Database Users

Roms for the SCH-I815

I haven't seen anything for the Verizon LTE version of the SGT 7.7.. Anyone developing for it at all? I am only a week into owning this tab and starting to regret it. Honeycomb is BS.
Sent from my SCH-I815 using Tapatalk 2

I'll probably work on porting the CM9 rom to the i815 at some point, but right now it is too unstable and there are plenty of other things that I need to fix (the only reason why I added a P6800 port was because most of the needed changes were done by aorth for the P6200).

locerra said:
I'll probably work on porting the CM9 rom to the i815 at some point, but right now it is too unstable and there are plenty of other things that I need to fix (the only reason why I added a P6800 port was because most of the needed changes were done by aorth for the P6200).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My hero. Patiently awaits.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I would be happy with just an ICS leak!!!
HC stinks!
There are leaks for everything else... Rezound, Razr, Galaxy Note... why not for this tab?

I wondered that too. There also isn't an official stock firmware listed in the dev forum T_____T

Would someone mind posting the build.prop from the stock rom (as an attachment to your post would be great, so it is easy to download).

Here ya go!

Anyone know if there is an equivalent to Sprint's RDF pages for Verizon? Or Samsung? I know with the Samsung Epic 4g Touch we all watched this page for updates. Any ideas?

I would much rather run a buggy ICS leak than HC.

Mr. Monkey said:
Anyone know if there is an equivalent to Sprint's RDF pages for Verizon? Or Samsung? I know with the Samsung Epic 4g Touch we all watched this page for updates. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.samsung.com/us/support/SupportOwnersFAQPopup.do?faq_id=FAQ00046233&fm_seq=49033# is about all I could come up with and it doesn't mention ICS or any future updates.

Does anyone have a stock odin flashable ROM? I f****d mine up it seems, the current OTA update will not install :-(
So I guess it would be best to go all the way back to stock and then retry the OTA ...

ROMS
Anybody started to develope custom ROM for SCH-I815 without Facebook, my Verizon, Social HUB and any kind of ****s like that. I need a custom ROM

yavor1912 said:
Anybody started to develope custom ROM for SCH-I815 without Facebook, my Verizon, Social HUB and any kind of ****s like that. I need a custom ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root device and use titanium backup to remove something you want.

haovh_85 said:
Root device and use titanium backup to remove something you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No!!!
Freeze the bloat, don't remove it (yet). As long as there is not even a factory image to restore the tab in case of screw ups!! If you delete an app and the next OTA update comes out, it will fail, because it won't find the deleted app and therefore abort the entire update!!
:-(
Someone needs to find the Odin flashable factory ROM at least, better would be an ICS leak like on all the other phones and tablets...

ICS leaks all over the place for phones, but tabs.... nowhere to be found.
;[

Do any of you guys have Linux or cygwin installed? Much easier to do in Linux but cygwin will work. You can make your own Odin image very easily.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

nitroglycerine33 said:
Do any of you guys have Linux or cygwin installed? Much easier to do in Linux but cygwin will work. You can make your own Odin image very easily.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I do have a full Linux at hand! How do you make an Odin flashable from an installed ROM? Say for example I take my table and do a full factory wipe, clear all caches etc, only leave root intact. How can I then pull the entire state into an odin flashable that will basically clone my tablet exactly the way it is? I could do that and publish the file, so that the community finally has a backup ROM in case someone accidentally hoses their tablet !!

I'd like to help with this effort in any way possible. Very fluent in Linux with access to many servers. Need some guidance on just what needs to be done.
--tr

nitroglycerine33 said:
Do any of you guys have Linux or cygwin installed? Much easier to do in Linux but cygwin will work. You can make your own Odin image very easily.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Very eager to learn. I have Linux etc. How do I create an ODIN flashable ROM from either a running tablet (a clone) or from a CWM backup?
THANKS!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1082288

I flashed a N7100 custom rom onto an N7105

I tried root, cwm, triangle and custom rom for N7100 on my N7105. All works except for custom N7100 rom. Custom rom from N7100 if installed onto an N7105 will mess with the modem (no phone, message, data transfers but wifi still works). But flashing back N7105 modem unto a N7100 custom rom installed on an N7105 does not bring back use of modem. You need to flash a N7105 stock rom from your country to bring back the use of modem. So that kinda bring us back to square one...
The similiarities are surprisingly many. All functions are intact except for modem. All we need to do is to figure out what modules in a N7105 stock rom needs to be transplanted unto a N7105 installed with a N7100 to make the modem come back.
At first, I created a nandriod backup straight away after root. After creating the nandriod backup, I proceeded to flash a N7100 rom unto a N7105. Modems gone. After that I flashed back the nandriod backup, but modem does not come on. As nandriod backup does not backup the modem, I thought that if I simply flashed the modem extracted from stock N7105 rom onto my N7105 installed with N7100 custom rom I will regain the use of my modem. I was wrong. Modem functionality still remained elusive.
The similiarities between N7100 and N7105 are surprisingly many. All functions are intact except for modem if u flashed N7100 rom unto N7105. All we need to do is to figure out what modules in a N7105 stock rom needs to be transplanted unto a N7105 installed with a N7100 rom to make the modem come back.
The aim of this thread is to port modem capabilities onto an N7105 so that we can do this for all roms in XDA, assuming that developers did not mess with N7100 modems. We will effectively take a N7100 custom rom and flash it on an N7105 with a few steps added to regain modem functionality. This way is much better than a segregated support for both Galaxy Note 2 types. Either this or developers can create roms with dual support for N7105 and N7100. But my way is a more proactive approach on the part of users.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

Likely that ROM flashed a modem with the ROM. Was it ARHD by chance? I know they flash a modem on install which I never understood and, IMO, makes no sense.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

-viperboy- said:
Likely that ROM flashed a modem with the ROM. Was it ARHD by chance? I know they flash a modem on install which I never understood and, IMO, makes no sense.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes modems were flashed. I try to be as non invasive as possible to developers. I understood from my time is XDA developers that if you seriously want something, DIY. Haha.

mix1987 said:
Yes modems were flashed. I try to be as non invasive as possible to developers. I understood from my time is XDA developers that if you seriously want something, DIY. Haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what general or q&a is for lol flash your modem for your device and that should fix it. Maybe post a suggestion in that ROM thread to remove the modem flash. Again, its quite unnecessary. Coming from developing on HTC stuff, we couldn't even flash the radio stuff from recovery. Even if we could, we wouldnt too much that could go wrong if you get a bad flash or a corrupted zip.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

mix1987 said:
So what must be done to gain phone signals back if one installs a N7100 custom rom into a N7105? If the problem is with the chipset there is nothing much we can do about it right?
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same mistake as you did.
Don't panic though.
I downloaded a stock N7105XXALIJ rom and flash it using PC odin.
Everything is back to normal. 3G, 4G, LTE, sms, mms, data all working.
Then I rooted it using this guide:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/s...-rom-flashing-tutorial-r-d-stage-3942841.html
Everything is perfect so far.

flywithme said:
I did the same mistake as you did.
Don't panic though.
I downloaded a stock N7105XXALIJ rom and flash it using PC odin.
Everything is back to normal. 3G, 4G, LTE, sms, mms, data all working.
Then I rooted it using this guide:
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/s...-rom-flashing-tutorial-r-d-stage-3942841.html
Everything is perfect so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No flashing N7100 was a deliberate endeavour for me. I wanted to see what screws up after flashing. The aim of this thread is to see what can us normal users do to regain modem control in an N7100 rom.
After some though I realised that it is not very feasible. As some files needs to be altered as they contain N7100 only information like build.prop. We might just need to wait for a knight in shining armour to create a N7105 rom for us....
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

mix1987 said:
No flashing N7100 was a deliberate endeavour for me. I wanted to see what screws up after flashing. The aim of this thread is to see what can us normal users do to regain modem control in an N7100 rom.
After some though I realised that it is not very feasible. As some files needs to be altered as they contain N7100 only information like build.prop. We might just need to wait for a knight in shining armour to create a N7105 rom for us....
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What would probably make more sense is one of two things... 1) a "flash pack" that allows you to flash an n7100 Rom, then you flash the flash pack to put back device specific files or 2) ROM devs can build an updater-script that identifies your device and basically does that for you. So it would flash all the files that are the same, determine your device, flash device specific files. I wouldn't mind helping build you guys a flash pack, I just need to look into what files are different.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

-viperboy- said:
What would probably make more sense is one of two things... 1) a "flash pack" that allows you to flash an n7100 Rom, then you flash the flash pack to put back device specific files or 2) ROM devs can build an updater-script that identifies your device and basically does that for you. So it would flash all the files that are the same, determine your device, flash device specific files. I wouldn't mind helping build you guys a flash pack, I just need to look into what files are different.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume its a long a tiring process? I'd love to help, just tell me what to do!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

mix1987 said:
I assume its a long a tiring process? I'd love to help, just tell me what to do!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im curios tosee what would happen flashing the n7105 modem on the n7100

turilo said:
im curios tosee what would happen flashing the n7105 modem on the n7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess it would fail. I would be surprised to see it work. Flashing a N7100 modem completely killed phone signal if flash unto an N7105.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

mix1987 said:
I guess it would fail. I would be surprised to see it work. Flashing a N7100 modem completely killed phone signal if flash unto an N7105.
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm you might be right, but I'm a stubborn fool I'd test it if I can get my hands on the N7105 modem
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Try using the N7105 RIL files with the N7105 modem...
libril.so and libsec-ril.so

mix1987 said:
I assume its a long a tiring process? I'd love to help, just tell me what to do!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not too bad, but I would have to diff the 7100 ROM to a 7105 ROM. I'm much more familiar with HTC, time to relearn the Samsung stuff lol
turilo said:
im curios tosee what would happen flashing the n7105 modem on the n7100
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the file, you can definitely flash it. But expect things not to work.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

-viperboy- said:
Not too bad, but I would have to diff the 7100 ROM to a 7105 ROM. I'm much more familiar with HTC, time to relearn the Samsung stuff lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If we can make this work, the whole N7105 community will be indebted to you!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

mix1987 said:
If we can make this work, the while N7105 community is indebted to you!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My internet is crappy at home but really quick at school. When I get back tonight, I will look at 2 stock .tar's of the n7100 and n7105 and diff them to see what is different and see what I can come up with
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2

-viperboy- said:
My internet is crappy at home but really quick at school. When I get back tonight, I will look at 2 stock .tar's of the n7100 and n7105 and diff them to see what is different and see what I can come up with
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, looking forward to hear what you find

Jesus, every damn link is a hotfile link! Anyone have a premium account I could use to download these files?? Or alternate links for N7100 and N7105 .tar's? Thanks!

-viperboy- said:
Jesus, every damn link is a hotfile link! Anyone have a premium account I could use to download these files?? Or alternate links for N7100 and N7105 .tar's? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha. I am sorry bro. This is something I can't help you with!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium

mix1987 said:
Haha. I am sorry bro. This is something I can't help you with!
Sent from my GT-N7105 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bleh. Well, I'm heading back to school now, gonna take me about 3 hours. If someone has fast internet, would be nice if they could download a stock N7100 tar and a stock N7105 tar and host them on dev-host, androidfilehost, or goo.im. Some place where I can actually download the damn thing. Would make things easier for me to look at when I get to school, instead of 2+ hr download times on a file I should be able to pull down in 3-5 mins.

It's still downloading... I'm going to have to look at this after class tomorrow. Will keep you guys informed

Source Code for Straight Talk Galaxy S II Released/Found

I'm honestly not sure where to post this, I found it on another forum (and that post was made about three hours ago). In any case, Samsung appears to have open sourced the stock firmware and kernel for Straight Talk's version of the Galaxy S II.
If you go to http://opensource.samsung.com/ and search of the model number - SGH-S959G - it's the only thing that comes up. The download appears to be just what it says, the uncompiled source code.
I've been looking for stock ever since I bought this phone and since I'm not exactly green when it comes to Linux and using a terminal, I'm tempted to give a crack at compiling this myself. Anybody have any experience with this? It can't be too hard...right? :silly:
(source: http://androidarea51.com/modifications/straight-talk-s2-sgh-s959g-source-code/msg8830/)

IndigoAK said:
I'm honestly not sure where to post this, I found it on another forum (and that post was made about three hours ago). In any case, Samsung appears to have open sourced the stock firmware and kernel for Straight Talk's version of the Galaxy S II.
If you go to http://opensource.samsung.com/ and search of the model number - SGH-S959G - it's the only thing that comes up. The download appears to be just what it says, the uncompiled source code.
I've been looking for stock ever since I bought this phone and since I'm not exactly green when it comes to Linux and using a terminal, I'm tempted to give a crack at compiling this myself. Anybody have any experience with this? It can't be too hard...right? :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't get the stock firmware by compiling the kernel, mate. Why do you want stock when you already have stock (original) firmware? If you're looking for unbranded, you're unlikely to find it as you have a carrier specific phone.

Force Close said:
You won't get the stock firmware by compiling the kernel, mate. Why do you want stock when you already have stock (original) firmware? If you're looking for unbranded, you're unlikely to find it as you have a carrier specific phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware of how this source code works!

IndigoAK I am the one that posted the link on AA51. The file appears to be in tar.gz format like what is used for install through odin. I have not tested it, as I am not a developer, or in need of flashing to factory firmware at this time. I posted it as I seen many people looking for it. I believe it is needed to be able to safely start making modifications for this phone, CWM, Root, custom ROMs, ect., and being able to flash back to stock if something goes wrong. Hopefully with the information out there now it will jump start development.
Edit: After further research the source code files are used to create the firmware, and these cannot be installed through Odin. Feel free to correct me if I'm still wrong.

mr-cook said:
IndigoAK I am the one that posted the link on AA51. The file appears to be in tar.gz format like what is used for install through odin. I have not tested it, as I am not a developer, or in need of flashing to factory firmware at this time. I posted it as I seen many people looking for it. I believe it is needed to be able to safely start making modifications for this phone, CWM, Root, custom ROMs, ect., and being able to flash back to stock if something goes wrong. Hopefully with the information out there now it will jump start development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I probably should have linked to your post. I apologize.
I just thought that posting it here on XDA might get it seen by more people who might know how to put this to use.
Hopefully somebody does put it to use. Due to the way that Straight Talked has gimped this phone, it's going to take the community to really make it worth the price they're charging for it.

I tried to link to the original post on android area 51, but as a new member I am not allowed, yet. I am just trying to get information out there, so thank you for posting it here (as I just now joined). The phone is fairly new and under advertised, but hopefully these posts will stir interest.

I was looking under the battery cover and noticed the FCC id for this phone (SGH-S959G) is A3L SGH I777. Now for everyone smarter than I. Does this mean that the phone is an i777, and would all the mods and ROMs ect. be directly compatible. Also its android 2.3.6. Version s959g UDLG1. Kernel 2.6.35.7. Any thoughts, educated opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my Galaxy Precedent using Tapatalk 2

mr-cook said:
I was looking under the battery cover and noticed the FCC id for this phone (SGH-S959G) is A3L SGH I777. Now for everyone smarter than I. Does this mean that the phone is an i777, and would all the mods and ROMs ect. be directly compatible. Also its android 2.3.6. Version s959g UDLG1. Kernel 2.6.35.7. Any thoughts, educated opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my Galaxy Precedent using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Everything needs to be modified. The I777 rooting method works for this device, but nobody has been able to get past that as far as I'm aware. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to double reboot my phone trying to install every custom recovery image (and searching around suggests this is the case for a lot of other people) I can get my hands on and I've kept a pretty close eye on custom firmware sites - none of them have added support for this device (probably because you can't install a custom recovery image yet).

Guys I have the same problem, I tried to root my Straight Talk Galaxy SII using the AT&T root but CWM doesn't install and the root breaks the Wifi, Contacts save option, several apps like YouTube. I cannot revert back to the stock ROM due to this issue and I really could use the help.. I'm surprised that DEV teams haven't done much on the phone considering for 45 dollars a month you get really fast 7mb/s speed.
I'm willing to do whatever I can to contribute to a way of finally getting this awesome phone off of a sucky stock rom.
Thanks everyone!

I was just curious if it could be fully flashed to stock i777 GB. As it appears to be the exact same hardware. Completely start over making it the at&t i777.
Sent from my SGH-S959G using Tapatalk 2

mr-cook said:
I was just curious if it could be fully flashed to stock i777 GB. As it appears to be the exact same hardware. Completely start over making it the at&t i777.
Sent from my SGH-S959G using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. I tried this.
Also, if your WiFi doesn't work, you probably used the Zedomax kernal. Search XDA for Entropy's kernel and use that instead.

LOOKIN. For Fully Rooted .. Samsung Galaxy s2. Sgh-s959g From Straight Talk. FLASHED a kernel dat when loading. Tells me its a sgh-i9100 ... has a ... ! ...triangle under it...and when I check the info on bout phone. It says sgh-i777.. any links for the best FULLY ROOTED kernels GB?.. PS. Willing to do testing with this phone from straight talk. But has. Att kernel.. one from. Entropy! !! Thanks 

Confused

Im looking to leave Sprint for greener pastures. I'm on their Note 2 at the moment and figure I'll go with the Note 3 if/when I switch carriers. I was reading to make sure that the Verizon Note 3 would be rootable. As it stands, I'm very confused as to whether or not this device is able to be rooted. I'm an avid root user. I don't want to be stuck with a phone that I cannot root and control. I keep reading conflicting threads saying the phone can be rooted or can't be rooted. At this point, I would like to make the carrier switch within the next week, so I just need a definite "yes" or "no" as far as rooting.

hebejebe said:
Im looking to leave Sprint for greener pastures. I'm on their Note 2 at the moment and figure I'll go with the Note 3 if/when I switch carriers. I was reading to make sure that the Verizon Note 3 would be rootable. As it stands, I'm very confused as to whether or not this device is able to be rooted. I'm an avid root user. I don't want to be stuck with a phone that I cannot root and control. I keep reading conflicting threads saying the phone can be rooted or can't be rooted. At this point, I would like to make the carrier switch within the next week, so I just need a definite "yes" or "no" as far as rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it can be rooted, but does not have an unlocked bootloader.

njfoses said:
Yes it can be rooted, but does not have an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Is the bootloader UNlockable? And how does that affect the phone when trying to flash new ROMs?

hebejebe said:
Thanks for the reply. Is the bootloader UNlockable? And how does that affect the phone when trying to flash new ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well we have a recovery call SS aka SafeStrap. That allows us to flash custom roms. But we currently can't flash custom kernels nor AOSP roms for now.... ONLY CUSTOM TOUCHWIZ ROMS can be flashed in SafeStrap! Hope that clears everything out for you
?Note III?

krazy_smokezalot said:
Well we have a recovery call SS aka SafeStrap. That allows us to flash custom roms. But we currently can't flash custom kernels nor AOSP roms for now.... ONLY CUSTOM TOUCHWIZ ROMS can be flashed in SafeStrap! Hope that clears everything out for you
?Note III?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. that makes sense now. with sprint AOSP roms were horrible with data so I usually avoided them. although decks reloaded was awesome on the Evo 4G.
what are the chances that we'll be able to unlock the bootloader? Im hoping the switch to verizon will greatly improve my data quality then maybe an AOSP rom will be an option.

hebejebe said:
Ok. that makes sense now. with sprint AOSP roms were horrible with data so I usually avoided them. although decks reloaded was awesome on the Evo 4G.
what are the chances that we'll be able to unlock the bootloader? Im hoping the switch to verizon will greatly improve my data quality then maybe an AOSP rom will be an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Slim to none on the bootloader being unlocked. I recently made the switch from Sprint to Vzw myself as i couldnt deal with Sprint's horrible service anymore. Best move i could have made.

njfoses said:
Slim to none on the bootloader being unlocked. I recently made the switch from Sprint to Vzw myself as i couldnt deal with Sprint's horrible service anymore. Best move i could have made.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just dont know if I can get past the locked bootloader. Id love to be running CM or any other AOSP roms on a device with a good data connection. Thanks for the clarification.

I was an avid rooter when i was with sprint a few months ago...my phones were always blazing fast but still slow as turtles when it came to data speeds.....switchet to vz unlimited data and now im on a stock non rooted n3...no need for it since my phone *always* works properly now....just my .02
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app

art90262 said:
I was an avid rooter when i was with sprint a few months ago...my phones were always blazing fast but still slow as turtles when it came to data speeds.....switchet to vz unlimited data and now im on a stock non rooted n3...no need for it since my phone *always* works properly now....just my .02
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how'd you get an unlimited data plan?
I usually root so I can use the mobile hot spot. I also like to have full control. I would prefer to be able to root.

I found it on craigslist look for someone that is selling their unlimited line then you have to just do an assumption of liability and ur set. I can even use hotspot wifi without root....for me this phone is such a beast along with the best network that i feel im in control and nothing else is needed
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app

krazy_smokezalot said:
Well we have a recovery call SS aka SafeStrap. That allows us to flash custom roms. But we currently can't flash custom kernels nor AOSP roms for now.... ONLY CUSTOM TOUCHWIZ ROMS can be flashed in SafeStrap! Hope that clears everything out for you
?Note III?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man, glad to see were back on the same devices! I came from e4gt
Also as it stands now you can flash roms via safestrap and root but we won't have a custom kernel or any aosp roms until we have an unlocked bootloader (maybe never)
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

jlear3 said:
Hey man, glad to see were back on the same devices! I came from e4gt
Also as it stands now you can flash roms via safestrap and root but we won't have a custom kernel or any aosp roms until we have an unlocked bootloader (maybe never)
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol ohh snap i thought your username sounded familiar. im not going to lie even now i still roam around the e4gt forum it was the best community i have ever seen. nice to see you here so far it looks like the 2 of of from the e4gt unless i missed someone else! lol

Very confused about MF3

I just bought the HTC One for $200, but then I saw that Best Buy had the Samsung Galaxy s4 on sale for $50. I did not know which one I wanted and was truly torn between the two and ended up buying the HTC but if I can save $150 I will gladly get the s4. My only problem is that as I've been reading up on cs4 forums to make sure that I would be able to unlock root and flash custom roms I had came across what seems to be the problem with an AT&T firmware update known as mf3. If I cannot root and flash custom kernels and roms I do not think I will take advantage of the offer from Best Buy. My problem is that even after all the reading I cannot figure out whether it is possible to root and flash custom ROMs and kernels to the new version from AT&T, known as mf3, or if it is still not possible, or if it will be possible very soon so that I'm may use Android 4.4 Kit Kat on the phone or any custom Rom I wish. Can someone please clarify this for me as soon as possible because my time to return the HTC One to AT&T is coming close to its end?
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

You can root and flash some roms using safestrap. But it's very limited. Imo I'd stay away from the s4

It's there any progress toward cracking MF3? I've had a one x for pat year and kinda wanted a change and I love the screen on the s4. If you had to choose between the s4 and the HTC one taking into consideration the mf3 problem, which would you choose? And which would you choose if there was no mf3 problem?
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app

If you can find a S4 with MDL or earlier firmware it's a excellent phone. Personally if it has MF3 or later I wouldn't bother. But that's just my opinion.

You might as well get rid of the One as well. It's just as locked down.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Untrue, about HTCone being just as locked down. It can have it's boatload unlocked quiet easily and if you want to, although it's not necessary, you can even do s-off to get full unbridled access. I previously had a HTC one x and also from everything I've read it seems AT&T went out of there way to lock down s4 tight , just like they did to the one x but eventually the devs got it. I do want the s4 though,even though this phone is awesome(HTC One), and I can live with no custom Rom for a while but I can't go without root. So if I get a s4 with mf3 will it still be able to be rooted ? I've read up on it but don't understand what everyone is talking about when they say if the phone is encrypted or notand it seems to be random.
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So sick and tired of reading about MF3, or MK2 constantly on these forums. If you want to buy an S4 on AT&T look for an MDL one on eBay. It's not that hard, really.
Or buy the T-Mobile variant or International version.

Thanks for your kind response to my honest question mattmjb0188. I can't get a t mobile or international variant bc I'm on a budget. I will use my upgrade to get the phone at best buy for $50, and the condition of this price is that it must be a contract renewal/upgrade, which is another reason I can't get diff version of the phone. Did you even read the op? I would love to get one brand new out of the box with mdl but the odds of that are slim hence why I asked the question in the 1st place. So if you can't help or don't like the question then don't respond, but I do thank you for your info about the other variants that don't have issues, it just doesn't help me.
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Rad ryan said:
Thanks for your kind response to my honest question mattmjb0188. I can't get a t mobile or international variant bc I'm on a budget. I will use my upgrade to get the phone at best buy for $50, and the condition of this price is that it must be a contract renewal/upgrade, which is another reason I can't get diff version of the phone. Did you even read the op? I would love to get one brand new out of the box with mdl but the odds of that are slim hence why I asked the question in the 1st place. So if you can't help or don't like the question then don't respond, but I do thank you for your info about the other variants that don't have issues, it just doesn't help me.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone new on these forums just asks over and over about MF3 and the Android 4.3 update. Basically, if you get an S4 with Mf3 or later firmware, you are pretty much stuck on stock. Then we have noobs who don't read and attempt to root their MF3 phones and brick them.
On pure stock, the S4 is a bad phone. The software is very laggy and needs a lot of improvement. I was one of the early adapters when it first came out. The phone was a nightmare with MDB and MDL firmware. Mf3 made slight improvements, but not enough.
I would not even invest in buying this phone right now. Most development for it has died down because of the restrictions. Developers are moving on. Those of us with MDL firmware (like myself) won't see much continued support for Loki nowadays anyway. If the bootloader could be unlocked, I believe it would have been unlocked by now. All these workarounds are very limited, and dangerous.
Personally, I wouldn't even buy the phone at this point. Scrape the funds together for either the T-Mobile S4 or Note 3.

Get the nexus 5, you'll be very happy

Thank you very much for that answer, that was an excellent answer. Although I'm not a noob bc I've been doing this stuff for years and been a member for years.I did the trading but I am not familiar with Samsung at all bc the last Samsung I had was a captivate. It's there a lot of active development for the t mobile variant? I'm guessing it's probably around $600, right? Lastly do you think that there will be a solution to the lock down of mf3 and later in the next few months?
Again thanks for your very helpful answer.
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Rad ryan said:
Thank you very much for that answer, that was an excellent answer. Although I'm not a noob bc I've been doing this stuff for years and been a member for years.I did the trading but I am not familiar with Samsung at all bc the last Samsung I had was a captivate. It's there a lot of active development for the t mobile variant? I'm guessing it's probably around $600, right? Lastly do you think that there will be a solution to the lock down of mf3 and later in the next few months?
Again thanks for your very helpful answer.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The development for the AT&T S4 has died down. In my opinion, no one will ever unlock the bootloader for it. Maybe someday with some future device, but not this device. The closest we got was with the loki method, which was great. But that's long gone now.
Look on negri for the T-Mobile variant. I think its M919. I'm not sure. T-Mobile developers have been able to make great roms for the device, instead of wasting so much time to find a workaround. Maybe even try T-Mobile out and see if they've improved in your area. They got a lot better in my area, but still a lot of EDGE.
If I were you, I'd go for the Nexus 5.

Rad ryan said:
Thanks for your kind response to my honest question mattmjb0188. I can't get a t mobile or international variant bc I'm on a budget. I will use my upgrade to get the phone at best buy for $50, and the condition of this price is that it must be a contract renewal/upgrade, which is another reason I can't get diff version of the phone. Did you even read the op? I would love to get one brand new out of the box with mdl but the odds of that are slim hence why I asked the question in the 1st place. So if you can't help or don't like the question then don't respond, but I do thank you for your info about the other variants that don't have issues, it just doesn't help me.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Heres my suggestion, if you want the s4, get it from best buy than sell it unopened for as much as you can and than with the money you get buy a tmobile or i9505 international variant...(not i9500 or the verizon or sprint one)
The tmobile variant is probably your best bet, the tmobile variant supports all of ATT service bands so youll have no issues with reception or internet. The tmobile variant can flash roms from any of the other s4 variants (verizon sprint att i9505...just not any roms from the i9500)
So in other words if you get the tmobile variant you dont have to worry about a dead dev scene as you can always flash roms from a differnt carrier...only thing is you will probably have to set up your apns for att rom flashes
Hope that helps you
And on another note if you decide to stick with the ATT s4, every firmware can be rooted
Mdb has real recoveries, so you can flash anything as long as you "loki" the kernel - Unfortunately I do not think there are any stores that are selling phones with this firmware
Mdl has real recoveries, so you can flash anything as long as you "loki" the kernel...Unfortunately it is pretty much impossible to find a phone with this firmware in any store now
Mf3 has safestrap which is kinda like a recovery, with it you can flash any touchwiz based 4.2.2 rom (stock roms) or any 4.2.2 Google Phone Edition (aka GPE, which is an aosp experience S4, no bloatware no samsung features, its like having a nexus in the body of an s4) rom...NO CUSTOM KERNELS, NO AOSP ROMS (no cyanogenmod) - this is the firmware most phones come with
Mk2 (latest firmware) recently got a beta safestrap...as of now you can flash some 4.3 touchwiz stock based roms, alot dont boot yet, and the GPE 4.3 rom doesn't boot with it either. As it becomes stable it should work identical to the one for mf3 - phones will probably start coming with this one soon
In other words, safestrap allows you to run roms that are built off the same firmware version as your stock rom, safestrap flashes no kernel, so whatever rom you flash has to be compatible with the stock kernel of your current firmware
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---------- Post added at 08:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:40 PM ----------
Rad ryan said:
Thank you very much for that answer, that was an excellent answer. Although I'm not a noob bc I've been doing this stuff for years and been a member for years.I did the trading but I am not familiar with Samsung at all bc the last Samsung I had was a captivate. It's there a lot of active development for the t mobile variant? I'm guessing it's probably around $600, right? Lastly do you think that there will be a solution to the lock down of mf3 and later in the next few months?
Again thanks for your very helpful answer.
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They actually seem to be getting close to another work around which will allow you to flash any rom or kernel using safestrap...turns out theres a feature in the 4.3 mk2 kernel which allows unsigned drivers to run, in theory they can compile a kexec driver for the kernel which would allow you to use any kernel thus allowing the flash of any rom...theres a how-to thread in the original development section with more info, however...its not a guarentee we will see this anytime soon, as you never know what issues they may run into...but something to look into if your interested
EDIT: actually heres a post from the thread i mentioned which pretty much sums up how we hope this "exploit" will work as far as kernel flashing goes http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48703510&postcount=10
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With all that said; how come I have the MF3 baseband my s4 (jflteatt), and I still have a custom recovery with the ability to flash different roms and kernels? Is it because I installed the custom recovery on an earlier baseband and then it got updated to a newer baseband but still kept recovery?
I only found out I had MF3 on my phone now because I couldn't flash a different recovery anymore.

Yes
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noel_leon said:
With all that said; how come I have the MF3 baseband my s4 (jflteatt), and I still have a custom recovery with the ability to flash different roms and kernels? Is it because I installed the custom recovery on an earlier baseband and then it got updated to a newer baseband but still kept recovery?
I only found out I had MF3 on my phone now because I couldn't flash a different recovery anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is literally impossible to have officially updated through OTA while on a custom Recovery. What I suspect has been done is the same as my phone. I got an MDL device and quickly installed TWRP and a custom ROM. As new updates came out, I flashed just the baseband. So now, I have a 4.4 ROM with the MK2 baseband and am able to install anything I like.
If I were to have ever done an OTA, I would no longer be able to have a custom recovery because of a blown Qfuse.
Please don't try to say that what you have is the only phone with OTA MF3 and custom recovery.
The only way to have anything like that is through SS and that is not a true recovery. If you do have that, you can only install certain ROMs not including AOSP, AOKP, MIUI, or CM.
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When did I ever say I was the only one? I asked a simple question that I mostly had the answer to already; which in turn was answered by a simple "Yes" from HiTideBlastoise.
And I never said anything about OTA either. I said I had installed custom recovery on an earlier baseband and then my baseband was updated but recovery was still intact.

I never said you did say that. It was preemptive. Secondly, you make it out to seem like you did nothing to update your baseband. You are making it seem like it just happened. Well, that can't happen without either updating the entire phone or flashing it yourself. The funny thing is the baseband means nothing when it comes to recoveries and flashing ROMs. It can only be used as a possible sign on a stock device as to what version one is running. On a modified device, like yours, it is worthless information on the version of Android. Like I said before, I have 4.4 with MK2 as my baseband. How can I install ROMs. Not because it updated my baseband after I already have a custom recovery... But because I never took an OTA and made it do the stuff I wanted.
Basically what I am saying is that you need to be clear with what you say. Everything you said makes it sound like your phone did it all by itself without you or someone else making it the way it is. There is no other option. You have to have done something to have a custom recovery and an MF3 baseband with pre MF3 bootloaders.
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I agree with graydiggy that the only way to still have a custom recovery and mf3 baseband is that you either flashed an mf3 tw rom with a modem or a a standalone modem to your mdl software. If you took the "OTA" successfully, you will definitely have a locked down bootloader now.
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