19 replies to this topic

[Frost]

This topic geared toward Android phones, really, sorry iPhone users.

 

Anyone else running on a custom ROM? I'm using cyanogen for my tablet right now and I absolutely love it.

[Monkeydog]

I used to a lot on my Epic 4G, but never used anything but Cyanogen Mod on my Galaxy S3.

 

I don't use anything on my current phone, my Nexus 5, since it works pretty good just as is. I do miss Trebuchet though, I currently use Nova for my launcher.

[Frost]

Yeah I use Nova too, it's the best imo. Especially the new version that has "Ok Google" functionality on the homescreens.

[Donkeymog]

I've been meaning to root my phone for ages now but haven't quite gotten around it. I haven't really found any reason that makes me think "I have to do this right now!" Can anyone suggest good reasons to do it? Anyone have any good tips for what to play around with first?

[Vicious Parker]

Ad block. The most perfect reason.

[Monkeydog]

Eh. Adblock is kind of more annoying to me than ads are on Android. I know I'm probably wrong but I just don't like it.

[Vicious Parker]

What makes it annoying?

I installed it, gave it root permission, downloaded filters, and haven't had to touch it since.

[Donkeymog]

I'm using Javelin browser. You can enable ad-block in its settings. It's actually really good.

[Vicious Parker]

You can also get adblock for firefox on android. But I was referring to the actual android app which blocks ads within other android apps.

[Monkeydog]

It was always in my notification bar or would bug me about something. It also blocked stuff that I might have not wanted to block. Maybe I was just using it wrong, but it was a worse experience than having ads for me.

[lazlo falconi]

Oh that's a huge pet peeve of mine. The only thing I want in my statusbar is the time and my battery life. If I have any text messages you can tell me about that I guess.

[Donkeymog]

Can anyone explain cyanogenmod to me? I checked out the about page and it pretty much just says that it "is designed to increase performance and reliability". Great, but how? What exactly does it do? Elsewhere it says "it is also capable of pushing your phone much harder". Great, but push it harder in what way and why?

[Monkeydog]

Well it's much lighter than most default phone stuff. Trebuchet is a really nice launcher and quick.

 

I know for a fact when I had my Epic 4G it freed up ram space and storage space.

[lazlo falconi]

Not sure about your Europhones, but in the US, our carriers put a lot of bloatware and crap of phones that you can't get rid of generally. Cyanogen gives you a very working version of Android without all that.

[Vicious Parker]

There are also a number of seemingly small additions that aren't necessary for life, but when you go back to stock android, youiss them. Little things like keyboard additions, or expanded customizability settings.

[Monkeydog]

There are also a number of seemingly small additions that aren't necessary for life, but when you go back to stock android, youiss them. Little things like keyboard additions, or expanded customizability settings.

Well that's why there's launchers and different keyboards on the play store. I've never really liked anything that came with my phone, ever. 

[kspr]

damn techliterate adults and your phones. what about us iphone weilding austrolopithicae?

[Vicious Parker]

A buddy of mine more or less abandoned a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7 Plus at my home some months ago. He bought something new, and claimed that the battery on this one was shot. It sat on my desk for a long time, but last night I decided to do that thing I do with these devices. Mostly.

It took a bit more work than usual. Enthusiast support for this device has kinda run dry, and this tablet seemed to be out of date, so getting anywhere with it took some doing. Luckily somebody posted a Russian system update, that for no reason didn't come to the states, which actually let me easily root and install clockwork recovery. So now I'm at least running jelly bean. I've used the app ROM Toolbox to remove pretty much every single Samsung app. If it weren't for Samsung's stupid insistence at altering the system controls, this could easily pass for stock android (plus nova launcher). I wonder if there is an app that let's me alter that...

I haven't flashed a different ROM yet, because I can't find any current, stable Roms, and I don't feel like making this thing buggy.

[Donkeymog]

[lazlo falconi]

Damnit, Bean. You just wasted like four hours of my life making me watch videos about old computers. You know I have poor impulse control!