Tectas said:
You can downgrade your hboot to use revolutionary, it works with htcdev unlocked, the thread is also somewhere here.
You can try to wipe Dalvik cache, but a cache wipe should also include that.
Edit: The downgrade guide is at the index thread i linked before
Swyped from my HTC Desire S
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May have to try that out, wouldn't feel right to give up this fast. Have a good backup ready Found the thread. Will check it out.
Thanks =)
edit: For anyone finding this thread with similar problems, the following thread is trying to figure it out:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1330400&page=3
from what i read on the forum it seems that those with htc-dev unlock are having problems with flashing custom roms.
THIS might help
HTCDev.com unlock is not as good as the revolutionary ?
I have wiped Data and Cache. I have not touched the "dalvik cache" or whatever it is called.
This is the text I followed:
"Select the option to Wipe data/factory reset.
Then select the option to Wipe cache partition.
Select Install zip from sdcard.
Select Choose zip from sdcard.
Select the CyanogenMod update.zip."
It would seem that the HTCDev.com unlock is not as good as the revolutionary version... Seems a couple of other guys have had the same problem.
Your Device Still S-On and you have to Get S-Off Procedure because HTCDev.com just unlock boot loader i believe
Edit Take A Look
Why is my security still on (S-On) after I have unlocked my bootloader?
Your device is shipped with Security on (S-ON) to protect your system software configuration (such as the bootloader, radio, boot, recovery, system and others). After you have unlocked the bootloader, however, you will have lifted the restrictions on boot, recovery and system. This means you can customize boot, recovery and system images on your phone as you desire. You can easily see that you have successfully unlocked the bootloader by looking at the top of the screen when entering the bootloader screen. Security is left on to protect things like the radio, and SIM lock.
i hope this helps You
Hi
Bored of waiting for HTC to get the update out to me, so I've s-off'ed, installed Clockwork recovery. Also rooted it.
What I would like is an ICS rom that works. It must be fast, so JIT enabled (there is at least one where JIT doesn't work), I am not bothered one way or the other about sense. It doesn't seem to make much difference these days, there are apps that do everything it does. I use the camera, photos and film, wifi, phone, bluetooth, 3g, market, SD card, so all those things have to work. I'm a relative noob when it comes to installing roms, so something simple to install would be great
Can anyone suggest roms that meet those requirements, it's hard to tell from a 100+ page post on the forums here which bits do and don't work without spending hours trawling through them all.
Thanks
Endolf
I'm using Insert Coin and would recommend it as a first ICS rom. It uses aroma installer so you have your choice of several different options during install and won't need to flash anything extra other than the rom. I'd stay away from sense 4 roms as they still aren't perfected yet.
I'm assuming you've read the firmware update thread and that you know you need the newest firmware before trying to flash an ICS rom?
Are you looking for aosp or sense?
ICSensation 4G
Hi, didn't know I needed a firmware update, I'll have a hunt for the thread, thanks.
Endolf
Hi
Not fussed between AOSP or Sense, as long as it all works, everything sense can do can be got elsewhere.
Thanks
Endolf
I've been using HyperNonsense for about 2 weeks now and I absolutely love it. It's smooth, fast, and stable. And it's very lean. It's whole purpose is to be not much more than an operating system ready for you to customize it with the apps you want. Just about everything is removed from it (SMS, camera, calculator, etc) so you can put only the things you want on it later. This sounds like ti's up your alley. It's technically Sense, but there's no sense elements left in the UI.
Before that I was using Android Revolution HD. It's also very stable. You have the option of running it with or without Sense. (There's an extraction flashable zip that pulls most of the Sense components out of the ROM after you install it). This one comes a little more 'fully loaded' and is basically the stock ICS release with several tweaks to the code.
To use either of these ROM's properly though you need to ditch ClockworkMod Recovery and switch to 4EXT. (It's downlaodable from the market and will flash itself as your new recovery image. You won't need to push anything with ADB or anything from your computer) 4EXT allows you to make choices during the installations of ROMs. Many of the new ROMS require that.
I have been very happy with the new ARHD 6.6.3 version and using ROM Cleaner to get rid of the bloatware up front.
Hi,
i have seen many people got problem after installing a new firmware or Rom.
Even though the next update might fix the error, but it feels annoying right?
So do you prefer to stay on stock rom or update if there is a new update?(not custom rom, official one.)
I prefer leaving stock. But i have an SE phone, and they don't do a good job imho of updating/supporting their products. It's a safe answer, but go with what works for you. Our devs are really good, though.
Sent from my rooted tomato using xda app
cascabel said:
I prefer leaving stock. But i have an SE phone, and they don't do a good job imho of updating/supporting their products. It's a safe answer, but go with what works for you. Our devs are really good, though.
Sent from my rooted tomato using xda app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you
But i afraid if i update and have a problem, and have to change back to previous rom it might affect my warranty, since i still have my phone's warranty i will not root and install custom rom, i afraid it might be affected even though it can still back to stock rom.
I say go ahead and update to a new firmware / rom . It usually shouldn't cause any problems if you follow the steps closely . Also you can always reinstall stock rom and then un root your phone to get your warranty back
I would like to use custom ROM for my HTC to enable Bluetooth file sharing, but it seems like very complicated process.
On my previous smartphone (Blackberry) I always used hybrids.
im abcd said:
I say go ahead and update to a new firmware / rom . It usually shouldn't cause any problems if you follow the steps closely . Also you can always reinstall stock rom and then un root your phone to get your warranty back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did install a custom rom before to my previous rom and ever heard about getting warranty back by reinstall to stock rom, but i didn't have a chance to do it, so i am not really sure.
maya79 said:
I would like to use custom ROM for my HTC to enable Bluetooth file sharing, but it seems like very complicated process.
On my previous smartphone (Blackberry) I always used hybrids.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a LG before, and did try some custom rom. It was not so complicated.
But maybe other phone procedure might be a little different.
I've never left any of my Android phones alone ever. When I got my Motorola Droid (my first android OS phone) I rooted it a few hours after activation, a new ROM a few hours later while at work then put it all back to stock and got it replaced with a HTC Droid Incredible with the 30 day swap thing VZW does.
Flashing a custom ROM or staying stock is the whole reason XDA-Developers exists. Stock firmware are solid builds, but they are also very, very limited in what they allow you to do. I say allow because that is exactly what your carrier/manufacturer is doing with their firmware. With a custom ROM, you open the door to so many more possibilities, (ie tethering, mobile hotspot, Superuser access apps,...)
Now whether to stay on a stock FW or go custom, that is going to be up to you and what you want to get out of your device. My wife and I each have a phone and a tablet. All are Rooted. My Phone (Samsung Vibrant) is running a custom ROM by me, her phone (Motorola XT720) is running a custom ROM, her tablet (Nook Color) is running CyanogenMod 7.2, but my tablet (Asus Transformer) is running stock ROM but custom kernel.
Personally, I do not like Touchwiz from Samsung or Motoblur from Motorola, hate the bloat that both manufacturers put in there that I do not use. I also bought my wife a tablet that was Barnes&Noble branded android based FW, but I completley scrubbed it off and put a custom ROM on there for her. So now she has a full on tablet instead of a simple reader. See where I am going with this?
My tablet is fast, has all I need on it and since I am considered a power-user, I tinker with it but at this point I am satisfied with it as stock. Now, that is not to say that I have not altered it. I put a custom kernel on it and frozen some of the bloat that Asus provided. It came out with Honeycomb and then updated to ICS. Since I have had it on HC, it has seen 6 FW updates and every one of the ICS ROMs were terrible and left most users with a useless piece of machinery. Myself, I was able to keep it from de-evolving into that and have been happy with it ever since.
Hopefully this shows you that there are plenty of options for why to use a custom ROM but also to stick to stock firmware. It really just depends on you and what you want. Flashing is easy. Just read the OPs, search and read some more and above all, learn to make a Nandroid Backup.
Personally, I prefer to stay as close as possible to AOSP, with custom ROMs like Cyanogen. You don´t feel bounded by the locks imposed by the manufacturers or, even worse, the carriers.
In my experience, they are not as stable as stock ROMs (currently, I´m having some random reboots with cyanogen 9 in my Galaxy Note) so, if you don´t feel adventurous, stay stock.
Regards,
Hey, i am new to rooting, actually the whole android intact. I decided to get a HTC ONE X after having the iPhone for a while. I have watched some videos on rooting and i think i have all that down with boot loader and stuff. I just have a few questions about other stuff regarding rooting the phone with customer ROM's.....
1) if i have a custom rom, and i get an OTA update, will that brick my phone if i do decide to update it? I know that it will take root off... but will it brick it if i just update without doing anything with custom rom?
2)Do custom roms (the one I'm looking at is the cyanogen mod for HTC ONE X) kill the battery more then normal?
3) How do you go back to stock rom if you no longer want the rom.... is it as easy as just going to the reboot screen and selecting stock rom? is the stock rom already on there or do i have to put it on there?
4) If wanted, how easy is it to un-root phone?
5) and just personal opinion, what is the best jellybean Custom rom out right now for HTC one X?
Thank you all so much!!
1 - You can't OTA update with a custom rom. Anyway, the custom roms (Sense based) are further updates than the AT&T updates.
2 - When I used CM10, it had quite a bit of wakelock but it's dependent on each phone as well. Many have great battery life.
3 - RUU
4 - When you RUU, you relock your bootloader and it brings it back to stock. Only difference is now in the bootloader, it says re-locked, not locked.
5 - CM10 is pretty good so far, but I'm a fan of AOKP.
1. The OTAs are pulled by software on the phone. Custom ROMs don't have this software and don't pull, so no need to worry.
2. Depends. Keep in mind the current JB ROMs are still a work in progress. CM10 does still have wakelocks, but its getting better.
3. Already said above. Just relock your bootloader and RUU.
4. Easy to unroot. Easy to relock. But once you unlock your bootloader your phone will never say LOCKED again. I honestly have never had an issue with it with warranty repair, but please don't be an asshat and flash a ROM for the wrong One X and then complain to AT&T.
5. Personal preference. The great things about custom ROMs is you can try a bunch out and find the one that you like. I used AOKP a while back and liked it. CM10 is pretty cool but I just had it for a few days as they work out the wakelock issues. Also check out some of the ICS ROMs. CleanROM is pretty solid as well and gives great performance. Don't necessarily limit yourself. That's the beauty of it.
On going back to stock rom, you dont necessarily need to use the ruu. After you get your phone rooted, unlocked, and a recovery for flashing your custom roms, then just make sure before you flash your first rom that you (from recovery) select factory reset (will erase all user data such as 3rd party apps and such) then perform a backup, also in recovery. Now,you have a safe stock rooted rom backup. Go flash any of the roms in this forum and at anytime you can always just go restore your stock rom back