Database Users

Option for regular android by all companies...

I feel like a lot of the issues that have been caused with android could be solved by this simple solution, if every company gave the option to allow us to use their custom android, or we could also have the choice of having just plain vanilla android. This would be easy for them, and would also solve a great deal of user issues...

fiscidtox said:
I feel like a lot of the issues that have been caused with android could be solved by this simple solution, if every company gave the option to allow us to use their custom android, or we could also have the choice of having just plain vanilla android. This would be easy for them, and would also solve a great deal of user issues...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree.....one thing that bothers me about android is all the manufacturers adding there custom skins on top of the android platform...while there sometimes nice...they also have a tendency to bog down the system and cause lag.
Perfect example, and Im sure youll love to hear this is "Timescape" haha.
But I guess one thing that seperates my phone from "his" phone is the custom skins that they use.
But the option for "android at its purest" should be there for ALL devices.

to be honest i don't see how this can benefit all user groups
the problem we have with our x10s now is not that we have a totally customised firmware, it's the fact that we have an encrypted bootloader, which samsung/htc/some other manufacturers don't have.
the only solution is either sony ericsson somehow unlock the bootloader for us or we crack the code that locks up the bootloader.

aR_ChRiS said:
to be honest i don't see how this can benefit all user groups
the problem we have with our x10s now is not that we have a totally customised firmware, it's the fact that we have an encrypted bootloader, which samsung/htc/some other manufacturers don't have.
the only solution is either sony ericsson somehow unlock the bootloader for us or we crack the code that locks up the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im pretty sure were on our own for cracking the bootloader

I think that offering Vanilla android for those that want it would be good. I can't think of a reason why SE (or anyone else!) couldn't do that.

aR_ChRiS said:
to be honest i don't see how this can benefit all user groups
the problem we have with our x10s now is not that we have a totally customised firmware, it's the fact that we have an encrypted bootloader, which samsung/htc/some other manufacturers don't have.
the only solution is either sony ericsson somehow unlock the bootloader for us or we crack the code that locks up the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
people that don't root would be able to still get a regular version of android with everything working...

fiscidtox said:
I feel like a lot of the issues that have been caused with android could be solved by this simple solution, if every company gave the option to allow us to use their custom android, or we could also have the choice of having just plain vanilla android. This would be easy for them, and would also solve a great deal of user issues...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi all, i think the manufactures should kkep the option of personalize their product,but google should have some regulations for android in order to work better,i'm not an expert but in that way al of us win.
regarding the problems with cracking the x10 bootloader,i dont expect it woul be easy for the coming xperia family,so after i see how good are the htc or samsung new smart phones i'll be buying one,too bad coz i have been using sony ericsson phones for the last 5 yrs and no problem,even with the x10 i have no real problems but the fact that it can't be fully custumize it really bothers me since that is the whole point of an android phone,isn't it? peace.

cracking bootloader is next to impossible coz Sony has learnt from past and now they dont take any chance.
Sent from my X10i

kunalgahlot said:
cracking bootloader is next to impossible coz Sony has learnt from past and now they dont take any chance.
Sent from my X10i
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While i have such a bad feeling i know your right......I'm keeping my fingers crossed for that "special thread" to be posted one day.
Sent from my X10i using XDA App

aR_ChRiS said:
to be honest i don't see how this can benefit all user groups
the problem we have with our x10s now is not that we have a totally customised firmware, it's the fact that we have an encrypted bootloader, which samsung/htc/some other manufacturers don't have.
the only solution is either sony ericsson somehow unlock the bootloader for us or we crack the code that locks up the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh yes but the kernal was changed when we flashed 2.1 right? What he's saying is that they could release vanilla like that. Then if they choose they could provide an option for their custom firmware. But the key with this is that even if they didn't want to keep making custom firmwares for a phone they are phasing out supplying a working vanilla wouldn't take near the effort to implement for further updates. So they could release se custom 2.1 as their final release but still provide vanilla 2.2, 2.3 etc.
Sent from my Delorean using a flux capacitor!

I agree that the phone companies want to keep their customizations as it's what differentiates them from the competition, and gives the device its own identity. Google is making improvements to allow Android to work around the skins to avoid the phone companies having to scramble behind them with every update.
I am sure someone, possibly Google, will shortly be coming out with a fully generic "developers" device just as you described.

agentJBM said:
I am sure someone, possibly Google, will shortly be coming out with a fully generic "developers" device just as you described.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android Dev Phone

There is an option for that, if you want pure vanilla, either go to an ice-cream stand or Nexus S
Companies do the customization to differentiate their devices from others
But it's not a bad idea though
Sent from my X10i using XDA Premium App

MJ_QaT said:
There is an option for that, if you want pure vanilla, either go to an ice-cream stand or Nexus S
Companies do the customization to differentiate their devices from others
But it's not a bad idea though
Sent from my X10i using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My whole point is you would still have the option to have their custom skin though! You just wouldn't be lost in the dust with updates b/c of companies choosing not to update their skins however, or if a skin was terrible you wouldn't have to root (for those less tech savvy folk)

They ( all companies ) fixed that problem with 2.3
So everything now works with Android's applications instead of creating different application that works independently ( similar to mediascape in 2.1 )
So with or without root you can choose your favourite app as default
I understand what you meant, giving an example, companies can have an easy setup on first start with two options like ( option A: use vanilla UI, option B: use manufacturer's UI ) so everyone can go with what he/she wants
Sent from my X10i using XDA Premium App

What then would happen with the customizations for the hardware such as the camera? I can't see SE for example putting a 8 megapixil camera in a device and then not supporting its features.

All it would need would be the camera drivers. That wouldn't be any work for their dev team...

Following along...if they had done this with the X10, what you would have would still be vanilla 2.1 with the bootloader locked or no? The bootloader and camera drivers would still be needed for any custom ROMs.

Yes.... Do you understand this thread? Instead of having a slow bogged down customized android version you could choose to have plain vanilla instead. It would solve a lot about issues like lagging, and also for updates (they could easily send out a vanilla update, would bypass the "development time" everyone uses to excuse sony for stopping at 2.1).
The company putting their camera drivers into it wouldn't be any work (if that would even be needed, freex10 and wolfbreak's cm both have better quality camera than stock 2.1)...

That first sentence wasn't necessary. It only shows how limited your social skills are in an open discussion, especially one that you started.
Yes, I understand the thread. Did you understand my post is the question? I was asking if you meant the vanilla version would be current regardless of what version the skinned version, because now you're adding that they would be two separate ROMs, rather than a bogged down laggy version and the vanilla version as you put it. Gezz.

TouchWiz for Android 4/ICS = EPIC FAIL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ISAI6qbQm6U
Obviously this is a beta version of the upcoming samsung official ICS release for S2, it looks like a total catastrophe with TouchWiz..it looks NOTHING like beautiful Nexus Interface.
If it will look anything remotly similiar on the GNOTE it would be catastrophic..

Yeah agree. If the final looks like this i'm gonna flash vanilla ICS.. Well, i'll probably flash that either way.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

yes this is total dissapointment, all people expect a total new UI, and what we get is something that looks identlical to the interface we have right now... it does not look like ICS at all... looks more like gingerbread... what are Samsung thinking drop the TouchWiz crap, TouchWiz has played out it's roll... it feels like windows 7 but with the xp GUI...
We should send a protest list or something to samsung cause this looks like a total nightmare...all people expect the brilliance of the Nexus GUI.. but this looks even worse then I could imagine.

Long live cm9!!
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

I wouldn't mind vanilla ICS, but there'd better be a way to turn off the on-screen soft keys on phones that have hardware ones. Also, I can't stand having to reach all the way to the top of the phone for anything but notifications. The menu button at the bottom better continue to work the same.

The vanilla runs well on the fassy. Same stuff new version.
Ics 4.0.1 by jt1134

maxh said:
I wouldn't mind vanilla ICS, but there'd better be a way to turn off the on-screen soft keys on phones that have hardware ones. Also, I can't stand having to reach all the way to the top of the phone for anything but notifications. The menu button at the bottom better continue to work the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use adw ex u can put notificationbar on gestures, so u can drag it down from anywhere on the screen
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk

I hate touchiz. I'm an aosp lover
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

I think the phone will look odd with ICS anyway. You will have two rows of redundant keys, even though one may be not working.

randypurcz said:
I think the phone will look odd with ICS anyway. You will have two rows of redundant keys, even though one may be not working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol.....You can disable software keys in ICS

LordManhattan said:
Yeah agree. If the final looks like this i'm gonna flash vanilla ICS.. Well, i'll probably flash that either way.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To some one who have not used android before, can you explain to me what you mean with Vanilla ICS ????
You mean it will be possible to root with the standard ICS interface ?
Will the performance be as good as the official or will be lagging and buggs etc ?
Anyway, why it look so similar to todays gingerbread is maybe cause samsung are doing an half-hearted upgrade..
they have promised us ICS.. but they only seem to put small amount of energy to make a big update...
the interface looks identical etc.. Why I wanted ICS was cause it is basically a totally new OS...compared to gingerbread.

blackstar84 said:
To some one who have not used android before, can you explain to me what you mean with Vanilla ICS ????
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Click to collapse
Stock Android. The way Google had intended it to look, feel, and perform.
This is unbelievably disappointing. I'm still glad I have my S2, because of the ASOP rom currently under development. I'll most definitely switch between phones whenever I want and just store any content that matters on an SD card, so my phone is virtually hot-swappable between devices.

DarkShot666 said:
Stock Android. The way Google had intended it to look, feel, and perform.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I understand that, but there will be no official version cause the stock version most be modified to be able to work with GNOTE ???
I just wonder if it is possible to port the ICS to GNOTE without any glitches and performance loss... how does past vanilla versions works for other phones ?

blackstar84 said:
Yes I understand that, but there will be no official version cause the stock version most be modified to be able to work with GNOTE ???
I just wonder if it is possible to port the ICS to GNOTE without any glitches and performance loss... how does past vanilla versions works for other phones ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It depends on developer support. If the devs for CM9 can port it to the Note, than only then can we expect a (hopefully) fully functional ICS rom on the Note.
As it stands, Google only releases official vanilla roms to their Nexus line of phones, and they release the source for other manufacturers/devs to port to other phones.
I hope that answers your question mate, the way it was worded was a bit difficult to fully understand.

blackstar84 said:
Yes I understand that, but there will be no official version cause the stock version most be modified to be able to work with GNOTE ???
I just wonder if it is possible to port the ICS to GNOTE without any glitches and performance loss... how does past vanilla versions works for other phones ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well official as in with 'nothing' on it, no carrier or vendor tweaks/applications added and in this case, things like Touchwiz.
Also ICS was launched with Galaxy Nexus not Galaxy Note, but regardless I would presume that Samsung or another developer on XDA or any other forum will create a port to the Galaxy Note.
Vanilla just means that it doesn't have the other unnecessary stuff loaded e.g. Touchwiz. Vanilla is always compiled directly from AOSP source.

Why is everyone so angry about samsung including touchwiz into the ICS rom (I assume that's what this discussion is about?). Isn't the best thing about android the incredible ease of installing another launcher? Shouldn't the stock launcher just be a .apk away?

PickleHead said:
Why is everyone so angry about samsung including touchwiz into the ICS rom (I assume that's what this discussion is about?). Isn't the best thing about android the incredible ease of installing another launcher? Shouldn't the stock launcher just be a .apk away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's true what you said, but Samsung will skin almost everything.
The phone, browser, music player....all of them will be skinned with TW & I guess people in this thread (me include) prefer the stock ICS look and feel.

atm i looks not really nice, but! it is an internal beta, maybe even a alpha version, nobody knows if samsungs is just trying and looking if touchwiz is working under ics, i'm sure that they will make some more cosmetics for ics.

Dunno but no on saw the video? Didn't you something wrong or better few things that where not as expected on it? First the phone had a yellow triangle meaning Samsung had a problem flashing a non stock Rom on the phone. Second on the *#1234# if you not 100% eye sight old man here the csc is unknown.......... . Third the keys back and menu keys aren't functionally at all, only if they had the drivers for them to implant on csc so they could work. Fourth the browser not sure was on xda forums when he started? Or did I see wrong or now I know they where looking xda forum for a working csc file to make the buttons work.
And about touchwiz give me ics on note even with a touch I don't care, so someday the devs can make a custom Rom, on our needs. But they need to have something to play with and take some codes/ideas from the custom files.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using XDA App

Wow.. that is disappointing... i thought i could just flash back the stock rom when ICS is out. Now looks like I'm going to stay rooted for good.

Petition Sony for a Stock-Android/Google Play Edition like ROM

Hi everyone,
This is almost certainly a waste of time and effort, but I started a Petition at Change.org with the aim of getting Sony to offer an "alternative" ROM for their Z lineup.
This is the link:
https://www.change.org/p/sony-mobil...ence-and-fast-updates-for-the-xperia-z-lineup
What this is about? I really like the hardware on the new Sony devices, but I'm spoiled by my Nexus/Google Play Edition devices when it comes to Software and Update policies. Since the Nexus 6 is out of the question and there are currently no interesting GPE devices on the market, I thought this is better than not trying at all.
Basically, my idea is, that Sony could offer their users a choice: Go with the regular, Skinned ROM and be happy with it, or download the "alternative" factory images, that convert the device into a Nexus-Like Stock-Android device. That way, there is no need to market and sell two different versions of a device, and users can choose what they prefer. This would also be a "benchmark" for Sony, to see how many people are actually interested in Stock-Android-ROMs.
HTC does this, albeit unofficially, by offering GPE versions of their flagship devices that are exactly identical in hardware. It is possible to simply flash a Sense-Laden m7 or m8 and convert it into a fully working and compatible GPE version. Samsung makes it a bit more difficult by messing around with the GPE hardware in some way that makes a custom Kernel neccessary and prevents a full conversion. It took the devs quite some effort to fix the resulting Random Reboots on the S4...
So, if you like the idea, and want to attempt to generate some attention, I'd be grateful if you'd sign the petition and invite your friends to do the same. If not, then thanks for reading this and have a nice afterlife...

Love your enthusiasm but... No manufacturer offers alternative roms to flash - GPe is only ever an alternative device ~ and I presume you have never "converted" an M8 over to GPe (not for feint of heart, partition changes required prior to flashing any zip, much the same as Xperia Z Ultra GPe).
I think you'll find we are already spoilt more by Sony than any other manufacturer when it comes to offering AOSP and the various git offerings made available to us..
Sent from my D6653 using Tapatalk

Hi there,
I am aware that nobody does this yet... But maybe it is an idea for the future. About the HTC GPE... You are right, but I'm currently using a "coverted" Galaxy S4, which is also not trivial, but entirely manageable... I'm already wondering what new quirks Samsung will invent to make flashing GPE Lollipop harder on the TW Galaxy S4 i9505... ?

Isn't CM working with Sony Devices or something ?
However, i think it's fine the way it is The Rom currently is appealing to the eye and pacey

I think we should first focus on trying to get root on lb and go from there.
Sent from my Xperia Z3

russell664 said:
I think we should first focus on trying to get root on lb and go from there.
Sent from my Xperia Z3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed

Hussain_Salam said:
Isn't CM working with Sony Devices or something ?
However, i think it's fine the way it is The Rom currently is appealing to the eye and pacey
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no CM isnt working with them..Sony hired a maintainer/coder that was part of CM for Sony devices. he worked on other projects as well. Thank Jerplea. he is the community member that Sony hired nd he is helping offer source to help build aosp for Sony devices. Sony does a good job offering help to the dev community by giving tips,guides and source on ther developer website
Sent from my Xperia Tablet Z Wi-Fi using XDA Free mobile app

Getting Z2 soon, but really afraid from SONY updates ..

Hey guys
I am going to change my phone and i was going to get XPERIA Z3 but i realized that there is no major difference between Z2 and Z3 that worth the 300$ difference
this phone will be my first phone from sony and the first android phone after 2 iOS years
I was really convinced untill i checked the sony update history .. the phone is at 4.4.4 until now and some people told me it will get the Android L after 1 month and it will not have any major difference .. they told me that sony is the worse company in sending updates to their devices
HTC one m8, motorolla x,g and even the samsung S5 got android L and still no idea about sony
what do you think? i am really worried

First off - the Z2 is a great phone. Its much nicer than the S5 and even the M8 imo.
The Moto G/X got their updates to Lollipop fast because they use a practically Stock version of android, and even then, they (are/were) owned by Google - so naturally they'd get swift updates.
Sony's 5.0.x build is due soon enough, and the Z2/Z3 will be the first to get it from what I've read recently.

If L is your biggest concern for a phone, don't buy it until it's been released for said phone. Then you have nothing to worry about.

geegs8 said:
If L is your biggest concern for a phone, don't buy it until it's been released for said phone. Then you have nothing to worry about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually it is not my biggest concern i am more worried about other problems like self cracking - heat but i depend on luck when getting the phone
btw i am not worry about L .. my worry is the updates after L and sony support for the phone .. i don't like using a powerful outdated phone .. hope you got what i mean .. i told my self I can use CM but even CM hasn't released there CM12 to z2 yet hehe

Bn Waheed said:
. i don't like using a powerful outdated phone .. hope you got what i mean ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, but updates are something not really in our control. Sony is definitely not the worst company with updates. It's a great phone, I have no regrets randomly buying it as my first android without knowing too much about androids at all. Pretty proud of my choice, actually The dev community here is great so I wouldn't worry about it. I've had no issues with my phone at all. Don't be worried, be excited

Bn Waheed said:
actually it is not my biggest concern i am more worried about other problems like self cracking - heat but i depend on luck when getting the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to rely on luck, a tiny minority of devices have any issues.
Bn Waheed said:
btw i am not worry about L .. my worry is the updates after L and sony support for the phone .. i don't like using a powerful outdated phone .. hope you got what i mean .. i told my self I can use CM but even CM hasn't released there CM12 to z2 yet hehe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most devices haven't seen L yet, and you won't be seeing an official CM12 until after that as they need drivers to be available for camera etc before committing to a stable release, Sony have committed to releasing L for all the Z devices back to original two year old Z phone that's more than most manufacturers have.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app

geegs8 said:
I understand, but updates are something not really in our control. Sony is definitely not the worst company with updates. It's a great phone, I have no regrets randomly buying it as my first android without knowing too much about androids at all. Pretty proud of my choice, actually The dev community here is great so I wouldn't worry about it. I've had no issues with my phone at all. Don't be worried, be excited
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
concerning about dev community i saw some good roms and i heard that i can't root 4.4.4 without unlocking bootloader .. what are the Disadvantages result from unlocking bootloader? i made a search on google but didn't find the answer
thank you man
ghostofcain said:
You don't need to rely on luck, a tiny minority of devices have any issues.
Most devices haven't seen L yet, and you won't be seeing an official CM12 until after that as they need drivers to be available for camera etc before committing to a stable release, Sony have committed to releasing L for all the Z devices back to original two year old Z phone that's more than most manufacturers have.
Sent from my D6503 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can understand now .. and knowing that the original Z will be updated made me optimistic .. but what do you thing about that article ? i know there were similar news a year ago .. but if it's true will that affect their support for the phone?

Bn Waheed said:
Hey guys
I am going to change my phone and i was going to get XPERIA Z3 but i realized that there is no major difference between Z2 and Z3 that worth the 300$ difference
this phone will be my first phone from sony and the first android phone after 2 iOS years
I was really convinced untill i checked the sony update history .. the phone is at 4.4.4 until now and some people told me it will get the Android L after 1 month and it will not have any major difference .. they told me that sony is the worse company in sending updates to their devices
HTC one m8, motorolla x,g and even the samsung S5 got android L and still no idea about sony
what do you think? i am really worried
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My brother have S5 and some friends have Note 3 and S4 also, i am only one who updated their devices when new update released.
what i have experience from last 18 months is, Samsung give the update for his devices before one month then sony but their software's have many lags. Sony give update one month late but that software is good for daily use.
When kitkat update released in 2014, i update note 3 to them and users start complaining about the software lags.
same in S4 also.
Now its upto you, that you want a software from samsung before one month then sony with lags, or one month late but good from sony
one thing more sony always change his UI and they look great, while samsung have always same UI which looks not premium.

Sony will get the updates eventually but the said phones will never get 20.7MP camera, clearaudio+, unique design....
Ps: about the software future update concernes; Sony may be late for some updates in their history but the fact that they are the only company who share AOSP code and update their kernels alongside the Nexus devices makes them one of their kind in the Android world. No other company updates kernels, just tune the new software for the old kernel. Considering this, once the phone cut off from the company's update list and ROMs like CM come as the only option for being up-to-date, Sony will shine again with their AOSP sharings and fully open source code (I can understand that they don't wanna share their camera code as they have got many of their softwares stolen in the past). Because the rival phones like HTC One M8, Galaxy S5 and LG G3 comes with many limitations and lack of sources for developers (and even some developer-blocking-software let alone limitations)
Sent from Xperia Z2

Bn Waheed said:
actually it is not my biggest concern i am more worried about other problems like self cracking - heat but i depend on luck when getting the phone
btw i am not worry about L .. my worry is the updates after L and sony support for the phone .. i don't like using a powerful outdated phone .. hope you got what i mean .. i told my self I can use CM but even CM hasn't released there CM12 to z2 yet hehe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I don't think that the self cracking is a widespread problem and that it only affects certain users in certain weather conditions and/or how they look after the phone (care or not, dropping constantly or not etc). I personally haven't experienced the overheating problem (which is said to happen in 4K recording mode (I did 15 mins of recording and when I exited recording the temp was on 60C if I remember correctly)). The only problem I have got with the phone is the off centred back camera (it is about 1-2mm to the top right) but it doesn't affect performance in any way.
Bn Waheed said:
concerning about dev community i saw some good roms and i heard that i can't root 4.4.4 without unlocking bootloader .. what are the Disadvantages result from unlocking bootloader? i made a search on google but didn't find the answer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For 4.4.4 there is no one click root solution, however it can be rooted while remaining on a locked bootloader. You have to flash the 4.4.2 firmware (this is called downgrading if you didn't already know ) with a program called flashtool. Then you have to root the 4.4.2 firmware and the install [NUT]'s dual recovery. Once you have rooted 4.4.2 and installed the recovery you have to flash a pre-rooted ROM (Niaboc79 has a pure stock pre-rooted ROM and also eXistenZ ROM (the latter is stock based and pre-rooted too)).
Disadvantages:
X-Reality/Super Vivid break
Noise Cancelling headphone algorithm breaks
Some camera algorithms break
Lost warranty
Lost DRM keys (unless the TA backup is made)
Advantages:
Install non-stock based ROM's like AOSP, MC, PacROM, etc.
Install custom kernels
I'm sure there is more advantages and disadvantages. @Envious_Data is a good person to ask about this, have I missed anything?

Correct @gamer649
Advantages and disadvantages of UB
Advantages:
Freedom
Easier to root
Custom kernels
Custom roms (not stock based)
Harder to Brick
Easier to install recovery
Epic mods like Multi-Rom
Disadvantages:
X-Reality Breaks
Lost Warrenty
Lost DRM Keys
Camera Quality (hit and miss, still same for me but worse for a freind)
Evidently less freedom
Noise Canceling works on UB for me but im on a stock firmware (flashed from FTF)
As we know we need to use flashtool to downgrade then we can root and use root to upgrade and keep root

Envious_Data said:
Noise Canceling works on UB for me but im on a stock firmware (flashed from FTF)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I unlocked my bootloader NC broke for me (I walk the same path to work each time I go) and I could hear the cars passing me whereas I couldn't before I unlocked it. However, I didn't reflash the stock ROM so that may have been a potential fix.
I'm still to unlock my bootloader again (because we now have the epic multiROM) cause I don't wanna lose my eXistenZ setup I'll probably cave in soon though.
Also, thanks for confirming what I said.

@Envious_Data So if i unblocked my BL and lost these features and then re blocked it .. will these features work again?
and according to @gamer649 the first thing i need to do when i put my hands on the phone is a TA backup?
Lost DRM keys (unless the TA backup is made)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there any thread has some explanations for these sony stuff? i remember when i had note 2 it was just one click root on any FW

Yeah. There you go
REMEMBER TO UPLOAD BACKUP ON GOOGLE DRIVE, MAIL OR WHAT EVER, WHERE IT CAN BE KEPT SAFE
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598

gamer649 said:
When I unlocked my bootloader NC broke for me (I walk the same path to work each time I go) and I could hear the cars passing me whereas I couldn't before I unlocked it. However, I didn't reflash the stock ROM so that may have been a potential fix.
I'm still to unlock my bootloader again (because we now have the epic multiROM) cause I don't wanna lose my eXistenZ setup I'll probably cave in soon though.
Also, thanks for confirming what I said.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well it doesnt work for me unless i flash certain FTFs
So the tiwanese 167 FTF had working Noise Canceling but no other one had
Bn Waheed said:
@Envious_Data So if i unblocked my BL and lost these features and then re blocked it .. will these features work again?
and according to @gamer649 the first thing i need to do when i put my hands on the phone is a TA backup?
is there any thread has some explanations for these sony stuff? i remember when i had note 2 it was just one click root on any FW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, certain apps and services are drm dependant
Unlocking your bootloader wipes your TA where your DRM keys are kept
X-Reality/super vivid and some Xperia Apps such as playstation
Downgrade>root>backup TA> enjoy
Optional > upgrade, unlock bootloader, flash recovery

lgv2800 said:
Yeah. There you go
REMEMBER TO UPLOAD BACKUP ON GOOGLE DRIVE, MAIL OR WHAT EVER, WHERE IT CAN BE KEPT SAFE
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that reminded me with the SHSH stuff for iphone 4 thank you man

Bn Waheed said:
@Envious_Data So if i unblocked my BL and lost these features and then re blocked it .. will these features work again?
and according to @gamer649 the first thing i need to do when i put my hands on the phone is a TA backup?
is there any thread has some explanations for these sony stuff? i remember when i had note 2 it was just one click root on any FW
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The simplest way to get the features back is to restore the TA partition (which is the partition what houses all the algorithms to these features and the TA partition gets wiped upon a bootloader unlock and so does the internal storage). Restoring also relocks the bootloader at the same time so make sure you are on fully stock firmware and kernel before restoring the TA partition.
To take a TA partition backup you have to have rooted your phone first so it is worth downgrading. Also, you CANNOT use anybody else's TA backup on your phone as you WILL hard brick it. I'm not sure about any thread what explains this Sony jargon.

Envious_Data said:
Yes, certain apps and services are drm dependant
Unlocking your bootloader wipes your TA where your DRM keys are kept
X-Reality/super vivid and some Xperia Apps such as playstation
Downgrade>root>backup TA> enjoy
Optional > upgrade, unlock bootloader, flash recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great i can understand it now, many thanks
gamer649 said:
The simplest way to get the features back is to restore the TA partition (which is the partition what houses all the algorithms to these features and the TA partition gets wiped upon a bootloader unlock and so does the internal storage). Restoring also relocks the bootloader at the same time so make sure you are on fully stock firmware and kernel before restoring the TA partition.
To take a TA partition backup you have to have rooted your phone first so it is worth downgrading. Also, you CANNOT use anybody else's TA backup on your phone as you WILL hard brick it. I'm not sure about any thread what explains this Sony jargon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you i got the idea now .. so if TA partitions is safe, i am safe
i will back it up as soon as i get the phone

Bn Waheed said:
that reminded me with the SHSH stuff for iphone 4 thank you man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. Like downgrading the iPhone 4 with patched IPSW because the iboot exploit
Bn Waheed said:
great i can understand it now, many thanks
thank you i got the idea now .. so if TA partitions is safe, i am safe
i will back it up as soon as i get the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks @gamer649 for explaining it quiet nicely

if you unlock your Bootloader your TA partition is permanently wiped
it will NOT come back if you relock it

'Clean' ROMs? (Google free)

I just picked up an S8+ for €524 (new). However I'm not allowed to have anything Google on my phone (not just apps, but Play Services). Nor do I want them really.
Since there still aren't any working AOSP ROMs, which of the 100s of modified stock ROMs (or N8 ports) are available where GoogleApps must be installed as a separate package (like AOSP)? Anyone have a list?
Don't want to waste time messing around removing it from ROMs that already have it baked in.

Lineage OS when it will have official support (no idea when)

Thanks, I'm aware that it (and Resurrection Remix etc etc) will. But rather strangely, in my view, there seems to be a huge disbalance in development efforts between stock and AOSP on the S8.
Anyway, regardless, in the mean time, I want a 'stock' / modified ROM that has no Google as standard.

From what I know...there is no AOSP rom that works completely for the s8 yet...
You can still root it and unistall anything inside from google from the stock rom, so that you keep all the functions without using google stuff

Per my first post, I'd rather not bother.
I'll just return the phone or sell it immediately if there really aren't any custom ROMs where G-Apps are installed separately. Aside from the initial bother, OTA updates tend to reinstall them, so it's a constant battle.

No AOSP roms for now. There's long way for Lineage or RR to become fully functional and bug-free. Just to remind the S6/S7 case.

I know, but surely there must be a few custom ROMs with no G-apps by default? There are literally hundreds.

mudnightoil said:
I know, but surely there must be a few custom ROMs with no G-apps by default? There are literally hundreds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have a look at BatMan Rom v1.5. If I remember correctly you can choose to omit installing any G-apps via the Aroma installation.

Norup58 said:
Have a look at BatMan Rom v1.5. If I remember correctly you can choose to omit installing any G-apps via the Aroma installation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AFAIK removing Google Play Services (via Aroma) isn't an option. It's just the actual apps. Certainly it isn't an option in the screengrabs in that ROM or others.
Also, I assume like many other ROMs with G-apps baked in, OTAs complicate this, and they may never really be gone.
Thanks for the suggestion though.

Doubt very much you will find a Rom which fulfills your needs precisely.
An alternative is to use Titanium Backup or Package Disabler to get 'rid' of all Google things.

I remember there being a few in the Nexus 4 and 5 days, and some old Samsungs.
Haven't kept track of it recently, as have used stock CM / LOS in later years, so found it unnecessary.

Bump

To the OP I'd be happy to take stock from a backup and remove all Google apps entirely and upload it for all. Do you want it rooted or would you prefer to do so yourself? It would be. ROM and not odin specific. I too hate Google and have everything removed except Gmail play store and modded YouTube. Battary life is pretty amazing too.
Donations are always,welcomed for my work I do. Not needed but does aid me for my daily endeavours.
Sent from my G955F

mudnightoil said:
Bump
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to bump since you won't find anything, the formula for aosp is a Snapdragon cpu and an unlocked bootloader. You bought the wrong phone.

peachpuff said:
No need to bump since you won't find anything, the formula for aosp is a Snapdragon cpu and an unlocked bootloader. You bought the wrong phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the Nth time, if you're going to bother to reply, then at least read what I have written and explained in a number of posts.
Nowhere have I asked for AOSP. It'll come when it comes, but I need a fix in the mean time.
I am asking for a modified stock ROM with Google removed by default. Something that has existed in the past, and which it's incredible if it does not exist among the hundreds of modified stock ROMs for the S8 variants.
Also, Snapdragon certainly isn't a prerequisite for AOSP. Samsung released all the sources a while ago. Huawei (Kirin & slow to release any / all sources and unreleased drivers) have AOSP.
I think the main impediment is that the S8/S8+/Note8 have been very expensive. But given that an S8 can now be bought for the same or less than a 64GB OP 5T in Europe, and has obviously better hardware, I suspect there will be a great deal more development effort incoming. Per my original post, my S8+ cost €524 from one of the largest e-tailers in Germany. A 5T costs €499.

this.guy.lol said:
To the OP I'd be happy to take stock from a backup and remove all Google apps entirely and upload it for all. Do you want it rooted or would you prefer to do so yourself? It would be. ROM and not odin specific. I too hate Google and have everything removed except Gmail play store and modded YouTube. Battary life is pretty amazing too.
Donations are always,welcomed for my work I do. Not needed but does aid me for my daily endeavours.
Sent from my G955F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's very kind. The only problem I foresee, as mentioned earlier, is that removing Google from a ROM which doesn't have a maintained Google-free version means that every significant OTA update is likely to 're-infect' the system.
I think the most likely chance of success is a minor fork of ICE / BatMan / Renovate (i.e. one of the most popular modified stock ROMs) with a default Google-free version. This way, it may well attract enough interest that even if you stop, someone else will maintain it. They're so popular that there might be enough interest to maintain it even after LOS15.1 and derivatives are working and stable.

mudnightoil said:
For the Nth time, if you're going to bother to reply, then at least read what I have written and explained in a number of posts.
Nowhere have I asked for AOSP. It'll come when it comes, but I need a fix in the mean time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah you're right, my bad.
mudnightoil said:
Samsung released all the sources a while ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For exynos?
I am asking for a modified stock ROM with Google removed by default. Something that has existed in the past, and which it's incredible if it does not exist among the hundreds of modified stock ROMs for the S8 variants.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now why didn't you do your research before buying this phone? Did you just assume you'd find a google free touchwiz rom? It doesn't take long to skim through the dev section and see every rom is basically stock with little tweaks here and there. Its not like you bought the phone on day 1, its been out for 8 months or so.
So like i said before, you bought the wrong phone, give it back and get that op5t if you don't want google on your phone. Flash aosp and voila, no google unless you flash gapps.

mudnightoil said:
That's very kind. The only problem I foresee, as mentioned earlier, is that removing Google from a ROM which doesn't have a maintained Google-free version means that every significant OTA update is likely to 're-infect' the system.
I think the most likely chance of success is a minor fork of ICE / BatMan / Renovate (i.e. one of the most popular modified stock ROMs) with a default Google-free version. This way, it may well attract enough interest that even if you stop, someone else will maintain it. They're so popular that there might be enough interest to maintain it even after LOS15.1 and derivatives are working and stable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
itll be 7 months before we see aosp on s8 and s8 plus. as for the other thing, i have a base im working on atm. when an update comes along ill make one from it. in the meantime, the build i use is super fast and compared to the others you mentioned like ice and batman, its way better for snappy and so on. if interested let me know. itll take me around 6 hours to get it going and another 3 to upload if im lucky. donations on this would be highly highly appreciated but not needed

this.guy.lol said:
itll be 7 months before we see aosp on s8 and s8 plus. as for the other thing, i have a base im working on atm. when an update comes along ill make one from it. in the meantime, the build i use is super fast and compared to the others you mentioned like ice and batman, its way better for snappy and so on. if interested let me know. itll take me around 6 hours to get it going and another 3 to upload if im lucky. donations on this would be highly highly appreciated but not needed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it'll be much sooner than that. Price matters. It'll fall even further once the S9 is out. But anyway ....
What's the base? Will it have Aroma?
It would probably be a good idea to make a thread with details, and then you can gauge interest and thereby likelihood of donations.
Once I actually have the phone (it's in DE and I'm currently in NL) and get round to installing it, I'd of course contribute, provided it is indeed suitable.

mudnightoil said:
I think it'll be much sooner than that. Price matters. It'll fall even further once the S9 is out. But anyway ....
What's the base? Will it have Aroma?
It would probably be a good idea to make a thread with details, and then you can gauge interest and thereby likelihood of donations.
Once I actually have the phone (it's in DE and I'm currently in NL) and get round to installing it, I'd of course contribute, provided it is indeed suitable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Base will be 7.0/7.1.1 as its the most stable as far as speed is concerned. Aroma will be an option yes. I'm still learning how to make threads in here. Would love to have a place holder of sorts. Ill look into more later on. Be looking for my other account on here to post the ROM. The name is LVL7MODZ