[Q] ROM vs. Vanilla Android w/ Xposed Framework? - General Questions and Answers

Just curious as to what everybody's thoughts were about loading and keeping up to date with a ROM (pick your favorite lol) vs using xposed framework's various modules to re-create a lot of the funcitonality we have in ROMs.
Just wondering if anybody had any really good points to lean one way or the other or if it's more just personal preference
Cheers

Related

[Q] How can you tell?

When I search for Custom ROMs for the Nexus S, I discovered that I could never really tell what the differences between all those ROMs are. I know that some are build for speed and stability, and some are build for extra features.
But how can you tell what a ROM actually does in addition to the stock ROM? How can you tell which themes it supports? Do you just have to try it?
I know that speed, stability and battery performance are different for everybody, even if you have the same phone and the same ROM. I also know that CyanogenMod is overall one of the best. It adds features like extra menu options and is faster, thus focussing on two points instead of one.
I just feel like there isn't much information about all those different Custom ROMs, except for a lot of user experiences (IT IS AWESOME/IT SUCKS) and how to install them + a lot of programming language. Of course, I could try out all the ROMs and see what I like best, but isn't there a list for each ROM what it actually does?
That would be great!
no list at the moment
but i welcome you to build such list from scratch, and then we can sticky it for every one reference
as long as you keep it maintained
Ill build such a list when I get home in a little bit
Sent from my Onyx CM7 Google Nexus S!
AllGamer said:
no list at the moment
but i welcome you to build such list from scratch, and then we can sticky it for every one reference
as long as you keep it maintained
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would love to build a list like that, but I'm just asking if there is a way to tell what the differences between Custom ROMs are, what they do, and which themes they support?
I guess you just have to search forums for the themes, but there's GOT to be some information about different Custom ROMs, right?
@kenvan, that is freaking awesome and I thank you for that! But I'm still curious how one can know what the differences are...
Androyed said:
I would love to build a list like that, but I'm just asking if there is a way to tell what the differences between Custom ROMs are, what they do, and which themes they support?
I guess you just have to search forums for the themes, but there's GOT to be some information about different Custom ROMs, right?
@kenvan, that is freaking awesome and I thank you for that! But I'm still curious how one can know what the differences are...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you already answered your own question in the original post
and the alternative method involves a lot of Coding comparison
you basically download the ROMs, unzip them, and then compare file per file to see what has changed in the code, and which pictures changed, which sound changed, etc.
there's no easy way if that's what you're looking for
AllGamer said:
you already answered your own question in the original post
and the alternative method involves a lot of Coding comparison
you basically download the ROMs, unzip them, and then compare file per file to see what has changed in the code, and which pictures changed, which sound changed, etc.
there's no easy way if that's what you're looking for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought. But the average user can't 'see what has changed in the code'. Maybe the average user shouldn't use Custom ROMs...
Edit: Also, are there themes that can be installed without a Custom ROM? Like 'Custom Themes' or something? Custom ROMs that are just the same as stock rom, but only focus on the theming part?
Edit 2: I found out for myself that you can easily choose themes from the Cyanogen Mod update app, and that it isn't possible to make a list of themes, since they are made and removed in no time. I know have two questions left:
1. How can you tell for what reason which Custom ROM is build (what it does)?
2. Are there Custom ROMs that only focus on theming, and are no different from the stock ROM except for the fact that they are deodexed and have the ability to theme?
Androyed said:
That's what I thought. But the average user can't 'see what has changed in the code'. Maybe the average user shouldn't use Custom ROMs...
Edit: Also, are there themes that can be installed without a Custom ROM? Like 'Custom Themes' or something? Custom ROMs that are just the same as stock rom, but only focus on the theming part?
Edit 2: I found out for myself that you can easily choose themes from the Cyanogen Mod update app, and that it isn't possible to make a list of themes, since they are made and removed in no time. I know have two questions left:
1. How can you tell for what reason which Custom ROM is build (what it does)?
2. Are there Custom ROMs that only focus on theming, and are no different from the stock ROM except for the fact that they are deodexed and have the ability to theme?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't seen any stock deodexed roms for the SNS but if you want themes, CM7 is your best choice. Themes are easy to port between different device builds of CM so if you find one you want it wouldn't be too much work to get it going on the SNS. Also, I posted a list of ROMS, themes, and Kernels in development.
This is one of the issues I've had. You'd think with all the development going on, at least one of the bigger sites would start reviewing the custom ROMs. I read about Cyanogen once on, like, Gizmodo, or something, but mostly never see anything.
I would love a list! I'm still trying to find out what features CyanogenMod has for the Nexus S. I went on their website and they only offered 2 youtube videos which didn't tell me much.

[Q] Help with HTC Notes and Tasks ICS apps

dudes and dudettes,
I tried out one of the Sense ICS ROMS (ARHD 5.0.2) and while aspects of it were great, at the moment (due to kernel development) it's a lot slower than the Gingerbread ROMs available.
However, I really loved the HTC ICS "Notes" and "Tasks" apps.
My questions,
1. Is it possible to run these apps on Gingerbread? Obviously the widgets couldn't really be integrated with a current ROM without recooking the whole thing, but just being able to use the apps would be great. Could someone provide the APKs if it is possible?
2. If that won't work, could somebody strip the icons from the apks for me? I love them and I'd like to use them for my note and to do apps.
Thanks for reading,
zuka
They work on Sense Gingerbread ROMs, yes.
I've installed both on a Gingerbread Sense 3.0 ROM and they both force close. Am I doing something wrong?
I should have clarified, Sense 3.5 ROMs have them.

Any stable Sense based ROM with softkey support?

I'm in urgent need of a Sense based ROM that has softkey enabler built-in or available via app/mod. My 3 hardware keys are defective and I have been relying on an app called "softkey enabler", which only works on CM based ROM's. But I've been having trouble with CM lately (several bugs that really bother me) and I really want to go back to a stable Sense ROM (Sense 5 if possible). So does such a ROM exist? Your advice will be greatly appreciated.
Asking which ROM is best/most stable isn't allowed. To say one is better infers that the others are inferior in some way. This isn't fair to the devs who spend their spare time giving us these ROMs free of charge.
Now onto the other part of your question. You could try an Xposed module called GravityBox, most of its features won't work because it's meant to be used with aosp ROMs, but it does have the navigation bar (softkey as you call it) feature which might work. It's worth a try. Obviously you need the Xpoded Framework installed first for the module to work.
Sent from my Evita.

Samsung stock ROM motification (TouchWiz removal)

Hello,
While searching for a stable ROM for my "Samsung Galaxy S2 9.7" tablet (because I don't like TouchWiz) I got an idea. Instead of building a full custom ROM for the tablet, with all the bugs/repairs to go with it. Wouldn't it be easier (in my case) to just take the stock Samsung ROM and replace the UI only? I mean could the stock Samsung TouchWiz ROM files be replaced with the stock Android version of files? (e.g. System UI and/or UI framework)
This with the end result of having a already working stable ROM and there by minimizing the bug fixing to just the UI. I'm wondering, is this a stupid idea because this basically requires to rewrite the whole ROM or? I'm willing to study for Android development and develop this myself if it is worth it. (I don't have any experience with Android development but I do have experience with programming in general)
I know it is possible to replace the launcher and/or delete the stock apps, but the notification area and the settings app would still be TouchWiz. I would like to replace this also.
Thanks in advance,
Feonx
Why would you replace the stock ui, when you can get an entire new (and better) ROM with a different ui out there, I personally use CM12.1 which uses the Trebuchet Ui and it made my 4.2.2 android version into a 5.1.1. CM along with other ROMs out there come with some pretty great customisations that you can't get in a stock ROM (even rooted). But if you really want to develop or look for that specific type of ROM out there then go ahead and good luck.
Using CM12.1 on my SGH-T999
Thanks for your response AlienDrew!
Well the basic reason I want this is because CM 12 versions take a while before it is stable. My experience with custom ROMs is that it can be buggy or the ROM is a phone type of ROM on a tablet. I don't see the need for the whole ROM to be replaced if the "core" of Samsung is stable enough. All the work on making the ROM specifically for the hardware needs to be redone if CM is building it. I think Samsung is doing good work for optimizing the experience like for example the battery consumption.
I guess it would be very time consuming to do this. With my idea in mind, Samsung does the core maintenance and the only maintenance left to do (for CM or myself) is the UI witch would be much less work. I would really like to know a Android developers view on this.

Best tweaks, mods, rom and settings for XT1032

Hi all
so with the revival of my XT1032 i'm looking to return to using my beloved device.
I'm asking for you what do you recommend for a mixture of performance and battery life? Currently on stock lollipop
This could be:
Roms
tweaks (Xposed, kernels etc)
settings ( i would ideally like to keep sync on)
apps
It would be handy to have an amalgamation of what the forums idea's are

Categories

Resources