Hey everyone, over the past couple of months I've been slowly customizing my phone and making it my own. Recently I've read about how Android is filled with bloatware and isn't as secure (privacy-wise etc) as Cyanogen and Replicant. However, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is not compatible with them (at least the Verizon one isn't).
Are there alternatives that are open source, secure, and protects privacy?
AOSP ROMs (ex. CM) aren't possible on VZW S5. You'll have to use a TW-based ROM flashed with Safestrap. TW-based ROMs are just the stock Samsung ROM stripped and customized. Until the bootloader is unlocked there's just no way to use ROMs like CM at this time and very doubtful if ever.
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I am brand new to these boards and usually don't ask questions. I am pretty tech savvy but cannot code or anything like that. I don't mind rooting a phone and flashing a custom ROM. I am currently using the Galaxy Nexus on Verizon and love having pretty much stock android but the phone is starting to feel slow. I want to upgrade to the Note 3 because I love the hardware specs. However, I hate what Samsung did to it with TouchWiz. I don't really have time to debug or troubleshoot a ROM. My question revolves around the Cyanogenmod build for this phone. I read that they release a nightlie for it but when you go to the webpage its not listed as an available device. Does this mean that they are still working on an "official version"? I would like to get the phone as close to AOSP as possible and have it fully functional. I understand that all the Samsung stuff will be removed which I am fine with. This is probably basic to most of you but any guidance on what my best option would be greatly appreciated.
There are official nightlies, but only for the Developer Edition phone. The Verizon Retail version has a locked bootloader and can only flash ROMs with a stock kernel.
The DE (unlocked bootloader) is only available from Samsung, and is currently out of stock/backordered. EBay or Swappa are about the only way to come by one now.
what cam30era said.
If you want a full custom ROM that only functions correctly by using a custom kernel, you will need to buy a developer edition Note 3, not a retail device. This is a consequence of the fact that the VZW retail Note 3 has security protections that (have not been circumvented at this time and) prevent the booting of custom kernels.
It is my understanding that CM11 needs kernel features that are not present in the retail, stock (MI9, MJ7, or MJE) kernels. Whether this causes bootloops, UI framework crashes, or something more minor (loss of some functionality) I don't know.
My guess is there will be little motivation for CM11 to "officially" add the VZW Note 3 as long as it's secure boot locks remain un-hacked, as there aren't many dev-ed owners.
[OFFICIAL] CyanogenMod for DEVED VZW Note 3 (HLTEVZW) [2014-01-11]
good luck
In my experience, most of the time, stock based ROMs run faster with better battery life over AOSP anyway.. but I've seen exceptions.
I was all amped up to finally make the leap from just being rooted (OC3) to installing a custom rom (CM 12.1) and spent a bunch of time researching the process and trying to figure out why my attempts to install a custom recovery were all unsuccessful. Then I came here and discovered why (AT&T locks the bootloader).
Now I'm feeling very deflated. Originally I thought I'd get a Nexus phone but I don't like the new Nexus offerings. The next best alternative to me was to pretty much go AOSP with my S4 (eventually moving to CM 13 once that releases for the S4).
So my main question is this: for someone who was interested in going pretty much as stock Android as possible, what's the best option among roms that I can install on my phone, particularly roms which will continue to give my phone life moving forward in terms of updates (marshmallow and beyond)?
And my secondary question is what, if any, reasons are there for me to install a custom rom if I'm not interested in bling? In other words, what are the functional advantages (e.g. enabling tethering, non-broken xposed, eliminating samsung/at&t bloat, etc)?
Appreciate any info and guidance!
I guess I have a 3rd question - is there any hope that we will ever be able to replace the bootloader and install roms like CM? I have no idea if anyone is working on that and it's just a matter of time or if it's considered to be an impossible task.
I can't answer your first question and I'm not sure why you are asking since you aren't able to install proper custom roms anyway..
You don't need a custom rom for a number of things you mention. Removing bloat can speed up your device, save battery, and put an end to some of the annoyances you get from unwanted apps. Xposed is great for customizing your phone and getting rid of that irritating high volume notification.
Finally, no, there is no hope of unlocking the bootloader. The S4 is old so fewer and fewer people care about it. There is a thread about it in the Verizon s4 forum...
My advice : get rid of your S4. Find a phone that uses stock Android and not all this custom TouchWiz rubbish.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
I’ve surprisingly (as in, it materialised on my desktop today, with a gift note) acquired an SM-910F (trltexx) and am now searching for a ROM to use.
I’m using first KitKang (with pico-gapps, only for the playstore, I don’t use anything from Google), then LiquidSmooth (with MicroG), on the HTC Desire (bravo), so I’m used to that UI and do not wish to learn another one, and I really dislike vendor addons and like minimalistic AOSP-based ROMs (but CM will do in a cinch), so I wish to flash a Free 4.4-based ROM on that device.
While Lollipop- and later ROMs are abundant, I have a hard time actually finding a KitKat ROM; some people have been suggesting the stock ROM, but that won’t help much because of the vendor additions, plus the previous owner says he’s upgraded the bootloader so the stock 4.4 won’t work (but a custom 4.4 can do).
I’ve got no problems if the ROM came with, say, the kernel and hardware part of CM 12, as long as the UI is relatively close to AOSP 4.4 or CM 11.
No spyware ☺ please, but Playstore is okay.
Hi people. I have been into custom ROMs on my Note 3 (SM-N900W8) in the past, and never found a stable one. So I ended up reverting back to stock Samsung and just using my phone the old fashioned, boring way. Now that I see a newer version of each of the ROMs I've tried, I'm thinking that I may want to get back into installing custom ROMs again.
I can't quite remember what the rules of engagement were when it comes to kernels associated to certain ROMs. I really want to go back to KitKat, as it was my favorite Android version. Right now, I'm on Samsung's stock 5.0 firmware.
AFAIK, you need a pre-5.0 kernel in order to install anything below 5.0. Is that correct? Also, if I wanted to try an Android 6 or 7 ROM (just for the hell of it), am I required to use a different kernel?
Like I said, I'm way out of the loop and need to be re-educated. I'm not even sure what to really search anymore.
Bonus Question: What's the most stable and bug-free Note 3 (Qualcomm) ROM out there?
Thanks people :good::good::good::laugh:
, if I wanted to try an Android 6 or 7 ROM (just for the hell of it), am I required to use a different kernel?
YES
What's the most stable and bug-free Note 3 (Qualcomm) ROM out there?
Stock Rom
Went to Costco and picked one up fairly cheap. Not going to be heartbroken if no custom ROMs but would -like- a more AOSP experience as I've never particularly liked Samsungness.
I looked around a good bit but not having any luck beyond rooting existing ROM and debloated stock ROMs. Are there any unofficial LineageOS or other 3rd party ROMs that support the SM-T380? WiFi-only version so no modem support needed.
Bumping thread. I see there is a root option available but not any roms. Are any of the roms for other models compatible with the T380? Would love something clean with AOSP or no bloatware.