Database Users

Customizing vs. N1

So I may jump ship from the N1 to the Vibrant. On the N1, in less than ten minutes I can run a nandroid backup, flash a new kernel, new radio and a new rom. In another 3-4 minutes, I can switch back. I've literally switched kernels >3 times/day before. How much different will things be on the Vibrant? Is it harder to do these things? Is there as much risk?
Thanks

right now no one knows, there is no custom kernels, custom recovery, custom roms, etc

There are custom roms and you can easily root the device...but it will obviously take some time to reach N1's customization...

I've had my G1(I know, not the N1) since day 1, and I've been flashing roms since day one. The only reason I flashed roms was because I felt the G1 was lacking in a lot of things. Now that I have the Vibrant, I feel like there's no need to flash a different rom. It's already pretty fast, and I actually like the touchwiz UI. The UI doesnt completely take over the Android interface, it's more like adding extra little features.

ultra spikey said:
I've had my G1(I know, not the N1) since day 1, and I've been flashing roms since day one. The only reason I flashed roms was because I felt the G1 was lacking in a lot of things. Now that I have the Vibrant, I feel like there's no need to flash a different rom. It's already pretty fast, and I actually like the touchwiz UI. The UI doesnt completely take over the Android interface, it's more like adding extra little features.
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Exactly, plus the Black/Blue color scheme is far better looking to me over stock Android. TouchWiz is not like Sense or previous generations of the skin and that's a good thing.

Ill second that. I am really enjoying my touch wiz interface and I didn't think I would. That being said I miss my app drawer that slid up from the bottom.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I don't know much about flashing to different ROMs yet, but I can give you an overview of the TouchWiz experience from my viewpoint.
Coming from an iPhone, I really like TouchWiz 3.0. And believe me when I tell you: that was their goal with the UI. It screams Apple, in layout and function. But of course, it ultimately feels a bit like an imitation in some areas. I feel like they rushed TouchWiz 3.0 out of the door.
The Clocks and Alarms app is much better than the iPhone's, which is something I was not at all expecting. It's really quite nice. The calendar app is about on par, in terms of layout. The upper hand is that this syncs OTA with Google's cloud services. The music player is very 'iPod-like', but is ultimately a rush job (embedded album art does not work very often and so forth).
All things considered, it's a really nice UI for Android.
That said, there are some really basic functions which did not make the transition from stock Android. For example: you cannot fully edit contacts in the 'Contacts' app. You cannot delete them, you cannot add custom ringtones. Coming from the iPhone, where I had meticulously completed the profiles of every contact with an obscene amount of info and custom ringtones, this is annoying.
There are a few 'little things' like that, which really matter to me. And this has kind of soured the experience for me, making me second-guess my decision. To be honest, I'm still sort of on the fence over this of the N1 as my iPhone replacement.
The grey area for me is in Android 3.0's release. Google has stated that they're going to overhaul the UI. The idea is that they want to make it more user-friendly, to make the use of custom skins less prevalent. Well, I'm all for this. Trouble is: will these handset manufacturers adopt it, considering their vested interests in their custom experiences?
Samsung's UI is definitely my favorite out of Sense, MotoBlur and the lot. But I'd be lying if I said that I didn't wish for a Nexus One for the security of owning the only unlocked stock device.
Hope that helps...

Give it some time and stock Android will be on the Vibrant. Thats the great thing about Android and Xda.

Yeah, I really love the idea of xda and the amount of support that all of these devices receive from the community. Of course, the trouble is: if you root for a custom rom - even if it's stock Android - the N1 is the only solution for getting OTA updates regularly. With stock Android on the Galaxy S, you're going to have to re-flash every time the ROM is updated. Not the end of the world, but definitely irritating.
Running a JB/Unlocked iPhone, I'm used to dealing with work-arounds, and waiting for hacks. That's the price I paid for using a non-carrier phone. I couldn't accept the automatic updates from Apple, and this became a mild annoyance (reinstalling everything and so forth). But when you decide to 'play nice' and own a carrier-specific phone, you kind of want the experience of timely OTA, non-hacking-related updates that simply update your device, without first wiping it clean.
Know what I mean?
I'm still not sure if I'm going to keep my Galaxy S, or buy an N1 while there's still time (the 'rumors'? of the N1's touchscreen issues are really all that held me back). But either way, I hope that all devices have some way to experience the latest and greatest from Google.

The touchscreen is bad on that phone especially when it comes to multitouch. I'm sure you've already seen the videos comparing the two touchpads and the Vibrant's touchscreen is SO accurate... multitouch included.

Jon C said:
Yeah, I really love the idea of xda and the amount of support that all of these devices receive from the community. Of course, the trouble is: if you root for a custom rom - even if it's stock Android - the N1 is the only solution for getting OTA updates regularly. With stock Android on the Galaxy S, you're going to have to re-flash every time the ROM is updated. Not the end of the world, but definitely irritating.
Running a JB/Unlocked iPhone, I'm used to dealing with work-arounds, and waiting for hacks. That's the price I paid for using a non-carrier phone. I couldn't accept the automatic updates from Apple, and this became a mild annoyance (reinstalling everything and so forth). But when you decide to 'play nice' and own a carrier-specific phone, you kind of want the experience of timely OTA, non-hacking-related updates that simply update your device, without first wiping it clean.
Know what I mean?
I'm still not sure if I'm going to keep my Galaxy S, or buy an N1 while there's still time (the 'rumors'? of the N1's touchscreen issues are really all that held me back). But either way, I hope that all devices have some way to experience the latest and greatest from Google.
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While its a little early to be 100% yet but Android hacking is a lot different than iphone hacking. The iphone is a closed system and you have to wait till its broken open to update. Android is already open when its released. As for OTAs if Cyanogen supports the Vibrant then there is an app to download and install new updates. Typically if you stay with the same developer, like Cyanogen, then you don't have to wipe when there are updates.

After froyo 2.2 all my touch screen problems was gone.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

So untrue after froyo 2.2 those problems was fix the nexus one is a awsome phone.and I believe the same for the vibrant.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Can you do me the world's biggest favor?
Would you make some YouTube videos, showing the multitouch tests of your N1? I so, so, so, would love to own one, but I have zero tolerance for faulty hardware. I've been researching this stuff since the N1 launch, and it's the only thing holding me back from purchasing that device.
'Multitouch Vis Test' is probably the easiest way, but if you can think of others to test with, that would be great.

Jon C said:
The music player is very 'iPod-like', but is ultimately a rush job (embedded album art does not work very often and so forth).
.
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I haven't used my iPod Nano 4th Gen in some time, I find that the N1 is handling my music needs just fine. But if I had a nickel for every time album art was hosed on my iPod Nano I would not have a mortgage anymore...

hah2110 said:
So I may jump ship from the N1 to the Vibrant. On the N1, in less than ten minutes I can run a nandroid backup, flash a new kernel, new radio and a new rom. In another 3-4 minutes, I can switch back. I've literally switched kernels >3 times/day before. How much different will things be on the Vibrant? Is it harder to do these things? Is there as much risk?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First you must know that the process is completely different. For right now most roms are installed through the Odin process. This process completely wipes all of the information on the phone (including apps and settings) and then installs the new rom. So you will have to backup your apps and settings every time you change roms (Titanium backup would work but it's not always fool proof). Second all roms are going to be based off of Samsung code. That means no Sense roms, no stock roms (well you can get the stock launcher but your dialer and notification bar will always be touchwized), and no froyo until Samsung releases there own version. This has been true so far with all previous Samsung phones and looking at the development with the I9000 it seems to hold true for the Galaxy S. All this does put you at less risk of bricking your phone but it does mean you also have less chance of serious customization. Also with limited source code for the I9000 (there are some drivers that are not source code but actually compiled) it's very difficult to just plop roms on from other sources.

psychoace said:
First you must know that the process is completely different. For right now most roms are installed through the Odin process. This process completely wipes all of the information on the phone (including apps and settings) and then installs the new rom. So you will have to backup your apps and settings every time you change roms (Titanium backup would work but it's not always fool proof). Second all roms are going to be based off of Samsung code. That means no Sense roms, no stock roms (well you can get the stock launcher but your dialer and notification bar will always be touchwized), and no froyo until Samsung releases there own version. This has been true so far with all previous Samsung phones and looking at the development with the I9000 it seems to hold true for the Galaxy S. All this does put you at less risk of bricking your phone but it does mean you also have less chance of serious customization. Also with limited source code for the I9000 (there are some drivers that are not source code but actually compiled) it's very difficult to just plop roms on from other sources.
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Why can't CM do his thing?

cm is trying to port cyanogen to the vibrant. in fact ive read that the vibrant and the droid x are his 2 top priorities so it will come soon enough. and once he gets it done we will probibly see a bunch of roms based of cyanogen

blazewit said:
cm is trying to port cyanogen to the vibrant. in fact ive read that the vibrant and the droid x are his 2 top priorities so it will come soon enough. and once he gets it done we will probibly see a bunch of roms based of cyanogen
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I have yet to see any information confirming any of that. First on his twitter he only seems to be working on the Evo right now. Second I doubt he would work on the Droid x until it's rooted (which most likely will be never). Last I have seen only a small pattern of talk about someone in conversation with Cyanogen about allowing a Galaxy branch of the CM code for use with the Galaxy S. Problem is this doesn't solve the issue of not having source code for a few drivers. This does not even attack the issue of getting the rom onto the phone. So don't hold your breath for any of that.

yea your right it was just one site claiming that cm is working on the vibrant,from what i can tell gothdroid and a bunch of other g1/dream devs are working right now for custom recovery and porting cm6 and froyo asop

Porting Sense to Vibrant?

Is this possible?

As of right now I think the development are worrying about getting a recovery on our phones and we need the recovery to flash roms unless there's another way...

Not only that but sense is a cpu hog. Such a horrible UI.

CM6 is all I care about getting on here. FB/Twitter integration all exists in 2.1, Sense adds little other than pretty looking widgets.

Isn't cm6 2.2??
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using XDA App

robavila721 said:
Isn't cm6 2.2??
Sent from my T-Mobile G1 using XDA App
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Yes, I was just referring to the fact that we havent needed Sense UI for anything but pretty widgets since Android SDK 2.1

Why would you want Sense over TouchWiz? If you we're looking for pretty there are lots of HTC Sense packing HTC phones on the market. The myTouch Slide is kind of running an ugly version of Sense but it still is Sense.

One more thing to consider, also. You won't find any reputable developer such as Cyanogen putting sense in their roms because of legality issues. So, if you do happen to come across a rom for this phone running sense, chances are its going to be pretty bunk.

Sense has some very appealing factors, such as the hibernate support and of course, the cosmetics of it
In addition, the new version of HTC sense is supposed to have a lot of optimizations meaning it will be faster than before.
At the very least, is it possible for a dev to port the algorithms used for hibernate to the Vibrant?

Use this. its not sense but its a launcher close to it. has 3d drawer and everything.

sombionix said:
One more thing to consider, also. You won't find any reputable developer such as Cyanogen putting sense in their roms because of legality issues. So, if you do happen to come across a rom for this phone running sense, chances are its going to be pretty bunk.
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Click to collapse
but there are many more reputable developers then CM

kingkurry said:
Is this possible?
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Possible? perhaps...
Desireable? perhaps not...
Likely? Given the legal issues involved? not very...

I am also interested in this.. But to be honest if it where to happen, it won't happen until the developers get the source code for 2.2 and haber time to play with it.
So, if we are lucky and someone does decide to work on this.. knowing the possible legal issues. It would take a few weeks (after official 2.2) to get it done.
But I have no doubt in my mind that it would work in our phones.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

KingKlik(sp?) made a lot of sense roms for the MT3G and a lot of people seemed to like them. I just think Sense looks terrible, compared to any UI on any new age smartphone I have seen(except maybe Windows Mobile). I'm mainly talking about the launcher tough, the part that people for some reason like to throw on their phone even if they don't have sense.

Senseless roms really arent... are they

So, coming from a string of G1's and a Nexus, I cannot stand SenseUi. At ALL. I can live with the widgets and launcher- they are actually tolerable- what I cant accept are the keyboard, the way contacts are brought up, the lack of cut/paste in several areas, and all the frilly crud that goes along with it. I seek a TRUE vanilla rom, based on Android components not HTC. People constantly recommend using advanced launcher or one similar, but these are just launchers- they dont change the stuff back to stock that I seek. So my question is, can there ever be a REAL vanilla rom that has none of the Sense components? Is it possible to de-theme these areas in similar fashion to how the current de-sensing works, or would it require that HTC releases a vanilla version (which they never will). I guess I am asking, am I fighting a loosing battle?

You are coming from an N1 and asking this question?
Really?
Cyanogenmod ring a bell?

i was in the same boat as you. i am on cyanogen now, however there are a few issues with this port. on the nexus i didn't ever have any issues with cm6 but on the incredible you have to install another kernel after you install cm6 so that the camera will work, the camcorder just doesn't work yet, and when i have wifi on i get a reboot about once a day. i live with it because like you i hate sense ui but i wish they would have released a n1 for verizon. they did just release the source code for 2.6.32 which is froyo today, so the code shoulod be added into the nightlies of cm6 shortly.

It's been said that the latest radio fixes many (if not all) of those problems in Cyanogen on DInc. I can't attest to this being true or not, but some people were talking about it last night in the "Unrevoked - Forever" thread in the dev section.

cool! so there is hope. I figured the CM rom would be truly vanilla, but since it had so many little oddities I haven't given it a go yet. Good to know there is the possibility. Thanks guys

gospeed.racer said:
cool! so there is hope. I figured the CM rom would be truly vanilla, but since it had so many little oddities I haven't given it a go yet. Good to know there is the possibility. Thanks guys
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The new .32 kernel source that was just released will also allow koush to finish CM6 for the incredible. Basically now that this new kernel is out the bluetooth stack and everything else including the camcorder not working in CM6 will all work once implemented.
Even though the bluetooth works perfect in CM6 unlike normal senseui roms. /letting out BT steam

...
I wonder when this will be ready?

Poll: CM6 or future 2.2 sense

Like many other peoples i started with stock(duh) moved to liberated and then to CM6. But today i did some researching and the new sense is pretty cool, hopefully will be added to liberated 2.2. My question is, will you guys be moving back to sense 2.2(hopefully with new sense) or staying with CM6?

I'll probably try Froyo Sense when it gets put in Liberated, but I'll probably stick with CM6 unless I'm completely blown away. I do miss parts of Sense though.

Yes. I know that people are quick to dismiss Sense but I like it a lot, especially after using Motorola phones, that are garbage.
I have used every ROM available for this phone and Froyo with HTC Sense would be perfect for me.
I keep going back and forth between CM6 and a ROM that I tinkered with that is like a hybrid. I really hope they have an official update soon or a ROM that combines everything.
Is that asking for too much?

maevro said:
Yes. I know that people are quick to dismiss Sense but I like it a lot, especially after using Motorola phones, that are garbage.
I have used every ROM available for this phone and Froyo with HTC Sense would be perfect for me.
I keep going back and forth between CM6 and a ROM that I tinkered with that is like a hybrid. I really hope they have an official update soon or a ROM that combines everything.
Is that asking for too much?
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Ditto.
Now to wait and see.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App

I want froyo sense mmmmmm.

As long as CM upgrades to using the new kernel thats supposed to be released with Froyo I'll stay loyal to CM.

I'd rather have sense -

For me it will depend on if they add in extra features into the Sense that aren't likely to be added into CM.

CM has been a blessing for this little Aria phone, but I do miss Sense UI.

Does this mean htc's 2.2 for aria is around the corner?:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/HTC-Bee-En-Route-to-Verizon-Leaked-ROM-Emerges-160263.shtml

If given a choice, I'd definitely prefer 2.2 Sense!

I'd go with Sense as I like the UI and many of its widgets.

I enjoy some elements of Sense, as they're very carefully designed and work effectively. Conversely, I will only install a ROM if it's as open and customizable as CM6. Android is supposed to be about a more open system and I don't understand why these companies can't understand the needs of power users.

Sense 2.2
I hate to admit it but I miss the pretty. I also carry the iEvil and it's tough to pull out CM6 and not winch a little. For all the UI haters, there is a good reason big companies spend tons of money on the user experience. Functionality can be enhanced with a great UI.

BelacNongaw said:
Does this mean htc's 2.2 for aria is around the corner?:
http://news.softpedia.com/news/HTC-Bee-En-Route-to-Verizon-Leaked-ROM-Emerges-160263.shtml
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*crosses fingers*

According to the specs I saw the HTC Bee has a different (inferior) CPU.

There should be enough guts in that ROM to strip out the hardware specific bits and put in Aria ones.
Attn1 -- looked at that yet? Prognosis?

How come non android native (IE:Hd2 ect ) can get froyo sense and we can't ? Not *****in because I can't make it , but someone can . Maybe a good write up on how to build a rom is in order .

I tried and liked the CM6 mod and everything that went with it, but as I dont have an iPod or anything, not having the radio to listen to is a dealbreaker for me.

Sengfeng said:
There should be enough guts in that ROM to strip out the hardware specific bits and put in Aria ones.
Attn1 -- looked at that yet? Prognosis?
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I was posting that as a possible indication ours is soon to follow. That rom is for a CDMA phone...which means we can probably forget about porting that to the aria.

Has the hero reached its limit?

So I've noticed a lot, and I mean, a lot less stuff on the development forum and just wondering if we're pretty much at the limits of our phones.
I appreciate all the work done for our phones, but I hate seeing that we're essentially gone.
Anyways, looking for maybe future roms in the works or something different I should try out. change it up a bit.

kevphan08 said:
So I've noticed a lot, and I mean, a lot less stuff on the development forum and just wondering if we're pretty much at the limits of our phones.
I appreciate all the work done for our phones, but I hate seeing that we're essentially gone.
Anyways, looking for maybe future roms in the works or something different I should try out. change it up a bit.
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What are you running now? You have variants of gingerbread: Jaybob's, deck,cm7, omgb and omfgb 2.3.4 and 2.3.5, you have WildHeroc (2.3.3) with 2.1 sense and some 3.0 goodies, and you have iHero (2.3.2) which is some ios fun and different tweaks and themes too. Also, there have been some great kernel developments (.35) which is probably going to be crucial in pushing the Hero's limits even further.
Remember, we never got an update from htc above 2.1 update 1. We have a lot for a mdpi phone. We will never have MIUI most likely, but my phone is flying now and a lot more fun than when I 1st got it.
Maybe you can come up with something that hasn't been thought of yet?
Most of the guys developing for the hero don't even have one, or if they do, it is only to test what they are developing; they are not activated.
My $.02.
You think Meth is bad? Try being a flash whore with a Gingerbread habit and a legacy device! It ain't pretty.

Yea I've been running Pure GB, with jaybobs kernel.
I've seen the different roms and such; actually liked the iOS one that was made, but honestly performance for me is key. No lag or issues, so probably why I've stuck with 2.3.x
Overall I've just seen a lot of the same gingerbread roms, maybe a few minor tweaks here and there, but overall the same.