I am about to get a new phone (now because I cracked the screen on my LG E980...) namely to have a better experience in customizing, etc.
I am aware that the S5 has somewhat better performance than the S4, but I am more interested in the options for ROM development and customize-ability. First off, what is the appropriate model name for the S4? Wondering this for compatibility purposes.. Also are there any software updates I should avoid? Will I need to go back to any old firmware/software version(s) to have better luck rotting or installing ROMs/recoveries?
Any insight appreciated, thanks!
The model number is i337 if you're getting an AT&T phone. You'll not be able to flash older firmware on the device. If you're getting a new phone the firmware will be such that you'll only be able to flash touch wiz based roms. Also, the only recovery you'll be able to use is safestrap. I'm not that familiar with the s5 but I think that would be the case with that device too.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Yea honestly, if you want openness and running cm and other things, Samsung is definitely not your best choice. Try the one m8 as you can unlock your bootloader
There is a sticky thread in the General section to discuss other devices and upgrading
Thanks!
Related
So due to circumstances I am going to be moving to AT&T phone service. Right now I have a nexus 4 which is great. I love how open it is and that I have Cyanogenmod on it and many other things. But I will have the ability to get a new phone when I switch to AT&T. The GS4 is better in a lot of way (cpu, gpu, screen, sd slot) and the same size (essentially) as my Nexus 4. The problem is it isn't as open an environment.
In doing my research if I were to use the AT&T variant I wouldn't be able to even install a custom recovery. I am looking for other options. One I thought of was to sell the AT&T variant and pick up an international one. From what I can see if I picked up the snapdragon GS4 I9505, i would be able to install CM on it and use in on AT&T without much trouble.
From what I've seen in these forums it should be a problem to use the international version. I can just root and install a recovery and CM. I may need to SIM unlock it but that would be it. I wanted to confirm that and ask a few other specific questions.
Does it work with AT&T LTE?
Is the bootloader unlocked?
Are there stock recovery images?
If there is anything in the process that would be a problem?
Thanks for the help.
No answers? (and bump)
Bump - One last try
Hello everyone!
It has been a while since I have been on XDA and I am back in the saddle with a Sprint GS5.
Technically, I am going to purchase my GS5 today or tomorrow and I am interested in getting rid of the all the Bloat on the phone (Samsung stuff, etc). A few questions I have are as follows:
Using the Link below, I will be unlocking and rooting the phone, it appears to be pretty self explanatory, is this the best option to use?
Just in case, is there a default or stock Samsung Sprint ROM I can restore? For example, there were default roms your could restore on your phone to take back to the store for warranty work?
Are there any barebones Kit Kat 4.4.X roms that can be run on the GS5? I am coming off a MotoX which I loved the stock KitKat ROM
I see there are a few different recoveries to use, does one work better than the other? Easier to use?
The Galaxy ~S5~ All in one support thread!**NOOB FRIENDLY**
Thanks for any help and suggestions (Links, readying, etc.)
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Hi all,
It's been a long, long while since I tinkered with roms, I think my last one was either a Samsung Galaxy Tab (the original one!) or an HTC Sensation.
So I've recently acquired a Note 4 n910F and can't stand all of the Samsung bloatware, and I'd like a newer version of android for compatibility with newer apps.
So remind me... What does 'stock' mean? Is this as Samsung intended, or as android intended? I'd just like a vanilla as possible android experience that works well.
Help please!
richuu said:
Hi all,
It's been a long, long while since I tinkered with roms, I think my last one was either a Samsung Galaxy Tab (the original one!) or an HTC Sensation.
So I've recently acquired a Note 4 n910F and can't stand all of the Samsung bloatware, and I'd like a newer version of android for compatibility with newer apps.
So remind me... What does 'stock' mean? Is this as Samsung intended, or as android intended? I'd just like a vanilla as possible android experience that works well.
Help please!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! I don't know if you've already found your answers but I thought I would respond in case you haven't.
In almost every reference you see in this section of xda "stock" is referring to the TouchWiz OS that Samsung phones are shipped with.
True android stock is referred to as "vanilla" like you said.
I use a different model Note 4 than you have but from what I've read it's fairly easy to flash TWRP (custom recovery) on the F model via Odin and from there you can pick from whichever rom suits you. Just be sure you're in the Snapdragon section. There are many different models of the Note 4 and some of them have a different processor called Exynos. The roms are processor specific and you can only use the ones built for your type which is the Snapdragon processor.
One other thing I wound suggest, because of the different variants of the F model, is to take notice of your CSC code. Once you start flashing other roms it may be hard to track down the original code. Use this app to see what it is and that way you can flash the appropriate modem file (or if you need to reflash your stock firmware) instead of just using whichever modem file is provided in the OP of the rom you're flashing. There are many different variants of the F model with many different country codes, just remember that just because the firmware has a newer release date doesn't mean it's the correct version.
TWRP- Found here
Samsung USB drivers for Windows. Needed to connect your phone to your PC- Found here
Odin download- Found here
Development section for Snapdragon- Found here
Fantastic response, thank you. I think I'd like to do without TouchWiz... Pretty much all of my previous phones have been HTC, which either had the HTC skin over it, which was fairly unobtrusive, or barely anything at all. The current version of android and TW on the note 4 is messy.