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[Q] Seriously considering buying GS6 but I have questions regarding UI mods & roms
First off, a huge thank you to anyone who takes the time to answer these. This might be the first non-AOSP phone i've ever bought.
I know all of the answers will be somewhat speculation since the GS6 is still new but mostly I'm just looking for what's been done in the past with the Samsung Exynos processors. And if I do get one I most likely will be getting a T-Mobile branded one as there does not seem to be a Samsung unlocked version sold in the US, if I'm wrong please correct me there.
So essentially my question is, will these changes be most likely possible.
1) Removing AM/PM from 12 hour clock.
2) Disabling capacitive button light and remapping buttons back to left, multitask to right. or
3) Getting nexus-style soft keys and disabling capacitive buttons.
4) Installing the AOSP Google Dialer and contacts.
So second part is about ROMS.
Now to my understanding the Exynos essentially means no stable 100% working AOSP roms ever. That has been my understanding and part of my reason for staying away from Galaxy S phones. Recently I've seen many places where people are saying just put CM12 on it but then in my own research CM12 or anything similar either seems to not be available or has serious bugs. So is it possible, lets say more than 50% chance that the GS6 will get a 100% stable bug free AOSP rom.
As a follow up to that, if it is possible, based on earlier phones and AOSP roms, does the camera suffer or does it retain the same quality. Sony phones for example, the camera breaks badly if you unlock the bootloader and install AOSP. It requires a locked bootloader and Sony rom to function properly. Also anyway for the fingerprint reader to still work on AOSP?
Second question regarding modded touchwiz roms. Can things like my above questions, and more AOSP like mods be done in these custom roms? Such as full AOSP theming of Samsung apps, stock google apps, and would apps like T-Mobile WiFi calling still work in modded touchwiz roms.
Once again a huge thanks in advance to anyone who helps out with these questions.
1.) Yes, I have done that on my S5.
2.)Once again yes, I have done that on my S5.
3.) I'm sure there's an app for that lol
4.) Idk but I've been wondering the same thing!
Check out MOAR ROM for the Sprint S5, that's what I'm running right now, just to give you an idea of all the mods possible.
From what I've heard, AOSP build will be damn near impossible on the S6, and also from what I've read, the camera does take a major hit in quality. AOSP themeing can be done once Samsung releases the theme SDK that is built into the new TouchWiz in the S6!
JoeFCaputo113 said:
1.) Yes, I have done that on my S5.
2.)Once again yes, I have done that on my S5.
3.) I'm sure there's an app for that lol
4.) Idk but I've been wondering the same thing!
Check out MOAR ROM for the Sprint S5, that's what I'm running right now, just to give you an idea of all the mods possible.
From what I've heard, AOSP build will be damn near impossible on the S6, and also from what I've read, the camera does take a major hit in quality. AOSP themeing can be done once Samsung releases the theme SDK that is built into the new TouchWiz in the S6!
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Click to collapse
That rom seems perfect for what I would want, hope the GS6 gets something on par. I love AOSP but luckily Samsung has actually done a pretty decent job with TouchWiz on lollipop and since I simply don't trust Google to make a Nexus phone with a good camera or battery anymore after the N6 I'm really considering the GS6 and I've really been enjoying playing around with it at best buy but obviously coming from 7 years of AOSP it's tough to leave.
Glad 1 and 2 are a yes. Probably my biggest annoyances. Though you mention the S5, that's on a snapdragon correct? I assume from your yes those should still be possible regardless of chipset.
I really hope 4 is possible. I've done a lot of searching but haven't found anything unfortountly. I could live with the Samsung dialer, but I would much prefer to have the Google one.
If the camera quality will degrade with AOSP than I just wouldn't even bother. Camera is probably my biggest reason for the S6 over a new Nexus.
neok44 said:
That rom seems perfect for what I would want, hope the GS6 gets something on par. I love AOSP but luckily Samsung has actually done a pretty decent job with TouchWiz on lollipop and since I simply don't trust Google to make a Nexus phone with a good camera or battery anymore after the N6 I'm really considering the GS6 and I've really been enjoying playing around with it at best buy but obviously coming from 7 years of AOSP it's tough to leave.
Glad 1 and 2 are a yes. Probably my biggest annoyances. Though you mention the S5, that's on a snapdragon correct? I assume from your yes those should still be possible regardless of chipset.
I really hope 4 is possible. I've done a lot of searching but haven't found anything unfortountly. I could live with the Samsung dialer, but I would much prefer to have the Google one.
If the camera quality will degrade with AOSP than I just wouldn't even bother. Camera is probably my biggest reason for the S6 over a new Nexus.
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Click to collapse
Yeah man, that ROM made my S5 the amazing phone that I love haha, so much freakn customization within the ROM.
Yes the S5 is on Snapdragon, but MOAR is a TouchWiz based ROM, not AOSP.... and TouchWiz based ROMs won't be a proble, regardless of the chip that's used. And I also would love to see #4 too, but I'm guessing it would have to somehow be ported to work with the S6 & TouchWiz.
Some info on camera quality:
I've had every galaxy phone since the Note 2 / S3.
The camera is always MUCH worse on AOSP/CM roms. Worse than the difference on a Sony going from stock to AOSP.
However now with the new camera API and better 3rd party apps coming out I think it may not be an issue.
I tried the "Snap Camera" app on my Galaxy S6 today and it seemed just as good as the stock Samsung app but I'll have to do more testing.
play2lose said:
Some info on camera quality:
I've had every galaxy phone since the Note 2 / S3.
The camera is always MUCH worse on AOSP/CM roms. Worse than the difference on a Sony going from stock to AOSP.
However now with the new camera API and better 3rd party apps coming out I think it may not be an issue.
I tried the "Snap Camera" app on my Galaxy S6 today and it seemed just as good as the stock Samsung app but I'll have to do more testing.
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Click to collapse
Ouch. Well no need to really worry about AOSP now though it would be nice one day. Always the hope Google actually makes a good Nexus 5 again though :laugh: . I would hope that third party apps would retain quality though the new Camera app from Samsung is excellent from my experience demoing it.
JoeFCaputo113 said:
1.) Yes, I have done that on my S5.
2.)Once again yes, I have done that on my S5.
3.) I'm sure there's an app for that lol
4.) Idk but I've been wondering the same thing!
Check out MOAR ROM for the Sprint S5, that's what I'm running right now, just to give you an idea of all the mods possible.
From what I've heard, AOSP build will be damn near impossible on the S6, and also from what I've read, the camera does take a major hit in quality. AOSP themeing can be done once Samsung releases the theme SDK that is built into the new TouchWiz in the S6!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
where have you heard aosp will be impossible?
nflwideout86 said:
where have you heard aosp will be impossible?
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Click to collapse
Exynos is not as open (or open at all?) like Qualcom is. Therefore it is REALLY dang hard to get AOSP ROMs.
Hi!
Now it seems confrimed, that the EU version of the Galaxy S7 will have the Exynos 8890 while (all?) other countrys will have the Snapdragon 820. Are there any predictions how that will affect the development for the phone? If i remember correctly there were examples in the past where phones came with different SOCs, does anyone know about the issues that came from that?
Im living in the EU so i wouldnt buy the phone if there are no Custom-Roms available since everyone is using the SD820 variant here...
The Snapdragon in my opinion will be more custom ROM friendly. CM ports, AOSP etc... The exynos processor are always behind.
Elthy said:
Hi!
Now it seems confrimed, that the EU version of the Galaxy S7 will have the Exynos 8890 while (all?) other countrys will have the Snapdragon 820. Are there any predictions how that will affect the development for the phone? If i remember correctly there were examples in the past where phones came with different SOCs, does anyone know about the issues that came from that?
Im living in the EU so i wouldnt buy the phone if there are no Custom-Roms available since everyone is using the SD820 variant here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only difference is the AOSP ROMs, if you want CM and those crappy things you should get the SD820 version.
dandroid13 said:
The only difference is the AOSP ROMs, if you want CM and those crappy things you should get the SD820 version.
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Click to collapse
So we shouldnt worry if we don't care about cm? Because I don't. Although I like the gpe rom on my htc m8 though ...
I'm looking to get the S7 Edge but think it would be too much of a hassle to import the SD820 Variant only because of flashing different ROMs
snap 820 will be better, sad in my country(brazil) only will have exynos trash version
Why did they make two variants in the first place ?
how about Exynos and just plain root?
I would settle with stock FW and basic root, so I could run Titanium, etc
I dont want Touchwiz, i remeber what it did to my brothers Galaxy S3 and even the S6 seems to have issues. Also i would like to try cm....
GyroFalcon said:
how about Exynos and just plain root?
I would settle with stock FW and basic root, so I could run Titanium, etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exynos-models are often root:able just like their snapdragon brethren, it's just that snapdragon phones are usually a lot more developer-friendly.
dandroid13 said:
The only difference is the AOSP ROMs, if you want CM and those crappy things you should get the SD820 version.
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Click to collapse
I've had the Note 5 since it came out and it's gotten very little development, more than likely because of the processor. Only thing we're seeing are the debloated ones with a few tweaks and one or two kernel options. So it hasn't been horrible, but none of the TRUE custom roms have been available. So I wouldn't even risk it with the Exynos processor if you're truly interested in the devs getting involved heavily.
mrbigdrawsz said:
I've had the Note 5 since it came out and it's gotten very little development, more than likely because of the processor. Only thing we're seeing are the debloated ones with a few tweaks and one or two kernel options. So it hasn't been horrible, but none of the TRUE custom roms have been available. So I wouldn't even risk it with the Exynos processor if you're truly interested in the devs getting involved heavily.
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Click to collapse
If really have 2 version and usa receive sd820 all exynos users will be dammed. Same thing happen in s4
matheus_sc said:
If really have 2 version and usa receive sd820 all exynos users will be dammed. Same thing happen in s4
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Click to collapse
Confirmed that US will get the SnapDragon. So S7 Edge it is.
Eezay said:
So we shouldnt worry if we don't care about cm? Because I don't. Although I like the gpe rom on my htc m8 though ...
I'm looking to get the S7 Edge but think it would be too much of a hassle to import the SD820 Variant only because of flashing different ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, if you're ok with TW then it's fine, Samsung devices generally get many custom TW ROMs and kernels.
mrbigdrawsz said:
I've had the Note 5 since it came out and it's gotten very little development, more than likely because of the processor. Only thing we're seeing are the debloated ones with a few tweaks and one or two kernel options. So it hasn't been horrible, but none of the TRUE custom roms have been available. So I wouldn't even risk it with the Exynos processor if you're truly interested in the devs getting involved heavily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, there is a little less dev involvment, but why ruin your device with an always-beta AOSP ROM? But there's a catch, you can't convert your carrier branded phone to unlocked, maybe that's why your phone has less devs. But still, other than AOSP, the S6 has it all, TW ROMs, kernels, mods...
dandroid13 said:
Yeah, if you're ok with TW then it's fine, Samsung devices generally get many custom TW ROMs and kernels.
Sure, there is a little less dev involvment, but why ruin your device with an always-beta AOSP ROM? But there's a catch, you can't convert your carrier branded phone to unlocked, maybe that's why your phone has less devs. But still, other than AOSP, the S6 has it all, TW ROMs, kernels, mods...
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Click to collapse
Well, I'm a "Serial Flasher" so I like having the wide variety of options. Unlocked doesn't mean much if the processor is the issues (which was the problem with the Note 5). Still had only TW type ROM's. Again, there were a few, but their base was still TW. For those who like closer to a pure Google experience, then you need the development if you don't already have a Nexus device (which I'll definitely be picking up this go around).
Just all about what you want. Nothing is bad, I love my Note 5. But just as far as development, I've been disappointed.
mrbigdrawsz said:
Well, I'm a "Serial Flasher" so I like having the wide variety of options. Unlocked doesn't mean much if the processor is the issues (which was the problem with the Note 5). Still had only TW type ROM's. Again, there were a few, but their base was still TW. For those who like closer to a pure Google experience, then you need the development if you don't already have a Nexus device (which I'll definitely be picking up this go around).
Just all about what you want. Nothing is bad, I love my Note 5. But just as far as development, I've been disappointed.
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Click to collapse
Yeah, there are no AOSP ROMs for the 7420 really, but they usually suck anyway. I had a Galaxy Nexus and the only thing good about it was the fast updates, no more Nexus for me. Better have a full featured TW phone than a half-ass baked ROM made by some snob cooker who thinks he's better than everyone just because he's a "dev".
dandroid13 said:
Yeah, there are no AOSP ROMs for the 7420 really, but they usually suck anyway. I had a Galaxy Nexus and the only thing good about it was the fast updates, no more Nexus for me. Better have a full featured TW phone than a half-ass baked ROM made by some snob cooker who thinks he's better than everyone just because he's a "dev".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I can't argue that I've run into some devs who were assholes. But overall the community has been very cool. And a lot of these roms (especially some of the big boy groups) are very clean and stable. Not many complaints about the roms at all! I stick to the people I know and might try a new one here or there. But I've been more than happy with my AOSP experiences.
mrbigdrawsz said:
Now I can't argue that I've run into some devs who were assholes. But overall the community has been very cool. And a lot of these roms (especially some of the big boy groups) are very clean and stable. Not many complaints about the roms at all! I stick to the people I know and might try a new one here or there. But I've been more than happy with my AOSP experiences.
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Click to collapse
Agreed! I come to XDA for trying out new ROMs and mods for my phones whether that's TW, AOSP or CM. The reliable devs are almost always friendly and only get peeved when people ask the same questions without searching for an answer first. Been on and off XDA since my Galaxy S2 and never regretted a single flash.
I am also very interested in this question. I have already pre-ordered the S7. But i'll get the Exynos version.
Seriously considering canceling that order and import a 820. Or maybe i'll hang onto it for the first two weeks and send it back if TW is as bad as i fear. Always dreamed about a galaxy devices running stock android....
zcubed said:
Agreed! I come to XDA for trying out new ROMs and mods for my phones whether that's TW, AOSP or CM. The reliable devs are almost always friendly and only get peeved when people ask the same questions without searching for an answer first. Been on and off XDA since my Galaxy S2 and never regretted a single flash.
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Click to collapse
I regret having bought a Nexus, stock Android is boring, and that hardware was crap, any lwp would make it lag lol.
dandroid13 said:
I regret having bought a Nexus, stock Android is boring, and that hardware was crap, any lwp would make it lag lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one is forced to stay 'stock'. You can easily download one of many amazing launchers on the play store. Also most TW "features" can be replicated through some app or Xposed.
I absolutely think it is the best phone currently in the market and all it needs is stock rom, to make it smoother faster and simpler.
Will it ever get stock android and how many are looking forward to it?
I wonder how many people are happy with TW and not bothered about custom roms or stock android?
I use Nova Launcher and very happy. Stock Android is dull as dishwater. I enjoy some of the Samsung apps. If you don't like them, disable them. Samsung won't ever provide stock. They'll have nothing to sell! Its not in their interest.
A S8+ with stock android would lose all of the features that make it a great phone. (ie. Edge apps, themes, bluetooth sound on 2 devices, IRIS Scanner, Gear VR, Samsung Pay)
Exactly. Giving the Galaxy S8 phones stock Android from Samsung itself would ruin the whole point of the Galaxy S8 phones. You would lose so many features that way that the Galaxy S8 / S8+ would just be a blinged out Pixel phone.
Ofc, having the ability to install a custom Stock Android version is always a nice idea to have for those who really want it. But having that as an option from Samsung directly is NOT a good idea.
EDIT: riz157, the UX / UI is not called TouchWiz anylonger. It's called Samsung Experience now on the Galaxy S8 phones. When Galaxy S6 and S7 phones got Android 7.0, they got the earlier Grace UX that was before Samsung Experience.
Just and FYI.......Bluetooth on two devices at the same time is a product of Bluetooth 5.0 not Samsung.
Used custom rom on my S7E, (AOSP - which sucked ass, no features, then I used SupermanROM and I sticked to that.
Now I got my S8+ and I'm pretty happy with Samsung experience, so I won't be doing anything at all, I'll keep my Knox: 0x0 for now.
Interesting looks like most people are quite happy with Samsung experience. Admittedly it's vastly improved from previous versions but still shows signs of delay lag etc.
Not as buttery smooth as stock android.
I personally don't use Samsung stock apps other then email app.
Bump up
I would love of the old GPE program came back. Then I'd be happy to spend $850 on a S8+ GPE. It's just WAY SMOOTHER and cleaner UI and always up to date. But Samsung makes the best hardware.
I love the S8+ and feel the Samsung features built into it help make it special. I always flash custom roms, but they keep many of the Samsung tools/TW tools I like. Having said that, I also like AOSP based roms and if the S7 Edge is any example, it won't be too long until we get some to play with on our S8+ phones sometime in the future. (it took about 8 months or close to a year before AOSP Roms were available on the S7 edge) - but considering how close the S7 is to the S8 - it may not take that long. Time will tell.
And NO I am not bothered - what is there to be bothered about?
I'm looking forward to more custom roms because it gives s8 more freedom and change the themes fonts etc easily without having to purchase from Samsung and be limited to their poor options.
Samsung are trying to be apple of android, want you to purchase from there store themes etc. So glad there's competition in android world otherwise we would be locked down to samsung and apple!!
Doubt it, and I am not bothered.
Personally I find the S8+ faster and mostly smoother than the Pixel I had before. Mainly because the Pixel lags to hell and back in apps like Instagram and Facebook whereas the Exynos S8+ doesn't.
Over time I am sure the S8+ will slow down but like PC's I will just "Format it" and it will back to being much faster and generally smoother than the Pixel (and less buggy than the pixel)
riz157 said:
I absolutely think it is the best phone currently in the market and all it needs is stock rom, to make it smoother faster and simpler.
Will it ever get stock android and how many are looking forward to it?
I wonder how many people are happy with TW and not bothered about custom roms or stock android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, and no.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Most people prefer TW, after using it for several weeks on my S8 plus I'm still not convinced.
I still would like stock and more custom Roma, at the moment there's not much choice which is a shame.
I certainly hope that changes in the coming weeks.
Not bothered at all. My personal opinion:
Want stock Android? Get a Pixel (or Nexus)
Want bleeding edge hardware? Get any flagship Android phone
The nice thing about Android is the individuality of each company brings. Samsung with its own Samsung UX for the S8 (not TouchWiz, not Grace UX), LG with their Full-Screen UX for the G6, Huawei with EMUI for their Mate 9 and P10, and so on.. They all put in their own features that would make their phones stand out. They all work quite well and I never had to install a launcher since my S6 Edge Plus. But still the option is there if you want/need to.
Has everybody forgotten that this happened once?
https://www.engadget.com/2013/07/06/samsung-galaxy-s-4-google-play-edition-review/
I would love to see a developer edition of this phone (aka stock android). I do like that TouchWiz isn't so smothering lately, but there are many aosp-isms that I miss.
My perfect phone would be a pixel that looked like an S8+ running stock Android. That would be one sexy piece of kit. I hope we can at least root and rom this puppy one day. I'm a dreamer...
samsung ui got better, but I'm using a moto z2 play now for half the price and......they understood perfectly what a manufacturer has to do. Moto has pretty much vanilla experience except of some apps, some add on funcionality, it's far more sexy than samsung. It's extremely speedier with half the price, it's a pain that samsung always bloat their software for no new functionalities (irid scanner? ahahahahah, samsung pay? ==> android pay, side apps? always the first thing I disable in samsung edges). It got better then natural ui on s4, yes, but that was a big ****, this is only a little and less smelly **** compared to stock experience....to me, obviously
This is dumb. If I wanted stock Android I wouldn't buy a Samsung.
You needing to take the time out of the day to write this is dumb lol
Deciding between both of the phones to purchase, and I can already see more threads on the S9+ side than the regular S9, though not necessarily more roms. Do you think this correlates to more future xda support for one than the other? And could the S9 miss out on anything important?
And somewhat related, is there a way to backport S8 stuff to S9, or is there going to be a way probably? Seeing as how the phones are so similar.
It won't matter much most of the rooms will support both as they have same chipsets and almost same software firmware.
I've waited for way too long . Other options like substratum were way too buggy and unreliable.
Its pretty common knowledge that aosp on samsung phones is pretty much non existent, snapdragon is locked while aosp on exynos is a cluster****.
had i done enough reasearch on this matter prior to buying my s8plus i would have certainly bought oneplus 5 instead.
All those who complain about no AOSP roms for samsung flagship devices, why, why you did not get a pixel device? Those devices are good, good hardware and pure stock android, I really do not see the point in whinning and griping about the software that makes a flagship what it is, you do not like samsung's implementations? Get a pixel, or other vanilla device