Database Users

Post your ideas of how to customize stock (non rooted) vibrant

Hi everyone...
Im looking for suggestions on how to customize my stock vibrant and try all col things with this powerful phone... So far I have launcher pro and a beautiful widgets... And some games like need for speed shift demo... Anything else cool and exciting I can try or download on my phone w/o rooting it? Or screwing up ota uodates in the future?... Like changing tmob boot up screen or any suggestions at alll...
Thanx
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

In the settings you can change the "font style." (New fonts can be downloaded for a buck.) It can have a significant effect on how things appear. Some suggestions from the tips thread are Helvetica Nue, Soho Gothic, Frutiger and Felbridge. I'm digging Helvetica a lot.

Thanx for suggestion.. I forgot to mention I downloaded a few flip fonts I love how it changes the look of the phone.. Any other suggestions? Or performance boosters?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

you can not change the boot logo (or shutdown) if you are not rooted. If you are rooted, you still get OTA, but once installed it will unroot the phone

No problem do this
Fancy Widgets
Pure Messenger/ Grid Calendar and an Agenda app... (can't remember the name)

I am running Agenda Widget and liking it ok so far. I am always looking for a better one.

Launcher Pro or ADW, Beautiful Widgets, change the font style.
Here is a link to a thread with a plethora of Flip Fonts to choose from. Just download the .apk. locate and install on your device. Go into settings and change the font, restart and there you go
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=748916

Don't mean to pick on the op but I'm curious why people don't want to root.
I did the day it was possible and haven't looked back. So many things you can do to customize all reversible if you have to. Just don't try doing really crazy stuff unless you know what your doing but most things in the stick under the root section are easy and awesome.
Anyway I'd love to understand why people don't just do it.

Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.

drhonk said:
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more awesome thing to do with root. I don't get why you wouldn't.

joshthewaster said:
One more awesome thing to do with root. I don't get why you wouldn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get why people who don't root their phones go on XDA. XDA is a place for rooting and ROM development. Not a user-friendly website for non-rooters. But yeah definitely root, you can customize a lot more. Customize the notifications bar, I don't really big the light gray and blue 3G icon

I've gone from a few different Nokias, to a Motorola Razor, to a Blackberry Pearl and now finally to a Samsung Vibrant. I'm pretty good with computers and software so I know I could get rooting/recovery/flashing down, but this is my first time with a mobile device I could hack.
Whenever I do research on the topic I find multiple threads with multiple ways to root. The whole directions/concept just isn't crystal clear with me yet, despite how much I've read. And, there's always posts at the end of each thread by users with unanswered issues/problems.
I guess, I'm just taking the slow cautious route, enjoying stock android eclair for a while. I do have the itch, but no apps or issues with my phone have pushed me beyond curiosity and into the experimental, so to speak.
What is the top main reason you have for rooting your vibrant?
Edit: to point out, I know I could've "hacked" my previous phones, but not the way you can with an Android phone, you know what I mean...

trunkstar1 said:
I've gone from a few different Nokias, to a Motorola Razor, to a Blackberry Pearl and now finally to a Samsung Vibrant. I'm pretty good with computers and software so I know I could get rooting/recovery/flashing down, but this is my first time with a mobile device I could hack.
Whenever I do research on the topic I find multiple threads with multiple ways to root. The whole directions/concept just isn't crystal clear with me yet, despite how much I've read. And, there's always posts at the end of each thread by users with unanswered issues/problems.
I guess, I'm just taking the slow cautious route, enjoying stock android eclair for a while. I do have the itch, but no apps or issues with my phone have pushed me beyond curiosity and into the experimental, so to speak.
What is the top main reason you have for rooting your vibrant?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- Allows access to applications that require root access (e.g. Titanium Backup, SetCPU, AdFree (not suggested since it helps developers), metamorph, etc)
- When you root, you have the ability to flash a custom recovery that allows custom ROMs. This allows nandroid backups, restores, and more.
- Remove bloatware that comes with the phone (this one DEFINITELY)
- Screenshots

See, I get confused. All I've read about recovery was people talking about "booting into recovery. The only thing I thought you flashed were the custom ROMs. And, I thought you only needed the backups and restores so you could get back to an unrooted state in case you needed warrantee work, or messed up your phone somehow.
What are the major bloatware items on the stock t-mobile vibrant?

trunkstar1 said:
See, I get confused. All I've read about recovery was people talking about "booting into recovery. The only thing I thought you flashed were the custom ROMs. And, I thought you only needed the backups and restores so you could get back to an unrooted state in case you needed warrantee work, or messed up your phone somehow.
What are the major bloatware items on the stock t-mobile vibrant?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Account & Settings on the App Drawer
Gogo
Amazon Kindle
TeleNav
T-Mobile Voicemail
MobiTV
Memo
AudioPostcard
(and many more)
... oh yeah and with root (and installed clockwork recovery) you can apply the Captivate camera which its interface is easier to apply different scenes.
And no.. you can restore non-root with Odin and nandroid backup (JAC's thread has a unrooted backup online). But yeah you do backups before you apply hacks to your phone incase anything happens

drhonk said:
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get the app called Battery Status Pro. That gives you what you want.

zephiK said:
Account & Settings on the App Drawer
Gogo
Amazon Kindle
TeleNav
T-Mobile Voicemail
MobiTV
Memo
AudioPostcard
(and many more)
... oh yeah and with root (and installed clockwork recovery) you can apply the Captivate camera which its interface is easier to apply different scenes.
And no.. you can restore non-root with Odin and nandroid backup (JAC's thread has a unrooted backup online). But yeah you do backups before you apply hacks to your phone incase anything happens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying to figure out how to remove bloatware was THE reason I found xda and rooted. I had no idea what I was doing but it is ULTRA easy. Download update zip-boot to recovery-apply-enjoy. That got me discovering all the other awesome things I can do.
You will always see people who have problems with anything in the threads. This is why you make backups. Once you have those you can do a lot more with a lot more confidence knowing that if you make a mistake you can correct it - mostly. And you can unroot if you have to.

drhonk said:
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Love having it.

Come on guys lets talk about stuff you can do for non rooters please. I did root my phone but I took it to far and bricked it. I'm not doing it again and I know that xda forums lean more to rooting then not. I thought a thread that talked about non rooted phones was a great idea but its been taken over. So I'm bringing it back.
There are a lot of good lockscreen apps to look at for changing your lockscreen. I've used some of them just haven settled on one yet. So no need to root just have fun with it the way it is.

spacecasespiff said:
Come on guys lets talk about stuff you can do for non rooters please. I did root my phone but I took it to far and bricked it. I'm not doing it again and I know that xda forums lean more to rooting then not. I thought a thread that talked about non rooted phones was a great idea but its been taken over. So I'm bringing it back.
There are a lot of good lockscreen apps to look at for changing your lockscreen. I've used some of them just haven settled on one yet. So no need to root just have fun with it the way it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanx for staying on topic... no offense to others... where do i find different lock screens?

Got a Galaxy note today

Hello,
I've used the Note and I like it very much, i'm not a big fan of stock roms but this one is okay. One question...how do I change my dock icons to custom icons please? I am very familiar with Android having owned a ZTE Blade and more recently a ZTE Skate so not sure why I can't change the dock icons on my Note thanks.

I want to install a theme, however I need to be rooted, can someone please post a easy version of what to download and instructions please? Come one people...help me out please!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329360
^ I used that method for root.
I too just got my note today GREAT device! Hope this one is a keeper.

SealsNavie said:
Hello,
I've used the Note and I like it very much, i'm not a big fan of stock roms but this one is okay. One question...how do I change my dock icons to custom icons please? I am very familiar with Android having owned a ZTE Blade and more recently a ZTE Skate so not sure why I can't change the dock icons on my Note thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go to your apps drawer, tap the menu/settings capacitive button (cant remember what its really called), then tap edit. drag an icon out of the dock, then drag a new one in.

Thank you oh...when I meant icons...I meant custom icons, not the app icnos in the 'App tray', not to worry though

Just got mine today also!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

Looking for a Stock style Rom with a few enhancements

I hate to do this, but I am looking for a stock style rom for the N4 with the following
root
deodex
Facebook contacts Sync
Enhanced Quick Settings
Enhanced Power Menu
Patched Google Wallet (to allow root)
t9 dialer
I'm happy putting this together myself, but to speed things along does anyone have links/suggestions on where to get the above features or a ROM with all the above?
I get my N4 today if shipping works well from TNT so hope to have this flashed tonight and have loads on at work so this is why I am posting a Q&A for help locating this

All very good Features i would like to see in a "Stock"-Android ROM. :good:

the wallet apk is floating around here somewheres. there is also an unsupported gapps with it.
t9 dialer. i just noticed one with it the other day. i thing it was xylon or codefirex.
i dont do facebook. but everything else you mentioned should be in just about any rom. cm10.1 seems to be the one rom around here that is closets to stock.

phermey said:
the wallet apk is floating around here somewheres. there is also an unsupported gapps with it.
t9 dialer. i just noticed one with it the other day. i thing it was xylon or codefirex.
i dont do facebook. but everything else you mentioned should be in just about any rom. cm10.1 seems to be the one rom around here that is closets to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wondered between that and MCR to be honest - I thought MCR might actually be slightly closer to stock

Lothaen said:
I wondered between that and MCR to be honest - I thought MCR might actually be slightly closer to stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could be. i havent looked at that rom.

Rascarlo is another very minimal rom
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

Lothaen said:
I wondered between that and MCR to be honest - I thought MCR might actually be slightly closer to stock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zephiK said:
Rascarlo is another very minimal rom
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i started thinking... what makes a minimal rom? i have never used a rom that was considered 'minimal' so questions are coming up. as more and more time goes by would the rom not get further and further away from stock? or do they stop adding features and only update as code for what they have is further optimized? i guess what im saying is you could always try to hunt down a rom that started with all of the features you are looking for. then flash an early build of that before they loaded it down with stuff you dont want.

phermey said:
i started thinking... what makes a minimal rom? i have never used a rom that was considered 'minimal' so questions are coming up. as more and more time goes by would the rom not get further and further away from stock? or do they stop adding features and only update as code for what they have is further optimized? i guess what im saying is you could always try to hunt down a rom that started with all of the features you are looking for. then flash an early build of that before they loaded it down with stuff you dont want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a good question. Never thought it about that way. I guess it's rom that stays relatively close to stock without pushing out all these features coming out of aokp and cm. Just the minimal additional features that the ROM creator feels necessary.
I personally don't see a reason for these roms and why some people must stick to stockish custom roms. Nowadays all roms are fast that you can barely tell the difference. The difference comes from the kernel in my opinion.
I just don't want to use a rom that barely gets updated because I'm addicted to flashing stuff and without garbage code wasting space on my phone with unnecessary apps like performance control when I already have a app to use for controlling the cpu frequency etc. Things like that.
I guess my definition of minimal is very little tweaks just enough to tease our temptations without being too disappointed. It's defined differently by all
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda premium

I'm looking for a rom that I only need to think about flashing every few months really - want something ultra stable (so stock like as that should be the most stable rom )
just wanted a few nicer features thrown in without all the clutter of CM/AKOP

Paranoid android is closer to stock than CM/AOKP if you ignore the tablet settings. It's more about having a beautiful UI and near stock interface.

tatltael said:
Paranoid android is closer to stock than CM/AOKP if you ignore the tablet settings. It's more about having a beautiful UI and near stock interface.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol what are you talking about. all ROMs for N4 look like a stock interface, they're all built upon the Holo theme introduced in ICS.
the whole Paranoid Android is all about changing DPI and integrating the status bar on the bottom with the nav bars instead of having a status bar up on top.
I'm looking for a rom that I only need to think about flashing every few months really - want something ultra stable (so stock like as that should be the most stable rom )
just wanted a few nicer features thrown in without all the clutter of CM/AKOP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not a definition of a "minimal" ROM then. You're looking for a stable ROM. At this date, I feel that every ROM is stable and it's practically up to you on what kind of additional features you want with your phone. That's all it really comes down to.
New ROM versions come out because they want to put out newer features (yes they are stable). No one forces you to update them, you can flash it once and leave it. When you want to, you can dirty flash up upon it.
If you don't want to update your ROM then why did you flash custom ROMs in the first place?
According to your OP Post,
root
deodex
Facebook contacts Sync
Enhanced Quick Settings
Enhanced Power Menu
Patched Google Wallet (to allow root)
t9 dialer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root: All ROMs have it
Deodex: All ROMs come deodexed
Enhanced Quick Settings: most ROMs has this. some ROMs use tiles only. CM10.1 has both
Enhanced Power Menu: most ROMs have this.
Google Wallet: no such thing as patched google wallet. google wallet from the play store works fine with root.
t9 dialer: most roms have this again.
----------
it all comes down to YOU as an individual going to the forum and looking at your options. they're all fantastic choices and all stable roms. read the last couple of pages for feedback. its not that hard man. its like you asking the question, "what is the most minimal house" you want something stable... each rom has its own uniqueness, its up to you to decide what you want.
with my biasm, id go towards cyanogenmod10.1 + franco kernel for the cleanest code and has everything i want.

Try out maddogin's stock ROM, he built it from stock ROM and he added few things on it, such as reboot, battery icon changer, theming and stuff. So that's basically stock ROM with few added extras. Maybe u could make a request on his forum about Facebook sync etc. It is in nexus 4 original development.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

zephiK said:
lol what are you talking about. all ROMs for N4 look like a stock interface, they're all built upon the Holo theme introduced in ICS.
the whole Paranoid Android is all about changing DPI and integrating the status bar on the bottom with the nav bars instead of having a status bar up on top.
That's not a definition of a "minimal" ROM then. You're looking for a stable ROM. At this date, I feel that every ROM is stable and it's practically up to you on what kind of additional features you want with your phone. That's all it really comes down to.
New ROM versions come out because they want to put out newer features (yes they are stable). No one forces you to update them, you can flash it once and leave it. When you want to, you can dirty flash up upon it.
If you don't want to update your ROM then why did you flash custom ROMs in the first place?
According to your OP Post,
Root: All ROMs have it
Deodex: All ROMs come deodexed
Enhanced Quick Settings: most ROMs has this. some ROMs use tiles only. CM10.1 has both
Enhanced Power Menu: most ROMs have this.
Google Wallet: no such thing as patched google wallet. google wallet from the play store works fine with root.
t9 dialer: most roms have this again.
----------
it all comes down to YOU as an individual going to the forum and looking at your options. they're all fantastic choices and all stable roms. read the last couple of pages for feedback. its not that hard man. its like you asking the question, "what is the most minimal house" you want something stable... each rom has its own uniqueness, its up to you to decide what you want.
with my biasm, id go towards cyanogenmod10.1 + franco kernel for the cleanest code and has everything i want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly because I came from a HTC world where ROMs (non-stock) would be built to aim towards AOSP based roms and would come with instabilities.
All ROMs do come deodexed, but some have options for odex too - I guess it was a bit silly really to put deodex and root on the list, but to be honest it was a copy and paste from a conversation I was having saying what I wanted to gain from my Nexus 4 in addition to stock
EQS and EPM are probably the _first_ things a dev/modder does with a ROM - to be honest I don't know why Google don't add this in to stock. Same with t9 dailer - again coming from a htc where it was built in to their stock roms I got used to it.
In the end I just flashed MCR because it has most features out the box (missing t9 dialer and facebook sync unless you go premium) and it'll do for now.
i'll reconsider again in a few months when I have had time to settle in and life has calmed down over the xmas rush.
I used to flash once per month but I found I dont have that much free time recently so thats my reasoning behind saying that I was looking for something stable that I can leave alone for a few months

[Q] Do you feel the need to run a custom ROM on Nexus 4?

Yes, people... the NEXUS 4!
This is the first time since Qtek 2020 was released that i feel that i no longer need to use a custom rom to fully appreciate a smartphone operating system.
The nexus 4 and Android 4.2.1 is a perfect match:
- everything is speedy
- the functionality is logical
- there is finally encryption included in the operating system from the get-go.
- Updates are instant!
- No apparent bugs with radio and hardware!
I'm in love with this thingy! :victory:
How do you feel about the Nexus 4 and it's operating system, will you put in a custom ROM?

Custom kernel, yes. Custom ROM, not yet.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

already running a custom ROM, you created the thread in the wrong section bro

Not really
Do I need it? no, it does everything I need it to do perfectly. Haven't even rooted yet, but I imagine I'll break down soon and start playing.
A custom kernel may help battery life.

munchy_cool said:
already running a custom ROM, you created the thread in the wrong section bro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah.. should have been in the Q/A?
Felt like general was more... general.. while Q/A is like it says.. Questions and Answers.
There's no answers here, just a question.

Yes, I like the extra features of custom roms, easy as that.
Thats why its a Nexus, freedom of choice.

its a must, I haven't rooted yet to check any issues before I rely on it, you need custom roms due to the display and dpi, some of the text is too big in apps and don't provide an option so its not using the space effectively, talking about paranoid android rom

Custom kernel is necessary, the stock kernel on this phone sucks.
Custom ROM, not so much but it's nice to have all the extra features.
Transmission sent from my badass Nexus 4.

Kernel, for the moment.

the stock experience is too plain. not enough options. even worse for those coming off of a samsung device. people can talk about the stock experience all they want... but its better on the custom rom side.

As I said in the other thread I tried all the custom ROMs and none were as good as stock. No issues with the stock kernel either. The ease of trying different ROMs and the option to do what we want is awesome though.

phermey said:
the stock experience is too plain. not enough options. even worse for those coming off of a samsung device. people can talk about the stock experience all they want... but its better on the custom rom side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. Don't get me wrong, stock is great. I've been spoiled rotten by all the great devs on XDA. I can't live without options.
Stock kernel does blow, though.
I did miss T9 in the dialer, but it's not a deal breaker. It's also understandable that T9 isn't in AOSP.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Custom launcher not enough then?
Damn, should have added that to the question.

What stock kernel would you recommend?
I have only used the stock kernels on all my phones unfortunately, so don't have any experience with that.

fetto666 said:
Custom launcher not enough then?
Damn, should have added that to the question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope. you need a custom rom to edit the navbar and put the menu button back in that so many of us are used to. you also need it to toggle the navbar if you so choose. and many more things.
fetto666 said:
What stock kernel would you recommend?
I have only used the stock kernels on all my phones unfortunately, so don't have any experience with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right now... franco is the best. its smooth, responsive, and is huge for the battery. but his r16 is having random reboot issues. he is fixing right now, once fixed you can add completely stable to the list of things. but i am on r15 and its great. best thing is get franco and do as i do... when there is an update to it... give it a bit and look at the last page of thread to see if its stable.

phermey said:
nope. you need a custom rom to edit the navbar and put the menu button back in that so many of us are used to. you also need it to toggle the navbar if you so choose. and many more things.
right now... franco is the best. its smooth, responsive, and is huge for the battery. but his r16 is having random reboot issues. he is fixing right now, once fixed you can add completely stable to the list of things. but i am on r15 and its great. best thing is get franco and do as i do... when there is an update to it... give it a bit and look at the last page of thread to see if its stable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the answers!
Don't understand what you changed in the navbar, do you have link to such a mod?
Thanks, i'll check into the franco kernel, but does changing the kernel affect security??

fetto666 said:
Thanks a lot for the answers!
Don't understand what you changed in the navbar, do you have link to such a mod?
Thanks, i'll check into the franco kernel, but does changing the kernel affect security??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it can. but i have never had any issues. unless you are in a position to worry about security... with your job, there is nothing to worry about.
edit: added pic.
and if you are in that sort of position to worry about security... the last phone you need is a nexus.

So far, still on stock ROM. If it weren't for ad-blockers requiring it, I wouldn't even have rooted it at this point. I do use Nova Launcher instead of the stock launcher, though. The only reason I might do a custom ROM is because I don't like not having 1% battery in notifications.

I feel like I need to run a custom ROM since custom ROMs have much more tweaks and features that stock does not have. CyanogenMod for example.
Sent from my Nexus 4, powered by CyanogenMod via XDA Developers app.

phermey said:
it can. but i have never had any issues. unless you are in a position to worry about security... with your job, there is nothing to worry about.
edit: added pic.
and if you are in that sort of position to worry about security... the last phone you need is a nexus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the pic, it sure is special.. looks great!
I do have to worry about security though, but why would you say the last phone needed is a nexus?
Should i go for an iPhone? Because the alternatives are not that great.

[Q] Note 3 - Best Easy Rom For Beginner

Hi All
I have a Note 3 SM-N9005, I live in NZ and it works on the Vodafone NZ network here using my SIM card (don't know if these details are important or not).
Basically I've been having issues with it mainly in regards to sluggishness, especially when dialling, for example if I touch a contact and then touch "call" it will sometimes take up to 30 seconds or so to initiate the dialling.
So I was thinking about going down the root/rom route. I have never ever done this before so I'm a complete noob.
So I'm after a easy to install/use ROM, basically I would love to keep all the S-Pen features, and a few of the Samsung apps (mainly IR Remote (watchon), S-Note, etc). I also currently use Nova Launcher which is awesome for the screen realestate (customizing icons grid, widget sizes, padding etc). I also use the following widgets extensively:
Calendar Month view (I used to use S-Planner month view widget, but that no longer worked with Nova, so found another month view one)
HD Widgets (Weather/Clock)
DashClock (the lock screen widget thing)
Lock Screen Widget
Youtube Widget
System Monitor (a bunch of widgets showing CPU, RAM, Battery, Storage etc)
Onavo Count (showing internet usage)
Would like to keep all these as well.
I don't know if you guys need all this info, but yeah, let me know if you need any more info.
Cheers

OK so you want to keep TouchWiz based ROMs aka Samsung bases. There are plenty in the dev section. It really depends on what you want to customise and do tbh.
Alliance, Crash, civatos ROM, sweetRom etc, there's plenty more too. It's trial and error as to which you prefer/like - I personally used Alliance ROM from the start as soon as it was released, but again it's personal preference.
Sent from my Spectrum ZX +2

radicalisto said:
OK so you want to keep TouchWiz based ROMs aka Samsung bases. There are plenty in the dev section. It really depends on what you want to customise and do tbh.
Alliance, Crash, civatos ROM, sweetRom etc, there's plenty more too. It's trial and error as to which you prefer/like - I personally used Alliance ROM from the start as soon as it was released, but again it's personal preference.
Sent from my Spectrum ZX +2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So all of those keep all the same features of the Note 3? I've noticed a few S5 roms, one even said "the best of S5 but with a s-pen" would these keep the S-Pen features or no?
Do Roms come with their own launchers? Or can I still use Nova?
Also is there a rooting/rom installing guide here on the forums somewhere for the Note 3?

stildawn said:
So all of those keep all the same features of the Note 3? I've noticed a few S5 roms, one even said "the best of S5 but with a s-pen" would these keep the S-Pen features or no?
Do Roms come with their own launchers? Or can I still use Nova?
Also is there a rooting/rom installing guide here on the forums somewhere for the Note 3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not 100% sure about the S5 ROMS. yeah they all have launchers but you can install NOVA and use as normal. In regards to root, if you have a custom recovery you can just flash SuperSU.zip but most custom ROMs are pre-rooted already.
Sent from my Spectrum ZX +2

radicalisto said:
Not 100% sure about the S5 ROMS. yeah they all have launchers but you can install NOVA and use as normal. In regards to root, if you have a custom recovery you can just flash SuperSU.zip but most custom ROMs are pre-rooted already.
Sent from my Spectrum ZX +2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha you've lost me already, I was under the impression I need to root my phone to install a custom ROM? I have no idea what custom recovery is for example. Need to find some guides on this I think.
Good cause I paid for Nova and quite like it.

Ah OK so you have a bit of reading to do.
I'll briefly sum it up for you.
Using ODIN, flash a recovery image aka TWRP. (make sure you have the right version) you don't need root to flash a custom recovery. Then you can download a ROM to your device and flash it.
But first, go to the general section in this forum of the Note 3, read the stickies regarding root, custom recovery and what events can and do indeed happen and most importantly if you make a boo-boo how to fix it.
Reading is the best advice I can give you, in fact its the best advice you'll receive from anyone in this forum.
Spend a few days, if not longer familiarising yourself with how the whole root/custom recovery process works and then IF you feel confident, go ahead and try it. Or simply post and ask for advice/help.
Sent from my Spectrum ZX +2