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Guys I've be wondering...why do OEMs always skin up their UI in a way so that it becomes disgusting to use...
Many custom ROMs sure only exists just to bring the native Android feeling like on the Nexus devices to those phones, right?
I myself own a Galaxy Note, and the day I bought it I feel its system was so crapped over with all that Touchwiz bs and Samsung Apps that nobody is going to use but still runs in the background.
So, if OEMs start building 'stock' Android firmwares and only add the essential features (like S-Pen Apps), wouldn't that be awesome for its users and for the OEM, due to not having to port everyting over once a new Android version arrives, which maybe means lower costs and faster updates?
I know that it would be making phones harder to differentiate, and marketing those would be harder, but they could make two production lines or two software versions and let the users choose which they want to update to...
Maybe I am just too naive lol, but I've been searching for a phablet with as much stock UI as possible and eventually I gave up
Any answers appreciated
This already started during Gingerbread and I think even before, back then Android looked hideous and the phone manufacturers actually did a decent job back then like HTC with it's 'Sense'. I think the manufacturers are still stuck in their old habits, and trying to differentiate themselves from competitors just like before. However Android started to look beautiful from ICS and on and most of these skins now look ugly and outdated.
I think the manufacturers have to step up their game just like google did with ICS, with either improving their skins or just remove their custom skins all together.
If you want the AOSP look, buy a nexus device or flash a ROM. You will just have to trust me when I say the masses like things the way they are. Stock Android is getting pretty good, but Sony's UI I just love, and I can see a lot of things which Sony and other OEMs bring to their skin a whole version before Google does
I for myself hate Touchwiz, but if you say so
You may dislike touchwiz UI (join the club) but the fact is Samsung has a lot of closed source features not available on stock AOSP.
As mentioned before it is just brand differentiation.
Sent from my SGH-I747
Sense is my custom skin, and I honestly don't mind Touchwiz, but stock jb or ICS is beautiful.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Bull_Moose said:
Sense is my custom skin, and I honestly don't mind Touchwiz, but stock jb or ICS is beautiful.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
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While it would be nice to have the option of choosing Stock or Skin at setup, it would be difficult because their software is completely different. I personally like Stock Android and would rather not go back to any skin for that matter.
You could also just use a launcher (and de-bloat if it's an issue for you) to get a "look".
On my phone, I only use a launcher so that I can get T-Mobile's native WIFI-calling that's TW-only. I really didn't mind TW and there were some things I really liked - but the dealbreaker was lack of customisation - little changes that I wanted to make that made the phone go from good to awesome.
If you just want the look, try Apex or Nova launcher - you don't even necessarily need root.
Hey everybody, I am thinking about switching over to Android. I am a total android newb, I have only really messed around briefly with a few different android phones over the years, so I don't have much experience with them. I consider myself an iDevice expert, I've had almost every iPhone, 2 iPads, and helped dozens of people jailbreak, learn to use their iphones, fixed them, sold them, etc. I am also highly proficient with both windows and mac and have hacked many different gaming consoles so i am not worried about learning a new system. Also i'm currently on verizon. I just want to skip the time it takes scouring the internet for tips and tricks and everything I need to know about android and I am looking for help from anybody who can.
I have a basic understanding of droids, in that I know they are open for loading custom roms, i know they generally come preinstalled with horrible bloatware versions of android from the service providers.
I am mainly looking for the following things:
-up to date android basic guides, advanced use guides, ROM info, hacking info
-Resource and news websites similar to iClarified, RedmondPie, ModMyi, Sinful iPhone, etc focused on droid news, tweaks, hacks, etc
-info on which devices are generally considered the best or if i should hold out for an upcomming phone (particularly on verizon & in usa)
-which ROMs are considered best and what the differences are and their comparability to the devices out there
-equivalents of iPhone tweaks that I love (aka PDANet [free tethering], ifile, winterboard, 3g unrestricter, swipeselection, manualcorrect pro, multitasking, installous [and its alternatives] etc) and i am aware some of that stuff is just stock android
-any other things i didn't mention that you may think is helpful to me
also in case you are wondering why i am considering switching its because ive had an iphone forever and i'm getting bored with it. i also am sick of dealing with apple stifling innovative jailbreaking tweaks, itunes being awful and mandatory, small screen (even on i5), and i am generally dissapointed at how little iOS has changed since the iphone 3g.
so in closing, i would really appreciate any insight into being an android pro
up to date an...
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Not sure what you mean by this. But rooting / hacking phones vary from phone to phone and you find all info in this forum.
Resource and news...
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http://www.androidpolice.com/
http://androidandme.com/
.... and tons of others
which ROMs are considered best
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Again it can vary on each phone, but one of the best roms with biggest support is Cyanogenmod
equivalents of iPhone tweaks
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Most of them you can find in Google Play sometimes here on forum. I'm not aware of any must have Android tweak unavailable in Play. Most of tweeks are included in custom roms and you choose rom with tweeks you need. Sometimes with installers like Aroma installer you can choose different functions / tweaks when you install rom.
Hope, this will help.
year
thanks for the info
Also pay attention to the device you get as Verizon is known for locking their bootloaders making it very difficult to flash custom roms. Also I would read up on Linux
For me Paranoid Android is the best rom. It supports a wide no of devices. And theres a new featured called "Halo" coming up which changes the way notifications show up on your phone and it is AWESOME
zelendel said:
Also pay attention to the device you get as Verizon is known for locking their bootloaders making it very difficult to flash custom roms. Also I would read up on Linux
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i was leaning towards the galaxy s4, as far as i know its gonna be the best verizon droid as far as power goes. i heard the htc one is possibly going to be released on verizon soon as well. if you have any other suggestions i would like to hear it. i usually upgrade my phone every year so i like to get the new hot thing, that is one of the reasons i am thinking about jumping ship on iphone. the stock iphone experience is not only ugly, but crippled compared to what you can do with jailbreak tweaks, and i hate getting the new device and then waiting months for a jailbreak.
thecrunked said:
i was leaning towards the galaxy s4, as far as i know its gonna be the best verizon droid as far as power goes. i heard the htc one is possibly going to be released on verizon soon as well. if you have any other suggestions i would like to hear it. i usually upgrade my phone every year so i like to get the new hot thing, that is one of the reasons i am thinking about jumping ship on iphone. the stock iphone experience is not only ugly, but crippled compared to what you can do with jailbreak tweaks, and i hate getting the new device and then waiting months for a jailbreak.
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Well that depends on if Big red locks the bootladers or not. I would suggest Nexus but they dont work well on big red.
i come from note 2 then g2....they both had super developers support....... i feel so bad now such a great phone, such a great hardware ..... but.....
What are you looking for exactly? Do you want a ROM just for the sake of having a ROM? I can honestly respect that if it's what you're looking for. Otherwise, I think we have a lot of options to work around a lot of things these days that just weren't available a few years ago. I also think the argument of Touchwiz and the LG UI are very different from Sony's fairly light customizations.
se1000 said:
What are you looking for exactly? Do you want a ROM just for the sake of having a ROM? I can honestly respect that if it's what you're looking for. Otherwise, I think we have a lot of options to work around a lot of things these days that just weren't available a few years ago. I also think the argument of Touchwiz and the LG UI are very different from Sony's fairly light customizations.
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I kinda agree with greatgrandking. I come from HTC phones and I've used to be a big fan for years. I've got Z3 for my wife and I will get Z4 (or Z3 if Z4 doesn't have microSD) for myself soon because none of the flagships have band support of Z3 Dual.
What I have noticed with Z3 though is minimal custom ROM development. I guess mainly because the phone is fairly new still and I assume that people are not so crazy about unlocking bootloader as is common in HTC land.
I do agree that Sony's UI is not that heavy, however, the number of additional features and customizations available trough ROM development will never make me satisfied with stock ROM for too long.
I come from a HTC One M7, have custom-rom'd the sh** out of it and i'm pretty happy with the Z3 so far, the only thing i'm missing is root.. I COULD root it, but i don't want to yet. By the way, my One had CM12 / Android 5.0.1 on it and i'm hardly missing a feature on the Z3 yet.
Take a look at the razr i, i was so disappointed of the lacking developer support.. But mainly because i was stuck with an old android version and an impractical interface. My HTC Desire HD needed developer support because HTC gave a sh** about android 4 back then. My One M7 needed developer support because of the heavy interface with few possible modifications. The Z3 is the first phone that is great without custom roms. Also, i wouldn't want anything beside stock based roms due to the camera app..
That is the only reason y I haven't unlocked bootloader yet is due to sonys camrea software.
There is not development because there is no root. People don't want to unlock their bootloaders without make a TA backup first.
se1000 said:
What are you looking for exactly? Do you want a ROM just for the sake of having a ROM? I can honestly respect that if it's what you're looking for. Otherwise, I think we have a lot of options to work around a lot of things these days that just weren't available a few years ago. I also think the argument of Touchwiz and the LG UI are very different from Sony's fairly light customizations.
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i just want a liquidsmooth kitkat milestone and a brilliant kernal alongside.....phablet ui......(if im given that i'll be more than happy, i wouldn't even crave lilipop then).....i want viper4android or dsp manager.... or any stock based rom with superb audio and a brilliant kernal ...... and use the camera at 20mp with superior auto.... im missing xposed framework .... i want to customized each n everything. im stuck
caqo71 said:
There is not development because there is no root. People don't want to unlock their bootloaders without make a TA backup first.
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i know and that sucks
caqo71 said:
There is not development because there is no root. People don't want to unlock their bootloaders without make a TA backup first.
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Click to collapse
I haven't rooted yet because there isn't a decent AOSP rom as of today and the benefits of rooting don't outweigh the negatives of losing the DRM keys. As soon as we have a working AOSP rom, especially Lollipop, I'll root right away, with or without DRM key backup. It'll be worth for me then.
Hey guys,
I've recently bought the AM7 because my old XZ died. The phone itself is great, but as much as I like the smoothness of EMUI, I feel like there's still something missing. Being used to the Xperia's modding scene, I was surprised by the lack of custom ROM development for the AM7, or Huawei devices in general.. Is there a specific reason for that? Or is it just the small userbase outside of China?
Either way, I feel like the AM7 was a less fortunate decision for me, as a lover of custom ROMs.
Purely due to smaller western world userbase, expect may see one or 2 more decent custom builds appear but will not be comparable to modding support of more popular devices.
Worth working with the EMUI a bit as it far better in many ways to standard android mess but I can understand it not going be everyone's cup of tea ...
Hi, what model you got, 16 or 32 gb, how's the LTE network and what carrier you have, I'm looking for a 32 gb device with U.S.LTE
Sent from my MT2L03 using Tapatalk
EMO UI and Huawei are pretty good when u get used to it. There are a few roms to try, CM11 based. But before you bought this phone you should have read the owners impressions thread. It would have become clear that there arent alot of custom roms´s available. Huawei has implemented some custom things like screenshot button and reboot phone soft key, which i really like and dont see in everyday android devices. Alot of the exposed modules are already avaible in Huawei rom, like system cleaner, battery optimizer, change storage to SD *without link2sd... If you want to know why it´s hard to get a custom rom for our phones. Try the honor 6 thread by CodeWorkx porting CM11, it will explain why there arent alot of roms and why some functionality in those roms is broken on our devices and will probably never be fixed.
Enjoy your phone though, give it a chance you´ll get used to it.
Custom ROMs are EVEN more buggy and not working properly.. so better stay on EMUI 3.0
Whilst not a replacement ROM, a different launcher such as Nova can improve on the stock interphase.
Coming from the Note 2, Note 3, and Note 4 Developer Edition, I'm hoping the LG V10 can be rooted and have an unlocked bootloader for custom ROMs. If not, I'll be sticking with my Note 4 DE even longer.
Update:
Verizon and AT&T V10 Pledge Sheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d4HOXYt_dvfoJQFqc8DrGmk75T381plJQ4jnpygf1KE/edit?usp=sharing
XDA Members,
I have been trying to update the spread sheet to keep people accountable for what they had pledged. If you have installed root using Tungkick's method please donate to him. If you have donated; Thank you for keeping your word! I encourage you all to do what you had promised. Donating the full pledge amount would be very appreciated as well. So far it is looking like Tungkick is well below the estimated value of what you all pledged. Please help make things right and follow through on your end.
IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONATED PLEASE PM ME (with your name or email that comes through when you send a Paypal payment AND what XDA user name I should tie that donation to).
When you donate it would be helpful for you to put your XDA member name in the comments.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RKjJwtDOV-aBFjPTYHJb1PezPQvxff3y65I8qKRWJpM/edit?usp=sharing
@tungkick
FAUguy said:
Coming from the Note 2, Note 3, and Note 4 Developer Edition, I'm hoping the LG V10 can be rooted and have an unlocked bootloader for custom ROMs. If not, I'll be sticking with my Note 4 DE even longer.
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Yea same here...i will hold out a month or two after it comes out to see how the development scene will become
I kinda wonder if the buyers of this device even care about such ?
verge said v10 is for content creators and g4 is for content consumers. if anything the consumer version is what people will tinker with.
the v10 should have everything you need ottb without having to futz around.
This is isn't a competitor to the note. i'm wondering what the g pro will be like.
Why do you say it's not a competitor to the note? It's certainly a flagship+ type device? Not trying to argue, just want to know your thinking. I've been a note guy since the original, but now with the 5 and the fact that they got rid of sd storage (I'm a big fan of emulator gaming) and the removable battery, I'm shopping around. The V-10 looks to have everything I have with the note 4 (except the s-pen which is rarely used). And the V-10 has some style to it that makes it not look like every other phone out there right now.
I tend to agree, I think this is a competitor to the Note series as well. If the only competition for the Note series are phones with a stylus, that doesn't leave much.
If you don't consider this to be a competitor, just curious as to which phones you belive are?
Sent from my SM-N910T using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
tried now Low Effort root from Codefire on my LG V10
Fail
Other ideas ?
I check here everyday hoping that there is root
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
chiikko561 said:
I check here everyday hoping that there is root
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
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Hoping in Viet Community ...
sent from my LG V10 - F600L
I just saw in the Italy unboxing thread that the phone is vulnerable to one of the stage fright exploit, someone needs to code the exploit to gain root.
chrisrotolo said:
I just saw in the Italy unboxing thread that the phone is vulnerable to one of the stage fright exploit, someone needs to code the exploit to gain root.
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this is a great idea
CVE-2015-6602 is the key for V10 root
Just curious as to what people think are the key reasons for rooting these days.
I have a note 3 and will be looking to upgrade to this when it comes to the UK.
My note 3 is rooted and I did it mainly to get more advance features for Tasker.
Now I very rarely use Tasker so don't think I will be rooting my next phone unless there is a good reason to?
Cheers
Fozza
For Titanium Backup app restoration, advanced features, choice of ROM with features or optimizations not present in stock firmwares, Xposed, adblockers on Web and YouTube, etc, etc...
You don't know why rooting? Don't do it. Or go with an iPhone... [emoji6]
gamin92 said:
You don't know why rooting? Don't do it. Or go with an iPhone... [emoji6]
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No need to be an arse about it There are different levels of Android users, not everyone wants all the things you just described but doesn't mean they should be sent off to apple!
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Just saying if you don't want, don't do it. OR choose a closed system. There's choice.
Wasn't pointing you personally, just saying my thoughts about it.
Android is a great OS, mainly because you've got a full access to it, and can change/customize almost everything. Not rooting it may be OK for many users, but that's jumping beside the swimming pool. Just my point, as you asked our point about rooting devices...
gamin92 said:
For Titanium Backup app restoration, advanced features, choice of ROM with features or optimizations not present in stock firmwares, Xposed, adblockers on Web and YouTube, etc, etc...
You don't know why rooting? Don't do it. Or go with an iPhone... [emoji6]
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Hmph.
I'll say this. I have had my LG G3 for over a year and a half, that is longer than I have kept any phone since I began my Android venture with the G1. I had the G3 rooted for about 3 weeks. I have always had my devices rooted. I'll say this - though the option to root and unlock the bootloader would be very nice, I have found myself very fond of the LG UI - for a manufacturer UI skin, LG's takes the cake. Far less memory hungry than sense or TouchWiz, and the phone remains very snappy.
I have no need for root with the power of these devices now, the leaps and bounds in camera software, etc.
I think the software on these phones, while skin dependent can slow it down, has moved leaps and bounds past that of 3 years ago. There are some useful aspects of it. For instance, one major reason I and most others are looking heavily at this phone is the camera - well I have news for you if you didn't know - most of that is software driven, software that is not available on an AOSP based ROM. Sure, the phone might be a hair faster, but if you can't use the beautiful 16 MB camera on the back to it's full potential (The highlight of an amazing phone) is it even worth it?
Now, the answer might be yes to you, and it might even be a yes for me when I get the phone in my hands (if, lol), but I would bet that I am not alone in my stance, and I'm sure that there are others here that used to be flashaholics that no longer have a true need for it.
Of course, if you are using a Samsung device or HTC, sure I see a need because that OS skin is horrendous. BUT, with a phone with this hardware, with a fairly light skin, and from what I can see amazing camera software/hardware... Do you need to root this thing?
I suppose you can justify root without bootloader, however again, I do not need it thus probably won't go there.
I am not bashing you, simply stating where I come from now, and how my thoughts and needs have changed on the issue of ROM flashing in the last year with my still amazing G3.
I am only now looking for a new device because I felt this year would bring amazing devices... So far, the only two really worth looking at are the Nexus 6P - which is only available in the states through Google/Huwai, and this V10. Maybe the OnePlus 2. Maybe.
Cheers.
I'm using Xperia Z2, since mid 2014. I'm still on stock based firmware. As you stated, camera, as well as audio performance, are better with stock based roms than with aosp based roms. But there's many rom cookers taking stock brand firmware as base, but add many features, or great optimizations.
Even my wife, who doesn't know anything about android and OS stuffs, needs root. Why? Simply because there's always a bunch of bloatware, or apps not needed because you're using one for years doing the same thing in a better/more suitable way.
I agree that unlocking the bootloader isn't so useful anymore, just a flash and test junky thing. But root is so helpful in many ways. Just one thing why I couldn't use phone without root : all those terrible ads everywhere, on the web and on YouTube. Soooo annoying. Used my phone 2 weeks before rooting, I was going crazy just about ads here, ads there, ads everywhere!
Edit : installing an alternative launcher already keep you away from most of worst things of "skins" from brands.
gamin92 said:
I'm using Xperia Z2, since mid 2014. I'm still on stock based firmware. As you stated, camera, as well as audio performance, are better with stock based roms than with aosp based roms. But there's many rom cookers taking stock brand firmware as base, but add many features, or great optimizations.
Even my wife, who doesn't know anything about android and OS stuffs, needs root. Why? Simply because there's always a bunch of bloatware, or apps not needed because you're using one for years doing the same thing in a better/more suitable way.
I agree that unlocking the bootloader isn't so useful anymore, just a flash and test junky thing. But root is so helpful in many ways. Just one thing why I couldn't use phone without root : all those terrible ads everywhere, on the web and on YouTube. Soooo annoying. Used my phone 2 weeks before rooting, I was going crazy just about ads here, ads there, ads everywhere!
Edit : installing an alternative launcher already keep you away from most of worst things of "skins" from brands.
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Precisely. I understand and echo everything you point out. I have always used Nova Launcher.
Yes, bloatware is a problem. However, besides that, I really don't have a need for root in general, it's just a fun thing to have and mess with. I don't like messing with my phone much anymore since I have important things on my plate, calendar, phone calls, etc.
I don't understand why people say they love ad blocker, I haven't had an issue with ads, in fact I don't see many AT ALL, and I don't have mine rooted...
I see the most in the TapaTalk app, other than that nothing really...
Root saves me the $30 a month extra I don't have to pay Sprint for Wi-Fi tether: that's reason enough for me to root all my devices.
I have always rooted every one of my devices dating back to my og. That said, it seems it's getting harder and harder to gain root on some of these new devices. Doesn't Xposed work on non rooted devices? If so, won't that along with a new launcher satisfy the craving for root? I'm asking because my next phone will probably be the V10 and I'm fearful root might not be gained.
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