Custom Android Support - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

How much support will the GS4 get from the Android dev community? I'm not trolling I have an honest question.
To me it seems like there's many barriers to the GS4 getting the level of support that the GS3 or Note II did.
1. Two major SoCs (very different)
2. Different software and radio stacks throughout world
3. Locked bootloaders right on US carriers.
Will this get more or less support than HTC One? When will the AT&T GS4 be rooted? Will it be rooted?

Good question, im also interested to know. The main reason why i want to get the s4 is because there are lots dev developing for s3 and note 2.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda app-developers app

Related

Future ROM Support

I have a Samsung Captivate currently running ICS. They are already working on a Jelly Bean port from the nexus S. After having this phone and being on XDA, I have no intention of buying a phone that does not have a large developer following. The HTC OneX looks great, but I don't think I will see the following I have with the captivate....whats the prediction for the S3? I think we get a lot for the captivate because of the nexus S. I am not sure the S3 has the same.
Thoughts?
I'm curious as well because the International S3 (I9300) will have a ton of dev support, but the North American versions should also have a good base as well.
I don't think we will see the same level of development as the I9300, but I think there should be adequate support for us as well.
The galaxy s3 will have adequate support once we see a more consistent launch. Most of the developers don't even have the phone yet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Coming off of the HTC rezound, i hope it does. I have been on the ropes on buying this or keeping a NEXUS that Verizon sent me as a replacement for my rezound.
Given the similarity in hardware across the carriers... This may be the best supported non nexus device samsung has delivered to the states
Sent from my SGH-T999
As previously stated, this is one of the largest, fastest, and most sought after device on the market today. The Only other andriod device that would be competition would be the One X. I do not think development will be any issue. Once these devices flood the market as i hope and Samsung says, we will be fine!

AT&T Note II - post release date and where to buy information

This is what is of particular interest to some of us. Please post information relevant to just the upcoming US AT&T version.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
i hoping note2 release the same day as idiotphone5.
att always release multi phones on the same day!
What I want to know is if there is any difference between the att note and the International note. Doesn't seem like it so far.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app
ChodTheWacko said:
What I want to know is if there is any difference between the att note and the International note. Doesn't seem like it so far.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it has an lte radio.
I think he was referring to whether it was gonna keep the exynos quad.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Supposedly it will still have quad core & 2 megs ram with LTE. Gonna be a monster. My next phone for sure.
The only thing that bothers me is that I have not seen the FCC reports but usually come out before a phone is released...
But I haven't been following it as closely as I was with the note 1...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
It looks like the days of Qualcomm-based mutant derpbeasts are over.
http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung...ipset-shows-up-in-korean-galaxy-s3/16442.html
There is finally an LTE/GSM dual-mode modem available from someone other than Qualcomm.
People have occasionally said "the Exynos 4 Quad isn't compatible with LTE" - This is false. Nothing in the CPU makes it incompatible/compatible - the only issue was that until recently, Qualcomm was the only company that had LTE/GSM combo basebands available, and Qualcomm won't sell their modems to someone not using their CPU.
A non-Qualcomm baseband chip changes everything.
I probably should've noticed this long ago - but CMC221 references have been cropping up in Samsung's source releases for a while now.
Edit: CMC221 seems to be an older chipset, there's a lot of conflicting info on exactly what is going on. Either way, it looks like Samsung now has access to SOME sort of baseband chipset that isn't from Qualcomm, OR Qualcomm has changed policies and is now selling LTE basebands that can be paired with non-Qcom CPUs.
Entropy512 said:
It looks like the days of Qualcomm-based mutant derpbeasts are over.
http://vr-zone.com/articles/samsung...ipset-shows-up-in-korean-galaxy-s3/16442.html
There is finally an LTE/GSM dual-mode modem available from someone other than Qualcomm.
People have occasionally said "the Exynos 4 Quad isn't compatible with LTE" - This is false. Nothing in the CPU makes it incompatible/compatible - the only issue was that until recently, Qualcomm was the only company that had LTE/GSM combo basebands available, and Qualcomm won't sell their modems to someone not using their CPU.
A non-Qualcomm baseband chip changes everything.
I probably should've noticed this long ago - but CMC221 references have been cropping up in Samsung's source releases for a while now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice...does this mean you're jumping on this phone?
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
Artimus009 said:
Nice...does this mean you're jumping on this phone?
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unknown. I need to do a lot of research. I've been really angry with AT&T's handling of Samsung devices, to the point where my plan until today was to ditch them for Straight Talk combined with international unlocked devices when my contract was up.
Nonmutilated LTE devices might change this... I'm still not sure, it still remains to be seen whether this new generation of LTE chips doesn't have the severe battery life penalties older LTE implementations did. Also, I'm not eligible for an upgrade until February and I really don't want to give the asshats at AT&T money for a full-price device just for a feature I likely won't use.
If ONLY the AT&T variant is capable of AT&T LTE - Maybe (I live in the boonies, I won't see LTE for a long time)
If the international variant supports the AT&T LTE bands - Hell no for the AT&T variant (say no to unjustified carrier mangling), possibly for the international variant.
Cant wait to see whats up with this on att! Glad i have an upgrade. If it is guad i will give my mom my s3!
MARBLE WHITE GALAXY SIII
fleurdelisxliv said:
Cant wait to see whats up with this on att! Glad i have an upgrade. If it is guad i will give my mom my s3!
MARBLE WHITE GALAXY SIII
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same. I have a SGS2 with a cracked screen. At&t already said they will allow me to use my wife's upgrade, but i don't know if i want to wait for the N2....but maybe i should. I almost jumped on the S3 this weekend, but i didn't. I had my reservations about the rediculousness of using the Note as a phone, but then again, i've made probably 2 calls on my S2 in 10 months. So I may have answered my own question.
Can we stick to some useful posts on when the device is coming out not whether people want it..?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
coldblooded79 said:
I think he was referring to whether it was gonna keep the exynos quad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Current rumors indicate it has the quad.
They appear 'hardware equivalent' enough that I wonder if you can flash international ROMS onto it.
I guess that's a pipe dream though, since it has a different model #, implying different hardware somewhere.
The N7000 was fun that you could flash different country's roms onto it - less waiting for new features.
I guess at this point I guess it'll mainly depend on when it gets released to AT&T.
- Frank
ChodTheWacko said:
Current rumors indicate it has the quad.
They appear 'hardware equivalent' enough that I wonder if you can flash international ROMS onto it.
I guess that's a pipe dream though, since it has a different model #, implying different hardware somewhere.
The N7000 was fun that you could flash different country's roms onto it - less waiting for new features.
I guess at this point I guess it'll mainly depend on when it gets released to AT&T.
- Frank
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know and remember when I had my gs2, due to the similarities with the international, we could flash international rooms through hell raising. I'm sure it'll be the same, and come on entropy....you know you want it.....we want you.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Edit:looks like posted in the wrong thread...
ChodTheWacko said:
Current rumors indicate it has the quad.
They appear 'hardware equivalent' enough that I wonder if you can flash international ROMS onto it.
I guess that's a pipe dream though, since it has a different model #, implying different hardware somewhere.
The N7000 was fun that you could flash different country's roms onto it - less waiting for new features.
I guess at this point I guess it'll mainly depend on when it gets released to AT&T.
- Frank
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be similar enough to only require a porting package.
For example, these were the differences between the SGH-I777 and GT-I9100:
I777 had a different call audio interface to the modem - I9100 modems and kernels would not work, but only a few kernel changes were needed to fix the kernel side of things.
I777 had a different microphone configuration - Swapping libaudio out would fix this initially, with ICS I reverse engineered it to the point where only a kernel change was needed
I777 had NFC - If you didn't mind it not working (note: did not work on I777 firmwares ANYWAY), didn't need to do anything when flashing an I9100 firmware. Actually, thanks to the I9100P it was easier to get NFC working on I9100 ports than I777 bases...
I777 had the typical USA touchkey configuration - needed a small kernel change and a keylayout change
The above meant that it was possible to develop a nearly universal porting tool for all Gingerbread firmwares, and once ICS kernel source was released, same for ICS firmwares. The main disadvantage was you couldn't do anything with I9100 leaks - kernel source was required.
CDMA users will be screwed - too many differences for a GSM firmware to ever have any hope of being cleanly ported to a CDMA device. (Exception being AOSP bringups.)
ekerbuddyeker said:
Can we stick to some useful posts on when the device is coming out not whether people want it..?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Party pooper.
TheSkinnyDrummer said:
same. I have a SGS2 with a cracked screen. At&t already said they will allow me to use my wife's upgrade, but i don't know if i want to wait for the N2....but maybe i should. I almost jumped on the S3 this weekend, but i didn't. I had my reservations about the rediculousness of using the Note as a phone, but then again, i've made probably 2 calls on my S2 in 10 months. So I may have answered my own question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea just wait its gona be awesome i have the s3 now but i will def jump on the note 2 bandwagon
ekerbuddyeker said:
Can we stick to some useful posts on when the device is coming out not whether people want it..?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it will come out when it hits your local att store
Here is some information that looks good.
http://www.techspot.com/news/50091-...2-coming-to-all-major-carriers-in-the-us.html
Galaxy Note II reported to arrive at AT&T on October 21
As the Title say's - Galaxy Note II reported to arrive at AT&T on October 21 -- [Android Guys]
PLEASE DON'T LET IT BE ANY LONGER.

[Q] Galaxy S4 versions and Developer support

Hey guys,
Just recently sold my Samsung Note 2, Samsung Galaxy S3.
I was actually saving some cash for the S4 but there is one thing I am wondering..
I heard something about the Netherlands (which where I'm located) as well as some other (European) countries will probably not get the worldwide version but the US/4G version with the Quallcom Snapdragon S600 instead of the octa-core.. (might be because 4G is taking of in Europe now.. not sure)
This leaves me wondering.. If the press statements are true and we will only have the Snapdragon 600 version, can we expect much Dev support for it?
For example.. I really loved roms like Omega and AOKP,AOSP on my S3 I9300..
As an IT guy myself I figured it must be easier for Devs to work with the snapdragon S600 in terms of programming and documentation but looking at the Samsung Galaxy S3 forums the Dev activity for the US version seems very low compared to the international one..
Long question short.. since Samsung will probably sell the Snapdragon 600 in various parts of the world, is it realistic to think we will have great support for both devices?
What do you guys think? please elaborate and keep it nice just want to share opinions and learn.
Both will probably have great support.
Go for it.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Skander1998 said:
Both will probably have great support.
Go for it.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you please share with me why you think that it might be different this time compared to the previous situation with the different S3 versions?
Skander1998 said:
Both will probably have great support.
Go for it.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certainly not.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the S600 version will have better developer support because of Samsung's stinginess with releasing the binaries for the Exynos CPUs.
So you'd probably be better going off going with the 4G version if you want dev support.
razzmataz1478 said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the S600 version will have better developer support because of Samsung's stinginess with releasing the binaries for the Exynos CPUs.
So you'd probably be better going off going with the 4G version if you want dev support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thinking the same thing. As far as I know, most of the issues with the I9300 development stem from Samsung's lack of documentation and complete source-code for the Exynos chip. Hopefully the 4G version of the S4 (with the S600) will have better documentation. Would appreciate someone smarter than me elaborating on this, since the development side is a very important factor for me when buying a phone
JoNAsOS3 said:
Thinking the same thing. As far as I know, most of the issues with the I9300 development stem from Samsung's lack of documentation and complete source-code for the Exynos chip. Hopefully the 4G version of the S4 (with the S600) will have better documentation. Would appreciate someone smarter than me elaborating on this, since the development side is a very important factor for me when buying a phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly, developer support is important to most of us here on XDA.
From a technical point of view I wouldn't mind getting S4 snapdragon 600 with LTE/4G but I want decent dev support.
So what do you guys think? I would like to hear different point of views from everyone.
I agree on the fact the S600 is wider used and documentation is more available so this should theoretically mean that the S600 could receive decent support..
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
benno4403 said:
Exactly, developer support is important to most of us here on XDA.
From a technical point of view I wouldn't mind getting S4 snapdragon 600 with LTE/4G but I want decent dev support.
So what do you guys think? I would like to hear different point of views from everyone.
I agree on the fact the S600 is wider used and documentation is more available so this should theoretically mean that the S600 could receive decent support..
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well at the minute all d2s have official CM10.1 but the Exynos i9300 doesn't. That probably sums up the situation.
razzmataz1478 said:
Well at the minute all d2s have official CM10.1 but the Exynos i9300 doesn't. That probably sums up the situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I see..
For anyone wondering which version you will get in your location, I asked Samsung HK and Samsung USA if they could give us some more info on this. Also tried UK and Netherlands but they don't know anything at Samsung there.
I'll be called by someone from the HK/US office. Hopefully they can shine a light on this.
Seems like I will be sticking with the S600 version if that's the only version we will get in some european countries (NL/DE) and US. Let's hope the developer support will be decent.
If anyone knows some more info on which models are going to come out where, please comment here:fingers-crossed:
Samsung Norway says (on Facebook) that Scandinavia will get the S600, because of 4G Personally I'm thrilled by this, considering the poor source code and documentation for Exynos.
I also like the S600 version as long as we get proper support for it.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
Bump.
Any New thoughts on this?
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

ONE Development (vs) S4 - Thoughts?

Which device seems more likely to get the best development support? Cyanogen(Steve) shared on G+ that he will keep both devices so both should see official CM very soon. The Galaxy phones are way more popular but are split up into many different forums per carrier on XDA. The One seems to only have 3 different threads (why the hell does ATT have its own when it is the same as the international?) and seems like it will be more centralized. Does this split seem like it will put overall development in one phone's favor over the other? I'm so lost with trying to decide between these two phones, I just have to ask. Thoughts? Anyone come from the One X(HTC One S dev was terrible) or S3?
Closed Source Project said:
Which device seems more likely to get the best development support? Cyanogen(Steve) shared on G+ that he will keep both devices so both should see official CM very soon. The Galaxy phones are way more popular but are split up into many different forums per carrier on XDA. The One seems to only have 3 different threads (why the hell does ATT have its own when it is the same as the international?) and seems like it will be more centralized. Does this split seem like it will put overall development in one phone's favor over the other? I'm so lost with trying to decide between these two phones, I just have to ask. Thoughts? Anyone come from the One X(HTC One S dev was terrible) or S3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am not a developer. from what i know from flashing ROMs, phones that have a single chipset (like the HTC one with snapdragon, vs Galaxy S3/S4 tha thad exynos/snapdragon variants) attract more dev support b/c ROMs can be flashed across all carrier versions.
and along with official bootloader unlocking, it appears HTC would attract more devs. i think it will also depend on who releases source code quickly.
again, this is just conjecture based on experience.
I believe I read that HTC already released the source code for the one.
Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2
If I'm not mistaken the galaxy series' are easier to develop for. Having said that I think the one will receive much love just because it's a freakin awesome phone and everybody is going to have on a like Steve.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
It doesn't matter which phone will receive more development because both phones will have a great amount of development anyway.
A Galaxy series phone is always guaranteed to have a lot of dev support and from the devs already supporting the One, with more to come, this will have great continued support aswell.
Closed Source Project said:
Which device seems more likely to get the best development support? Cyanogen(Steve) shared on G+ that he will keep both devices so both should see official CM very soon. The Galaxy phones are way more popular but are split up into many different forums per carrier on XDA. The One seems to only have 3 different threads (why the hell does ATT have its own when it is the same as the international?) and seems like it will be more centralized. Does this split seem like it will put overall development in one phone's favor over the other? I'm so lost with trying to decide between these two phones, I just have to ask. Thoughts? Anyone come from the One X(HTC One S dev was terrible) or S3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really should be in the Q&A
But should receive a generous amount of dev. CM creator Steve put out a wonderful review of the unit. I would suspect this and the S4 will be the major units of 2013 dev wise.
No support for exynos devices. Team hacksung already stated that none of them will buy Samsung phones. They are frustrated due to lack of sources. They already moved to Xperia Z.
Of course, snapdragon version will get support
Sent from my LT29i using Tapatalk 2
Also Koush said on G+ apparently the AT&T and Verizon S4 will have locked bootloaders. It took a lot of work for Adam Outler and others to get the bootloader unlocked for the Note 2 & S3.
KidCarter93 said:
It doesn't matter which phone will receive more development because both phones will have a great amount of development anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Most of so called "development" is copying other people's work, changing some icons and other images and zipping it up and making a cwm file. There are very few unique and useful mods.
Once some most glaring problems with a phone are fixed, development's job is finished. The rest is photoshopping and winzipping.
I say HTC One has already recevied almost enough development support. Volume button wake is implemented to fight the stupid power button placement problem. Most ROMs have already removed the annoying menu bar. Once custom kernels solve the rest of the problems like slow charging, what else is needed?
I am coming from s3 as i lost my device was thinking to get one this time.
I am also worried about its development.
But i am sure it will get cm rom but i dont think it will get as much aosp rom as galaxy series
And proper development means aosp rom development not some mods and theming
Sent from my HTC Desire X using xda app-developers app
nitinvaid said:
I am coming from s3 as i lost my device was thinking to get one this time.
I am also worried about its development.
But i am sure it will get cm rom but i dont think it will get as much aosp rom as galaxy series
And proper development means aosp rom development not some mods and theming
Sent from my HTC Desire X using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't matter if the One has less AOSP ROMs than the S4 because as long as they're both high end phones and both have high quality ROMs to choose from, what else matters?
The One will get plenty of AOSP ROMs anyway. Any phone can be used for this following example;
CM is usually one of the first ROMs to be released on a phone, whether that be officially or unofficially. Once CM hits the device, a lot more ROMs appear because a lot of people base their ROMs right off of CM.
Even if CM isn't one of the first ROMs, the only ROMs we'll really see before it are stock based ROMs just like we have in this forum.
Quality NOT quantity!
And proper development doesn't mean AOSP because it wouldn't exactly be hard for me to make a ROM from an existing AOSP ROM. Just add a few simple features and done. That's not proper development in the slightest.
Sent from my HTC One via XDA Premium

[Q] Confused - I9500 or I9505

Been reading a lot about their differences and still can't get a clue as which one to buy. Its been more than a month since S4 is released and generally speaking, I am looking to buy S4 not specifically to use 4G, but for general use, mostly apps, a few games (not a hardcore mobile gamer) and also interesting mods.
The other day I came across a game for android specially mentioning it will work only in Adreno GPU. This quite surprised and confused me as to if in future, apps and games will be customised based on CPU/GPU?
Provided the issues that have been reported, mainly the overheating and battery drain, is it wise to wait for a month or two so that Samsung release a second production batch of S4 with these issues fixed? Or there won't any hardware fixes for S4 anymore?
So which model has a better future? (leaving the 4G part).
Hope I get a reply as I am sure the highly knowledgeable and vast users of this forum can help ease my confusion.
GreenXSI said:
Been reading a lot about their differences and still can't get a clue as which one to buy. Its been more than a month since S4 is released and generally speaking, I am looking to buy S4 not specifically to use 4G, but for general use, mostly apps, a few games (not a hardcore mobile gamer) and also interesting mods.
The other day I came across a game for android specially mentioning it will work only in Adreno GPU. This quite surprised and confused me as to if in future, apps and games will be customised based on CPU/GPU?
Provided the issues that have been reported, mainly the overheating and battery drain, is it wise to wait for a month or two so that Samsung release a second production batch of S4 with these issues fixed? Or there won't any hardware fixes for S4 anymore?
So which model has a better future? (leaving the 4G part).
Hope I get a reply as I am sure the highly knowledgeable and vast users of this forum can help ease my confusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there are 2 more versions of the S4 coming soon i think
the google edition and the snapdragon 800, maybe you could wait for those
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
negrobembon said:
there are 2 more versions of the S4 coming soon i think
the google edition and the snapdragon 800, maybe you could wait for those
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Snapdragon 800? Didn't hear of that until now, thanks for the info Now that is really worth a wait, but for how long
negrobembon said:
there are 2 more versions of the S4 coming soon i think
the google edition and the snapdragon 800, maybe you could wait for those
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't wait for those, the S5 will be out next year!!
Wait for that instead.
Come on this is ridiculous!
The S4 is a great phone, there will always be better phones just around the corner so just go for the S4.
Either version is good. If you need help making up your mind read one of the hundred threads already on xda about this.
GreenXSI said:
So which model has a better future? (leaving the 4G part).
Hope I get a reply as I am sure the highly knowledgeable and vast users of this forum can help ease my confusion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i9505. Two words, developer support. Oh and 4G LOL
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Is there 4g on tmobile?
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Obagleyfreer said:
Don't wait for those, the S5 will be out next year!!
Wait for that instead.
Come on this is ridiculous!
The S4 is a great phone, there will always be better phones just around the corner so just go for the S4.
Either version is good. If you need help making up your mind read one of the hundred threads already on xda about this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I only planning to buy an S4 and only confused due to different models in S4. And if the Snapdragon 800 model is going to be out in say 2 months or less, I guess its worth the wait?
P.S. No time to wait until S5 launches

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