I'm considering buying this great phone but TouchWiz makes me really upset. The thought of using it everyday after being used to my Galaxy Nexus interface is not sitting well. So is getting a launcher like Apex or Nova the best way to get a stock look? Or will a custom Rom be best? Are there any Roms currently available with a completely stock look and feel?
Custom ROMs are the best, and many like cyanogenmod or beans can provide the stock feel for you, but while the boot loader is still locked, launchers are the best choice and you also get to keep the Samsung apps, like camera and some gestures and what not
bmar29 said:
I'm considering buying this great phone but TouchWiz makes me really upset. The thought of using it everyday after being used to my Galaxy Nexus interface is not sitting well. So is getting a launcher like Apex or Nova the best way to get a stock look? Or will a custom Rom be best? Are there any Roms currently available with a completely stock look and feel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
JaeKay said:
Custom ROMs are the best, and many like cyanogenmod or beans can provide the stock feel for you, but while the boot loader is still locked, launchers are the best choice and you also get to keep the Samsung apps, like camera and some gestures and what not
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look around, there are already AOSP or "stock" ROM's posted
bmar29 said:
I'm considering buying this great phone but TouchWiz makes me really upset. The thought of using it everyday after being used to my Galaxy Nexus interface is not sitting well. So is getting a launcher like Apex or Nova the best way to get a stock look? Or will a custom Rom be best? Are there any Roms currently available with a completely stock look and feel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm coming from a Galaxy Nexus as well, and had AOKP. I picked up an S4 the other day.
So far, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. I installed Nova Launcher to get the look and feel of stock back. The free version has an option to use stock icons and my now my home screen itself looks pretty much exactly the same as it did before. The apps, of course, are not stock, and I'm toying with the idea of swapping out the messaging app for the stock one. The contacts app is better than stock in my opinion, and I like having Facebook contact integration back.
The notification bar is similar to AOKP's notification bar, and I am generally not bothered by it. The rest of the stuff that bothers me (pointless bloatware, etc.), are easily resolved after rooting. I also just copied over the notification sounds from my Galaxy Nexus and am just about as happy as I will get.
My two cents, anyway.
Won't the stock Android be ported from the Google version of the S4? That's what I'm hoping for.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
^^^ THAT!
There's a couple ROMs out there right now. I'm currently using an unofficial CyanogenMod port, and an official build should be out sometime soon.
Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and help sections
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
Related
Just wondering what you guys think? How long you reckon?
Like a stock gingerbread rom ? Or Cyanogenmod 7 ? Stuff like what the galaxy s has.
This is my first samsung android phone. I've used others for a while, and I played with TW3.0 and hated it.
Honestly, I'm not feeling too motivated to change.
On my atrix i couldn't freaking wait to get rid of as much motoblur as possible, but I'm actually finding TW pretty nice on this phone.
Sorry to be a bit off topic.
Never i love TW .
jje
Install different launcher if you hate TW launcher.
Taskbar and messaging extensions are much better than pure android IMO.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
JJEgan said:
Never i love TW .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So true, tw is actually brilliant. especially compared to tw3.
Figured I'd go back and look at TouchWiz4, after a week back on my LauncherProPlus...
Gah, it doesn't work with densities below 240!
The config options are so limited I can''t see a way, and after so long on HyperdroidGBX on the HD2 I can't deal with density above 190ish at the most :/
Any way to change the TW4 to adjust itself?
I am using Launcher Pro as I just didn't like TouchWiz, but I do however really like the TouchWiz Dialer/Contacts so I'm more than happy to keep them.
We just have to give the devs some time.. I don't think TouchWiz + custom launchers should suffice for most users for now.
What exactly are people missing from AOSP? Personally, I'm more than satisfied with TouchWiz + Launcher Pro + Gingerbread Keyboard...
...would I be able to remove TouchWiz? Could I get stock 3.2?
My main concern is that it will void the warranty
tweaker101 said:
...would I be able to remove TouchWiz? Could I get stock 3.2?
My main concern is that it will void the warranty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suggest you read up a little more before you post.
But to answer your questions: 1) no, but you can use a non-TW ROM; 2) no, not until they release 3.2 for the GT10.
just to add on....Yes rooting and flashing a custom ROM will void your warranty.
Cheers guys, Does it come with TouchWiz or is it an optional update?
TouchWiz is already installed. You could just spend 3 bucks and buy ADW EX launcher though. It works more better than TW. Much faster, super smooth.
brett_day said:
TouchWiz is already installed. You could just spend 3 bucks and buy ADW EX launcher though. It works more better than TW. Much faster, super smooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, Brett doesn't know what he's talking about: TW has nothing to do with the launcher. Before you decide you hate TW, figure out what it is first.
slack04 said:
Sorry, Brett doesn't know what he's talking about: TW has nothing to do with the launcher. Before you decide you hate TW, figure out what it is first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol...oh and to the OP, TW isn't what it was back on the SGS I. It's very nice on the custom ROMs available here.
Touchwiz is kind of like a themed modification (skin) of honeycomb 3.1 with some added functionality, apps and better battery management. Touchwiz enhances (for some) the user interface to make things a little easier (quicker) to access.
A launcher is basically what you would call the "desktop" for PC's and functions about the same. Accessing apps (programs) and there are many launchers to choose from.
If you root and modify the device, you lose your warranty.
As far as honeycomb 3.2 is concerned it is not yet available for the galaxy tab 10.1 except in S. Korea and Japan. I believe (educated guess on my part) that the update will roll out to everyone in the near future since the latest android release 4.0 (which has influences of touchwiz) has been mostly mentioned for our tablets as coming in quarter 1 or 2 next year. Samsung has also been tweaking touchwiz to limit the litigation from apple which is what I believe is the delay for 3.2 on our device.
Hopefully my info is correct, I should have gone to bed hours ago.
sent from Tapatalk App
Thanks for your help
I think I will go for the G.Tab and later on remove touchwiz. How do they know if you have rooted, I could just revert it to stock?
tweaker101 said:
Thanks for your help
I think I will go for the G.Tab and later on remove touchwiz. How do they know if you have rooted, I could just revert it to stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most of the questions your asking are already covered in previous threads. Make a pot of coffee and start reading as much as you can. Just a bit of advise before you start threads about issues that have already been touched on.
I have a USCC note 2, posting here as the Verizon phone is the closest to the USCC version. Looking for a rom that is bone stock or as close to stock as my nexus 7 is, I want the stock jb launcher but would include all the s-pen apps and functionality along with the allshare apps and functionality. Is there such a beast for my phone?
You're asking for waaaasaaaay too much at this stage of the development game. There are roms that are stock, I know the VZW note 2 has an alpha cyanogen build, but no s note and other apps to my understanding.
And I dont think you should be flashing roms all willy nilly.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda premium
I use the stock debloated and then use Trebuchet launcher. Gives me the look and feel of AOSP (with some functionality) and I retain all of the stock features of TW, inculding the S-Pen, Dailer, some of the widgets (but not all I'm afraid). It can't hurt to give it a try. Just search for a trebuchet.apk. I did and I was pleasantly surprised.
Thanks for the replies, just researching what may be available at the moment. I dont plan to root for at least a month as I want to make sure there are no hardware issues.
I find all the roms quite confusing, just trying to decipher the differences along with all the new jargon doesnt help.
Thanks again.
After months of convincing her how much better Android is then the iPhone (and buying her a Nexus 7 tablet - which finally pushed her over the edge) she has picked up a SIII.
Now, my first instinct is to grab the sucker, root it, put CyanogenMOD on it. But, that is the "hacker" in me talking.
I don't want to "ruin" her experience. So, do I leave the phone "as is" with the TouchWiz on it? Do I install a custom ROM?
I know ZERO about the phone as I've only purchased Nexus devices for myself (Yes, I have a N4 - complete with broken glass back already).
So I am turning to you all, that have the phone, to help me help her.
Any tips, recommendations, experiences, hacks, ROMs, Apps, etc..etc.. that you can share would be helpful.
Thanks all!
Same with my other half, I ended up leaving Touchwiz on it as everything else was too difficult for her and I suppose Touchwiz is simple, isn't it?
Ask her if she wants the phone rooted
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
She knows nothing about that... remember she is coming from an iPhone. So iPhone users aren't really as technical / geeky as us Android users are. :good:
I am going to have to root it though. I just realized that Google Wallet is not allowed to be installed on the device. She REALLY wants that. So a "root" is a definite now at this point.
UrbanDrawer said:
Ask her if she wants the phone rooted
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say go with the Sammy-based ROMs (the ones in the regular development section) so it has all the TW features, but put Domination theme on it to give it an AOSP look, as I hate the TW design. You can try null rom, it has domination included. Also check out JKay framework in original development and see if you want to use that as well, it's included in the null rom too.
dont make her to escape from touchwhiz...its actually a nice launcher for someone who started it....its nice and simple with all the stuff thats needed for a user...
also, check what all apps are synced with network all the time, so that she is not frustrated by the battery usage...sync apps only that are required...by default some of the unwanted apps will be synced...
also, if you are rooting, make take off all the crappy apps...i think that should make it to be a good experience for her n you... have a nice journey with sgs3 and N4..
Yup, since I am rooting it, off comes all the 'bloatware' installed on the phone.
How does that effect OTA from Sammie though? If an update comes out and I have removed the 'bloatware' will the OTA still come through and update without getting the "Red Android Exclamation" mark ?
gchindi said:
dont make her to escape from touchwhiz...its actually a nice launcher for someone who started it....its nice and simple with all the stuff thats needed for a user...
also, check what all apps are synced with network all the time, so that she is not frustrated by the battery usage...sync apps only that are required...by default some of the unwanted apps will be synced...
also, if you are rooting, make take off all the crappy apps...i think that should make it to be a good experience for her n you... have a nice journey with sgs3 and N4..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can have UltimaROM. It is a Sammy based ROM with JB Domination theme- looks beautiful. It has wide open choice of menus in the AROMA Installer that can let you not to install bloatware. You can have Nova Launcher within that installation to not have Touchwiz also . I am running this ROM for almost 3 months.
thekoRngear said:
You can have UltimaROM. It is a sammy based ROM with JB Domination theme- looks beautiful. It has wide open choice of menus in the AROMA Installer that can let you not to install bloatware. You can have Nova Launcher within that installation to not have Touchwiz also . I am running this ROM for almost 4 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ultimarom is sammy or aosp ?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
sammy
Glebun said:
sammy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Official XXELLA 4.1.2 Jellybean.
Jelly Bean Domination - True AOSP style
-=-=-
i thought ... so is just ... style
Girls like simple stock, but root and a decent kernel will help her (no ads etc and better sound/performance)
I have a N7 and love it. For the S3, try the most popular rom with lots of support and gui installer (omega v37) to start with. It has lots of different themes to try from the kitchen as well as mods etc. It's very stable. I use the boeffla kernel, close to stock, fantastic sound enhancements, she'll love it... Don't forget to remove the bloat!
Sent via TCP/IP
usafle said:
Yup, since I am rooting it, off comes all the 'bloatware' installed on the phone.
How does that effect OTA from Sammie though? If an update comes out and I have removed the 'bloatware' will the OTA still come through and update without getting the "Red Android Exclamation" mark ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The moment you root it, thr device status will change to "modified" n from that moment you wont get any official updates, you have to rely on XDA, n must say XDA is not doing bad for updates...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
usafle said:
After months of convincing her how much better Android is then the iPhone (and buying her a Nexus 7 tablet - which finally pushed her over the edge) she has picked up a SIII.
....I don't want to "ruin" her experience. ....
So I am turning to you all, that have the phone, to help me help her.
Any tips, recommendations, experiences, hacks, ROMs, Apps, etc..etc.. that you can share would be helpful.
Thanks all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As you may know, the XDA community is ALWAYS keen to make ANY sacrifice to help another user.
As this time it is my turn, and noone offered this earlier, I think that the easiest for you way would be if you'll send your girl with her phone to me for about two-three weeks.
I can ensure you that it will not ruin her (and I hope mine as well) experiences< and I can assure you- it will be plenty of rooting...
I would suggest keeping it stock so it has all the features but putting nova launcher on to keep it a consistent user experience with her nexus 7.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
spamtrash said:
As you may know, the XDA community is ALWAYS keen to make ANY sacrifice to help another user.
As this time it is my turn, and noone offered this earlier, I think that the easiest for you way would be if you'll send your girl with her phone to me for about two-three weeks.
I can ensure you that it will not ruin her (and I hope mine as well) experiences< and I can assure you- it will be plenty of rooting...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When he gets it back, though, it'll be obvious it's been modified and the guy won't get any more support. The phone will probably behave differently too.
Cyanogenmod might be a little too intimate for an android virgin, stick to only touchwiz.
And getting the xella kernel is recommended to be on the safe-er side of the sudden death bug (or any other kernel with the bug fix).
You my friend, have issues! LOL
spamtrash said:
As you may know, the XDA community is ALWAYS keen to make ANY sacrifice to help another user.
As this time it is my turn, and noone offered this earlier, I think that the easiest for you way would be if you'll send your girl with her phone to me for about two-three weeks.
I can ensure you that it will not ruin her (and I hope mine as well) experiences< and I can assure you- it will be plenty of rooting...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend the crDroid rom. This one has a lot of options to choose, so you can install only what you need.
Hey guys, usually not many people care about getting any of the stock manufacturer apps back after going to custom rom, but in this case there are some apps and features that I really do not want to lose. Is there any way to get these to run (backing up the apps in Titanium is easy) after going to any of the upcoming stock JB-based roms? Apps that I am referring to in this cases are:
Samsung camera (REALLY don't want to lose this), WatchON (this one either), Samsung calendar widget, S Health, messaging app, the slew of features involving the gestures, finger hovering, eye tracking, voice commands, the high sensitivity setting for screen (for gloves), etc...
Can we get any of these back??
the gestures and air view, consider that a big no...
but the other things are apps and widgets, they might just straight up install and work or might take a little messing with to make them work
I'd love to get my hands on the stock Calendar app to install on my N7.
I really like the way it looks and functions.
What do you think the chances are that it will work?
Can somebody pull the apk out for me?
dansan382 said:
the gestures and air view, consider that a big no...
but the other things are apps and widgets, they might just straight up install and work or might take a little messing with to make them work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't flame me, i haven't owned my first android for a week yet...
so once we root the S4, we lose all of those S4 specific items such as the camera, the Air view, Air gesture, etc???
wouldn't those all be part of the ROM we are using to root? i am only asking because, if these ROMs are device specific, why wouldn't they be included after a root?
ps, if my description and/or terms are way out of whack, i apologize... again, this is my first go around and i have been on this forum for the better part of a week trying to understand EVERYTHING related to the rooting process before actually diving into it...
TH3 ST1G said:
so once we root the S4, we lose all of those S4 specific items such as the camera, the Air view, Air gesture, etc???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you won't lose them unless you flash a debloated ROM, or an AOSP-style ROM.
No. Not once you root. If you use an AOSP based rom, you will not be able to use apps or widgets that require the TouchWiz framework. If you use a TW based rom, they are still available for use without issue.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
TH3 ST1G said:
don't flame me, i haven't owned my first android for a week yet...
so once we root the S4, we lose all of those S4 specific items such as the camera, the Air view, Air gesture, etc???
wouldn't those all be part of the ROM we are using to root? i am only asking because, if these ROMs are device specific, why wouldn't they be included after a root?
ps, if my description and/or terms are way out of whack, i apologize... again, this is my first go around and i have been on this forum for the better part of a week trying to understand EVERYTHING related to the rooting process before actually diving into it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh no problem, at least you read before asking lol. Rooting won't disable those features, but the concern is that installing roms that aren't touchwiz based ,I.e. based on the stock Rom, will do so. Roms based on android open source (AOSP, cm and many others) will likely not have most of the touchwiz enhancements, but hopefully we can still use watchON because its basically the only feature I use lol.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Thank you sir, now i will search for a TW rom
yup. My question is will there ever be an AOSP ROM that supports all the Samsung features. At least the hover and air view. My friend told me its because the Samsung source code is unavailable but there are people working on getting it to work.
sharpknight said:
yup. My question is will there ever be an AOSP ROM that supports all the Samsung features. At least the hover and air view. My friend told me its because the Samsung source code is unavailable but there are people working on getting it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simple answer is no. Also those things are closed sourced
Wayne Tech Nexus
Why not try a different approach?
Okay, hear me out before you just say 'no' to this.
There is a really popular TouchWiz (Samsung, in essence) ROM right now called HyperDrive. It's currently on release 5.7 and it keeps ALL of your phone's stock functionality, plus it adds even more customization options and tweaks! It runs very smoothly and feels a lot better than stock, lag-wise.
However, consider tacking on third-party launcher. Right now, I'm running HyperDrive 5.7, and I'm running Nova Launcher on top, and I have everything looking like stock JB. However, even with all of the stock JB looks, I've still got all of the samsung apps fully working, since it's still a TW ROM. I've even got the Nexus 4's Software Buttons running, and it looks/feels really cool.
Take it from a fan of both stock JB's look and feel, and TouchWiz's custom capabilities and controls.