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.
Click to expand...
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".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SketchyStunts said:
Ohh, how I miss nandroids!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Related
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?
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Hi all,
I am enamored by the Pixel 2 for the camera, general size and clean android experience. I am coming from a Moto X (2013) DE, which I have been using for almost three years with no complaints. I am on Verizon GFUDP, am unlocked, rooted and using Xposed framework. I use the phone for tethering quite often. I don't generally use custom ROMs,; once I am setup and got everything running nice, I stop playing around with the phone and just use it.
That said, I am ready to upgrade and still want an unlockable, rootable device, which has a really good camera and will allow me to tether at will. My thought is to purchase the Pixel 2 through Google. I see that there has been some bumpiness in the road to root success, and I am wondering if this device will eventually (if it's already not) become stable enough to do what I want without a lot of fooling with it, or fear of accidentally "bricking", or other issues down the road.
So in the big picture, do you feel that the Pixel 2 can be set up, forgotten about, and just used, as I describe above, or do you think that the device will need to be tweaked on a regular basis? If so, do you have any recommendations of devices which better fit the parameters listed above?
Thanks in advance!
amajamar said:
Hi all,
I am enamored by the Pixel 2 for the camera, general size and clean android experience. I am coming from a Moto X (2013) DE, which I have been using for almost three years with no complaints. I am on Verizon GFUDP, am unlocked, rooted and using Xposed framework. I use the phone for tethering quite often. I don't generally use custom ROMs,; once I am setup and got everything running nice, I stop playing around with the phone and just use it.
That said, I am ready to upgrade and still want an unlockable, rootable device, which has a really good camera and will allow me to tether at will. My thought is to purchase the Pixel 2 through Google. I see that there has been some bumpiness in the road to root success, and I am wondering if this device will eventually (if it's already not) become stable enough to do what I want without a lot of fooling with it, or fear of accidentally "bricking", or other issues down the road.
So in the big picture, do you feel that the Pixel 2 can be set up, forgotten about, and just used, as I describe above, or do you think that the device will need to be tweaked on a regular basis? If so, do you have any recommendations of devices which better fit the parameters listed above?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be good in the long run. In my personal experience after using a lot of ROM's/kernels/mods since 2011 I would say the max your needs would come to is getting a custom kernel. With no disrespect to the developers who have worked on providing great roms throughout the years, google has really developed 8.0/8.1 into a completely viable solution that till now has not got me to even consider rooting the device to get some custom features on it.
flunk03 said:
It should be good in the long run. In my personal experience after using a lot of ROM's/kernels/mods since 2011 I would say the max your needs would come to is getting a custom kernel. With no disrespect to the developers who have worked on providing great roms throughout the years, google has really developed 8.0/8.1 into a completely viable solution that till now has not got me to even consider rooting the device to get some custom features on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, as long as I can get the tethering function, I am pretty much good to go. Do I need a custom kernel for that?
amajamar said:
As I said, as long as I can get the tethering function, I am pretty much good to go. Do I need a custom kernel for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afaik just rooting and getting an app designed for that should be fine I guess. It's not something I know since we don't have that issue with carriers on that front
amajamar said:
As I said, as long as I can get the tethering function, I am pretty much good to go. Do I need a custom kernel for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I'm aware you can achieve this with Magisk root and a Magisk module.
Buy Pixel 2, unlock bootloader before you set up the phone (get the factory reset out of the way), then just use it as-is indefinitely until you find you need something that only root can provide. If that's the case, then install Magisk, and keep on rolling.
Hello everyone,
I've been using iPhone for 5 years so I don't really know about Android or what should I do once I receive my OP6 (never had one before).
I've been reading a lot but I don't really know what to do with it, i mean, I've read about TWRP, Magisk and so, but are these things recommended or a must if I want the best Android experience?
Thanks a lot!
d4rkgray said:
Hello everyone,
I've been using iPhone for 5 years so I don't really know about Android or what should I do once I receive my OP6 (never had one before).
I've been reading a lot but I don't really know what to do with it, i mean, I've read about TWRP, Magisk and so, but are these things recommended or a must if I want the best Android experience?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP allows you to install custom software on your device, for example installing new roms or kernels etc, depending on what you're looking for. It also comes in handy if you want to root your phone, and by rooting you pretty much give yourself all the administrative rights to everything on the phone.
Now the best android experience depends on what you want to do with the phone, if you like to play around with custom software or testing out different roms and running apps that require root and such I would say give it a go. But if you're looking for basic tasks like playing games, snapchatting, instagramming, texting, calling and so forth... OP6 is already very customizable and great at pretty much everything.
Welcome out of the cave of gloom, (Iphone) and enjoy the Oneplus 6 phone
d4rkgray said:
Hello everyone,
I've been using iPhone for 5 years so I don't really know about Android or what should I do once I receive my OP6 (never had one before).
I've been reading a lot but I don't really know what to do with it, i mean, I've read about TWRP, Magisk and so, but are these things recommended or a must if I want the best Android experience?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on what you need to do with the phone, if you have time you can explore the root/modding world of android... If you want the best android experience you MUST root your phone imho.. I don't know iOS well as android but this one is divided in more partition and one of them is the recovery (now inside the boot partition). From stock recovery you can simply push firmware via ADB (android debug bridge) to update your phone and erase data (factory reset). TWRP (TouchWiz Recovery Project) is a custom recovery that goes over the stock one that gives you more option (like flashing any supported .zip file or backup the entire system). Root is like if you have a nice car but the keys of that are in the hand of one of your friends and only he decide when you've to drive, obtaining the keys will grant you full access and freedom eek Magisk is the app that's used for rooting phone for obtaining full access and control over android. This was a simple clarity, to make you understand the "basic" concept
I am of the opinion that YOU should NOT unlock/root your phone. I have been here for almost 4 years and know quite a bit about how to go about all of that stuff. And it can be very rewarding. But you DON'T need root to enjoy your phone.
Since you used an iPhone for 5 years, you are used to that, and the OnePlus 6 can do so much more out of the box.
Make yourself comfortable with android customisation like Launchers, icon packs etc and then after a few months maybe you can look into rooting your OP6 to get additional customisations like a Substratum theme or Adblocking or maybe Gcam.
The little extra things that you can do with root or a custom ROM can hold a lot of value and bring a lot of joy for some people, but I doubt most people including you fall into that category.
Even I, who used custom roms for so many years am quite satisfied with Oxygen OS and after 6 weeks of owning the phone still am considering whether to unlock the phone or not.
d4rkgray said:
Hello everyone,
I've been using iPhone for 5 years so I don't really know about Android or what should I do once I receive my OP6 (never had one before).
I've been reading a lot but I don't really know what to do with it, i mean, I've read about TWRP, Magisk and so, but are these things recommended or a must if I want the best Android experience?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oxygen OS has good features on top of a near stock experience. If you want to do anything with modifying software, make sure to do a lot of research and don't be afraid to ask questions. The XDA community is (mostly) here to help.
d4rkgray said:
Hello everyone,
I've been using iPhone for 5 years so I don't really know about Android or what should I do once I receive my OP6 (never had one before).
I've been reading a lot but I don't really know what to do with it, i mean, I've read about TWRP, Magisk and so, but are these things recommended or a must if I want the best Android experience?
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do not need to root to have the best Android experience. Get use to Android first. If you're curious, then catch up on the threads here and get familiar with the challenges and rewards before you go messing with your phone. If there eventually is an app or a mod that requires root, then do it. If you don't have need for root then don't. Plain and simple. You have a great phone with a great out of the box android experience. Enjoy it.
Unless you were a jailbreaker on iOS and want to tinker with stuff, do not get into this world until you know how normal Android world works. Android is customizable to hell by default and OP6 includes a ton extra optimization that normally requires root and xposed (~cydia) on other android phones. You're all set to enjoy the device as it is, unless you want to be root so bad xD.
PS: OnePlus 6 is NOT the best device to start tinkering with AT ALL (in fact, together with the Pixel 2/2XL is the hardest), The new A/B partition layout used in the phone makes flashing in this phone a random mess a lot of the time and every hack right now is half assed to say the least (except kernels). I've been flashing stuff on Android for more years you've been with an iPhone and the OP6 is not an easy beast to dominate in terms of flashing yet (following blind instructions you will get root and twrp and such running, but theres more aka how stuff works, how to recover, etc. And it is NOT FUN on this phone so far by what Im seeing).
I was just checking out various customs threads & twitters and saw that DU had added Bonito to its official page as well as a screenshot on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/_DirtyUnicorns_/status/1129623484567621633?s=20
Im really hoping the dev community takes off for these devices like the old nexus days.
Wickidmasshole said:
I was just checking out various customs threads & twitters and saw that DU had added Bonito to its official page as well as a screenshot on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/_DirtyUnicorns_/status/1129623484567621633?s=20
Im really hoping the dev community takes off for these devices like the old nexus days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have mixed feelings. I rooted all 45 different Android phones I owned prior to my last 3 (essential, OnePlus 6, and more pixel 3A). I feel like these days there are way fewer reasons to use custom roms. Base Android has gotten really good, stock roms (for companies like OnePlus and essential) are stable and add lots of useful features, and the good manufacturers are doing updates multiple times a month anyways. We don't see crazy innovation like we did back in old paranoid Android days with projects like Halo and pie controls. And a lot of the real kernel developers like sultanxda moved on to other non-Android projects. It's a shame, but it helped push Google and it's partners into making better software. God knows how many features Google copied from custom roms. Kind of makes you wonder where we'll go from here now that roms are less of a necessity.
Yeah, I was on Android from day one and had been flashing the old windows phone before that. I've stopped installing roms on the last few phones however because I perceive them as worse than the stock software. I came here from a 6T which had a fair few ROMs but none that had the fingerprint sensor working correctly. I want that fingerprint sensor. There are other things but that's the idea, I used to see roms as a proposition where I gave up a few things but gained more than I lost. Now I don't see myself gaining much of anything that I'm not getting with a quick trip into Magisk with everything still working, but I do see things like that lost fingerprint sensor. It's kind of sad to me in a way because it was a bit like a hobby.
xxBrun0xx said:
I have mixed feelings. I rooted all 45 different Android phones I owned prior to my last 3 (essential, OnePlus 6, and more pixel 3A). I feel like these days there are way fewer reasons to use custom roms. Base Android has gotten really good, stock roms (for companies like OnePlus and essential) are stable and add lots of useful features, and the good manufacturers are doing updates multiple times a month anyways. We don't see crazy innovation like we did back in old paranoid Android days with projects like Halo and pie controls. And a lot of the real kernel developers like sultanxda moved on to other non-Android projects. It's a shame, but it helped push Google and it's partners into making better software. God knows how many features Google copied from custom roms. Kind of makes you wonder where we'll go from here now that roms are less of a necessity.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with you. I haven't rooted my past 4 (6, 6p, pixel xl, pixel 2 xl) probably bc they all ran "pure Google."
I do also have a note 9 att variant and I wanted to root and install custom on that device the 2nd day in.
But to have options is always a good thing. Keep it up devs!!!
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using
I can't get excited because I tried to figure out what features this rom has that would entice me to get into unlocking/etc and I can't find any sort of place where they actually tell you why you should install their mod. Their website still lists g+, to give an idea of how good their user communication is.
Is there any way I can get hotspot to work without having to use a custom rom
With magisk and Xposed, ROMs just aren't as necessary to me as they used to be, especially now that Google has made a good bit of functionality Pixel-only that isn't always replicated as well in ROMs.
There are still plenty of folks looking forward to them though, so this is definitely good news!
I stopped using custom roms when Marshmallow came out.
But I still use EX for the kernel..
Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk
jmcandrews83 said:
Is there any way I can get hotspot to work without having to use a custom rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there's a build prop mod that pretty well known and works on any phone. Unfortunately you need an unlocked bootloader and root so no OTAs and you'll have to keep magisk updated to keep safety net working (it gets updated pretty often)
Heck I dont know why anyone would not want a custom rom. More options and features. Yeah stock has gone far these days but I will always welcome more development.
I can totally understand why people feel there isn't a need for root access or custom ROMs anymore. Stock has certainly improved a lot. I find it useful for a few things, though:
Limiting battery charge to 80% so it prolongs the life of my battery. It's important in a world where you can no longer change batteries with ease.
Swapping my back button on the nav bar to the right side
De-Googling my phone, i.e. installing LineageOS without GApps.
Hold on just a sec, for my part I didn't say anything about root, that's a must have for me. I also didn't say that I don't welcome the development, just that it probably wont be for me. Despite that I'm always glad to see it happen whether it is applicable to my use case or not. I certainly didn't mean to imply or say that ROM development is bad, I apologize if that was the connotation people got from my posts.
krabman said:
Hold on just a sec, for my part I didn't say anything about root, that's a must have for me. I also didn't say that I don't welcome the development, just that it probably wont be for me. Despite that I'm always glad to see it happen whether it is applicable to my use case or not. I certainly didn't mean to imply or say that ROM development is bad, I apologize if that was the connotation people got from my posts.
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Hey, there! If you're replying to me, I'm sorry if I mislsed you. I didn't quote anyone because I was just referring to the general discussion from everyone.
Archangel said:
Heck I dont know why anyone would not want a custom rom. More options and features. Yeah stock has gone far these days but I will always welcome more development.
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Same here bro ...i love more options and features cuz then it feels like i have 3 different phones in 1 lmao
Stock is getting better but still a little boring for me
I just hope this isnt another one of those Pixel XL things where all of the development goes to the XL and nothing comes to the regular Pixel 3a
Looks like they released a release candidate.
http://download.dirtyunicorns.com/?device=bonito
Wickidmasshole said:
I was just checking out various customs threads & twitters and saw that DU had added Bonito to its official page as well as a screenshot on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/_DirtyUnicorns_/status/1129623484567621633?s=20
Im really hoping the dev community takes off for these devices like the old nexus days.
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I would think that would be the case - especially given the massive availability in North America alone. (I had a Galaxy Nexus and ran DU on it starting with Marshmallow and through Nougat - DU on a Pixel 3a XL would be - literally - Old Home Week and a good thing.) The ONLY reason I'm not running DU *now* is that I left the GNex for the Galaxy S7 Snapdragon - and not long after, the GNex croaked - it's now a paperweight.
If anything, the Pixel could be bigger than the Nexus line *ever* got to be - here is why:
1. First off, it can go to any carrier in North America - it's not restricted to Verizon Wireless.
2. Wide retail availablility - online my foot! I don't HATE online - I just prefer retail for things like phones (and that is despite being in the front yard of Amazon HQ2). And that is just the availability end.
3. Sane pricing - even, if not especially, in retail. ($479USD - as I stated before, that is the 3a XL - *half* the price of the S10e.) The S10e is pricier than the Note 9 - which is bad enough; to have the 3a XL undercut the same S10e by that much? Why would - or should- I buy an S10e? (And I don't hate the S10e - before the 3a and 3a XL came along, I was seriously considering the S10e, and I had actually seen it in retail and gotten some hands-on time with one - I haven't been able to do that with the 3a XL yet.)
Archangel said:
I just hope this isnt another one of those Pixel XL things where all of the development goes to the XL and nothing comes to the regular Pixel 3a
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The XL has been Google's AOSP build target with all the Pixels including 3a.
lazycow said:
The XL has been Google's AOSP build target with all the Pixels including 3a.
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So, I should return my 3a and get an XL for the dev support, you think?
jmtjr278 said:
So, I should return my 3a and get an XL for the dev support, you think?
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I suspect the XL will get more support. But I don't know enough about either device to be sure how development will progress.
The title is basically self-explanatory. I'm particularly interested in these things:
AOSP/LOS/anything clean: how's battery drain? More than on stock or not?
Camera: could we replace ours with gcam? Is 70-105 switch working well?
Camera: do we have smth like XperianceCamera?
What features are we losing with unlocking bootloader? None afaics, but I may have missed something.
Thanks in advance! :^)
About Xperia 5 IV. It works great to me.
1.- No idea, never used stock. I have strong dislikes on Google.
2.- It works fine with OpenCamera, all 4 cameras detected (front, back normal, back close, back wide).
3.- No idea, I would need to try.
4.- It works fine.
Looks like I wrote a novel so TLDR:
I suck at this stuff, just getting back into custom ROMs - tried Pixel Experience 13 and Lineage OS(no Play Services (I think Android 13/A13 Beta)).
Stock Sony Rom + Root is the way to go. At least for right now.
Wouldn't count on GCam working or working well.
(Sony) Photo Pro is proprietary too afaik so you'd need someone to port it to custom OS like Lineage without G Services (what I read someone feel free to correct me). It might work with LineageOS with G Services or whatever else, I didn't try it.
END OF TLDR:
ROM EXPERIENCES:
Pixel Experience was weird, probably worked fine but I don't think the dimensions of the Xperia 5 III work well with how PE is scaled. Just this users opinion. Also I really only tried it to try it- not a huge fan of Google lately.
Lineage OS almost worked but the version I had text messages didn't work. The default one or others from F-Droid. I'm positive its user error on my part. Battery life seemed great though, it's anecdotal but it seemed markedly better without Google constantly checking in. Probably my bias.
Its important to me to have some Sony Apps and overall functionality (seems like low dev support when comparing to other devices IE Galaxy/Pixel) so I think stock Sony ROM+ Rooted is the way to go. Seemingly the general consensus on the forum too (especially since its pretty stock Android anyway).
Bonus objectives for me on stock Sony Rom is to DeGoogle + MicroG although I haven't made it all the way there yet. Then maybe long term try a Xperia 5 IV ROM for sh*ts and giggles for Android 13 since I doubt the 5 III will get it.
FUNCTIONALITY:
Your questions about GCam and losing functionality: I have heard/seen a lot of things online about GCam either needing to be ported to devices individually or that its part of Google's "Special Sauce" software wise. So I would expect stripped functionality if functional at all.
Someone who is a lot smarter and experienced than me should clarify on these last two:
Downsides to an unlocked bootloader+Custom ROM is same as always: risk of user error, bricking your device (soft bricked mine), depending on the ROM you choose you may not have Google Apps/limited so Banking apps and streaming apps won't work or won't go all the way up the resolution chain 4k20 69 fps etc. And I'm sure there is a security disclaimer somewhere out there too if you aren't careful.
Pros are same as always: Control of your device, system wide ad blocker, admin rights to delete bloatware, customization, custom ROMs, better battery life, potentially longer OS support, privacy, security, etc.
RAMBLINGS OF GETTING BACK INTO ROOTING WITH THE X5 III
*In case there are others out there who are similar to me in either getting back into rooting after a long time or the first time*
I'm pretty much a novice at this stuff but I was finally able to get my phone unlocked a few weeks ago and tried a few different ROMs. Out of what I tried I really only remember the Pixel Experience and Lineage OS. PE was fine but I'm not a huge fan of all the Google stuff so I went in the opposite direction and did Lineage OS without the Google Play Store/Services/App Framework whatever. It was almost a keeper for me except messaging wasn't working for whatever reason ((I wonder ^^)but really I think it was because it was an A13 beta). I tried a few different messaging apps but between that and losing some Sony Apps I decided to back to stock.
I feel like the big points for this phone are the camera app, the display customization depending on the content viewed, and possibly the gaming tweaks/music app? Last two are a stretch but eh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
The new plan was/is hoping to do was DeGoogle the stock ROM and replace it with MicroG. I haven't gotten around to it because the post I was looking at on how to do it on this forum linked to another post in a different forum and it was for Android 11. My phone is on Android 12. Looking at the comments people had said the process was the same for 12 as 11 or very similar. Shouldn't be too hard but knowing me it will take me another afternoon or two to get it figured out and working.
Long term I'm kind of hoping that when an Android 13 ROM comes out for the Xperia 5 IV we could try throwing it on our devices too. Since I doubt we will be getting Android 13 on the Xperia 5 III. I know the physical camera is different on the 5 IV but everything else seems close enough to a normie like me that maybe it would be worth it to try. Then its back to figuring out how to DeGoogle on an unsupported device and installing MicroG etc etc.
Sorry its such a late response and not the most technical (or maybe even 100% accurate) but that was at least my experience a bit ago trying a few different ROMs on the GSI thread linked in the "How To" post listed here.
This phone has really grown on me and I'm bummed I'm not savvy in any amount of Android development so I am unable to make customizations/tweaks to the stock ROM. Or customize other OS ROM's to port here. Which makes me reliant on others to do the work so I can leech off it haha. On more widely used phones like Samsung or the Pixel its NBD since there are so many users. But a small community like this, it doesn't seem like there is a lot being done. Not a dig or anything, just not a ton of options. Although being able to install a ton of different custom ROMS from the GSI thread is really cool even if it isn't tailored to the Xperia 5 III.
Part of why I threw up so much info on here goes with the last paragraph. You probably won't get a lot of responses. There aren't a ton of peeps here and those who are generally already know what they are doing.
If you end up trying a bunch of different ROMs and find one you really like LMK!
+1 to that. I don't get 5G and had bad time trying to obtain signal. It doesn't worth.
J2 digital said:
Looks like I wrote a novel so TLDR:
I suck at this stuff, just getting back into custom ROMs - tried Pixel Experience 13 and Lineage OS(no Play Services (I think Android 13/A13 Beta)).
Stock Sony Rom + Root is the way to go. At least for right now.
Wouldn't count on GCam working or working well.
(Sony) Photo Pro is proprietary too afaik so you'd need someone to port it to custom OS like Lineage without G Services (what I read someone feel free to correct me). It might work with LineageOS with G Services or whatever else, I didn't try it.
END OF TLDR:
ROM EXPERIENCES:
Pixel Experience was weird, probably worked fine but I don't think the dimensions of the Xperia 5 III work well with how PE is scaled. Just this users opinion. Also I really only tried it to try it- not a huge fan of Google lately.
Lineage OS almost worked but the version I had text messages didn't work. The default one or others from F-Droid. I'm positive its user error on my part. Battery life seemed great though, it's anecdotal but it seemed markedly better without Google constantly checking in. Probably my bias.
Its important to me to have some Sony Apps and overall functionality (seems like low dev support when comparing to other devices IE Galaxy/Pixel) so I think stock Sony ROM+ Rooted is the way to go. Seemingly the general consensus on the forum too (especially since its pretty stock Android anyway).
Bonus objectives for me on stock Sony Rom is to DeGoogle + MicroG although I haven't made it all the way there yet. Then maybe long term try a Xperia 5 IV ROM for sh*ts and giggles for Android 13 since I doubt the 5 III will get it.
FUNCTIONALITY:
Your questions about GCam and losing functionality: I have heard/seen a lot of things online about GCam either needing to be ported to devices individually or that its part of Google's "Special Sauce" software wise. So I would expect stripped functionality if functional at all.
Someone who is a lot smarter and experienced than me should clarify on these last two:
Downsides to an unlocked bootloader+Custom ROM is same as always: risk of user error, bricking your device (soft bricked mine), depending on the ROM you choose you may not have Google Apps/limited so Banking apps and streaming apps won't work or won't go all the way up the resolution chain 4k20 69 fps etc. And I'm sure there is a security disclaimer somewhere out there too if you aren't careful.
Pros are same as always: Control of your device, system wide ad blocker, admin rights to delete bloatware, customization, custom ROMs, better battery life, potentially longer OS support, privacy, security, etc.
RAMBLINGS OF GETTING BACK INTO ROOTING WITH THE X5 III
*In case there are others out there who are similar to me in either getting back into rooting after a long time or the first time*
I'm pretty much a novice at this stuff but I was finally able to get my phone unlocked a few weeks ago and tried a few different ROMs. Out of what I tried I really only remember the Pixel Experience and Lineage OS. PE was fine but I'm not a huge fan of all the Google stuff so I went in the opposite direction and did Lineage OS without the Google Play Store/Services/App Framework whatever. It was almost a keeper for me except messaging wasn't working for whatever reason ((I wonder ^^)but really I think it was because it was an A13 beta). I tried a few different messaging apps but between that and losing some Sony Apps I decided to back to stock.
I feel like the big points for this phone are the camera app, the display customization depending on the content viewed, and possibly the gaming tweaks/music app? Last two are a stretch but eh ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
The new plan was/is hoping to do was DeGoogle the stock ROM and replace it with MicroG. I haven't gotten around to it because the post I was looking at on how to do it on this forum linked to another post in a different forum and it was for Android 11. My phone is on Android 12. Looking at the comments people had said the process was the same for 12 as 11 or very similar. Shouldn't be too hard but knowing me it will take me another afternoon or two to get it figured out and working.
Long term I'm kind of hoping that when an Android 13 ROM comes out for the Xperia 5 IV we could try throwing it on our devices too. Since I doubt we will be getting Android 13 on the Xperia 5 III. I know the physical camera is different on the 5 IV but everything else seems close enough to a normie like me that maybe it would be worth it to try. Then its back to figuring out how to DeGoogle on an unsupported device and installing MicroG etc etc.
Sorry its such a late response and not the most technical (or maybe even 100% accurate) but that was at least my experience a bit ago trying a few different ROMs on the GSI thread linked in the "How To" post listed here.
This phone has really grown on me and I'm bummed I'm not savvy in any amount of Android development so I am unable to make customizations/tweaks to the stock ROM. Or customize other OS ROM's to port here. Which makes me reliant on others to do the work so I can leech off it haha. On more widely used phones like Samsung or the Pixel its NBD since there are so many users. But a small community like this, it doesn't seem like there is a lot being done. Not a dig or anything, just not a ton of options. Although being able to install a ton of different custom ROMS from the GSI thread is really cool even if it isn't tailored to the Xperia 5 III.
Part of why I threw up so much info on here goes with the last paragraph. You probably won't get a lot of responses. There aren't a ton of peeps here and those who are generally already know what they are doing.
If you end up trying a bunch of different ROMs and find one you really like LMK!
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Thanks for putting all your experiences out here, really a huge help. I would also like to try out lineage, but can't seem to find a supported version. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?
Claussen said:
I would also like to try out lineage, but can't seem to find a supported version. Would you mind pointing me in the right direction?
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If you don't mind a customized one, try crDroid
i would like to try custom ROM's but since no TWRP anymore to get for the Xperia's i hate to reinstall everything just to test something new.