[Q] Xposed-like customisation for stock rooted note 4 - Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I had been waiting for my carrier (telstra) to release the lollipop update to my device (SM-N910G) before I rooted, I have now been updated and have rooted my phone, I'm currently still on stock recovery, everything else stock. I am pretty sure Xposed is out of the question for me being on the stock rom, I'm not really interested in installing a custom rom at this stage, is there anything else available that offers the level of customization that Xposed does that will play nice with my phone? Or am I mistaken and xposed should work with my device? I don't really want to stuff around and experiment too much like I have with other devices because I don't want to have to fix it over and over, I'm hoping others have experimented enough to tell me what works. I like the overall functionality of the device, I just wanted to change some things and add to the experience, I would like to be able to customize the Air Command for example, maybe change some status bar icons, change the dpi of some applications, make things a bit snappier, add some missing features, etc, I don't want to lose any of the baked in touchwiz functionality, any suggestions?

Xposed for touchwiz lollipop requires a deodexed ROM which you should be able to find in the development section for your SoC (snapdragon or exynos)

I saw there was an unofficial version of Xposed for touchwiz lollipop but it looked beta and unstable, any more info on that? By the way, is there any downside to a deodexed as opposed to odexed rom?

Related

[Q] Customization with DEodexed ROMS

I have read a bit on the topic of ROMs, but I have never rooted or installed a custom ROM until now. Sorry if this seems like a stupid question, I am just trying to figure out the whole odexed/deodexed deal.
From what I've gathered, deodexed ROMs were originally used to be able to edit things such as status bar colors (clock, notification icons, etc) and even the icons themselves. They boot 'slower' but after the initial boot it is not that recognizable as newer hardware more than compensates for this issue. (I have a Galaxy S5 G900P)
So I have flashed a deodexed ROM onto my phone (R.D.D.T.). Now, this ROM also has an odexed version as well. I assumed that having the deodexed version would allow me to edit icons, colors, etc. However, I'm not quite sure how I can do it.
I have seen and read about people installing custom, deodexed ROMs onto their phones, and many of them (Alliance, X-Note) will come with either an app pre-installed on the ROM, or a ROM-specific menu in Settings. This menu lets them customize things in the way I would like to be able to. The problem is that, at this time, the G900P (Sprint) version of the Galaxy S5 is not supported by either of those ROMs, or many other popular ROMs for that matter. R.D.D.T. (and R.O.D.T as well as the Mystery Build) was one of the only ROMs I could find that explicitly supports the G900P. I like the concept of this ROM, as it seems like a good, no BS bloat-less ROM that is otherwise very close to stock Android. But, I do not believe it came with any ROM-specific way of editing colors, themes, icons, etc. So my question is a few parts I guess:
-Is there still a way (downloadable app, editing files, etc) for me to be able to edit colors on the S5 with this ROM?
-In a situation like this, what is the benefit of having a deodexed ROM installed?
-Are there other ROMs similar to R.D.D.T. that currently support the G900P S5 which additionally offer customization?
-What is it with the Galaxy S5 that is causing so many ROMs to not officially support it?
Sorry for the long post, but my primary aim here is to learn everything that I can about this.

Lollipop no xposed vs. KitKat with xposed.

Since their is no closed framework on Samsung devices with lollipop TW, what's better the lollipop or old KitKat with tweaks that can look like lollipop and much more?
I have Verizon locked boot loader so CM12 and others are not a option
Typo corrections:
Since their is no xposed framework on Samsung devices with lollipop TW, what's better the new lollipop or old KitKat with tweaks that can look like lollipop and much more?
I have Verizon locked boot loader so CM12 and others are not a option [/QUOTE]
bumpaudio said:
Since their is no closed framework on Samsung devices with lollipop TW, what's better the lollipop or old KitKat with tweaks that can look like lollipop and much more?
I have Verizon locked boot loader so CM12 and others are not a option
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
of course, this is subjective depending on what is important to the end user but for me, without Xposed, I have chosen to hold back because I use several modules that I really like having. hopefully, Xposed will get updated to allow it to work with Lollipop!
tgeery said:
of course, this is subjective depending on what is important to the end user but for me, without Xposed, I have chosen to hold back because I use several modules that I really like having. hopefully, Xposed will get updated to allow it to work with Lollipop!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've found Lollipop to be much faster, with better battery. MOAR, Extreme Syndicate and others have almost anything you could want, with new stuff coming out often.
Stock rooted 4.4.4 with Xposed/Xtether serves all my needs and is wicked fast.

[Q] Lolliwiz?

Hi everyone, I am not a developer, and I know this question is probably redundant, but I am wondering what is the closest you can get to stock android lollipop with the note 4 specific features. I understand roms are either based on stock android or touchwiz framework, and you have to pick one or the other, but I'm really torn, I have flashed 5.1 on both my S3 and S4 and I absolutely love it, I'm still waiting for the lollipop update from telstra for my stock note 4, but I think when it finally comes around I'm going to be disappointed that it's more touchwiz than lollipop. I guess my question is like I said before, how close can you get to stock lollipop but retain s pen, multi window, etc? Would it be possible to start out with a TW base and swap out all of the UI and apps for stock LP ones? I know I'm way oversimplifying it, I just really want the best of both worlds, I don't really want to root my note unless I can get as close as I can to stock lollipop with the note extras.
dicko101 said:
Hi everyone, I am not a developer, and I know this question is probably redundant, but I am wondering what is the closest you can get to stock android lollipop with the note 4 specific features. I understand roms are either based on stock android or touchwiz framework, and you have to pick one or the other, but I'm really torn, I have flashed 5.1 on both my S3 and S4 and I absolutely love it, I'm still waiting for the lollipop update from telstra for my stock note 4, but I think when it finally comes around I'm going to be disappointed that it's more touchwiz than lollipop. I guess my question is like I said before, how close can you get to stock lollipop but retain s pen, multi window, etc? Would it be possible to start out with a TW base and swap out all of the UI and apps for stock LP ones? I know I'm way oversimplifying it, I just really want the best of both worlds, I don't really want to root my note unless I can get as close as I can to stock lollipop with the note extras.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are not looking into rooting, I recommend Google Now Launcher. It is the most stock Android UI experience you can get on a nonnexus phone. Since it's just a launcher, you retain all your device features. If you are looking into swapping out all of the UI and apps from TW base to stock LP ones, however you will experience this error message everytime you exit out of an app: "Android.System.UI has stopped working", so I do not recommend that.
dicko101 said:
Hi everyone, I am not a developer, and I know this question is probably redundant, but I am wondering what is the closest you can get to stock android lollipop with the note 4 specific features. I understand roms are either based on stock android or touchwiz framework, and you have to pick one or the other, but I'm really torn, I have flashed 5.1 on both my S3 and S4 and I absolutely love it, I'm still waiting for the lollipop update from telstra for my stock note 4, but I think when it finally comes around I'm going to be disappointed that it's more touchwiz than lollipop. I guess my question is like I said before, how close can you get to stock lollipop but retain s pen, multi window, etc? Would it be possible to start out with a TW base and swap out all of the UI and apps for stock LP ones? I know I'm way oversimplifying it, I just really want the best of both worlds, I don't really want to root my note unless I can get as close as I can to stock lollipop with the note extras.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're awnser lies amongst the rooted side flashing a tw rom that is aggressively debloated of apps even some essentials and using stock ones from google and then i guess theming the rom to look like a stock pure lollipop. I heard there are some nice alternatives for the spen usage and multiwindow i have tried some in the past on pure android on note 2 but the experience is nowhere near the stock apps from tw, regarding spen and multiwindow.
dicko101 said:
Hi everyone, I am not a developer, and I know this question is probably redundant, but I am wondering what is the closest you can get to stock android lollipop with the note 4 specific features. I understand roms are either based on stock android or touchwiz framework, and you have to pick one or the other, but I'm really torn, I have flashed 5.1 on both my S3 and S4 and I absolutely love it, I'm still waiting for the lollipop update from telstra for my stock note 4, but I think when it finally comes around I'm going to be disappointed that it's more touchwiz than lollipop. I guess my question is like I said before, how close can you get to stock lollipop but retain s pen, multi window, etc? Would it be possible to start out with a TW base and swap out all of the UI and apps for stock LP ones? I know I'm way oversimplifying it, I just really want the best of both worlds, I don't really want to root my note unless I can get as close as I can to stock lollipop with the note extras.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to keep eveything, you will have to think about a launcher indeed. Goole Now Launcher will be the closest thing.
Google now launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.launcher
I would say when rooted, flash CM12 official, and use CM SPen addon, in combination with notebuddy for you SPen features. You will only lose the multiwindow (links down below).
Spen Addon: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tushar.cmspen2
Notebuddy: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tushar.spen_helper
CM12 Official: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/orig-development/official-cm12-910f-910g-t3046965
Willem1975 said:
If you want to keep eveything, you will have to think about a launcher indeed. Goole Now Launcher will be the closest thing.
Google now launcher: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.launcher
I would say when rooted, flash CM12 official, and use CM SPen addon, in combination with notebuddy for you SPen features. You will only lose the multiwindow (links down below).
Spen Addon: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tushar.cmspen2
Notebuddy: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tushar.spen_helper
CM12 Official: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/orig-development/official-cm12-910f-910g-t3046965
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah but you still lose the epic camera quality.
as much as i dislike touchwiz and like cm12 i keep running on stock rom becouse the camera quality on CM based roms is just to bad.
if only there was a way to get the camera quality on a cyanogenmod rom it would be so awesome i wouldnt even care about the spen anymore

[Q] Opinion/Advice question

I just got two of these phones for my wife and kid. Since I'm a Note 3 owner and have been on 4.4.4 Biggins ROM cause I love the customization and the Xposed modules, the Lollipop roms are kinda new territory for me. So - that being said - what are some things I need to know with rom'ing and rooting an S5? Both phones came with 5.0 and I am not sure if I should downgrade them to a 4.4.4 rom so I can use Xposed (from what I understand, Xposed doesn't work on Lollipop), but here's the questions I need help/advice with:
1. Is there a version of Xposed that works with Lollipop
2. What do I lose besides Material if I downgrade from Lollipop to KK
3. Are the radios for KK better or worse than the Lollipop ones
4. What's the most customizable (battery icon, tether, network speed indicators, status bar mods, themes, etc.) Lollipop ROM? Which is the most developer active ROM for LP & KK?
5. Which offers the best battery life? LP or KK
I could use some advice from you, the XDA community since I'm not a noob but don't feel like "experimenting" with unstable features since these aren't my daily phones.
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Jesse
jessenj said:
I just got two of these phones for my wife and kid. Since I'm a Note 3 owner and have been on 4.4.4 Biggins ROM cause I love the customization and the Xposed modules, the Lollipop roms are kinda new territory for me. So - that being said - what are some things I need to know with rom'ing and rooting an S5? Both phones came with 5.0 and I am not sure if I should downgrade them to a 4.4.4 rom so I can use Xposed (from what I understand, Xposed doesn't work on Lollipop), but here's the questions I need help/advice with:
1. Is there a version of Xposed that works with Lollipop
2. What do I lose besides Material if I downgrade from Lollipop to KK
3. Are the radios for KK better or worse than the Lollipop ones
4. What's the most customizable (battery icon, tether, network speed indicators, status bar mods, themes, etc.) Lollipop ROM? Which is the most developer active ROM for LP & KK?
5. Which offers the best battery life? LP or KK
I could use some advice from you, the XDA community since I'm not a noob but don't feel like "experimenting" with unstable features since these aren't my daily phones.
Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Jesse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice double post by the way
1) not for touchwiz based ROMs
2) You're flashing an old ROM over a new ROM, you lose your system and data
3) some say the L kernel has better battery life, most say it's worse. It's probably a toss up
4) You need to determine that for yourself. They are all basically the same due to locked bootloader, only TW based ROMs will work, which severely limits things
5) see 3
Pretty much the same thing ldeveraux said, except for the radios they are basically the same if you mean cell service. I notice no difference. Also, for a ROM that is most customizable I would say either MOAR or Alliance. MOAR has lots of user customized things while Alliance has themes.
Thanks for the replies. I realized based on your responses, how I might have been a little more vague than I intended, but either way, the answer I was looking for most was pretty much addressed. I've decided that I'm going to downgrade firmware to the latest KK MOAR rom since both phones have no other data and a wipe won't disturb anything. I have TiBu backups of the apps, settings, etc so I'll just reload them both. Also, since theming is less important to me than customization, MOAR is the way I'm leaning, but I was wondering what the daily driver experience has been like for both. Has anyone run both MOAR and Alliance long enough to see general battery life comparisons, speed, features? Like, for example, are either roms having issues with common functions, like screen sharing, GPS, MMS, tethering, KNOX, etc? Since I mostly run Xposed with the modules I like, out-of-the-box tweaked interface is less of a priority since I'll just tailor the functionality afterwards.
As always - BIG THANKS for taking a look at my post and taking the time to respond. I appreciate it.
Jesse

BOE1 ROMs? Haven't touched custom ROMs since my S4, need help getting back into it.

I have a G900V on BOE1 rooted. I'd like to try a custom ROMS that gets rid of all the bloat, and preferably looks vanilla.
Is this possible at all? As far as I can tell there's no way to access a custom bootloader on this phone, but if it is possible, what do you all recommend for a speedy, responsive experience? Maybe there's something I can do without ROMs since I have root?
Xposed still doesn't seem to be supported which is unfortunate. Sorry I'm rambling and asking nooby questions, I just haven't messed around with all this in a while, and would like my phone to be snappy again.
I you're looking for a stock-ish ROM I had very good results with the Optimal ROM. ==> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2796260
I changed over from that to the MOAR ROM, I like the customization abilities of that one better. You can find all of your options here ==> http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development
PhreeqQitsikk said:
I have a G900V on BOE1 rooted. I'd like to try a custom ROMS that gets rid of all the bloat, and preferably looks vanilla.
Is this possible at all? As far as I can tell there's no way to access a custom bootloader on this phone, but if it is possible, what do you all recommend for a speedy, responsive experience? Maybe there's something I can do without ROMs since I have root?
Xposed still doesn't seem to be supported which is unfortunate. Sorry I'm rambling and asking nooby questions, I just haven't messed around with all this in a while, and would like my phone to be snappy again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xposed is supported, you just need the right version for Samsung, which can be downloaded here. Install the v75 snapdragon non request concurrent GC version in flashfire and you'll be good to go.
MOAR rom and no the retail versions bootloader is still locked. There is some hope it might get unlocked http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/bootloader-unlock-coming-soon-t3271883

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