A little background first. VZW is my only option due to my line being a corporate line. Roughly a year and a half ago, I got fed up with the crappy phone choices (only blackberry at the time), so I just started buying my own and calling the 3rd party service that runs our wireless operations and telling them "I just got a new phone, could you please do an ESN swap?". That has always worked. Recently, the phone choices have gotten much better and include a variety of BB, Android and iOS devices now. Over the last few years I've gone from DINC (personal device I had since it first came out) to blackberry to DINC2 to iPhone4 to currently the Razr M. Now with SIM cards it's super easy for me to use whatever device I prefer.
Here's my current "dilemma". I have a retail Razr M (which I picked up shortly after release). Definitely loving this phone and couldn't be more happy to be back on Android after a brief hiatus to iOS. Had to give it try. Big believer in "you can't bash something without trying it". But damn iOS gets boring fast. Ha! I was excited about the M due to it's smaller footprint AND high end internals. The only thing I don't like is the locked bootloader. I was quite the crack flasher with my DINC and DINC2. The locked bootloader has led me to have interest in the S3. But I've always had an aversion to large screen phones. I like to be able operate my phone one handed. So now I have a brand new S3 sitting on my desk and I'm unsure what to do with it. I'm really enjoying my M and Jelly Bean is (almost officially) here. But I'm very interested in some CM10 or AOKP. I definitely prefer the AOSP stuff.
So the question is, do I continue my "don't bash it without trying it" theory and move over to the S3 for some AOSP love??? Or stick with the M and live with whatever fate that lies ahead?? I can only keep one. Will sell the other.
(sorry for the novel)
hokieputter said:
A little background first. VZW is my only option due to my line being a corporate line. Roughly a year and a half ago, I got fed up with the crappy phone choices (only blackberry at the time), so I just started buying my own and calling the 3rd party service that runs our wireless operations and telling them "I just got a new phone, could you please do an ESN swap?". That has always worked. Recently, the phone choices have gotten much better and include a variety of BB, Android and iOS devices now. Over the last few years I've gone from DINC (personal device I had since it first came out) to blackberry to DINC2 to iPhone4 to currently the Razr M. Now with SIM cards it's super easy for me to use whatever device I prefer.
Here's my current "dilemma". I have a retail Razr M (which I picked up shortly after release). Definitely loving this phone and couldn't be more happy to be back on Android after a brief hiatus to iOS. Had to give it try. Big believer in "you can't bash something without trying it". But damn iOS gets boring fast. Ha! I was excited about the M due to it's smaller footprint AND high end internals. The only thing I don't like is the locked bootloader. I was quite the crack flasher with my DINC and DINC2. The locked bootloader has led me to have interest in the S3. But I've always had an aversion to large screen phones. I like to be able operate my phone one handed. So now I have a brand new S3 sitting on my desk and I'm unsure what to do with it. I'm really enjoying my M and Jelly Bean is (almost officially) here. But I'm very interested in some CM10 or AOKP. I definitely prefer the AOSP stuff.
So the question is, do I continue my "don't bash it without trying it" theory and move over to the S3 for some AOSP love??? Or stick with the M and live with whatever fate that lies ahead?? I can only keep one. Will sell the other.
(sorry for the novel)
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Click to collapse
I'd say stick with the phone you like better. Yesterday I was analyzing what I'm missing without root (I'm on team EOS 3.0 on my Xoom) and I couldn't really come up with much. One of the biggest pluses: WiFi tethering, now can be done with any app on verizon because of that lawsuit. Other than that, TiBu is a loss, and maybe some OCing and performance but I mean I loaded up the phone and its still buttery smooth with good battery. Definitely the interface modding and some fun bells and whistles are missing without custom rom but it doesn't really add up to much.
The s3 is gigantic and more expensive. I'm happy with my choice.
Sent from my Xoom using xda app-developers app
Unfortunately, the two phones you've chosen represent opposite ends of the "experience spectrum" - so personal preference is going to play a big part. The only real thing the S3 has over the M that's not subjective is a better camera, and 2gb of ram vs. 1. The rest will depend on your preferences. Yes, the S3 will have more dev support. But the M won't be without it, either - root should be closer, though not guaranteed, based on a comment by P3 last night - but obviously rooting and romming are not always correlated.
Dyelon said:
I'd say stick with the phone you like better. Yesterday I was analyzing what I'm missing without root (I'm on team EOS 3.0 on my Xoom) and I couldn't really come up with much. One of the biggest pluses: WiFi tethering, now can be done with any app on verizon because of that lawsuit. Other than that, TiBu is a loss, and maybe some OCing and performance but I mean I loaded up the phone and its still buttery smooth with good battery. Definitely the interface modding and some fun bells and whistles are missing without custom rom but it doesn't really add up to much.
The s3 is gigantic and more expensive. I'm happy with my choice.
Sent from my Xoom using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree the S3 is gigantic. I also was trying to come up with things I miss by not having root and couldn't really come up with much that seemed overly important. All were smaller bells and whistles type things. Blur on this phone is very minimal, which I like and is a big plus (for me). I'm really enjoying the M. And love the size. I too am having a smooth experience with pretty solid battery life. No issues whatsoever thus far. Best bet is to probably stick with the M. I got a good deal on the S3 and should have no trouble getting back what I paid, maybe more.
Plus, I've been wanting a Nexus 7...
jntdroid said:
Unfortunately, the two phones you've chosen represent opposite ends of the "experience spectrum" - so personal preference is going to play a big part. The only real thing the S3 has over the M that's not subjective is a better camera, and 2gb of ram vs. 1. The rest will depend on your preferences. Yes, the S3 will have more dev support. But the M won't be without it, either - root should be closer, though not guaranteed, based on a comment by P3 last night - but obviously rooting and romming are not always correlated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they are definitely very different experiences. My preference has always been for smaller, easily pocketable phones. Which exactly describes the M. I don't need/want a tablet in my pocket.
I agree about the camera, but overall the M hasn't really let me down. Sure it would be nice to have a better camera, but it's not a deal breaker for me. You just have to know the limitations that you're working with. And the extra ram would be nice too. But not sure either are worth giving up the form factor that I prefer.
And I have been following the dev support of the M closely as well. I saw the comments by P3 and his team. They are very promising. And definitely helping to influence my ultimate decision. Honestly, I don't really need (or want) to be able to flash billions of roms. Just looking for a (close to) stock experience that is snappy, fully functional and bug free. Which is what I've got right now with the M. Still running the stock ICS, have not updated to the JB leak.
(I think I'm confirming my gut feelings / answering my own questions as this thread moves along... Thanks for the dialogue)
The simplest choice would seem to be ordering a Developer Edition RAZR M. If you really like the M but want the ability to fiddle, that's your route. There are already recovery and root images available for it and I think the devs will be supporting it for a while especially since the RAZR HD and HD MAXX are also running the same internals.
As for the SGSIII - Verizon is the only carrier that doesn't sell it with an unlocked bootloader so technically you'd need to buy the developer edition of that to get what you want anyway.
Neither the RAZR M nor the SGSIII Dev Editions are available via Verizon subsidized contracts.
Personally I think Sammy missed the boat. If the SGSIII Mini did what the RAZR did (same internals with smaller screen) they might have won me over, but they really skimped on the thing. What a shame.
Just my $.02.
I'm a runner and a cyclist, so the smaller the better which is why I loved my Atrix 4G (which is now running JB). The RAZR M is a narrower phone with a bigger screen. It's great to simply stow and go.
Well, now that the M has root, I think your decision is a lot easier. I would say that seeing CM9 and/or 10 is a likely bet. However, the problem now is that anything after that may not run optimally, since the bootloader is still locked and we won't be able to run a kernel optimized for the newest version. That's the problem with my Pro. Somebody ported CM9 and an AOKP ICS ROM for it, and while it does run, it's not as good as it could be. We're still stuck on the Gingerbread kernel.
freak4dell said:
Well, now that the M has root, I think your decision is a lot easier. I would say that seeing CM9 and/or 10 is a likely bet. However, the problem now is that anything after that may not run optimally, since the bootloader is still locked and we won't be able to run a kernel optimized for the newest version. That's the problem with my Pro. Somebody ported CM9 and an AOKP ICS ROM for it, and while it does run, it's not as good as it could be. We're still stuck on the Gingerbread kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really hoping we can bust the M open over the next year or so =/
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app
mk1151 said:
The simplest choice would seem to be ordering a Developer Edition RAZR M. If you really like the M but want the ability to fiddle, that's your route. There are already recovery and root images available for it and I think the devs will be supporting it for a while especially since the RAZR HD and HD MAXX are also running the same internals.
As for the SGSIII - Verizon is the only carrier that doesn't sell it with an unlocked bootloader so technically you'd need to buy the developer edition of that to get what you want anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon's bootloader can be unlocked with a single app from the play store. Super easy. The development on the S3 phone has been amazing thus far - currently on Liquid Smooth. I'm also considering switching to a smaller phone however and the M seems to be the only phone that's small with power. Following rooting and modding very closely on this phone before making the switch as I have gotten used to all the aokp+CM10 mods in the many S3 roms I've flashed.
You make an excellent point about the Razr HD and HD Maxx, I hope that helps this phone in the mod scene.
aznguyen316 said:
Verizon's bootloader can be unlocked with a single app from the play store. Super easy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I said "technically"
But I do agree it is easier on the SGSIII. Part of that is that HTC and Samsung have not taken the time to build system safeguards into their products the way Motorola has.
Browser vendors take pride in the headaches they cause to hackers trying to find vulnerabilities. Handset manufacturers, IMO, should be thinking the same way. With all the personal data on your phone, do you really want to be able to unlock it and obtain root from an app in the Play Store?
This is one of the reasons I like Motorola devices, despite the very limited flexibility.
mk1151 said:
The simplest choice would seem to be ordering a Developer Edition RAZR M. If you really like the M but want the ability to fiddle, that's your route. There are already recovery and root images available for it and I think the devs will be supporting it for a while especially since the RAZR HD and HD MAXX are also running the same internals.
As for the SGSIII - Verizon is the only carrier that doesn't sell it with an unlocked bootloader so technically you'd need to buy the developer edition of that to get what you want anyway.
Neither the RAZR M nor the SGSIII Dev Editions are available via Verizon subsidized contracts.
Personally I think Sammy missed the boat. If the SGSIII Mini did what the RAZR did (same internals with smaller screen) they might have won me over, but they really skimped on the thing. What a shame.
Just my $.02.
I'm a runner and a cyclist, so the smaller the better which is why I loved my Atrix 4G (which is now running JB). The RAZR M is a narrower phone with a bigger screen. It's great to simply stow and go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The M is my first ever Motorola device. It's also my first device running ICS or JB (there were a few of us on here that had issues running ICS on our DINC2s). Spent a little time messing around installing the JB leak and flashing back to stock just to get used to using the stock recovery, fastboot etc. With wifi tether now working on the stock ROM and the ability to disable bloatware in ICS/JB, combined with the very minimal Blur skin, I don't really see the need to root this device right away. Plus, you really can't do everything you'd want to do without an unlockable bootloader. So I agree, the Developer Edition is the way to go if you want to ultimately fiddle with things at some point down the road. May have to pick one up at some point.
Couldn't agree more on Sammy missing the boat. The SG3 Mini would have won me over too if they hadn't watered it down. Maybe we'll see a slightly improved device ending up on VZW? I presume it will eventually come to VZW. Does that SoC they're using even support LTE? Who knows. Maybe wishful thinking. I love the M anyway. But it's always nice to have more options to consider.
mk1151 said:
With all the personal data on your phone, do you really want to be able to unlock it and obtain root from an app in the Play Store?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point. I don't..
I've definitely made my decision (which was realistically already made, just need to confirm). Let me know if you know anyone looking for a brand new blue SG3.
hokieputter said:
Good point. I don't..
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Click to collapse
Well plenty of people have done it. Check the forums over there. There are other applications that can do it for u on your own pc if u wanted too. Just saying it's available now. Plus doesn't rooting your phone technically make it a little less secure anyway? That's what blizzards authenticator has lead me to believe Haha. But the point was a locked bootloader isn't end of the line.
VZW-S3 on CM10 via tapatalk
Related
i was really looking forward on getting myself a droid/milestone X/2 when it's available in europe. but i just read that the droidX (and maybe all upcoming motorola devices according to http://community.developer.motorola...OMs-and-Motorola-s-Android-Handsets/ba-p/4224) will have a completely locked bootloader as the original milestone had. it's as of today not possible to flash a custom rom on a >7 month old milestone, how weak is that?!
although i like the hardware of the moto-devices and really wanted one, this is definitly a no-go for me and defeats the purpose of android as a open(source)/linux os! i'm done with motorola, just ordered a galaxy s which is completely open!
i don't believe that motorola cares if 10.000 geeky people won't buy theire device because it's locked but it would nevertheless be good to show them that we care!
i'm curious what others think about that!
I think it's horse**** that they are locking it
I mean what's it to them if we can flash our phones??
Maybe they don't want their rom software to be leaked out? besides that I see no other reason for this
sp1kez said:
I think it's horse**** that they are locking it
I mean what's it to them if we can flash our phones??
Maybe they don't want their rom software to be leaked out? besides that I see no other reason for this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's my point. if i buy a piece of hardware, i should own it completely and do with it what i want! also one would think that motorola would (or at least could) appreciate a bunch of developers modding and patching their devices to make them more appealing to the community. i just installed cm6 (froyo) on my htc magic. it works better than ever, how cool is that! would not be possible with a locked bootloader...
example milestone: although no custom rom's can be booted (the bootloader boots only moto-signed kernels) the device can be rooted and so it should be no problem to get a rom-dump. so that can't be the reason...
I was ready to pull the trigger on the Droid X until I heard this. I hate it. You are right, we buy the phone we should own the phone. I still might buy this phone, a vote of confidence to the devs.
I want the large screen. There's nothing out there with as large a screen. The evo, but I've already been burned by that. Maybe if they swap the screen for a better one.
I'm just as angry at Motorola, but I'm still going to purchase a Droid X. It has everything I'm looking for in a phone hardware-wise, and I can't wait any longer to dump the dumbphone I've been using for years. I'm a huge fan of tweaking every piece of technology I have (e.g. hackintosh netbook just for kicks), but I'm going to stick it out with a one-year contract on the Droid X until a better phone comes along.
I've taken a look at the Galaxy S/Fascinate, but it looks far too much like an iPhone to appeal to me, rootable as it may be. Samsung's post-release support is also less than stellar. As closed as Motorola may be by using this bootloader, they are still providing 2.2 to the original Droid this summer, which is more than can be said of a /lot/ of manufacturers.
Yea I had it preordered and everything til I figured out they locked it down, guess they are okay with losing sales by turning unto an apple type company stupid
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App
Mikerrrrrrrr said:
...
I've taken a look at the Galaxy S/Fascinate, but it looks far too much like an iPhone to appeal to me, rootable as it may be. Samsung's post-release support is also less than stellar. As closed as Motorola may be by using this bootloader, they are still providing 2.2 to the original Droid this summer, which is more than can be said of a /lot/ of manufacturers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree. i don't like the iphony-look of the galaxy-s either and i feel like the droid X casing is much more stable. also the omap seemed more appealing to me than samsungs hummingbird. and so on ...
while i think it's a good thing that motorola supports their older devices with updates (at least they do with the droid) my point is/was that a open device enables the community to push the software further ahead. for instance: atm. i still have a htc magic. i just installed cm6 running froyo about a week ago. my device is running better and faster than ever. this would not be possible with a locked bootloader. i would be at the mercy of htc to supply me with an update "sometime in the future", quite frustrating ...
i just don't understand their reasons for this! if it's all just about warranty they could implement a "root and unlock" feature in the settings which would void your warranty e.g. by sending a request to a moto-server or something similar.
maybe it has something to do with drm-stuff as i also wondered that one can only use the (awesome) hdmi-out for self-made media ... kills >50% of the potential of the hdmi-out in my opinion.
jodue said:
i agree. i don't like the iphony-look of the galaxy-s either and i feel like the droid X casing is much more stable. also the omap seemed more appealing to me than samsungs hummingbird. and so on ...
while i think it's a good thing that motorola supports their older devices with updates (at least they do with the droid) my point is/was that a open device enables the community to push the software further ahead. for instance: atm. i still have a htc magic. i just installed cm6 running froyo about a week ago. my device is running better and faster than ever. this would not be possible with a locked bootloader. i would be at the mercy of htc to supply me with an update "sometime in the future", quite frustrating ...
i just don't understand their reasons for this! if it's all just about warranty they could implement a "root and unlock" feature in the settings which would void your warranty ...
maybe it has something to do with drm-stuff as i also wondered that one can only use the (awesome) hdmi-out for self-made media ... kills >50% of the potential of the hdmi-out in my opinion.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, but as it stands, I'm still going to get the phone and hoping out hope for root, although this link (http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...-locked-down-let-me-tell-you-what-i-know.html) has me worried about that too.
Mikerrrrrrrr said:
I agree, but as it stands, I'm still going to get the phone and hoping out hope for root, although this link (http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...-locked-down-let-me-tell-you-what-i-know.html) has me worried about that too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hope the best for you mate. maybe it's not that bad and in 2 weeks we are laughing about motorola because some 14 years old hacker has already torn the bootloader apart
I am officially passing on the x droid2 and whatever else Motorola decides to release sorry but I would rather have an open galaxy s than a locked down droidx. IPhone like ui can be changed with a launcher. But their isn't much hope for a double locked bootloader
whoops... has root
Am I wrong to say that the Milestone is still stuck at the OS ver. that it was sold with? And if so, I hear that 2.2 is coming to the X by the end of the summer. I'm sure and exploit can be found in the update process, or hope so.
I'm going to switch to this, simply because I believe that the devs WILL find a way to get around this problem. This is XDA we're talking about, along with a bunch of other communities dedicated to this stuff. Someone will find a way to pull it off, it's just a matter of time. But I plan on having this phone for at least a year, so I have the patience for it.
jodue said:
while i think it's a good thing that motorola supports their older devices with updates (at least they do with the droid) my point is/was that a open device enables the community to push the software further ahead. for instance: atm. i still have a htc magic. i just installed cm6 running froyo about a week ago. my device is running better and faster than ever. this would not be possible with a locked bootloader. i would be at the mercy of htc to supply me with an update "sometime in the future", quite frustrating ...
i just don't understand their reasons for this! if it's all just about warranty they could implement a "root and unlock" feature in the settings which would void your warranty e.g. by sending a request to a moto-server or something similar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i think you explained 2 reasons for the lock down.
1 is warranty issues
2 is that motorolla can control the life of their product. if after 2 years they give updating the software then you'll be left in the dust and forced to upgrade if want new features.
it's like dlc for games. what used to be free by modding communities has now become a way to squeeze more money out of gamers.
I also agree with you on point 2. This phone is pretty powerful even for me. I consider myself a power user but dont really see how I need a faster phone that this.
This phone, If completely hacked, can have a very long lifespan.
this takes one moto dev
to be on the modder's side.
All this takes is one dev to mess with an official moto update, and this will be tossed due the massive amount of phones that are bricked.
total BS. Knowing Verizon, and why they were late jump on the android bandwagon(because they couldn't "control" an open source opertaing system), this probably came from Verizon pushing Moto to do this. Moto is so desperate to corner the market(unlike HTC) with Verizon, they said yes'maam. Sure no problem you are giving ungodly sums of money why cant we "scratch" your back.
bull****
Let's say that we DON'T unlock this phone.... Would anyone be surprised to see Motorola keep up to day within months of releases in the future???
I see people mentioning the reasoning for it being locked it to control the life of the device.... But seeing how powerful this is and how it is you could say Moto's Flagship model, wouldn't it be int their best interest to keep their customers happy????
Or does everything sell and do you really think they will fall behind on updates...??
Seriously if you really hate the device being locked this much work on an email. I will be shooting an email over to Motorola and Verizon Wireless Customer Support. I can post the email that I am sending on here if you guys want, when I finish typing it.
As for the device being locked it is extremely sad, but many hardware developers are starting to do this. The thinking is that the more they can control what the user does the better the end experience is. That is hardly the truth so just keep cracking the devices so that they get the message we want our own control on the device.
Other than that good luck to all the dev crews out there working to crack the device.
i second the email plan. if enough people fight for an open device, motorola will listen...
12yan said:
i second the email plan. if enough people fight for an open device, motorola will listen...
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Click to collapse
Nope. Every single Droid and Droid X user could email Motorola and they wouldn't care unless it affected sales. The bottom line speaks the loudest. Hell, more than that, it's the ONLY line that speaks
I've been phoneless for several months now since my Curve 8320 took a dump, and now I think I'm going to go for an Atrix.
The thing is, MotoBlur is incredibly unnappealing and I'll be rooting and flashing GingerBlur from Day 1 (or a few days after). I know the Atrix is the best device AT&T currently has, but am I silly for purchasing this handset just to flash a custom ROM?
There don't seem to be any strong contenders coming out in a month or less so I feel like this is my only option.
edit: also is there anything I should know before I buy? thanks!
I moved from a Bold to an Atrix about 2 months ago (and am currently rocking GingerBlur 3.5). I love the device and all of the flexibility that it allows.
I personally (people in glass houses and all. . .) wouldn't think that you were dumb for adding a custom ROM to an Android device--isn't that part of the point behind Android?
bradym239 said:
I moved from a Bold to an Atrix about 2 months ago (and am currently rocking GingerBlur 3.5). I love the device and all of the flexibility that it allows.
I personally (people in glass houses and all. . .) wouldn't think that you were dumb for adding a custom ROM to an Android device--isn't that part of the point behind Android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I guess when I ask that question I really mean "what ever will I do when support for GingerBlur ceases to exist?" I'm more of a vanilla Android guy than a heavily modified Android guy. Not to mention I'm very afraid of bricking the device, despite being pretty tech savvy..
Sorry for the double post, and I apologize if this thread is going in the wrong direction, but is there any reason my phone should brick if I explicitly follow the directions on rooting and installing a ROM?
Also, how easy is to flash back to stock for OTA updates or other things? Are there any lasting side effects of this?
I'm pretty much in the same boat.
I was tired of only having Edge data (Unlocked tmo on at), and I was holding out for something with a physical keyboard but I settled on the Atrix.
The verdict is still out for me.
I'm managing to get by with the stock rom (rooted). The biggest thing I hate about the whole blur thing is the contacts and sms apps. This was easily solved by running GoContacts, and Gosms. Installing ADW gave me the feel that I was used to as well.
I just took all the blur widgets and everything and put it in the garbage.
Just don't add a million accounts to it.
Basically I see zero blur and I'm still running. Besides hogging some resources.
That or get a 3rd party launcher.
Gladiatrix would be a good option. It removes the blur and att bloat, bit keeps stock theme. You will need root and tenfars recovery installed.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
summerfences said:
I've been phoneless for several months now since my Curve 8320 took a dump, and now I think I'm going to go for an Atrix.
The thing is, MotoBlur is incredibly unnappealing and I'll be rooting and flashing GingerBlur from Day 1 (or a few days after). I know the Atrix is the best device AT&T currently has, but am I silly for purchasing this handset just to flash a custom ROM?
There don't seem to be any strong contenders coming out in a month or less so I feel like this is my only option.
edit: also is there anything I should know before I buy? thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your not silly for purchasing a device just to flash a custom rom, but the Atrix is a silly choice if you like custom roms. I'd go with the Inspire or Infuse if I were you or better yet wait just a little longer for the SGS2 or HTC dual core offerings. Trust me you'll be alot happier with those phones, the the Atrix gets old really fast with the Motoblur, locked bootloader, lack of promised features and updates that are late and break more features than they fix. Motorola really blew it with the Atrix and this is coming from an Atrix owner not some HTC or Samsung fanboy. It truly is an awfull phone don't buy it especially if you like custom roms as there's only two and thet both suck.
Exador said:
Your not silly for purchasing a device just to flash a custom rom, but the Atrix is a silly choice if you like custom roms. I'd go with the Inspire or Infuse if I were you or better yet wait just a little longer for the SGS2 or HTC dual core offerings. Trust me you'll be alot happier with those phones, the the Atrix gets old really fast with the Motoblur, locked bootloader, lack of promised features and updates that are late and break more features than they fix. Motorola really blew it with the Atrix and this is coming from an Atrix owner not some HTC or Samsung fanboy. It truly is an awfull phone don't buy it especially if you like custom roms as there's only two and thet both suck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally I'd say yes to the other phones but they are all single core and they'll be outdated in 2 months. AT&T really has no clue releasing single core handsets for $200 on contract. I wouldn't be surprised if the Atrix and Infuse sales numbers were absolutely horrific.
Just get it and use a new launcher. I use launcher plus, but ADW is just as good. There you go, no more ugly blur after thirty seconds. Definitely worth it if you ask me. I don't regret getting the Atrix in the slightest. Plus, there's starting to be a lot of games for Tegra 2 specifically if that matters to you.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
thinking abiout getting x.. is it worth it?
The Droid X?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA
If you can get a Droid X for a good price, you should take the opportunity.
It's very good device with many rom options. You won't be disappointed.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Depends on the price. And read up on it before you do and know what you're getting into, or the community just might drive you crazy. Great support for how old it is, but you will be hearing about the bootloader until your head explodes.
Sent from my DROIDX using xda premium
kilus said:
thinking abiout getting x.. is it worth it?
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Im sure there are people that will dissagree with me but I love my dx and have had very little trouble with it. If you can get it cheap go for it why not there are some good roms out there if you dont like the stock system. Lately I have flashed alot of different roms on it and its really not bad to work with I'm still having fun with it
I'd have to say, after about 18-19 months with one, you should pass. I'd get an HTC Incredible/2, or Thunderbolt. I had a lot of problems with mine, and I'm actually on my 3rd replacement device. I've had strangers tell me of similar problems.
I've had much better luck since rooting and installing Liberty ROM v3, but overall I'd say there are better devices out there.
I've also sworn off Motorola for good, or at least until they get rid of Blur. They really know how to ruin a good piece of hardware. It's just terribly slow and unstable. If you get a DX, plan on rooting and flashing something else onto it.
Oh, and as another user has already mentioned, the bootloader can cause problems, especially with the latest update. You have to avoid update .621 if you want to flash a different ROM onto it. I don't think other devices are as problematic in this regard.
OK for a good price. It is a little larger than most phones (a little big to place in a pocket .)
I'm not sure if you're talking from a straight user perspective or someone who is going to muck around a bit with their phone customizing it. For a straight user who isn't going to root it and/or go beyond what Verizon wants you to do with it then I'd say you should skip it and just get whatever new mid to top of the line Android is within your budget.
If you're looking for a phone you can muck around with and truly customize on the cheap then I would definitely recommend the X, especially since you can pick them up for about $100 off of craigslist
mikecico said:
I'd have to say, after about 18-19 months with one, you should pass. I'd get an HTC Incredible/2, or Thunderbolt. I had a lot of problems with mine, and I'm actually on my 3rd replacement device. I've had strangers tell me of similar problems.
I've had much better luck since rooting and installing Liberty ROM v3, but overall I'd say there are better devices out there.
I've also sworn off Motorola for good, or at least until they get rid of Blur. They really know how to ruin a good piece of hardware. It's just terribly slow and unstable. If you get a DX, plan on rooting and flashing something else onto it.
Oh, and as another user has already mentioned, the bootloader can cause problems, especially with the latest update. You have to avoid update .621 if you want to flash a different ROM onto it. I don't think other devices are as problematic in this regard.
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I have to disagree with this guy. First off it doesn't matter if the device has blur or not because you can install a custom rom that is ASOP and doesn't even have blur. Motorola in my opinion makes the best hardware and just because the bootloader is locked doesn't mean you can't do a lot with the device. This forum is DEAD for the droid x. Look on rootzwiki and you will find a ICS gem named Gummy rom from Kejar. You won't be disappointed.
As others have mentioned it depends on your situation. If you're looking for a phone to purchase for cheap without a contract, then yes, the X might be one to look at.
Personally if I had to look for something cheap right now my search would be for something with an unlocked bootloader, some decent ROM support and decent battery life.
I am guessing the Incredible 2 might fit that bill.... I'm not sure of any issues the phone may have natively but it is a more powerful phone. Probably would be a bit more expensive though.
NOTE: IF YOU BUY A DROID X AND INTEND TO ROOT/ROM (you should be planning this b/c the stock Droid X is slow and clunky) MAKE SURE IT HASN'T BEEN UPDATED TO SYSTEM VERSION .621.
.605, .602, .596, .595, .340, etc are all fine.
Prack said:
I have to disagree with this guy. First off it doesn't matter if the device has blur or not because you can install a custom rom that is ASOP and doesn't even have blur. Motorola in my opinion makes the best hardware and just because the bootloader is locked doesn't mean you can't do a lot with the device. This forum is DEAD for the droid x. Look on rootzwiki and you will find a ICS gem named Gummy rom from Kejar. You won't be disappointed.
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Actually, I think we're agreeing. I was saying if you get one, plan to flash it and get rid of Blur.
I've had hardware issues with it also, but overall, with the right Custom ROM, it can be a good experience.
As someone else has noted, if you aren't planning to root/flash this phone, you're better off with a more user-friendly device, like a Samsung or an HTC.
But, again, just my $0.02.
I still have a Droid X purchased in the release date and I never had problems with, however is getting outdated and becoming slow so it will be replaced by a HTC Rezound next week.
Great phone if you can find a cheap one in great shape. Lots of Dev community support.
Prack said:
I have to disagree with this guy. First off it doesn't matter if the device has blur or not because you can install a custom rom that is ASOP and doesn't even have blur. Motorola in my opinion makes the best hardware and just because the bootloader is locked doesn't mean you can't do a lot with the device. This forum is DEAD for the droid x. Look on rootzwiki and you will find a ICS gem named Gummy rom from Kejar. You won't be disappointed.
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I just reacquired my X after upgrading my wifes phone to a Bionic, and flashed Gummy ICS onto it. It's a georgous rom, works like a champ, and the phone FLIES with it. If you can get it cheap, go for it.
JoeyDVDZ said:
I just reacquired my X after upgrading my wifes phone to a Bionic, and flashed Gummy ICS onto it. It's a georgous rom, works like a champ, and the phone FLIES with it. If you can get it cheap, go for it.
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Are you using 0.9.0 or one of the later builds?
Just interested to see what people are running =D
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
I'm running MIUI 4-5-2012 by Wizard0f0. It's the only currently maintained ROM that appears to be stable, fast AND have almost no bugs. Most of the other ROMs (including gummy) have to many bugs for my taste (like camera or MMS or Bluetooth not working properly)
That said, I'm keeping my eyes on gummy and a few others in hopes of a fast, stable, debugged ROM with slightly better battery life. I'm not holding my breath though b/c the other ROMs seem more focused on incorporating ICS framework than getting everything working as it should. Oh well, I guess we'll just wait and see.
Now i am using x if you getting this in a good price than you should buy it.. It is good because of its nice features ..You won't be disappointed...Don't think too much about that just buy it..
Yes. Good hardware,good RF ,big screen . Just note that the phone is a bit larger than most .
bamx2 said:
Yes. Good hardware,good RF ,big screen . Just note that the phone is a larger than most .
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I don't know as I'd necessarily agree with that. 4.3" really isn't that abnormally big any more. You have devices like the Galaxy Nexus, Razor, etc coming out now at every turn. They all seem to be going between 4" and 4.65" or something.
I have one I use on WiFi only, really happy with it. Would be happier with an unlocked bootloader.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA
gi
Get it!
CM7, Jakebytesmod and Beats.
i have been eyeing the s3 for a while but have steered away from it due to build quality, and sheer size of the device.
i really like the smaller size of this phone, especially after seeing my girl with it for so long, and how convenient it has been for her. it seems to preform well even stock, as she is very timid towards rooting and romming.
my first question : would you guys suggest this phone?
i currently have a droid x2, and it has been interesting to say the least . i am looking for something dependable (which i know most motorola's are, even the dx2 was) as well as something that can perform. how is performance in your eyes?
one more thing, there is a successful method for unlocking the bootloader in the retail edition from what i have read..... is this the case? if so, do you guys see development for this device growing in the future? or does it seem to be dying down.?
thanks in advance, it seems like a pretty trusty little phone from what ive read.
Lorenzo VonMatterhorn said:
i have been eyeing the s3 for a while but have steered away from it due to build quality, and sheer size of the device.
i really like the smaller size of this phone, especially after seeing my girl with it for so long, and how convenient it has been for her. it seems to preform well even stock, as she is very timid towards rooting and romming.
my first question : would you guys suggest this phone?
i currently have a droid x2, and it has been interesting to say the least . i am looking for something dependable (which i know most motorola's are, even the dx2 was) as well as something that can perform. how is performance in your eyes?
one more thing, there is a successful method for unlocking the bootloader in the retail edition from what i have read..... is this the case? if so, do you guys see development for this device growing in the future? or does it seem to be dying down.?
thanks in advance, it seems like a pretty trusty little phone from what ive read.
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yes you can unlock the bootloader, and development has been growing on this phone sense the unlock. i like my m it preforms well and the battery life is great.
Definitely recommended. Best android phone I've had yet
Sent from my XT907 using xda premium
Agreed, the RAZR M ticks all my boxes. Has been an amazing phone love it.
Performance wise, its great. And there is a kernel to get it to 1998 MHz if you root. Development has just kept growing really as stated before.
ShadowRAZR said:
Agreed, the RAZR M ticks all my boxes. Has been an amazing phone love it.
Performance wise, its great. And there is a kernel to get it to 1998 MHz if you root. Development has just kept growing really as stated before.
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I still love the phone even if it were stock (which its not) and I ALWAYS long for an upgrade 6 months after getting a phone.I have NO desire to replace it. The size is perfect, build quality outstanding, battery life great, performance good, it has almost the latest OS which for an android phone that's not a nexus is about as good as it gets. The one reservation I had about it and all Motorola phones was the locked bootloader but with that cracked and AOSP CM10.1 (4.2.2) I'm in love!. I just bought my wife a Titanium (Best Buy only) M in like new (no evidence of use) condition with case and sd card off eBay for $250 and honestly I want hers too lol. Got mine in the same condition in white off of eBay as well but for $350 which then was a great price for a like new M.
The one drawback is the smallish partion for apps on the internal SD card and as far as I can tell no easy or reliable apps to SD (I did it with one app which one day borked, wiped and destroyed my micro sd). This kind of kills this phone if your a mega gamer (mulitple games with 500+mb data will quickly wipe out internal space).
there is a bootloader unlock on this now. which makes it even more exciting, and maybe will produce that much more development.
i think it is an all around great phone from all of the research ive done. i just want to make sure the same X2 experience doesnt happen again. lol
another HUGE thing is that this phone is not huge. just when you thought phones would turn into tablets, the razr M comes along. hopefully it starts a trend in making them small again.
thanks for all the responses guys, i will be joioning the ranks in about two weeks. :good:
Lorenzo VonMatterhorn said:
there is a bootloader unlock on this now. which makes it even more exciting, and maybe will produce that much more development.
i think it is an all around great phone from all of the research ive done. i just want to make sure the same X2 experience doesnt happen again. lol
another HUGE thing is that this phone is not huge. just when you thought phones would turn into tablets, the razr M comes along. hopefully it starts a trend in making them small again.
thanks for all the responses guys, i will be joioning the ranks in about two weeks. :good:
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keep in mind that most development is CDMA (VZW) based, but there are "fixes" to make them work on GSM carriers.
jco23 said:
keep in mind that most development is CDMA (VZW) based, but there are "fixes" to make them work on GSM carriers.
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yeah i am vzw. as much as it pains me to say it.
Definitely recommend the M. The battery life for me has been great. I do keep bluetooth and GPS off all the time, but my wife keeps both on and her phone will still go a couple days without charge. i used mine throughout the day, and as well as as a hotspot while storm chasing and it will easily go the whole day for me.
Selectel Wireless
Anyone using this phone on PagePlus, Straight Talk, or Selectel Wireless? I am thinking of ditching my S3 and USCC. Nothing but problems with reception.
This is a midrange device. I cannot recommend it. The only reason I got this is because my nexus shattered when I dropped it. I hate the keyboards lag on this phone, and pretty much lag all around. But I like that it is splashproof...
Other than that, low res screen, no tv-out, weird storage, etc.... good phone for my wife, but she's rockin s4....won't trade
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app
HonkyTonker said:
Anyone using this phone on PagePlus, Straight Talk, or Selectel Wireless? I am thinking of ditching my S3 and USCC. Nothing but problems with reception.
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i use it on net 10(att simcard), but i know there is a thread about flashing this to page plus you have to stay on ics for it to work if i remember correctly
Soooo, I recently purchased a Note 3 and I'm MOSTLY happy with a lot of things about the phone... BUT the idea that we may never get an unlocked bootloader (SOOO annoying, had a Thunderbolt for the last two years and was really looking forward to getting CM again!) is making me question whether I should stay with my new phone or not. Looking for a little advice on keeping the N3 or getting something new:
Pros:
1.) The hardware is incredible. Coming from the Thunderbolt, this thing is insanely fast.
2.) The screen is awesome. The size doesn't bother me at all.
3.) Battery life!
Cons:
1.) Touch Wiz. I used to own an original Droid and LOVED the OS, eventually switching to CM for added features. Most of the stuff I dislike I can turn off, but there's a lot of bloat and dumb ideas here. (Why Samsung makes me turn up the volume and say I won't explode my head every time I plug in headphones is insane... I'M PLUGGING IT INTO MY CAR AND I'M NO LONGER 12 YEARS OLD.)
2.) The screen isn't big enough to use as an e-reader. This is not a huge issue, I had just HOPED it would be... BUT, since that's the case, I could easily switch to another phone and get a tablet too and not feel bad about it.
3.) Gaming... again, I had hoped the N3 would be able to provide gaming and e-reader and phone all into one device, but Android games are really just too shallow for me.
Soooo, what it really comes down to is if you guys think this device will be unlocked down the line OR if you think I could adjust it to make a more stock android/ AOSP/ CM type experience. If I was able to put CM on here I would be sitting pretty. I'm just worried it will turn into a situation like the Thunderbolt with limited updates and no real way to get new software...
If I did get a new phone, what would you guys recommend? I'm looking at the HTC One, Nexus 5, LG G2 and Galaxy S4. I haven't yet looked into which ones have fully unlocked bootloaders with decent roms, but that would be a deal breaker.
Thanks for any and all help, you guys are awesome!!
It sounds (to me) like you should get rid of it and get a phone that you can put CM on. I, personally, have never been a fan of CM. I like miui (haven't had that working 100% on a phone for probably 3 years now though) or heavily modded stock roms more. But as far as speed and battery life. This thing is awesome. Big screen is a + for me too. And it's got more features than I care to use or learn which is also a + I guess.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Ultimately it all comes down to what you want. I mean, if it doesn't live up to your standards why keep it? It's your money to spend how you see fit. Buy something you feel will be worthwhile. If you're looking for the original Android experience the Moto X is a sweet phone and easy to carry and use.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium HD app
Should I be able to sell this one for a decent price? It's basically brand new, always had a case and screen protector...
profman03 said:
Should I be able to sell this one for a decent price? It's basically brand new, always had a case and screen protector...
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Just a little FYI, i came to the note 3 from a razr maxx, also a locked bootloader using safestrap. It is an officially supported device in the CM build. Sure an unlocked bootloader is great no matter the phone, but a really solid phone can sometimes trump that one little perk. Just a different opinion for your process. Good Luck.
This thread will probably be closed and moved to the sticky, but here are my 2 cents.
Out of all the cons presented, the only one that can be fixed well is the "TouchWiz" problem. The other phones either have smaller displays and Android's game market isn't even close to that of iOS, and doesn't seem like it will be soon. I think the LG G2 is the best choice for you (if you are fine without removable battery and microSD). Same Snapdragon 800, similar large 1080p display (I personally prefer it more because it is nearly impossible to get an AMOLED without black marks or unevenness), and also a large battery. Check out their development, it has a lot of exciting stuff going on and CM11 is right now a WIP. I'd say it still has a lot of potential to grow further, and its already a great community now.
Personally, I wasn't that overwhelmed by the N3 (probably because I had the N2). Looking back, I would have taken the G2 (and the $100 savings at the time) but I was an unlimited glitch purchase and don't have much time to customize my phone anymore. I flashed like mad on DInc, GNex, and Note 2, but right now having a device that isn't wiped every week is what I need. In fact, I finished a whole month on the Android 4.0+ Data Usage page for the first time ever.
Yeah, didn't know if this was the right place to post this, so then I copied and pasted it into the Q&A forum... and was going to delete this... now I can't figure out how to delete either thread! Ah well, if there's a major issue, I'm sure a mod will just close it.
Thanks for the input. I'm certainly not sold on getting rid of my N3, just looking into it. As stated, there are a lot of things I love about this phone, and if I could make it better that would be great.
Yeah, the "cons" really aren't cons, but things that I had HOPED the phone would be able to do, but can't. This just makes me feel OK about switching to a smaller phone and then getting a tablet as well.
changt34x said:
This thread will probably be closed and moved to the sticky, but here are my 2 cents.
Out of all the cons presented, the only one that can be fixed well is the "TouchWiz" problem. The other phones either have smaller displays and Android's game market isn't even close to that of iOS, and doesn't seem like it will be soon. I think the LG G2 is the best choice for you (if you are fine without removable battery and microSD). Same Snapdragon 800, similar large 1080p display (I personally prefer it more because it is nearly impossible to get an AMOLED without black marks or unevenness), and also a large battery. Check out their development, it has a lot of exciting stuff going on and CM11 is right now a WIP. I'd say it still has a lot of potential to grow further, and its already a great community now.
Personally, I wasn't that overwhelmed by the N3 (probably because I had the N2). Looking back, I would have taken the G2 (and the $100 savings at the time) but I was an unlimited glitch purchase and don't have much time to customize my phone anymore. I flashed like mad on DInc, GNex, and Note 2, but right now having a device that isn't wiped every week is what I need. In fact, I finished a whole month on the Android 4.0+ Data Usage page for the first time ever.
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Click to collapse
I have to agree. I love the phone but my flashaholic status is slowly going away. When I had the TP, TP2, Evo, Evo 3D and Rezound I'd have a new rom almost every three days. Depending on what the devs put out. I have never been an AOSP guy so CM never really meant alot to me. I understand that guys want flexibility. I have heard guys say they couldn't stand sense on HTC just as people want TW off their phone. I love the N3 and it's a nice step up from the S3 I had previously. I might kingo and safe strap once I'm done moving just because but I'm really kinda liking not wiping and restoring my phone all the time too. I may have to change my xda button in my signature to just senior member..
Sent from the Note 3 of the Afro Samurai
I came to the note 3 from note 2. I want super impressed coming from n2, but ultimately will keep the n3 and sell my n2. I have to all out because every time I touch my n2 I miss it. I just think it feels better in my hands them does the n3.
I'm so over flashing. I was flashing a new rom at least twice a week. I'm happy with tw. Flashing, imo, is a complete waste of time. To me it kind of sounds like you're trying to talk yourself out of the Galaxy Note 3 and into a different phone simply because the boot loader is locked. If that is the case then yes I would try a phone that you could flash. I happen to have a Galaxy Note 2 with an unlocked bootloader and a stock rom on there if you are interested and it has all kinds of accessories.
Sent from my SM-N900V using xda app-developers app
There are some great points in this thread. I have a note 2 that is pretty new to me. I absolutely love the phone and while I like the unlocked status, I feel I can get most of what I want from a phone with root and xposed modules. I like CM and AOSP ROMs, but the camera quality and options never seem as good with those builds. As a father, the camera has become one of the most important features of my smart phone. That said, I'm considering selling my N2 and HTC One and getting an N3, essentially committing to no more flashing.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
profman03 said:
Yeah, didn't know if this was the right place to post this, so then I copied and pasted it into the Q&A forum... and was going to delete this... now I can't figure out how to delete either thread! Ah well, if there's a major issue, I'm sure a mod will just close it.
Thanks for the input. I'm certainly not sold on getting rid of my N3, just looking into it. As stated, there are a lot of things I love about this phone, and if I could make it better that would be great.
Yeah, the "cons" really aren't cons, but things that I had HOPED the phone would be able to do, but can't. This just makes me feel OK about switching to a smaller phone and then getting a tablet as well.
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Click to collapse
You had the exact same phones as me minus the tp.
Tp2, evo, evo 3D, rezound, N3.
Galaxy Note 3, HTC Rezound, HTC Evo 3D, HTC Evo, HTC Touch Pro 2, LG Voyager
Well, before I make any decisions I'm going to root and install xposed and see if I can get all the functionality I want that way. I'm still not too familiar with it since it wasn't a thing on the Thunderbolt... BUT, it looks like it can do a lot of things I want.
From what I have seen so far with this phone is a root with some theming is plenty. Just flashing kernels never really (to me) felt like they did anything. I came from the s3, so just rooting debloating with some greenify makes this phone amazing.
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
I say keep your Note 3, root it, freeze/remove bloatware, and customize with Wanam Xposed. As far as your "CONS" go, it sounds like you're going to need a tablet in addition to the Note 3. What kind of gaming are you looking to do? Do you just want something that has a bigger screen/better hardware?
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
profman03 said:
Well, before I make any decisions I'm going to root and install xposed and see if I can get all the functionality I want that way. I'm still not too familiar with it since it wasn't a thing on the Thunderbolt... BUT, it looks like it can do a lot of things I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Between freezing bloat and xposed framework, its my opinion that custom stock based ROMs are starting to become obsolete. AOSP is a slightly different story.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
Just rooted, put xposed on there and wanam. Now I'm adjusting settings and debloating... things are looking up.
I'll sell u my mint verizon note 2..already unlocked running beans right now.
mlin said:
Between freezing bloat and xposed framework, its my opinion that custom stock based ROMs are starting to become obsolete. AOSP is a slightly different story.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
+1 Imo custom stock roms were never considered actual developing in the early android days. They were more so considered themes and the guys creating them were called Chefs. Something changed in the last couple years...however AOSP is were "real development" exists. Xposed app has pretty much shifted things back the other direction allowing the end user to modify a stock rom fairly easy. That combined with a few apps like Ninja morph to modify the framework.res files and the end user can create a custom stock rom fairly easy. I mainly run beans because of the AOSP themeing and I tweak the rest in myself. Dont take me wrong I appreciate guys like Beans because its time consuming doing the things he does.
Anyone interested in trading for a verizon lg g2? Already rooted, too...
Sent from my GT-N5110 using xda app-developers app
After messing around with root, and xposed for a while, I'm less concerned that there won't be enough support on this device to do the things that I want. I do have a few more questions, though:
1.) Has anyone started a list of all the apps that come on the stock rom and which we can freeze or delete entirely? (I will happily start this thread if there's interest and support for it.)
2.) Does anyone know how to prevent the volume getting reduced after plugging in headphones? I use my phone for music in my car and would really appreciate it if I didn't have to turn up the volume every time I plugged it in. (Wanam has an option to prevent the warning pop up, but the volume still gets reduced.)