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Hi everyone...
Im looking for suggestions on how to customize my stock vibrant and try all col things with this powerful phone... So far I have launcher pro and a beautiful widgets... And some games like need for speed shift demo... Anything else cool and exciting I can try or download on my phone w/o rooting it? Or screwing up ota uodates in the future?... Like changing tmob boot up screen or any suggestions at alll...
Thanx
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
In the settings you can change the "font style." (New fonts can be downloaded for a buck.) It can have a significant effect on how things appear. Some suggestions from the tips thread are Helvetica Nue, Soho Gothic, Frutiger and Felbridge. I'm digging Helvetica a lot.
Thanx for suggestion.. I forgot to mention I downloaded a few flip fonts I love how it changes the look of the phone.. Any other suggestions? Or performance boosters?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
you can not change the boot logo (or shutdown) if you are not rooted. If you are rooted, you still get OTA, but once installed it will unroot the phone
No problem do this
Fancy Widgets
Pure Messenger/ Grid Calendar and an Agenda app... (can't remember the name)
I am running Agenda Widget and liking it ok so far. I am always looking for a better one.
Launcher Pro or ADW, Beautiful Widgets, change the font style.
Here is a link to a thread with a plethora of Flip Fonts to choose from. Just download the .apk. locate and install on your device. Go into settings and change the font, restart and there you go
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=748916
Don't mean to pick on the op but I'm curious why people don't want to root.
I did the day it was possible and haven't looked back. So many things you can do to customize all reversible if you have to. Just don't try doing really crazy stuff unless you know what your doing but most things in the stick under the root section are easy and awesome.
Anyway I'd love to understand why people don't just do it.
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
drhonk said:
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
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Click to collapse
One more awesome thing to do with root. I don't get why you wouldn't.
joshthewaster said:
One more awesome thing to do with root. I don't get why you wouldn't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't get why people who don't root their phones go on XDA. XDA is a place for rooting and ROM development. Not a user-friendly website for non-rooters. But yeah definitely root, you can customize a lot more. Customize the notifications bar, I don't really big the light gray and blue 3G icon
I've gone from a few different Nokias, to a Motorola Razor, to a Blackberry Pearl and now finally to a Samsung Vibrant. I'm pretty good with computers and software so I know I could get rooting/recovery/flashing down, but this is my first time with a mobile device I could hack.
Whenever I do research on the topic I find multiple threads with multiple ways to root. The whole directions/concept just isn't crystal clear with me yet, despite how much I've read. And, there's always posts at the end of each thread by users with unanswered issues/problems.
I guess, I'm just taking the slow cautious route, enjoying stock android eclair for a while. I do have the itch, but no apps or issues with my phone have pushed me beyond curiosity and into the experimental, so to speak.
What is the top main reason you have for rooting your vibrant?
Edit: to point out, I know I could've "hacked" my previous phones, but not the way you can with an Android phone, you know what I mean...
trunkstar1 said:
I've gone from a few different Nokias, to a Motorola Razor, to a Blackberry Pearl and now finally to a Samsung Vibrant. I'm pretty good with computers and software so I know I could get rooting/recovery/flashing down, but this is my first time with a mobile device I could hack.
Whenever I do research on the topic I find multiple threads with multiple ways to root. The whole directions/concept just isn't crystal clear with me yet, despite how much I've read. And, there's always posts at the end of each thread by users with unanswered issues/problems.
I guess, I'm just taking the slow cautious route, enjoying stock android eclair for a while. I do have the itch, but no apps or issues with my phone have pushed me beyond curiosity and into the experimental, so to speak.
What is the top main reason you have for rooting your vibrant?
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Click to collapse
- Allows access to applications that require root access (e.g. Titanium Backup, SetCPU, AdFree (not suggested since it helps developers), metamorph, etc)
- When you root, you have the ability to flash a custom recovery that allows custom ROMs. This allows nandroid backups, restores, and more.
- Remove bloatware that comes with the phone (this one DEFINITELY)
- Screenshots
See, I get confused. All I've read about recovery was people talking about "booting into recovery. The only thing I thought you flashed were the custom ROMs. And, I thought you only needed the backups and restores so you could get back to an unrooted state in case you needed warrantee work, or messed up your phone somehow.
What are the major bloatware items on the stock t-mobile vibrant?
trunkstar1 said:
See, I get confused. All I've read about recovery was people talking about "booting into recovery. The only thing I thought you flashed were the custom ROMs. And, I thought you only needed the backups and restores so you could get back to an unrooted state in case you needed warrantee work, or messed up your phone somehow.
What are the major bloatware items on the stock t-mobile vibrant?
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Click to collapse
Account & Settings on the App Drawer
Gogo
Amazon Kindle
TeleNav
T-Mobile Voicemail
MobiTV
Memo
AudioPostcard
(and many more)
... oh yeah and with root (and installed clockwork recovery) you can apply the Captivate camera which its interface is easier to apply different scenes.
And no.. you can restore non-root with Odin and nandroid backup (JAC's thread has a unrooted backup online). But yeah you do backups before you apply hacks to your phone incase anything happens
drhonk said:
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
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Click to collapse
Get the app called Battery Status Pro. That gives you what you want.
zephiK said:
Account & Settings on the App Drawer
Gogo
Amazon Kindle
TeleNav
T-Mobile Voicemail
MobiTV
Memo
AudioPostcard
(and many more)
... oh yeah and with root (and installed clockwork recovery) you can apply the Captivate camera which its interface is easier to apply different scenes.
And no.. you can restore non-root with Odin and nandroid backup (JAC's thread has a unrooted backup online). But yeah you do backups before you apply hacks to your phone incase anything happens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Trying to figure out how to remove bloatware was THE reason I found xda and rooted. I had no idea what I was doing but it is ULTRA easy. Download update zip-boot to recovery-apply-enjoy. That got me discovering all the other awesome things I can do.
You will always see people who have problems with anything in the threads. This is why you make backups. Once you have those you can do a lot more with a lot more confidence knowing that if you make a mistake you can correct it - mostly. And you can unroot if you have to.
drhonk said:
Battery usage with percentage would be really nice.
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Click to collapse
Agreed. Love having it.
Come on guys lets talk about stuff you can do for non rooters please. I did root my phone but I took it to far and bricked it. I'm not doing it again and I know that xda forums lean more to rooting then not. I thought a thread that talked about non rooted phones was a great idea but its been taken over. So I'm bringing it back.
There are a lot of good lockscreen apps to look at for changing your lockscreen. I've used some of them just haven settled on one yet. So no need to root just have fun with it the way it is.
spacecasespiff said:
Come on guys lets talk about stuff you can do for non rooters please. I did root my phone but I took it to far and bricked it. I'm not doing it again and I know that xda forums lean more to rooting then not. I thought a thread that talked about non rooted phones was a great idea but its been taken over. So I'm bringing it back.
There are a lot of good lockscreen apps to look at for changing your lockscreen. I've used some of them just haven settled on one yet. So no need to root just have fun with it the way it is.
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Thanx for staying on topic... no offense to others... where do i find different lock screens?
Okay so when I first got the phone I usually had around 100mb of ram avalible and now I am floating in the 40s and even that seems really low to me I have two widgets beautiful widgets and a to do list and I don't have many apps on the phone overall my question is having 40mb of ram really low or is it normal??
Not sure what is norm mine is. Mine very seldom drop below 155 and rebuild fast. Have 3 Windows of widget close 200apps. Rooted and romed using Darkslide v4
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
so idk what could be wrong...like im always in the 40's
rayne58 said:
so idk what could be wrong...like im always in the 40's
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check the programs that are always updating such as wx.msg.news. and so on.
The Android pretty much controls the available memory so don't run on and add on a "Task Killer".
I didn't catch what Rom your running but VZW crapware is a memory leach.
Time to start snooping around and get that phone working for you.
Best to ya...
yeah im not rooted or anything so I am running stock just using launcher pro
I recommended root the phone with Z4root app and install Autokiller. Preset it at Extreme or Ultimate. Note: Auto Killer is NOT same as Task Killer. Is similar but they are not same app. If you have low RAM, it tends to delay or freeze the phone. Auto Killer will definately help. Odds are you have too many apps running simultaneously.
I want to root but tbh im a little scared to if someone could answer these questions haha I will most likely do it lol
around how long does it take?
when a new update comes like do I have to wait for an updated root to be released?? or does it just update like normal
im not afraid to brick my phone cuz that isn't too common it seems but what does Verizon do if they know that you are rooted??
once I am rooted then what?? I know about roms and stuff but what about root only apps?? is there a seperate market or something??
do I have to re do all the apps and settings that I have or can I restore my old stuff once I am rooted
my main concern though is with the updates and with Verizon im not sure what happens with both of them?
It's normal. I'm completely stock and I hover in the 40s as well.
just bumpin so hopefully someone could be so kind and answer my questions
rayne58 said:
I want to root but tbh im a little scared to if someone could answer these questions haha I will most likely do it lol
around how long does it take?
when a new update comes like do I have to wait for an updated root to be released?? or does it just update like normal
im not afraid to brick my phone cuz that isn't too common it seems but what does Verizon do if they know that you are rooted??
once I am rooted then what?? I know about roms and stuff but what about root only apps?? is there a seperate market or something??
do I have to re do all the apps and settings that I have or can I restore my old stuff once I am rooted
my main concern though is with the updates and with Verizon im not sure what happens with both of them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting start to finish can be under 10-15 minutes pretty easily.
When new updates come, usually you must un-root (at least I did to get this last update with Madden, etc), get the update, then re-root again. It's fairly simple.
Once you're rooted you can do additional things you couldn't do previously, remove bloatware (VZN crapware), do things like WIFI tether, and also install themes, remove ads from free/trial apps, etc. I am rooted and only did it for WIFI tethering and honestly use LauncherPro so don't have a need for themes yet. I may actually re-root only because I'm not taking full advantage anyway. The nice thing here is it is ALL at your discretion. Once rooted, you would continue to use the Market as you did previously, nothing changes there to get apps and such.
Rooting is not the same as "flashing" a ROM if you came from Windows. All it does is unlock it somewhat to allow for additional SuperUser permissions. None of your apps will change unless you change ROMs.
Go for it, just make sure you read lots before doing it. If all else fails, remember you can reverse what you did!
rayne58 said:
I want to root but tbh im a little scared to if someone could answer these questions haha I will most likely do it lol
around how long does it take?
when a new update comes like do I have to wait for an updated root to be released?? or does it just update like normal
im not afraid to brick my phone cuz that isn't too common it seems but what does Verizon do if they know that you are rooted??
once I am rooted then what?? I know about roms and stuff but what about root only apps?? is there a seperate market or something??
do I have to re do all the apps and settings that I have or can I restore my old stuff once I am rooted
my main concern though is with the updates and with Verizon im not sure what happens with both of them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting is VERY easy and allows you root level access to the system. You can install apps, ROMs, themes, etc that you wouldn't have been able to otherwise.
Shoot me a PM. I'm always glad to lend a hand.
How is the phone running? If its running fine, i'd say just let it be.
I've seen it in a few posts around the forums, "free memory is wasted memory" the Android OS should make room for itself. In some aspects you are better off having the apps you use the most running, meaning you don't have to wait for them to load.
I'd say if you are having some performance issues, then look to rooting/removing apps, otherwise, let the ram do what its supposed to do and hold data.
already answered said:
I'm trying to remove all the additional stuff off my Evo I'm never going to use (don't give a crap about Nascar, thank you Sprint. At least the Instinct let me get rid of that app.) but I'm reading that the only way to uninstall is to root. I'm not asking about how to do that, I can use search for that, but I'm just wondering, apart from Peep and FriendStream (I think there's an app called Tweet or something too), plus the internal apps Android needs to run, which apps can be safely removed to free up storage space/improve battery life?
Particularly I was looking at removing FlashLite, Blockbuster, Sprint Navigation (like anyone uses that when there's Google Maps), and the Nascar and football apps. But I could see HTC/Sprint sticking some system necessity in those so you can't remove them without breaking something else...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New question: Would I be able to dual-boot my phone (say, CM6 and what it has on there now) without too much trouble? It doesn't sound like it'd be too different than having two OSes on a PC, on the startup screen it'd just ask which you'd want to boot...
xfullmetal17 said:
I'm trying to remove all the additional stuff off my Evo I'm never going to use (don't give a crap about Nascar, thank you Sprint. At least the Instinct let me get rid of that app.) but I'm reading that the only way to uninstall is to root. I'm not asking about how to do that, I can use search for that, but I'm just wondering, apart from Peep and FriendStream (I think there's an app called Tweet or something too), plus the internal apps Android needs to run, which apps can be safely removed to free up storage space/improve battery life?
Particularly I was looking at removing FlashLite, Blockbuster, Sprint Navigation (like anyone uses that when there's Google Maps), and the Nascar and football apps. But I could see HTC/Sprint sticking some system necessity in those so you can't remove them without breaking something else...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can remove all of those safely without messing up anything. I would recommend just flashing a ROM that has all of that crap removed already cause they usually take out more of that bloatware.
xfullmetal17 said:
I'm trying to remove all the additional stuff off my Evo I'm never going to use (don't give a crap about Nascar, thank you Sprint. At least the Instinct let me get rid of that app.) but I'm reading that the only way to uninstall is to root. I'm not asking about how to do that, I can use search for that, but I'm just wondering, apart from Peep and FriendStream (I think there's an app called Tweet or something too), plus the internal apps Android needs to run, which apps can be safely removed to free up storage space/improve battery life?
Particularly I was looking at removing FlashLite, Blockbuster, Sprint Navigation (like anyone uses that when there's Google Maps), and the Nascar and football apps. But I could see HTC/Sprint sticking some system necessity in those so you can't remove them without breaking something else...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nahh you can take all of those out. Dont get rid of htc facbook or you wont have a way to sync contacts. (if that matters to you)
Okay, thanks for the tips. I've been eying CyanogenMod as a possible OS replacement, but Sprint isn't going to come and bar me from making calls or accessing their network, are they? (reading how Motorola almost bricked any Droid X running unauthorized software isn't helping)
edit: I do know to do a Nandroid backup before doing any of this, but can I set my phone back to S-ON if it has to be taken in for service?
xfullmetal17 said:
Okay, thanks for the tips. I've been eying CyanogenMod as a possible OS replacement, but Sprint isn't going to come and bar me from making calls or accessing their network, are they? (reading how Motorola almost bricked any Droid X running unauthorized software isn't helping)
edit: I do know to do a Nandroid backup before doing any of this, but can I set my phone back to S-ON if it has to be taken in for service?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope they shouldn't...
Yes you can. its not to hard to do either.
There is a zip flashable in recovery that will put you back to s-on. I can pm you a link if you can't find it. I think it's called unrevoked-forever-son.zip.
Okay another stupid question... In checking my version of hboot I managed to boot my phone into recovery mode. I pulled the battery and it seems to work but I wanted to make sure I didn't screw something up by mistake.
edit: did some research, doesn't look like anything's going to be wrong, since I never connected my phone to a USB of any kind... But my Pandora widget is broken, which I can work around with by just reinstalling the app. Am I still good to root though?
Sent from my Evo 4G using XDA App
by booting into recovery? no. if you want help rooting, i can help. even if you need a bit of hand holding, i'm not smart enough to help with anything else so...
Thank God, thought I might have destroyed any and all opportunity =/
I'll probably wait until Gingerbread to go beyond simply killing the Sprint Nascar, Football, FlashLite, and Nova apps...
once you root, you can get gingerbread and keep root. you might even be able to get gingerbread before stock with a leak, and you can already get an aosp version. either way, it will take a while for devs to root gingerbread. you can just root now, and upgrade your rom and radios to gingerbread later, giving you the exact same results but ROOTED! confusing? yes. opposite of ios? yes. awesome? also yes.
Definitely the opposite of i(P)OS, it looked so awesome until maybe six or seven hours after I got my Evo when Sony announced Playstation Suite... Now I'm just waiting for Gingerbread to come (and for a stable CM7, don't want to flash a beta ROM as my first only to have something go horribly wrong)...
so you dont want to root then? you might have to wait a while once gb comes out...
it has not yet been released... but here is a link to the guy working on dual booting.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=847423
What I mean is that, at least with myself, and a few other users, that stock is good enough to not warrant a custom ROM. Many just want root to customize their experience a little farther than stock. For myself, it's just enabling unlocked wireless tether, adblocking and getting rid of bloatware. I seriously don't think companies would make the process easier. But I thought I'd throw the question out there. I know that the completely stock experience is made to best protect the average consumer from malware and mucking up their phone. I realize that locking down a lot of things keeps the average technically uninformed user from breaking their phone. What are your thoughts on this subject?
I agree with your observation that stock ROMs are getting better and better and it'll most likely be more than good enough or perfectly adequate for the non-techy average user.
However, based on the industry practice of carriers still loading up phones with their own apps, customizations, and other bloatware, I think root will be desirable and necessary still for a long time to come.
After getting my S4, I immediately rooted it to uninstall many Sprint and Samsung apps that I couldn't otherwise. Root was also necessary to add adblocking software, a firewall, and to customize what I didn't like about TW through the Xposed framework.
I agree that custom ROMs may not be as necessary as they used to be but they are still a relatively easy way for people to get a different look with little effort.
I had mine rooted within 30 minutes of getting home with it. Still need root for Titanium Backup. Custom Recovery for Nandroids and flashing Mods and a Custom kernel just because. Using Xposed and Notach and Viper4Android and of course the Tether unlock.
Hey total noob question. If I root my S4 and leave the stock rom on the phone, will I still get all the firmware updates?
mr_mojorisen said:
Hey total noob question. If I root my S4 and leave the stock rom on the phone, will I still get all the firmware updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
mr_mojorisen said:
Hey total noob question. If I root my S4 and leave the stock rom on the phone, will I still get all the firmware updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe so as long as you have the stock recovery.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
optimummind said:
I agree with your observation that stock ROMs are getting better and better and it'll most likely be more than good enough or perfectly adequate for the non-techy average user.
However, based on the industry practice of carriers still loading up phones with their own apps, customizations, and other bloatware, I think root will be desirable and necessary still for a long time to come.
After getting my S4, I immediately rooted it to uninstall many Sprint and Samsung apps that I couldn't otherwise. Root was also necessary to add adblocking software, a firewall, and to customize what I didn't like about TW through the Xposed framework.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats the best way to remove the bloatware? I'm rooted already.
A way that would would still get updates, disable programs in the application manager. You will still lose root though.
ashton4life said:
Whats the best way to remove the bloatware? I'm rooted already.
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Click to collapse
I like Root App Delete, which is here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=zsj.android.uninstall
and also Titanium Backup.
Picked up a Cricket Core Prime during a sale and was wondering if I could get a Lollipop update. If not, are there any recommended mods/tweaks for this phone to be more usable as a backup phone for my Moto Z? Right now, it has poor battery life and TW is as ugly as always.
technohunter123 said:
Picked up a Cricket Core Prime during a sale and was wondering if I could get a Lollipop update. If not, are there any recommended mods/tweaks for this phone to be more usable as a backup phone for my Moto Z? Right now, it has poor battery life and TW is as ugly as always.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, really great modifications you can make. Unfortunately, you probably won't be able to get Lollipop if Cricket hasn't released an update for it, so make sure you've checked your system update in settings to make absolute sure that you can't upgrade.
First of all, root it. You can get rid of the bloat and tweak it. This should be really easy if it hasn't gotten the Lollipop update yet.
Second, install Nova Launcher. It is way better than TouchWiz and makes your phone feel like stock Android.
Third, get some good root apps. Obviously get SuperSU but also try out greenify to improve your battery life. There are all kinds of great root apps out there if you just look them up.
And due to the crappy storage, install some sort of app that can automatically clear your cache, because that cache can suck up a lot of data. If you can get a MicroSD card, I highly recommend it to store photos and apps on.
Other than that, that's about all
Than you very much for your time! I think that I will towelroot it and make the modifications you suggested.
technohunter123 said:
Than you very much for your time! I think that I will towelroot it and make the modifications you suggested.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good to know I helped! If you could please leave a thanks by pushing the thumbs-up button on my post ? that'd be great. PM me if you've got any more questions about the phone, I've pretty much mastered it ?