Comprehensive Android Phone/MODs/ROMs Thread

[Salodin]

Has any one played with the htc one x+? I'm gonna get a new phone today, and at first it was an easy pick with a sg3, but I just saw the new htc phone and was wondering about peoples thoughts on it? Biggest thing that sands out is the tegra 3 processor fo the x+, but then the sg3 has 2gig of ram.

Thoughts?

[Pabst]

The nexus 4 has been restocked if you interested. And if it was me I would get the one x+ over the SGIII. Samsung phones just don't appeal to me. Plus I always loved the HTC design of their phones.

[Rulke]

I just got the Droid Razor a few weeks ago to replace my Droid 2 that I dropped >.>;

Anyway, I really like the phone and I was stoked to see that Chrome is the default browser. However I find that now when I try to browse any BG thread with embedded videos, the videos don't show up. I didn't have the problem on the old phone which was still a more generic web browser at that point.

Any ideas why a version of chrome on a phone doesn't act the same way the pc version does? Maybe i need a plug in or something to see the videos?

[Appie]

Chrome for mobile doesn't support Flash. Adobe dropped it before Google started development on it. You can sorta "fix" it with the app "Flashify". It let's you paste the video into a browser that does support flash. Still shit, but best you going to get for the time being I think.

[Rulke]

Bummer. Thanks for the info Appie, I'll give the flashify a try.

[Serra]

HTC officially unveiled their new phone for the year -- the HTC One confirmed for a March (supposedly 15th, so less than a month away) global release. For a while now, I've felt that HTC makes some of the best (if not the very best) phones available, and this phone cemented that opinion. The specs are amazing and I love the design, although I wish the silver version had been completely silver on the front, rather than having the black middle (although I'm definitely considering the silver over black..). It sounds like HTC is again raising the bar with the specs and have made some interesting choices (for instance, how many people will think the "4 ultrapixel" camera is worse than an 8+ megapixel one). I wanna hear some more opinions about Sense 5 and this BlinkFeed too -- probably will turn it off based on what I've heard so far..

The only thing I dislike is that you can't open the back to replace the battery and that there is no micro-SD slot (although I guess the 64gb version kinda makes this a moot point). Also wish it had 4.2.. but I'm guessing that'll be coming sooner rather than later if not through rooting. Torn between this phone and the Xperia ZL, but with no word on when/if the ZL will be coming to the US, I'm definitely leaning towards this one.

Specs:
http://gdgt.com/htc/one/2013/specs/

HTC One
Price (on contract): $199 32GB (conf.) / $299 64GB (tbc)
Processor: 1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600
Memory: 2GB
Display: 4.7-inch Super LCD 3
Resolution: 1,920 × 1,080
Glass: Gorilla Glass 2
Pixel Density: 468ppi
Storage: 32GB / 64GB
Primary camera: Ultrapixel camera, 4-megapixel* BSI f/2.0 AF
Secondary camera: 2.1-megapixel
Video recording: 1080p with HDR up to 28fps, 720p at 60fps
Cellular: GSM / GPRS / EDGE, WCDMA / UMTS / HSPA+, LTE
WiFi: 802.11 a/ac/b/g/n
Bluetooth: 4.0 with apt-X
Orientation: GPS / A-GPS /GLONASS GPS / A-GPS /GLONASS GPS / A-GPS
Navigation: Gyroscope / Digital Compass
Connectivity: NFC / DLNA
SIM standard: micro-SIM
Battery: 2,300mAh
Weight: 143 grams
Dimensions: 137.4 x 68.2 x 9.3mm
Colors: Silver / Black (tbc)

http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/19/htc-one-unveiled/
http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/19/h...-and-hardware/
http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/19/h...event-roundup/

http://bgr.com/2013/02/19/htc-one-hands-on-331081/
http://bgr.com/2013/02/19/htc-one-re...-march-331071/

Accessories:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/19/h...s-accessories/

[Fereydoon]

Sooo I get to go pay for a meh phone from a garbage company for a little while, reviews on the LG Motion 4G?

[Boyiee]

So I'm looking to root my Verizon Galaxy S3 sch-1535 and I'm gonna be using this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...php?p=35418324

I've never rooted an android device, only jailbroken iphones. I am a little clueless at the "flash recovery of your choice using odin" part.

Can anyone provide me with some advice on S3 or even better Verizon S3 rooting? I don't know anything about which recovery or cfw to use, I just want a simple root and to extend battery life. The phone stock is perfect and I've had no reason to root until now unlike with my iphone which I would jailbreak the day it became available. I don't even know what to do/get after rooting since I've seen no reason to even do so until now.

[Toxictaru]

Basically you have a choice of either TWRP or CWM. TWRP is touch-screen by default, and CWM has both touch and non-touch variants (your device may not be supported).

The recovery itself is mostly for flashing in new roms with a better interface. If your device supports TWRP, go with that. CWM isn't horrible, but it buries some stuff away.

Also, just looked at the guide, it tells you how to install the custom recovery with Odin (there is a link next to the step you mentioned). Click it and follow it. Rooting isn't particularly difficult, but the problem with a lot of XDA guides is that people call them guides but they're more a repository of links to work other people have done. XDA as a community is awesome, but you have a lot of 14-15 year olds there who think that they're contributing when really they're just annoying or riding the coattails of people who have done the real work. Just gotta get past that and you're good to go.

[dejet]

The worst part of XDA that I have run into is that many "guides" will say "using odin" or "using Terminal editor grant...". Some of us understand that. Iv rooted well over 10 different android phones in my day(more then likely 20+) and yet some of the damn guides are hard as hell for me to understand. Best thing to do is if you dont understand something look at the last few pages and if it has not been asked, ask away(also look at the sticky's it might have info you need on odin or something) they might bitch and use the "let me google that for you" BS but you should get an answer if it has not been asked in some time and is not posted on the sticky. Just be ready for some dicks to say stupid stuff first, then get an answer.

[Boyiee]

The worst part of XDA is iv run into many "guides" that say "using odin" or "using Terminal editor grant..." Some of us understand that. Iv rooted well over 10 different android phones in my day(more then likely 20+) and yet some of the damn guides are hard as hell for me to understand. Best thing to do is if you dont understand something look at the last few pages and if it has not been asked, ask away(also look at the sticky's it might have info you need on odin or something) they might bitch and use the "let me google that for you" BS but you should get an answer if it has not been asked in some time and is not posted on the sticky. Just be ready for some dicks to say stupid stuff first, then get an answer.

That's like the entire reason I came here lol.

[Toxictaru]

To be totally honest, I read the guide, and it blows how much shit you have to go through just to get it up and running. Verizon sucks like that. I personally had a Galaxy S3 SGH-I747 which is the standard full model on AT&T and the major carrier up here in Canada, and it was stupid easy to root. My phone took me maybe 10 minutes, which included downloading files and reading instructions. I rooted my brothers S3 when he got it and it took me longer to install the drivers on his computer than it did to root and get a custom recovery on it. I'm currently running a Nexus 4 and I love that Google makes it stupid easy to root their own phones.

Anyway, I just checked out this video which was linked in the guide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-tQ05Zo_9U
It breaks the process down, and seems to be fairly easy. It starts off kind of blurry, but it cleans up a few minutes in and you can see everything you need. It actually gets completely clear right at the step that you're tripping up on right now. Watch the video, its better than the guide.

Keep us updated, I'll help if I can.

[shrapner]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1984436 in this thread are stock rooted images for 4.1.2 nad 4.1.1

Extract the root66_VZW_I535VRBLK1.tar.md5 from the .7z file you downloaded.
Use Odin, put phone into download mode [with phone off, hold vol. down + home + power ], connect to computer and open Odin.
once in odin click the PDA field and select the root66_VZW_I535VRBLK1.tar.md5 you downloaded.
Leave Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time checked.
click start and
when done let phone reboot.

once it's started back up. search for EZ Recovery and EZ unlock (both created by the same person) on the play store and install them. first open up ez recovery and flash the recovery of your choice
then you can open up ez unlock, press the big unlock button, and you should now be good to flash any rom you want in recovery

if you don't need a rom, then there is no need to unlock your bootloader with ez unlock

[xopher]

So guys, what's the best GS3 custom rom currently?

[kuronosan]

So guys, what's the best GS3 custom rom currently?

CleanROM is the best stock custom ROM. Everything else is pretty much based off of AOSP but as I understand it PA is the ROM of choice for customization while CM10.1 is for stability. Kernel-wise, Zeus kernel is considered the smoothest.

[Toxictaru]

I really liked MROM, based of of CM10.1 so AOSP. Found it was pretty solid and battery life was not at all horrible.

Looking for the pure AOSP experience without having to use custom ROMs led me to my Nexus 4 though. Be warned, blah blah etc etc

[dejet]

so this is not android based but it seems to be worth posting. As we all know, a few weeks back we where all told many companies had been giving the US government wide amounts of information. I was pissed to read that google was part of that list along with Apple, AOL(lulz who uses this email anymore? ) MS and what not.

Well this gives me a little comfort, can not tell if it is true but I see no reason for google to hide this fact when they post every take down notice, have pulled out of china and what not. What I mean I trust this post mostly because google does not follow what the government says unless it has to due to the law.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2013/...google-to.html
Asking the U.S. government to allow Google to publish more national security request data
This morning we sent the following letter to the offices of the Attorney General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Read the full text below. -Ed.

Dear Attorney General Holder and Director Mueller

Google has worked tremendously hard over the past fifteen years to earn our users’ trust. For example, we offer encryption across our services; we have hired some of the best security engineers in the world; and we have consistently pushed back on overly broad government requests for our users’ data.

We have always made clear that we comply with valid legal requests. And last week, the Director of National Intelligence acknowledged that service providers have received Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) requests.

Assertions in the press that our compliance with these requests gives the U.S. government unfettered access to our users’ data are simply untrue. However, government nondisclosure obligations regarding the number of FISA national security requests that Google receives, as well as the number of accounts covered by those requests, fuel that speculation.

We therefore ask you to help make it possible for Google to publish in our Transparency Report aggregate numbers of national security requests, including FISA disclosures—in terms of both the number we receive and their scope. Google’s numbers would clearly show that our compliance with these requests falls far short of the claims being made. Google has nothing to hide.

Google appreciates that you authorized the recent disclosure of general numbers for national security letters. There have been no adverse consequences arising from their publication, and in fact more companies are receiving your approval to do so as a result of Google’s initiative. Transparency here will likewise serve the public interest without harming national security.

We will be making this letter public and await your response.

David Drummond
Chief Legal Office

[octopus]

Nexus 5 is available now:

http://www.google.com/nexus/5/

Android Kit Kat (4.4):

http://www.android.com/versions/kit-kat-4-4/

[Krandor]

Also competely sold out. Wait time is 3 or more weeks last I heard.