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[Guide][Apps] Apps for your Xperia C3 D2533

Hi everyone, seeing as this forum is kinda dead I might as well release a small guide for anyone holding a D2533 since there are lesser chances of 'Best settings prease' and 'best rom/kernel/recovery/app' people to annoy me with.
This guide is meant to recommend to anyone what are the best apps I have used so far in terms of performance, gaming, and general battery life. Without further ado, let me begin.
But first, disclaimer.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR PHONE TURNING INTO AN AWKWARD BOOKMARK OR CHOPPING BOARD. PLEASE USE DISCRETION AND CAUTION WHEN MENTIONED. THIS IS AN OBLIGATORY 'I TOLD YOU SO.'​
Apps that works without root.
1. None. If you're here your phone should be rooted already to make use of apps requiring root. lel
For normal rooted phones without recovery
1. Kernel Adiutor
This app allows an in-depth adjustment of your device, allowing full control on memory management and kernel parameters. Use with caution as it requires reading up on the functions to fully take advantage of the options available.
1a. Root Booster
An alternative to Kernel Adiutor, if you don't like to mess too much with the settings then let this nifty app do the work for you. I didn't try buying Pro version but this is good enough, though I wouldn't recommend you use this WITH CPU tuner to prevent conflicts.
2. AdAway
Browsing your phone but attacked by ads? This beats AdBlock Plus hands down as it fully terminates all adverts at the core level, enough said. Less ads = less phone processing + less data used BUT useless if you're using Chrome on Data Saving settings.
3. Titanium Backup
The one reason most gamers would want to root their phones, especially when you have a whopping 1.8Gb (3 games) to install each time you reset or install your ROM. Especially useful when you want to skip the process of downloading and registering your apps again.
4. CF. lumen
I find this app making it easy on your eyes, especially when you turn on your phone at night. What this little guy does is it applies a filter on your screen to block out blue light from your phone, said to be the reason why people find it hard to sleep at night after looking at any screen whatsoever. More info in this link.
For phones running recovery + Xposed
Note: Saw the disclaimer up there? Yes, it refers to this section so be advised. You absolutely MUST have recovery to work with Xposed as insurance and precaution. If you are running Lollipop 5.0 or 5.1, do refer to the Xposed Threads in this website carefully on how to install. KitKat users should be fine though.
By the way, if you want to install Xposed on Lollipop stock roms, make sure the rom has been modified (Deodexed) or you end up with a chopping board who dreams of turning into a brick one day.
1. Performance Profile
What this guy does is, it allows you to decide at what speed do you want each app chosen to run. This is your governor changer for your apps, useful for apps like Clash of Clans that takes up a crapload of power in your phone in exchange for crap graphics.
2. GLTools
Note: Install by recovery is the best choice
Did I mention gaming? With GLTools, you reduce the graphics on most games that generally lags your phone or force closes it. I've been playing a 2GB Ram game on this phone (Fate/Grand Order) but I can't help with the heating and battery drain.
As usual, fiddle around with the settings as it doesn't necessarily affect all games the same way.
3. RootCloak
Some apps detects root and SuperSU might not be able to hide it. For that, you need RootCloak to hide traces of evil roots to appease that paranoid app. Pretty straightforward, the interface is simple enough for any idiot to use.
4. Xtreme Video
Worth a special mention, our C3 unfortunately does not have a Bravia Engine for some godforsaken reason. This mod provides it, giving our Xperia a place to belong in the feature list. Album viewing has never felt so satisfying.
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Well this is nice. These are all the apps I use most of the time, I got more but they don't work so well on the C3 so I won't mention them. Thanks for reading anyways, and good luck with the phone.

Should I root? What are the perks of it for the S8+ (what have you used root for)?

I've come back to Android after being on iOS for the past 2 or so years. Bought an S8+. With the S8 and S8+ rooted, I'm wondering if I should go about it. I don't like the 80% battery max that comes with it, or that there is no official Xposed support. Im mainly looking for a system wide adblock (which I dont believe I can do without Xposed(?)). Is there any reason you guys would recommend rooting, other than debloat? What else am I missing/forgetting?

Nope, you don't need root if you don't want to mod your system; ad blocker is available without root, just google "adhell 2". This is the 1st phone that I don't have rooted since I don't need it - I can do 90% of the stuff without root. I.e. you can't turn data off from Tasker without root. One of the things I miss. Also, find Knox very usefull - which is lost after root. Just my opinion though.

pr0necr0 said:
I've come back to Android after being on iOS for the past 2 or so years. Bought an S8+. With the S8 and S8+ rooted, I'm wondering if I should go about it. I don't like the 80% battery max that comes with it, or that there is no official Xposed support. Im mainly looking for a system wide adblock (which I dont believe I can do without Xposed(?)). Is there any reason you guys would recommend rooting, other than debloat? What else am I missing/forgetting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get adblocking with "AdHell" or "Disconnect for samsung browser" from plays store.
You can theme you device with Substratum or from this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/themes/substratum-inversion-ui-overlay-overlays-t3604341 or the inbuilt theme store.
You disable any system app you like with Package Disabler Pro.
You can get Xposed-like tweaks from this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/themes/mods-small-collection-tweaks-t3657119.
Really no point in rooting these days!

My S8+ is rooted right now, and I'm on the fence about going back to non-root. If ad blocking is your main concert there are SEVERAL no-root options. I used Disconnect for Samsung (google it, you'll find an APK somewhere) that is a system wide ad block that does allow some ad's... Other ad block methods are Ad Hell, AdGuard, Block This - and I'm sure there are many others... they essentially create a VPN on the device and route all traffic through the VPN and block the things you wouldn't want.
The issue with the bootloader locked rooting methods is they are based on the ENG BOOT kernel which is designed for debugging/testing/repair etc... so you ABSOLUTELY get a performance hit... and a battery hit. The S8+ is so fast the performance hit isn't nearly as bad as it was on the S7E, the battery hit is another story... 80% and I don't think it "stops" charging at 80 - maybe just me? but my phone is warm in the morning charging wired or wirelessly. Again, could be just me. YMMV.
Not to take anything away from the guys who worked hard on getting the root method released. They are awesome and have done a great job - they deserve all the praise in the community they can get. But without TWRP and custom roms, and the ability to create those types or rom's - root isn't quite the same.... AGAIN THAT COULD BE JUST ME! YMMV!

Can rooting boost protection and security?
I have a question about rooting.
All my previous 5 - 6 android smartphones were rooted by me.
The main reason for rooting was to improve security and confidence in the phone - good firewall, de -bloating, control of privilegies
But now with S8+ I am having second thought about if rooting really protects vs exposes.
1) Lots of original protection features will be gone after rooting, like DM-verity
2) Automated system updates and therefore related security patches will be gone too. I am not a big fan of regular manual downloads and updates. So my once rooted system will become dated soon.
Am I taking it right?
Do a good firewall and control of priviligies outweigth the new risks that rooting could bring?
I do a lot of important things on my phone, so the protection is number the #1 thing for me.
Thanks for you thoughts

pixel for a kid

Im giving my old pixel to a kid, but due to problems derived from lack of control over the info checked from last celular, id like to know what ROM and soft could be the best to monitor the phone remotely, if its free the better. Thanks

Reasons for Dead-Stock
Alphabull said:
Im giving my old pixel to a kid, but due to problems derived from lack of control over the info checked from last celular, id like to know what ROM and soft could be the best to monitor the phone remotely, if its free the better. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Set the kid (or any user that you want to keep tabs on) as a secondary user - not Administrator. And you'll want dead-stock 10 for this (for other reasons, I recommend dead-stock 10 for ANY Pixel).
For the first time ever, I unhesitatingly recommend dead-stock Android 10 (if your phone can run it); in fact, I'm running dead-stock 10 myself. Before I got my Pixel 3a, I had never (as in "at all") run dead-stock Android on a phone; the last time I ran dead-stock Android - on anything - was dead-stock Ice Cream Sandwich - on a tablet - which I rooted within a week. It's not that I can't root Android 10; it's rootable (though not TWRP-able - yet); however, there has to be a reason TO root - for the first time ever, I don't have a reason to do so. Backups? I can do that dead-stock; in fact, it's the default (and has been since Oreo); if you run a Samsung device, you could do it in Nougat and later. Security is massively improved merely since Oreo (which is - conversely (if not perversely) why it's gotten harder (but not impossible) TO root). Thus is leads to the question - why root if you don't have to? Throw in a non-admin user (such as a kid), then there's far less reason to root; however, even for ordinary usage, the usual reasons to root (and especially in the case of 10) aren't really there.

[CAT S41] Root possible/safe?

I've had my S41 for about three years now. I remember root being impossible back when it came out. These days, I see a lot of websites describing how to root that phone, so apparently it must be possible now.
Is that true? If so, how safe is the process? I also rooted my Galaxy S3 before buying the S41 and ended up with massive problems caused by Cyanogenmod at the time. Phone would randomly reboot itself, the whole OS was prone to crashing every day, it was much less responsive overall. It was Cyanogen based on.. Android 6 I think. And only that, no optional stuff or additional apps installed. All of the problems vanished when I reverted back to the stock Android 4.
So you can probably see that I'm a little skeptical about the whole root matter from that first time experience. I don't want to ruin my phone like the S3 back then and I don't want to lose some features like the yellow button programming and battery share feature either.

Use MTK Droid Tool - what is developed by MediaTek Inc - that helps users to root their MediaTek chipset based Android device in few clicks only.
MediaTek MTK Droid Tool 2.5.3 (Root Android) Download 2020
Download MTK Droid Tool that allows performing multiple tasks on MTK android device like rooting, creating scatter file, taking rom backup & restoring etc.
gsmflashtools.com

I see. And what about Lineage? I'm not sure if the problems my Galaxy S3 had were unusual but is that stuff still likely to happen? Cyanogen was pretty much the go-to ROM for root users.

CAT S41 doesn't have dedicated forum section yet which is unfortunate i recommend using site search functions ...

NO MORE SLOW.

For the few who remain using these tablets (and the even fewer who bought a 2015 shield controller like me) I have the final nail in the coffin for performance. Without custom OS. Allowing you to use your very specific (criminally underused) 2015 Shield controller wirelessly. Welcome to the end of your woes (performance not guaranteed, this crap worked for me though). I still haven't checked if battery usage has improved, but it has certainly let me depend on this and use my controller again as opposed to using a CustomOS (previously used AEX 6.7, good performance, but bad video playback and lack of wifi controller support).
Required thingys:
TWRP
This awesome script (JournalingDisabler.zip) (thnx very much skynet28): https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...urnaling-in-internal-ext4-partitions.1252028/
Developer Options
Snacks? Drinks? This is gonna take some time, don't pass out halfway through lol
Boost 1: DISABLE JOURNALING.
Y'all. This is the good stuff. the nitro. This will make your tablet feel new (again, if everything goes right and I'm not some insane fluke). I only got the idea from an offhand comment from m0nt3s. I thought they were talking about one of the writing apps at first, but once I learned what it was, my brain imploded. Did a quick google search, and found skynet28's solution right away. It's a script designed to disable an ext4 logging service that eats up memory and processing power. I didn't think it would be compatible (but my chaotic neutral mind said why not), but it works:
1. Install TWRP using adb and prayer (that's what it feels like the first time around lol)
2. Download the zip (JournalingDisabler.zip) to your tablet.
3. Use the install button in TWRP, navigate to the zip, and install away.
It should show text saying journaling is disabled if all went well. The gains should be immediately noticeable on your next boot. I didn't notice any issues or side effects, but I also have the benefit of not having important/sensitive data on it, so just to play it safe, back up your data in case issues crop up later.
Boost 2: BACKGROUND PROCESSES
This one will be a touch more noticeable, especially if you multitask on this tablet, but it can definitely stop a lot of the hitching. This one will be in the bottom of the developer options. If you don't have dev options, go into the about tablet section and tap the build number until you become a dev. Setting it to 1 or 2 is decent, but setting it to none will have the biggest impact.
Boost 3: DON'T USE APP OPTIMIZATION
Seriously. Don't know who dropped the ball. But just turn it all off. It's not even a boost, it's just a negative having it on.
Boost 4: SYNCING
If anything is syncing, be it Gmail, your YouTube notifications, or a news feed, turn it off. Any time apps struggle and fight for WIFI, your experience sucks. If you aren't using it as a main (i'm using it in my car as a head unit)
Boost 5: Color Correction
Must have been the same peeps who dropped the ball on app optimization. With the gains you get above, you might not need to, but if you're trying to max it out this will do it.
That's it for me! This is what I've done to get my tablet feeling smooth again. Let me know how it goes?

I can attest that a lot of the above is what needs to be done to save the last days of this tablet. I did not now about the journal part- will have to try this. Related, I just flashed the original OTA's for the Wifi edition on my Shield LTE. By doing this I got a insane boost in battery life. The LTE (H+) does not work but I don't need it and there are other devices that have much better connectivity .

BLKMN said:
For the few who remain using these tablets (and the even fewer who bought a 2015 shield controller like me) I have the final nail in the coffin for performance. Without custom OS. Allowing you to use your very specific (criminally underused) 2015 Shield controller wirelessly. Welcome to the end of your woes (performance not guaranteed, this crap worked for me though). I still haven't checked if battery usage has improved, but it has certainly let me depend on this and use my controller again as opposed to using a CustomOS (previously used AEX 6.7, good performance, but bad video playback and lack of wifi controller support).
Required thingys:
TWRP
This awesome script (JournalingDisabler.zip) (thnx very much skynet28): https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/...urnaling-in-internal-ext4-partitions.1252028/
Developer Options
Snacks? Drinks? This is gonna take some time, don't pass out halfway through lol
Boost 1: DISABLE JOURNALING.
Y'all. This is the good stuff. the nitro. This will make your tablet feel new (again, if everything goes right and I'm not some insane fluke). I only got the idea from an offhand comment from m0nt3s. I thought they were talking about one of the writing apps at first, but once I learned what it was, my brain imploded. Did a quick google search, and found skynet28's solution right away. It's a script designed to disable an ext4 logging service that eats up memory and processing power. I didn't think it would be compatible (but my chaotic neutral mind said why not), but it works:
1. Install TWRP using adb and prayer (that's what it feels like the first time around lol)
2. Download the zip (JournalingDisabler.zip) to your tablet.
3. Use the install button in TWRP, navigate to the zip, and install away.
It should show text saying journaling is disabled if all went well. The gains should be immediately noticeable on your next boot. I didn't notice any issues or side effects, but I also have the benefit of not having important/sensitive data on it, so just to play it safe, back up your data in case issues crop up later.
Boost 2: BACKGROUND PROCESSES
This one will be a touch more noticeable, especially if you multitask on this tablet, but it can definitely stop a lot of the hitching. This one will be in the bottom of the developer options. If you don't have dev options, go into the about tablet section and tap the build number until you become a dev. Setting it to 1 or 2 is decent, but setting it to none will have the biggest impact.
Boost 3: DON'T USE APP OPTIMIZATION
Seriously. Don't know who dropped the ball. But just turn it all off. It's not even a boost, it's just a negative having it on.
Boost 4: SYNCING
If anything is syncing, be it Gmail, your YouTube notifications, or a news feed, turn it off. Any time apps struggle and fight for WIFI, your experience sucks. If you aren't using it as a main (i'm using it in my car as a head unit)
Boost 5: Color Correction
Must have been the same peeps who dropped the ball on app optimization. With the gains you get above, you might not need to, but if you're trying to max it out this will do it.
That's it for me! This is what I've done to get my tablet feeling smooth again. Let me know how it goes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works! Every bit of OP is legit.
I used current TWRP as of today, twrp-3.6.1_9-0-shieldtablet.img, from https://twrp.me/nvidia/nvidiahshieldtablet.html using fastboot install method on a fully updated Android 7 Nvidia Shield Tablet model p1761w.
Thanks, much respect!

It is important that those who still do not install TWRP should know that to enter fastboot, they must use the official nvidia drivers "SHIELD_Family_WHQL_USB_driver_201801"
This method helped me to lighten but it becomes impossible to install applications, the google services together with those of nvidia cause the ram to collapse and the system cannot manage correctly.
I strongly recommend you to change to a custom rom, you will finally feel the fluidity of the system
At this moment I use lineage 15.1 (android 8.1) + google services minimum (pico)
No chrome app - no Gmail app + facebook and instagram full app. and the system remains light.

nunitofiman said:
It is important that those who still do not install TWRP should know that to enter fastboot, they must use the official nvidia drivers "SHIELD_Family_WHQL_USB_driver_201801"
This method helped me to lighten but it becomes impossible to install applications, the google services together with those of nvidia cause the ram to collapse and the system cannot manage correctly.
I strongly recommend you to change to a custom rom, you will finally feel the fluidity of the system
At this moment I use lineage 15.1 (android 8.1) + google services minimum (pico)
No chrome app - no Gmail app + facebook and instagram full app. and the system remains light.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really wish a developer(s) would take one more look at this device. If there was way to bump up the android version but retain the NVIDIA features it would breath a few more years into these . These tablets are still pretty good for mid range emulation and now that everything has changed with cloud gaming, they are not as irrelevant as it would seem . I've been having pretty good performance on my LTE 32GB that I flashed the original "WiFi edition " stock ROM on. I get great battery life now and use the tablet almost daily for gaming and light use. The sound is also still pretty impressive and I like the stylus functionality as I can't really afford a Samsung device.

What is "journaling"? Is it the same as the logging by logcat? You can set the buffer size to 0K or 64K (setting it to 0 still logs at 64K).