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Hi all,
I thought I'd share the steps I did to improve my experience (speed, battery life,...) with the stock ROM of the SK4G, and hopefully get some additional tips from you guys. There's nothing really *new* here, but hopefully it is helpful to some newer people (who don't want to mess with ROMs).
The steps in short:
1) Install the latest firmware.
2) Turn off or configure all automated syncing which you don't use.
3) Remove and/or freeze all apps you don't use.
4) Remove everything from your home screen which you don't need.
5) Disable apps that run on startup, but shouldn't.
6) Replace stock apps.
1) Install the latest firmware.
The latest firmware, currently KJ2, is a real improvement. I was previously using the KG2 firmware which seemed to have some memory leak. In simple terms, every minute the device was on, the system itself was taking up more memory, leaving less and less memory for the apps to run. This resulted in a device getting less responsive with time, the home screen being refreshed regularly, the device completely locking up, ... It was so bad that I made a habit to restart the sidekick at least once a day.
With the new firmware, this seems fixed. I don't think I have even seen the home screen refresh since I updated. Everything just seems more responsive! It also had a positive result on my battery life.
You can either wait for the update to happen automatically, or you can do it manually using Kies. It's a matter of installing Kies, connecting your Sidekick and pressing update. You can find a guide here.
2) Turn off or configure all automated syncing which you don't use.
It's a smartphone, you expect it to sync some stuff. Just check for each use case if you need the syncing and how frequently the syncing should happen. A lot of apps let you configure this kind of stuff. Some even allow you to only sync over wifi.
So just take a look at all installed apps and see which ones use some form of syncing. Some might do it without you being aware of it.
3) Remove and/or freeze all apps you don't use.
This is self explanatory for apps you've installed yourself. With the sidekick you also get a lot of apps that might be completely useless to you, but you can't remove since they are pre-installed. With root however, you can! (See the bottom of this post on how to root.)
Before I go any further, let me explain the difference between removing and freezing apps. Removing an app does exactly what it says, the app will be gone "forever". Freezing however is non-destructive: the app will be disabled and gone from your app list, but you can easily unfreeze it to restore it.
An app that's often mentioned that allows this is Titanium Backup. It is however not free. So instead, I used the free AntTek App Manager, which has worked wonderfully. You get a list of all apps, select one, choose "freeze" and it's gone! In case you want to undo your action, you select the app in the "frozen" list and choose "unfreeze". It's as simple as that.
Note that some apps should not be frozen. For example, I tried to freeze Wifi Calling. As soon as it was frozen, I got "force close" popups. Off course, since freezing is non-destructive, I could simply unfreeze the app to solve the problem.
Here is a list of everything I froze:
- com.amazon.mp3
- AllShare
- com.tmobile.apppack
- Backup (I'm not on T-Mobile)
- DriveSmart
- DriveSmart System
- Group Texting
- Media Hub
- My Account (Only the com.tmobile.selfhelp one)
- T-Mobile Device Carbon
- T-Mobile TV
- Video Chat
- SNS (Social networking)
- SNSAccount
- SnsComposer
- Visual Voicemail (I'm not on T-Mobile)
- Gallery (I use QuickPic instead)
- Swype (I use the samsung keyboard in portrait mode)
- Tips & Tricks
- Email (I use gmail instead)
- Accounts & Sync
- Files (I use ES File Explorer instead)
- Web (I use Dolphin HD instead)
- TeleNav GPS Navigator
- Talk
- Mini Diary
- com.google.android.apps.books
- Task Manager
- Messaging (I use Handcent instead)
4) Remove everything from your home screen which you don't need.
Again, quite easy. What I noticed in the beginning was that I used the home screens to list all apps I actually used, so I didn't have to open the app drawer and search for the wanted app between all apps I didn't use but couldn't remove. However, now that I removed/froze all useless apps (see step 3), the app drawer is quite a clean list of apps, so apps that I use sparingly don't need to be on my home screen anymore.
By the way, it is possible to order the apps in your app drawer. Just open the drawer, choose "menu / View type" and choose "Customizable grid". Afterwards, you can choose "menu / Reorder".
5) Disable apps that run on startup, but shouldn't.
I'm using an app called autorun manager for this. I disabled some apps that I use sparingly but that shouldn't be started when turning on the phone.
6) Replace stock apps.
It might be interesting to look at alternatives for the stock apps, depending on your needs. This is especially handy if you are able to remove/freeze the stock app you're replacing (see step 3).
Some stock apps you can replace:
1) Messaging --> Handcent.
The main features which made me choose Handcent were an incredibly handy popup window if you receive a message and great customization (both the interface as well as the configuration, for example not automatically switching to mms if your message is longer than 3 sms messages was handy for me).
Another nice replacement is Go SMS Pro, but when I tested it, it couldn't work with the led indicators of the sidekick.
2) Default launcher / home screens --> LauncherPro
I only tested this briefly before reverting to the default one, but it seemed very responsive. (I personally didn't like the spacing of the icons on the home screen)
3) Web --> Dolphin HD
I personally love the interface of Dolphin with tabs on top, gestures, efficient use of the screen space, ...
Other replacements are Opera, Skyfire, Firefox, ...
4) Gallery --> QuickPic
I find QuickPic to be a lot faster, and you can easily include/exclude folders.
Root
Rooting the sidekick is actually an easy process. It's a matter of connecting your device to your pc, installing the samsung drivers, running SuperOneClick and clicking "root". That's it. And if you want to undo this change, just go through the same process but click "unroot" instead.
You can find a guide here.
thanks a lot, man. though i'm still considering if i really need root.
Great little guide.
New users that just want a quick way to improve their phone's performance and stability should take note.
Hi everyone. Im one of the developers of SwitchMe, and app that allows multiple secure logins into separate installations of android on a single device. The pr is after the break.
I really need a few people to check into some issues people on the original Tab have been experiencing. There are some warnings involved:
- testers must perform a full nandroid backup before using the app, it is not our responsibility if you start getting boot loops
- if you report results or bugs, please use the "Write to us" function in the app whenever possible, and always describe the issue in the header of the logs you send
- if you post here, be sure to include your device type and rom
- if you have apps installed on sd, be sure to mention that as well
--------------------------------------------------------------------
SwitchMe is a unique application for root users that allows you to log in and out of multiple installations of Android just as you would on a desktop computer.
The technology behind SwitchMe saves all of your applications and data, protects it and stores it as a file in memory. You can then log out of an
account and log into a fresh installation of Android or another account with its own unique content.
You may create as many profiles as the memory is capable of holding. Some of these may require very little free memory because they contain few apps,
others will be larger as they contain many applications and lots of cache and data.
Why is this functionality useful?
Privacy - the most obvious benefit is that you can securely share one device among multiple users, which gives you privacy and peace of mind.
Testing - if you are a developer, you can use profiles as clean sandboxes to test your applications and their interaction with the system.
Gaming – with multiple installations of Android on a single device, you can now play online MMOs as different characters.
Speed - the games your kids play slow down your tablet, but with SwitchMe you can easily create profiles without games or instant messengers.
Battery life - when the battery is low but there are important emails or documents to edit later, switch to a profile which only contains these essentials.
These of course are only suggestions - there are plenty of other uses for the functionality SwitchMe offers.
Market link:
https://market.android.com/details?id=fahrbot.apps.switchme
The Lite version allows the creation of two profiles, enough to test on.
Screens:
SwitchMe 1.2 has been rolled out and now includes a lockscreen replacement:
1.2
Added lock screen for logging in and out
More stable Fast switch implementation
Reworked UI colors
Now, its very important that we get some feedback on how this big new feature works, so please read up on it in the help and post your thoughts!
1.2.2 - HOTFIX 2
Reworked widget on qHD+ displays
Fixed widget text on HC and ICS
Fast switch improved on older devices
So guys any comments?
There is no way this app affects recovery whatever youre doing wrong its a user error.
Arobase40 said:
Sorry Man, but I haven't installed Superuser, as the ROM was prebuilt with Superuser and CWM, and was working fine since SwitchMe... ^^
No access to the Market as, AGAIN, no Google apps at all, and so no Market !
I just created the profiles as instructed BUT this apps did NOT copied the Samsung ROM correctly... Don't know what happens with Recovery ???
I've spent the whole night to find out a way to flash back my backup.
This is my report and I can't change it and since this is your first report with this device, I guess ???.
Then telling this is a user error, please explain what was my error except being your first beta tester with your app on this device ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I cant explain anything to you because your description of the issue makes no sense - all i can say is that its not possible for this app to modify the recovery partition. Its physically impossible.
The lack of gapps is probably because they were bot installed in /system. Same with superuser. Check your rom for more info.
Any issues to report?
Not working on Galaxy tab GT-P1000
Hi,
Exact same problem as Arobase40.
I Installed Switchme, added 2 accounts (one for actual user and a new user). Then rebooted. No more market (and google apps) nor SuperUser. SwitchMe and Cwm complain I didn't give root permission.
Is there a solution or do I have to flash rom with Odin ?
Chag
chagam said:
Hi,
Exact same problem as Arobase40.
I Installed Switchme, added 2 accounts (one for actual user and a new user). Then rebooted. No more market (and google apps) nor SuperUser. SwitchMe and Cwm complain I didn't give root permission.
Is there a solution or do I have to flash rom with Odin ?
Chag
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means there are symlinks to the /system or /data folders where the gapps and superuser are stored. That is the problem - the app does not and will never support these links.
Any issues with the new build?
No... I'm not willing to take into account individuals. I work with the lowest common denominator. Dont like it? Don't use it. Frankly, arguing with a dv really isn't going tointuce him to help you...
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium
1.5.3.5
Profile creation and cloning now restricted to admins
Fixed many device-specific issues from logs
Fixed rare crash on profile switch
Fixed Superuser footprint issue on some ICS tablets
Lots of small issues on the new x86 and MIPS architectures fixed as well
Yes, obviously. But the actual word is trolls - opinionated and easily offended, these creatures can often be found lurking in forums doing nothing much at all other than flaming others and bottom feeding.
A lot of them are in my GIANT ignore list. So long.
1.5.3.8
Fixed issue switching profiles (One X and others)
Fixed rare crash on adding/ removing profiles
Fixed many device specific issues from user logs
ftgg99 said:
That means there are symlinks to the /system or /data folders where the gapps and superuser are stored. That is the problem - the app does not and will never support these links.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that mean all SGT P-1000 will have the same problem? I have no problem losing gapps, I can always download it from goo manager. I'm afraid I would lose superuser/root access like they did.
Will it work on ICS CM-9mod (MTD)?
It would be a killer app if this can work.
No of course not. It applies only to roms with symlinks.
Well I just moved from CM9 to AOKP and because I am not a dev, I wouldn't know if they use any symlinks or not when they make their custom ROM.
But I decided to go ahead install ur app and see if it will work. We'll find out soon.
Here goes nothing. I hope it will work.
Test Result
yappoe said:
Well I just moved from CM9 to AOKP and because I am not a dev, I wouldn't know if they use any symlinks or not when they make their custom ROM.
But I decided to go ahead install ur app and see if it will work. We'll find out soon.
Here goes nothing. I hope it will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! So far it works! That means:
1. This apps works for SGT-P1000 with CM9 Rom, as well as AOKP rom
2. both AOKP and CM9 builds do not have symlink.
Here are the test cases I did
(You asked us to test just the compatibilityto P1000 not the functionality)
preps:
1. downloaded SwithMe from Google play. App automatically installed
2. Backed up everything in titanium backup
3. Reboot to Recovery and did nandroid backup
TC1. Startup SwitchMe app Result: App startup, displaying 2 warnings.
Warning 1. Preparation warning. 2. Apps on Sdcard warning
TC2. - Move allapps on SDcard back to internal sdcard, restart SwitchMe app
result: 1warning displayed.
- Confirm warning
result: Superuser asks for confirmation for access
- Confirm superuser access Result: App goes to empty page with "Add profile" button.
TC3 Create 2 profilea
Result: Both created.
TC4. Activate Profile, reboot.
Result: Tablet rebooted and started normally
TC5. Activate profile 2, Reboot
Result1: Tablet rebooted and started as a new untouched rom,
prompting user to initial wizard.
Result2: SwitchMe app available, while other user apps are not available.
Result3: gapps are still available.
I hope this helps.
Thank you. A pleasure to see someone actually help us out!
My pleasure.
Pointers for users:
1. Using different google accounts for different profiles will prevent you from downloading app from playstore (error message).
2. Do not select google backup when setting up second profile. If you select google backup, it will automatically install missing apps from google market, therefore you will have an exact clone with your main profile at the end.
Once you get used to it, it is a nice app to have.
This is just to inform anyone using "Phone 2 Google Chrome" that the app (currently v4.1) breaks the ability for certain app defaults to stick (at least on latest stock rom, synergyrom, and cleanrom...and probably others). For example, if you are using the browser and google for a youtube video, then select it, it will ask you every time which app to use even if you tell it to always use a certain app. Same thing happens if selecting a playstore link from a google search (it always asks if you want to use playstore to open the link, even after you tell it to always use it). These are just a couple examples of defaults that don't stick that I've noticed. Some defaults do continue to stick, such as an alternative launcher (I use Nova, and never had a problem keeping it set as default). After trial and error, I found that uninstalling this app completely fixed the problem. I'm also emailing the developer of the app, but thought others might find this info useful - especially if the app is not fixed.
I've been struggling to get the AOSP Browser to work properly on the new TW update. It installs and launches okay, but force closes upon pressing menu. I've tried side loading it in system/app (with a couple other dependencies) and installing Android Browser from the play store. Has anyone succeeded in doing this?
On the same note, I'm having a similar experience with installing Google Talk. It's a superior piece of software when compared to hangouts so I'd prefer to use the better option, but it too encounters issues upon being side loaded... Mainly, it cannot connect to my account upon opening.
Any information would be great. Thanks in advance!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Div033 said:
I've been struggling to get the AOSP Browser to work properly on the new TW update. It installs and launches okay, but force closes upon pressing menu. I've tried side loading it in system/app (with a couple other dependencies) and installing Android Browser from the play store. Has anyone succeeded in doing this?
On the same note, I'm having a similar experience with installing Google Talk. It's a superior piece of software when compared to hangouts so I'd prefer to use the better option, but it too encounters issues upon being side loaded... Mainly, it cannot connect to my account upon opening.
Any information would be great. Thanks in advance!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
isn't chrome the new aosp browser? Plus 4.3 has the old aosp browser pre installed (the one that has the globe as the icon).
ThePagel said:
isn't chrome the new aosp browser? Plus 4.3 has the old aosp browser pre installed (the one that has the globe as the icon).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope and not exactly.
Yes, it is known that Google has replaced the AOSP browser with Chrome, but the two are very different in their rendering engines and plugin support. Chrome likes to do a lot of weird things, like size up text randomly. It also doesn't support flash.
The browser that comes with 4.3 TW is closer to the AOSP browser, but has been massively reworked by Samsung. It can only hold open 16 tabs at a time and has caching issues which forces me to close it via task manager before it will start loading pages again.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Div033 said:
Nope and not exactly.
Yes, it is known that Google has replaced the AOSP browser with Chrome, but the two are very different in their rendering engines and plugin support. Chrome likes to do a lot of weird things, like size up text randomly. It also doesn't support flash.
The browser that comes with 4.3 TW is closer to the AOSP browser, but has been massively reworked by Samsung. It can only hold open 16 tabs at a time and has caching issues which forces me to close it via task manager before it will start loading pages again.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for informing me on that! I use to love chrome but now that the aosp/TW edited asop browser syncs my chrome bookmarks I stay away from it.
Since no one seems to have a answer for you if you give me a market link or whatever link I'll see if I have the same problem.
Seems Google is abandoning support for what used to be the ASOP browser and Android 4.4 support for the old browser has lost some functionality because of built-in engine change from Webkit to Chromium.
Here is the market link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.android.browser
Google's been making a number of questionable "improvements" to its app catalog that have resulted in a less user-friendly experience. New maps, Hangouts and Chrome are not as good as their predecessors. Hangouts and Maps specifically are quite laggy and buggy.
If they keep butchering their core apps then I'll probably start looking outside Android... I dunno... Despite these steps backward, Android is probably still the best option.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Div033 said:
Here is the market link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.android.browser
Google's been making a number of questionable "improvements" to its app catalog that have resulted in a less user-friendly experience. New maps, Hangouts and Chrome are not as good as their predecessors. Hangouts and Maps specifically are quite laggy and buggy.
If they keep butchering their core apps then I'll probably start looking outside Android... I dunno... Despite these steps backward, Android is probably still the best option.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah menu crashes the app for me as well.
So i just got my 10+ 2 days ago and immediately rooted it with magisk. For the past 2 days i have been working on customizing, debloating, and degooglefying it. So far i have removed almost all google apps as well as some samsung bloatware. I have also removed bixby and remapped the bixby button for other tasks...
However i have run into a peculiar issue; if i remove chrome none of my firefox browsers will work, with the exception of orfox... this includes firefox focus, firefox klar and icecat. Those browsers will open no problem but if i type anything into the URL bar and hit go/enter the browsers immediately close/crash. If i reinstall chrome, firefox browsers work without issues. If i force stop and disable chrome, firefox browsers work with no issues. I just cant uninstall chrome.
Im using debloat in magisk modules and im sure the browsers share some dependencies, however i have tried reinstalling firefox browsers after removing chrome and same problem.
Anyone else have this issue or does everyone else use chrome?
I am unrooted with chrome disabled, Firefox beta runs fine. Have you removed android webview too? Try the fenix preview it uses the new rendering engine?
Unrelated question, I used to use note 1 back in the day it had no knox so rooting was simple. Went the nexus/pixel way after that, and rooting on it was basically just pressing a button. Just moved from a pixel 1 to this s10+.
My usage of the root on the pixel had dropped to titanium backup and kernel for boosting it's low performance, could you please explain your use for root on s10? Also, if you want to use your warranty will you be able to?
Yea i currently have chrome disabled and firefox works fine, i just cant uninstall chrome without issues.
To answer your unrelated question, i am a long time linux user and am used to being free to change anything I want with nothing off limits. For the s10 i want to be able to tweak all the settings to my desires and only run the software that i use. I dont want bloatware that i dont use either running in the background or just taking up space.
And as far as i know, the method of root for the s10 line using magisk can be unrooted and bootloader can be relocked but that requires wiping everything and flashing stock firmware which should allow you to use your warranty. I dont actually have a warranty as i bought the international unlocked version and samsung factory warranty doesnt cover accidental physical damage which is the only thing i would ever use a warranty for.
thearmeddiyer said:
So i just got my 10+ 2 days ago and immediately rooted it with magisk. For the past 2 days i have been working on customizing, debloating, and degooglefying it. So far i have removed almost all google apps as well as some samsung bloatware. I have also removed bixby and remapped the bixby button for other tasks...
However i have run into a peculiar issue; if i remove chrome none of my firefox browsers will work, with the exception of orfox... this includes firefox focus, firefox klar and icecat. Those browsers will open no problem but if i type anything into the URL bar and hit go/enter the browsers immediately close/crash. If i reinstall chrome, firefox browsers work without issues. If i force stop and disable chrome, firefox browsers work with no issues. I just cant uninstall chrome.
Im using debloat in magisk modules and im sure the browsers share some dependencies, however i have tried reinstalling firefox browsers after removing chrome and same problem.
Anyone else have this issue or does everyone else use chrome?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because there is no alternative webview provider, or Android System Webview is broken. Check developer settings. I have to keep chrome installed for its webview provider and for some reason the built in Android System Webview is broken, even if I update it.
Chocolatetrain said:
It's because there is no alternative webview provider, or Android System Webview is broken. Check developer settings. I have to keep chrome installed for its webview provider and for some reason the built in Android System Webview is broken, even if I update it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!!!
This solved my problem
So after I disabled chrome I verified webview provider switched to the android version and that firefox was working properly. I then uninstalled chrome, rebooted and same problem. After a little more research i found out that as long as the chrome webview providor was present and used, the android version will not update by itself. I manually went to the play store and updated it which is all it needed. Chrome is uninstalled completely, android webview is in use, and firefox is working properly.
I will report back if i discover any adverse side effects of running the android version rather than chrome.
thearmeddiyer said:
Thank you!!!
This solved my problem
So after I disabled chrome I verified webview provider switched to the android version and that firefox was working properly. I then uninstalled chrome, rebooted and same problem. After a little more research i found out that as long as the chrome webview providor was present and used, the android version will not update by itself. I manually went to the play store and updated it which is all it needed. Chrome is uninstalled completely, android webview is in use, and firefox is working properly.
I will report back if i discover any adverse side effects of running the android version rather than chrome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good stuff man, you're welcome haha. For some reason mine's permanently broken, although I don't mind leaving chrome installed.