Comprehensive Android Phone/MODs/ROMs Thread

[Julian]

Why wouldn't it be able to? This isn't apple.

We just got an official Froyo release, with all of the sources, so people are currently busy getting stuff working. Might be best to wait a few days.

If you don't want to wait, feel free to do research yourself:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=716

Topics of interest:

Clockwork Mod version 3.0.whatever -- This is a recovery menu. Also roots your phone if it isn't rooted yet
Kernel Genocide EB13 -- Custom kernel, it's overclocked for increased performance, and also undervolted for increased battery life. Can probably use SetCPU on top of it to get rid of the overclock if you want to save even more battery life
How to Update to Official EB13 (this was in page 2) -- Instructions to use ODIN to put your phone onto EB13.

Basically, what you want to do: ODIN to EB13, Install clockwork (also gives root), and then, well, for now you can just install the kernel.

What you will be able to do in a few days is get to try out different custom roms, until you find one that you like. Since this Android update is really recent, I don't think any of the custom roms have been updated yet.

Viper, Nebula, Bonsai, whatever, all that shit that you see on that forum, are all the current popular custom roms. I don't really like them, because they're kinda just modifications of the base system with crap sprinkled on top. A ton of them include themes which I find ugly and dislike. The one main thing is that they all remove the sprint bloatware, so running one of them will be an improvement over running the stock rom.

Now, besides those, there are two different projects you'll want to keep an eye on: MiUi and CyanogenMod. Both of those (At least Cyanogen, not 100% sure about MiUI but I'm pretty sure it's the same case) are built directly from the AOSP. (Android Open Source Project) What this means, is that they're based upon just plain old vanilla android. The problem with these is that it takes a lot of work having to modify it so that it works with different hardware, they're basically doing what Samsung, HTC, etc, do to their phones, without really all of the knowledge that those companies had. Why is this good? Well, since it's built directly from source, they're easy to modify to do, well, a ton of cool and different things. Kind of things that you can't really do by just modifying the already modified stock rom that companies supply. (I'm not 100% sure if this is exactly how it works, I'm no phone dev, but from my limited (limited just towards cellphones, really) understanding, it is)

Both Cyanogen and MiUi are pretty buggy for the epic right now, but they're being worked on. The biggest thing holding those projects back was the lack of source for froyo, which was just released earlier this week, so expect a ton of cool stuff coming soon.

[*Shinzon*]

Thank you so much, that's more along the lines of the kind of response I was looking for. I'll try the clockwork thing once my phone is fully charged tomorrow. Thanks so much.

[Pabst]

Yea clockwork recovery is great. Make sure to backup your phone when you start tinkering with it. Also pick up titanium backup. Since it backs up your apps and data to your sd card

[dejet]

some phones cant get true *root* and much like the Droid X crazy shit had to be done in order to allow it to get a custom kernel going.

I no very little about the epic and dont no how big its devs are. The droid X needed root followed by a custom kernel made to look like the normal one or it flat out really bricked the phone lol thats the only reason I asked.

[*Shinzon*]

So I don't plan on doing any of this now as you suggested but, What exactly does all that Odin to EB13 do to the phone itself? And if I screw something up is it easy to fix for the most part?

Yea clockwork recovery is great. Make sure to backup your phone when you start tinkering with it. Also pick up titanium backup. Since it backs up your apps and data to your sd card

How can you use titanium backup before the phone is rooted? just trying to make sure I don't destroy and end up screwed as I just got it. The Clockword recovery that was free in the market said the phone needed to be rooted before I could use it, or do I just need the premium version? I was just going to check out how the backup feature worked when it gave me that message.

[Pabst]

So I don't plan on doing any of this now as you suggested but, What exactly does all that Odin to EB13 do to the phone itself? And if I screw something up is it easy to fix for the most part?



How can you use titanium backup before the phone is rooted? just trying to make sure I don't destroy and end up screwed as I just got it. The Clockword recovery that was free in the market said the phone needed to be rooted before I could use it, or do I just need the premium version? I was just going to check out how the backup feature worked when it gave me that message.

Yea my bad. Need to be rooted to backup. You can still download the the app but it will say your phone needs to be rooted for it to work. I think z4root works. Just download z4root apk onto your phone and install it like an app.

As far a backups. Clockwork mod can make back ups but titanium backup can save you the hassle of restoring app data. Comes in handy when you start trying new roms.

[Pabst]

Ooh k reading julians post says if you install clock recovery it can root your phone. I have a DX so I'm not to familiar with the epic 4g.

[Julian]

I don't know if Clockwork always roots phones.

All I know is that the Epic's Clockwork installation also includes the "one click root" with it.

[*Shinzon*]

Ok so the mod I'm looking for from Clockwork, is it called Clockwork Recovery or Mod? And is there a specific one for the Epic? A Few searches have yielded nothing but old versions and just vague references.

[Chun Liroy]

Clockwork mod recovery , and afaik it works on all android devices. Rooting is absurdly easy safe to do now adays, and if you somehow manage to brick your phone I'm sure you can sbf flash it. I fucked up my phone once (got stuck in a bootloop when I deleted something I shouldn't have, and before I got clockwork recovery). It's symbol on the app store is like an owl eye, or at least it looks like it to me.

[*Shinzon*]

I still can't find a one click clockwork mod recovery that's 3.+ the closest I found is this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=770388 Will it work?

[Pabst]

Try z4root. Then download clockwork mod's rom manager from app store. It comes with recovery.

http://www.xda-developers.com/android/get-froyo-root-with-z4root-app/

[*Shinzon*]

Ok so I got the phone rooted, and downloaded Titanium backup. Now does or rather will this backup everything that's on the phone now, before I start changing stuff, in the event something goes wrong? Or do I just backup everything that is there manually now and then restore each thing later if it ever becomes needed?

Edit: Nevermind watched a video explaining it more indepth. Thanks for the help so far. Now the Clockwork mod recovery is what I'd be needed to restore my phone to these backups should anything happen right?

[Julian]

Clockwork Mod version 3.0.whatever -- This is a recovery menu. Also roots your phone if it isn't rooted yet

It's a sticky.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=897612

[Pabst]

Nevermind watched a video explaining it more indepth. Thanks for the help so far. Now the Clockwork mod recovery is what I'd be needed to restore my phone to these backups should anything happen right?

Yea, it's pretty much like making a restore point on your pc.

[*Shinzon*]

Oh, now Julian, now that the phone is rooted and backed up, what is the Kernel genocide and Setcpu items you mentioned earlier? Also on Xda? Increased performance and better battery life is probably the two things I'd really love. I don't do alot of phone gaming and that type of stuff, mostly browsing and texting so for now those two things would keep me really happy.

[Seanr]

anyone able to download titanium backup pro? I get the shit, the phone says it recognizes it, but it doesnt actually change...
nvm, got it working

[*Shinzon*]

Clockwork recovery wont install onto my epic despite the app being downloaded. I i just keep getting a message about an error occurring during the download and it stops before it even really starts.

Edit: Actually I think I installed the oneclick root that had clockwork installed already though I had to download the rom manager. So any instructions on how to use this and start using that Kernel?

Edit Again: Definitely not installed, phone is properly rooted though so now I am officially confused. A lot of the posts on XDA also assume some familiarity with the process and don't help me much.

[Julian]

What?

Turn off your phone, hold down voldown, camera, and power, and you will boot into recovery.

Installing clockwork 3 just involves running a script on your computer, you shouldn't be installing anything on your phone, and the mod manager app is kind of useless from my experience.

[*Shinzon*]

I see, what about the Kernel installation process then? I see that most those don't run well with normal stock roms, is that the case with Kernel Genocide? Sorry for being so dumb at this and asking dumb questions lol. :/