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i have a galaxy s 4 active and i wanted to know if you can software unlock it? and whats a good case and stable rom to recommend as i work. and is this phone really waterproof or not. if its not whats the key aspect i need to do to protect it.
thanks
Yes, it's possible to unlock (meaning the carrier unlock so you can use it with other cellular providers). I have a GS4A Dive Blue AT&T model and I used an eBay reseller to get an unlock code for $7, delivered in under 24 hours, punched it in no problem and I'm using the phone with T-Mobile (and using the AWS bands as well, there are instructions on how to "unlock" those bands as well).
There is a thread specifically about GS4A cases here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2331133
Right now work is in progress on creating a ROM or ROMs for the International version of the GS4A aka the SGH-I9295, there is more info in the ROM subforums here for the GS4A, I'm not up to speed on all that because I have the AT&T US model which still has a locked bootloader which is basically preventing any useful development (and a bounty is under way to get that bootloader cracked open). So, if you have the International model, you might get lucky with the CM build that's in testing/development; if you have the AT&T US model, you're stuck like the rest of us.
The GS4A is not waterproof nor is it actually marketed as such but people see and read and hear what they want to hear so that's that. The GS4A is IP67 compliant which is just some standards code which means it is water-resistant up to 1m (that's about 3 feet for us Imperial bastards that can't stand Metric) for 30 mins. That means you can put the GS4A under the water (up to ~3 feet in depth) for ~30 minutes to shoot photos or do some video recording, but ~30 minutes is the time limit and ~3 feet is the depth limit. Any more usage on either parameter and it could end up hosing the phone (pun intended).
The IP67 also covers dust and dirt and whatever protection as well so it's basically NOT a rugged phone but will tolerate more nasty environments for brief periods of time than the standard GS4 will.
Hope that answers some questions. As of right now I'm not aware of any cases that are truly water-proof or will protect the GS4A absolutely and 100% certainly, but I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find some case that can do it, designed for generic smartphones overall.
And yes, there is a working somewhat permanent root for the GS4A as well, geohot's active root, and there's a thread about the usage somewhere in this GS4A subforum - and yes mine is rooted as well. The root survives resets hence me calling it "somewhat permanent" and the only way to unroot presently is to restore a factory ROM. The problem is that the only factory ROM (a one-click image) that's available pushes the GS4A back to build MF1 which was a pre-release ROM and if you use that for any reason, you'll be stuck on it possibly forever because it does not allow updates to newer builds from AT&T - and yes I'm referring specifically again to the SGH-I537 model.
Not too sure about the International model on that aspect, the info is probably out there someplace but I don't even read stuff about the SGH-I9295 since mine isn't compatible with the mods and ROMs being developed for that one at all.
br0adband said:
Yes, it's possible to unlock (meaning the carrier unlock so you can use it with other cellular providers). I have a GS4A Dive Blue AT&T model and I used an eBay reseller to get an unlock code for $7, delivered in under 24 hours, punched it in no problem and I'm using the phone with T-Mobile (and using the AWS bands as well, there are instructions on how to "unlock" those bands as well).
There is a thread specifically about GS4A cases here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2331133
Right now work is in progress on creating a ROM or ROMs for the International version of the GS4A aka the SGH-I9295, there is more info in the ROM subforums here for the GS4A, I'm not up to speed on all that because I have the AT&T US model which still has a locked bootloader which is basically preventing any useful development (and a bounty is under way to get that bootloader cracked open). So, if you have the International model, you might get lucky with the CM build that's in testing/development; if you have the AT&T US model, you're stuck like the rest of us.
The GS4A is not waterproof nor is it actually marketed as such but people see and read and hear what they want to hear so that's that. The GS4A is IP67 compliant which is just some standards code which means it is water-resistant up to 1m (that's about 3 feet for us Imperial bastards that can't stand Metric) for 30 mins. That means you can put the GS4A under the water (up to ~3 feet in depth) for ~30 minutes to shoot photos or do some video recording, but ~30 minutes is the time limit and ~3 feet is the depth limit. Any more usage on either parameter and it could end up hosing the phone (pun intended).
The IP67 also covers dust and dirt and whatever protection as well so it's basically NOT a rugged phone but will tolerate more nasty environments for brief periods of time than the standard GS4 will.
Hope that answers some questions. As of right now I'm not aware of any cases that are truly water-proof or will protect the GS4A absolutely and 100% certainly, but I'm sure if you look hard enough you'll find some case that can do it, designed for generic smartphones overall.
And yes, there is a working somewhat permanent root for the GS4A as well, geohot's active root, and there's a thread about the usage somewhere in this GS4A subforum - and yes mine is rooted as well. The root survives resets hence me calling it "somewhat permanent" and the only way to unroot presently is to restore a factory ROM. The problem is that the only factory ROM (a one-click image) that's available pushes the GS4A back to build MF1 which was a pre-release ROM and if you use that for any reason, you'll be stuck on it possibly forever because it does not allow updates to newer builds from AT&T - and yes I'm referring specifically again to the SGH-I537 model.
Not too sure about the International model on that aspect, the info is probably out there someplace but I don't even read stuff about the SGH-I9295 since mine isn't compatible with the mods and ROMs being developed for that one at all.
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this was a great detailed answer with clearly addressing everything thank you very much sir. +100 if i could to you
I was wondering if anyone could comment on the fact that the HTC One SV (midrange phone that is similar specs with the First) gets the 4.2 update, and we dont? The SV got the update the 4th of November this year! and we are stuck with 4.1
anyone know anything?
This phone is seen as commercially dead, it was reduced to budget phone prices to clear existing stock and then no more were made. HTC has a bad enough track record of abandoning barely-year-old devices, they have even less reason to pay any attention to this one. I'm surprised it got the 2 updates it did.
Lots of phones are capable of running newer firmware, but manufacturers need to give people incentive to upgrade their hardware. So they give you just barely enough updates to give the illusion that they care about the longevity of their devices to get you to buy, but once newer models steal the headlines, the old models are abandoned.
But we have this great Android community, where we decide how long our devices should get updates for
killall-q said:
This phone is seen as commercially dead, it was reduced to budget phone prices to clear existing stock and then no more were made. HTC has a bad enough track record of abandoning barely-year-old devices, they have even less reason to pay any attention to this one. I'm surprised it got the 2 updates it did.
Lots of phones are capable of running newer firmware, but manufacturers need to give people incentive to upgrade their hardware. So they give you just barely enough updates to give the illusion that they care about the longevity of their devices to get you to buy, but once newer models steal the headlines, the old models are abandoned.
But we have this great Android community, where we decide how long our devices should get updates for
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yeah...i think google considered the problem with manufacturers not making updates, so the just went all out open source haha
So obviously I can't unlock the bootloader on this version, so what kind of roms/customization are really available? I'm tired of 4.2.2 and I keep on hearing about how ota updates are supposed to have been rolling out. Is there any way to get 4.4.2 on my XZ without waiting
Nope, besides waiting there isn't any possibility for you to get 4.4.2 on it.
But there should be an update to 4.3 if iam not mistaken.
You should basically be able to use any ROM that is based on one of the original Stockroms (be it 4.1, 4.2.2, 4.3...)
You can check the ROM-LIST here -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z#romList
If the ROM is possible to flash on a locked boot-loader there should normally be a tag under it like "locked , unlocked etc..."
Hope it helps :highfive:
Nope, no 4.3 for us Tmo users. I've called and complained to them a lot and they always tell me that Sony doesn't not have 4.3 four the phone and then shut up when I start listing the localizations that do then they try to change the subject.
You can easily root 4.2.2. With that done you can install any stock based 4.3 rom. My last XZ killed its self when I tried doing that. It worked great till I tried to flash an add on then it completely grenaded. Due to that I am hesitant to try again.
Sent from my C6606 using Tapatalk
deerhurst said:
Nope, no 4.3 for us Tmo users. I've called and complained to them a lot and they always tell me that Sony doesn't not have 4.3 four the phone and then shut up when I start listing the localizations that do then they try to change the subject.
You can easily root 4.2.2. With that done you can install any stock based 4.3 rom. My last XZ killed its self when I tried doing that. It worked great till I tried to flash an add on then it completely grenaded. Due to that I am hesitant to try again.
Sent from my C6606 using Tapatalk
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Have to agree with deerhurst on T-Mobile USA. The company will say there is no update available even though Sony has released it. I sent a letter to the company and didn't ask for when the update or any update would come. It would be foolish to think they would answer. I only asked to have the message forwarded on to John or Neville. Simply put, I stated many owners of the Xperia Z are feeling tossed to the curb as Sony is about to release 4.4 for the phone around the world and T-Mobile still has 4.2. Mentioned the phone deserves the same attention to updates as any other OEM since we are paying customers etc.. All I wanted was for the upper management to be aware that customers are getting angry. Even if we are a piddle amount compared to the numbers of Samsung, LG, or HTC customers, it's stupid to let something like this smear them.
Then I included print outs of forum post 2 days prior showing owners are vexed and commenting on it. I got a call today from an exc who said they looked into the issue and the update has to come from Sony and not T-Mobile. When Sony releases the update they have to test it to make sure it works with the hardware blah blah blah. It was a generic response that I was expecting. She did say she forwarded the information to the group who handles software updates and would follow up.
Jump over to Sony and speak with their reps, ha, yeah they said the update has been sent out but the carrier has to add their own software to it etc.. So either the T-Mobile rep flat out lied or Sony has never made a version of the software for the Xperia Z to run on the T-Mobile branded phone. Either way, we, the customers are getting screwed here.
Love this phone compared to the others I've owned and would stick with Sony. But I'm not sure I would buy another one from T-Mobile.
I have a galaxy s5 from AT&T that I got with a new two year contract. It has version 5.0 on it and came that way. I know that it's not rootable atm but just curious if there's anywhere with progress.
morgan5814 said:
I have a galaxy s5 from AT&T that I got with a new two year contract. It has version 5.0 on it and came that way. I know that it's not rootable atm but just curious if there's anywhere with progress.
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Please review the history of the site. Root is not root until it is root...meaning you cannot ask "are we there yet?" When full root is achieved it will be posted. Work is often done by developers off of XDA because it is the only way they can work uninterrupted. Any progress to get system access like some root methods that were lost upon reboot..cannot be determined whether or not you are close...until it is fully working and tested. The security of Lollipop, AT&T locked bootloaders and knox are a lot of hurdles to leap over.
Yes, however I think a better wording, with the s6 will there even be people bothering with it?
morgan5814 said:
Yes, however I think a better wording, with the s6 will there even be people bothering with it?
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I hope so. I'm in the same crowd of people that do not have to have the latest and greatest. The S6, while its an impressive device...without a replaceable battery....I just dont think it will have the staying power (pun intended) or durability for a device that a user might keep for a year or 2. The characteristics of the S6 itself (unfortunately) lends itself more to a throw-away device after its new and shiny wears out and the next iteration of the Galaxy line becomes available. There are ALOT of GS5s out there....and quite literally...ATT is giving them away.
Thats JMHO...YMMV.
morgan5814 said:
Yes, however I think a better wording, with the s6 will there even be people bothering with it?
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I think so. There are some things improved on the S6, but there are also some steps backward from what we have on the S5. I'm sure educated buyers will weigh those pros and cons very carefully and some buyers will decide that the S5 is better suited for their needs and tastes.
I personally know only one person who upgraded from an S5 to an S6 and he wants to go back to his S5.
hi.im a loyal Samsung customer. i love their innovations, their experimentation, their ideas!
i love Note series, since Note 1, i never got anyother daily driver phone. it was always Note! the refined version of their S line.
Everybody knows how samsung treated Note 4. it is left like it is not even one of their own.
im not living in Europe or USA or Canada, where u can get subsidy from carriers and get a new phone and pay the rest monthly.
i have to get the cash, get it for almost 40% higher price than its price, or get it imported . i got mine imported.
Yesterday my Note 4 screen gave up on me. the left side of the display flickered and glitched out on its own for NO reason at all! i didnt drop it, i didnt put weight on it, it didnt get wet, NOTHING! all on its own, and mind u its only 20 days old phone.
its under warranty but i cant claim it cause i got it from UK and now i cant go back or send it back cause that would take time and lots of money especially when, if fixed, it comes back.
now i gave it for repair but they didnt satisfy me and said that these issues were common with S5 and onward phones from samsung. risk is higher cause it can be LCD issue which will cost me around $200, where i got this phone for $550
i had a Tab S8.4 this January, that had TERRIBLE battery issue, and after that motherboard died and i had to sell in for parts!
now all these stories and whats the outcome?
well i see many people here saying that looking at support from samsung for note 4 , they will not be getting any more samsung device, and blah blah.... then how come samsung sell millions of newer releases especially in European countries and USA? i mean, majority of their sales are in these areas right?
its sad, how **** their QC has gone, and even software support is ****! everyone knows they will not release 5.1 for international models until after Note 5 comes out.
Note 4 was supposed to be DAWN of new design language for samsung especially for their Flagships, but where is that philosophy now?
im not trying to be that mean dude, but it hurts when u spend ur hard earned money, u wait for a device u love, u get that and after 20 days u find its screen glitch out for no ****ING reason!
this is second time within few months, samsung betrayed me.
and its not just me, no major update in almost a year is bad from samsung.
so all who are saying they will not get Note 5 for lack of SD card slot, or removable battery, PLS STICK TO YOUR WORDS!
they have really really turned themselves like apple. samsung is the new apple now... but atleast, Apple knows a thing or two about QC and Software support. because without software support these phones are nothing more than a piece of hardware!
Unnecessary thread is unnecessary.
aami.aami said:
hi.im a loyal Samsung customer. i love their innovations, their experimentation, their ideas!
i love Note series, since Note 1, i never got anyother daily driver phone. it was always Note! the refined version of their S line.
Everybody knows how samsung treated Note 4. it is left like it is not even one of their own.
im not living in Europe or USA or Canada, where u can get subsidy from carriers and get a new phone and pay the rest monthly.
i have to get the cash, get it for almost 40% higher price than its price, or get it imported . i got mine imported.
Yesterday my Note 4 screen gave up on me. the left side of the display flickered and glitched out on its own for NO reason at all! i didnt drop it, i didnt put weight on it, it didnt get wet, NOTHING! all on its own, and mind u its only 20 days old phone.
its under warranty but i cant claim it cause i got it from UK and now i cant go back or send it back cause that would take time and lots of money especially when, if fixed, it comes back.
now i gave it for repair but they didnt satisfy me and said that these issues were common with S5 and onward phones from samsung. risk is higher cause it can be LCD issue which will cost me around $200, where i got this phone for $550
i had a Tab S8.4 this January, that had TERRIBLE battery issue, and after that motherboard died and i had to sell in for parts!
now all these stories and whats the outcome?
well i see many people here saying that looking at support from samsung for note 4 , they will not be getting any more samsung device, and blah blah.... then how come samsung sell millions of newer releases especially in European countries and USA? i mean, majority of their sales are in these areas right?
its sad, how **** their QC has gone, and even software support is ****! everyone knows they will not release 5.1 for international models until after Note 5 comes out.
Note 4 was supposed to be DAWN of new design language for samsung especially for their Flagships, but where is that philosophy now?
im not trying to be that mean dude, but it hurts when u spend ur hard earned money, u wait for a device u love, u get that and after 20 days u find its screen glitch out for no ****ING reason!
this is second time within few months, samsung betrayed me.
and its not just me, no major update in almost a year is bad from samsung.
so all who are saying they will not get Note 5 for lack of SD card slot, or removable battery, PLS STICK TO YOUR WORDS!
they have really really turned themselves like apple. samsung is the new apple now... but atleast, Apple knows a thing or two about QC and Software support. because without software support these phones are nothing more than a piece of hardware!
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Why buy an imported version? Imports always have their risks no matter the brand. A screen replacement is always expensive due to the high costs of the amoled display (oem displays are always much more expensive than their knockoffs). Did you try calling a samsung service center for help? Sometimes they honor the warranty even if it is an import. If not then just send it back to the store you bought it from (should be cheaper than replacing the screen).
airwa1kin7 said:
Unnecessary thread is unnecessary.
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i knew i would get such comments and even hate for this. its not a personal matter.
i would eventually get my issue fixed, that not the problem. the problem is Samsung's behavior to its customers.
its us buying their products and when people find unnecessary issues and lack of support from company, we rage like hell. but then at the end we go and buy another one of their over priced product and the cycle keeps going on and on....
the reason of this thread is not to bash samsung or to bash its customers in anyway. i myself like samsung but not anymore and thats because of no one else but samsung themselves.
its only US, customers who can fix lot of issues.
im sure many here would understand my point, sad you didn't
aami.aami said:
i knew i would get such comments and even hate for this. its not a personal matter.
i would eventually get my issue fixed, that not the problem. the problem is Samsung's behavior to its customers.
its us buying their products and when people find unnecessary issues and lack of support from company, we rage like hell. but then at the end we go and buy another one of their over priced product and the cycle keeps going on and on....
the reason of this thread is not to bash samsung or to bash its customers in anyway. i myself like samsung but not anymore and thats because of no one else but samsung themselves.
its only US, customers who can fix lot of issues.
im sure many here would understand my point, sad you didn't
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Look it's not that I don't understand your point, it's the fact that your thread number 500 on this subject. I've already said I'm not buying another Samsung product.. I love my note 4 but have grown to dislike the lack of updates and most definitely the lack of open source on the TW side of things.
This is what happens when you take risks for granted. That extra 40% for a local version probably doesn't seem so bad now. You should consider an import as a no warranty device, not to mention you rooting it as well. I don't think I would purchase any kind of device today for $550 without some kind of warranty, unless I had 100% certainty the device would not fail.
I knew the risk when I bought my Note 4 and rooted it the second I brought it home. That was a $700 risk I was willing to accept with nobody else to blame but myself. (Of course I used the ol' amex warranty safety net, I am not totally reckless)
Conclusion: Suck it up, move on, and hopefully learn something from the experience.
I'm with you. The Note 4 amazed me when I got it, but the Lollipop update and amazingly long delays in fixing the issues, seeing all Samsungs old, ****ty models getting 5.1.1 before their newest most expensive flagship phone really soured me off the experience. With the Note 5 looking total ****, it seems like there's no real reason to stay with Samsung. Great hardware (except the Note 5), but their support and software are ****.
I totaly agree with you and I will not buy any Samsung phone/product in the future. I have Note 4 and Tab S and on Note 4 I had to lose warranty and root it to get the ROM that is working to some point and on Tab S I have stock and it is HORRIBLE! Gr8 piece of HW with crappy SW = not worth it! Thx to this incompetent Samsung like engeniers Apple is still on top thx to good support and great SW with lesser HW.
Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk
see! i told you guys! samsung says no Note 5 for Europe and also just look at what they made us wait for our Note 4 5.1, this ****ty fingerprint magnet Note 5.
what are the upgrades? NOTHING!