I had bought the Droid 3 to use as a mini computer to run a few offline apps. However, the process of getting it to Android 4.4 seems impossible. While it boasts of a decent screen size and nice keyboard, all the work that has to be put into it is very discouraging to put it mildly. The rooting, removing bloatware, unlocking the bootloader, installing recovery and finally updating to the latest possible version of android is very daunting. At this point I would even pay for someone to do this. Is there another phnone that I could get for cheap (less than $50.00) where there would be less work and more straight foward.? Or any other suggestions?
Thanx so much
Hi !
What we can do for you on this matter is to recommend this thread which has a topic alike , we cannot advice on devices purchasing , there are way too many variables involved , thanks for understanding
Good luck !
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Ok, so I'm pretty new to this whole Android thing, but I'm not daft and know a think or two about computers and software, so I'm not a complete 'noob'...
However, to spare me the drama of trawling through thousands of pages, I have a few quick concise questions, and would appreciate concise answers.
So I bought a generic handset, branded as an Onyx Dragon though AnTuTu benchmark app tells me its a Yusu... details and specs from Chinavision.com (search Onyx Dragon).
I initially bought it because I needed a new phone (been on a Moto V3 Razr for about 6 years!) so got this cos it was cheap and looked good. Runs Froyo on what I have found to be pretty **** hardware (MT6516, advertised as 416MHz but shown to be around 207MHz, but not sure if this is main CPU or radio core...) with not a lot of RAM. I installed an 8Gb SD card to save the apps and keep as much free internal space as possible, in case the OS supports disc memory (?). The wireless is good and screen works well, but the GPS, navigation and camera are rubbish, but they are not why I bought it; I have a decent camera and I can read a map. Its definitely 'entry level' so I'm not too bothered if I brick it.
Since I got it, and seeing the many cheap 'clones' out there, I'm keen to get into them a bit more and start developing. I already rooted it with z4root, BusyBox and Superuser all installed fine. ROM Manager is running but because I don't know the actual brand I'm not yet running ClockWorkMod (doesn't show up in the list). I'm keen to install Gingerbread or maybe even CyanogenMod 7, but cannot flash the ROM without CWM. Can anyone tell me what phone 'model' I should use for this particular handset?
I can't overclock the chipset, but have been looking at other clones to play with, such as htc Incredible G11i Pro clone from etotalk.com and 'CyberStar' 3G handset with MT6573 650MHz chipset (also from Chinavision).
Does anyone have any knowledge/experience with these clones? They look great and if they work as well as the budget model I have now then there is certainly potential. Sure, they may not be as good as a genuine Galaxy or Nexus, but then the price reflects that. However, as a cheap development platform you can't really go wrong! I'd like to see faster processors and more hardware mod ability such as clocking, just to see what is possible. Anyone tried ICS on one of these? I read elsewhere that if Froyo runs ok on a cheap device then GB should be better. My friend has GB 2.3.3 on a genuine $500 Galaxy S2 and I'd love to show him up with a rooted and clocked clone running ICS for a fraction of the price!!
Well, thats not as concise as I would like, but it covers pretty much everything. One last thing though, I cannot install ES File Explorer 1.6.1, it will download from Market and attempt to install but then fail. The latest version I have is the pre-installed 1.4.2.2. I've tried everything I can think of; downloading on my Mac and copying via USB to install from Astro making sure ES is not running, failed. Tried uninstalling ES with ROM Toolbox having root access and disabled AVG, failed. Tried to launch new version from package options, failed. I have installed ES Task Manager v1.2 but cannot use all the features as it says File Explorer needs to be updated, and needless to say updating it from the prompts failed as well... Any ideas? I'm thinking a flash to GB should include the latest version (or better alternative).
Thanks all in advance!
I don't think it's possible to run ICS on such a low spec'd device. This onyx dragon runs on a 416Mhz ARM9 processor with a 200 Mhz ARM7 GPU. Even the G1 that uses a 528Mhz ARM11 CPU can't run ICS well. I would suggest that you give up on theses crappy chineses devices. If you don't have money you can find a LG Optimus One for 100 bucks on ebay and it is A LOT better than any of these chinese crap phones
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
For CWM, take a look at this site http://www.koushikdutta.com/2010/02/clockwork-recovery-image.html and the quote below
Don't see your phone? Email me if you want to help me get it working!
And of course, all the source can be found on Github.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions Thanks
Moving to Q&A
Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Basically, sure I don't want to spend a lot being a student, I don't have a lot, but I'm keen to get more out of what I can afford, hence the Chinese crap (yes it is crap but if it does what you need...) : ) just a shame I can't clock mine! Does anyone know if ANY MediaTec chips can be?
Sure, I think running ICS is a bit optimistic, but I'd still like to give GB or C-Mod a go, providing I can get CWM installed. I'd like to compile myself and even think about refining my own version, perhaps slimming down a newer version to run on low performance hardware. What's this about a special cable needed with a 3.5mm jack?
And am I right in thinking Honeycomb was only for tablets, not phones...?
droidscope said:
Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Basically, sure I don't want to spend a lot being a student, I don't have a lot, but I'm keen to get more out of what I can afford, hence the Chinese crap (yes it is crap but if it does what you need...) : ) just a shame I can't clock mine! Does anyone know if ANY MediaTec chips can be?
Sure, I think running ICS is a bit optimistic, but I'd still like to give GB or C-Mod a go, providing I can get CWM installed. I'd like to compile myself and even think about refining my own version, perhaps slimming down a newer version to run on low performance hardware. What's this about a special cable needed with a 3.5mm jack?
And am I right in thinking Honeycomb was only for tablets, not phones...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are right about honeycomb. As for the device. Without kernel source which will never be released due to copyright issues you may have a bit of trouble Modding it. CM only supports authentic devices and not clones as the hardware specs as you learned are faked and never true.
droidscope said:
Hey all, thanks for the feedback. Basically, sure I don't want to spend a lot being a student, I don't have a lot, but I'm keen to get more out of what I can afford, hence the Chinese crap (yes it is crap but if it does what you need...) : ) just a shame I can't clock mine! Does anyone know if ANY MediaTec chips can be?
Sure, I think running ICS is a bit optimistic, but I'd still like to give GB or C-Mod a go, providing I can get CWM installed. I'd like to compile myself and even think about refining my own version, perhaps slimming down a newer version to run on low performance hardware. What's this about a special cable needed with a 3.5mm jack?
And am I right in thinking Honeycomb was only for tablets, not phones...?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi droidscope,
Not all the Chinese phones are crap there are a few very capable phones now entering the market and they are catching up the bigboys rapidly.
For more info & reviews on the latest Chinese phones check over here http://www.gizchina.com/category/phones/ Try to stick with the branded chinese phones such as Zopo, ZTE, Newman etc because there is at least some support where as the direct copy/clones have no support at all. If buying try to get the phone pre rooted because some of the Chinese phone are getting more difficult to root. I would look here http://www.etotalk.com/ if buying and select the MOD ROM $4.99 for most phones then the phone will come pre rooted with working playstore language etc. They do not 1 to 1 copys although some of the phones have more than a passing look of some of the more famous brands. I have used them a few times and they have not let me down be sure to email them first to ask about stock levels though.
Hi there,
I haven't found an appropriate forum to ask questions about the new Samsung Galaxy A3 SM-A300(FU), so I try it my luck here.
Chainfire already published its auto-root solution for the new device family, but it will take some time until a CWM or TWRP recovery will be available.
Chainfire's auto-root recovery works on my device, and I got the idea to use his working recovery to inject my own cached updates. Unfortunately, the recovery is locked by a certificate, it can't be used to run an own update script.
Is there a way to get the sources of chainfires recovery? It seems there is no possibility to contact chainfire directly.
I already tried to build my own CM-11 recovery but without success, can you give me at least some hints, how I get the needed board configuration? The common webtutorials seem to be outdated.
Thanks and regards,
cloooned
I think this model and forums should be added to XDA.
Who we should ask for it?
Yes, we need this forum....
Hi fellow members,
after my girlfriend got her Samsung Galaxy A3 aka SM-A300, I thought I'd check the forums for more infos around the "usual stuff", root, recovery, roms, kernels... etc.
Much to my surprise there is not even a forum existing about it, though the device is already out, when for other devices the forums will be created way in advance of the market-launch.
I used to develop a very bad impression about Samsung handhelds over the last years, but I have to say I'm seriously impressed with this phone.
It has a great build quality (Finally, Samsung! Just took you 4/5 years... ) and is really snappy despite beeing only mid-range. TouchWiz seems to have matured about 10 years, it just feels good and right, gone are the days of a laggy TouchWiz which many people considered crapware (me included).
Also SW-support seems great. The phone was bought last week and came with a kernel owith build date of December 2014. After initial setup there was already a SW-update available, with a kernel dated of February 10th, 2015.
For me it is the biggest Android-Surprise since years. Samsung finally delivering a well-built phone that doesn't look or feel cheap and offering great SW-support. I'd like to temporarily borrow my girlfriends A300 and give her my HTC One M7 instead, I find it that nice, though, again, beeing of only mid-range specs.
Never thought it would be possible to receive a kernel via official channels from Samsung which build date is less than two weeks ago.
YES, we need a dedicated forum to it.
Thanks!
The design is very appealing for a midrange device and also compared to a S5mini.
In case there will be no future mini version of the upcoming Galaxy S6, this will be the only alternative to a screen oversized phone and will replace the mini series.
cloooned said:
Hi there,
I haven't found an appropriate forum to ask questions about the new Samsung Galaxy A3 SM-A300(FU), so I try it my luck here.
Chainfire already published its auto-root solution for the new device family, but it will take some time until a CWM or TWRP recovery will be available.
Chainfire's auto-root recovery works on my device, and I got the idea to use his working recovery to inject my own cached updates. Unfortunately, the recovery is locked by a certificate, it can't be used to run an own update script.
Is there a way to get the sources of chainfires recovery? It seems there is no possibility to contact chainfire directly.
I already tried to build my own CM-11 recovery but without success, can you give me at least some hints, how I get the needed board configuration? The common webtutorials seem to be outdated.
Thanks and regards,
cloooned
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can take a look here http://opensource.samsung.com/reception/receptionSub.do?method=sub&sub=F&searchValue=A300
wird
l have this device from January....l've been searching for cwm recovery or custom things but only got root by CF........seems like this phone its a ghost sometimes l have the impression that l am the one and only owner of this.....no forum no disgussions about it........ a big shame l guess........
l hope in the near future somebody will begin with the development.....
Same here, seems like I'm in some alternative reality, where Samsung's never launched A3 although I'm holding it in my hand right now...
...or because its not a flagship phone, Samsung gives no support, at least compared to S6. Crap!
'A' series really hasn't caught the development thread anywhere. Seems like the Samsung community is awaiting the S6 and has disregarded the launch of anything prior to it.
I also have the A3 I am looking hi and low for details about is as I I seem to be missing the USB Host option for my USB drives what has really F'ed me off as might be mid ranged but its a option I would of thought it would of had since its a sealed SD card slot
Hi everybody,
currently I am using Android 4 (OMNI) on my Wave S8500 next to Bada (still using Bada sometimes since I ve got the livelong version of Route66).
I appriaciate the possibility to have both OS installed and ready for usage in parallal but I appreciate even more the usage of Android OS from SD card instead of internal memory since it is way faster!
Unfortunately the accu capacity when running on Android is only 1 to 2 days while compared with Bada 2.0 and similar usage pattern it lasts one entire week! (What a pitty that samsung did not take any benefit from having such a promising OS together with such a volume of devices sold mobiles, TVs, tablets whatever.)
In addition I've random freezes quite unreproducable which makes using Android quite unreliable. But all in all I am quite satisfied and really deeply grateful that Android for my wave even exists! I need to use it above all for calendar synchronisation (and also whatsapp meanwhile).
No I came across the possibilities of having version 5 of android to be used on S8500. But I could not find any suitable answers which version to go?
The one described here in (dev-thread) seems to be still in some early stages. Something similar seems to be the case for this version while non-working parts are partly mentioned.
I also found this description but without any additional information!
Does anybody have any hint or idead or suggestion for which version to go or whether number 5 is still not mature enough to be used as daily standard?
What are your experiences or suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
Bye
Hm, seems the upgrade/update links are all just for surveys! What a !xO%...
Hi,
You've provided me all links that you need, so asking your questions in that thread is the best solution for receive an relevant answer.
XDA Assist is here to help members navigate the site, not support. And you've navigated it already.
Good luck!
Hi all
Thanks firstly I've found this site excellent for rooting and flashing my samsung tab2/nexus7 etc 5*
But now I'm stuck and I have a challenge
I have a 10 inch nurvo tablet that is rooted (SuperSU etc)
But I cannot find a custom ROM that will make this thing any good!
Specs::
Model number:nurvo10dcb
Android version:4.2.2
Firmware:2.1_20140213
Kernal:3.4.39+
Build:a20_k1001_k1001L1c_1402051.20140305
I'm trying to get some use from this tab other than a slow inaccurate TV remote(YouTube via Chromecast etc)
Its so bad!(touch drivers are very slow
I really want something more refined like slimkat or just something that works rather than whatever this was designed for (picture frame maybe
Huge thanks and sorry if I've put this in the wrong place.
It would be nice to have the same flexibility my Samsung tab2 with 6.1 and nexus with slimkat
Steve
Billy6666 said:
Hi all
Thanks firstly I've found this site excellent for rooting and flashing my samsung tab2/nexus7 etc 5*
But now I'm stuck and I have a challenge
I have a 10 inch nurvo tablet that is rooted (SuperSU etc)
But I cannot find a custom ROM that will make this thing any good!
Specs::
Model number:nurvo10dcb
Android version:4.2.2
Firmware:2.1_20140213
Kernal:3.4.39+
Build:a20_k1001_k1001L1c_1402051.20140305
I'm trying to get some use from this tab other than a slow inaccurate TV remote(YouTube via Chromecast etc)
Its so bad!(touch drivers are very slow
I really want something more refined like slimkat or just something that works rather than whatever this was designed for (picture frame maybe
Huge thanks and sorry if I've put this in the wrong place.
It would be nice to have the same flexibility my Samsung tab2 with 6.1 and nexus with slimkat
Steve
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello and welcome to xda-assist,
as this is an unpopular device, especially compared with the Samsung tab2, you won't nowhere get equal or only nearly the support of a popular device, that's the hard truth..
If you can't find anything on simple Google search or on the forums
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help
there's non and you're bound to xposed & root, just like many other people, long not all devices are supported by development, only a few selected and that's why it is so important to research the device before you buy when you're in to flash & stuff..
Good luck
Hi
I thought it was pushing it with this nurvo and if I had the time to check it out before I bought it I'd have avoided it
I did see some info about someone and custom ROMs but cannot find it.
Its rooted fine (kingo)but without a decent ROM its just junk as its just too slow
Its fine for kids to play with and slowly using as a remote but that's it
Thanks mate
I will keep my ears open just in case but I won't hold my breath: (
I am in need of a new phone and I am looking for suggestions for something that should be easily rootable?
Any device that using Android 5.0 and below and you just need Kingroot to root it easily.
I am no expert on Android but considering Android 5 came out in 2014 and we are now on Android 7 is it realistic to expect to find a new phone running Android 5?
Can you think of any?
Usually cheap chinese phones that are available on the market like Lenovo, Leagoo or etc. and some retailers still selling old Android models mostly from KitKat and Lollipop ones.
So unlikely for any phone that most people would be looking for. Also Kingroot is full of spyware/adware and hardly a good route to be considering in any case.
If not preferring Kingroot, you might want to find some devices that are using Snapdragon chipset, which are pretty easy to install most of custom roms. recoveries and etc. but requires a little bit higher than average android usage skills. Any device is using Android Marshmallow and above would require to use TWRP or similar custom recoveries to root the device, that's the only way to do it.
It sounds reasonable but my current Experia Z3 rooting attempt fell at the first hurdle because the bootloader unlocking option says 'NO'!
So the detail of the process is critical and general simplified methods are often far from it. Hence being very clear on the rooting method is more important than the phone spec.
I wasnt expecting simple answers here just methods of narrowing down the choices, so all information is helpful.
But it does seem I have to start from the exact phone and try to work backwards to find out rootability as I have no experience to draw on.
Anyone rooted a phone recently?
Well rooting Samsung phones with odin(flashing twrp from odin) is the simplest way in todays date.