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Why is pixel development lagging?

Seems like twrp, rooms etc are not really being developed. Anyone have any ideas on this?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

stackz07 said:
Seems like twrp, rooms etc are not really being developed. Anyone have any ideas on this?
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Click to collapse
There are a few and the performance is good.

In terms of price, the pixel is pretty damn expensive compared to other android phones with similar specs. Add to that the fact that, in the USA, at least, it was nearly impossible to get one for the longest time and finally, the way the partitioning is set up is quite different that any previous android phones. All these make for some slow development.

It's expensive plus Google's security features are becoming more problematic. The newest bootloader is causing issues with root now.
The real dev device now is OnePlus not googles product anymore.

stackz07 said:
Seems like twrp, rooms etc are not really being developed. Anyone have any ideas on this?
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
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Was actually my thinking also...
I came to the conclusion, that nobody has this device, and also google is making it hard to develop for the pixel. Working against the dev community with each update.
I am not worried though, because I only need root for my ARISE sound mod ,and backup/restore via Titanium Backup. I'm running completely stock, because that is the fastest, smoothest, most battery friendly setup I could find. Now that (even with a lot of hacking and manual adjustments) both TWRP and root works somehow, I am enjoying my pixel as it is... All these new things, like slots, loosing the recovery partition etc. make this device terrible for flashing. I was used to flashing my phones without a PC for 6-7 years now. I didn't even had to hook them up to the PC, only once, at first recovery flashing.... This is not the case with the pixel..
Maybe if the new partition layout gets picked up by other manufacturers, the problems will be solved quickly. Or even google drops this nonsense with the new pixels, and then we are really doooooomed

mikeprius said:
It's expensive plus Google's security features are becoming more problematic. The newest bootloader is causing issues with root now.
The real dev device now is OnePlus not googles product anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol...OnePlus are unavailable to release nougat for the OnePlus 2 (SD810+4Gb Ram)

I don't really agree. The development took some time because of all the new features.
We are not really missing any roms, root, twrp or anything I want to be able to do. I see PN, DU, Lineage, OctOS, PixelDust, RR. I mean what other ones you want?
I'll get an OP when they decide to support their devices at least 2 years. They burned enough people with OP2.

milan187 said:
I don't really agree. The development took some time because of all the new features.
We are not really missing any roms, root, twrp or anything I want to be able to do. I see PN, DU, Lineage, OctOS, PixelDust, RR. I mean what other ones you want?
I'll get an OP when they decide to support their devices at least 2 years. They burned enough people with OP2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Twrp seems abandoned, and the mix and match instructions for getting things to boot and run with magisk etc just seem odd, that's all. I'm sure everything will be figured out with time, but was just honestly curious.

stackz07 said:
Twrp seems abandoned, and the mix and match instructions for getting things to boot and run with magisk etc just seem odd, that's all. I'm sure everything will be figured out with time, but was just honestly curious.
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Click to collapse
Well the developer works on it when he can. It works fine so we do have it. Will need a new one that can sign the boot image.
Magisk isn't officially support it since developer does not have the device.
New boot signing procedure had a fix in a day or two after Google release. That's not bad. Things are not perfect I agree. Multiple slots are making things the hardest I think.
Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk

Probably security more than anything. Don't expect it to pick up anytime soon.

Why is that there is Hardly any content for pixel 2?

When I the I had nexus 5 there used to be loads of content in xda be it roms or mods. Now for the pixel 2 there is no custom rom to begin with. I understand the stock Google oreo is as good as ever but still the basic tweaks would add much more to it.
Is there any specific reason for this? May be Google's security is much complicated in oreo to implement changes in the stock rom?
I was just looking for dual speaker ring, status bar tweaks.

I hope to see more soon as well. Now that Verizon phones are on board for rooting there will probably be more devs getting their hands dirty.
Not to mention there are still only a few phones running Oreo. Right now it's just basically pixel owners. So all the mods made for other phones haven't been ported or upgraded.
I'll have this phone for the next two years I'm hoping there will be more with time.
I haven't even been able to get debian, Ubuntu, or Kali to work along side this phone yet. Proot and chroot don't seem to be working as they should. I tried 3 methods. Linux deploy, termux ,and using the nethunter module. Guess I'll just keep at it until New methods are found.

I assumed the Pixel line would just replace the Nexus line for modders. Sadly, that couldn't be further from the truth for either the Pixel 1 or 2. Which phone(s) have all the devs moved to?

teh_lorax said:
I assumed the Pixel line would just replace the Nexus line for modders. Sadly, that couldn't be further from the truth for either the Pixel 1 or 2. Which phone(s) have all the devs moved to?
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Click to collapse
One plus because of the price
Sent from my Google Pixel 2 XL using XDA Labs

Sman999 said:
Is there any specific reason for this? May be Google's security is much complicated in oreo to implement changes in the stock rom?
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Click to collapse
The a/b bootloader partitions... No dedicated recovery.... Blah blah blah too much for me to understand but basically it's screwing with devs.

teh_lorax said:
I assumed the Pixel line would just replace the Nexus line for modders. Sadly, that couldn't be further from the truth for either the Pixel 1 or 2. Which phone(s) have all the devs moved to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess oneplus or Samsung. The later cuz the design is awesome but software experience is poor so if the software is improved it ll be awesome Samsung. ?

I wondered the same thing but then it dawned on me, I only rooted/ROM'd devices to run something that's a vanilla build of Android. That's what this is. There's a few nitpicky things that I would love to have but for the most part, I'm happy with it.

main reason for me is the PRICE.. if it was just priced same as the nexus 5, . thats why oneplus devices are being so favored

teh_lorax said:
I assumed the Pixel line would just replace the Nexus line for modders. Sadly, that couldn't be further from the truth for either the Pixel 1 or 2. Which phone(s) have all the devs moved to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pixel devices are no where near as easy to get roms on. Not only is the device tree clustered, but a b partitions, the trend of users demanding security, the expensive price of the device, the changes to the build process, and how Verizon royally made blobs more complicated contributed too.
I have brought up a few device tress before but I definitely had to debug the most for pixel 2. Theres an entire new flashing method and it doesn't help ramdisk is in system now.
Now after all that negativity, I can tell you I know of 4 roms actively working on roms. And two of them booting, including my shameless plug in p2xl forums of ABC Rom working with plenty of mods.
I'd say the good times are on their way, once one rom goes up more will pop up instantly.
Let's hope this helps start the domino effect.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pi...sp-tamien-8-1-opengapps-t3727948/post75108624

Surge1223 said:
pixel devices are no where near as easy to get roms on. Not only is the device tree clustered, but a b partitions, the trend of users demanding security, the expensive price of the device, the changes to the build process, and how Verizon royally made blobs more complicated contributed too.
I have brought up a few device tress before but I definitely had to debug the most for pixel 2. Theres an entire new flashing method and it doesn't help ramdisk is in system now.
Now after all that negativity, I can tell you I know of 4 roms actively working on roms. And two of them booting, including my shameless plug in p2xl forums of ABC Rom working with plenty of mods.
I'd say the good times are on their way, once one rom goes up more will pop up instantly.
Let's hope this helps start the domino effect.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pi...sp-tamien-8-1-opengapps-t3727948/post75108624
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know you're busy helping us all with our crack flashing addiction. I can't wait for the goodies to start. Thank you and all the other devs. I've been waiting to unlock my bl because of lack of roms. Is bajasaur still in the game? I haven't really seen him since my note 3 days.

bmwh0r3 said:
Good to know you're busy helping us all with our crack flashing addiction. I can't wait for the goodies to start. Thank you and all the other devs. I've been waiting to unlock my bl because of lack of roms. Is bajasaur still in the game? I haven't really seen him since my note 3 days.
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Click to collapse
Ironic you should ask..I helped him come back to the game today you could say lol

Will xiaomi mi mix 2 roms work on 2s?

I haven't gotten my phone yet ordered it Saturday shipped today so 3 weeks I wait. As I wait I was wondering if the roms that are available on the 2 would work for the 2S and vice versa? (I have the 2s coming) I heard mostly same hardware just different cameras and wireless charging not sure much more has changed. Thanks for your input can't wait to root this phone and use it daily

No they wont work. However most of the project treble Roms work for our phone

Nope - use the available MiMix2s ROMS

Thanks to both of you I'll look into Project Treble Roms when I get the phone. I want the phone to function as intended and have root and a decent skin from the looks I'm not liking miui maybe i'll change my mind when i get it. Probably use Nova launcher but will want to root it anyway so thanks for your help.

spriteboost said:
Thanks to both of you I'll look into Project Treble Roms when I get the phone. I want the phone to function as intended and have root and a decent skin from the looks I'm not liking miui maybe i'll change my mind when i get it. Probably use Nova launcher but will want to root it anyway so thanks for your help.
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Click to collapse
I've had the most success with the Benzo Treble ROM, but I've heard others talk about Arrow, Havoc and Pixel Experience.

spriteboost said:
I'm not liking miui maybe i'll change my mind when i get it.
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Click to collapse
You won't! Trust me!
I'm dreaming of a pixel experience pie rom. This would fit my needs the best. I don't really need all the customisation some of the roms offer although I must admit they are great and the ideas behind them are really cool.
The treble roms are pretty stable by now and daily driver ready IMHO but the MiMix2S isn't very popular as it seems so not too many devs out there building for this device. Maybe this will change in the future, until then I'll stick with the benzo and pixel experience roms.

I agree
Miui should die

I don't agree with you both I owned a 1+1 for more than 3 years and flashed a new rom every month or even more often. When I got the Mi Mix 2s I had to use it with miui for 2 weeks because of bootloader unlocking time(this is the most stupid thing I ever encountered). I'm on miui since then because I LOVE the gesture control and mostly it just works. As soon as we got a rom with gcam that supports slowo videos I will flash an aosp based rom too to test it but to say MIUI should die or he will hate it is too much. It's working fine and is full of features.

Flatric said:
I don't agree with you both I owned a 1+1 for more than 3 years and flashed a new rom every month or even more often. When I got the Mi Mix 2s I had to use it with miui for 2 weeks because of bootloader unlocking time(this is the most stupid thing I ever encountered). I'm on miui since then because I LOVE the gesture control and mostly it just works. As soon as we got a rom with gcam that supports slowo videos I will flash an aosp based rom too to test it but to say MIUI should die or he will hate it is too much. It's working fine and is full of features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it depends on your individual needs and what you expect from a rom.
I too think that miui should die. Xiaomi is producing great devices regarding the hardware. But if you force your customers into using your own ROM (even if it is only the bootloader unlocking time) then this should work perfectly fine and fluid. Read the comments section in the miui forums or here on XDA. It's full of bugs. Every time they release a new version something else is broken.
If I'd like the look of iOS so much I'd get an iPhone. It's neither looking original nor behaving like a finished ROM. For me it felt like a developer version. So many bugs and not even the simplest features worked correctly.
I couldn't care less for navigation gestures or slowmo video (although this is really a nice feature), but I'd like to have working Bluetooth hands free, stable network connections and the possibility to connect to an airports WiFi. None of this worked with miui. At least not for me. And that's the reason I switched ASAP to a GSI. Those were the longest 15 days of my life.
Of course the 8.1 versions worked much better as Pie was just released and many things had to be sorted out. But some of the Devs here did a much better job in developing stable and well functioning roms than the miui team.
So in my opinion MIUI should just die or at least they should reduce the stolen/copied functions and concentrate on the main features and make them perfect.
To me it seems they concentrate more on the looks of their OS than the functionality.
But I don't want to start a debate of principles. If you like it use it, I will never return to this abnormality of an OS.

Whats this about waiting 15 days or 10 days for unlocking bootloader? Going to do some googling about it but figured I'd ask that sounds annoying if its the case.

spriteboost said:
Whats this about waiting 15 days or 10 days for unlocking bootloader? Going to do some googling about it but figured I'd ask that sounds annoying if its the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it is and you can't do anything about it. It's Xiaomi's way to prevent their phones from being delivered with malware infested roms as it's too much of a hassle for the shops to unlock and install it.
I hated it too. You're lucky that it's only 15 days and not 720hrs like some have.
I don't understand it because if you get the phone with a not certified or custom ROM from a shop that looks suspicious you could simply install the original Xiaomi firmware without the headache.

kleinholzinferno said:
Yes it is and you can't do anything about it. It's Xiaomi's way to prevent their phones from being delivered with malware infested roms as it's too much of a hassle for the shops to unlock and install it.
I hated it too. You're lucky that it's only 15 days and not 720hrs like some have.
I don't understand it because if you get the phone with a not certified or custom ROM from a shop that looks suspicious you could simply install the original Xiaomi firmware without the headache.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's the ones that know a lot more about phones. I can see how this makes sense well guess I'll have to test out xiaomi's rom for the duration. The phones expected delivery is Friday but only a state away so hoping FedEx will be nice and deliver it a couple days early lol.

spriteboost said:
Well that's the ones that know a lot more about phones. I can see how this makes sense well guess I'll have to test out xiaomi's rom for the duration. The phones expected delivery is Friday but only a state away so hoping FedEx will be nice and deliver it a couple days early lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the meantime you can set up your Xiaomi account as you will need it for unlocking you phone anyway and request the unlock permission.
As soon as you get the device, bind the account to your phone so the time starts counting down immediately. Then it's only 15 grueling days using MIUI but then there's a whole lot of roms which make the device what it should have been from the start. A stable, fast, reliable and good device!

rom development for pxl3

Haven't had a g phone since nexus ended.
How fast has rom development happened on previous pixel?
Coming from p20 pro and honestly this is the least excited I ever been for a new phone ??*
But exited to rom flash ?

As the prices for the Pixel phones have gone up, it seems the development for them has taken longer to ramp up. However, if you look at the 2 XL forums you'll see plenty of ROM, Magisk and kernel options. It just took a couple of months to really build.
I imagine it will be the same in this case. Over the next couple of weeks you'll see a ROM or two trickle in, along with a kernel or two. But give it a 2-3 months before things really start to scale up.
Also keep in mind that Android in 2018 is NOTHING like Android in 2012, or even Android in 2016. In stock form the Pixel with Android 9.0 is missing very little to be desired and is very well optimized. So I find myself enjoying it thoroughly in stock form until a good high quality kernel comes around. But the days of ROM flashing are behind me, for the most part.

sn0warmy said:
As the prices for the Pixel phones have gone up, it seems the development for them has taken longer to ramp up. However, if you look at the 2 XL forums you'll see plenty of ROM, Magisk and kernel options. It just took a couple of months to really build.
I imagine it will be the same in this case. Over the next couple of weeks you'll see a ROM or two trickle in, along with a kernel or two. But give it a 2-3 months before things really start to scale up.
Also keep in mind that Android in 2018 is NOTHING like Android in 2012, or even Android in 2016. In stock form the Pixel with Android 9.0 is missing very little to be desired and is very well optimized. So I find myself enjoying it thoroughly in stock form until a good high quality kernel comes around. But the days of ROM flashing are behind me, for the most part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This phone seems a little easier than 2XL.

sn0warmy said:
As the prices for the Pixel phones have gone up, it seems the development for them has taken longer to ramp up. However, if you look at the 2 XL forums you'll see plenty of ROM, Magisk and kernel options. It just took a couple of months to really build.
I imagine it will be the same in this case. Over the next couple of weeks you'll see a ROM or two trickle in, along with a kernel or two. But give it a 2-3 months before things really start to scale up.
Also keep in mind that Android in 2018 is NOTHING like Android in 2012, or even Android in 2016. In stock form the Pixel with Android 9.0 is missing very little to be desired and is very well optimized. So I find myself enjoying it thoroughly in stock form until a good high quality kernel comes around. But the days of ROM flashing are behind me, for the most part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. Not what I wanted to hear and remember from the nexus days. Memory is getting foggy but I felt like kernels and ROMs were out BEFORE release of the devices..
Either I remember it wrong or the scene had truly faded ?
At this stage I almost feel like getting an iPhone for the same price with better memory management and faster app delivery.
Crazy thought ?

i miss smartbar so much right now... lmt is keeping me going until then

frewys said:
Wow. Not what I wanted to hear and remember from the nexus days. Memory is getting foggy but I felt like kernels and ROMs were out BEFORE release of the devices..
Either I remember it wrong or the scene had truly faded ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not so much that the "scene has faded". It's more that Android has come a long way over the past couple of years. The big features people used to have to root to get are now baked right into stock Android. I'd argue that this is actually a great thing for Android. In fact, again referencing the Pixel 2 XL ROMs, you'll be hard pressed to find any ROM in that sub-forum that offers much more over stock Android other than being 'debloated' (as if the stock ROM has much bloat to begin with...) with a couple little features here and there.
Don't get me wrong, there are still solid reasons to at least unlock the bootloader. For instance, custom kernels like Franco or Elemental X still provide notable performance/battery life improvements over the stock kernel. And those should start becoming available for the 3 XL within a couple of weeks, if the timeline is similar to that of the previous Pixel line-ups.
And many people still love to tinker with Magisk modules for various add-ons. I don't do this, personally but Magisk is already available and if modules aren't ready yet, they will be shortly.
frewys said:
...
At this stage I almost feel like getting an iPhone for the same price with better memory management and faster app delivery.
Crazy thought ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To each their own. I had a stint with the iPhone X between my 2 XL and OnePlus 6. The build quality of that phone is simply phenomenal. The speakers are fantastic and the haptic feedback engine is on a different level. But IOS is still just as locked down as it has ever been. I just couldn't get myself to fully enjoy IOS so I moved back to Android pretty quick. If you're looking for a phone that you can root/tinker with, the iPhone absolutely is not a good option for you.

sn0warmy said:
It's not so much that the "scene has faded". It's more that Android has come a long way over the past couple of years. The big features people used to have to root to get are now baked right into stock Android. I'd argue that this is actually a great thing for Android. In fact, again referencing the Pixel 2 XL ROMs, you'll be hard pressed to find any ROM in that sub-forum that offers much more over stock Android other than being 'debloated' (as if the stock ROM has much bloat to begin with...) with a couple little features here and there.
Don't get me wrong, there are still solid reasons to root. For instance, custom kernels like Franco or Elemental X still provide notable performance/battery life improvements over the stock kernel. And those should start becoming available for the 3 XL within a couple of weeks, if the timeline is similar to that of the previous Pixel line-ups.
And many people still love to tinker with Magisk modules for various add-ons. I don't do this, personally but Magisk is already available and if modules aren't ready yet, they will be shortly.
To each their own. I had a stint with the iPhone X between my 2 XL and OnePlus 6. The build quality of that phone is simply phenomenal. The speakers are fantastic and the haptic feedback engine is on a different level. But IOS is still just as locked down as it has ever been. I just couldn't get myself to fully enjoy IOS so I moved back to Android pretty quick. If you're looking for a phone that you can root/tinker with, the iPhone absolutely is not a good option for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the beauty of Android. Choose your own setup. And that is why I am on android. I miss way to much customization to enjoy the vanilla experience.
I know this goes against the common sense but almost like emui more that I am on my p20 pro. It's bloated but it has RAM to handle it.
Truly miss the madness of the xposed booming too. Now there is hardly anything worth or at least very limited reason to go exposed and risk stability..
Haven't been on ios since 3gs but the walled garden was the reason I left. I know it hasn't changed but since I am staying more and more on stock so that's why I am thinking ios ??*

Just a guess....
Now that root is here, I'd guess two more weeks till TWRP drops.
Three weeks before custom stock ROM's start to show up.
And five-six weeks before the first beta non-supported Lineage OS ROM shows up.
Seven-eight weeks before the first non LOS custom ROM shows up.
Two and a half months before a really special, kick-ass fully-optioned custom ROM shows up.
Three-four months till a supported LOS ROM drops.
Like I said, just a guess.

dipstik said:
i miss smartbar so much right now... lmt is keeping me going until then
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Click to collapse
How did you get lmt pie working may I ask?

in_dmand said:
How did you get lmt pie working may I ask?
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Click to collapse
What's the problem? Just installed the apk.
I'm actually good with rooted stock these days, but I'd love a good kernel.

Lmt works? That's funny because I got my PXL3 last week and didn't setup yet because I need nav menu bar. As you I miss smartbar. Can't wait.
dipstik said:
i miss smartbar so much right now... lmt is keeping me going until then
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

Chronzy said:
What's the problem? Just installed the apk.
I'm actually good with rooted stock these days, but I'd love a good kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did too but couldn't get the stock navbar to go away and let lmt work at the bottom of the screen... It would only work on the side.

And substratum lol gotta have the dark ui
in_dmand said:
I did too but couldn't get the stock navbar to go away and let lmt work at the bottom of the screen... It would only work on the side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

in_dmand said:
I did too but couldn't get the stock navbar to go away and let lmt work at the bottom of the screen... It would only work on the side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see what you're saying, I only use it on the side. I believe you can hide it with substratum like mentioned, but I've never tried it.

CZ Eddie said:
Just a guess....
Now that root is here, I'd guess two more weeks till TWRP drops.
Three weeks before custom stock ROM's start to show up.
And five-six weeks before the first beta non-supported Lineage OS ROM shows up.
Seven-eight weeks before the first non LOS custom ROM shows up.
Two and a half months before a really special, kick-ass fully-optioned custom ROM shows up.
Three-four months till a supported LOS ROM drops.
Like I said, just a guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CZ is the MAN!
Stock with a good kernel like Flash and maybe a tuning script is all I need. Then this phone will be perfect for me...
Kernels will appear next week, guessing....
Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

sn0warmy said:
As the prices for the Pixel phones have gone up, it seems the development for them has taken longer to ramp up. However, if you look at the 2 XL forums you'll see plenty of ROM, Magisk and kernel options. It just took a couple of months to really build.
I imagine it will be the same in this case. Over the next couple of weeks you'll see a ROM or two trickle in, along with a kernel or two. But give it a 2-3 months before things really start to scale up.
Also keep in mind that Android in 2018 is NOTHING like Android in 2012, or even Android in 2016. In stock form the Pixel with Android 9.0 is missing very little to be desired and is very well optimized. So I find myself enjoying it thoroughly in stock form until a good high quality kernel comes around. But the days of ROM flashing are behind me, for the most part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good to see you around these parts!
I agree with everything you just said.
Coming from OP6 i didn't even feel the need to flash a new rom.
Magisk + modules was good enough. the most I flashed was a kernel lolz

Why Pixel 3a/XL so unpopular?

I ask this question because I see a very little activity on a ROMs forum, I didn't check other ones.
For example my previous phone, Mi A1 (Android One) has an official builds for most ROM, even my wife's Mi A3 has much better activity. I had bought Pixel because I'm a Google fanboy and its cheapest Pixel available.
My own answer: people with less budget just buy Android One phones (like Mi A* line), people who want Pixel buy a full phone, like Pixel 3 (without a) or 4.

I suspect for a few reasons:
1. It isn't needed as the phone runs the latest version of android anyway.
2. Many people buy a Pixel series phone because that's exactly what they want - the latest version of android without skins or bloatware.

Yea, there isn't much of a need for ROMs on pixels. Took me 6 months to get to the point I was missing AOSiP and decided to build for it lol.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs

yurikoles said:
I ask this question because I see a very little activity on a ROMs forum, I didn't check other ones.
For example my previous phone, Mi A1 (Android One) has an official builds for most ROM, even my wife's Mi A3 has much better activity. I had bought Pixel because I'm a Google fanboy and its cheapest Pixel available.
My own answer: people with less budget just buy Android One phones (like Mi A* line), people who want Pixel buy a full phone, like Pixel 3 (without a) or 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before the Pixel 3a and the Pixel OG, I had a LG G3 and the Galaxy S3. Always used custom ROMS. Haven't used a custom ROM for either Pixel. No need.

Ok, I got it, thanks

I think pixel popularity will take off when TWRP is able to be installed. I admit I have been spoiled by TWRP and the ease with which ROMs can be flashed and most importantly backups can be made.

alliance1975 said:
I think pixel popularity will take off when TWRP is able to be installed. I admit I have been spoiled by TWRP and the ease with which ROMs can be flashed and most importantly backups can be made.
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Click to collapse
Ohh, how I miss nandroids!

good thread and yeah i think we're getting to the "post-mortem" point re: ROMs (Skittles9823’ AOSiP notwithstanding). i went from the samsung galaxy s3 -> xperia z3 -> xperia xz1c -> pixel 3a, and each one has been a big step down in terms of ROM availability (i was spoiled with the galaxy s3, in hindsight). i really did think the 3a would be a ROM bonanza but i also agree with the general vibe that stock android is so, so much better than it was 5 years ago that it's harder and harder to find things worth "fixing".

c_tho said:
good thread and yeah i think we're getting to the "post-mortem" point re: ROMs (Skittles9823’ AOSiP notwithstanding). i went from the samsung galaxy s3 -> xperia z3 -> xperia xz1c -> pixel 3a, and each one has been a big step down in terms of ROM availability (i was spoiled with the galaxy s3, in hindsight). i really did think the 3a would be a ROM bonanza but i also agree with the general vibe that stock android is so, so much better than it was 5 years ago that it's harder and harder to find things worth "fixing".
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The only AOSP 10 ROM I have run on my Pixel 3a (Havoc 3.1) fixed one thing compared to stock - Voice over WiFi/Voice over LTE - and that is so low-margin that it often goes unaddressed; basically, there's a lot less broke with either stock OR AOSP; result, what is there to "fix"? TWRP itself is needed much less because - even going back as far as Android 8, the OS backs itself up regularly, by default, and without the end user doing anything. (With Samsung Experience (the predecessor to OneUI), I noticed it in the Samsung Members app; it's been retained in OneUI in the same place. It's by default in Android 9 + going forward; it still is in both Android 10 and the 11 Developer Preview - basically, the scutwork is going away. I haven't needed to root at all
with 10; who would have thought that? (In fact, among those of you that still run Magisk on 10, do you REALLY need to root to do what needs (in your opinion) doing? Or are you simply used to having to?

PGHammer said:
I haven't needed to root at all
with 10; who would have thought that? (In fact, among those of you that still run Magisk on 10, do you REALLY need to root to do what needs (in your opinion) doing? Or are you simply used to having to?
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Yea. I absolutely need to root to do what I need. QuickSwitch is a must for me, custom kernels which provide wireguard at the kernel level, substratum for uniform dark mode (although stock theming is good now, but for apps that don't have a dark mode yet, substratum is needed), Active Edge customisation is also super convenient.
Thats pretty much the necessary stuff for me, the rest is mainly just custom fonts and liking to have complete control over my device. Also the fact that I'm a module developer so tinkering with this stuff is fun for me :laugh:
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs

The comments suggest everyone has their own set of musts and wants for their devices. Stock Android provides the musts for me as well as some wants. But I will continue to read the forums.

alliance1975 said:
I think pixel popularity will take off when TWRP is able to be installed. I admit I have been spoiled by TWRP and the ease with which ROMs can be flashed and most importantly backups can be made.
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SketchyStunts said:
Ohh, how I miss nandroids!
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Not sure if we really need nandroids: you can easily backup and restore apps and their data even without TWRP and generally we have factory images / installation bundles available for our device. So there is not really a need for TWRP ... in addition I doubt that TWRP for Android 10+ will be available soon.

Skittles9823 said:
Yea. I absolutely need to root to do what I need. QuickSwitch is a must for me, custom kernels which provide wireguard at the kernel level, substratum for uniform dark mode (although stock theming is good now, but for apps that don't have a dark mode yet, substratum is needed), Active Edge customisation is also super convenient.
Thats pretty much the necessary stuff for me, the rest is mainly just custom fonts and liking to have complete control over my device. Also the fact that I'm a module developer so tinkering with this stuff is fun for me :laugh:
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I ask because how many folks need to go there? If anything, it has become fewer; more Anidroid users, but fewer follks needing to root because the need to root has dropped because the core is more capable than it used to be. You have said it yourself; some of why you root is out of convenience; not typical of most folks, is it?

PGHammer said:
I ask because how many folks need to go there? If anything, it has become fewer; more Anidroid users, but fewer follks needing to root because the need to root has dropped because the core is more capable than it used to be. You have said it yourself; some of why you root is out of convenience; not typical of most folks, is it?
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Yea, the need is definitely dwindling. I feel like there will will always be some amount of people doing it though.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs

Skittles9823 said:
Yea, the need is definitely dwindling. I feel like there will will always be some amount of people doing it though.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs
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Stipulated.
Thing is, the A-series Pixel addresses a market that even the Nexus ignored; smartphones that run stock that you don't have to fiddle with. (While the Galaxy Nexus came close, you still had to do some fiddling even with them; the A-series Pixel you just run, pretty much. While there are low-end smartphones - even lower-end than the A-series Pixel - that CLAIM to be as good; they have not proven themselves - not even compared to the Pixel 3a. So we are talking proven software, proven hardware, and at sane pricing. The Converse All-Star (Chuck Taylor) of smartphones. (I'm not THAT old; however, I heard of them - in my case, it was the Nike Air Strike Force as opposed to the pricier Air Jordans. I still have them.)

PGHammer said:
The Converse All-Star (Chuck Taylor) of smartphones.
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relatable, as someone who replaces his broken chucks with a new pair of chucks about every four years

I came over from the V30, which has an incredibly active community, even nearly 3 years after launch.
The reason I switched to Pixel? I was honestly tired of the time it took to try to turn my V30 into a Pixel. With everything from Pixel Experience (and other AOSP ROMs), to hacks to try to get the Q gestures on Pie, to third party ports of GCam, to people downloading and installing Digital Wellbeing, Google Phone, etc, etc, I finally realized that what I really wanted was a Pixel. So I bought one. And now I have no need to modify it.
I think people pick the 3a line precisely because they don't want to have to hack anything. The users are far more like iPhone users than like Android users. They want nice pictures of kids, and a phone that just works without much effort.

AndDiSa said:
Not sure if we really need nandroids: you can easily backup and restore apps and their data even without TWRP and generally we have factory images / installation bundles available for our device. So there is not really a need for TWRP ... in addition I doubt that TWRP for Android 10+ will be available soon.
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Are Nandroids required? No. But the ability to make a full backup of your current ROM so that you can try out a new ROM or develop on a real phone and go right back to square one in the time it takes to flash the backup is certainly beneficial. It makes a huge difference and certainly more people would be willing to experiment on their daily driver phone if it was available. The idea of having to flash factory and then wait for Google to restore all my apps and data makes me cringe.
I for one have decided NOT to try some of the ROMs, etc that are available for this exact reason.

sic0048 said:
Are Nandroids required? No. But the ability to make a full backup of your current ROM so that you can try out a new ROM or develop on a real phone and go right back to square one in the time it takes to flash the backup is certainly beneficial. It makes a huge difference and certainly more people would be willing to experiment on their daily driver phone if it was available. The idea of having to flash factory and then wait for Google to restore all my apps and data makes me cringe.
I for one have decided NOT to try some of the ROMs, etc that are available for this exact reason.
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Backing up is easy without twrp. Sure it's no twrp backup, but it's fine.
You can use adb-sync to synchronise the files in internal storage with a folder in your PC and vice-versa. That along with a swift backup of all your apps, app data, etc essentially allows for a complete 100% reliable backup that only takes about 20 mins to backup/restore give or take depending on the speed of the drive it's backing up/restoring to.
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using XDA Labs

@sic0048
I was not referring to Google's restore mechanism, but to have a local copy on an external device which can be restored if needed.
@Skittles9823
There is also my android-backup-project which is still in an early stage but as a POC it's working quite well. I am just analyzing whether there is a chance to prepare e.g. a zip which can be flashed back by standard recovery / fastboot. Probably this is not so easy thinking at generic android devices but for the Pixel ones I expect that it can be more easy.