[Q] Looking for ROM suggestions - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I hope this is the right forum to ask this question. If not, please accept my apologies and guide me where I can pose the question.
I bought the AT&T version of GS4 and currently on Straight talk. I am looking for a good ROM to flash with, and open to suggestions. My most important things are:
Battery Life
Clean Experience (No AT&T Crapware) - I loved CleanROM concept but looks like the developer stopped work on that.
OTA Updates
TouchWiz (not stock Google experience) & Samsung version of Email Client (My exchange policies requires it)
It would be great if some Stock Google apps, such as Photosphere work, but it is not a hard requirement.
Any suggestions?

Related

Noobie here... Seeking some advice post root

Hi everybody,
I just moved from an iphone 3g (which i had jailbroken) to an incredible thanks to at&t contract finally finishing. Hv rooted the inc on my mac using the unrevoked method. Everything works fine (still have stock eclair 2.1 and sense running). Hv installed a bunch of apps from the market but hv not sideloaded anything yet or uninstalled anything (htc sense etc etc) yet. I would really appreciate some guidance from the community on the following since i am very new to the platform as a whole.
1. I dont want to lose the ability to update to the official froyo release (whenever it happens) so will I have to unroot (if thats even possible) to get the froyo update? If yes, whats the correct way so that I can bookmark that.
2. I want to be able to use the tethering without paying 20$ extra per month to VZ (in fact would probably use USB tethering to my macbook more often than wifi tethering/hotspot, but obviously I would like both! ). How should i do that? Obviously the stock app will just alert verizon, right? Is there another app that will work now that i hv rooted? Any special instructions to follow?
3. Would like to optimize the capability of the device by removing crapware and useless stuff which comes with the phone. Hv not yet even figured out what each app does yet. I will use my inc primarily for entertainment - games, social networking, browsing, streaming music, videos, google voice, true VoIP (not official VZ skype), GPS navigation, tethering (when no wifi) but will be OTA syncing my office exchange email account, contacts, calendar as well to make this a backup phone to my official bberry. Any suggestions on which apps to remove? Also how should I remove them without bricking the phone. Is there a cleaner method?
4. I actually like Sense even though it seems it uses up some memory - any way i can remove the useless parts of Sense (since I wont be using USB sync and I am sure some other stuff in sense is just bloatware) without losing the other features that look great - to be honest the phone looks too plain without sense (nexus 1 looked really naked). I would like to retain the look and feel of the sense ui.
5. How do I get swype on this? I played with it when i was shopping for android phones on the captivate (which unfortunately was on at&t) and I am amazed at how great that was! I badly badly badly badly need that!!
6. Any standard add-ons, apps which you would recommend for my intended usage?
7. Now that I am rooted which post-root apps should i install to make the inc more useful? Any obvious ones which you would recommend?
8. The people sense widget is just too much, anything a bit saner which is like a launchpad but without the screen wastage?
9. In jailbroken iphones, you could install lockinfo which was a spectacular agglomeration of all things (missed calls, voice mails waiting, email msg list, twitter feed, facebook feed, weather, calendar, tasks, sms msgs) in 1 simple scrollable screen. Anything similar in Sense/HTC widgets/App store? Just one glance would tell me everything.
Sorry, since I am new I decided to ask all questions in 1 shot. Obviously dont expect to have all questions answered by 1 person but if the devs/users can point me in the right direction, with links and some comments, I will greatly appreciate it.
Thanks and hoping to be a contributor to the android community sometime soon as I was in the iphone community until i just could not take at&t anymore.
1.yes you need to unroot to recieve otas
2.there is an app incthe market called wifi tether that is free.
3.look in the theme/app sectiom. there is a skinned version there.
4. adb in recovery os the only way to remove crapware
7-8 . there are not many apps for root users lile there was with cydia.
also, there are many widets avaliable in the android market. there is lots of good apps in the market. explore.
if you have any other questions feel free to pm me amy time.
jdkoreclipse said:
1.yes you need to unroot to recieve otas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, if you are running the stock rom ou will recieve OTAs. The OTA doesn't magically detect "this phone is rooted."
rpearl said:
No, if you are running the stock rom ou will recieve OTAs. The OTA doesn't magically detect "this phone is rooted."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doesnt somethong change the ctacerts and otacerts?
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
No. it's also not suggested and is reported to have negative side effects.
One important thing, Install Rom Manager from the market.
With this app you can do a backup of the Rom (stock sense and rooted) you're running now and install others to try, if you don't like them just restore the one you had before and done, you can as many back up as you want.
Also check in the theme section and you'll find lots of themes to make your phone look and work beautiful, this also allows you to get to recovery without having to turnoff your phone and install anything you want from the sd card.
Also, if you don't like some of the crap ware that Sense has, there's a post for removing the apps you don't want on Sense and it tell you which ones are safe to remove.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=710009
Hope this helps a little.
Some apps for us the rooted...shootme or drocap to take pictures of your screens, titanium backup, wifi tether, etc.
Appreciate the help everybody! Only thing I am still seeking an answer for is swype on my inc if anybody can guide me.
Thanks
khanam said:
Appreciate the help everybody! Only thing I am still seeking an answer for is swype on my inc if anybody can guide me.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you go. I use the red skinned Swype, looks great and works great.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=701198
Thanks! Just realized one more thing. I cant seem to be able to use skype over wifi only. Is this verizon's way of using up my minutes one way or another?

[Q] Corporate Android Usage

Hello Guys,
before I start: My apologies for this, I am not quite sure if I am even in the right Topic.
I think of myself as pretty new to Android, but got some experiences in Rooting, Custom Roms and such. But that is already as far as it gets.
Now my Problem: We lost our BES and now my Company decided to go with Android (SG4 I9505) and I have to make it happen :angel:.
1. I Need some Kind of Freeware tool to administer Android Devices (Basic: find device, delete data, restrict Apps)
2. If something like this dont exist (which I dont think-I just havent found it)), I would Need to know if I can use CM 10.2 as our Standard Rom and before you start rolling your eyes with experimental and such....
I have to restrict the phone solely to Telefone, Exchange and some preselected (mostly travel)Tools. NO GAPPS!!! and I think that nightly CM provides this with no problems
To realize this I downloaded the nightly from 18th, I think. I then added some APK´s into \System\app Folder and installed the ROM. This actually worked fine until I updated to phone afterwards via build in updating tool - all Tools were gone.(what did I miss?)
Now, our Standard is SG4 I-9505.
Any ideas on how I could do this? (I couldnt find what I was looking for)
1. Adminster a fleet of androids (free)
2. Customize a Custom ROM for corporate Identity (How to pre-setup Exchange Boot Logo, Lockscreen, etc.)
3. or customize a ROM to the Point it cannot do much except what is in the \System\app Folder and turn off updates
Any link is much appreciated. Sadly there is sooooo much andoid articles out there that I seem to get lost while searching for the right one. Thanks in advance!!!!
AccEss-dEniEd said:
1. Adminster a fleet of androids (free)
2. Customize a Custom ROM for corporate Identity (How to pre-setup Exchange Boot Logo, Lockscreen, etc.)
3. or customize a ROM to the Point it cannot do much except what is in the \System\app Folder and turn off updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My guess is I'll get flamed for saying this - but here goes.
Android corporate (MDM) leaves a lot to be desired next to iOS, at least as far as I've been able to find. We manage a lot of iPads and obviously minus the custom ROM we've been able to do it all for little to no cost. We've shied away from Android a lot because of the limited MDM control.
But, since you asked:
1. Meraki Systems Manager (and the accompanying app from Google Play)
2. Good luck with that
3. See number 2
I think the reality is you're going to need to do something to the effect of either cook your own ROM and deploy it or use a tool like CWM to create an "image" that you would then restore to the devices. I did that with a batch of 60+ Nexus 7s and it worked out pretty well.
Edit:
With all that said - I would urge your management to reconsider their approach as the world has changed since Blackberry was the only game in town. Yes, still stick with MDM, device location, remote wipe etc. But unless you're dealing with highly sensitive information (exp banking), let people actually USE the device you're giving them. Don't lock it down to where its basically a first generation iPhone. I'm a big fan of giving someone a good tool and letting them use it the way that works best for them, while still keeping the device and more importantly the data under corporate control.
Assuming you have Exchange, does this not provide the management part?
AccEss-dEniEd said:
Hello Guys,
before I start: My apologies for this, I am not quite sure if I am even in the right Topic.
I think of myself as pretty new to Android, but got some experiences in Rooting, Custom Roms and such. But that is already as far as it gets.
Now my Problem: We lost our BES and now my Company decided to go with Android (SG4 I9505) and I have to make it happen :angel:.
1. I Need some Kind of Freeware tool to administer Android Devices (Basic: find device, delete data, restrict Apps)
2. If something like this dont exist (which I dont think-I just havent found it)), I would Need to know if I can use CM 10.2 as our Standard Rom and before you start rolling your eyes with experimental and such....
I have to restrict the phone solely to Telefone, Exchange and some preselected (mostly travel)Tools. NO GAPPS!!! and I think that nightly CM provides this with no problems
To realize this I downloaded the nightly from 18th, I think. I then added some APK´s into \System\app Folder and installed the ROM. This actually worked fine until I updated to phone afterwards via build in updating tool - all Tools were gone.(what did I miss?)
Now, our Standard is SG4 I-9505.
Any ideas on how I could do this? (I couldnt find what I was looking for)
1. Adminster a fleet of androids (free)
2. Customize a Custom ROM for corporate Identity (How to pre-setup Exchange Boot Logo, Lockscreen, etc.)
3. or customize a ROM to the Point it cannot do much except what is in the \System\app Folder and turn off updates
Any link is much appreciated. Sadly there is sooooo much andoid articles out there that I seem to get lost while searching for the right one. Thanks in advance!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently work in the infrastructure of a good sized corporation. We're using IOS with a mixture of android hardware and there's some good news and bad news for what you want to do.
Good news is, like Jpcurrie said, exchange will handle remote wiping and locking the phone down. you can require the phone to use a PIN, remote wipe and and a bit more. As for locating the phone, Google actually has finally built in remote locating of your device and remote wipe as well. There's a couple good apps out there (lookout) will turn on your GPS and allow you to locate the phone and they're free. If you happen to have a virtualized environment with VMware, you could also use VMware View Horizons which builds in a secure sector on the phone and you can remotely manage which apps and files the user can use. the best part of View is you can use a BYOD model and keep corporate data secure. The biggest issue is if you don't happen to already use a VMware architecture it gets pricey quickly.
Here's the rub now. you want to install your own logos on the bootup which you could do by installing a custom ROM. This will void your warranty on the hardware and as it isn't 100% stable you'll be spending a LOT of time trying to keep a consistent environment.
Like netsyd said, talk to management about an MDM, and the branding of the devices, maybe even talk to them about using a BYOD to reduce costs of hardware and administration of that hardware.
Isn´t Knox supposed to allow administrators to only delete the data that belongs to the Corporate account (emails, calendars, tasks, etc.), or an administrator can still force a full device wipe? Sorry if the questions is too basic, I've tried searching around for info on Knox but couldn't find anything besides press releases.
I'm not a network administrator, I'm just a user and my school secure wifi installs a device administrator.
I'm sorry to deviate the topic a little bit from the original.
At Delta we use Air Watch but it's far from free. You can however manage devices and remote wipe. You can also view installed apps and remove what should not be there. Options for device profiles also. I help maintain these devices everyday. Not Free but an MDM is your best bet.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
long time - no see
Hiya,
sorry I didn t answer - kinda was overwhelmed with this Task.
Wanted still to thank you: I did what you suggestet and wanted to let you know where I am now.
1. Meraki = implemented - now runnning 160+ devices. (at no costs)
2. CM12.1 implemented (without GAPPS/no SU)
3. Standard Image/w Apps defined. (Mostly Offline capable Tools like "here" etc.(which actually reduced costs))
4. Since Android has limited capability to be administered in a "real" professional Fashion we mitigated this issue by creating a policy to forbid the user to temper with the device (e.g. Installation of Software/SU etc) yet to allow the Installation of Software manually by us via creating a ticket. We check the Software mainly for "sanity" and malware and install it if ok.
This has been working so far like a charm for us. None of the user were happy to loose the Gapps obviously - but once they had their Software and settled in, all was ok. For the Administering part: Meraki can tell me if Software is beeing installed without our Knowledge, also we see if SM doesnt speak with us anymore. So, for now, we got the most out of the System and I am happy to say: I got minimal Control in a Quality sense. No no more "KO Critera" - and we have implemented Android. Tracking etc. is forbidden in Germany anyway - so we use Meraki mainly to wipe if lost and to check if someone goes against policy.
What is still open:
- I am still working on a way to have the user enter his credentials and automatically enter These in all respective config files. (haven't had much luck - with the absense of SU obviously.
- a Little cosmetics still open (I am still trying to figure out how the theming really works ... I usually f**k up the Pictures and sounds.... but so far making Progress
- with less and less good Android devices coming out (now, I am probably beeing flamed now ) that suits our needs (open bootloader, known/supported CPUs, removable battery, SD Card Slot) - I think we might Switch by Q4/2016.
netsyd said:
My guess is I'll get flamed for saying this - but here goes.
Android corporate (MDM) leaves a lot to be desired next to iOS, at least as far as I've been able to find. We manage a lot of iPads and obviously minus the custom ROM we've been able to do it all for little to no cost. We've shied away from Android a lot because of the limited MDM control.
But, since you asked:
1. Meraki Systems Manager (and the accompanying app from Google Play)
2. Good luck with that
3. See number 2
I think the reality is you're going to need to do something to the effect of either cook your own ROM and deploy it or use a tool like CWM to create an "image" that you would then restore to the devices. I did that with a batch of 60+ Nexus 7s and it worked out pretty well.
Edit:
With all that said - I would urge your management to reconsider their approach as the world has changed since Blackberry was the only game in town. Yes, still stick with MDM, device location, remote wipe etc. But unless you're dealing with highly sensitive information (exp banking), let people actually USE the device you're giving them. Don't lock it down to where its basically a first generation iPhone. I'm a big fan of giving someone a good tool and letting them use it the way that works best for them, while still keeping the device and more importantly the data under corporate control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Newb questions to N9005 and Android

I'm finally receiving my N9005 in the next days, yet I've been using a legacy Nokia N900 with Maemo OS the predecessor of MeeGo OS (Nokia's and Intel's failed mobile/tablet OS).
What would you suggest me to do while I'm new to Android? I want to have as much control as possible over the system and data sent.
Things I'd like to have/do:
- a privacy framework like xprivacy
- uninstall bloatware from stock OS
- getting rid of most Google stuff except its cloud messaging service (for Threema)
- a secure email app/client
- a secure browser
From what I've read yet this seems impossible without rooting the device and risk to toggle Knox to 0x1.
To use the Google cloud messaging service I have to have a Google account and be logged in, no?
Sending fake IMEI, device type, etc. would be done by xprivacy.
Thanks a lot!
Maybe this ?
Sent from my N9005
Dejan Sathanas said:
Maybe this ?
Sent from my N9005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the welcome video!
Let me refine my question with the obvious: I've searched the forum before I posted.
- a privacy framework like xprivacy ...there are SRT AppGuard, App Ops, LBE, PDroid (Open Source version development stopped), +Droidwall as addition, etc. - the best ones need root!
- uninstall bloatware from stock OS ...there is
[USER-CHOICE][AROMA][BLOATWARE REMOVER TOOL][DESIGN YOUR ROM][SM-N900] - needs root!
- getting rid of most Google stuff except its cloud messaging service (for Threema) ...I could strip a ROM from Google apps or go FOSS and just install the needed GApps - do I have those skills yet? No, see OT - that's why I'm asking for easier ways possible.
- a secure email app/client ...the most favoured ones like K-9 (with AGP), Aqua Mail, etc.
- a secure browser ...there are lots of flavors around, most prominent are Dolphin, Chrome, Opera, Firefox or Orweb+Orbot for Tor
What I'm asking for is experience I don't have with the Android system yet.
Where else to look this up? If splitting up every point and open a new topic/reply in its corresponding thread is the way to go, tell me pls.
The first three points I've asked are all related to rooting and custom ROMs. The latest entries in the respective threads are showing mixed results, especially with latest KitKat release.
Regarding the last two points about email clients and browsers it's again about experience of advanced users with those apps I like to partake in.
Answering the original implicit question/statement "From what I've read yet this seems impossible without rooting the device and risk to toggle Knox to 0x1" would surely take the same time as posting the video link.
Thanks
The thread title stated my newbieness, instead of posting a video with the forum rules it would be more helpful to get into the questions and contribute to the thread for other users looking up such topics (I did). I'm here to learn, learning by doing and getting a Knox 0x1 ain't productive

Android 5.1.x care package for Cuba

Greetings fine folks of the S3 Mini forum!
I first broached this idea in the OmniROM 5.1.1 thread - I just got back from Cuba having met some folks out there who are pretty keen to get their hands on the latest Android goodness, but are completely unable to as:
there is essentially no residential internet in Cuba
there is no cellular internet
the WiFi you can find in tourist hotels/town telecoms offices cuts in and out preventing downloads of any size
Many Google services don't work due to the embargo
Currently apks are shared phone-to-phone using Zapya over Bluetooth and WiFi hotspotting. To give these guys something to play with, I am planning on sending an SD card over - an Android 'care package' - including:
Everything needed to flash custom ROMs (USB drivers, ODIN, minimal fastboot/adb)
A couple of custom ROMs (CM12.1 and OmniROM?)
Comprehensive flashing instructions (using Odin and not) for the S3 Mini (translated into Spanish ideally)
GApps (5.1.x) - 'Mini' if the phone can take it
Useful .apks/binaries e.g. Camera, Cardboard (I took one over, it was a big hit!), SuperSU...
Anything else useful to get them started playing with Lollipop
I'm currently working in a Google Doc collecting where these things can be downloaded and starting to find flashing instructions - which is where you guys come in. Although I found the S3 Mini to be relatively popular in Cuba, I don't own one so I can't test this stuff myself. If anyone would like to contribute to this project, I'd really appreciate it. It won't require too much work - but some sanity checking would be appreciated. You can find the Google Doc here. If you do make any changes, please use 'Suggesting' mode or coloured text
If you have any suggestions for things I should be including other than what's above and in the document, please add it or let me know. I'll update this thread once I've got some instructions done to be checked.
Thanks!
Regarding the flashing instructions, I don't know if this can help you, though it's in English.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3102258
Sent from my GT-I8190 using XDA Free mobile app
Since the the guide mentioned above is mine, i would like to know if it is the final choice.
Why not set up a mesh network? If you could get enough devices running it, You could in concept make your own internet.
I'm not from Cuba, (live in south Florida) but I can probably help out.

confused

I read the blog post on XDA about getting rid of Google on an android phone.
http://www.xda-developers.com/setting-up-android-marshmallow-without-google/#comment
It started with install TWRP. I know what it is, but just had a problem with it on a Nexus 4 running CM 10. I could not get to it through recovery. Finally had to install Clockwork Mod, and that got me to where I needed to go to put 12.1 on the Nexus. I had gotten both from Play. Is there a better download for TWRP elsewhere? and a good wiki? (I do read everything)
I've had problems with Play, I have an Oppo and Google told me some of my apps would not run. BULL! i repurchased from Amazon and they ran just fine. Google has also insisted that some of my wifi only tablets belonged to my carrier.
I can't get Carbon to run - tried everything possible and no joy. Can TWRP run a backup if you aren't rooted? I didn't root the Oppo. You could turn everything off so rooting was not necessary.
I've ordered the Moto X Pure, and since I don't use Google for anything except apps, I have no contacts, sms or other goodies stored there.
I don't want to, either. There's other cloud services besides Google. I also have friends that despise Google. They buy a phone and only use what the carrier offers. They just leave phone stock and don't want their names in Google's database via emails. The carriers update the phones. I also don't use Gmail. The account is mostly just to give out to spammers and to buy apps.
If I'm paying for a private mail service, I don't see why Google should get the info.
I'm concerned about the contact list.
Will TWRP help? and which 3rd party is best?
Thanks
I use a fairly fast phone for certain apps. All are reference and I like having them on the phone. All my info is at my fingertips. These apps will not run on anything but a smart phone. I also always buy unlocked phones. TMO is switching bands and the Oppo doesn't have the newer ones that I want to try.
I'd prefer to give the phone a chance, but if I get too annoyed, I'll root it.
I see the info here has improved - it's no longer in phone shorthand where you have to look up all the shortcuts.

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