Database Users

[Q] Rom with the most customization options for Nexus 7

I've looked around and around and there are plenty of flavors to choose from other than sticking with the stock rom for my Nexus 7, and while they all seem highly interesting, I keep seeing people saying to just try them out until you find what you like.
I may not have been here that long but to be honest I think that's bogus, and the idea of having to constantly back up my data, wipe this and that just to install a new rom is not worth the hassle of having installed one to begin with.
What I'm looking for is a stable rom with plenty of customization features and that's easy to install without a lot of hassle, because I want to stick with my choice as I'm not the kind of person that likes to switch between things simply because he's bored with it.
Most of what I want is purely cosmetic to enhance my experience, I want to be able to change things like my notification bar's icons, and customizing my lock screen without having to download an individual app to do so.
Basically I'm looking for ease of use and nothing that's too complex.
So with the helpful and knowledgeable folks here at xda-developers, what can you suggest?

JohnathanKatz said:
I've looked around and around and there are plenty of flavors to choose from other than sticking with the stock rom for my Nexus 7, and while they all seem highly interesting, I keep seeing people saying to just try them out until you find what you like.
I may not have been here that long but to be honest I think that's bogus, and the idea of having to constantly back up my data, wipe this and that just to install a new rom is not worth the hassle of having installed one to begin with.
What I'm looking for is a stable rom with plenty of customization features and that's easy to install without a lot of hassle, because I want to stick with my choice as I'm not the kind of person that likes to switch between things simply because he's bored with it.
Most of what I want is purely cosmetic to enhance my experience, I want to be able to change things like my notification bar's icons, and customizing my lock screen without having to download an individual app to do so.
Basically I'm looking for ease of use and nothing that's too complex.
So with the helpful and knowledgeable folks here at xda-developers, what can you suggest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pacman,the best rom,which content features of AOKP,CM and PA

JohnathanKatz said:
I've looked around and around and there are plenty of flavors to choose from other than sticking with the stock rom for my Nexus 7, and while they all seem highly interesting, I keep seeing people saying to just try them out until you find what you like.
I may not have been here that long but to be honest I think that's bogus, and the idea of having to constantly back up my data, wipe this and that just to install a new rom is not worth the hassle of having installed one to begin with.
What I'm looking for is a stable rom with plenty of customization features and that's easy to install without a lot of hassle, because I want to stick with my choice as I'm not the kind of person that likes to switch between things simply because he's bored with it.
Most of what I want is purely cosmetic to enhance my experience, I want to be able to change things like my notification bar's icons, and customizing my lock screen without having to download an individual app to do so.
Basically I'm looking for ease of use and nothing that's too complex.
So with the helpful and knowledgeable folks here at xda-developers, what can you suggest?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the rom threads and read the rules.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

najaboy said:
Read the rom threads and read the rules.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did ironically, and this seemed the only logical place for my question, I am unfamiliar with the process of using roms and have done some research but it doesn't make it any less confusing.
But thanks for the tip.

Closed, we don't allow ROM comparisons or 'best' threads.
Try a few and see what's best for you

[Q] Rooting my Note3, what and how now?

Hey guys, just a quick question. Please please excuse me for I am definitely a noob, but I've done some research about rooting and what it offers yet I still don't know how to use it. It feels much like learning how to drive a stick... understanding in theory, but difficult in application until practice. My note 3 is rooted, but I still have no idea what and how much I can do from here. Not to mention, while I'm doing research and trying to educate myself, there are some names and terms I do not understand. Anyway, let me just write some of the questions I have in a list:
1) Cyanogenmod. Is it available for verizon note 3 running 4.3? I keep getting search results that there are while the cyanogenmod website itself doesn't offer it? I also got a Nexus 7 to try to expand my knowledge in this field, and it does have cyanogenmod installed. Now, to my understanding, it runs side by side with the Android OS while it basically strips the device's bloatware, giving you the pure, simple, raw experience of Android OS. If I were to install cyanogenmod to the note 3, how would it affect the camera functions and the s pen functions? The reason why I ask about the camera is because using my Nexus's camera and looking at some youtube videos of note 2's with cyanogenmod, it seems like it would actually be a downgrade from the note 3's stock camera. And as far as the S pen goes, I've realized that I would lose the action notes, s notes, and sketchbook for galaxy apps, wouldn't I? How could I go around that?
2) Flashing ROMS. What exactly does this do? All I can find is that it allows me to customize my phone, but I don't seem to understand to what extent.
3) Kernels. What are these?
Lol, so sorry for such basic questions. But I would really really appreciate your patience and information!

CyanogenMod is unofficially available for the Note 3. Not everything works. CyanogenMod is a ROM that changes the software on the phone. It's a more customized version of Android, and very close to "stock". If you use CyanogenMod however, you will lose your S-Pen and it's features, along with all of the other TouchWiz features of the phone (gestures, split screen, etc.). The S-pen will act as a basic mouse pointer. CyanogenMod is not pure AOSP, it's quite far from it. It's similar, but very different from a pure Google experience. It's really a beast of it's own in my opinion, and is now a stand alone company that will seek to profit off of the ROM (likely by coming standard on some devices). That's not to say it isn't good, I run it on most of my other devices but on the Note 3, without the S-Pen it's just a big phone.
ROM's are customized versions of Android typically created by a developer or group of developers. The features of each ROM will change. A 4.3 TouchWiz rom might remove all of the carrier bloat (applications not likely used, but run in the background and offer little no actual use to anyone). They'll also provide enhancements and tweaks that make life a little easier like a quick-access flashlight tied to your volume up button, or the ability to remove certain icons from the notification panel, a batter percentage indicator in the notification panel, removing the exchange security permissions, or just general speed improvements over the factory settings. There are many advantages to a ROM and once you use them you'll likely never go back to stock. The ROM features are typically listed in the ROM's topic.
There are many ROM's out there for many different devices, so make sure you only install one that is made for your phone. You'll also hear about AOSP ROM's, these are stock or close-to-stock versions of Android, typically found on Nexus devices. The way Google intended Android to be used.
Android uses a Linux Kernal. It's a customized version of Linux. It's the base operating system behind Android. Similar to ROM's, different kernals can offer different levels of customization, however they won't be as prevalent as a ROM since they deal more with the core of the operating system. The Kernal will manage the drivers for all the different components of the phone, like your radios (how you receive a phone signal), your sensors, camera, CPU, etc. Be especially careful when changing Kernals, it can drastically affect your phone, and possibly permanently.
I'll put in the caveat that this is my understanding, and may not be 100% accurate. People are welcome to correct my mistakes and misunderstandings I may have =)
I hope you find it helpful!

Thank you for your response and information!
Okay, so I guess Cyanogenmod for the Note 3 is not an option for me since I enjoy using my S pen (I mean, why else would I have gotten the phone in the first place haha)
Could you direct me to some useful ROMs or recommend me some? The thing is, I had the Motorola Droid as my first smartphone and never really got into rooting or anything, and when I got the iPhone 4s, that's when I started learning about jailbreaking and got pretty good at it too. Now that I'm back to Android and learning about root, I've realized just how.. simple and basic jailbreaking is compared to rooting. So, would these ROMs be similar to tweaks you can get from the Cydia store in, let's say, behavior of the phone?
I don't think I would want to mess with kernels for a long while either, not until I get more acquainted with rooting in general.

ch0i said:
Thank you for your response and information!
Okay, so I guess Cyanogenmod for the Note 3 is not an option for me since I enjoy using my S pen (I mean, why else would I have gotten the phone in the first place haha)
Could you direct me to some useful ROMs or recommend me some? The thing is, I had the Motorola Droid as my first smartphone and never really got into rooting or anything, and when I got the iPhone 4s, that's when I started learning about jailbreaking and got pretty good at it too. Now that I'm back to Android and learning about root, I've realized just how.. simple and basic jailbreaking is compared to rooting. So, would these ROMs be similar to tweaks you can get from the Cydia store in, let's say, behavior of the phone?
I don't think I would want to mess with kernels for a long while either, not until I get more acquainted with rooting in general.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well first thing you need is safestrap so you can actually flash a ROM link here
This allows you to create limited size slots to flash a ROM to without effecting the stock ROM. There is a way around the size limitation of the slots, but I wouldn't worry about that yet. Just get a feel for it first before you risk bricking.
As for a ROM, head on over to the android development section and pick one. They all have great descriptions of what they have and what they don't. Personally I run hyperdrive and it makes a great daily driver. Still has enough of the original Samsung stuff to look like a Note 3 but allows you to tweak it much further. There are plenty others, and that's the beauty of safestrap, flash to your heart a content until you find one you like.
Kernals aren't something to worry about yet because the boot loader is still locked, limiting our ability to flash a kernal or a custom recovery at that. Unless something has changed that is... Has it? Did it get unlocked while I was asleep.
I you ever get stuck, search then ask. You might also want to read about ODIN here. since you're already rooted some of this doesn't pertain to you, but is still a good read as ODIN will help you recover from some problems.
Hope that helped.

blksprk said:
Well first thing you need is safestrap so you can actually flash a ROM link here
This allows you to create limited size slots to flash a ROM to without effecting the stock ROM. There is a way around the size limitation of the slots, but I wouldn't worry about that yet. Just get a feel for it first before you risk bricking.
As for a ROM, head on over to the android development section and pick one. They all have great descriptions of what they have and what they don't. Personally I run hyperdrive and it makes a great daily driver. Still has enough of the original Samsung stuff to look like a Note 3 but allows you to tweak it much further. There are plenty others, and that's the beauty of safestrap, flash to your heart a content until you find one you like.
Kernals aren't something to worry about yet because the boot loader is still locked, limiting our ability to flash a kernal or a custom recovery at that. Unless something has changed that is... Has it? Did it get unlocked while I was asleep.
I you ever get stuck, search then ask. You might also want to read about ODIN here. since you're already rooted some of this doesn't pertain to you, but is still a good read as ODIN will help you recover from some problems.
Hope that helped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did! Thank you very much!

ch0i said:
It did! Thank you very much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only option with Safestrap and therefore on newer Verizon Note 3's is a ROM based on stock, so Cyanogenmod isn't an option at all.
I would consider Hyperdrive. Enhanced app windowing options, Xposed framework to get rid of earphone hearing damage warning and never ending reminder about how to clear default apps and tons of little customizations. Getting rid of boot sound is reason enough for me.
Other things on your checklist whether you get a custom ROM or not is Adaware, which you can download on xda to block ads. Need Titanium Backup to back up apps with data, something you can't do without root and very useful when switching ROMs or phones. Lots of other useful tools like Root Explorer on Google Play. If you stick with your stock ROM, do the mod to allow free tethering for Wi-Fi.
Since you like your S Pen, you need Pen Window Manager, available on Play to choose for yourself which apps can run in a pen window. That was one of the big reasons I wanted to root this phone.
By the way, once you find a ROM you like, it's best to nandroid back it up, backup the stock ROM for safety, then restore your custom ROM to the Safestrap stock slot. The ROM 1-4 slots have limited storage so not great long term solution if you have a lot of apps, etc.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

I'm Sticking to Stock, Why Don't You?

I have been using my Nexus 6 ever since I abandoned Apple. I owned every iPhone from the 3GS to the 6. I picked up my 64GB Cloud White from Amazon when they were $250 and haven't looked back since. I've always been a big techy and can't believe I stayed on boring IOS so long.
That said, when I first got my Nexus 6 of course I started trying out some custom ROMs. Pure Nexus ended up being my favorite. I just liked being able to mod my status and nav bar really. It was fun trying out ROMs, Kernels, etc. It was all new to me.
Now, I've come to the point where it just doesn't really matter to me. I prefer Android to IOS regardless. The damn App drawer is enough to make me never go back. I like stock Android the way it is. I also like using and having the ability to use Android Pay. So I roll stock. I take my OTAs and Security updates as they come and call it a day.
So, why do you prefer custom ROMs / Kernels and having ROOT to stock Android? Like, what are your deal breakers that pull you from stock to rooted / custom ROMs and Kernels?
EDIT:
Thank you all for your responses. I was in no way trying to down people for modding out their own property, I was actually looking to see why some people feel root / roms are required. I just read through all of the responses and I seen quite a few that I didn't even know about or think of. Interesting.

Techbyte said:
I have been using my Nexus 6 ever since I abandoned Apple. I owned every iPhone from the 3GS to the 6. I picked up my 64GB Cloud White from Amazon when they were $250 and haven't looked back since. I've always been a big techy and can't believe I stayed on boring IOS so long.
That said, when I first got my Nexus 6 of course I started trying out some custom ROMs. Pure Nexus ended up being my favorite. I just liked being able to mod my status and nav bar really. It was fun trying out ROMs, Kernels, etc. It was all new to me.
Now, I've come to the point where it just doesn't really matter to me. I prefer Android to IOS regardless. The damn App drawer is enough to make me never go back. I like stock Android the way it is. I also like using and having the ability to use Android Pay. So I roll stock. I take my OTAs and Security updates as they come and call it a day.
So, why do you prefer custom ROMs / Kernels and having ROOT to stock Android? Like, what are your deal breakers that pull you from stock to rooted / custom ROMs and Kernels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly due to the locked down nature. You have to remember where you are. This site was made by and for developers that take what they are given and want to make it better. You will find that most people here dont run stock software on anything. Be it their router, PC, PS4, X1 or anything else they can get their hands on.
Personally Android pay is not big for most of us. It is unsecure and not really handy when you have to carry your wallet anyway.
In the end it is all about choice. Many of my homescreen set ups require root to run.
The biggest thing for me is to theme it. Android stock just looks too ugly for me to even think about using.

Techbyte said:
... from stock to rooted / custom ROMs and Kernels?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Layers and blacked out apps of the TBO-team.
For better readability and battery life I prefer a black/dark background.
Without root this configuration is not possible.
A child knows that a white background on devices with an amoled display causes battery drain. Apparently Google does not know that .

For the same reason you rooted and rom'd in the first place: customizations.
I'm quite picky on how everything is laid out and stock android doesn't give me most options that current roms like pure nexus offers while still having amazing performance.
Simple things like rearranging the quick drawer wasn't even available on stock until marshmallow came out while custom roms could do it way before then.
Dpi settings and xposed modules are enough for me to root.

roms/kernels, and so on.. not really important to me. sure, they are nice to have, but not a necessity. the only thing thats necessary to me is root. not because of what 98% of you are thinking, but for what root actually is, to have access to all the administrative rights. stock or custom rom, as long as i am #1 in deciding the fate of my device.

simms22 said:
.....to have access to all the administrative rights. stock or custom rom, as long as i am #1 in deciding the fate of my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like that. The principal. But the majority accepts the fact of paying a lot of money for a device with reduced functionality.

NLBeev said:
I like that. The principal. But the majority accepts the fact of paying a lot of money for a device with reduced functionality.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the majority also do whatever their neighbor(or friend, family member, and so on..) does, just because. im not in the majority, nor do i ever want to be.. :angel:

simms22 said:
the majority also do whatever their neighbor(or friend, family member, and so on..) does, just because. im not in the majority, nor do i ever want to be.. :angel:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill drink to that!:good::good:

At this point the biggest reason for root for me now, is app backups. Google has gotten a better, but being able to back up my apps and data for easy restore is a must. Sat what you will about Apple, but since day 1 you could plug your iPhone into iTunes and make a complete backup of it.

but who was xposed? almost unlimited customizations, need root but you can do it over a stock base
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

I use stock ROMs, but custom kernels for access to kcal color control especially. I read a lot on my nexus including at night, and I like being able to control light color (which relates to eye strain and can affect sleep) with precision. Reading apps have gotten better about offering at least some blue light-free reading modes, but back when they didn't, I got accustomed to having complete control and it's too late for me to settle for Amazon's presets or anyone else's, I can achieve the same color experience no matter what app I use (incl browsers, news readers etc). Second, I prefer the LED for notifications. Third, I like undervolting. Fourth, titanium backup for multiple reasons, but if an app update ever breaks something, I don't have to sweat it, I can roll that back to a working version no trouble.

Add blocking is important to me.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Pie controls, adjustable screen dpi, adjust screen colors and vibration strength, skip songs with volume button, titanium backup, custom recovery. I'm sure there are more but those are the ones I can think of right now. I just like tweaking the device to make it a more effective tool.
I use a light stock rom and lean kernel which is close to stock as well. Just gotta have root and xposed.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

Let me answer with another question. Do you expect people, especially in a place like XDA, to be content with locked down device?

I have my own hobby project, to make my own custom rom, so that's why I'm not stock, but the only thing I really need is to have root.
All the changes I made were mostly to put my stamp on it, to make it mine, but I've also fixed some stupid things like you can only invoke the Clock application from the status bar if there's a scheduled alarm, instead of tapping any clock or date fields.
Also I brought back the old Electron beam screen off animation, because that was cool. Now I can choose between None, Electron Beam, and the new Color fade. And allowed the dismiss all button, of course.

I don't for the same reason I use Arch I want what I want and no more.

I recently rooted again, primarily because I missed the flexibility that comes with rooting. Deleting apps that you never use. Clear themes. Ad Blocking. If my credit union had Android Pay, I would probably still be stock unrooted.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Tethering without blowing up my data... I am looking at you Verizon. Gotta give the man a finger. Root coz I can.
Plus ads. If they come up with a way to filter the ads and allow tethering without forcing me to pay extra I would I would gladly stay stock.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

Katt50 said:
I recently rooted again, primarily because I missed the flexibility that comes with rooting. Deleting apps that you never use. Clear themes. Ad Blocking. If my credit union had Android Pay, I would probably still be stock unrooted.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on dp3 and rooted with su2.74. I was able to load cards in android pay and it passed that safety net app. I'm going to try and make a purchase tomorrow. If it works, hooray for DP3.
I used Android pay on rooted N. I hope they leave that feature available with root in the final release.

I'm currently running stock N preview 3 but when I was running rooted it was mainly to access the notification led.
Sadly I have a few streaming apps that refuse to work while rooted and I got tired of fighting them.

I'm running a custom ROM, Why Don't You?

I have been using my Nexus 6 ever since I abandoned Apple. I owned every iPhone from the 3GS to the 6. I picked up my 64GB Cloud White from Amazon when they were $250 and haven't looked back since. I've always been a big techy and can't believe I stayed on boring IOS so long.
That said, when I first got my Nexus 6 of course I stuck to the stock ROM. MRA58K ended up being my favorite. I just liked having the Marshmallow update before everyone else. It was fun trying out the latest features in Android. It was all new to me.
Now, I've come to the point where I like the features in custom ROMs over stock. I prefer Android to IOS regardless. The damn App drawer is enough to make me never go back. Stock Android is good, but the things that can be achieved with root and/or custom ROMs is so much better. I don't necessarily need to use Android Pay, but it can be achieved with systemless root on stock and some custom ROMs anyway. So I run a custom ROM. I know how to use fastboot and TWRP so I can either flash a new ROM or fastboot flash stuff and call it a day.
So, why do you prefer stock ROMs / Kernels and not having ROOT to custom ROMs? Like, what are your deal breakers that pull you from root / custom ROMs and Kernels to stock Android?

Dopamin3 said:
I have been using my Nexus 6 ever since I abandoned Apple. I owned every iPhone from the 3GS to the 6. I picked up my 64GB Cloud White from Amazon when they were $250 and haven't looked back since. I've always been a big techy and can't believe I stayed on boring IOS so long.
That said, when I first got my Nexus 6 of course I stuck to the stock ROM. MRA58K ended up being my favorite. I just liked having the Marshmallow update before everyone else. It was fun trying out the latest features in Android. It was all new to me.
Now, I've come to the point where I like the features in custom ROMs over stock. I prefer Android to IOS regardless. The damn App drawer is enough to make me never go back. Stock Android is good, but the things that can be achieved with root and/or custom ROMs is so much better. I don't necessarily need to use Android Pay, but it can be achieved with systemless root on stock and some custom ROMs anyway. So I run a custom ROM. I know how to use fastboot and TWRP so I can either flash a new ROM or fastboot flash stuff and call it a day.
So, why do you prefer stock ROMs / Kernels and not having ROOT to custom ROMs? Like, what are your deal breakers that pull you from root / custom ROMs and Kernels to stock Android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used to root my phone for two reason. 1) I liked stock android over the other skins that LG, Samsung, and the like put on their phones, and 2) I liked to run custom kernels to squeeze every last bit of performance out of my single core phones. Fast forward to 2015. I have a Nexus 6, so I have stock Android out of the box with all the benefits that come with a Nexus phone. Also with modern hardware, a custom kernel really doesn't offer enough of a performance increase for me to warrant adding root and all the things that come with flashing a custom ROM. I used to love to tinker, but now at the end of the day, I just want my phone to work, and stock Android on my Nexus phone does all I want it to do.

as always, with Android, its all about choice.
and, even though stock Android blows away anything on the IBone, the reality is that at least 80% of the users on XDA are using custom roms, or at least rooted.
If you want to stay stock, good for you; if you want to stay stock and rooted, that's even better.
But if you dont know why most folks want to root, then you might be frequenting the wrong web forum..
Dont kid yourself; the VAST MAJORITY of members on XDA come here for custom roms, custom hacks, custom anything and everything..

I already have the Federal Government telling me what is good for me and what will make me happy, I'd rather not have Google do the same with a stock ROM.

I've ran many custom roms, but I'm not on my Nexus 6. I like the stock rom. I'm happy with just root and custom recovery on my stock setup. Device runs great and I get great battery life. I can use the root apps I want and that's enough for me.

Here is a much more important question:
I don't post repeated things in separate threads to keep the forum clean. Why don't you?
Here is your original post on the present thread:
Dopamin3 said:
I have been using my Nexus 6 ever since I abandoned Apple. I owned every iPhone from the 3GS to the 6. I picked up my 64GB Cloud White from Amazon when they were $250 and haven't looked back since. I've always been a big techy and can't believe I stayed on boring IOS so long.
That said, when I first got my Nexus 6 of course I stuck to the stock ROM. MRA58K ended up being my favorite. I just liked having the Marshmallow update before everyone else. It was fun trying out the latest features in Android. It was all new to me.
Now, I've come to the point where I like the features in custom ROMs over stock. I prefer Android to IOS regardless. The damn App drawer is enough to make me never go back. Stock Android is good, but the things that can be achieved with root and/or custom ROMs is so much better. I don't necessarily need to use Android Pay, but it can be achieved with systemless root on stock and some custom ROMs anyway. So I run a custom ROM. I know how to use fastboot and TWRP so I can either flash a new ROM or fastboot flash stuff and call it a day.
So, why do you prefer stock ROMs / Kernels and not having ROOT to custom ROMs? Like, what are your deal breakers that pull you from root / custom ROMs and Kernels to stock Android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And here is a substantially identical thread at http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/im-sticking-to-stock-dont-t3383517
Techbyte said:
I have been using my Nexus 6 ever since I abandoned Apple. I owned every iPhone from the 3GS to the 6. I picked up my 64GB Cloud White from Amazon when they were $250 and haven't looked back since. I've always been a big techy and can't believe I stayed on boring IOS so long.
That said, when I first got my Nexus 6 of course I started trying out some custom ROMs. Pure Nexus ended up being my favorite. I just liked being able to mod my status and nav bar really. It was fun trying out ROMs, Kernels, etc. It was all new to me.
Now, I've come to the point where it just doesn't really matter to me. I prefer Android to IOS regardless. The damn App drawer is enough to make me never go back. I like stock Android the way it is. I also like using and having the ability to use Android Pay. So I roll stock. I take my OTAs and Security updates as they come and call it a day.
So, why do you prefer custom ROMs / Kernels and having ROOT to stock Android? Like, what are your deal breakers that pull you from stock to rooted / custom ROMs and Kernels?
EDIT:
Thank you all for your responses. I was in no way trying to down people for modding out their own property, I was actually looking to see why some people feel root / roms are required. I just read through all of the responses and I seen quite a few that I didn't even know about or think of. Interesting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Am I missing something or is this some kind of joke?

I'm cooking my own, as for how much it is custom, that's another question. Since it's a hobby project for me, and since I code for a living, and have family and kids, I don't even touch the code every weekend.

najoor said:
Here is a much more important question:
I don't post repeated things in separate threads to keep the forum clean. Why don't you?
Here is your original post on the present thread:
And here is a substantially identical thread at http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/im-sticking-to-stock-dont-t3383517
Am I missing something or is this some kind of joke?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I smell a "Spambot"

najoor said:
Here is a much more important question:
I don't post repeated things in separate threads to keep the forum clean. Why don't you?
Here is your original post on the present thread:
And here is a substantially identical thread at http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6/general/im-sticking-to-stock-dont-t3383517
Am I missing something or is this some kind of joke?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMAO! Dopamin3 is most definitely not me, but I see where his choice of thread title and having the Nexus 6 made you think that. Purely coincidental I assure you. I have one account and this is it.
EDIT: Wait, wtf? I posted before I read the thread. He straight up copy and pasted one of my posts. Just added a little to it. Oh Wow. No wonder.... Still not me though.

Techbyte said:
LMAO! Dopamin3 is most definitely not me, but I see where his choice of thread title and having the Nexus 6 made you think that. Purely coincidental I assure you. I have one account and this is it.
EDIT: Wait, wtf? I posted before I read the thread. He straight up copy and pasted one of my posts. Just added a little to it. Oh Wow. No wonder.... Still not me though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uh... right.
Why would anybody do that, especially for something as pointless as THIS?

doitright said:
Uh... right.
Why would anybody do that, especially for something as pointless as THIS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No idea. Maybe he seen my post and was in a similar situation. First time jumping from iPhone, picked up the Nexus 6 on that Amazon sale. I am sure they sold thousands of them. I could care less to be honest. I just responded because that is not me.

It's been said by others above, but the fact is that the monthly security updates and getting the latest Android (well, maybe not the final release of N, but still), there just isn't as much reason for a custom ROM for me. I use Helium Backup, which works pretty well without root, and backup/restore was one of the few reasons I would root previously.
I have it OEM unlocked, custom recovery, but no root. Things seem to "just work", and I can't be bothered with the idiosyncrasies of running a custom ROM especially on a Nexus phone.

Custom roms since joining XDA, it's what I enjoy and I would miss the "high" otherwise!

Android N & ZTE, etc

Just wondered, if most people want a pure Android experience, why do all the manufacturers insist in putting their spin on it? It must cost them more in development and, ultimately, unhappy customers and fewer sales...why not just save the hassle and release the hardware with a stock software experience?
Sent from my ZTE A2017 using XDA Premium HD app

1. Eg Samsung have it own "app store" that make money.
2. Some of user want to use re-maked software.
3. Money
4. Money
5. Custom branding needs - not every brands want to looks like a clean Android.
6. Overall money - eg they said "ooooo we bring a loot of work to our customer experience with system"

Imo zte should have just themed the icons, & allowed the user to flash cm like themes but with deeper customization like re scaling and re positioning of elements and grids of the ui. now that would have been awesome. hmm and maybe throw in a smart notice widget with google assistant integration; imagine the lg g4 widget but with the brains of google assistant XD

jetsetwilly said:
Just wondered, if most people want a pure Android experience, why do all the manufacturers insist in putting their spin on it? It must cost them more in development and, ultimately, unhappy customers and fewer sales...why not just save the hassle and release the hardware with a stock software experience?
Sent from my ZTE A2017 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I'm one of those who doesn't want a pure Android experience because it lacks the customizations and options I need. Last year I got a Huawei with EMUI, and then I sold it to get a phone with pure Android and I have to say that I missed EMUI since the first day because it came with a lot of features and things that are actually useful and I can say I was using at least 90% of those things in order to make the usability better: fingerprint gestures, one hand mode, movement gestures, apps, etc.
Before I used to get devices with pure Android and then install a couple of ROM'S/Add-on in order to have a great experience, but many UI have been improved by now and they offer a more mature and stable experience without the need to be rooting or anything. I can talk about Huawei with EMUI or Xiaomi with MIUI, both started like crap, but right now they are more polished and better, and probably that's what ZTE wants to achieve in the future, because MiFavor feels like a lot like a version of EMUI from a couple of years ago.
:cyclops:

Would you android experience reduce the blostware. The axon 7 system apps on my phone is 19gb. Where is that made up from and what can you delete?

front firing speakers said:
Would you android experience reduce the blostware. The axon 7 system apps on my phone is 19gb. Where is that made up from and what can you delete?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Something is wrong with your devices... I don't have 19gb taken from clean system. More like 8-9 Go, still a lot but nothing too extreme...

front firing speakers said:
Would you android experience reduce the blostware. The axon 7 system apps on my phone is 19gb. Where is that made up from and what can you delete?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
djona12 said:
Something is wrong with your devices... I don't have 19gb taken from clean system. More like 8-9 Go, still a lot but nothing too extreme...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, no more than 10GB for system. That's why I always do a full reset and wipe when I get a new device, and I even delete all the internal memory. Some manufacturers like to put garbage on the internal memory.

Why does mine show 17.79gb?
---------- Post added at 05:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------
It's been like that since new, nothing to do with factory resets. I've done a few of those already. Must be Chinese bloatware. Just not sure though what I can remove

front firing speakers said:
Why does mine show 17.79gb?
---------- Post added at 05:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:08 PM ----------
It's been like that since new, nothing to do with factory resets. I've done a few of those already. Must be Chinese bloatware. Just not sure though what I can remove
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it a China model?
Do a factory reset and do not use Google to restore, use the 'WeShare' app to backup all data to your SD card before you factory reset. When done resetting, just open 'WeShare' and choose restore data from SD
Only do this if your total internal storage shows 16GB or somewhere around there

Yes it is, what does this procedure actually do? Thank you

People don't want stock android. Xda people, yes. Normal people, no.
If you remember some manufacturers had "Google play editions" of their regular phones. Which were their phone (galaxy s X) or so, but stock Android. They didn't sell. People =/= xda people in an way.

aPexalpha said:
People don't want stock android. Xda people, yes. Normal people, no.
If you remember some manufacturers had "Google play editions" of their regular phones. Which were their phone (galaxy s X) or so, but stock Android. They didn't sell. People =/= xda people in an way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have a vzw galaxy s4, mdk bootloader (semi unlocked) running 5.1 GPE. I think there's a aicp 7.x rom available, but nothing official as this device has been EOL for a while. It's a spare/backup phone which is used rarely.

aPexalpha said:
People don't want stock android. Xda people, yes. Normal people, no.
If you remember some manufacturers had "Google play editions" of their regular phones. Which were their phone (galaxy s X) or so, but stock Android. They didn't sell. People =/= xda people in an way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Give this man a cookie!
The truth is that normal people like those extra functionalities that a custom UI gives, and I had every Nexus until the Nexus 6 and I used to root and install a lot of stuff, but from 2-3 years to now, stock roms on the phones are pretty decent by now.

aPexalpha said:
People don't want stock android. Xda people, yes. Normal people, no.
If you remember some manufacturers had "Google play editions" of their regular phones. Which were their phone (galaxy s X) or so, but stock Android. They didn't sell. People =/= xda people in an way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People didn't buy them because they were full price. They could get big discounts on the carrier version.
Galaxo60 said:
+1
Give this man a cookie!
The truth is that normal people like those extra functionalities that a custom UI gives, and I had every Nexus until the Nexus 6 and I used to root and install a lot of stuff, but from 2-3 years to now, stock roms on the phones are pretty decent by now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Galaxo60 said:
Actually, I'm one of those who doesn't want a pure Android experience because it lacks the customizations and options I need. Last year I got a Huawei with EMUI, and then I sold it to get a phone with pure Android and I have to say that I missed EMUI since the first day because it came with a lot of features and things that are actually useful and I can say I was using at least 90% of those things in order to make the usability better: fingerprint gestures, one hand mode, movement gestures, apps, etc.
Before I used to get devices with pure Android and then install a couple of ROM'S/Add-on in order to have a great experience, but many UI have been improved by now and they offer a more mature and stable experience without the need to be rooting or anything. I can talk about Huawei with EMUI or Xiaomi with MIUI, both started like crap, but right now they are more polished and better, and probably that's what ZTE wants to achieve in the future, because MiFavor feels like a lot like a version of EMUI from a couple of years ago.
:cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I take it that by this you mean that you'd like the customization w/o having to root it? As IIRC there's a VERY GOOD and VERY COMPREHENSIVE customization tool that works on rooted devices. I've forgotten the name of it now as by the time that I found it, I was pretty happy with stock android v. bloated LG, HTC, etc.
Secondly many of the features that you mention are AFAIK standard Android features. Usually it seems if any extras are any good that they eventually show up in stock or a google app, e.g. swype enabled keyboard which the google keyboard now does as well although to me it seems that ALL version(swype to stock) have SEVERELY dumbed down the default dictionaries as when the feature first appeared it was so accurate but nowadays I get imbecility by default. I haven't gotten round to digging into this particular gripe yet as I've essentially given up on phones/tablets for any meaningful communication beyond as a phone. Anything remotely complex waits until the ULTIMATE input device is available, i.e. a computer and ... wait for it ... a KEYBOARD (although I do like active styluses, not the crappy long finger capacitive crap... even m$ hw rec is halfway decent... and beats swyping, etc. by miles but is still no REAL-honest-to-god-hw kb replacement... emoji's are cute and all but at the end of the day useless tripe best suited to frivolities and then even rare application is best IMNHO...)
Damn! Now I'm probably going to investigate WTF happened to swype keyboards that makes them very nearly useless now as they apparently have dictionaries suited to ADHD kindergartners...

cutterjohn said:
I take it that by this you mean that you'd like the customization w/o having to root it? As IIRC there's a VERY GOOD and VERY COMPREHENSIVE customization tool that works on rooted devices. I've forgotten the name of it now as by the time that I found it, I was pretty happy with stock android v. bloated LG, HTC, etc.
Secondly many of the features that you mention are AFAIK standard Android features. Usually it seems if any extras are any good that they eventually show up in stock or a google app, e.g. swype enabled keyboard which the google keyboard now does as well although to me it seems that ALL version(swype to stock) have SEVERELY dumbed down the default dictionaries as when the feature first appeared it was so accurate but nowadays I get imbecility by default. I haven't gotten round to digging into this particular gripe yet as I've essentially given up on phones/tablets for any meaningful communication beyond as a phone. Anything remotely complex waits until the ULTIMATE input device is available, i.e. a computer and ... wait for it ... a KEYBOARD (although I do like active styluses, not the crappy long finger capacitive crap... even m$ hw rec is halfway decent... and beats swyping, etc. by miles but is still no REAL-honest-to-god-hw kb replacement... emoji's are cute and all but at the end of the day useless tripe best suited to frivolities and then even rare application is best IMNHO...)
Damn! Now I'm probably going to investigate WTF happened to swype keyboards that makes them very nearly useless now as they apparently have dictionaries suited to ADHD kindergartners...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The tool is called Gravitybox, and I used as well, but more and more ROM's and even Android are taking those features, so there is no need to root or customize anymore except when you really need specific things with a particular objective.

front firing speakers said:
Yes it is, what does this procedure actually do? Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I heard from my local service centre that the software storage format is 16GB, so if its installed without doing a factory reset to reset the storage to default 64GB, it will stay at 16GB

It's a 128gb a2017 on b013. When it updated from b07 to b013 it performed a factory reset. When I received phone originally from Ali express, it was already showing around 16gb of system stuff. Currently it's 17.5gb. What's going on?

front firing speakers said:
Yes it is, what does this procedure actually do? Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not too sure. Might wanna contact zte.cn
I was told to do a factory reset and to not backup using google when they installed software meant for the A2017 model on my A2017G model.

jetsetwilly said:
Just wondered, if most people want a pure Android experience, why do all the manufacturers insist in putting their spin on it? It must cost them more in development and, ultimately, unhappy customers and fewer sales...why not just save the hassle and release the hardware with a stock software experience?
Sent from my ZTE A2017 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because stock experience is useless in China where Google services are blocked.
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using XDA-Developers Legacy app