Is there a way to convert a Galaxy S4 I337M to a real google edition? I don't mean flahsing a ROM, etc....I mean, really converting it....to recieve OTAs, etc.
To my knowledge the answer to your question is no...
The GPE of the S4 is a separate device running a separate bootloader. Flashing a GPE Rom is the only way to get the experience of it on the I337M.
interesting question....i have seen posts about turning the i9505 variant but nothing for i337M
wonder if the the process applied to i9505 will work for i337M
Short answer no. At least not "pure" GPE.
Rom would be the way to go. I have Kangabean Google Edition rom which works great.
I agree with swagmiester, I've ran kangabean for a while as my daily driver and it seems to be the smoothest most stable version of 4.3 GE Roms. To me it was smoother than any ROM I've tried yet except for Graviton. But Graviton is a 4.2.2 Rom. But I don't know if you could convert to get OTA's if you would want to. OTA may make you loose root with no new root method, or lock boot loader (if that's possible. Don't really know much about the true GE S4). And may not get proper radios/modems for your carrier. To my understanding OTA's are carrier specific for that reason as well as all their other BS they want to flood your device with.
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Hello everyone,
Before I continue... I currently have a Galaxy SII Skyrocket that I've flashed several times using Odin and have rooted in order to reset the custom ROM counter to 0, followed by flashing back to official 4.2.2 via the firmware available on Sammobile. Not saying I'm a technical expert, but if there's instructions on how to do it, I can follow.
My ATT contract is up for upgrade eligibility in the middle of June, and will be ordering the Galaxy S4 when the time comes. I understand the I337 and I9505 are basically the same device, so I9505 firmware can be flashed onto the I337. I've also found the simple instructions on how to unlock your device from AT&T's network.
My question is, is there an available firmware that is stock Android 4.2.2 (no AT&T bloatware or stuff that didn't originally come from Android), basically what will come with the unlocked Galaxy S4 that will be available from Google via the Play Store, that is official (like ROMs found via Sammobile) that can be flashed to the I337 without tripping the custom ROM counter or requiring the device to be rooted? I don't even care if the phone is unlocked... I'll be using it through AT&T's network. I just don't want what Google didn't originally intended Android 4.2.2 to contain on my device.
And if not, which I assume is the answer, is it safe to assume the firmware that will come on the unlocked S4 from Google will be flashable onto the I337 with the abovementioned terms?
I apologize in advance if there is a thread that already answers this question.
Thanks,
Brett
Im looking for sane thing. A base 4.2.2 google goodness without TW, bloatware etc.
Sent from my SGH-I337M using xda app-developers app
It's safe to assume we will be able to flash the Google edition rom but it hasn't been confirmed. Right now the main worry of anyone who doesn't currently own an S4 is a future update that patches Dans Loki exploit. I'm far, far from a dev but I do stalk the R&D thread Adam created about unlocking the bootloader permanently, and I don't see much activity. I don't really know how far they've come or how close they are, and I've got enough common sense to not bug them or ask for eta's.
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When some devs get a hold of the google os, I am sure they will port it over for us. I see no reason why we will not be able to run that rom.
Is it possible to convert an international Samsung Galaxy S 4 (i9505, the one with 4G) to the Google Edition version, with a stock ROM?
DarthC said:
Is it possible to convert an international Samsung Galaxy S 4 (i9505, the one with 4G) to the Google Edition version, with a stock ROM?
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Yes, it is possible, I did it yesterday. Just Download and flash the GE package through Odin.
Everything appeared to be working, but I was disappointed. I was expecting an improved ROM without all the bloatware, which I got, but I lost access to a lot of settings/tweaks/personalisations that come with stock. Perhaps I did something wrong, I am sure someone will tell me.
i didn't think it was as simple as just flashing the stock ge rom? i think there are some custom roms based on the ge stock though? check the dev section?
It seems that there's more ROM's for the i9505 rather than the i9505G.
Is it possible to convert to i9505 from the i9505G?
What do you mean by "convert"? Are you looking to install a 9505 ROM on a 9505G, or are you hoping you can physically change the 9505G to a 9505?
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
What do you mean by "convert"? Are you looking to install a 9505 ROM on a 9505G, or are you hoping you can physically change the 9505G to a 9505?
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My main reason would be the ROMs.
That doesn't really answer my question. In terms of hardware, you can't drop an I9505 motherboard into an I9505G midframe and vice versa, as the design of the midframe is sufficiently different that the motherboard won't fit properly.[1]
From all appearances, it sounds as if you purchased the wrong phone. I'm fairly sure you don't get LTE over in the UK on the I9505G, as its LTE is supposedly set up for the US market. Your want of custom ROMs tends to ignore the I9505G's big selling point, that being the updates come direct from Google instead of Samsung. Heck, you sound like the mirror opposite of myself, as I have an I9505 here in the US with no LTE due to not having the right LTE bands, and a ROM that other than being rooted and debloated is stock. If your phone is black, maybe we should talk.
[1]http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52201458&postcount=10
I guess I changed to a custom ROM a while back thinking I'd get more out of it. I wanted it rooted though.
If I go back to a original ROM and root that (if possible?) Would I still get Lollipop?
Going back to the original ROM should allow you to get Android 5.0. The GPE phones are root friendly so you should have no trouble rooting. After getting Android 5.0 then you can use a custom recovery.
Will the i9505 stuff work on the SPH-L720T? It's the branded Sprint version of the i9505 and I don't want to brick the damn thing. If there is anything I need to know, now would be a good time to tell me. I will point out that I have the 4G version (I think that's the only version made for this model anyway) and it is unlocked to work on all networks. Will I loose that if I flash a custom ROM?
Secondly, I am looking for a ROM that is as close to the stock experience as possible but doesn't have all the issues of stock! But with fixed stagefright issues, the widget draw on Touchwiz UI, and better power saving features.
Thirdly, recovery: what is the best one to use? I was thinking TWRP since I already have experience with that. Do I also need to match up an Odin version for my device?
I think that's about it for now. Thank's for the help!
If the code was jfltexx, it's safe to flash. Just check the ROM's thread for any special guides if available.
For stock-based, no idea. I don't have an I9505.
Sent from my GT-I9500
Thanks. Where do I find the code to tell?
On any I9505 development thread with jfltexx on their supported device list.
Sent from my GT-I9500
It's a rebranded I9505. They have identical hardware.
Your phone has a tri-band something. I don't know what it does, but it seems to be carrier related. That's the only difference between the normal SPH-L720, I9505 and your model.
Since I just got A S4 I have some questions. I mainly am used to nexus/moto devices in terms of roms/etc, and I know the process is entirely different with the S4.
The model is a AT&T S4. Updated to 5.0.1
I know I won't be able to unlock the bootloader, which is okay as long as I CAN have some hopes of running another firmware on it.
All I require is Root/Xposed, and maybe CM13..or any other android 6.0 based ROM. How feasible are my options? I won't know until I physically have it, but what should I look out for in terms of firmware/bootloader codes?
You cannot run any custom ROM unless the rom is based on a Samsung kernel which means no cm or aosp ROMs.
audit13 said:
You cannot run any custom ROM unless the rom is based on a Samsung kernel which means no cm or aosp ROMs.
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that sucks. Guess I will sell it for a bit higher than I bought it and grab something else. Thank you.
I have an s4 (Canadian version, i337m) which doesn't have a locked bootloader and I find the phone okay with stock unrooted LP. I used to based my phone decisions on whether there was an XDA forum but my flashaholic days are behind me