WARNING If you are a diehard AOSP fan that never intends to use a TW ROM again, please hit your back button immediately or do not post in this thread with reasons why people should just use an AOSP ROM. If an AOSP ROM now fully supports USB audio-out or MHL HDMI-out and you want to let the readers know, that would be good info. But this thread is NOT meant to debate the pros and cons of AOSP and TW ROMs. This thread is specifically for the people who know they need a TW ROM for its complete hardware support of our phone but would like to get their TW ROM to look, function, and feel as much like an AOSP ROM as they can.
UPDATE: While most of my OP still could apply, a few things have changed.
1) It is now possible to use an exFAT SD card on AOSP ROMs thanks to HMkX2 and this thread
2) I have moved to SynergyROM and LOVE it. Several of the AOSP apps linked to below are incorporated into the aroma installer of [URL="http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1792499"]this ROM.[/URL]
3) The work andybones did to make CleanROM look like an AOSP ROM was awesome and he has also done this theme work for SynergyROM here.
The primary issue I had in this OP was the lack of exFAT support on AOSP. That is no longer the case, but I have come to find other shortcomings in AOSP ROMs (HDMI support, USB audio support, difficulty in low signal areas, camera quality) that have brought me back to TW after a 3 week stint trying AOSP with exFAT support.
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This is intended to help anyone who was in the same boat as I was until recently regarding the struggle between AOSP and TouchWiz. I decided I would post a compilation of what I've found on XDA to maybe make it easier on the next guy who was on the same quest I was on.
I came from an Android phone where I ran AOSP (CM10 or AOKP). I loved this GS3 but hated so many things about Touchwiz. Admittedly, a lot of the hatred was toward the look of TW. I felt like I was using premium hardware on a Gingerbread ROM because of how ugly and outdated the TW interface is. But there were a few more legitimate complaints I had with TW. In my opinion, AOSP 4.2 has a much better clock, a much better email client, a much better lockscreen, and a much better texting program than stock TW. I actually think the AOSP camera is nicer in several ways too but there are some reasons why the TW camera is nice too.
So I tried AOSP roms for the TW and they were gorgeous and had the AOSP 4.2 apps I wanted, but there were some sacrifices I ultimately decided I could not make. Most specifically, the lack of exFAT support for my SD card. I have a 64 GB card. I use Google Play Music. This music app allows you to locally cache your entire collection if you want, but it stores that data on your internal memory and gives you no option to choose your SD card. Hopefully this last sentence will become invalid over time when Google sees fit to implement this option. My collection is too big for my internal memory. However, you can use symbolic links (through Rom Browser) to redirect the internal memory storage to your SD card so that your entire music collection can be in sync with your cloud and locally cached on your SD Card. Well symbolic links do not work on FAT32. At the time the AOSP camera also could not store its data on the SD card (this might still be the case) which meant on AOSP, my internal memory was going to fill up very quickly. Additionally, I use Windows Media Center to record shows and like to put those on my SD card and watch them later with MX Player. Well these recordings are always larger than 4 GB and in the AOSP world where FAT32 is required for your SD card, a file larger than 4 GB is non-transferable.
So, I am on Touchwiz, and for the first time since owning this phone, I have found a way to get the perfect (ok, almost perfect) blend of AOSP beauty and function with TW function and exFAT support.
Here are the things I've found on this wonderful forum to make me feel like I'm on AOSP while sacrificing almost nothing!
First, I use scrosler's amazing CleanRom: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1832070
It is the winner for me on stability and battery. There are not a lot of frills, but it is rock solid. Everything just works.
Second, I use andybones's beautiful AOSP theme specifically designed for CleanRom. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2122219
I cannot overstate how impressive this theme is to me. The work was meticulous and the extent to which andybones themed elements of TW seems to be completely thorough. I believe I could hand most Android fans my phone right now and they would believe I have a Nexus device or an AOSP rom on my GS3. The most impressive thing about this theme is that it displays contact photos at their proper proportion in your notification curtain. If you use any AOSP apps or 3rd party apps that show contact photos on notifications, TouchWiz, by default, squishes these images....and it looks terrible. This theme solves that problem.
This theme also gives you the AOSP lockscreen. The clock font is not the AOSP font, and I wish it was, but I still like this lockscreen much better than the TW one.
His thread also offers the systemui.apk update based on the most recent leak that allows you to do a two-finger swipe to expand/contract notifications in the curtain, rather than the pinch. I think this is a big improvement, although I do wish there was a way to get the one-finger swipe back that is present in AOSP.
Third, and finally, I install several apps and flash several zips that, in my opinion, have completed this quest of mine.
AOSP MMS, fully working, for CleanRom 5.6. Thank you loserskater! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2102156
AOSP Email Thanks to jimbotron and shiftr182 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1962097
AOSP Clock. I tried using the actual AOSP 4.2 clock but no matter what I tried, the ongoing notifications of this clock (the primary reason I wanted it) crash the app. But I discovered Clock JB+ on the Play Store, and it seems to be a direct replica of the 4.2 app, with some added features and options. It cost .99 but it was very much worth it to me. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moblynx.clockjbplus&hl=en I removed the TW clock app entirely and use this one as my alarm clock, timer, and stopwatch.
The other app that is essential, and probably the most essential, is Nova Launcher. Not only does it follow the Holo design of AOSP, if you buy the Prime version there are all sorts or additional features and functions available.
I also use exDialer from the Play Store with an ICS theme, though the AOSP theme mentioned above does theme the TW dialer.
I think that covers it for me.
Through Directory Bind and Symbolic links, I have all my huge video games and my huge music collection stored on my 64 GB card, and through the links above I have a phone that looks beautiful and functions like AOSP on a rock solid and stable TW build!
I know there are a lot of others whose worked contributed to the links I've posted above. I know Didact74 has done amazing work to make TW a better experience in so many ways, many of which were incorporated into the theme I use. Thanks to him too! Thanks to all the other great devs and contributors that have made this phone even more awesome than it already was! Give thanks to the original posters in those links if they have helped you!
Cool story bro.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 11:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:28 AM ----------
Jelly beans gives you TW based, pure aosp look rom as well
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
Yeah the AOSP lock screen is prevalent throughout this forum thanks to the great work of didact74.
Definitely not trying to suggest my approach is the only way to find the perfect blend of AOSP and TouchWiz.
But I do love the theme by andybones. If that exact theme exists on other roms then my cleanROM recommendation should be expanded to mention those as well. Though that could get time consuming.
Sorry. I just realized you said it gives the AOSP look not the AOSP lock screen. Whoops!
Yeah there are probably lots of ways to get the AOSP look. I was just blown away by the theme I tried. It looked exactly like AOSP to me.
Can you confirm whether or not contact photos appear fully and properly proportioned in the notification curtain of any 3rd party apps you use? Handcent, Go SMS, AOSP MMS or email....
I'm curious if there are other TW roms/themes that fix the contact photo flaw of TouchWiz.
spearoid said:
Yeah the AOSP lock screen is prevalent throughout this forum thanks to the great work of didact74.
Definitely not trying to suggest my approach is the only way to find the perfect blend of AOSP and TouchWiz.
But I do love the theme by andybones. If that exact theme exists on other roms then my cleanROM recommendation should be expanded to mention those as well. Though that could get time consuming.
Sorry. I just realized you said it gives the AOSP look not the AOSP lock screen. Whoops!
Yeah there are probably lots of ways to get the AOSP look. I was just blown away by the theme I tried. It looked exactly like AOSP to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should try jelly 'beans' then.. its COMPLETELY AOSP LOOK. not just the status bar, and notif. pull down..
edit:
the andybones theme works great! I"m using it myself, i misunderstood your OP.
omair2005 said:
you should try jelly 'beans' then.. its COMPLETELY AOSP LOOK. not just the status bar, and notif. pull down..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty happy with what I have right now....obviously by my dissertation in the OP.
But just to be clear the theme by andybones permeates the entire ROM. He themed everything too, maybe it's just like the Beans rom.....I'm pretty sure I read that there was some collaboration with a ROM or a ROM dev....it might even be the same theme work in Beans that is in the theme I've installed.
Even the annoying TouchWiz notification that comes up when you choose "always" for application defaults is themed to look exactly like an AOSP element.
Just went back and checked, the first guy andybones credits is beanstown106 for his AOSP theming. So there you have it! I guess I should have mentioned beanstown106 too in my OP. Thanks to him too!
Couldn't install AOSP theme
spearoid said:
Second, I use andybones's beautiful AOSP theme specifically designed for CleanRom. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2122219
I cannot overstate how impressive this theme is to me....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I just did a clean install of CleanRom 5.6 and am trying to install this theme but it fails on installing. I am using TWRP 2.4.0.0.
Updating partition details..
E: unable to open zip file.
Error flashing zip '/External_sd/ROMS/CleanROM/CleanROM-5.6_AOSP-theme_v1.1.zip
Updating partition details...
Failed.
I've tried to wipe cache/dalvik but no luck. I've also flashed CleanROM-5.5.6_4.1.2-SysUI.zip .. and retried. Still no go. Any advise?
Hmm. That's strange. Haven't run into that problem. If it were me this is what I would try.
I would flash CWM recovery and put the theme files on my internal memory. And try from the beginning.
You could just try moving the files to your internal memory first but I have tried both recoveries and found myself preferring CWM.
When you install CleanROM for the first time you have to boot into it and turn off the ripple effect in lock screen options before flashing the AOSP theme.
Could be a bad download. I've flashed that theme half a dozen times and no issues. Try redownloading.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Yeah, I turned of the ripple option. I'll try to move it to the internal memory. I also just re-downloaded it.
I agree with the other poster. Definitely redownload everything. That's got to be the most likely explanation.
if that doesn't work i'll try to install CWM and try. Could be incompatible with TWRP.
-- Updated,
that's odd, TWRP couldn't find that CleanROM-5.5.6_4.1.2-SysUI.zip file in my Internal Memory location /Downloads/ I'll install CWM and try. Or re-down and redo.
Have you flashed an AOSP ROM recently? It will reorder your internal memory and put everything in a 0 folder. Can be a pain to find things. If that is the case I'd recommend backing up whatever you need to save on your internal memory and format the internal memory from your recovery.
spearoid said:
Have you flashed an AOSP ROM recently? It will reorder your internal memory and put everything in a 0 folder. Can be a pain to find things. If that is the case I'd recommend backing up whatever you need to save on your internal memory and format the internal memory from your recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The last time i flashed a AOSP Rom was last fall, since then i've been running Synergy ROM. I do see a 0 folder though, would this mean a format is needed? I always format before installing a new ROM though. Hope that's the same as what you have suggested.
I ended up picking up a Galaxy Nexus to use when I want to use stock android. $150 wasn't that bad.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I don't believe it is absolutely necessary to format the internal memory. But formatting, as in a factory reset, is different than formatting your internal memory. I have flashed ROMs on this phone about 100 times now and I have only formatted my internal memory once. And that was when I was leaving AOSP and going back to TouchWiz ROMs. But it was mostly because my internal memory was a mess and I had like 7 "0" folders.
Probably not going to matter with this issue you're having.
spearoid said:
Have you flashed an AOSP ROM recently? It will reorder your internal memory and put everything in a 0 folder. Can be a pain to find things. If that is the case I'd recommend backing up whatever you need to save on your internal memory and format the internal memory from your recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
spearoid said:
I don't believe it is absolutely necessary to format the internal memory. But formatting, as in a factory reset, is different than formatting your internal memory. I have flashed ROMs on this phone about 100 times now and I have only formatted my internal memory once. And that was when I was leaving AOSP and going back to TouchWiz ROMs. But it was mostly because my internal memory was a mess and I had like 7 "0" folders.
Probably not going to matter with this issue you're having.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Solved! I installed CWM using Easy Recovery, flashed it and now have the theme. I'll re-flash TWRP since i have backed up everything using TWRP.
Awesome! Glad you're up and running
spearoid said:
Awesome! Glad you're up and running
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep,, i've just flashed TWRP back and am backing up atm.
You can never get the same speed of AOSP with TW. I try, and it just doesn't work.
I agree that the theming helps, but it's still just lipstick on a pig.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Related
Soo.. I know the title isn't very specific.. but I would like to throw a question in here and get some responses..
So.. WHAT excatly is MIUI compared to other ROMs?
To me, MIUI is "just" plain (AOSP?) Android with every single "GO"-App available. GO Launcher, GO SMS.. and so on.
So.. what does MIUI exactly have, that e.g. CM with every app changed to some GO-App doesn't have?
MIUI is skinned to kinda "copy" Iphone-style..sure.. but is that really all?
Benchmarks show there are some differences..
So I wonder what's left of MIUI if you install a MIUI based ROM and change any GO-App to another one?
________
'Cause most ppl say they love MIUI for how it looks like. But honestly.. I could also use stock Android with e.g. Motoblur and change the launcher and so on.. so why going through the hassle to root and install a completely new ROM?
Ty everyone
And yes, I used the search, but didn't find anything relevant.. maybe because "MIUI" & "GO" are a liiiiittle bit vague
We need to know the history. MIUI just want to be like IOS, but in the Android enviroment. AOSP is just a plain OS, CM was loaded witb tons of tweaks but the UI not that eyecandy. HTC? Good but too dark to be like IOS and bloated. So MIUI with the UI mimic IOS with slight modification came. For me it is another CM with the stress more on UI.
Sent from my E15i using XDA App.
Ps sorry for bad English
Wasn't the first MIUI ROM was found accidently? IIRC, the dev passed away and his work was found and released. Maybe I'm thinking of something else?
dEris said:
Wasn't the first MIUI ROM was found accidently? IIRC, the dev passed away and his work was found and released. Maybe I'm thinking of something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A renaissance artist perhaps? MIUI is developed by a Chinese team and someone came across it and started translating it.
There's plenty of info and screenshots etc. over at http://www.miui-dev.com which is the site run by the translating team.
Essentially it does largely look to be making Android more iOS-like. It's based on FroYo AOSP (Gingerbread soon) but with a _lot_ of alterations. It shares a little bit of code with CM as far as the addins.
In my opinion MIUI is the first Android Distro because it proposes a completely different way of Android where other ROMs are just forks.
Miui is the simple face of ios with the power of android.
sent from my MIUI HTC HD2
MIUI has the most powerful and easiest theme engine..I really wish it was open source so others could use the theme engine..Its really that nice and simple to use..such a shame..
MIUI is so much better then stock android:
here's a list of apps that avalible only on miui:
Monitor (let you block apps and see how much data you have used)
Theme manager (no more zip's, really easy to theme stuff)
Better mms app
file mamanger
Miui gallery and camera
miui music
special lockscreen - much better the stock
folders - better the stock
quick settings on the notification bar
better phone app
easier to use setting's
miui wheater (avalible for all now)
some widgets like conatcs and etc...
if you chineese you can use the update app which auto update your phone to the latest version.
battery monitor
and much more that I might forgot
I'll go ahead and toss my two cents in...
Simple version-- I rooted my phone about 6 weeks ago, I flashed several roms in the first two days. (Cyanogen, Mikfroyo, Myns) Then I flashed MIUI. That was the last time I flashed a rom...
(If you want to know more, PM me and I'll give you the L O N G version of why MIUI is the best in my opinion)
Not a single one of the "GO" apps I've heard of including the two your mentioned are a part of MIUI. The post above me outlines a lot of the features but there is also so much more. I just discovered a feature the other day I never realized was there.
Try it, if you don't like it, NANDROID!! Make sure to grab yourself a few themes off of the MIUI forum. Again, I've installed one theme since I flashed MIUI ignoring the other 100 simply because what I have, Elite HD by bustadroid, is the best damn theme (period)
I just started to use Miui Camera for my Milestone today. Awesome fast!
Maybe can someone compile a list of Miui's apps and post links here?
MrDSL said:
MIUI has the most powerful and easiest theme engine..I really wish it was open source so others could use the theme engine..Its really that nice and simple to use..such a shame..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MIUI isn't open source?? Why the heck did they do that? :-/
Do you know any completely different rom? Like miui for example! Lately I really get tired of roms that are just cleaned from bloatwares and everything else is same as the stock. Is it only miui and cyanogen that brings us original new futures? I wonder what is so custom and they call it custom rom. Is it so hard to take notification bar down or anything else and make it different and really custom? They must be sorted as custom and modified roms at least. Many of them are shown in screenshots with themes that not appear anyhow after flash. All we got is - + some apps and endless flashing process just to get back to our favorite. Really if some devs read my appeal please think about it. I am not sure but I guess is not impossible to add functions that stock roms don't have. Even if they seem not so usual surely will be appreciated. If someone know roms that are really different please let me know. Thanks!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
After all, Android is Android, so you won't escape the notifications or the must-have apps (settings, etc.) The really only thing you can do is design an app that replaces the entire lockscreen, settings, laucher, app drawer, etc. To make it a ROM only feature would be .... a lot of work for nothing (as you can simple extract the APK and well... pirate it.
So ROMs are basically a window to the heart of the creator. It's their style, their apps, their child
R: Any completely different rom
Try paranoid android ROM, as far as i know it's the most customizable and you can use "tablet mode" to move the notification bar down etc.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Is it possible to bring the stock TW contacts app into any AOSP ROM? I like the benefit of having the latest Android software of an AOSP ROM, but I really dislike the contact app. It is really hard to see with the white background. I have looked all over xsa for a solution. You would think it would be easy as the GMAil 4.2 substitute. I am not sure what files to use.
EAGLEEYE51 said:
Is it possible to bring the stock TW contacts app into any AOSP ROM? I like the benefit of having the latest Android software of an AOSP ROM, but I really dislike the contact app. It is really hard to see with the white background. I have looked all over xsa for a solution. You would think it would be easy as the GMAil 4.2 substitute. I am not sure what files to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried Slim Bean rom? It has all apps inverted and,I believe, the contacts as well. It used to be called the Real Dark Slim addon on but "after 4.2.2 build 2. It's now integrated into the ROM with a toggle." I too hated the white background on contacts. Good luck
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2060612
redKrome said:
Have you tried Slim Bean rom? It has all apps inverted and,I believe, the contacts as well. It used to be called the Real Dark Slim addon on but "after 4.2.2 build 2. It's now integrated into the ROM with a toggle." I too hated the white background on contacts. Good luck
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2060612
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I did try Slim in the past. "pre 4.2". I am not sure if the ROM had issues with the graphics or what. It seemed not very sharp after installation. Everything looked fuzzy. I even tried Eclipse ROM. I will figure out something. I just like the look of the stock TW contacts. The app also additional features. At the moment LiquidSmooth has the best 4.2.2 ROM out there.
In general TouchWiz apps cannot be used in AOSP ROMs. On a personal note I loath the TW phone and contacts app. Mainly because you cant swipe between the recently called, favorites, keypad etc.
mentose457 said:
In general TouchWiz apps cannot be used in AOSP ROMs. On a personal note I loath the TW phone and contacts app. Mainly because you cant swipe between the recently called, favorites, keypad etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
who knows if the actual stock contact app is actually TW. I just like how it looks. The black background looks better than the white background of AOSP. The stock actually has the same screens where you can move back and forth. I am putting this topic to rest. It is a lost cause. I was going to see if I could replace it using root explorer, but decided against it and it wasnt worth the trouble. Oh well.
EAGLEEYE51 said:
who knows if the actual stock contact app is actually TW. I just like how it looks. The black background looks better than the white background of AOSP. The stock actually has the same screens where you can move back and forth. I am putting this topic to rest. It is a lost cause. I was going to see if I could replace it using root explorer, but decided against it and it wasnt worth the trouble. Oh well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It deferentially requires the tw framework. If you want a dark AOSP contacts app search for it. There are lots of inverted stock apps floating around and incorporated into ROMs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1798048 If you are on a 4.2.2 rom this will work.
I've been using CleanROM v6 R2 for a while and have experienced a number of crashes and other annoying bugs, such as alerts where no sound plays half the time (or half of the sound plays) and want to look for something else. This has happened despite multiple formats and reinstalls.
I want something that uses Nova Launcher and is stable and works. Simple and fast. That's all. What should I be looking at?
Thanks.
jonnythan said:
I've been using CleanROM v6 R2 for a while and have experienced a number of crashes and other annoying bugs, such as alerts where no sound plays half the time (or half of the sound plays) and want to look for something else. This has happened despite multiple formats and reinstalls.
I want something that uses Nova Launcher and is stable and works. Simple and fast. That's all. What should I be looking at?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
look around, read, make backups andt try ROMS.
you can use NOVA on any ROM, so dont think youre limited at all.
read, read, test, read, test.
find waht works best for you. everyones phone works differently.
jonnythan said:
I've been using CleanROM v6 R2 for a while and have experienced a number of crashes and other annoying bugs, such as alerts where no sound plays half the time (or half of the sound plays) and want to look for something else. This has happened despite multiple formats and reinstalls.
I want something that uses Nova Launcher and is stable and works. Simple and fast. That's all. What should I be looking at?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ddurandSGS3 said:
look around, read, make backups andt try ROMS.
you can use NOVA on any ROM, so dont think youre limited at all.
read, read, test, read, test.
find waht works best for you. everyones phone works differently.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like he said, nova is available on the play store so it can be downloaded anywhere on any ROM. Also like stated before, if all depends on the phone. Try a bunch of different ROMs. Maybe look at andybones' Bonestock ROM.
Sent from my SCH-i535 with Tapatalk 2
If I've helped, please hit the thanks button
I understand Nova can be added to any ROM, but I'd like a ROM that doesn't include the Touchwiz launcher etc at all. I've never had good luck using replacement launchers on top of stock launchers.
I'm on cleanrom, and using Nova. i've never experienced any issues. Did you dirty flash your ROM? I get a bunch of random issues if I dirty flash.
Dirty flash is a new term. Do you mean flash without wiping? If so, I never do that. My process is to Titanium Backup all user apps, take a CWM backup, copy everything off to PC, then wipe, install ROM, and restore using TB.
jonnythan said:
Dirty flash is a new term. Do you mean flash without wiping? If so, I never do that. My process is to Titanium Backup all user apps, take a CWM backup, copy everything off to PC, then wipe, install ROM, and restore using TB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, dirty flash = flash without wiping
I wold say try and wipe your phone, but instead of restoring from TB, set it up from scratch. I almost never restore from TB either, because I've also run into issue after a restore from TB, especially in apps that require background sync.
It's a hassle I know, but CleanRom is rock solid, and I've been using Nova since it was first introduced here on XDA. Both have been very stable. So something else is probably going wrong. So instead of getting frustrated and trying to spend time to seek out another ROM, try to wipe and see if that's the issue.
I agree. I would wipe clean an reflash clean ROM. Should fix your issue. Clean ROM is as solid as it gets
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Also cleanrom includes nova in aroma so you don't even have to have tw launcher.
Sent from my SCH-i535 with Tapatalk 2
If I've helped, please hit the thanks button
jonnythan said:
I understand Nova can be added to any ROM, but I'd like a ROM that doesn't include the Touchwiz launcher etc at all. I've never had good luck using replacement launchers on top of stock launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple solution my friend
once you have a secondary launcher downloaded (Don't do this before..!)
use something like root explorer,
go into
system/app
and delete
SecLauncher2.apk
no more stock launcher..
I can add nova and apex into Aroma for the next release of my ROM, so you can choose what you want and not have a need to delete the Stock Launcher. But, if you are on another ROM and don't want two launchers, that's how you fix it.
also in my ROM, it give you the option in Aroma to choose which TW app/widgets/live wall papers etc you want/don't want.
For the most part, ICS/JB is a user interface change. Pleasant looking menus with a cool blue color. There are quite a few options out there to give your G2X the look/feel of ICS/JB but I had my eye on efficiency.
The Ice10 Theme and Holo apps are easy on the battery and use little additional CPU. Of course, if you increase cache sizes and use fancy transitions YMMV. But I'm quite happy with my ICS/JB themed phone.
1. Start with the latest CM7 Nightly. I don't know if this works with other ROMs, but it should. GB7.2 is recommended.
2. DO A NANDROID BACKUP
3. Install the ICE10 Theme: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2003484
. . This gives you some of the ICS/JB look/feel.
. . Put the Ice10.apk on your SD Card, click to install. Then start the Theme Chooser app, select Ice10 and click Apply.
. . If you get a theme error that you are missing assets for your screen size, just click Apply Anyway. Reboot phone.
4. Install Holo Launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobint.hololauncher
. .Holo Launcher on XDA
. .Holo Launcher is a brilliant app that gives you the ICS app drawer, screens, and menus. The screenshots don't
. .do it justice, it looks even better than that!
5. Install Holo Locker: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mobint.locker
. .Holo Locker on XDA
. .This gives you the ICS lock screen!
For the Ice10 Theme, the G2X resolution is already 240DPI so no changes are needed.
I paid for Holo Launcher Plus because the full ICS/JB experience is well worth the $1.99. It includes additional transitions and improvements. Holo Launcher is insanely customizable! The dock is scrollable and can have up to 10 icons. The Desktop and Drawer each have settings for the "scrolling cache", which is none, Low quality, Normal quality, and High quality. All this really means is the higher the quality, the more RAM it uses to make the transitions faster and smoother You can also change the desktop and app drawer grid size so you can fit a hell of a lot more apps on your screen.
For both Holo apps, I recommend going into the Settings and disabling Auto check for Updates and Auto Report. I don't like my apps checking for updates in the background, uses battery and CPU.
The Ice10 theme XDA thread contains wonderful info on final mods you can make to truly have the complete and total ICS/JB look/feel. Keep in mind that isn't a G2X thread so some of the mods, like the final Menu mods, are phone and ROM specific, so someone would have to make those additional mods specific for the G2X and specific ROM.
The below screenshots are for my CM7 Nightly ROM. Notice how Holo Launcher gives you a dramatic difference in the Settings. The Menu button is also different and the menu options are completely customizable.
Sorry for the lo-res Starship Enterprise wallpaper but it was a camera photo taken of the TV screen some days ago. Zooming in lost lots of resolution.
This is really a fantastic mod. I have all the user interface benefits of ICS/JB while having a totally operational phone with HW acceleration. I really don't need or don't care about using any other ROM at this point, although I'm waiting for Mazout's next kernel.
Thanks to EricTheLuminant for pointing me in this direction.
Remember to THANK ME if you appreciate this!
Thanks I'll probably try the theme later tonight.
Two quick questions: what does your notification center look like? And can you pull down the notification center from the lock screen?
That makes it really easy to check my texts if its in my shirt pocket.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Ravinxx said:
Thanks I'll probably try the theme later tonight.
Two quick questions: what does your notification center look like? And can you pull down the notification center from the lock screen?
That makes it really easy to check my texts if its in my shirt pocket.
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Yes, you can pull down the notification bar from the lock screen. I just tested it on my phone, I didn't even know ICS could do that!
With the above mods notification bar looks like a cross between ICS and GB. It can be modded to look exactly like ICS/JB.
I see you are enterprising on the theme and guide I mentioned earlier! This is good, but you are missing some vital elements that can make CM7 even more ICS/JB like.
Using this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1363239, you'll find many more options. If you are experienced enough or willing to read instructions carefully, you can also use the ACpatcher software to custom mod several apps and the framework to increase the experience. It's very technical, and I don't have the willpower to walk through each and every step.
However, I have made some patches already based on the 2013-03-01 cm7 nightly. I'll see if I can upload them for you guys to give it a whirl. They add ics style notifications, transitions, and phone. See the screenshots attached.
EricTheLuminant said:
I see you are enterprising on the theme and guide I mentioned earlier! This is good, but you are missing some vital elements that can make CM7 even more ICS/JB like.
Using this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1363239, you'll find many more options.
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Click to collapse
I took a quick look. My focus is on stability and performance, and some of the mod apps mentioned in that thread have huge RAM usage, crash often, and/or have more negative than positive reviews, including the status bar apps.
The Holo Locker lock screen is much better than the GB lock screen. It's easier to use. The only thing I miss is being able to change from ring to vibrate to silent from the lock screen.
Holo Launcher makes the entire experience much more pleasant. It only uses 38MB of RAM.
The Ice10 theme from what I can see uses minimal RAM.
Oh of course. I'm not talking about the RAM using apps, nor do I use any of them...I'm talking about themeing and replacing the framework and phone app to better suit ICS/JB style. That status bar image is completely stock, as is the phone.
These don't affect battery, merely the look.
Download the patches I have made from my dropbox and put them on your sd card.
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/d8g2bdll7i2jn3a/jv85IfKLeG
These patches were made based on the 2013-03-01 CM7.2 Nightly, and I do not know if they will work for older versions or other roms. They are made specifically to work with the Ice10 theme. It is important that these are flashed in the correct order.
1. In CM recovery, make a nandroid backup (although you can also flash the undo.zip files in case of failure. They will restore the original unmodified apps, and you should only need to flash the update-cwm-All-in-1 ICS v11-undo.zip)
2. Select mounts and storage
3. Select mount /system
4. First Flash update-cwm-All-in-1 ICS v11-patch.zip
5. Second Flash update-cwm-JBPhone-pach.zip
6. Last Flash update-Full.ICS.Fonts-with.Clock.Font.zip
7. Wipe cache and dalvik
8. Fix permissions
9. Reboot (will take a few more minutes than usual to rebuild the cache)
Afterwards, you should notice a few things. Your status bar, notifications, font, phone, etc. will be themed more properly to ICS/JB. Good luck!
thanks
Thank to both of you. Till now i have been using ics theme on ADW launcher. Many key components were not themed to ics. Hope to get it sorted now.
Thanks again.
itzmydamnlyf said:
Thank to both of you. Till now i have been using ics theme on ADW launcher. Many key components were not themed to ics. Hope to get it sorted now.
Thanks again.
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Click to collapse
Install Holo Launcher and you'll think your phone came from heaven.
.
Eric, you are going to have to tell us EXACTLY what your patches include. I don't install anything blind.
That would help wouldn't it?
Inside update-cwm-All-in-1 ICS v11-patch.zip:
You'll find theme modifications to the system apps bluetooth.apk, deskclock.apk, downloadprovider.apk, music.apk, phone.apk, systemUI.apk. These will further theme the system apps to the color and style of ICS/JB.
framework-res.apk is also modified to add ICS/JB transition animations, as well as ICS/JB themed notifications and status bar.
If you look at the images I posted earlier, you'll notice that the status bar notifications have that little square on the left, in the manner of ICS.
Inside update-cwm-JBPhone-patch.zip,
you'll find another phone.apk, framework-res.apk. This must be flashed after the first patch, as it will overwrite the the previous ones. This will give your phone app a more ICS/JB style look as well. See screenshots from earlier.
The last patch, update-Full.ICS.Fonts-with.Clock.Font.zip, merely adds the ICS roboto font across your device.
The undo-patches simply return the themed apps back to the original CM7 stock ones. Is it imperative that the theme patches are flashed correctly in the instructions mentioned previously if you wish to use them.
Will the patches work with Hellfire rom?
Wow. Very very cool, Eric.
What if I only want the settings mod?
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Sent from my G2X using the XDA App
Ah. Forgot to mention that is a different mod.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1596034
Try this.
Also, I don't know if these patches work with Hellfire. You could give it a go and let us know!
As you say sire.
Will flash them today and let you know.
EricTheLuminant said:
Ah. Forgot to mention that is a different mod.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1596034
Try this.
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Got it! IT WORKS!
However, the headings ("Wireless and Networks", "Interface", etc) aren't the nice cool blue color. How do I get that?
BTW, if anyone is having problems copying settings.apk into system/root using ES file Explorer, after you click "Mount File System (mount /system as writable)", you need to close ES, then restart.
It has to do with the parameters set by the Ice10 theme. This is probably out of our control, unless someone edits the theme file itself to change the codes and such. Way out of my ability, anyways.
games
EricTheLuminant said:
It has to do with the parameters set by the Ice10 theme. This is probably out of our control, unless someone edits the theme file itself to change the codes and such. Way out of my ability, anyways.
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Click to collapse
will i be able to play shadowgun deadzone on cm7... and does it just change the theme or is it in bedded
It's just a theme change. You shouldn't lose anything. Why, is there some tweak needed to play that game?
ya .. it only can work on droid 3.0 and up .. cannot get it to install on gb 2.3-7 im sure they have a modified version for gb but u cannot play multiplayer on it
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda app-developers app
Sorry, this is purely for cm 2.3.7
@moe said:
ya .. it only can work on droid 3.0 and up .. cannot get it to install on gb 2.3-7 im sure they have a modified version for gb but u cannot play multiplayer on it
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????
WHAT can only work on droid 3.0?
Cannot get WHAT to install on GB 2.3.7?
Cannot play multiplayer on WHAT?
You might want to take a class in written communications.