Database Users

Just got my Nexus 7 -- should I update to 4.2.1 from 4.1.2?

EDIT: I'm transforming this thread into a poll. Please see posts #12, 13, and 14 for details.
Hi guys! I just got my Nexus 7 yesterday. I'm really loving the seamless, fast experience in pretty much every app I try. However, the device shipped with Android 4.1.2 onboard, and the update to 4.2.1 has been rearing its head periodically. My question is: should I accept the update or not?
Normally I would accept it without a second thought, but Phil has said a couple times that he hasn't had a good experience with 4.2.x on the Nexus 7. I also will probably end up rooting, unlocking, and flashing custom ROM's. I say "probably" because I've enjoyed the practice on my EVO LTE for about half a year now, but I haven't found too much reason to do so on my N7 yet.
So, to update or not to update? That is the question. Also, if the answer is no, is there a way of disabling the update pop-ups? Thanks in advance. I look forward to many a good time with you guys in here.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda-developers app
What I'm using:
- HTC EVO 4G LTE (black): LazyPanda S-Off currently running MeanBean
- Google Nexus 7 (32 GB, WiFi only): currently running stock 4.1.2
- Lenovo IdeaPad U300s Ultrabook (2nd-gen Intel Core i5, 128 GB SSD): dual-booting Windows 7 and Hexxeh's build of Chromium OS...with some Linux somewhere in its future

yea go for it...
first thing i did to mine, then install a ROM to make it stable LoL

Yes you should update your N7.

Nio
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

I'm loving 4.2.1 with franco kernel #38
Smooth and powerful without neutering my N7 upwards to 11 hours "screen on" time light use.

Before you install any apps, update to 4.1.2.
Sent from my LT18i using xda premium

Bought my Nexus 7 one afternoon and when it started to sniff out the wifi at home, the update was offered already. I looked around for awhile knowing how my old android "prototype" phone, Galaxy 5 went haywire after upgrading from 2.1 to 2.2. I've read a blog about the upgrade screwing up Bluetooth controllers for the nexus 7...but what the heck, I got it anyway.
now I've been using an Xbox 360 usb via OTG and I don't notice anything out of the ordinary. Dunno about the bluetooth controllers though, didn't try and won't (that's one more battery management I'm going to worry about

Don't update! It has a battery draining problem and and also a bluetooth problem (maybe even more bugs)! Wait until Android 4.2.2 or 5.0 comes out, it will be much better!

brakke97 said:
Don't update! It has a battery draining problem and and also a bluetooth problem (maybe even more bugs)! Wait until Android 4.2.2 or 5.0 comes out, it will be much better!
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Mine works fine. Bluetooth works with my speaker (and headphones) and battery life is no different than under 4.1.*
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium

I would update all the Apps now running stock 4.1.2 first, and, consider doing the easiest ones (for me, YMMV) by unlocking the bootloader, rooting the device, install a Custom Recovery along with Busybox.
Reboot & let it run smooth to be sure, run a TB backup and then do a full Backup (I used CWM) - and store those safely away first. Run some benchmark for scores using Quadrant Std. etc. as your baseline for reference.
Then, do the 4.2.1 OTA upgrade or alternate methods (via flashing, etc.)
Reboot & go thru initial setup as everything would be wiped clean, setup account & do the restoration (plus, root & unlock & custom recovery) and decide for yourself after using it as to whether you are happy and/or running into issues. Check your benchmark scores as well as Apps to see how they perform. Make a full Backup & store an extra copy away (mine go to the server at home.) Your next step would then be to "experiment" with various kernels & full custom Rom under 4.1.2
If you do all these, you can easily switch back & forth as necessary - or, in my case - rolled back to 4.1.2 with numerous tweaks: 720 video, Flash Player 11.x with Boat Browser & tablet UI, etc. and working OTG (with the upgrade notification disabled/turned off.) Everything else that I see in 4.2.x that I would run and use are working great under 4.1.2 as switching users on the go isn't a big deal - waiting for 4.3 or 5.0 as more annoying "bugs" would be resolved by other daring "pioneers"

The only problem I have with 4.2.1 is that audio trough bluetooth is choppy when WiFi is in use. Other then that I don't have any issues, and according to Battery Widget Reborn app my battery usually lasts for 1 day 11 hrs.
Battery use right now: 77% full, 10h 35m on battery, 59% screen on.
If you're not using bluetooth audio heavily, or can live without it (or alternatives), yes, by all means, go ahead and update.

OK, I'm gonna transform this into a poll. Should I:
a) stay on 4.1.2 and wait for a future update,
b) update to 4.2.1, or
c) do some kind of hackery (please describe in your reply)?
Like this post if you think I should STAY ON 4.1.2 for now and wait for a future update.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Like this post if you think I should UPDATE TO 4.2.1.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Like this post if you think I should do some kind of hackery (please describe in your reply).
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

Looking for something stock....

Im trying to squeeze some life out of my sons 2012 Nexus 7. Im not sure if its a performance issue or a hardware issue but its so laggy its almost unusable.
I currently have it running stock 5.0 rooted and unlocked (TWRP) on build Lrx21p
Is there a stable rom out there, something that wont need nightly updates as he uses this to watch Sesame Street videos and play educational games.
thanks a bunch

Describe the phone's performance ....

So I'm looking to buy the Moto G 2014, and every review I've seen so far describes the performance as "OK, Fine, Not bad", even though my sister has a Galaxy S3 Neo (Which is running the same SOC but with a 0.5GB more ram) and the performance is stunning. So what do you think about it ? and if a ROM can make it even a better runner be sure to tell me.
Thanks a million !

Moto G xt1068 will be best in this price range..
It has got a lot of development.

Performance on Stock is fine, but the animations smoothness are crap, partially because Stock is 5.0.2, partially motorola's fault. Install an AOSP ROM (not CM12.1, it has some unnescessary things) and a decent kernel and then the performance will be way better. Its a good performance overall, for a 2013 mid range CPU.
Sent from my XT1068 using XDA Free mobile app

Thanks guys !! Really appreciate the help !

For what you pay you get better than OK
How much do you think it's ok to spend on extra 0.5gb ram? USD 20-25 I think its ok, but how much I will pay to not have touchwiz on my phone it's priceless.

I'm wondering what people describe as fine. I had a Nexus 5 before and a friend's original Moto G seemed decent, so when mine broke I bought a Moto G (Gen 2.)
I've had it a few weeks and it seems to get laggier and laggier. Most apps take up to a full second to load, there are a couple that take multiple seconds. It often can't keep up with how fast I type and will lag hard so I'll have to stop and wait otherwise it will miss letters or start thinking I'm swiping and just input random words. Most of my friends who have upgraded to lollipop have complained about how laggy it is (but I thought it was supposed to run on even less resources.) What I want to know is, is there actually something wrong or is this the expected performance of a Moto G running lollipop? I'm finding it nearly unusable. I'm just running the stock rom cause it didn't have a skin. Do I need a custom rom for decent performance?

composite_ said:
I'm wondering what people describe as fine. I had a Nexus 5 before and a friend's original Moto G seemed decent, so when mine broke I bought a Moto G (Gen 2.)
I've had it a few weeks and it seems to get laggier and laggier. Most apps take up to a full second to load, there are a couple that take multiple seconds. It often can't keep up with how fast I type and will lag hard so I'll have to stop and wait otherwise it will miss letters or start thinking I'm swiping and just input random words. Most of my friends who have upgraded to lollipop have complained about how laggy it is (but I thought it was supposed to run on even less resources.) What I want to know is, is there actually something wrong or is this the expected performance of a Moto G running lollipop? I'm finding it nearly unusable. I'm just running the stock rom cause it didn't have a skin. Do I need a custom rom for decent performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash titan prime 1.0.3 beta, it will blow your socks off
https://romhut.com/roms/titan-prime-rom-for-motorola-moto-g-2014-unified

composite_ said:
I'm wondering what people describe as fine. I had a Nexus 5 before and a friend's original Moto G seemed decent, so when mine broke I bought a Moto G (Gen 2.)
I've had it a few weeks and it seems to get laggier and laggier. Most apps take up to a full second to load, there are a couple that take multiple seconds. It often can't keep up with how fast I type and will lag hard so I'll have to stop and wait otherwise it will miss letters or start thinking I'm swiping and just input random words. Most of my friends who have upgraded to lollipop have complained about how laggy it is (but I thought it was supposed to run on even less resources.) What I want to know is, is there actually something wrong or is this the expected performance of a Moto G running lollipop? I'm finding it nearly unusable. I'm just running the stock rom cause it didn't have a skin. Do I need a custom rom for decent performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock 5.0.2 Lollipop, doesn't matter if is Titan Prime or Vanilla stock, it will be laggy, because its Android 5.0.2, if you want a decent performance on Lollipop yes, you will need a 5.1.1 Custom ROM, i think AOSP by LuK1337 has a great performance. Or just flash a 4.4.4 ROM (NOT CM11, its a bit more laggy than stock 4.4.4), i'm using PAC 4.4.4, Its not that stable, but it have 60FPS Animations and a great performance.

Lynse said:
Stock 5.0.2 Lollipop, doesn't matter if is Titan Prime or Vanilla stock, it will be laggy, because its Android 5.0.2, if you want a decent performance on Lollipop yes, you will need a 5.1.1 Custom ROM, i think AOSP by LuK1337 has a great performance. Or just flash a 4.4.4 ROM (NOT CM11, its a bit more laggy than stock 4.4.4), i'm using PAC 4.4.4, Its not that stable, but it have 60FPS Animations and a great performance.
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Click to collapse
No Sir, you're absolutely wrong. I tried out AOSP, Quantum OS and even PA. Nothing comes close to how smooth Titan Prime is.
I get 20,000+ on antutu without even tweaking the kernel settings. And that says a lot.
---------- Post added at 08:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:24 PM ----------
composite_ said:
I'm wondering what people describe as fine. I had a Nexus 5 before and a friend's original Moto G seemed decent, so when mine broke I bought a Moto G (Gen 2.)
I've had it a few weeks and it seems to get laggier and laggier. Most apps take up to a full second to load, there are a couple that take multiple seconds. It often can't keep up with how fast I type and will lag hard so I'll have to stop and wait otherwise it will miss letters or start thinking I'm swiping and just input random words. Most of my friends who have upgraded to lollipop have complained about how laggy it is (but I thought it was supposed to run on even less resources.) What I want to know is, is there actually something wrong or is this the expected performance of a Moto G running lollipop? I'm finding it nearly unusable. I'm just running the stock rom cause it didn't have a skin. Do I need a custom rom for decent performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I know exactly how you feel. I had a Nexus 5 and a OnePlus One before my G (Gen 2). Especially, after lollipop it had become so laggy, sometimes, I felt like throwing my phone. I rooted and started flashing roms on the G after I got done with college in the first week of April, and I haven't felt frustrated ever again. Great phone, with great development. If you want a rom that is fool proof, download Titan Prime 1.0.3 and use it with Stellar Kernel 5.0. (Also Xposed works perfectly on it)

[Q] 4.4.4 vs 5.1.1 Stock

Guys,
I picked up a second hand Nexus 7 yesterday for a really low price. I had no intention of a purchase but sometimes the price is so low you can't say no. :angel:
The N7 is currently on 5.1.1 and has very inconsistent performance. 1 action will be slow, then the next few quick. (1 day of usage after factory reset.)
I'm looking to give this tablet to my 9 year old nice and was wondering if stock 4.4.4 has better performance? As its for a 9 year old, I'm looking to keep everything totally stock.
Thanks in Advance. :highfive:

Honestly, my N7 ran fastest with the OS that originally came on the device, 4.1JB. Assuming you don't want to go back that far, 4.4.4 would be the next best choice.
There are a couple of good 5.1.1 custom Roms that are fairly smooth, but since you only want stock, stick with 4.4.4
Sent from my Nexus 7

enriquejones666 said:
Honestly, my N7 ran fastest with the OS that originally came on the device, 4.1JB. Assuming you don't want to go back that far, 4.4.4 would be the next best choice.
There are a couple of good 5.1.1 custom Roms that are fairly smooth, but since you only want stock, stick with 4.4.4
Sent from my Nexus 7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply :highfive:
If I was going back further than 4.4.4, I'd probably go back to 4.2.2 as it really impressed me on the nexus 4.
Take your point about 4.4.4 being the best recent os though. How would you rate 5.1.1 if we would say that 4.4.4 is 100% speed?

Install cyanogenmod 11 (4.4). Best rom for nexus 7.

Gothic4 said:
Install cyanogenmod 11 (4.4). Best rom for nexus 7.
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Click to collapse
If I was the user I'd take you up on that Gothic. Probably too many extra options for my nice though. Thanks anyway. :highfive:

Flash this ROM and u will be amazed with performance
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sho...[5.1.1_r14 LMY48M][SuperSU|BusyBox][15/09/26]
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Trimmer?
So far I have no idea why or how it works, but I followed some advice I read in this forum and installed a "trimmer" application. I manually started a "trim" operation, and after that the device became noticeably more responsive. Even in case that this is just a placebo effect, I am much more satisfied with the tablet than I have been before. You might just try it, the app comes with no cost, and if the device is usable afterwards, you can pass it to your nice niece. Otherwise you can try to install a different, or even older, operating system.

adeelraj has a point. It seems your main qualm about using a custom Rom is the complexity of its added features. BSZAospLP is pretty much stock AOSP, so it should behave pretty much like the stock ROM.
And Ahkah also has a point. My brother's N7 was exhibiting similar symptoms to yours. I formatted his /data and /cache partitions, and then ran that Trimmer app (root) and that fixed his random slowdowns problem.

Ahkah said:
So far I have no idea why or how it works, but I followed some advice I read in this forum and installed a "trimmer" application. I manually started a "trim" operation, and after that the device became noticeably more responsive. Even in case that this is just a placebo effect, I am much more satisfied with the tablet than I have been before. You might just try it, the app comes with no cost, and if the device is usable afterwards, you can pass it to your nice niece. Otherwise you can try to install a different, or even older, operating system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Ahkah,
I haven't used the Nexus 7 much since I bought it. Theoretically, the fs trim issue shouldn't impact performance yet. I've just found the performance being really inconsistent on 5.1.1. i.e. one command fast and smooth and the next has lag.
Someone is borrowing the tablet at the moment and I will probably try 4.4.4 when I get it back.

Masteryates said:
Take your point about 4.4.4 being the best recent os though. How would you rate 5.1.1 if we would say that 4.4.4 is 100% speed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I heard enough bad things about the stock LP ROM, that I went straight to the XenonHD 5.1.1 ROM. I can tell you that outta the box (without making any speed optimizations), it was running at 85% the speed of my previous 4.4.4 ROM (SlimKat).

I had Lollipop on mine and Lollipop+3 years worth of junk=a BIG surprise. So I rolled it back to 4.4.4 and it was very, very smooth. Then flashed one of my backup zips for Lollipop (made when no apps were installed) and it was still laggy as hell.
So conclusion: Lollipop sucks ass on this thing.

Out of curiosity, how many of these do you think are still in service?

There doesn't appear to be much activity on this forum or in any of the custom ROMs for this device. I'm sad that it's stuck on Marshmallow (I know Nougat ROMs exist, but in my experience they were too unstable to use) when Android 11 is about to drop, and that GNU/Linux is not available for it. With the newest builds I can find being from mid 2019 and the Linux kernel stuck on an unsupported version, I just don't trust it to be secure any more, so I'm now using it mostly airgapped, and only on a trusted firewalled network when I absolutely must use the wi-fi.
In order to get some idea of how much hope there is, I'd like to know if anyone has a guess for how many of these are still in service.

I have one that I play with from time to time but mostly just email. I still have one brand new in a box that we never used as we got it as part of a promotion. I've thought about it using it with my OBD2 connector to troubleshoot the cars.

I got 3 of it, grandparents using 2 of them and Im using the last one for reading and surfing web.

Me! My father bought it back like in 2013 and haven't used it much until last year. Then he gave it to me and I was pumped cause never really had a tabled. I discovered how comfortable are they to read/surf/watch YouTube.
I flashed it with Lineage and later Unlegacy, both at android 7.1. I must say when it functions correctly, it FLIES!! I can watch YT videos at 720 no problems and the pictures look great, very nice colors!
Unfortunately it hangs often, like there's a hidden process of the OS causing problems. It heats the hell out of the CPU and resetting doesn't seem to solve it, but eventually goes away and comes back to normal. It expends like 60% of the time functioning right and the other 40% overheating and hanging up. It also drops wifi intermittently.
Even with all those problems I refuse to let it go. Mine is almost new, and as I said I love how the screen looks despite it's resolution. I wish I could get an stable release in 7.1 so I can squeeze the rest of it's life out of it.
Lineage is not being ported anymore by AndroidAndi and Unlegacy project seems dead as well. Im lost here, if somebody can point me to a stable release I could use for the things I do with it, that would be AWESOME! (EDIT: Will try out AICP)

You mentioned AICP, which I haven't heard of before. Is that still maintained for it?

I still have a working one and use it accasionally for movies. Now I am looking for a "newer" stable ROM, at the moment it has cyanogen mod 13.0-201618 nightly

I don't think there ever was anything stable other than KitKat. I'm using an unofficial nightly Omnirom marshmallow build from early 2019. There are Nougat nightly roms, but I've found them to be too slow to use.

I still have a tab 2. i dont ever use it but its a good backup device. i messed around with it the first time i started running custom roms on androids. i put a couple different roms like cyanogen mod. but went back to stock and havent touched it since that was like 2014. now im trying to run the latest version of lineage os to make it faster and more stable as the stock/custom rom was very unstable.

I just turned mine on and see I'm running slim-4.44 build. Sucks cause lots of stuff doesn't work on it. Netflix isn't even supported.
Is there another rom that can be loaded that's better to get better functionality? I know this is super old hardware. Email pretty much is fine but seems silly to just use this for email. Hate to throw it out because it's in immaculate condition...lol
-Nigel

NewShockerGuy said:
I just turned mine on and see I'm running slim-4.44 build. Sucks cause lots of stuff doesn't work on it. Netflix isn't even supported.
Is there another rom that can be loaded that's better to get better functionality? I know this is super old hardware. Email pretty much is fine but seems silly to just use this for email. Hate to throw it out because it's in immaculate condition...lol
-Nigel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, folks, this is old hardware but its not acceptable to ditch is just because its hard. We'll never move to a more sustainable economy is we can recycle old hardware. They work that you guys do with custom ROMs is awesome as you are doing your bit to not fill landfills. It would be good to know if there is still a relatively recent ROM for the Galaxy Tab 2 that is still maintained.

Hi all, I'm using unlegacy Android based on Android 7.1 and I suggest you to use it
I suggest you to not flash gapps (they're too much resources intensive). I'm currently using it with L speed set everything on performance (don't fuss with ram manager settings because it crashes) and with Firefox preview ( the fastest and most stable for this tablet IMO) downloaded from apkpure

lukigno95 said:
Hi all, I'm using unlegacy Android based on Android 7.1 and I suggest you to use it
I suggest you to not flash gapps (they're too much resources intensive). I'm currently using it with L speed set everything on performance (don't fuss with ram manager settings because it crashes) and with Firefox preview ( the fastest and most stable for this tablet IMO) downloaded from apkpure
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Which unlegacy build are you using for your tablet? There was a build from July 2019, and it seemed to have security patch as of 7/5/2019. Unfortunately, I saw it too late on jenkins, and it isn't available for download anymore (probably because I don't know how to download older artifacts from jenkins).
I have a P5113 10.1 WiFi, and I'm using unlegacy asop 6.0.1 build as of February 2019 since I couldn't get 7.1 to get pass the setup wizard, probably because of gapps as you suggested.

ME! I still use P3100 model it is fine but it is lagging a lot these days . I'm using slim os 4.4. Anybody can suggest a smooth ROM for the Device.
Thanks

Just received one from my nephew to keep the kids busy... watching yt , uh quietly...
Kept my head busy thinking if any good ROM would be available.
Good to know there are possibilities.

I have one too.
Thanks to Android-Andi it's up and running again.
Thanks again Andi.

Yeah after so many attempts , I have now managed to make it usable.
Previously I was using crDroid rom (marshmallow) with gapps. But it was so laggy that I couldn't do anything ( literally anything). Now after doing some research I have chosen unified lineage OS 14 ( 7.0) from Android Andi's website. I am now using unified Twrp ( not the official one) also from Andi's website. And flashed a custom overclocked kernel. This time I am not using gapps ( very resource heavy). And using "NEW PIPE" for YouTube streaming. And rooted with magisk and flashed "Oxygen OS sounds" from magisk modules. Now I can watch YouTube videos 720p without any lag. This device flies now...??

I have 1
I bought one for a microbiology class because it was cheaper to buy a digital copy and the tablet than to buy the book. It was a new book with no previous editions, so I had to. I never really had to use it for classes again, I prefer a book over the tablet. It has been sitting around untouched for a bit, I think the last time I used it Hulu or Netflix no longer had a compatible app version for android 4. I can't remember how much I paid for it, but I feel like it got slow and they quit pushing out updates not long after I bought it. I decided to pull it out and play around with it. It is not doing much, so if I mess it up by rooting it, I won't be too upset. Trying to find the best way to do this. I have also seen some information about LineageOS.
Ka-B00M said:
There doesn't appear to be much activity on this forum or in any of the custom ROMs for this device. I'm sad that it's stuck on Marshmallow (I know Nougat ROMs exist, but in my experience they were too unstable to use) when Android 11 is about to drop, and that GNU/Linux is not available for it. With the newest builds I can find being from mid 2019 and the Linux kernel stuck on an unsupported version, I just don't trust it to be secure any more, so I'm now using it mostly airgapped, and only on a trusted firewalled network when I absolutely must use the wi-fi.
In order to get some idea of how much hope there is, I'd like to know if anyone has a guess for how many of these are still in service.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

still own one but its slow , not as slow as my old ipad 3 which is useless now

In the name of GOD?.....Hi do you know what's custom ROM is best?slim6 2017

Still using this tablet for surfing, videos with RR rom. Quite happy with that.