Database Develop

[Q] Trying to pick between 3 roms

Hello, I just recently purchased a Samsung Captivate on At&t. I go to school with a kid who's totally into developing for android. He rooted my phone and put on the clockwork recovery, and Titanium Backup. We removed the At&t bloatware from the phone and now I'm picking up where he left off and I'm going to attempt to put a ROM onto the phone, I'm just having trouble picking one!
After reading and trying to understand everything, I'm trying to decide between the latest Cognition Rom, Perception Rom, and Paragon RC1.
I'm assuming they're all based on some version of Froyo. I'm looking for the one that will offer stable performance and better battery life than what the 2.1 is giving me now. Also, I couldn't tell but do any of these keep the Samsung UI or keyboard? I kind of actually prefer them to the normal android keyboard and interface.
Thanks!!
Dr3amCast

Well I've never used Paragon. But I have used Perception and Cognition.
Perception is based off of a leaked Froyo (I Believe)
Cognition 3.XX is basaed off the just released Rogers Official Froyo.
Both of those two roms have Swype/Samsung KB's to chose from

Try cognition. I think all of them are pretty equal in quality but cognition was made to keep a stock appearance with increased speed, stability and features while also offering better battery life and gps accuracy. I would say all of the roms you mentioned deserve a flash though. Also serendipity and firefly but who has time for all that.... i do.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

I'm currently running Cognition 3.02 btw
I switched over from Perception 10.1 when Cog 3.0 was released.
just FYI... But as Blazin said. They're all worth a look!

Okay, thanks for all the advice! I think I'm going to try cognition first. I've seen a lot of people using Serendipity. So if I don't like cognition, I might flash back to 2.1 then try that.

No problema.
Just a heads up. Alot of people here say you don't have to, but I like to flash back to stock before any ROM. Just ensures a good flash

DeMarzo said:
No problema.
Just a heads up. Alot of people here say you don't have to, but I like to flash back to stock before any ROM. Just ensures a good flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, seems like a lot of people disagree but it only takes a few extra minutes and better safe than sorry.

Do a datawipe too
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

Okay, just wondering, I'm not sure what a "kernel" is, I'm using "Kernel Version 2.6.29", but do I have to change that as well to successfully switch to Cognition v3.02

thats the stock kernel for the capti ate.
When you flash the rom it will update I it to the set included in the package
Capti-sent

I'm quite sure you will end up flashing all three roms... Highly addictive.

No idea why everybody thinks it's SAFER to flash back to stock first. Delete user data in CWM and everything will be fine. If odin messes up, phone gets disconnected, power goes out, etc. while flashing the bootloader files then your phone is screwed. Well...at least hard to recover. It is NOT safer by any means.

I've tried both perception and cognition.
I really think you should try both of them out and decide.
And you should also look at other roms?? Just saying...
Sent from my phone

I have tried most roms on here. So far my absolute favorite is the Contiuum GT rom. Very lean and smokin fast. Second place would go to Cognition.

My best advice is to follow the threads for a bit to see what other users are experiencing. Usually people will post any issues and you can judge if it is crucial to you or not.
Me personally, I've been following phoenix, cog 3.0, and serendipity and so far still not sure which one to go for. I'm running on Cog 2.38b and it's pretty solid with some minor theme tweaks. Why break it if it works right? I'll probably try something new when I get bored.

maybe i am a little biased in my opinion of what ROM i am currently running....as I had a hand in developing it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=917727

Phoenix or firefly...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

I've flashed Cognition and Perception, but I have to say that I'm enjoying Phoenix 3.5 the most.

I successfully flashed Cognition onto my phone last night...was enjoying it although didn't notice any improvement in battery life. Today, it wont stay on for more than 3 mintues without rebooting and being stuck at cognition boot screen. So much for that one! Now I just have to figure out how to flash back to the original 2.1...is that odin program hard to use?

Im using cognition 3.02 and love it no problems at all silky smooth. Battery life is ok not great so far

[Q] After flashing Cognition 3.04 my phone seems slower?

It was my first ROM flash, and along with it i decided to get the gingerbread keyboard, too. I noticed that my captivate seems slower in general now. Screen transitions and stuff like that is fine, but opening apps is usually slower. Like the phone lags a lot. I have it OCLF'd. At least, i did before flashing. It seems to not have erased it.
Can anyone tell me what the sudden slowdown is about? Am i just paranoid?
thanks in advance.

You should not attempt to have two lag fixes. Cognition has voodoo lag fix built in. I would recommend you flash back to stock and then flash Cognition.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

CB650 Wolf said:
You should not attempt to have two lag fixes. Cognition has voodoo lag fix built in. I would recommend you flash back to stock and then flash Cognition.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't i just un-lagfix the OCLF?

Go back to stock and flash Andromeda 1.1 or 2.1. I've tried many ROMs including that one and nothing matches the speed of Andromeda. I highly recommend it!

Did you disable olcf before flash? If not flash stock start over. Any one who says rom x is best is saying a personal opinion, not fact

mcord11758 said:
Did you disable olcf before flash? If not flash stock start over. Any one who says rom x is best is saying a personal opinion, not fact
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't remember if i did...:/ i have short term memory loss haha. But i just noticed that lagfixing with oclf is impossible since it says i have another lag fix installed...so this is voodoo? things make so much more sense now. so should i do anything?

greystealth said:
Go back to stock and flash Andromeda 1.1 or 2.1. I've tried many ROMs including that one and nothing matches the speed of Andromeda. I highly recommend it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried any of the other rom but you are right about the speed.... I get zero lag... I'm really impressed with this rom that I have no plans on changing.

Cog is a good ROM but by no means the fastest one out there. Serendipty, Phoenix, Paragon, Andromeda will all give you a much faster / smoother experience.

cobeebs said:
Cog is a good ROM but by no means the fastest one out there. Serendipty, Phoenix, Paragon, Andromeda will all give you a much faster / smoother experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then why is cog so popular?

I just flash to cog yesterday and it was my first time I did this in my SGS (previously I had a hacked Nexus One). I liked it to much, I'm happy with it.
In weeks later I'll give a try to those roms you mencion like Andromeda or Phoenix 'cause u' say they're faster.

overkillogi said:
Then why is cog so popular?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cog is like the noob default rom.

Be careful when flashing Andromeda because I soft-bricked my phone for 3 days, now I can't even use unless I am somewhere with at least 3-4 bars. I might have screwed it up when I flashed it.

billwtsn said:
Be careful when flashing Andromeda because I soft-bricked my phone for 3 days, now I can't even use unless I am somewhere with at least 3-4 bars. I might have screwed it up when I flashed it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please refrain from spreading FUD
If you have a problem with andromeda, please post your issue in the thread. Andromeda has not bricked any phones since its inception in december.
- sent from the latest build of insertromname here

[Q] Serendipity 5.12 or Cognition 4.1.1

I know this gets asked a lot, but I have a question that I think might be a little different.
Right now I have an AT&T Captivate Running FROYO.UCKB1
I was going to flash Cog4 today but I just realized that the MobleTechVid Gingerbread theme would not work with that ROM. Ever since I saw Josh's vid on his theme, I have wanted it!
I just ran across his Serendipity ROM review and it looks like it has most if not all of the Gingerbread theme built into it.
Basically, I have told myself to skip the Cog4 and just do the Serendipity ROM, but I guess I just wanted a 3rd party endorsement of that decision.
I do need my phone to be 100% usable and reliable as I use it for work, which is why I was leaning toward the COG4 ROM (stability). I can not give up usability/stability for pretty graphics.
On a side note, from what I have read here, it seems as if I need to use Odin to flash back to 2.1 before flashing a custom ROM (via ClockWorkMod). I am fine with that, but I was just wondering if, since UCKB1 came out, anyone has developed a way to flash a ROM with out having to go backwards first.
Thanks!

If you like kb1 cognition is the sane exact thing. If you want something different flash serendipity
Sent from my Captivate using XDA Premium App

I just flashed this rom on my captivate. So far it is working flawlessy.
I was also on 2.2 Froyo, and used Odin to go back to stock. It's seems like a useless step, but i did it. It only takes a few minutes and for safety sake it's better to do it right just in case.
Josh has awesome vids. I don't think i would have done it this quickly if i had to use some of the others that i've watched.
Josh=

Cognition was my first ROM from stock. It worked well as advertised. And like yourself, I wanted stability over anything else. Its great for being close to stock, with running more smoothly, and had a few extra features. Then I decided to try Serendipity. Serendipity has much more added features and is much more customizable, while at the same time, still provides stability. In my experiences, I would put Serendipity in the middle between Cognition and other roms like Andromeda, which is even more themed than Serendipity. IMO, Serendipity is the happy medium between the stock experience and flashy themed roms. It seems like you already did your research on how to flash, so I would say give Serendipty a try. If its too much or not what you are looking for, go back to Cognition. But it seems like the developers of Cognition (designgears) are straying away from Captivate development, as they already discontinued their other rom, Perception.

cavsoldier19d said:
Cognition was my first ROM from stock. It worked well as advertised. And like yourself, I wanted stability over anything else. Its great for being close to stock, with running more smoothly, and had a few extra features. Then I decided to try Serendipity. Serendipity has much more added features and is much more customizable, while at the same time, still provides stability. In my experiences, I would put Serendipity in the middle between Cognition and other roms like Andromeda, which is even more themed than Serendipity. IMO, Serendipity is the happy medium between the stock experience and flashy themed roms. It seems like you already did your research on how to flash, so I would say give Serendipty a try. If its too much or not what you are looking for, go back to Cognition. But it seems like the developers of Cognition (designgears) are straying away from Captivate development, as they already discontinued their other rom, Perception.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually, your concept of Andromeda is wrong. Andromeda is first and foremost a 'stock' experience and there is a version that is heavily themed....

mthayer1 said:
I just flashed this rom on my captivate. So far it is working flawlessy.
I was also on 2.2 Froyo, and used Odin to go back to stock. It's seems like a useless step, but i did it. It only takes a few minutes and for safety sake it's better to do it right just in case.
Josh has awesome vids. I don't think i would have done it this quickly if i had to use some of the others that i've watched.
Josh=
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say "this rom" do you mean Serendipity or Cognition?
From what I have read, you have to flash back to 2.1 if you are using ClockWorkMod to flash your new ROM because 2.1 and 2.2 use different recovery modes and ClockWork will not work with the recovery mode that 2.2 uses (I think it is 2e that 2.1 and ClockWork use and 3e that 2.2 uses).
2 more questions. What would hapen if I just put the ROM .zip on the root of phone, named it update.zip, rebooted into recovery, and "reinstalled packages"? Wouldn't this flash the ROM w/o using ClockWork and therefore not having to flash back to 2.1?
When I used Kies to go from 2.1 to 2.2 that seemed to be what it did and it kept all my aps, SMS, phone log, and all my other settings (home screens and widgets had to be reset). I do understand the "best" way is to return to out of box stock and then flash, but then there is a lot to re-setup...
Last thing. The only thing about the Gingerbread theme that I don't want is the orange color when you press an on screen button. I prefer the blue color that I have now with 2.2. Is there an "easy" way to change it from the orange back to blue in Serendipity?
Thanks for helping this newb!

bobapunk said:
When you say "this rom" do you mean Serendipity or Cognition?
From what I have read, you have to flash back to 2.1 if you are using ClockWorkMod to flash your new ROM because 2.1 and 2.2 use different recovery modes and ClockWork will not work with the recovery mode that 2.2 uses (I think it is 2e that 2.1 and ClockWork use and 3e that 2.2 uses).
2 more questions. What would hapen if I just put the ROM .zip on the root of phone, named it update.zip, rebooted into recovery, and "reinstalled packages"? Wouldn't this flash the ROM w/o using ClockWork and therefore not having to flash back to 2.1?
When I used Kies to go from 2.1 to 2.2 that seemed to be what it did and it kept all my aps, SMS, phone log, and all my other settings (home screens and widgets had to be reset). I do understand the "best" way is to return to out of box stock and then flash, but then there is a lot to re-setup...
Last thing. The only thing about the Gingerbread theme that I don't want is the orange color when you press an on screen button. I prefer the blue color that I have now with 2.2. Is there an "easy" way to change it from the orange back to blue in Serendipity?
Thanks for helping this newb!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first of all, NO you cannot just name a rom zip update.zip and flash from stock 3e recovery....3e recovery does not allow unsigned zip files to run on it...thats why you have to either flash back to 2.1 or root and use the unsigned 3e recovery mod
it doesnt matter if you return to stock 2.1 or not, when you flash a new rom, you will lose your setup....it wipes the phone except for your internal and external sd cards. root your phone and run titanium backup if you want to save all that stuff.
for your last question about the color. yes, its a png file inside /system/framework/framework-res.apk/res/drawable-hdpi, however, i dont recommend you go mucking around with that......and honestly, it wont look right with the rest of the theme anyway

Ah, thanks for explaining why flashing from a zip in 3e will not work.
I am not sure what parts of the theme you don't think blue will go with...
From what I have seen, the indicators are green and the menus are black. I think that blue would go with that just as well as orange...

bobapunk said:
Basically, I have told myself to skip the Cog4 and just do the Serendipity ROM, but I guess I just wanted a 3rd party endorsement of that decision.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I endorse it. There. Problem solved.
I flash Serendipity everytime MikeyMike puts out an update to it. Granted I flash a new rom at least every two days. Serendipity is always in my rom rotation.

word of caution
If you are really not sure - don't do any custom ROM flashing, it's overhyped.
Stay on stock, enjoy stability.
Or enter the wonderful world of bricking/unbricking.

My first ROM was Cog 3.04, and I followed to 4.0, and 4.1.
Two days ago, I switched to Serendipity because I wanted a different experience besides something close to stock. It's not that Cog was bad...it's great.
What I'm discovering is that it's great to sample the ROMs until you find what fits you best, even if that means you're changing a lot.

I agree 100%...it's all up to the individual!

In my opinion Cognition is for those who want as close to stock as possible and don't want to stray too far into the flashing foray.
Where as Roms such as Serendipity use the latest software released for the i9000 to enhance the device to a better experience and deviate is much from the stock mess as possible.
That and the fact that Cog is 2.2 and Serendipity is 2.2.1

I used to be a big cognition fan until I tried serendipity. Cog is ok, but serendipity is more tailored to my wants and needs. So perhaps try both and see which one will suit you.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App

bravomail said:
If you are really not sure - don't do any custom ROM flashing, it's overhyped.
Stay on stock, enjoy stability.
Or enter the wonderful world of bricking/unbricking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Someone didn't RTFM...

MikeyMike01 said:
Someone didn't RTFM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL!
Seriously.
Even if I did Brick, it seems that $0.99 at radio shack and sacrificing my iGo adapter would be sufficient to un-brick...

bravomail said:
If you are really not sure - don't do any custom ROM flashing, it's overhyped.
Stay on stock, enjoy stability.
Or enter the wonderful world of bricking/unbricking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any Rom is more stable than what was released by ATT and if you are bricking your phone then you should either read more or have some one more knowledgeable do it for you.

bravomail said:
If you are really not sure - don't do any custom ROM flashing, it's overhyped.
Stay on stock, enjoy stability.
Or enter the wonderful world of bricking/unbricking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure you haven't flashed before if you make a judgement like that. Stock is 1. Much slower, 2. Way less customizable, and 3. Boring.
Lastly, my honest perspective is that stability is the exact same as long as you don't go trekking around things you don't read about prior.
Install a good Rom, find a kernel that sounds the best for you-really just pick one that is popular-if you want. However most Roms come with a custom one so you need not mess with that unless you get interested. And if you want to play around even more, install a different modem. But, as before, that is not necessary.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Cog4.1 Rom
Suckerpunch#55 kernel
JL3 modem

does serendipity looks like stock rom? I tot it looks like nexus s?

I don't think it looks stock at all. Cog does. I think Serendipity looks (and functions) 100x better than the stock rom.
megarific said:
does serendipity looks like stock rom? I tot it looks like nexus s?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

[Q] AT&T ROM w/o bloatware

Seems like now a days there isn't that many people making ROMs like there was back in the Windows Mobile days. Anyways, I'm looking for a AT&T 2.1 ROM w/o the AT&T bloatware. Is there anything out there? I know there are some ROMs that people have cooked up, but I'm looking for something more specific. Such as mentioned above.
If there isn't, is there any way you could assist me in making my own clean ROM, or just point me in the right direction? It seems that there isn't much documentation about how to go about making your own ROM.
Any help would be great.

mbudden said:
Seems like now a days there isn't that many people making ROMs like there was back in the Windows Mobile days. Anyways, I'm looking for a AT&T 2.1 ROM w/o the AT&T bloatware. Is there anything out there? I know there are some ROMs that people have cooked up, but I'm looking for something more specific. Such as mentioned above.
If there isn't, is there any way you could assist me in making my own clean ROM, or just point me in the right direction? It seems that there isn't much documentation about how to go about making your own ROM.
Any help would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be clear......you are looking for a 2.1 rom?

Cognition would be closest to stock, Continuum also offer an unthemed version which looks like the stock version. If you want to make your own ROM check it out here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=928955

Jemack said:
Just to be clear......you are looking for a 2.1 rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. 2.2 is officially out for the Captivate.

Jemack said:
Just to be clear......you are looking for a 2.1 rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. I'd rather not build off of the Stock 2.2 ROM since from reading everyone's thoughts about it. It's crap.
low99 said:
Cognition would be closest to stock, Continuum also offer an unthemed version which looks like the stock version. If you want to make your own ROM check it out here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=928955
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've looked at that ROM. But it looks like he's added things to it... I might tear his down and remove the things that aren't wanted... Making ROMs seemed to be much easier back in the WM days. Made a couple stripped down carrier ones for myself.
curti.nogg said:
This. 2.2 is officially out for the Captivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Like I posted above, head into the Captivate General sub-forum and see how many were complaining it wasn't actually a "upgrade".

There are tut all over the place about removing the bloat from the stock roms. As for 2.2 being worse, I cant say much as all stock rom's are pretty bad. 2.2 brought some much needed features to the captivate. Don't take peoples thoughts on it, try it yourself and make up your own mind.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App

zelendel said:
There are tut all over the place about removing the bloat from the stock roms. As for 2.2 being worse, I cant say much as all stock rom's are pretty bad. 2.2 brought some much needed features to the captivate. Don't take peoples thoughts on it, try it yourself and make up your own mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doing a search didn't really land me up with much. But I did find the stock I897UCJF6 files. I thought I could find them in Odin3 but they are hiding in the .exe file. Now time to remove things and test things out. I'd try 2.2 out myself, but if everyone is saying they are crap. No need to test it out myself lol.
Wondering if I'm able to replace the stock kernel with one of the OC'd kernels... Hmm...

mbudden said:
Doing a search didn't really land me up with much. But I did find the stock I897UCJF6 files. I thought I could find them in Odin3 but they are hiding in the .exe file. Now time to remove things and test things out. I'd try 2.2 out myself, but if everyone is saying they are crap. No need to test it out myself lol.
Wondering if I'm able to replace the stock kernel with one of the OC'd kernels... Hmm...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will say this for the 2.2 update as I did run it for the better part of a day before I went back to a 2.2.1 based rom. It was better then the 2.1 that came stock on it. Most people that were complaining about it were expecting the stock rom to run like a custom rom or for it to fix all the issues they had with it. While I admit it is a BS rom, if you are going stock then it is better then the 2.1. But like I said it is up to you.
I am sure there is a kernel for it but you may have to look in older posts as most of the custom kernels for a stock rom are based of the KB1 2.2 update, not sure if any are compatible with 2.1 any longer.

zelendel said:
I will say this for the 2.2 update as I did run it for the better part of a day before I went back to a 2.2.1 based rom. It was better then the 2.1 that came stock on it. Most people that were complaining about it were expecting the stock rom to run like a custom rom or for it to fix all the issues they had with it. While I admit it is a BS rom, if you are going stock then it is better then the 2.1. But like I said it is up to you.
I am sure there is a kernel for it but you may have to look in older posts as most of the custom kernels for a stock rom are based of the KB1 2.2 update, not sure if any are compatible with 2.1 any longer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doing a quick look around, it does seem that most of the kernels are for the 2.2 and 2.2.1 ROMs. For example SpeedMod kernel.
So I may need to find the stock 2.2 files and go from there. It doesn't seem as hard as I thought it was going to be, but that's just from doing some quick searching. Do you happen to know the Baseband Version of the latest firmware? If not, then I'll end up finding it and hopefully be able to find it's files online.

mbudden,
The official froyo release is kb1. Cognition is basically stock kb1 with a lagfix injected kernel and much of the "bloat" removed. The 2.2.1 roms such as js5, js7 are noticeably smoother and I often used them without a lagfix enabled.
If you are looking to build a base Rom yourself and don't want to start from scratch, check out doc's kitchen.

newter55 said:
mbudden,
The official froyo release is kb1. Cognition is basically stock kb1 with a lagfix injected kernel and much of the "bloat" removed. The 2.2.1 roms such as js5, js7 are noticeably smoother and I often used them without a lagfix enabled.
If you are looking to build a base Rom yourself and don't want to start from scratch, check out doc's kitchen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I found the I897UCKB1 .tar file and was taking a peak inside. But interesting. I was looking to remove some of the other things that was added in the Continuum ROM, but the darn .apk's aren't all obviously named. I'll give a look at the Cognition though. Not really into the whole themes and this and that. I like stream lined ROM's. Nothing fancy.
Thanks for that thread though, maybe I should have taken a gander at the I9000 subforums too. lol. Now to figure out how to zip everything back into a .tar file.

Rather than cook up a whole ROM,
upgrade to 2.2 (it is better, ignore the disapointed whiners)
install a kernal of your choice (if you want)
use titanium backup to uninstall the bloat
now you have a stock rom, with a good kernal and no bloat.
P.S. some folks think that just because their lives rovolve arround android, that android pays attention to what they want. People always cry when upgrades arrive because no one at android paid any attention to them.

joshua43214 said:
Rather than cook up a whole ROM,
upgrade to 2.2 (it is better, ignore the disapointed whiners)
install a kernal of your choice (if you want)
use titanium backup to uninstall the bloat
now you have a stock rom, with a good kernal and no bloat.
P.S. some folks think that just because their lives rovolve arround android, that android pays attention to what they want. People always cry when upgrades arrive because no one at android paid any attention to them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is, I just installed Continuum. I just don't like it. I do admit that it is fast. I like the stock icons and I like the stock the stock look and feel. Not to mention, some of the installed stuff I didn't care for. Also I don't need extra lock screens, or colored menus.
But anyways, got the factoryfs.rfs file apart. So basically that's the system folder like it would be in a custom ROM. Now to find out how to Deodex these .apk/.odex files.

Honestly, if you're just looking for the AT&T standard rom without the bloatware, you'd find it a lot easier to just flash back to whatever came with the phone & strip it of bloatware via titanium backup.

snapplefish said:
Honestly, if you're just looking for the AT&T standard rom without the bloatware, you'd find it a lot easier to just flash back to whatever came with the phone & strip it of bloatware via titanium backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's wrong with learning the hard way? That's the easy way out.
Doing it my way will help me understand Android.
Like I said, I used to build my own custom Windows Mobile ROMs for myself. Why not learn how to build my own custom Android ROMs?
If any ROM makers want to share some advice, do so.

Mikey has a good basic tutorial stickied here in development. There is also a guide on deodexing put up recently. Other than that it is pretty much just de/recompiling the apk and jar files to edit. Mikeymike and chancem (serendipity) have an irc and seem willing to provide advice. Sorry for no links but on the phone atm.
Hope you're enjoying the phone btw.

newter55 said:
Mikey has a good basic tutorial stickied here in development. There is also a guide on deodexing put up recently. Other than that it is pretty much just de/recompiling the apk and jar files to edit. Mikeymike and chancem (serendipity) have an irc and seem willing to provide advice. Sorry for no links but on the phone atm.
Hope you're enjoying the phone btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
His tutorial is what I'm following as we speak. A lot of the stuff he mentions isn't clearly defined though. So Google has been helpful with that. For example, he doesn't talk about how to deodex the apk/jar/odex files. But that's alright, nothing a little Googling won't fix. Will be also throwing the fixes that have been made in. A lot of reading lol.
But I am, such a great device. Battery life isn't as great as my Blackberry. But hey, it's not that much of a hassle.

Alright, I got most if it down. But when I go to load it via clockwork recovery. I get this "E:can't symlink /system/bin/cat" Any assistance?

I guess I took the "easy" way out.
I have AT&T 2.2 (WAY better than 2.1)
Root
removed unwanted bloat with TiBackup
installed SuperCurio's KB1 + Voodoo KB1 Kernel
This let me have some of the features of a custom ROM that I wanted without having to backup and restore all my apps/etc.

By no means do I have anything against that. It's just I'd rather learn things myself. So if it came time for me to build my own ROM to my liking. I have the know how.

[Q] Lots of questions before I flash my device.

So, I have a SGS I9000t and am currently very frustrated with the official firmware 2.2.1, since some apps are having terrible issues. Whats worse is that lots of my programs are having constant crashes. My available ram is always getting capped, and i have to uninstall some programs that add functionality that while unnecessary they're nice to have.
Now I have been thinking, what to do? I hear I could flash my device. Doing so would improve its performance, even update to gingerbread. So now i have some questions. I bought this phone and recklessly installed darky's rom. It worked, but without 3g. Other than that, it was pretty amazing. I kept screwing around with it trying to fix 3g and finally bricked it. Took it in for warranty and got a new one.
I dont want to repeat the same mistakes, so this time i want to be extra careful.
Is there a way to do a complete backup? Like every single piece of data in ALL of my phone's memory backup. In case this flash goes wrong, I can just make it work just as it was before?
Is there a way to try roms before flashing? Like just load a rom on top of another rom without altering the current rom.
I would like to evade roms with 2.2.1 firmware, because of the problems mentioned before, so whats the best, non 2.2.1 rom available? Most stable, just plain best.
Since y phone is a i9000t my modem seems to have some problems when flashing, so here are the details of my phone: Model GT-I9000T // FW Ver 2.2.1 // Kernel 2.6.32.9 [email protected] #1 // Build FROYO.UBJP9
Im sorry if this is a lot of info, i just want to do this right. If I flash my phone its for better funcionality, not to get worse. Thanks for your time, if youve read this far. Hopefully you can help me out.

You are asking to be spoon fed information that is out there already!
1st rule of forum is look before you ask, people will help you if you make the effort, but you have to make the effort first. Sorry if this is harsh, so as a pointer, read the main q&a first as a starter
Sent from gt i9000 insanity 8.5/fugumod

Ahh yes. Ive read a lot actually. Not the basic stuff though. I may have to sit down and read up.
One quick question though, Im sure its not in the FAQ.
I have been dealing with my phone and I see now that many of the problems im having are created by the apps themselves. Will changing my rom actually help greatly? Is 2.3.3 recomemded?
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA App

samsung use rfs file system that decays over time, hence people tend to lagfix to cure this, ie. Convert to ext4, this is done through a kernel tweak, you need to start reading and learning, im sorry but I wont do your homework for you!
Sent from gt i9000 insanity 8.5/fugumod

Your problems are not due to 2.2.1 Its the best non GB rom .
Your first step is factory reset .
Second check Kies for an update .
Third step would be to remove these problem apps .
But i just spotted the problem at some stage you installed a darkys rom
Known killer of phones ..
Total removal is flash stock froyo 2.2 rom with pit and repartition checked .
jje

I flashed darkys rom but traded that phone for a new one. So I have a fresh factory 2.2.1 and its working very well. My biggest problem is the bug with programs resetting/not saving settings because the old data stays after uninstalling. Also the rom runs great, what im looking for is better compatibility on perhaps another rom. But you say its as good as it gets so I may be staying with this rom.
Edit; Also, I must add that Kies cannot update my device, because my service provider has my device locked on that firmware. Now what you suggest is flashing to 2.2, then updating to a stock gingerbread rom through Kies? Should'nt I just flash GB and get it over with?
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA App

neswii said:
I flashed darkys rom but traded that phone for a new one. So I have a fresh factory 2.2.1 and its working very well. My biggest problem is the bug with programs resetting/not saving settings because the old data stays after uninstalling. Also the rom runs great, what im looking for is better compatibility on perhaps another rom. But you say its as good as it gets so I may be staying with this rom.
Edit; Also, I must add that Kies cannot update my device, because my service provider has my device locked on that firmware. Now what you suggest is flashing to 2.2, then updating to a stock gingerbread rom through Kies? Should'nt I just flash GB and get it over with?
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, ODIN is your friend.

Well, now that I have a couple of people here, I will ask, which if these two roms would be better to install?
Gingerbread 2.3.3 stock Samsung or
Juwe's Smart Edition http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=964672
I like how juwes sounds, but it says something that bothers me, and that is, that it has no bugs, and that is an extremely ignorant claim, since the gingerbread release will always have bugs, no piece of software is perfect, ever. That said, it could be much better than samsungs, so help me out on this one. Thanks.

neswii said:
Well, now that I have a couple of people here, I will ask, which if these two roms would be better to install?
Gingerbread 2.3.3 stock Samsung or
Juwe's Smart Edition http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=964672
I like how juwes sounds, but it says something that bothers me, and that is, that it has no bugs, and that is an extremely ignorant claim, since the gingerbread release will always have bugs, no piece of software is perfect, ever. That said, it could be much better than samsungs, so help me out on this one. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go around looking for a problem, you are most likely to find one. This applies to more than just phone firmwares. Like you said, no system is truly perfect... With that said, I would recommend you try a custom ROM over any stock one... And Juwe's ROM is a pretty trusted one on this board... so sure, go ahead and try it!

I ended up flashing a new kernel. Speed mod or something. It worked amaizingly well. Sadly I had already bought voodoo plus, and i wont be needing that anymore. Im really pleased with my phone now. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA App

If you are not curious about what are in new roms and if you do not have any problems with the stock rom. Do not flash.....

I will flash haha. But I backed up all of my data before. In case anything goes wrong. Thanks for the advice though

neswii said:
I ended up flashing a new kernel. Speed mod or something. It worked amaizingly well. Sadly I had already bought voodoo plus, and i wont be needing that anymore. Im really pleased with my phone now. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA App
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Click to collapse
I'd say that the voodoo plus app still will be quite useful as it works its magic regardless of kernel. You might find yourself on a standard kernel one day, and then you will still be able to enjoy the improvements of voodoo.
Slap me if I'm wrong...

Woops? said:
I'd say that the voodoo plus app still will be quite useful as it works its magic regardless of kernel. You might find yourself on a standard kernel one day, and then you will still be able to enjoy the improvements of voodoo.
Slap me if I'm wrong...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed to ginger and i ended up using it again. So yes. You were right haha. Best 4 bucks ive spent in my life that little app.

neswii said:
My biggest problem is the bug with programs resetting/not saving settings because the old data stays after uninstalling.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a known problem, i had it happen to me several times on froyo firmwares. Solution is to go into settings, applications, then clear data and cache of the problem program, then uninstall it, and go into /data and /dbdata/ and find any data the program has left behind and delete it. Reinstall the app from the market, and the problem should be gone. Havent had it crop up in gingerbread yet.
neswii said:
I flashed to ginger and i ended up using it again. So yes. You were right haha. Best 4 bucks ive spent in my life that little app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
QFT