CDMA Sprint Hero: Rooted, ROM'd... now what? - Hero CDMA General

Hey all,
I posted this same thread on another forum but it's not as active as this one so I'm posting here for better results. Anyways, I did a hell of a lot of googling on all sorts of random things, and after hours and hours of trial and error just to get my damn Windows 7 to recognize the Hero, I was well on my way to rooting. After I had rooted my phone, I, by default, ended up going with the MoDaCo 2.0 ROM core update. I just recently downloaded the extension update, and basically I'm just kinda sitting here, thinking to myself, "Now what?" I guess my real question is, what exactly have I done? I understand that rooting the phone basically puts in a free-to-use-however-you-want sort of sense, and the custom ROM gives you better performance and more to offer than the factory Hero ROM, but seeing so many posts of all sorts of people doing this and that and the other thing on their phones, I feel like I'm missing out on the what-to-do-next memo. If anyone has any good advice for a new Android user to look forward and almost like a guide on Things You Should Do After You've Rooted and Installed MoDaCo 2.0, I'd appreciate it.
As for apps. I currently have, use, and enjoy these (any other recommendations?):
Ak Notepad
Astro File Manager
Spare Parts
TasKiller
Twidroid
Also looking for the consolidated power settings widget I see randomly everywhere. It's so bad ass looking and convenient but I can't seem to find it anywhere. I know Beautiful Widgets had it but HTC sent them a C&D so it got taken down.
Another thing. This stuff I read about being able to get apps that aren't normally in Market after you root, what's up with that? And which ones of these are must-haves?
Haha I apologize beforehand for this thread having so many questions but to consolidate it all to one question, what exactly should I do now that my phone is rooted and loaded with custom rom 2.0, and what are some must-haves and must-knows for a noob looking to eventually become a pro at this stuff?

I just rooted my phone a while ago
So far I've loaded fresh ROM 1.1
found some sweet themes to change stuff
I recommend you go to this website: www[.]geekfor.me (no .com) and check out the pre-kitchen v 0.2. it allows you to easily run command line stuff from a really really easy to use GUI
he's also got a few themes and stuff to download
the customization is about the most useful thing I've found from root. apparently there are some good tethering apps and stuff, but I've never really gotten them to work

Thanks I appreciate that. I'm gonna check some of that stuff out. Can anyone guide me in the direction of a good beginner's guide to ap2sd and do I need to install a radio update or something after I've installed the ROM? Or is that just for GSM? I'm having trouble finding a good collection of beginners guides on google for this stuff so I apologize if all my questions can be answered by other threads in this forum.

smackinisaiah said:
Hey all,
I posted this same thread on another forum but it's not as active as this one so I'm posting here for better results. Anyways, I did a hell of a lot of googling on all sorts of random things, and after hours and hours of trial and error just to get my damn Windows 7 to recognize the Hero, I was well on my way to rooting. After I had rooted my phone, I, by default, ended up going with the MoDaCo 2.0 ROM core update. I just recently downloaded the extension update, and basically I'm just kinda sitting here, thinking to myself, "Now what?" I guess my real question is, what exactly have I done? I understand that rooting the phone basically puts in a free-to-use-however-you-want sort of sense, and the custom ROM gives you better performance and more to offer than the factory Hero ROM, but seeing so many posts of all sorts of people doing this and that and the other thing on their phones, I feel like I'm missing out on the what-to-do-next memo. If anyone has any good advice for a new Android user to look forward and almost like a guide on Things You Should Do After You've Rooted and Installed MoDaCo 2.0, I'd appreciate it.
As for apps. I currently have, use, and enjoy these (any other recommendations?):
Ak Notepad
Astro File Manager
Spare Parts
TasKillerTwidroid
Also looking for the consolidated power settings widget I see randomly everywhere. It's so bad ass looking and convenient but I can't seem to find it anywhere. I know Beautiful Widgets had it but HTC sent them a C&D so it got taken down.
Another thing. This stuff I read about being able to get apps that aren't normally in Market after you root, what's up with that? And which ones of these are must-haves?
Haha I apologize beforehand for this thread having so many questions but to consolidate it all to one question, what exactly should I do now that my phone is rooted and loaded with custom rom 2.0, and what are some must-haves and must-knows for a noob looking to eventually become a pro at this stuff?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://geekfor.me/faq/you-shouldnt-be-using-a-task-killer-with-android/

First I would say read everyhting you can in this forum. I have learned a lot about my phone just by reading the treads.
second and I cant belive no one said this yet. DO NOT I repeat DO NOT do anything with the radio. as far as I know flashing the radio is the only way found so far to totally brick this phone.
apps2sd is automatic with modaco's rom as long as your sd card is partitioned for it.
must have apps are really something that is subjective. I just googled best android apps and got a ton of info to go through and found a few apps that I really wanted or thaat I just thought where cool.
good luck and happy moding

Related

Android noob needs help and sure others do too!

Hi guys,
Im new to the Android scene, and thats because of the N1 got my nexus on order and should arrive shorty in the following week. Been reading the threads here over the last week or so, but alot of things aren't quite clear to me. Especially because im a Android noobie (previous WinMo )
Anyways reading about the Unlocking bootloader and Rooting the device seems pretty straight forward. I understand the consequences of each part and thus appears to be pretty easily done.
The things that i am unclear about are the addon packs and the things it comes bundled with?
- What are the current benefits from flashing these "addon" packs?
- They aren't ROM's just kind of expansion packs right? so no lost data after?
- Wtf is adb? lol i keep seeing it but no idea what it is, thus confusing for noobies like me.
- In cyanogens thread here it says backup using Nandroid, and when i find Nandroid in google i get this. But it says for G1? will it still work fine?
Thankyou for any answers as I believe you will help me to NOT mess up my new phone. I'm sure alot of other people would be thankful for your answers.
Thankyou again!
Hello,
First off welcome to Android, second, get the fire suit on for the "wrong forum" flames.
What are the current benefits from flashing these "addon" packs?
Not a *ton* but there is Tether and other goodies that you can start using.​
- They aren't ROM's just kind of expansion packs right? so no lost data after?
Yes to 1st, and there will be lost data when you unlock the bootloader.. if you unocked the bootloader, and then used the phone for a week or so, THEN flashed this addon pack, then no data loss.​- Wtf is adb? lol i keep seeing it but no idea what it is, thus confusing for noobies like me.
Android Debug Bridge... its used for debugging. lol....​- In cyanogens thread here it says backup using Nandroid, and when i find Nandroid in google i get this. But it says for G1? will it still work fine?
No, the Nandroid backup will be an option AFTER you unlock the BL and install Amon_RA's Recovery image..​
Good luck man!!
thanks for the reply.
I'm trying to gather as much as i can before i get the phone in my hands. Maybe because i want to start right away when i get hold of the phone lol You have enlightened me on many points.
I was just wondering also,
I've read about apps such as Nexus Torch and SetCPU which require rooting. Are these apps aquired simply after I unlock + root from the market place? because i read about reinstall su and similar.
Sorry for the noobiness, as i've mentioned im a android beginner and not too familiar with the terms used.
I just want to install some cool apps and convert those iphone users......(my gf )
No they're not required. Rooting is really only for the hardcore phone nerd (which is probably why you're on this site!) I personally am holding off on rooting my N1 until it's fully understood on if it can be re-locked etc. If this is your first Android phone I would recommend doing some reading around on the G1 forum and understand the full capabilities of rooting your device and some neat apps.
**edit
mis-read what you said. Those apps can be obtained from the "Makin Bacon" add on somewhere on this forum. Cyanogen posted it up.
SystmDcln said:
No they're not required. Rooting is really only for the hardcore phone nerd (which is probably why you're on this site!) I personally am holding off on rooting my N1 until it's fully understood on if it can be re-locked etc. If this is your first Android phone I would recommend doing some reading around on the G1 forum and understand the full capabilities of rooting your device and some neat apps.
**edit
mis-read what you said. Those apps can be obtained from the "Makin Bacon" add on somewhere on this forum. Cyanogen posted it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm doing the same thing as this guy. I'm super hardcore about customization so I have no doubt that I'll root my phone eventually but not quite yet. Things are still a bit too new and right now there really aren't that many reasons to root (outside of tethering support IMO). If you can live without tethering for a month, then you should wait to root.
welcome
addon packs do a few things to your phone. the biggest things, i think, are the busybox and the dropbear installations, and the tethering apps. some modders also like to "optimize" android too. whether or not it actually works, i can't personally tell, but i take their word for it.
busybox will allow you to run some common linux commands on your android (with a terminal app i guess...) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BusyBox
dropbear is an ssh server so that you can access the command line (and push files to your android) from your computer
tethering means share your cell connection with a computer to give your computer internet. i've used it in many airports, and it's sweet.
like the other dude said, the initial root will require a data wipe, but not the addons. i'm not sure if it's true for EVERY rom (i think it is) but when you first install a whole rom a wipe is required, but when upgrading to a newer version of the same rom no wipe is required. if you like to keep your sms and mms's then it's good to have some of these linux tools so you can move and replace the sms and mms databases manually.
adb is android debugging bridge. it's a part of the android sdk (software development kit) that google gives out for free and is meant to develop apps. with it you can plug your phone into your comp via USB and run all sorts of commands on it from your computer. droidexplorer is basically a GUI for the adb commands, so with ADB you can do all that droidexplorer can do. http://de.codeplex.com/
nandroid is kind of like "system restore" for android. you need to root the phone, then flash Amon_RA's recovery thingy (in one of the threads). once you're in recovery, you can create a nandroid backup (kind of like an image of your current android phone) that you can restore later. then restoring it is as simple as going back into recovery and clicking "restore".
m00moo said:
Hi guys,
Im new to the Android scene, and thats because of the N1 got my nexus on order and should arrive shorty in the following week. Been reading the threads here over the last week or so, but alot of things aren't quite clear to me. Especially because im a Android noobie (previous WinMo )
Anyways reading about the Unlocking bootloader and Rooting the device seems pretty straight forward. I understand the consequences of each part and thus appears to be pretty easily done.
The things that i am unclear about are the addon packs and the things it comes bundled with?
- What are the current benefits from flashing these "addon" packs?
- They aren't ROM's just kind of expansion packs right? so no lost data after?
- Wtf is adb? lol i keep seeing it but no idea what it is, thus confusing for noobies like me.
- In cyanogens thread here it says backup using Nandroid, and when i find Nandroid in google i get this. But it says for G1? will it still work fine?
Thankyou for any answers as I believe you will help me to NOT mess up my new phone. I'm sure alot of other people would be thankful for your answers.
Thankyou again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow thanks vmuch for the kind replies!
i feel like i understand the previous things i've read around in the forum alot more now!
So the question to root or not root, rooting the device would prob be the option for me as:
1) dont really want to do a wipe after a week or two
2) want cool apps such as SetCUP/Nexus Torch
One thing im wondering is whats this about paid apps and rooted devices in the market? After rooting some people cannot see paid apps or something?
Once again thankyou for the kind kind replies and i hope some other noobies like me are learning
If I buy an app (I'm thinking of the Exchange Calendar sync app) and then end up rooting and installing another ROM (say the EU ROM if it has multitouch) will I be able to get my purchased apps working again - or do you have to rebuy them?
If you buy an app it'll always show as purchased on the marketplace so you can redownload it - all the ones I bought on my G1 were still available when I setup the N1 for example.
m00moo said:
wow thanks vmuch for the kind replies!
i feel like i understand the previous things i've read around in the forum alot more now!
So the question to root or not root, rooting the device would prob be the option for me as:
1) dont really want to do a wipe after a week or two
2) want cool apps such as SetCUP/Nexus Torch
One thing im wondering is whats this about paid apps and rooted devices in the market? After rooting some people cannot see paid apps or something?
Once again thankyou for the kind kind replies and i hope some other noobies like me are learning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait to root. Right now it's still too unknown on the "ins and outs" of this phone. When I first started rooting on my G1 and MyTouch I wiped a lot while learning things about it. Research while you wait. An OTA is supposed to come out to fix some bugs, and nobody has released any ROMs anyways. And on paid apps, Google Checkout keeps a record of what you purchase, no matter how many times you wipe Market will always have them listed in the "Downloads" Tab as "Purchased" to re-download at no charge.
m00moo said:
wow thanks vmuch for the kind replies!
i feel like i understand the previous things i've read around in the forum alot more now!
So the question to root or not root, rooting the device would prob be the option for me as:
1) dont really want to do a wipe after a week or two
2) want cool apps such as SetCUP/Nexus Torch
One thing im wondering is whats this about paid apps and rooted devices in the market? After rooting some people cannot see paid apps or something?
Once again thankyou for the kind kind replies and i hope some other noobies like me are learning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that happened to me. i think it has to do with the fact that i rooted and turned on my phone before i even put my simcard in. i opened the market and couldn't see "top paid apps" (though i could still search for apps and paid ones would show up). after i turned it off, then put my sim card in and turned it back on, no dice, still no top paid apps.
i reflashed nexusone-superboot-1.1.img with my sim card in this time (can't remember if i wiped. i think it required a wipe) and i turned it on with my sim and voila. paid apps. so it's definitely fixable if you run into that problem.
thanks again for the replies
Im pretty up for rooting upon recieving my handset which should be by wednesday the latest (no engraving), as i ordered on friday 8th. But being the first time im quite scared to do so lol especially on a brand new phone.
But as SystmDcIn said theres too much we don't know as of yet and slowly things are becoming more and more developed as we speak.
The main issue for me is using the phone 2 weeks in and then wiping it clean hopefully somebody will make some cool ROMS soon which include the "addons and goodies" so the process is made way more simple.
Thanks again guys! Well appreciated!
I would also agree with waiting to root. I dont see the benefits of SetCPU for the N1, cuz its already at 1ghz, if it was underclocked i would understand.
Orangeandblue302 said:
I would also agree with waiting to root. I dont see the benefits of SetCPU for the N1, cuz its already at 1ghz, if it was underclocked i would understand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use SetCPU to underclock the device in sleep mode.
I also underclock when I am not going to be using it for long periods.
Saves battery life.
true true, didnt think of it like that. most people want to overclock, i shouldnt assume. you know what happens when you assume lol.
It is a bit of a travesty to do it to this device. Its like putting a Beetle engine in a Porsche.
I can't always be near a charger, and until I can get a bigger battery that will give me more than seven hours, this is the solution.
this being my first android device i have spent hours on end on theses boards and on wiki's learning as much as i can about the phone and the platform... many of these basic questions that he asked i also had not 24 hours ago haha...
that being said, i think a lot of people are moving over to android so what if a thread got started that would answer basic questions that typically ever new user is going to have? ive yet to find a straight forward answer for half of the crap i have tried to find out and having it all in 1 place would be quite beneficial for people switching over... this could be moderated highly to keep it clean and in order?
a nice, straightforward, helpful community would be a nice touch to overtake some iphone shares
I see that you're from Hong Kong also- has your device shipped yet? I ordered mine on the 8th as well and it still shows not yet shipped. Was just wondering whether that's normal as most people state that the device shipped a day after ordering.
yamanote said:
I see that you're from Hong Kong also- has your device shipped yet? I ordered mine on the 8th as well and it still shows not yet shipped. Was just wondering whether that's normal as most people state that the device shipped a day after ordering.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I am not really from Hong Kong lol I'm in fact from UK and Chinese. My Phone will be arriving early next week so whilst waiting, I am trying to learn as much as possible in case i damage my phone being a noob. lol
I agree with JHaste, i think due to the N1 and the upcoming HTC andoird devices. Alot of people will be moving over to Android in the coming 2-3 months. The questions i asked will be asked over and over and some kind of wiki,faq or android bible will be great. If anybody had the time and knowledge of basic rooting, unlocking and flashing could do such a thing it will be greatly appreciated
m00moo said:
thanks again for the replies
Im pretty up for rooting upon recieving my handset which should be by wednesday the latest (no engraving), as i ordered on friday 8th. But being the first time im quite scared to do so lol especially on a brand new phone.
But as SystmDcIn said theres too much we don't know as of yet and slowly things are becoming more and more developed as we speak.
The main issue for me is using the phone 2 weeks in and then wiping it clean hopefully somebody will make some cool ROMS soon which include the "addons and goodies" so the process is made way more simple.
Thanks again guys! Well appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think cyanogen's mod includes a backup app (titanium backup or somethin)...you'd be able to save all your data before you wiped it clean (but then you'd need the same backup app to restore it)

[Q] whats the best order to do things?

BACKGROUND: im pretty new to the android scene. as soon as i was starting to get the hang of WM 6 i decided to see what the android hype was all about. i read several reviews comparing the Dx and DInc and decided imo the Dx was better and my first choice. well 3wks ago i got a great deal on DInc that was already rooted and running 2.2. I played around with it a little while and havent had much time to research it. 2 days ago i got a good deal on a Dx, which was my first choice anyway. its unrooted and running 2.1 (unsure of updates). for the last 2 days ive spent several hours reading up on rooting and 2.2. so far ive found the droid x guide pdf (posted here a few days ago) to be the most informative and best at giving sequential step by step instructions but it hasnt quite answered everything for me....
THE QUESTIONS:
1. probably a dumb question. I havent activated my X yet, is it possible to root or upgrade to 2.2 while the device isnt activated? i havent seen anyone even touch on this subject but im assuming its not possible since i cant even get past the activate screen to change usb modes, activate debugging, or toggle bt/wifi.
2. does it matter if i update to froyo or root first? is it easier if i do one or the other first or would it get the same results? in the mentioned Dx guide it says one click rooting "for 2.2" so my assumption this time is that id have to update to 2.2, and then root.
3. you can ignore this question if youd like cuz i havent even checked into yet but do any of have any suggestions on which ROM/2.2 version/kernals (unsure of real definitions and terminology) would be best for a regular person just looking for stability and to get a little performance boost and remove some bloatware? i know its personal prefrence and probably in 5000 threads already but thought id go ahead and ask since ive already asked the other questions and it would save me lots of time researching. Thanks!
i know i probably answered my own questions but id like to be sure before i start the process. this is my first post and im pretty sure im gonna be bashed for being a noob and will probably be told to use the search function or google it but i have lol. im on several forums and know how the process works. thanks to all of you brainiacs on here for all the help you provide to us not so well educated guys ;-)
Thanks in advance,
Dan
trkin said:
BACKGROUND: im pretty new to the android scene. as soon as i was starting to get the hang of WM 6 i decided to see what the android hype was all about. i read several reviews comparing the Dx and DInc and decided imo the Dx was better and my first choice. well 3wks ago i got a great deal on DInc that was already rooted and running 2.2. I played around with it a little while and havent had much time to research it. 2 days ago i got a good deal on a Dx, which was my first choice anyway. its unrooted and running 2.1 (unsure of updates). for the last 2 days ive spent several hours reading up on rooting and 2.2. so far ive found the droid x guide pdf (posted here a few days ago) to be the most informative and best at giving sequential step by step instructions but it hasnt quite answered everything for me....
THE QUESTIONS:
1. probably a dumb question. I havent activated my X yet, is it possible to root or upgrade to 2.2 while the device isnt activated? i havent seen anyone even touch on this subject but im assuming its not possible since i cant even get past the activate screen to change usb modes, activate debugging, or toggle bt/wifi.
2. does it matter if i update to froyo or root first? is it easier if i do one or the other first or would it get the same results? in the mentioned Dx guide it says one click rooting "for 2.2" so my assumption this time is that id have to update to 2.2, and then root.
3. you can ignore this question if youd like cuz i havent even checked into yet but do any of have any suggestions on which ROM/2.2 version/kernals (unsure of real definitions and terminology) would be best for a regular person just looking for stability and to get a little performance boost and remove some bloatware? i know its personal prefrence and probably in 5000 threads already but thought id go ahead and ask since ive already asked the other questions and it would save me lots of time researching. Thanks!
i know i probably answered my own questions but id like to be sure before i start the process. this is my first post and im pretty sure im gonna be bashed for being a noob and will probably be told to use the search function or google it but i have lol. im on several forums and know how the process works. thanks to all of you brainiacs on here for all the help you provide to us not so well educated guys ;-)
Thanks in advance,
Dan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you want to get past the first screen touch the 4 corners of the screen in succession starting with top left, top right, bottom right, bottom left (so I have read). If you wanted 2.2 you could use the freshly leaked 2.2 SBF and a program called RSDLite 4.8 (i think is the latest version). I have never performed the SBF before- so I can't say - some say it is a breeze, for others it was a nightmare.
you would search for...
VRZ_MB810_2.3.15_1FF_01
that is the 2.2 SBF
2. If you do want to update and sbf is the only way (once you get the phone activated you would not need to use this rsdlite sbf method. You can just download the update through the system) then root it after you get 2.2
3. As far as roms go- I love rubix1! Awesome. No problems (for me). only thing I had to do was "patch up" the camera to use 8mp. Not hard though. It is a radical departure from the normal x though. you may not like it. If you just want fast and stable stay with the stock set up. People that complain about blur are crazy heads- a lot of useful stuff in blur.
And of coarse - if you do any of this and totally screw up your phone - sorry. Don't take my word for it. Read around and get some confirmation b4 you do anything.
Hey thanks for the tips, advice, and opinions. That's exactly what I was hoping for although I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "if sbf is the only way..... I won't have to use rsdlite sbf..." . I guess ill go ahead and activate tomorrow, try updating through system, and root last. I was just trying to avoid possibly losing my ability to tether temporarily if rooting didn't go as planned because I have no other source for internet. Which reminds me, do I have to get a different tether app afterwards or is it safe using the preinstalled WiFi hotspot or similar preexisting app?
I've read several places that its important to copy a certain file first encase it gets stuck in boot loop. Which file and what directory Is it in? Will I need to get a file explorer app first to get to it? I'm uses to winmo devices that already have a file manager but I know with my Dinc the first thing I was told to do is get astro.
Rooting won't be a problem. Just activate and take whatever updates come your way. Check into the Koush recovery and ROM manager for backups before you play with any ROMs or themes, if you decide to go that way. Titanium Backup and Root Explorer are also essentials in my book.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Awesome! I activated that next day, updated to official 2.2 and Rooting is simple. Now im wondering why everyone made it sound like brain surgery lol. The hardest and most time consuming step for me was figuring out how to switch usb mode to mass storage. In windows mobile its in settings, android hid it pretty good and hid it right out in the open lol.
After some searching online to find out how to switch usb modes I found the universal super1click method and the page had a link to a youtube video. After watching that video I felt stupid. Before hand I felt like a bomb technician diffusing his first bomb. Even being a noob I rooted my DX within 6-7min after watching it. And most of that time was spent waiting for my laptop to boot up and then download the file. To all you noobs worried about rooting, have confidence, do a search for android super one click root. I think the download was here on xda but I don't think that the page with the video link was on here. From what I understand it work for most android phones. If you are familiar with unzipping a zip file this is a breeze. I am in no way associated with the creators, unfortunately I don't remember their names to give them any credit,this was just my experience.
Now that I've completed the rooting can someone fill me in on tethering? All I need to know is if I can use the tethering and hot spot apps that came on my DX Or do I have to download a different 1? Which 1 are you using And why?
Thanks again for those of you Who contributed to this thread. Next of it looking into those backup methods. If any first timers would like me to walk you through the process I used then shoot me a pm. I'll be happy to help you just like everybody was happy to help me.
OH YEAH! does anybody know of an app or hack to make my screen dimmer? I've got it set as dim as it gets. I work nights mostly in dark places and my screen is so bright it really messes with my night vision.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
As far as the tethering goes im not sure but I believe you can use the one on the phone ....for the screen dimmer you have a power contol widget built in the phone or you can download an app called power control plus ...the app let's you place a widget for each individual control you like whereas the one that comes stock on the phone you are forced to use the whole control panel ..also you may want to look into beautiful widgets its in the market and has a ton of widgets ...hope this helps you!
now that you are rooted (simple wasnt it!) you can use barnicle (available in the market) or "code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/detail?name=wireless_tether_2_0_5-pre11.apk&can=2&q=" (remove the quotes) -wireless_tether_2_0_5-pre11.apk - I use both and both are hit an miss with devices.. for example, another handheld device wont see it, but my laptop which runs Intel proset wireless sees it..
I am in the same boat as you.. rooting was simple, now I am trying to understand backup's and custom roms.. with blackberry it was easy - with droid there is so much more that can be done, but there is more to learn.
good luck
jim
Gmenfan83, I found a decent screen dimmer in the market right after I made that post.I don't know why I hadnt checked the market before. I guess I had assumed that nobody in their right mind would want their screen even darker thant the manufacturers lowest setting lol. I've already been using the power control widget on the phone but I've found out its only lets you go as low as 15 percent and need it to get way lower. At the same time I really don't want all of the clutter from the advanced widgets with all the options since power control works fine for everything else. I was just looking for something very basic. I did learn something from reading about all of them though. If you use an app to set lower than the systems predetermined lowest setting of 15 percent it will go back to 15 percent when you close the app. So in order to maintain the setting you must leave the dimmer program running in the background. Dimmer, the app I am using now Is almost perfect. You make a shortcut for it and when you click the light bulb it auto dims to ten percent. when you click it again it goes right back to your previous setting even if its set to automatic. The only way it could be improved for my needs would be if you could adjust the value because 10 percent is still too bright. I need it at about 3 percent lmao.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Awesome app. I tried barnicle yesterday and only had one instance in 3hrs where my connection slowed and stopped. I just stopped and started tether again and it was fine.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
I got titanium backup pro and wow its really useful! I had forgotten to do a factory reset after froyo and rooting and wasexperiencing a few fc, errors and stalled sometimes. I used titanium to back up all my apps sys files and settings. After I did the reset and restored, I used titanium to freeze bloatware. It seems smoother now but got another error last night. 1 other thing, a few of my settings didn't stick when i restored and im wondering if maybe I havent corrected them all because now I have a new sync-like sys icon that is always on my taskbar and it wasn't there before. It doesn't ever do the spin animation and it wont go away. Other threads have said that means background networking enabled but I've changed it and the icons still there. What else could it be?
What should I learn about next? Lol.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Can anyone shed a little light on launchers? what are the differences, pros and cons, of adw and launcher pro?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

[Q] State of Fascinate and Android

Hey guys,
Sorry for this "noob"ish post. I am new to the Fascinate after being with T-Mo for 2 years, which included a G1 (running CyanMod) and a Nexus One (which also ran CyanMod). I am just hoping one of you would mind giving me a quick 2 minute catch up on where things are now with the Fascinate, as there is way too much on these forums to realistically sift through. I have some basic questions...
1)I have noticed root is good and all that. I would assume rooting is all you need to get free wireless tethering? What program do you use to wireless tether once you are rooted?
2)I keep seeing something about "lagfix". What is that? My phone doesn't seem laggy, except for all the bloatware Verizon has put on it. So any info is appreciated.
3)I'm not crazy about the stock 2.1 ROM. Are there any good custom 2.2 ROMs yet? What is generally the best ROM for the Fascinate? On the Nexus, argue as much as you want, CyanMod was far and away the best ROM. But it seems like there is no CyanMod for Fascinates. So what are my best choices?
4)Is there anything else I should know moving to this phone?
I really appreciate anyone taking the time to answer these, as I know these types of threads are not the most popular thing on here. I want to get "in the know" with my new phone, but there is already so much on these forums, it's hard to tell what is still new and relevant and what is not. Thanks guys!
RayKinStL said:
Hey guys,
Sorry for this "noob"ish post. I am new to the Fascinate after being with T-Mo for 2 years, which included a G1 (running CyanMod) and a Nexus One (which also ran CyanMod). I am just hoping one of you would mind giving me a quick 2 minute catch up on where things are now with the Fascinate, as there is way too much on these forums to realistically sift through. I have some basic questions...
1)I have noticed root is good and all that. I would assume rooting is all you need to get free wireless tethering? What program do you use to wireless tether once you are rooted?
2)I keep seeing something about "lagfix". What is that? My phone doesn't seem laggy, except for all the bloatware Verizon has put on it. So any info is appreciated.
3)I'm not crazy about the stock 2.1 ROM. Are there any good custom 2.2 ROMs yet? What is generally the best ROM for the Fascinate? On the Nexus, argue as much as you want, CyanMod was far and away the best ROM. But it seems like there is no CyanMod for Fascinates. So what are my best choices?
4)Is there anything else I should know moving to this phone?
I really appreciate anyone taking the time to answer these, as I know these types of threads are not the most popular thing on here. I want to get "in the know" with my new phone, but there is already so much on these forums, it's hard to tell what is still new and relevant and what is not. Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also a G1 and N1 owner. Be happy to help.
1) Wireless tethering is accomplished by myself without issue via Wireless tether app on the market. It's under the radar so to speak, but required an ad hoc connection
2) The correct lagfix is the voodoo lag fix, with the informative posts being found on the first page of this forum. Basically, Samsung used an older file system in their build, and voodoo updates it to ext4, which is alot snappier on the r/w side of things. Without it, you will encounter a slowing of your processes after a period of uptime, and usually a small freeze while the phone does things like install applications. The flip is that voodoo instructions should be read very closely, and adhered to. Failure to do so will result in phone borkage, and while always fixable, takes some time and patience to do so.
If you are unfamiliar with Odin, as I was at first, make damn sure you always use the PDA option. Failure to do so can result in terminal frustration, and possibly a close to true brick of the device.
3) There are no 2.2 ROMs yet. The Froyo OTA should hit between now and Christmas hopefully. I would like to think we will see some custom 2.2 ROMs, and maybe a CM port by the 1st. In the meanwhile there are several ROMs on this board which seem to work for the people who use them. I'm a proponent of stripping and customizing stock to suit your needs, making your ROM your own. I haven't seen enough included hacks in the available ROMs to warrant a need for them personally. We have some excellent kernels available, and some pretty slick themes and mods, which works well for me.
4) The phone has the best processor/gpu out currently. The display is fantastic, and I don't see a better device on the market currently. It does have downsides, most notably the GPS, which isn't a huge issue for me, but which also has a fix on the way, presumably to be included in the 2.2 update. I also have experienced a shortage in the Wifi reception comparative to my N1, having approx. half the range I previously enjoyed. This seems to me to be software related, so I assume it will be addressable.
If you plan to root and mod, especially if you plan to use voodoo, which I highly recommend, be careful in your reading of instructions and applications of procedures outlined in them. As great as this phone is, mistakes are costly in terms of confusion and time to correct.
Thanks for the reply. Im always impatient, and as such, have already rooted before even waiting for a first response I used the one click method though and it worked great, exactly as advertised. Root Explorer works, so I definitely am good there, and I snagged the latest build of wireless tether from the developer's page.
Now I need to get started with actually switching out the ROM. I really want all the VZ bloatware gone and Bing needs to go as well. So now I guess I have some reading to do on installing ROMs for this phone. Process seems a little more complex for this phone that it was for my N1, but that may be just because it was so long ago and I don't remember. Thanks for the response though!
I am in a similar boat I use the Droid 1 and my fascinate is at the post office waiting for me per usps tracking
I think for now I will root remove bloatware and Bing and role with that till 2.2 maybe touchwiz aswell as I hear u can save ram that way and I paid for launcher pro so might aswell use it.
Yea, from what I've read, it sounds like putting a new ROM on is kind of pointless, since it won't be 2.2 anyway. So I think I just need some good instructions for this voodoo/lagfix stuff and some good instructions for removing all the vzn bloatware that comes installed. Once I do those two things, I think I'll be good. I am already running ADW, which I love, so I don't need any customization there, and wireless tether seems great. So I guess I just need to continue searching. There are lots of topics on the voodoo/lagfix thing on here, but I just want to make sure I find the most complete comprehensive set so I dont screw anything up
I'm somewhat of a new member, but have silently read through these forums for months... I used Dirks d02 sv1200kernal and the voodoo lag fix, I have been very happy with my phone since. I have been reading about the roms right now and don't see a point just yet. Freeze the bloatware from verizon and you will love your phone. Also have switched to LPPlus and think my phone operates so smooth!
I just received my fascinate friday, best buy sucked me in, lol, and I have no regrets. This phone is amazing, better than my d1 and d2. I too had a lot of the same questions about the lagfix and what not and would just like to say thanks, this thread def helped me understand. Can't wait until 2.2 roms
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
RayKinStL said:
Yea, from what I've read, it sounds like putting a new ROM on is kind of pointless, since it won't be 2.2 anyway. So I think I just need some good instructions for this voodoo/lagfix stuff and some good instructions for removing all the vzn bloatware that comes installed. Once I do those two things, I think I'll be good. I am already running ADW, which I love, so I don't need any customization there, and wireless tether seems great. So I guess I just need to continue searching. There are lots of topics on the voodoo/lagfix thing on here, but I just want to make sure I find the most complete comprehensive set so I dont screw anything up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I posted on replacing the stock launcher with ADW or LP, as well as a couple lists of what is safe to remove. It's easy enough. I'm mobile our I would link the threads, but the replacement of bing its also covered in a post that includes some zips that will help.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
mrcroshaw said:
I'm somewhat of a new member, but have silently read through these forums for months... I used Dirks d02 sv1200kernal and the voodoo lag fix, I have been very happy with my phone since. I have been reading about the roms right now and don't see a point just yet. Freeze the bloatware from verizon and you will love your phone. Also have switched to LPPlus and think my phone operates so smooth!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is LPPlus? Is it worthwhile/simple to do?
To everyone else, I am glad I was not the only other one on the fence. XDA can be a bit scary sometimes, because you don't wanna ask something dumb/"noob"ish, but at the same time, if you haven't been there since the beginning, playing catch up can be hard. I will say everyone in the Fascinate threads has been nice and really helpful so far. I am slowly working through getting my phone the way I want it. Its just a shame that Verizon has to mess up the phone with all this garbage. I dont care much for the iPhone (design or software), but the one thing they do right, which comes at the cost of being "closed", is that they can dictate the user experience right out of the box. Unfortunately a lot of people are just too timid or incapable of doing the things we do to our phones to get them "right". Its a shame too, because people base their opinions on what Android the phone company gives you rather than what it can truly be. Regardless, I appreciate everyone's help and look forward to being a part of this community. I work IT at a school, so I know my way around a PC, but I wish I just knew more about Android coding and how phones work to be a true contributor to ROMs, etc. At least I know I helped a few people by speaking up and creating this thread. Thanks again everyone!!!
Edit: Im putting this in as an edit, but I just realized that LPPlus is probably Launcher Pro Plus. Have you used ADW? Is there a difference? What do you see as its advantages over ADW?
I personally (and i think most of us here would agree) don't have a problem with anyone asking "dumb" questions, if they haven't already been answered. the main issue is that most of the new posts are either "I didn't read the instructions and F*ed up my phone", "hey i heard this crazy rumor it must be true", "Can someone explain the same thing there are already 6 other topics about" and "how can we take X from this other phone and use it on mine". your questions are understandable and asking questions before you jump in saves a lot of headaches from having to fix something you tried without understanding it. and honestly, no need to be afraid to ask anything, worst case scenario someone like me *****es at you over the internet. who cares. =)

[Q] Be gentle... decided to root, need CURRENT advice

It seems like most of the threads about rooting are from back in July. I want to root my phone. I'm pretty sure I should use the Cyanogen ROM. Should I use stable? Experimental? Nightly? I want 2.2 for sure, beyond that I don't really know what the differences are I should be looking for.
So, using Windows 7 what should I do starting from square one, and in which order should I do it?
I would like the ability to un-root and return to stock, if possible.
Thanks for any helpful replies.
911jason said:
It seems like most of the threads about rooting are from back in July. I want to root my phone. I'm pretty sure I should use the Cyanogen ROM. Should I use stable? Experimental? Nightly? I want 2.2 for sure, beyond that I don't really know what the differences are I should be looking for.
So, using Windows 7 what should I do starting from square one, and in which order should I do it?
I would like the ability to un-root and return to stock, if possible.
Thanks for any helpful replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you posting this in the appropriate sub-forum. Here is a link in the Development sub-forum that explains all of the steps you need to root your Aria and prepare for loading custom ROMs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=788737
As for a Froyo 2.2 ROM, you have CM 6.0/6.1 or Liberated FRxx Series. The Liberated FR series has the familiar HTC Sense interface that came on your Aria, but it is built on Froyo 2.2 instead 2.1.
Regards,
Tom
Thanks for the reply Tom, although I'm still hesitant. It seems like every thread I've seen with instructions has quite a few posts afterwards from people having issues. The instructions are also usually about as clear as mud. It seems like the people writing the instructions are writing them for people who have rooted in the past, because they use terminology that a new user like me doesn't understand. I have lots of computer experience (used to design websites in the 90's with Notepad - ha!) but I have zero Linux or smartphone experience, so maybe I should just forget the root thing. It's just that I love Photoshop and would really like to be able to use those skills to customize the look of my phone much more than I currently can.
911jason said:
Thanks for the reply Tom, although I'm still hesitant. It seems like every thread I've seen with instructions has quite a few posts afterwards from people having issues. The instructions are also usually about as clear as mud. It seems like the people writing the instructions are writing them for people who have rooted in the past, because they use terminology that a new user like me doesn't understand. I have lots of computer experience (used to design websites in the 90's with Notepad - ha!) but I have zero Linux or smartphone experience, so maybe I should just forget the root thing. It's just that I love Photoshop and would really like to be able to use those skills to customize the look of my phone much more than I currently can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you know what I did when i rooted my phone? I watched a youtube video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjgg__m-KHc
911jason said:
Thanks for the reply Tom, although I'm still hesitant. It seems like every thread I've seen with instructions has quite a few posts afterwards from people having issues. The instructions are also usually about as clear as mud. It seems like the people writing the instructions are writing them for people who have rooted in the past, because they use terminology that a new user like me doesn't understand. I have lots of computer experience (used to design websites in the 90's with Notepad - ha!) but I have zero Linux or smartphone experience, so maybe I should just forget the root thing. It's just that I love Photoshop and would really like to be able to use those skills to customize the look of my phone much more than I currently can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well 922jason, I think we are both going through exactly the same thing. I bought my Aria already rooted by the seller, and so I missed out on the learning curve of rooting and the terminologies involved. Think I'm more of a learn it on the job kinda fella and now I have to read all these texts.
Anyway, I just did the most daring thing today. I was running Liberated Aria R12 few hours ago and decided to get hands on. Downloaded FroYo Cyanogen, made nandroid backup (yes it's such a noob thing) & flashed (sounds fancy) Cyanogen. Anyways, I found out that it didn't suit me at all because:
1. I can't find my ALL my installed and backup-ed Apps anywhere
2. The familiar Market isn't anywhere in the phone
3. ALL my contact list are gone
4. I couldn't find any application that lets me access my SD card
5. There were wayyyyy too many options to customize in Cyanogen that gave me a headache instead
Now I realize that the pros would bombard me with comments and advice to sort out those problems, and they certainly would know better what to do than me. But as a new user to Android in the smartphone era, I'm just plain confused.
So I restored the nandroid backup and I'm back to the state before I installed Cyanogen
BUT, I'm not done yet. I'm now downloading Liberated Aria Froyo FR007 and want to try it out. Just don't chicken out at getting hands on with this cos I wanna get the most out of my Aria. So good luck!
The people at XDA are really helpful and you shouldn't worry about getting lost. Thanks guys!
Thanks for the link Zervic, I'll check that out.
I also appreciate the info Emigre, glad to know I'm not the only noob on XDA! =)
Root yet or still having problems?
Noz85 said:
Root yet or still having problems?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm waffling big-time!
I just read through the huge CM6 thread and seeing all those different problems posted gives me the willies. Going to read through the Sense/Froyo thread next and see if it looks any safer.
Dont worry so much with any of the roms here theres a very small chance to brick your phone. If you like how your phone looks now then Liberated is for you. If you want to customize everything them go with CM6.
Your choice but dont over think it lol.
if you need help just ask.
Hey man, I really appreciate that... I like the idea of all the customization possible with CM6, but all of the bug reports in that thread scare the crap out of me.
Thats mostly for the nightly roms. CM6 and CM6.1 RC1 are very stable, I didn't have any major problems with them. Just make sure to fallow all the instructions when installing to avoid any problems with any roms you chose.
Noz85 said:
Thats mostly for the nightly roms. CM6 and CM6.1 RC1 are very stable, I didn't have any major problems with them. Just make sure to fallow all the instructions when installing to avoid any problems with any roms you chose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would agree. Both CM 6.0.2.1 and CM 6.1 RC1 have been very reliable for me. As has been mentioned in other posts, most of the 'bugs' are about the nightly CM builds which are truly 'experimental'.
There are a few caveats with CM 6.x that you won't run into with the Liberated ROMs. Number 1 is read the wiki instructions completely. Once you flash the CM 6 you then need to flash the Google Apps so that you can access the Android Market. Number 2 is that the CM 6.x cannot read any contacts you have stored on your SIM card, so you should export them from the SIM and sync them with your GMAIL account.
Regards,
Tom
Okay, anything I need to set aside for doing this? Will the stock 2gb SD card work fine? How long does the process take, from start to finish?
i too am on the learning curve of all this rooting and whatnot. before i got the aria just this last wednesday i had the hero cdma with Alltel. which apparently was a B* to root and whatnot, cuz alltel isnt popular for devs ive noticed. when i first got the hero it was really new for alltel, and there were people working on the root process. I too get pretty nervous when i read stuff that i could do to my phone but could brick it.. but then i found out about the recovery mode and nandroid backups.. and OMFG they help a lot when you change a setting to be incompatible and get a boot loop. that was VERY often with that hero.
When i found out that i was getting the Aria cuz of the Alltel to AT&T transition, i kept an eye on the aria threads. day one of getting the aria, i plugged it right in running unrevoked and it went real quick, however thats just the root process of course. you havent installed any roms at this point, just got the privileges.
thats when you boot the recovery mode, do that nandroid backup and copy that backup somewhere safe on a computer or something.. then of course after that then you follow the steps for whichever rom you choose that you want.
IMO- i prefer the Liberated series, i had my chance with CM6.1 on the hero and enjoyed it a bit, but got tired of it and went to the Fresh Hero ROM. so since i knew i liked fresh hero, i knew i wanted liberated series, and most especially because its 2.2 FroYo with the HTC Sense UI (the "stock look" that was mentioned earlier)
and to answer your questions:
1. make sure you have the right usb drivers, youll know if you read the tutorials. the nandroid backup would be somewhere between 200-350MB so make sure you have enough free on the sd.
2.the stock 2gb will work just fine. in the future look into upgrading with a class 4 or class 6 speed MicroSD for even better performance.
3.once you get the drivers and software downloaded, the unrevoked root process takes probably around 5 minutes, if that.. it seemed really fast to me. the nandroid backup process will be fast if you dont have many apps installed now. should only take a few minutes as well. im guessing it takes me like 10-15 minutes sometimes cuz of apps and such, (sometimes i lose track of time). then after nandroid, the wipes are like instant, then flashing the rom, (like i said im bad with time sometimes) and i believe that takes about 5-10 minutes.
So it seems like after I root my phone, I should boot back into the stock ROM and download Titanium to back-up my apps and app data. Is this correct? I don't want to lose access to the apps I have purchased. Is that the best way?
the purchased apps you can obviously re-download, but yes. titanium backup is really useful for saving app/app-data. however, if needed, you can always nandroid the custom rom, restore your stock backup and pull info from that, then restore back to the custom.
joachim123 said:
the purchased apps you can obviously re-download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have found quite a few threads around the internet about people losing their paid apps after rooting and flashing a custom ROM. Wasn't sure if there was some step I needed to take to ensure that I can retrieve my paid apps. There aren't many, I've only had my phone for a few weeks, but still... I'm cheap!
1. You can use titanium to back up your apps, though that isn't 100% necessary because, as previously mentioned, you can re-download your purchased apps.
2. Once you get the ROM installed (if it happens to be cyanogenmod) you need to also install gapps, which includes the market app. If you don't flash the gapps package, obviously, there will be no market.
3. Keep in mind that if you install CM, there will be no more HTC Sync.
4. If you follow the directions in 1, the video i posted for you or 2, any of the threads that explain this process the possibility for you to brick your phone is slim to none. -- as attn1 said "If you manage to brick your phone with this ROM from there, you are a dumb ass of unimaginable proportions, and I absolve myself of any responsibility whatsoever. "
There were a few other things I wanted to mention but I gotta run...
oh haha, well as far as im concerned, the purchases should be saved in the google database as long as you use the same gmail account to log in to the phone. ive been fine every time. even from goin thru the transition of different cell providers and phones. there is an app that im not sure if its allowed to be posted but ill message a link to you. its helped a lot lately even tho i just found it out like two days ago.
zervic said:
There were a few other things I wanted to mention but I gotta run...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that's just great... reminds me of the teases for "News at 11 - The critical info you need that could save your life"... meanwhile, it's 4pm, what do I do until 11 to stay alive?!?!

[Q] I'm rooted, now what?

I rooted my phone not too long ago.. I've read quite a bit about different ROMs to put on my phone, but I'm kinda nervous too.. Seems like some of them have problems and such. I was hoping I could get some recomendations/links I wouldn't mind trying it out.. I'm kind of a noob so if you could teach me how in the most simple way I'd appreciate it also, what are some sweet apps you guys are using after root? Thanks
joeman55 said:
I rooted my phone not too long ago.. I've read quite a bit about different ROMs to put on my phone, but I'm kinda nervous too.. Seems like some of them have problems and such. I was hoping I could get some recomendations/links I wouldn't mind trying it out.. I'm kind of a noob so if you could teach me how in the most simple way I'd appreciate it also, what are some sweet apps you guys are using after root? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depending on how in depth you want to read, try this thread, it has literally everything about different roms and mods for this phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=866175
if you have any questions or need some help, hit me up on google talk (same username) (the faster option) or shoot me a PM.
I'd recommend Ice Glacier to get your feet wet -- it's the same sense interface as stock but with some crapware uninstalled like demo games, Amazon MP3, etc.
If you don't like it, then try another ROM -- you'll understand the process of flashing better at this point and may be more comfortable with a different non-sense UI.
Since you are rooted I'm assuming you have Clockwork Recovery (2.x) installed. If not, install that immediately via ROM manager! Once it is installed make a FULL NAND backup by booting up recovery and using the backup options -- then feel free to tinker and play .
Good root-required aps are AdFree (block advertisements) and ShootMe (take screenshots).
my advice on the other hand is to skip iced glacier and go straight to gorilla sense dhd. its the stock sense, updated of course to what you see on phones like desire hd, upcoming thunderbolt, etc. its fully functional. get yourself set cpu, read all about these. the procces is farely easy, just fallow the steps you get, and next time you will now by default how and what. go on sites like android central, talkandroid, phandroid...a lot of info there about top aps. of course, since you are here, I don't have to tell you about xda. read all u can about the phone, amd what it implies. at first don't go into stuff like set cpu etc, if you aren't confortable with it. give it time, and it will all come to you. whatever u see you would like to have, use youtube for how to videos and tutorials. whatever questions u have, no matter how nooby u think it is, go right ahead. this is the place u wanna be for that. it was for me, and look,the way I was helped, you will to. after you gain some experience about what it means to have full acces to your phone, it will seem much much easier...
so yea, have fun, cuz I do, every day when I find out something new that it can do...

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