A lot of manufacturers customize Android, some just put a custom skin on it, some even redesign it to the point where people can't even recognize Android. So, my question is: is there a way to delete all bloatware (even the manufacturer updating app), and change every customized system app to their Vanilla counterparts (even SystemUI, Settings etc.)? Without, of course, installing a Custom ROM.
Why I want all this is the following: I have a device (I don't want to name it, because I want to keep this a General Question) that has a pretty big camp here on XDA, but the specific MODEL I have, does not. They didn't even figure out how to unlock the Bootloader for it, which is a shame, because now I cannot install Custom ROMs on it. It even uses completely different firmwares, than the other models, so no compatibility beetween the devices.
So, is there a way to do all this? I have root, of course, so that's no problem. Oh, and another thing: I can't install Xposed. I don't know why, but I can't.
Android 5.0.1
smileyhead said:
A lot of manufacturers customize Android, some just put a custom skin on it, some even redesign it to the point where people can't even recognize Android. So, my question is: is there a way to delete all bloatware (even the manufacturer updating app), and change every customized system app to their Vanilla counterparts (even SystemUI, Settings etc.)? Without, of course, installing a Custom ROM.
Why I want all this is the following: I have a device (I don't want to name it, because I want to keep this a General Question) that has a pretty big camp here on XDA, but the specific MODEL I have, does not. They didn't even figure out how to unlock the Bootloader for it, which is a shame, because now I cannot install Custom ROMs on it. It even uses completely different firmwares, than the other models, so no compatibility beetween the devices.
So, is there a way to do all this? I have root, of course, so that's no problem. Oh, and another thing: I can't install Xposed. I don't know why, but I can't.
Android 5.0.1
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debloating can be done rather easily using root. many apps such as rom toolbox and titanium can aid with that.
as far as basically de-themeing the phone, im sure it would require a reasonable amount of developmental knowledge to even attempt.
even if i knew what device you had, im sure i couldnt help, but the level of possibility and difficulty could certainly vary from one device to another.
debloating can be done rather easily using root. many apps such as rom toolbox and titanium can aid with that.
as far as basically de-themeing the phone, im sure it would require a reasonable amount of developmental knowledge to even attempt.
even if i knew what device you had, im sure i couldnt help, but the level of possibility and difficulty could certainly vary from one device to another.
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Could flashing system apps work?
smileyhead said:
Could flashing system apps work?
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i assume you mean changing system apps.
that would depend on weather the app is themed, or there is some external themeing going on.
if its the app, and you want to change it, you will need to find apps compatible with your device and version, or they wont work.
It completely depends on the device. There is a huge diff between a themed os and a custom distro like you see on Samsung and HTC devices. I think only one oem makes a themed version and that is the oxygen os. The rest can't be done as it is not really a theme but a complete distro where system files and drivers have been replaced or re-written completely. The only way to truly do it is to flash a rom based on pure aosp code. Made you doing this removes just about all features from a device but as your bootloader is on unlocked and with no bypass you are kinda stuck.
i assume you mean changing system apps.
that would depend on weather the app is themed, or there is some external themeing going on.
if its the app, and you want to change it, you will need to find apps compatible with your device and version, or they wont work.
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Some clarification: I meant deleting the themed system apps (Dialer, Settings, etc.), then flashing Gapps, and the other stuff that's not included in it (Settings, FaceUnlock, etc.).
It completely depends on the device. There is a huge diff between a themed os and a custom distro like you see on Samsung and HTC devices. I think only one oem makes a themed version and that is the oxygen os. The rest can't be done as it is not really a theme but a complete distro where system files and drivers have been replaced or re-written completely. The only way to truly do it is to flash a rom based on pure aosp code. Made you doing this removes just about all features from a device but as your bootloader is on unlocked and with no bypass you are kinda stuck.
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Well, this firmware is pretty much just a reskin with some additional functions (a really ugly reskin), so I thought about what I mentioned above. I can always reflash the firmware, if something goes wrong, without data loss.
I would look in your system partition. The easiest give away will be if there are extra frameworks. If there is you can bet that they replaced the apks instead of just theming them. Give it a shot and I hope it works.
Related
I'm very new to android dev, not new to dev in general, though.
I hear ROMs being talked about quite frequently, not sure if I'll get into it, can't seem to find an address of the specific issue:
- What is a ROM?
In the sense, is it the entire OS? Is it the OS + UI? Does it include local apps & contact storage? Like, obviously apps and contacts wouldn't be read-only, but typically ROM means PROM (or some variation (EPROM/EEPROM/FROM, whatever), so I take it with a grain of salt.
From what I gather it's the entire OS + UI, and that's all? But I'm not sure.
Also, is there ways to replace specific parts of the ROM? Ie. Say I want to make modifications to the thread scheduler but I don't want it to touch some of the reliant modules..is it possible to just drop in a new scheduler by overwriting part of the binary image? Or are these things whole-sale?
Reason simply being is I don't like the idea of some random ass ROM that somebody cooked up with god knows how much OS exp controlling everything, as it's a binary it's not like you can crack it open and diff it or anything...or there's no official forks or branches to look at, y'know? Do people just "trust" all these ROM modders/creators?
Sorry for the over-abundance of questions :-X
Oh my god it's already on page 7...bump...?
Take a look at cyanogen mod. It comes with the source which you can fork if you'd like.
Sent from my HTC Desire
ROM - its the entire visible OS that you tend to interact on your phone + the kernel (shipping just the ROM would be useless). Its pretty much every software that you need to get your work done on the phone. You may chose to install additional's but thats just accessorizing your phone. Its called ROM since once you install the OS image over the phone, the region of sd-card is generally marked read-only & you are not expected to make changes to it (concisely /system partition & also /data where the OS can do write operations but again, there are exceptions to this rule too in custom ROMs).
As for Custom ROMS, they are generally forked of the AOSP except for the little nuances the rom maker's add to them (mostly those changes are in form of theme, few apps here & there, icons, wallpapers). I think your question is more specific to custom kernel instead because thats the entity which help/harm your device.
For that, I would suggest you to pick a particular custom release (such as Netarchy, popular for Nexus S)
& read over their change-logs. The kernel devs generally do a great job of maintaining those logs precisely. The initial fork of their kernel too comes from AOSP to which they add specific features such
as ext4 fix a.k.a Turboboost, Voodoo color & sound enhancement, BLN & odd.
Hope I have allayed some of your fears regarding customs software.
Thanks.
Yeah, I just get nervous installing an OS/Kernel blindly.
Changing themes would be nice, and I'd like the ability to do so without dropping in a ROM that can potentially have changes made to the Kernel. I don't like the fact that the ROM encompasses EVERYTHING, therefore it's coupled to the fact that you need a different ROM regardless of what you change.
It should be modular enough that you can modify themes without flashing an entire OS onto it.
Also, what's the chances that if a ROM install fails, you can re-load it (ie. what are the chances of you bricking your phone)? I don't have time for that.
Next to none if you make a nandroid, which is a backup.
Sent from my myTouch 4G using XDA App
rockstarar said:
Next to none if you make a nandroid, which is a backup.
Sent from my myTouch 4G using XDA App
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It says that only works for the G1.
I completely forgot to ask, apps should stay, right?
I mean they're all in user land, shouldn't have anything to do with the ROM nor actual OS....right? (probably wrong... )
so i've bought myself a samsung galaxy s2, or i-9100, supposedly the best phone on the market, but ive only used nokia keypad phones before, and I'm pretty sure i'm not using my new phone to its full potential.
some questions, what is rooting? i get the idea it lets me do whatever i want?
if I root my phone, does that wipe my Operating System (gingerbread 2.3.3?) and all settings and installed things? Does it also wipe user data like texts or photos?
what's a kernel, or kernel version, kernel source code etc...?
I want to get rid of some of the samsung branding software, because i can't see an option to install them. but some features like swype i like, can i "selectively" debrand the phone?
The general point of what I want is I want my new phone to work like my computer, uninstall programs i don't want and install ones i do want. (i've only ever used Windows) But i don't seem to understand almost everything on this forum
Rooting your phone allows you to change roms, boot up themes and will let you remove most apps and allow you to get some you can't have with out root axx, but most roms already remove the carrier bloat ware. It will remove all your apps etc though and txt. Think of it like reinstalling your os on your pc, rooting your phone will make you admin on your phone instead of a normal user.
You can also underclock your phones cpu to save some battery life if you want when it's rooted.
You can just move your photos to your pc/sdcard...
Point is though, rooting your phone is worth it give yourself some time getting use to it maybe read up on it on here there are tons of great tuts to show you and explain things to you.
Like @zookeeper525 said, rooting gives you full access to your phone. The process does not erase data or settings. You can root on a stock ROM, then flash a rooted custom ROM. There are a lot of good ROMs out there, and you can usually get great performance and improved battery life from a custom ROM. Every device is different, so your experience may vary.
A kernal is the core of the Android operating system. Custom ROMs come with a kernal that has usually been tuned for their specific ROM, but there are also custom kernals available that have even more features (overclocking, underclocking, undervolting, etc.).
With any of this, you stand to gain lots of control over your phone, but can also brick it if you're not careful. My advice is read, read, read, then read again before you proceed.
Good luck!
Hey
Im kind of behind with Smartphones because I had a Samsung D500 for several years, it was only a few months ago I upgraded and got myself a HTC Desire HD on Contract. Ive been using it completly standard, with all the official software etc..
Im beginning to get quite bored of it now though and I still have like 1 and a half years left on my contract.
All I seem to do with the phone is... standard SMS texting, phone calls, facebook, twitter and check a couple of websites every now and then.
I have read around and hear things about "ROMS" and "ROOTS", but dont really know what that means.
Im just wondering, if you had this phone.. What would you do with it exactly?
Something to make it look/feel like a new phone maybe..... I duno
Just want some opinions, recommendations really
Thanks
Custom ROMs
A stock ROM is the version of the phone's operating system that comes with your phone when you buy it.
A custom ROM is a fully standalone version of the OS, including the kernel (which makes everything run), apps, services, etc - everything you need to operate the device, except it's customized by someone in some way.
So what does the "customized" part mean? Since Android is open source, developers are free to take stock ROMs, modify them, strip them of garbage, optimize them, add things, and pretty much do whatever their imagination and skills allow.
Custom ROMs are oftentimes faster, more efficient, and use less memory because:
- the developer ripped out useless garbage, such as carrier installed apps or
- the developer optimized the kernel. For example, an undervolted kernel can provide a much better battery life than the stock one.
You can upgrade to a version of the OS that has not yet been released for your device, or never will be. This is possible in 2 situations:
- A leaked version of the new ROM showed up online, and the developer got on it like the fat kid chasing an ice cream truck.
- A ROM from another phone was ported by the developer to work on yours. For example, G1 and MyTouch 3G users may never see Android 2.1 officially released on their phones, but Cyanogen, one of the most respected Android developers, was able to create a custom ROM running 2.1 for those devices.
ROOTING:
Getting root or rooting your phone is the process of modifying the operating system that shipped with your device to grant you complete control over it.
This means you can overcome limitations that the carriers and manufacturers put on your phone, extend system functionality, and even upgrade it to a custom flavor of Android.
The name root comes from the Linux operating system world, where the most privileged user on the system (otherwise known as Administrator on Windows) is called root.
You have access to alter any system files, use themes, change boot images, delete annoying stock apps, such as Sprint's NFL Mobile live and Nascar Sprint Cup Mobile, and other various native applications that might drive you crazy (Footprints, Voice Dialer, etc).
On most rooted Android devices, you can back up your entire system to an SD card, much in the same way you can image a hard drive. This is great if you’d like to try a new ROM, as you can back up your phone, wipe it completely, flash the new ROM, and if you don’t like it, just restore from your backup to get your device back to exactly how it was before you wiped it.
The easiest way to do this at the moment is by using ROM Manager.
ROM Manager allows you to easily flash a custom recovery image which is what you will need in order to backup and restore your phone. The recovery image is a special program that can be booted into outside of the phone's main operating system, sort of like an OS recovery console on a PC. By default, the recovery image on most Android phones only gives you a few options, mainly related to wiping the phone. Custom recovery images expand upon these options and usually include scripts that can do things like backup and restore your system, fix file permissions, or allow you to flash custom ROMs that the normal recovery image would otherwise reject.
Normally, flashing a custom recovery image requires some command line work, either on your PC, or on a terminal emulator directly on the phone, but Koush's ROM Manager should automatically flash his custom recovery image (known as ClockworkMod Recovery) for you, provided you're on one of the supported phones and that it is already rooted.
Using ROM Manager is pretty simple. Download and install the application from the market, fire it up, and you’ll be prompted to allow the application superuser permissions - make sure you approve it.
The first thing you’ll need to do is flash the ClockworkMod recovery image that I mentioned earlier, which can be done right in the app (it’s the first option). ROM Manager should automatically find the latest version of the right image for your phone, download, and install it - the whole process is seamless.
After that is done, you can simply use the ‘Manage and Restore Backups’, and ‘Backup current ROM’ options to, well, backup your current ROM or restore from an existing backup.
Rooting Guide for Desire HD
Desire HD ROMs
If you're bored with the look and feel of the phone then by all means customize it. Custom ROMs etc can help with that, or even just trying another Launcher like ADW EX. Make it a project to do something creative and artsy and then post your work here. Rooting will allow greater scope of what you can accomplish, like changing the system Fonts, for example.
Really though, if you're not interested in that kinda thing, i'd suggest just doing more of what the phones are designed for in the first place, which is running applications. Perhaps you might edit your OP to request a list of entertaining apps so that people can throw out suggestions?
A few time killers that i enjoy:
IMDb (For watching trailers and reading about movies)
Cracked Lite (Funny and informative articles)
Amazon Kindle (Reading books on the go)
Wimp.com (Fantastic collection of videos. Think of it as youtube's greatest hits)
Heya thanks for that reply
Well I am interested in a custom ROM, it sounds cool. Especially if it removes crap I dont need to save my battery life etc
Id like to try a new ROM, I had a go last night and installed ROM Manager but it said something about it couldnt find superuser and told me to google it lol, so I went to sleep
Now I am awake I am willing to give it a bash and would like to do it
Dont think Id be much use trying to do my own though,would rather use someone elses if Im allowed too? A very fast/power efficient/nicelooking/stable one etc.. Any you recommend?
Just doing that successfully would be a big enough project for myself as its my first time Heh
Before I go ahead and break my phone, are these instructions the correct ones for me?
Shall I do what this says to setup superuser?
pocketnow.com/android/how-to-root-your-htc-desire-hd
Sorry I just noticed you have a big massive link with a guide for rooting my phone lol
I am going to do that now then thanks
As for ROMS, for my phone, is:
[ROM] MIUI 1.9.16 v.1: Freshly Squeezed Edition™ 16/09/11
The main custom ROM for me?
Would you recommend that one, from that link you posted, that one seems to be the only main one I can see
Need abit of help, got visionary on my phone. Ticked box r/w after boot or whatever and then when I click on Temproot now, it says rooting device etc.... but then it just goes to a black screen and stays a black screen.
Is this normal or is something going wrong?
- Apparently the latest firmware doesnt allow Visionary to work. I need to downgrade to an earlier firmware? How do I do that lol
Or should I just give up and stop now?
You have to downgrade to Froyo 1.3.2 first. Follow this guide.
Here's a guide for rooting, ENG and Radio S-OFF, Flashing radio and ROM
Flashing a radio?
Um this sounds abit to risky actually for my first time.
So from what I understand is, I could successfully flash my chosen custom ROM but the radio signal for phone calls/SMS texting and stuff.... could not work ?
I dont think I want to take that risk now Ive read that
dont flash any radios the one you have will work fine also have a look around in the dev forums.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=765
Im quite happy with what Ive done, someone mentioned to do it earlier on in this topic and its basically all I wanted, just a fresh look
I changed the HTC Skin to Slate, and then used the GO Launcher and using a green + black theme, done abit of customizing. Before all this I did a hard reset on the phone too, and using JuiceDefender. I like it, happy with it, feels fresh
Thanks for all the help and advice though I do appreciate
I don't want to know how to root, I can find my answer for that on Google, however what I don't get is what it does...
I know it unlocks the device somehow, but can't I simply access everything in the system if I compile android from source and install it on the device?
I have downloaded the android source and I believe I can access every possible thing, so why is rooting needed?
If I install an app as a system app, won't it automatically have the permissions to do what I need it to do?
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
If you have a new phone and want to install one of the many custom ROMs around, you simply need a rooted phone.
A custom ROM is in easy terms a custom made User Interface for the phone.
There is lot more complicated stuff going on under the hood, but in general you change the look and feel of you phone's UI.
The phone has to be rooted, because the manufacturers and net providers around pack a lot of useless crap called "bloatware" (like Samsung Shop and Samsung Play and Samsung Sing and Dance and Music and whatnot) on your phone, which often makes it slower than it can be without it.
But naturally the big corps don't want you to be able to get rid of that **** too easily, which is why you don't have access to the system folders as a normal user.
I guess in your case it's possible that you (if you compiled android from source and installed it on your device) so to say have an already rooted phone, since Android itself is rooted by default. Like I said, the manufacturers are the ones to unroot Android in order to dictate which apps their customers might or might not use.
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
meh, hope that helped a bit at least...
root- you would love to do it after reading this..
Root? what is it?
it is what i call full access to our phone, flash new roms, have dual boot (example- you can have to os like ics and JB), can access the evasive /data folder which holdes the apk/setups of apps installed from playstore and many other things..
If you are concerned about warranty you can unroot your phone and give in your phone for warranty. i have given my phone for warranty like this.
The most important thing i like about root is that i can fix my phone myself (if it is a software problem). any other question please ask, and i will answer it.
Thanks if helped!
I don't have the time for development anymore. I used to play with stuff like that years ago, but life has taken me away from it. I'd still like to be able to access everything on my phone and play with custom roms, and root lets me do that. The end consumer comment is a good one.
As for to root or not root, I tell most people who ask me to root for them what they use their phone for and explain what they would get out of rooting, and explain the risks involved. Seems that people who understand what rooting does are able to do it themselves, and the ones that ask you to do it for them usually decide against it after hearing "there is a tiny chance that your phone could get bricked" lol
If you just want to play emulators etc, how would you benefit from rooting?
IMO rooting is very useful if you want to keep touching system things in a stock rom, optimizing and debloating it, installing other people ROMs, etc... I believe that if you compile your own flavour of android and find no restriction doing whatever you want, you don't need to.
Android phone without root is nothing
McFex said:
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
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:good:
McFex said:
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
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Some phones can just be flashed (for example via usb) which gives you full control, others can be cracked.
Hello everyone,
Im here for a long time now, enjoy my different android cellphone with different ROMs you proposed.
But now I wish one thing : a empty ROM with nothing in it for my Z3.
Is it existing and/or valuable? Indeed I want it to put a modded Store and add everything I want with nothing else.
Well I think Im not the only one in this quest and and maybe It's already discuss elsewhere.
Well thanks for all of your work its really amazing what you can do in here.
What do you mean by an "empty ROM" ?
You can always take a rom .zip and modify it the way you think it suits you best,
but I don't think many users here want to have a bootable rom with nothing in it.
Please specify what you mean by empty.
Do you mean no system at all, no apps, no bloat, no extra features besides AOSP?
he basically means no apps/widgets at all, just the rom itself
The rom itself functions because of the system apps or am I missing something?
But like I said he could use every rom zip and modify it, which would be in fact the same
as getting an "empty" one, where he had to add many apps for basic things like phone, settings etc.
Richy99 said:
he basically means no apps/widgets at all, just the rom itself
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Yes That's what i am talking about.
I have just seen in android development ROMs with lot of apps.
I install ROM til the SGS and now I own a Z3.
Between I took a break with Android for iPhone.
Well I am again in android stuff and there are changes.
I mean when I installed ROM back in the days I had to flash the kernel, etc.
Now there's only a zip to flash in Recovery with all already configured.
How can I configure more? Choose what i want in the ROM.
Obviously I need Phone app (didn't know that's an app in fact) but for the rest, I can use for example Retrica for APN, Box for email etc. I don't advertise it's just examples.
Well are the cyanogen ROM nightlies what I am looking for?
I want to personalize all.
Thanks for the interest.
Well I understand the need to configure it yourself, but theres definitely no such rom. I for myself never saw something like that on xda. But like I said if you don't want the pre-installed apps you can open the rom zip and delete those you don't want and replace them with the ones you got.
But beware: like I already said there's a whole lot of apps for basic phone features which may not appear as an app with an actual interface on your device but rather work in the background. Deleting such could end in a brick in the worst case.
CyanogenMod has all the standard apps pre-installed like every other major custom rom out there.
It's designed to be flashed and used right away.