Database Users

My next upgrade

HI everyone, I currently own a droid eris, I have an upgrade coming up next month and my two main options are the fascinate and the droid x, I am highly leaning towards the fascinate because motorola rubbed me the wrong way.
My main issue is, that I dont think I want to install a custom rom on the fascinate, I did do it on the eris, but the only reason I did it was because the HTC sense UI was so incredibly laggy and slow. I have tried other galaxy S phones and this appears to not be the case, it looks like the galaxy s UI is pretty solid and fast.
There are a few things I would like to do however, my main priorities for this phone are to get the wireless tether running, the same that I have for my droid eris, and to be able to replace all that bing crap with everything that is google and good. SetCPU is not a big priority yet, maybe later. I realize that this means getting root privilege on the phone. What I am wondering is, is it as easy as just using the one click root and then installing wireless tether and setCPU? or is it more involved than that? I have read so far that the fascinates roming methods are quite a bit different than the eris, so I may stay away from roming for a while. Just need to get the priorities done (wireless tether and bing replacements)

everything you need to know is found here.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=790004

sdwinder said:
HI everyone, I currently own a droid eris, I have an upgrade coming up next month and my two main options are the fascinate and the droid x, I am highly leaning towards the fascinate because motorola rubbed me the wrong way.
My main issue is, that I dont think I want to install a custom rom on the fascinate, I did do it on the eris, but the only reason I did it was because the HTC sense UI was so incredibly laggy and slow. I have tried other galaxy S phones and this appears to not be the case, it looks like the galaxy s UI is pretty solid and fast.
There are a few things I would like to do however, my main priorities for this phone are to get the wireless tether running, the same that I have for my droid eris, and to be able to replace all that bing crap with everything that is google and good. SetCPU is not a big priority yet, maybe later. I realize that this means getting root privilege on the phone. What I am wondering is, is it as easy as just using the one click root and then installing wireless tether and setCPU? or is it more involved than that? I have read so far that the fascinates roming methods are quite a bit different than the eris, so I may stay away from roming for a while. Just need to get the priorities done (wireless tether and bing replacements)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One click root.
Wireless tether is possible
Bing is replaceable, see that link! You need a different launcher though! (LP?)
Send me a message if you need help doing any of this.

Links:
Google Search Fix (non-root)
Root
Wireless Tether

thanks for the links guys,
I just have one question, after i install the samsung drivers on my windows 7 machine and enable debugging mode on the phone and connect the phone to the machine. The actual file itself that has the one click root, I extract that file to my computer and click the install root correct? or do i extract it to the sd card on phone?
Also, does it matter what directory the file is extracted to on my computer or does it run from anywhere.

Thinking of buying and rooting a Droid X

I may be upgrading to the X soon from a rooted Eris. I've read threads for a couple hours now and keep reading about a sbf. What is it and how do you do it? Also, is Clockwork (I believe Koush modded it somehow) the only recovery available? I currently use Amon Ra recovery on my Eris to wipe and flash roms/updates/themes. Apparently there's a different process for the X that I don't yet understand.
This is how I see the whole rom flashing process working - please correct me if I'm wrong: First you root, then install the recovery app (is it an app? It replaces the recovery partition on the Eris). To boot into recovery you run the app. From there you can wipe data and dalvik, and flash roms/updates. Can you also back up and restore roms? Also, I read something about mounting /system to flash roms. So that means it's really only making changes in the system folder. Is /data affected? If not, are apps carried over from rom to rom?
How high can the X be overclocked?
Are there any CyanogenMod roms available?
Has anyone bricked an X? Is this common or only if you're careless?
I really appreciate any feedback. Like I said, I'm not new to rooting but know very little about the X and from what I've read the process is a bit different than what I'm used to.

The SBF is basically a factory reset, it restores the X to it's factory state
Great if you happen to mess up while flashing a new ROM
The Bootstrap is an application, there is currently no way to flash a recovery to our bootloader.
This said, it still can still wipe cache, /system, /data, davlik, and backup/flash/update ROMs.
There are options to mount certain partitions and some roms need this before you install them such as Fission which needs /system and /data.
Some ROMs suggest clearing /data when you install them, just read their instructions.
If you do not clear /data, then your apps will carry over, since they reside in /data/app/.
I have heard the X overclocked up to 2.0ghz, but I also heard this is unstable.
I have heard of stable clocks of 1.15, 1.2, 1.3.
YMMV, as mine only can go up to 1.1 before it freezes.
There are 2 apps that I know of that make overclocking easy.
They are $0.99 for each.
I prefer the one called Droid 2/X Overclock http://www.appbrain.com/app/droid-x-2-overclock/com.jrummy.droidx.overclock
Cyanogen ROMs are not available on the X due to our locked bootloader
I'm sure many have bricked or bootlooped their X, but in most cases, the sbf can save you.

Zanix,
Thanks for the fast and informative response. Your OC app suggestion is well noted. If I cannot get Setcpu to work I'll probably use it.
How is internal memory on the X? Verizon boasts that it has 8 GB but surely it doesn't have that much left for apps and processes after all is said and done. My phone currently only has 159 MB (depending on the size of the rom I use) so the X will be a nice upgrade for me.

SetCPU works fine on my Droid X; after I rooted it, obviously. However, SetCPU does not overclock. It underclocks. SetCPU is meant to save you battery life by throttling the CPU.
The linked app is specifically for overclocking the Droid 2/X. It serves a different purpose, ie getting more performance out of your phone.
Just wanted to make sure you are aware of that distinction.

joshw0000 said:
Zanix,
Thanks for the fast and informative response. Your OC app suggestion is well noted. If I cannot get Setcpu to work I'll probably use it.
How is internal memory on the X? Verizon boasts that it has 8 GB but surely it doesn't have that much left for apps and processes after all is said and done. My phone currently only has 159 MB (depending on the size of the rom I use) so the X will be a nice upgrade for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The X has 8GB of internal storage (ROM), less space taken for the included system files and applications. Mine shows 7.02GB with 6.67GB free. The Eris has far less space if I recall, only 512MB total. You'll be able to install apps to the X to your heart's content.
The Droid X also has 512MB of RAM for processes to use, vs 288MB that the Eris has.

I'll be talking to Verizon very soon!
Sent from my Floyo Tazz using XDA App

How is the battery life on a rooted Droid X?
I have a HTC Incredible that my wife wants so I am thinking of getting the X as nothing better is out.
Simply afraid the battery will suck or Rooting and such will be way to tough.
Does ROM manager work with the X?

The battery on the X can't be any worse than the Incredible. HTC (I love their phones - had 1 before my X and will be getting one soon) is notoriously bad at battery consumption. I think you can expect to be on e at the end of the night with a day of moderate use.
Rooting is easy. Download "Z4Root" from the market. Hit the "Root me" button. You are good to go.
Rom manager works. But not much in there. I love Rubix. A lot of people are using Fission.
You know that the X has a locked boot loader so there are no custom kernels right? Although they did come up with a way to overclock (and under clock).

What does having a locked boot loader restrict you from doing, other than changing the kernel and adding custom boot images (the splash image displayed before the boot animation)? I know that it's made the custom recovery image difficult but it sounds like you have a work-around. Anything I left off?
...talked to Verizon today. I can transfer my mother-in-law's upgrade to my line and upgrade for $200. One of my buddies wants my Eris for his wife for $150. So for $50 I should be getting an X soon!

joshw0000 said:
What does having a locked boot loader restrict you from doing, other than changing the kernel and adding custom boot images (the splash image displayed before the boot animation)? I know that it's made the custom recovery image difficult but it sounds like you have a work-around. Anything I left off?
...talked to Verizon today. I can transfer my mother-in-law's upgrade to my line and upgrade for $200. One of my buddies wants my Eris for his wife for $150. So for $50 I should be getting an X soon!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even with a locked bootloader you can still change the boot logo and the boot animation.
But you cannot change the kernel. Is it that big of deal? Well it means all of the great roms - Cyanogen, Bugles Beast, etc, will never run on the X because they all use a custom kernel.
Oh- and you can never run even a simple AOSP rom - just plain old stock android - because of the motorola kernel. You can run a pretty good imitation of the stock android rom - but it is till just that - an imitation.
It also means that when verizon wireless and motorola abandon the X project (whenever that is) that we will no longer be able to update our OS. We could get stuck on 2.3 gingerbread while the Droid 1 is running 3.5 Lemon Meringue- bc the Droid 1 bootloader is unlocked.
Not really a big deal though to me. I am just going to buy a new phone. And it will not be a motorola. I love my X. But I want to do what I want to do. Just me though.

Coming from the HTC Eris, I can say that I feel the pain but I'm pretty sure the bootloader will one day be unlocked. It only takes one disgruntled Moto employee to slip it and there are no limitations from there. It took several months for the Eris to get an unlocked bootloader. In fact, we thought we'd never even get rooted. It's an EOL phone that never received an official 2.2 OTA. Thanks to the developers, it has vanilla and sense 2.2 roms.
My biggest complaint with the Eris is the physical hardware limitations. The X dominates it so I think I'll be happy on a stock kernel until the bootloader is unlocked.
...should be arriving Tuesday.
Sent from my Floyo Tazz using XDA App

I just came from an Eris myself last week. The things you're used to with the Eris are a little more difficult on the X, but once you get in the swing of it, you get used to it. Also, go with the Certified pre-owned. I got it for $150 and it looks brand new, you literally cannot tell. It's worth the extra $50 off. I sold my Eris on eBay for $162.50 so it was nice getting paid to get a new DX lol. You won't regret switching!

My Droid X came in 2 days ago. I rooted it last night. I'm going to keep the stock rom until I've had enough time to get the feel for the X. I kinda like the Moto Blur. Any rom suggestions? Something semi stock with Blur, only deodexed and OC'ed.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

joshw0000 said:
Any rom suggestions? Something semi stock with Blur, only deodexed and OC'ed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rubiX blurry 1.5.2 is a good ROM, leaves the blur in tact but slims it down and speeds it up. I don't beleive there are any kernal tweaks in it though, so you may get jrummy's oc app

1KDS said:
rubiX blurry 1.5.2 is a good ROM, leaves the blur in tact but slims it down and speeds it up. I don't beleive there are any kernal tweaks in it though, so you may get jrummy's oc app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the one I used. Then I updated it to 1.6.3 and themed it with the black and green juice theme. So far I'm happy with it. Idk why he changed the build to read that it's 2.2.1. Scared me at first. I thought I had accidentally flashed a leaked rom....I'm starting to learn my way around the DX.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Bell Atrix VS Every other

I don't intend to be naggy or anything, but through a software point of view, what has bell done differently to their Atrix phones that make 90% of user developed software render the phone a soft-brick? Just wondering since if we figure why it is that this happens we can then figure how to work around it.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Bu user developed software, do you mean apps from the Android Market?
I've installed around 20 apps and have not run into any problems.

4real*leb said:
I don't intend to be naggy or anything, but through a software point of view, what has bell done differently to their Atrix phones that make 90% of user developed software render the phone a soft-brick? Just wondering since if we figure why it is that this happens we can then figure how to work around it.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK, they are the same as the ATT phones, generally, with less branding and ATT software. Both phones get soft bricks, ATT users have a few sbf files to reset to near stock in case of emergency, there are none for Bell.
One good thing is that the current Bell firmware doesn't turn off early usb enumeration after a factory reset, or didn't for me. Adb access continues. Also, you can install apks from your sdcard, so it's less locked down that way. I would rather it not be a Latest Alpha and instead be a Final Release (guess based on firmware names).
It is really the Motorola setup that causes what people are calling soft bricks, if anything is out of place by a hair, progress stops in the booting process and it blinks a red light at you and they make sure it's hard to access the phone via adb, not very useful to anybody, IMO. That doesn't happen on other android devices I have used.
*shrug*

I really wish we could get some more mods for the Bell Atrix, I came from running gingerbread on my Desire Z and I really dislike the look of Moto's 2.2 theming. About the early USB enumeration, I did full brick my phone yesterday after doing a factory reset and losing ADB, so don't count on it.

Droid X or dinc??

My wife's og Droid took a poop so I bought an Incredible which I'll have in a day or 2. I love my X but am thinking about swapping her to have something new (to me) to play with until I upgrade this summer. Has anyone here had both and prefer one over the other? Decisions decisions....

Droid X all the way. Moto is the way to go, I've expierienced nothing but problems with HTC (all models), not to mention horrible battery life.

I just came from the Dinc a month ago to the X. I have always used HTC devices from the old windows op to their first android to the DInc. I also (as in the post above me) have had issues with the HTC, but, I am brand loyal. I like the development side of HTC over Motorola. THere are MANY more ROMS and custom things available for the HTC devices. That is the one thing I miss. With the Dinc..there are Incredible 2 and S roms available that give you the newer SenseUI. IT IS AMAZING!! along with HTC HUB to download more themes and skins..along with sound sets! It really is amazing, the level of custom things that can be done with HTC devices.
There was talk with HTC and Verizon to be more locked down, however, HTC has agreed to not back root access more difficult..a day after the Thunderbolt was released..it was hacked.
The only reason I went with the Droid X was because of the 29.99 price. I am going back to HTC.
With the Droid X (it appears) everytime you want to go back to stock you have to SBF (which is not a big issue), however, to do that you need access to a computer. THAT IS NOT THE CASE with the Dinc. I have been at work and switched ROMS 5 or 6 times..the back-ups are stored and can easily be re-loaded on the go. The functionality is FAR better than the Motorola in that aspect.
If you are the type to "tinker" constantly with the ROMS and phone, go with HTC, if you are ok with having to have a computer handy to switch out from custom to stock and back..stick with Motorola.
My opinions.
If the HTC SenseUI is not what your looking for..there ARE MANY ROMS that use vanilla and 2.3 operating systems. There are also MIUI ROMS if you want the complete look of the iphone and functionality of android systems.
there really is NO LIMIT to the customization of HTC.
Google "the incredible list"...it is just a brief run down of the custom ROMS and tweaks..about 40 or so..and it is not updated often.
CM7 is my personal favorite ROM for the DInc...ALOT of custom features..
Now technically stuff vs opinion:
I believe the X has more internal storage. Both phones are capable of holding and supporting 32gb memory cards though. Screen size is another difference. The X is 4.3 and the Dinc is 3.7. (I download alot of movies and store them on my SD card so the 4.3 on the X is better). Both have 8mp cameras. The Dinc is a 720p output and does NOT have an HDMI output like the X. However, there are many ROMS that include "TVOut" for the Dinc. Most of the newer ROMS (I could be mistaken, not sure these have been fixed yet) are not capable of running the 720p video, now..ALOT of people were working on getting that fixed.
With the fact the bootoader is unlocked on the Dinc, you can run many different style ROMS that give you the same look and feel of the X. again, the technical differences are still there.
It really comes down to: do you want the true full ability to customize?
EDIT:: Regarding battery life mentioned in the above post. I easily went 24-36 hours with normal use and no need for a charge. Use SETCPU and custom setting to scale cpu by time, battery levels, and screen off and you are good to go.

Well, as much as the X is a better phone... The Incredible, from what I understand, is much easier to modify. Pretty sure the bootloader is unlocked, aswell.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

I answered the dinc side of this topic just a second ago before I came and looked at my "home" section, but I want to add that the DX is better as long as you aren't planning on using a ton of custom roms/kernels.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone!
chbennett said:
I answered the dinc side of this topic just a second ago before I came and looked at my "home" section, but I want to add that the DX is better as long as you aren't planning on using a ton of custom roms/kernels.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kinda what I was thinking. And yea I had to post in both sections to help weed out the "my phone is better" people.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Thinking of getting the Atrix

Okay, so I've been thinking of getting a Motorola Atrix to put on H2o wireless (att based mvno) however I had a couple of concerns. I'm a MAJOR performance junky and love Cyanogenmod on my current phone however I'm nervous about the locked bootloader, the instructions at the atrix dev team google code page does not state that the phone's bootloader needs to be unlocked so can somebody please clarify this? Also the guide mentions you can use Rom Manager to install the CWM however I know on the Tmobile G2x that uses the Tegra processor as well you aren't supposed to use Rom Manager but instead use NVFlash, I take it the Atrix is safe using Rom Manager?

kc3 said:
Okay, so I've been thinking of getting a Motorola Atrix to put on H2o wireless (att based mvno) however I had a couple of concerns. I'm a MAJOR performance junky and love Cyanogenmod on my current phone however I'm nervous about the locked bootloader, the instructions at the atrix dev team google code page does not state that the phone's bootloader needs to be unlocked so can somebody please clarify this? Also the guide mentions you can use Rom Manager to install the CWM however I know on the Tmobile G2x that uses the Tegra processor as well you aren't supposed to use Rom Manager but instead use NVFlash, I take it the Atrix is safe using Rom Manager?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootloader needs to be unlocked to install custom ROMSs. There is an automated script to do just that.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
Yes u can flash CWM from Rom Manager. Although I prefer RomRacers CWM. It can be easily installed via fastboot.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1204500

Thank you and bookmarked

out of curiousity, what made you choose the Atrix over the Galaxy S II?

More than anything was price, however I've never been one to believe in setting when it comes to these things but one of my top priorities with new phones is has it been hacked. I like modding my devices so I would much rather aside from spending less money on a phone (without contract) I would also like a phone that already has a good development community. The GS2 is like $600 without contract, but the Atrix is $450 directly from ATT or roughly $300 to $400 from a few places on ebay.

Just to clarify, you need to have the bootloader unlocked before you flash recovery through rom manager.

Thanks Bender beat you to the punch though

this is a no brainer, buy the atrix.

Yeah I think near the end of the month I'm going to, it seems like for the money it's the best phone you could get.
Sent from my LG-VM670 using xda premium

i bought atrix instead of SG2 because of the price difference, and i have to say that the atrix is better than the SG2 and cheaper. But samsung is promoting its phone more than motorola.

i love my atrix and its easy to mod thanks to all the great devs

I ordered one today :-D
Sent from my LG-VM670 using xda premium