Database Users

[Q] Any way to enhance experience for now?

Received my Galaxy S4 early today and i must say I'm extremely frustrated. I'm so used to the incredibly efficient CM10 on my old S3 that i'm finding this phone nearly impossible to tolerate. I'd like to play with it but every time i pick it up all the cluttering and bloatware drives me insane.
Is there anyway to at least remove the ATT and Samsung stuff before we have roots and roms?

Thrashavich said:
Received my Galaxy S4 early today and i must say I'm extremely frustrated. I'm so used to the incredibly efficient CM10 on my old S3 that i'm finding this phone nearly impossible to tolerate. I'd like to play with it but every time i pick it up all the cluttering and bloatware drives me insane.
Is there anyway to at least remove the ATT and Samsung stuff before we have roots and roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can't you just disable them in the settings>apps menu area? I don't have an S4 but i remember with the S3 u can do that

For now, i think you should root it to get rid of the bloatware, and try a custom launcher such as the nova launcher

JaeKay said:
For now, i think you should root it to get rid of the bloatware, and try a custom launcher such as the nova launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think there is a working root yet. I could be wrong.

jem417 said:
I don't think there is a working root yet. I could be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sure there is one, look in the development subthread. but no bootloader unlocking yet.

Thrashavich said:
Received my Galaxy S4 early today and i must say I'm extremely frustrated. I'm so used to the incredibly efficient CM10 on my old S3 that i'm finding this phone nearly impossible to tolerate. I'd like to play with it but every time i pick it up all the cluttering and bloatware drives me insane.
Is there anyway to at least remove the ATT and Samsung stuff before we have roots and roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotta agree, the amount of bloatware on this phone is absolutely astounding.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

And this is why I hate AT&T. Went with the US unlocked version of the HTC One. No AT&T crap = win. Too bad Samsung isn't offering unlocked / developer versions here in the States like HTC is.

gtg465x said:
And this is why I hate AT&T. Went with the US unlocked version of the HTC One. No AT&T crap = win. Too bad Samsung isn't offering unlocked / developer versions here in the States like HTC is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With your One you could also just flash a custom ROM. Hopefully that will be an option for GS4 users soon too.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

phositadc said:
With your One you could also just flash a custom ROM. Hopefully that will be an option for GS4 users soon too.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't even have to because I got the unlocked version though :laugh:. People with the AT&T version are unlocking and flashing to the firmware that came on mine. And they payed more for theirs if they didn't have an upgrade available :silly:. Haha

[Q] Sprint - Model Help??

Hi XDA Forums!
I'm a bit new to the Android community (and to XDA forums!) I wanted to try and install the Google Edition ROM for my device, but I'm a bit confused on the model number.
I went online and searched for about 20-25 minutes. I went to settings > About device > Model number. It says "SPH-L720". I know that is Sprint's model number, but is that any different than the i9505 or the i9500?
I even went on Wikipedia and compared the models (XDA won't let me post links, but I'm sure you can find it!)
I saw that my device met the requirements of the i9505, but I wanted to post here just to be safe.
Thanks a lot!
- Samsung Galaxy S4 (Sprint)
- Stock (Rooted - 4.2.2)

Salil999 said:
Hi XDA Forums!
I'm a bit new to the Android community (and to XDA forums!) I wanted to try and install the Google Edition ROM for my device, but I'm a bit confused on the model number.
I went online and searched for about 20-25 minutes. I went to settings > About device > Model number. It says "SPH-L720". I know that is Sprint's model number, but is that any different than the i9505 or the i9500?
I even went on Wikipedia and compared the models (XDA won't let me post links, but I'm sure you can find it!)
I saw that my device met the requirements of the i9505, but I wanted to post here just to be safe.
Thanks a lot!
- Samsung Galaxy S4 (Sprint)
- Stock (Rooted - 4.2.2)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different. Because of the carrier (Sprint) there will be some differences between model numbers such as CDMA vs. GSM, radios, etc. Some of the roms for international version might flash and work fine however you may risk losing things like signal, wifi, etc. If you want to try one check the thread to see if anyone else with a Sprint version has had success and above all else make a full backup before flashing just in case. If you don't want to meddle and be on the safe side then just stick with roms listed in the Sprint S4 dev sections.

Is this what you want? It is a little unstable right now just a warning. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=43120823
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

GiantJay said:
Is this what you want? It is a little unstable right now just a warning. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=43120823
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was looking at this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341162

Salil999 said:
I was looking at this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341162
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not flash that. There's always a risk for bricking your phone. Flash the ROM that jay linked too.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

daniel4653 said:
Do not flash that. There's always a risk for bricking your phone. Flash the ROM that jay linked too.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I still don't know the difference between i9505 and SPH-L720.

Radios are different

lafester said:
Radios are different
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Click to collapse
Is that the only difference? Nothing different in flashing roms or what not?

If you're new to android and xda, you shouldn't be haphazardly flashing testing builds. Take more time to learn and read a lot. You're going into that thin ice territory of stuff that isn't stable and made specifically for your model phone. You're going to end up bricking your phone or getting yourself into a jam that you don't know how to get out of.

oscarthegrouch said:
If you're new to android and xda, you shouldn't be haphazardly flashing testing builds. Take more time to learn and read a lot. You're going into that thin ice territory of stuff that isn't stable and made specifically for your model phone. You're going to end up bricking your phone or getting yourself into a jam that you don't know how to get out of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but there's no way I'm flashing into a new ROM without knowing all the details. I'm not going to dive in there, Haha. I've been reading the forums a lot for the past few days. I won't flash until I know the room works 100%! And yeah, I've been reading a lot. Looks like there's a lot of back up stuff to do!
But I just wanted to clear up the difference between i9505 and SPH-L720: The ROMs meant for i9505 won't work on SPH-L720?

Salil999 said:
Is that the only difference? Nothing different in flashing roms or what not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different processors. Quad Core Qualcomm is in the U.S. models and the international models have the Octacore Exynos chip.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

It is safest to stick with roms that were designed for the 720. I don't know the model you're speaking of, I'm assuming it's a gsm based phone. IMO, they are for different networks and different technologies. These people who are trying to shoehorn gsm, Verizon or international roms, are trying to port stuff over and fix, or try to, issues. Yes, since might get them to work but they won't work 100% flawless. I'm not saying they aren't smart, I'm saying that the stuff they are working on is very experimental and should not be deemed safe and reliable as a daily driver rom.

oscarthegrouch said:
It is safest to stick with roms that were designed for the 720. I don't know the model you're speaking of, I'm assuming it's a gsm based phone. IMO, they are for different networks and different technologies. These people who are trying to shoehorn gsm, Verizon or international roms, are trying to port stuff over and fix, or try to, issues. Yes, since might get them to work but they won't work 100% flawless. I'm not saying they aren't smart, I'm saying that the stuff they are working on is very experimental and should not be deemed safe and reliable as a daily driver rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its the international version of the S4 with the Exynos chip.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2
---------- Post added at 02:31 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:29 AM ----------
I don't know about this phone but on the S3 flashing any international ROM was a instant brick and many many people did it. So I highly suggest not flashing anything that is not clearly approved by the developer.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2

Need help lobbying for unlocked bootloader

Didn't know where else to post this but if anyone cares to go here and comment to John Legere please do.
https://twitter.com/fordjt/status/754483458869604352

jtford said:
Didn't know where else to post this but if anyone cares to go here and comment to John Legere please do.
https://twitter.com/fordjt/status/754483458869604352
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. What an interesting idea.
But we already have tons of those petitions, e-mails, telephone calls, personal letters, legals requests, etc.
So in other words... your idea has already been done... with no luck.

Binary100100 said:
Hmm. What an interesting idea.
But we already have tons of those petitions, e-mails, telephone calls, personal letters, legals requests, etc.
So in other words... your idea has already been done... with no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roger that. I guess this can be closed then. Just outta curiosity, do you know if this is going to be the new norm? I'm on an international S7 Edge so it doesn't currently affect me, but I would like to have my wifi calling back. Have a brand new TMO S7 Edge just getting dusty.

jtford said:
Roger that. I guess this can be closed then. Just outta curiosity, do you know if this is going to be the new norm? I'm on an international S7 Edge so it doesn't currently affect me, but I would like to have my wifi calling back. Have a brand new TMO S7 Edge just getting dusty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More than likely, yes, it will be the new norm.
There is an incredibly small chance that Samsung will go back to sending Tmo phones with unlockable bootloaders, but I would definitely not hold my breath. This is assuming that John Legere and Tmo actually did ask Samsung for an unlock like they said they did, and that Samsung decides to go back to how they used to ship the phones. Both of these scenarios are pretty unlikely by themselves, and even less so together.

AKW said:
More than likely, yes, it will be the new norm.
There is an incredibly small chance that Samsung will go back to sending Tmo phones with unlockable bootloaders, but I would definitely not hold my breath. This is assuming that John Legere and Tmo actually did ask Samsung for an unlock like they said they did, and that Samsung decides to go back to how they used to ship the phones. Both of these scenarios are pretty unlikely by themselves, and even less so together.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure they discussed it. It was likely shot down as soon as it was brought up though.
I'd bet that even if we were to ask today they'd say "We're still working on it. These things take time."
I'd bet that even two years from now they'll say the same thing too because they don't want the negative publicity. Any response starting with an "Unfortunately" won't ever be in our benefit which is all that they'll be responding with if we were to get any straight forward answer at all.
Samsung is grossly underestimating the willpower and determination of their customers. We were determined to get root and now we have it! Samsung should see that, be smart about it and decide to give us what we want. Meanwhile, if I let someone check out my (rooted) S7 Edge and let them notice how hot it is, how much the battery life sucks and how bad the lag is on most games (all due to the engineering kernel that we're forced to use) then I'd doubt very seriously that most people would want to get it. So my way of thinking is that they might as well let us flash unsigned kernels to at the very least let the phone run like normal. I've awed more people with my phone before rooting than after. I've actually shown it to my supervisor and she responded, "Why the Hell is it so hot?" I'm guessing she's not going to be upgrading now.

why Samsung can not do like HTC who wanted the opened Bootloader why torture people .

diligent7771 said:
why Samsung can not do like HTC who wanted the opened Bootloader why torture people .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But then HTC could probably sue Samsung for using their idea. LOL!

I really doubt any of this will affect Samsungs decision to unlock. This is a great device stock and each who drops Samsung 2 will buy their devices. There is nothing out there that would persuade me to root even though TEKHD has a custom rom and our device has a method to root. Just my 2cents
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA Premium HD app

PapaMag said:
I really doubt any of this will affect Samsungs decision to unlock. This is a great device stock and each who drops Samsung 2 will buy their devices. There is nothing out there that would persuade me to root even though TEKHD has a custom rom and our device has a method to root. Just my 2cents
Sent from my SM-G935T using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung won't be releasing an unlock unless it could positively effect their assets. Right now, their assets are Samsung Pay and Knox. Both of which require a secured bootloader to work. By releasing an unlocked bootloader or an method to unlock would do nothing positive for those assets. Truth is, there is nothing to gain for Samsung to release the bootloader for us so they won't be doing it. I'm certain of it.

diligent7771 said:
why Samsung can not do like HTC who wanted the opened Bootloader why torture people .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because Samsung has probably the best device they've ever made if not the best device currently on the market
Because Samsung S7/Edge devices are outselling the iPhone 6S/Plus
Because 99.99999% of people don't know what a bootloader unlock is, much less care about having it
Because Samsung Pay
Because a secure device enables government and corporate contracts
Because Samsung is making a ton of $$$ on these devices as they are
Because Samsung is totally OK with losing a small handful of people to HTC/Nexus devices when they can capture a much more lucrative market with a more secure device
There are likely many more reasons, but hopefully that answers why we don't have an unlocked bootloader and why we will never have an unlocked bootloader.

So with the bootloader locked, there is no way at all to install custom recovery or custom rom???
Sent from my LGUS991 using Tapatalk

chispas109 said:
So with the bootloader locked, there is no way at all to install custom recovery or custom rom???
Sent from my LGUS991 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No custom recovery. We can flash with Flashfire though. Only problem is that if something doesn't work right then you'll have to restore with Odin since we can't restore with a recovery and can only access Flashfire after the phone has already booted.

Sprint S6 Edge+ on Tmobile

I have a Sprint S6 Edge + that has been unlocked and I'm using it on a Tmobile network. Is there a way to load the stock Tmobile firmware on this phone to essentially make it a Tmobile phone instead of Sprint?
It is a stock SM-G928P, running stock Android 6.0.1
Thanks.

Why did you not but tmobile ?? in the first place[emoji12]
Sent from my SM-N920G using Tapatalk

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed or maybe I'm just not hip to the new fangled emoticon language used by kids these days, but I can't for the life of me figure out how that might help find a solution to my question.

twithers said:
I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed or maybe I'm just not hip to the new fangled emoticon language used by kids these days, but I can't for the life of me figure out how that might help find a solution to my question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am being very logical if you had bought tmobile in the first placr you would not face any issue because even if you succeed in flashing tmobile firmware on sprint phone[emoji23]
U will face issues that is 100℅ true
Sent from my SM-N920G using Tapatalk

Oh, the time travel paradox. I haven't brushed up on my Robert Heinlein lately, but if I remember correctly, it was something like...... If I had bought a Tmobile phone in the first place, I wouldn't have this problem, but I didn't, so I must go back to a time where this Sprint phone does not exist in my current personal multiverse and instead I choose to buy a Tmobile phone thereby eliminating my need to find assistance in the form of a helpful answer to my question. But I have to assume that I'm never able to travel back in time where your answer would apply, otherwise I wouldn't be typing this message, because the problem would have solved itself before ever existing. Got it! Let me stuff some banana peels into my flux capacitor and see how quickly I can generate the required 1.21 Jigawatts.
In the meantime, any Non Marty McFly's that might be able to share any working knowledge of a solution?
Thank you much.

twithers said:
Oh, the time travel paradox. I haven't brushed up on my Robert Heinlein lately, but if I remember correctly, it was something like...... If I had bought a Tmobile phone in the first place, I wouldn't have this problem, but I didn't, so I must go back to a time where this Sprint phone does not exist in my current personal multiverse and instead I choose to buy a Tmobile phone thereby eliminating my need to find assistance in the form of a helpful answer to my question. But I have to assume that I'm never able to travel back in time where your answer would apply, otherwise I wouldn't be typing this message, because the problem would have solved itself before ever existing. Got it! Let me stuff some banana peels into my flux capacitor and see how quickly I can generate the required 1.21 Jigawatts.
In the meantime, any Non Marty McFly's that might be able to share any working knowledge of a solution?
Thank you much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Removing all jokes you can try to flash tmobile firmware and try on your sprint phone the phone theoretically should boot but since very few ppl use carrier much about sprint and tmobile bootloaders and modems are unknown so they are either similar or very different [emoji29] this is why many devs don't support carrier models of Samsung because of all this **** so all i or i am sure of it anyone would say is try and hope you can have basic functions working if that happens then if some bugs exist you can ask devs who by the way work in their free time to help you fix it
Primary suggestion is still sell sprint and buy tmobile phone i am actually serious
Or download g928t latest firmware from sammmobile flashing instructions are provided on download page download programs which they say are needed and see the video of how to install there is everything mentioned in detail but dont come complaining if phone does not boot
Sent from my SM-N920G using Tapatalk

Thanks for the helpful suggestion. That's about what I was thinking. My biggest concern is that I flash the Tmobile rom, it doesn't work and I can't flash it back. If I was sure I could still flash back to stock Sprint as a last resort, I'd be more comfortable taking the chance. Admittedly, I was surprised that the phone would unlock for Tmobile in the first place. For the longest time it was either CDMA or GSM and not both, so this is a new one for me.

twithers said:
Thanks for the helpful suggestion. That's about what I was thinking. My biggest concern is that I flash the Tmobile rom, it doesn't work and I can't flash it back. If I was sure I could still flash back to stock Sprint as a last resort, I'd be more comfortable taking the chance. Admittedly, I was surprised that the phone would unlock for Tmobile in the first place. For the longest time it was either CDMA or GSM and not both, so this is a new one for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chances of bricking device is real still suggestion loose bucks and buy a tmobile or dont buy a Samsung phone with carrier i am serious
Sent from my SM-N920G using Tapatalk

It is fine with AT&T logo
twithers said:
I have a Sprint S6 Edge + that has been unlocked and I'm using it on a Tmobile network. Is there a way to load the stock Tmobile firmware on this phone to essentially make it a Tmobile phone instead of Sprint?
It is a stock SM-G928P, running stock Android 6.0.1
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is fine with AT&T logo... Try flashing unlock file over your sprint carrier maybe it will help

Today when I watch video on YouTube, I found a site of remove network lock from Samsung Galaxy. You can have a try.
https://directunlocks.com/samsung/?aff=clickme

Question about s8 active

I'm looking to buy an s8 phone. The active seems really nice to me as I hate the regular s8 display and prefer the flat display of the active. My Question is whether or not I can root the active using the regular s8 method. There seems to be very little info about this phone unless I'm just not looking in the right place. I'm not really sure how similar these phones are on the hardware and software side.

Honestly, the S8 active is the first phone I've had that I haven't really felt a NEED to root. Theming is there, (specialized substratum version for Samsung), can be mostly debloated via adb, battery life is amazing out of the box. There is a thread for some small mods to remove things like the carrier label in the status bar add well.
But, like you've said, there isn't a lot of info on it in the regular S8 forums. I've wondered the same things, but haven't found d any definitive answers yet. Hardware wise, I belive they are nearly identical, aside from the display being flat and not curved. No curved screen, so the screen edge specific apps and functions aren't there either. Battery has a higher capacity, 4000mah opposed to 3000mah for regular s8, I get average of 9hr SoT with average use.

The hardware is identical inside unless you count the screen, of which I prefer the Active's screen personally. I got mine a week ago and love it. It's rugged without looking like a tank I've managed to knock it off my work table twice already to a cement floor which is about 3 feet with not a single mark left on it.
The huge battery is great and lasts more than a full day with constant usage(music/reddit/games) which is a big plus.
I would like to see the dev community pick it up but like rjyoung00 said, you almost don't even need to root the thing.

there are plenty of software reasons to root despite the hardware being great. Im in the same boat as OP, I got the S6 active day one expecting a root since the S6 had one but it was released with an update that made it unrootable. Now I don't want to be in the same boat

galaxy s8 active has almost perfect hardware and absolutely awful software, (Samsung stop already put your trashy software from your devs with broken hands, why the f... is it so hard to put AOSP with root at least as an option !! )
I cannot live without unlocked bootloader, root, AOSP, xposed. This is the major reason I am still using my Nexus 6.
Really hope that devs will find the way to get all necessary software otherwise this beautiful phone is dead.

My question is can you flash the unlocked firmware on it like the others. Would love to know if anyone would try. I'd like to use it on vzw.

IMMORTALKING69 said:
My question is can you flash the unlocked firmware on it like the others. Would love to know if anyone would try. I'd like to use it on vzw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd try if I could get a copy of the original firmware.
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

IMMORTALKING69 said:
My question is can you flash the unlocked firmware on it like the others. Would love to know if anyone would try. I'd like to use it on vzw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it's possible to brick using odin, and locked bootloader. If it goes wrong, just flash original firmware, to get going again. But don't trust me. Do some research. And best not to try without having original firmware.

Duplicate Post

Broke down and purchased stock G892A firmware so I could mess around in ODIN, couldn't get any of the ulocked or carrier G950U files to flash (firmware, eng boot, combo) using standard or modded ODIN.
Uploaded the stock firmware to my drive and shared in another thread so others could mess around too. [emoji41]
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

inneyeseakay said:
Broke down and purchased stock firmware so I could mess around in ODIN, couldn't get any of the G950U files to flash (firmware, eng boot, combo). Uploaded the stock firmware to my drive and shared in another thread so others could mess around too. [emoji41]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All versions of the g950u and g950u1 firmware are on sammobile. In fact there is an XAA branded firmware which has 0 carrier bloat

wildermjs8 said:
All versions of the g950u and g950u1 firmware are on sammobile. In fact there is an XAA branded firmware which has 0 carrier bloat
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the words above my post, you'll see that we were talking about the S8 Active (G892A) which the firmware is not posted for on SamMobile, therefore had to be purchased from GSMFirmwares.

From another thread:
Found this thread with restore.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/how-to/sm-g892a-galaxy-s8-active-stock-odin-t3667204

inneyeseakay said:
If you read the words above my post, you'll see that we were talking about the S8 Active (G892A) which the firmware is not posted for on SamMobile, therefore had to be purchased from GSMFirmwares.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read the words above those words, you will see that you specifically mentioned G950U.

wildermjs8 said:
If you read the words above those words, you will see that you specifically mentioned G950U.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Youre right, I said that the g950u files wouldn't successfully flash on the g892a, which was the original question.
Also, someone else suggested not trying it until the g892a files were available. So I mentioned that I bought those files and made them available.
Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk