Database Develop

Serendipity Q&A

Hey Guys I put together a Q&A thread for this rom to prevent tons of new threads about rom Spicific questions from new users.. Please feel free to post any questions here.
As Aslways there is no Flaming, name calling or the such.
No question is too noobish, But please look for your answer first.
Now for the info needed to help. In your post make sure to included the version of the rom you are using, modem, kernel, ext...
Also please give it some time for your question to be answered.

Serendipity 5.10 + Da_g GPS Fix?
Hello,
I'm a new comer to this Forum (aka noob )... Since last week I've been flashing different ROMs to my Captivate, always looking for a workable GPS on them.
I tried most of them, liked Serendipity the most, however I cannot make the GPS to work! I was reading the Da_g GPS fix, however I didn't look anyone there testing in on the Serendipity ROM. Has anyone tried the Serendipity + Da_g GPS Fix? Is it possible? Is there other way to make the GPS work on Serendipity that I'm skipping?
Another question, why does the Labs Test Mode Secret Code doesn't work on the Serendipity ROM?
Thanks and apologies if the questions are really noobs or asked in other forum.

Cadejos said:
Hello,
I'm a new comer to this Forum (aka noob )... Since last week I've been flashing different ROMs to my Captivate, always looking for a workable GPS on them.
I tried most of them, liked Serendipity the most, however I cannot make the GPS to work! I was reading the Da_g GPS fix, however I didn't look anyone there testing in on the Serendipity ROM. Has anyone tried the Serendipity + Da_g GPS Fix? Is it possible? Is there other way to make the GPS work on Serendipity that I'm skipping?
Another question, why does the Labs Test Mode Secret Code doesn't work on the Serendipity ROM?
Thanks and apologies if the questions are really noobs or asked in other forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cadejos,
First off the GPS on the Captivate will never fully work. We as ROM builders can do the best we can to make it work just slightly better. Serendipity does include some of these GPS fixes.
To get into the lab test mode try Captivate SGS Tools. Here
Hope this has helped!
ChanceM

The GPS works fairly well on Serendipity, for a Captivate, I've had pretty good luck with mapping and navigation. Get the GPSRestore app Samsung put on the market, run it to reset any fiddling you might have done, and then go from there. I had followed Da_g's thread, but the GPS was working ok, so I never ran his fix.

zelendel said:
Hey Guys I put together a Q&A thread for this rom to prevent tons of new threads about rom specific questions from new users.. Please feel free to post any questions here.
As Aslways there is no Flaming, name calling or the such.
No question is too noobish, But please look for your answer first.
Now for the info needed to help. In your post make sure to included the version of the rom you are using, modem, kernel, ext...
Also please give it some time for your question to be answered.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i fixed it for you

First off you guys have done a great job, everything works the way Samsung should have made it work and then some, phone is impressively fast especially since it's not running on 3g network. Although I have only been running serendipity for about a week it's great and my GPS locks within seconds every time.I just want to make sure im not missing something since i'm new to the ROM thing, everyone keeps mentioning making sure the kernal is up to date now I started with serendipity 5.7 and am now running 5.10 do I have to do anything else as far as upgrades go?

white00gt said:
First off you guys have done a great job, everything works the way Samsung should have made it work and then some, phone is impressively fast especially since it's not running on 3g network. Although I have only been running serendipity for about a week it's great and my GPS locks within seconds every time.I just want to make sure im not missing something since i'm new to the ROM thing, everyone keeps mentioning making sure the kernal is up to date now I started with serendipity 5.7 and am now running 5.10 do I have to do anything else as far as upgrades go?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is the link to the SpeedMod kernel thread. This is the kernel used in the ROM. The kernel is now up to version 13c, the one that comes stock with the ROM is a few versions back. You can flash the newest one with the SGS Kernel Flasher. Download the ODIN version here.

reinbeau said:
Here is the link to the SpeedMod kernel thread. This is the kernel used in the ROM. The kernel is now up to version 13c, the one that comes stock with the ROM is a few versions back. You can flash the newest one with the SGS Kernel Flasher. Download the ODIN version here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I update the kernel version in the base ROM. If you were to flash the full 5.10, you'd get 13B.
I leave the kernel updates out of the updates since many people don't use speedmod and would have to flash their kernel if choice again after.
Sent from my Captivate.

Mikey, I wanted to say that I absolutely love your rom. I'm new to the flashing roms but I'm starting to catch on to it a little bit. I love the inverted Gmail, but there is only one issue and was wondering if it could be looked into, it's very hard to tell which is the new email and which is the old email. The only difference I can see on mine is that the black background box is a little darker on the new emails. Is there a way you could make the old email maybe not bold or something. Just anything to distinguish new emails from old besides the darker box (which isn't extremely noticable). Besides that, I can't say enough good things about your rom. Thanks again.

reinbeau said:
Here is the link to the SpeedMod kernel thread. This is the kernel used in the ROM. The kernel is now up to version 13c, the one that comes stock with the ROM is a few versions back. You can flash the newest one with the SGS Kernel Flasher. Download the ODIN version here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Done successfully , thanks!
Thanks @MikeyMike01 also for the info. great support!!

Speedmod CWM?
Can I flash the clockwork mod version of speedmod from recovery? Great idea to have a separate section for us noobs. Remember, there are no stupid questions...

rrieter said:
Can I flash the clockwork mod version of speedmod from recovery? Great idea to have a separate section for us noobs. Remember, there are no stupid questions...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can refer to this as it explains the whole process.

madnav said:
you can refer to this as it explains the whole process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, I was asking about updating the speedmod kernal. I should have quoted the previous post that refers to using sgs kernal flasher with odin version of speedMod kernal.

Yes u can. download the cwm version and flash.

rrieter said:
Actually, I was asking about updating the speedmod kernal. I should have quoted the previous post that refers to using sgs kernal flasher with odin version of speedMod kernal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Odin and it took me about 2 min.(including downloading ODIN) so not sure if clockword mod would be any different but it was extremely easy to do with ODIN and I'm new to this stuff

Cadejos said:
Hello,
I'm a new comer to this Forum (aka noob )... Since last week I've been flashing different ROMs to my Captivate, always looking for a workable GPS on them.
I tried most of them, liked Serendipity the most, however I cannot make the GPS to work! I was reading the Da_g GPS fix, however I didn't look anyone there testing in on the Serendipity ROM. Has anyone tried the Serendipity + Da_g GPS Fix? Is it possible? Is there other way to make the GPS work on Serendipity that I'm skipping?
Another question, why does the Labs Test Mode Secret Code doesn't work on the Serendipity ROM?
Thanks and apologies if the questions are really noobs or asked in other forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't read the other replies to you yet, but have this to offer:
I have found the GPS to work fairly well, but not perfect, with the Serendipity ROM.
However I have given up on expectations of great GPS from the phone natively. What I have done is invest $35 (some are less expensive on eBay) for an external GPS that the phone hooks to via blue tooth, and it provides accuracy down to 3 feet. I'd suggest saving yourself the aggravation and making that investment if you expect to use the GPS much. I only use it for actual navigation. I find the internal GPS is fine for all other things needing GPS.
Here is a link to a thread about using one.

rrieter said:
Actually, I was asking about updating the speedmod kernal. I should have quoted the previous post that refers to using sgs kernal flasher with odin version of speedMod kernal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes it is possible and i do it via cwm. use cwm zip of the kernel (good that now the odin version is in .tar to avoid any confusions and errors)
quiet a few point you shall consider before doing so:-
You may want to change /system back to rfs if you converted it to ext4. It may not flash/install otherwise if you are changing from a different kind of lagfix.

This is my first ROM to flash on my phone, and I really enjoy it. I am overall very happy but there is a few issues I have ran into.
The major one being the "reject with message" feature. It does not work at all. Am I doing anything wrong? does this just not work on serendipity? Let me know if anything can be changed because I really miss this feature.
I also cannot get my e-mail to sync up, but this may be a user error.
If anyone can help me with the reject with message feature, that would be great.

pwnstar44 said:
If anyone can help me with the reject with message feature, that would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you by any chance using Google Voice? I am , and it has never worked with it. (I wish it did).
I'm thinking it may have to do with the Messaging client you are using. I know that there have been various posts about loading different messaging, due to various issues. Haven't seen this one mentioned before though.

I am using the stock messenger that came with the flash. If this is an issue with just this client, any opinions on what I should use? I really didnt have a problem with the samsung messenger, but I have heard good things about other clients

[Q] Do I really need a custom ROM?

So what I have done to date on my Captivate.
1. Updated to latest Froyo 2.2 using Kies
2. Loaded .NET and etc
3. Rooted using SuperOneClick. Thanks ShortFuse
4. Titanium Backup. Thanks Joel
5. Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine. Thanks Android Central
6. Captivate Toolbox. Thanks Bay_wolf
7. Installed wireless tether 2.0.7 Thanks harald.mue, ulfada
8 Pimped my Captivate- Thanks systoxity, nbs11, and other XDA developers.
Now I'm to the point to ROM or not to ROM. Everything is working great. Further I am hesitant about the possibility of bricking my phone. Should I go for it? What ROM to use? What program to get ROM on phone?
Many thanks in advance.

majsig said:
So what I have done to date on my Captivate.
1. Updated to latest Froyo 2.2 using Kies
2. Loaded .NET and etc
3. Rooted using SuperOneClick. Thanks ShortFuse
4. Titanium Backup. Thanks Joel
5. Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine. Thanks Android Central
6. Captivate Toolbox. Thanks Bay_wolf
7. Installed wireless tether 2.0.7 Thanks harald.mue, ulfada
8 Pimped my Captivate- Thanks systoxity, nbs11, and other XDA developers.
Now I'm to the point to ROM or not to ROM. Everything is working great. Further I am hesitant about the possibility of bricking my phone. Should I go for it? What ROM to use? What program to get ROM on phone?
Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isn't development...

majsig said:
So what I have done to date on my Captivate.
1. Updated to latest Froyo 2.2 using Kies
2. Loaded .NET and etc
3. Rooted using SuperOneClick. Thanks ShortFuse
4. Titanium Backup. Thanks Joel
5. Android Central Sideload Wonder Machine. Thanks Android Central
6. Captivate Toolbox. Thanks Bay_wolf
7. Installed wireless tether 2.0.7 Thanks harald.mue, ulfada
8 Pimped my Captivate- Thanks systoxity, nbs11, and other XDA developers.
Now I'm to the point to ROM or not to ROM. Everything is working great. Further I am hesitant about the possibility of bricking my phone. Should I go for it? What ROM to use? What program to get ROM on phone?
Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really just comes down to if you like your Captivate the way it is. If you aren't happy with the performance you get from it then try a few out. I recommend Cognition for a stock like experience and Serendipity for the most stable and kept up to date ROM.

This really doesn't belong in this section. It should have been posted in the General or the Q&A sections.
Well what you have done in all those steps, other then Titbu is actually done in one step by flashing a rom.
If you pay attention to the steps your risk of bricking is minimal. Just read all the rom threads and see which one floats your boat. Cognition 4.1.1 is a very stable rom. Firefly is another stable rom. You might like Fusion also as that and Cog are based off the curren kcb1 release from att.
You will need odin 1 click to return to stock. You will have to download Rom Manager and install Clockwork recovery. That puts an update.zip on your phone that boots you into recovery mode so you can flash a rom. Once you put clockwork on the phone its best to copy the udate.zip to your comp or to an ext sd card so you can just move it over after you flash back to stock when you updated roms.
First and foremost is read as much as you can before doing anything.

Thanks for the brief input. It was not my intent to post in the wrong forum. I'll repost in the Q/A.

Pm a mod and have them move it instead of double posting.

sparker366 said:
Well what you have done in all those steps, other then Tibu is actually done in one step by flashing a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
10 char

The answer is Yes.

like they said above you could have done by flashing but you would still need root and rom manager first which if you already have 2.2 means flashing a kernel via .tar which used to mean odin but now we have neldars app. so it's not really one step, even on 2.1 noone is doing signed .zips that run in 2e recovery so you still need to root and install cwmrecovery.
basically roms have some nice features like getting rid of tw mms which many versions of have bugs and timing errors that can cause double messages or incorrect order of messages or in some cases messages to the wrong contact, if you dont have that issue now flashing a rom with tw mms may cause it or it may not. aosp mms is safer but only works with samsung lockscreens on some roms, watch for that if you like the puzzle piece functionality. but there may be many enhancements like removed bloat(unless you like the samsung bloatware) minfree tweeks, mobile ap which may be more stable than using an app for wifi hotspot, plus random shortcuts ect.ect. many of these things you can do but some are features of the base rom and require flashing, 2.2.1 baseroms are smoth as butter, especially the ones from china and 2.2.1 kernels will make the phone benchmark better.
then there is kernels which you can flash now without the rom, kernels can make the phone feel smoother and the screen brighter and better colors and add volume to the headphone amp which i dont recommend because mine clips at anything above the stock setting. also there is undervolt and overclock ect... i would recomend maybe a speedmod kernel or glitterballs work, some galaxy s phones can not exceed 1.2 ghz i dont know of anyone that cant overclock but for me 1.2 is 100% stable 1.28 is 90% stable 1.3 is about the same maybe a bit more stable and 1.4 is about 30% stable i can do it but need to be really carefull about what's running and for how long, not really usable. kernels other than glitterballs mat cause your phone to die while charging but i here the sucker punch kernel has a lower occurrence of that than past kernels. speed mod is not overclock and is safe and makes a big difference!
then there is modem.bins and gps. the two are related. if you have good gps now flashing a modem.bin can make that go away and vise/versa there isn't any rules as to what works/doesn't because every phone is different. but other than gps you need to match a captivate rom to a captivate modem. this is because on north american captivate roms changing the modem and kernel to a non captivate version will disable bluetooth calling.
then there is hsupa, it's a bit over rated in a good service area, my isp gives me about the upload bandwith at home that i get without hsupa, my home internet is fine for browsing but im not hosting any files. on the otherhand it may help in lower service areas somewhat or if you tether multiple devices. to enable huspa you need a non north american captivate rom and kernel and modem.bin, you need to decide if that is important and at a slight risk of losing some gps performance as it is so inconsistent it is hard to tell what may or may not work for you.

Moved to Q&A as not android development

I love di11igaffs roms and espyel roms they are better than stock froyo hands down id flash u wont be sorry
sent from cappy with di11i rom

[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
Click to expand...
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

New to captivate

I just got a captivate last night and i have unlocked and and rooted it
it has a firmware of 2.1 - update 1
idk if thats the most recent update
i was told i can not update the phone with a t-mobile sim card in it so can anyone post a thread on updated versions and what do you all think is the best rom?
THANKS

There is no "best" rom. It's what's "best" for you. Read the forums and learn to flash 2.2 roms first.
I must warn you, flashing becomes very addictive.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Yea i know i have a sidekick 4g and ive tried about every rom on it
thanks for the info though

Tyler0309 said:
Yea i know i have a sidekick 4g and ive tried about every rom on it
thanks for the info though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend trying MIUI, the customization is what puts it over the top!
Here are a few different versions of MIUI:
Galnet**What I prefer**
http://www.galnetmiui.co.uk/twooey/v3/Twooey-V3-i897.zip
Prototypes release
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1066885
MIUI.us
http://roms.miui.us/1.8.12/MIUI.us_captivatemtd_1.8.12_Eng_Deo_ZipA_Signed.zip

Ok ill give it a try..do i have to update to a different version> im running 2.1 right now

Tyler0309 said:
Ok ill give it a try..do i have to update to a different version> im running 2.1 right now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've not been on 2.1 since phone came out. I would use odin one click to goto 2.2 stock. Root it then install cwm and then follow this guide if your going to try Galnet's MIUI.
http://www.galnetmiui.co.uk/content/forum/guides/(guide)-i897-galaxy-s-captivate-gb-bootloaders/
Then just pop the MIUI.zip on root of sdcard and install from CWM.

Tyler0309 said:
I just got a captivate last night and i have unlocked and and rooted it
it has a firmware of 2.1 - update 1
idk if thats the most recent update
i was told i can not update the phone with a t-mobile sim card in it so can anyone post a thread on updated versions and what do you all think is the best rom?
THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow... so... You should probably READ a lot more before flashing anything, but I'll give you a few hints to get you going:
1) Make sure you understand what a "PBL", "SBL", "Kernel", and "Modem" are and how they are placed/installed in your phone.
2) Learn how to correctly and safely use ODIN (and/or Heimdall).
3) Learn about the various methods of recovery for "soft bricks", and if necessary for your hardware revision, possibly invest in a jig (also learn what a jig is)
4) There are 2 different types/branches of ROMs for the Captivate:
-- Samsung Branch
-- AOSP Branch
Within the "Samsung" types you have:
- i9000 ROMs (like JVP, JVR, JP8, etc)
- i897 ROMs (like JF6, KF1, etc)
Within the "AOSP" types you have:
- CM7
- MIUI
- Other AOSP-based ROMs
Which is "better" is relative. CM7 and MIUI have features that aren't present in the Samsung ROMs, and both offer a bit more customization than the Samsung ROMs. However, only the Samsung ROMs offer GPU accelerated video playback, and they tend to have significantly better battery life than the AOSP-type ROMs. Also the Samsung-type ROMs used to be much more stable than the AOSP branches, but recently, the tide may have turned in the other direction. Some of the low-level radio settings are also unavailable in any of the AOSP builds. And finally, some of the Samsung stock camera features are unavailable in CM7/MIUI.
It really all depends what you want... Do you want closer to stock "open source" Android? Or do you want Samsung's vision of what they think Android should be?
Also, the whole kernel/modem part is dependent on what branch of ROM you plan on running. When using a i9000-Samsung ROM, you pretty much have to use an i9000 kernel and modem. When using a i897-Samsung ROM, you pretty much have to use an i897 kernel and modem. The rules for CM7/MIUI are a bit more vague, but at the very least you'll need to use a CM7/MIUI (most AOSP-type kernels are interchangeable) compatible kernel.
The best advice is really to try them all out and see what you like the most. If you're currently on stock 2.1 (which it sounds like you are), at the very least you should upgrade to some variant of Gingerbread (2.3.4 preferably). You will definitely notice a big difference in terms of speed and functionality. From there, well, it's all really up to you...
OR alternatively, just start throwing stuff on your phone and see what happens. Just PLEASE don't come crying back in the Captivate General forum with a "OMG I bricked my phone!!! Plz help!!!" thread. Fair warning...

Just a suggestion, but become familiar with Odin one click. Make sure your captivate has 3 button recovery, and read, re- read, and read again the directions of every rom before you flash it. Always make a nandroid back up if possible, and read the threads.if you have questions, so did someone else and the answer is probably already out there .use search. Some People will rip your head off if you don't. as far as miui goes .....i was a flashaholic when I got phone. After switching to miui, It is very unlikely that I will ever leave. Best rom ever imho. And it updates every Friday so that satisfied the flashing urge. Usually it gets better with each release. The last couple have been a little rough though. Might want to spend the 8 bucks and have a download jig on standby. Can get it from mobiltech videos. Its worth it though
Sent from my I897 using XDA Premium App

Shammyh said:
Wow... so... You should probably READ a lot more before flashing anything, but I'll give you a few hints to get you going:
1) Make sure you understand what a "PBL", "SBL", "Kernel", and "Modem" are and how the are placed/installed in your phone.
2) Learn how to correctly and safely use ODIN (and/or Heimdall).
3) Learn about the various methods of recovery for "soft bricks", and if necessary for your hardware revision, possibly invest in a jig (also learn what a jig is)
4) There are 2 different types/branches of ROMs for the Captivate:
-- Samsung Branch
-- AOSP Branch
Within the "Samsung" types you have:
- i9000 ROMs (like JVP, JVR, JP8, etc)
- i897 ROMs (like JF6, KF1, etc)
Within the "AOSP" types you have:
- CM7
- MIUI
- Other AOSP-based ROMs
Which is "better" is relative. CM7 and MIUI have features that aren't present in the Samsung ROMs, and both offer a bit more customization than the Samsung ROMs. However, only the Samsung ROMs offer GPU accelerated video playback, and they tend to have significantly better battery life than the AOSP-type ROMs. Also the Samsung-type ROMs used to be much more stable than the AOSP branches, but recently, the tide may have turned in the other direction. Some of the low-level radio settings are also unavailable in any of the AOSP builds. And finally, some of the Samsung stock camera features are unavailable in CM7/MIUI.
It really all depends what you want... Do you want closer to stock "open source" Android? Or do you want Samsung's vision of what they think Android should be?
Also, the whole kernel/modem part is dependent on what branch of ROM you plan on running. When using a i9000-Samsung ROM, you pretty much have to use an i9000 kernel and modem. When using a i897-Samsung ROM, you pretty much have to use an i897 kernel and modem. The rules for CM7/MIUI are a bit more vague, but at the very least you'll need to use a CM7/MIUI (most AOSP-type kernels are interchangeable) compatible kernel.
The best advice is really to try them all out and see what you like the most. If you're currently on stock 2.1 (which it sounds like you are), at the very least you should upgrade to some variant of Gingerbread (2.3.4 preferably). You will definitely notice a big difference in terms of speed and functionality. From there, well, it's all really up to you...
OR alternatively, just start throwing stuff on your phone and see what happens. Just PLEASE don't come crying back in the Captivate General forum with a "OMG I bricked my phone!!! Plz help!!!" thread. Fair warning...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App

Tyler0309 said:
I just got a captivate last night and i have unlocked and and rooted it
it has a firmware of 2.1 - update 1
idk if thats the most recent update
i was told i can not update the phone with a t-mobile sim card in it so can anyone post a thread on updated versions and what do you all think is the best rom?
THANKS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a very simple and easy way to start with...
2.1 is eclair..
2.2 froyo
2.3 gingerbread..
means 2.1 is oldest and 2.3 is latest in case of official roms..
so obviously new version will hav more features and faster in speed...
so now u can take baby step and install 2.2 ..and use it for few days..and get the feel of it..then again after sometime u can install 2.3...
or else u can directly jump to 2.3....which is gingerbread....u can install stock kf1 on ur phone..its leaked official gb...if u search a bit..u will get it..
then u can use it for a lil while and get the feel of gb stock rom..in the meanwhile u can read xda abt available custom roms..and then install any of them...
coz every memeber here in xda will suggest the custom rom they r using..coz they r lovin the rom then only they r using....like for me..since the time i started flashin..i always used APEX ROM..so i will say its the best....
but again thats just me..
so decision is always urs...

[Q] froyo to gingerbread on captivate

I rooted my phone sometime back and upgraded from eclair to froyo 2.2 (not at&t's froyo)
I have a 3 part question:
My question is do I have to flash back to eclair in order to install gingerbread? Or can I go from the version of froyo I have to gingerbread?
My last question is what is the best version of gingerbread out there?

The best answer is Read on the dev site the different GB roms. You have to choose from "leaked" stock KF1 (2.3.3), "leaked" stock KH3 (2.3.4), a few roms based out of KF1 and KH3, a ton of I9000 ports. Up to you to choose. Id stick to native Ginger bread like KF1 or KH3. You need to flash Gingerbread bootloaders though, and that carries risk. Check out all the Dev threads about them.

To answer the first question.... You definitely don't have to go as far back as Eclair; it is just preferred to start from a stock ROM. I personally always return to stock KB1 if I'm going to flash a Froyo custom ROM, or use KF1 for Gingerbread. I've never used AOSP, so I can't speak to those.
Also, remember that newer Captivate models will not boot if you try to flash Eclair. I made that mistake the first time I ever tried to flash a custom ROM.
Finally, be sure to pay attention to what boot loaders the particular ROM you want to use asks for, as that will affect what exact sequence/technique you use to flash. I definitely recommend Heimdall because of the level of control you have over what parts you want to flash.

Just to add my two cents: If you are Windows 7 x64 and using Odin, make sure you use XP Service pack 2 compatiblity mode, this also makes you use admin mode with it (the most important thing).

prbassplayer said:
The best answer is Read on the dev site the different GB roms. You have to choose from "leaked" stock KF1 (2.3.3), "leaked" stock KH3 (2.3.4), a few roms based out of KF1 and KH3, a ton of I9000 ports. Up to you to choose. Id stick to native Ginger bread like KF1 or KH3. You need to flash Gingerbread bootloaders though, and that carries risk. Check out all the Dev threads about them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why stick with native gingerbread? No hspa, no kernel source for sound/color enhancement.
Ported froyo roms were more popular and feature ridden at first for this exact reason. and there are still not many kb1 roms because the time that came around I9000 ports were way more complete.
Same holds true. Native builds will always be playing catch up.
psych0phobia said:
Also, remember that newer Captivate models will not boot if you try to flash Eclair. I made that mistake the first time I ever tried to flash a custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is only true for a particular build of eclair, jf6 the firmware contained in odin one click. There are other builds of eclair that will work on newer phones...

HSUPA support isn't important to me. I rarely use ATT's network since 90% of the time im near WIFI. I do miss Voodoo color fix, but thats about it. Ive used other I9000 ports and all of them seem to get funky after a while. Native builds don't. BUT like I said BEST answer was for him to read and choose from the DEV section. What some roms have that I like doesn't mean other people do. There is no "best" rom, its a matter of choice.
Edit: Remembered something else i do miss, BLN =/

froyo to gingerbread on captivate part 2
Thank you all very useful info.
But now I have 1 more question. I am running windows 7 partitioned on my Macbook Pro. I keep getting this error when using ODIN. "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b). Click OK to close the application."
Is there a way I can just do this on the Mac side? I haven't been able to look this up but I think the error has something to do with .NET framework I believe I have 4.0 not sure if I need to install all versions?

izda8 said:
Thank you all very useful info.
But now I have 1 more question. I am running windows 7 partitioned on my Macbook Pro. I keep getting this error when using ODIN. "The application was unable to start correctly (0xc000007b). Click OK to close the application."
Is there a way I can just do this on the Mac side? I haven't been able to look this up but I think the error has something to do with .NET framework I believe I have 4.0 not sure if I need to install all versions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never gotten that error. Try re-downloading. You can also use Heimdall a how to can be found here

izda8 said:
I think the error has something to do with .NET framework I believe I have 4.0 not sure if I need to install all versions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin does not use .NET, so that's not the problem. (The icon is a dead giveaway that it uses MFC.)