Related
Hi all,
I'm quite new to this android stuff, and especially modding. And I have to tell that I feel a bit lost.
After a few days browsing this forum and other places on the internet, I think I know what a ROM and rooting are. But here I see things like kernels, radio, bootloaders... could someone explain me what those are and how they are related together? Or show me an url that explains all this.
Thanks a lot!
Bricolo_fr said:
Hi all,
I'm quite new to this android stuff, and especially modding. And I have to tell that I feel a bit lost.
After a few days browsing this forum and other places on the internet, I think I know what a ROM and rooting are. But here I see things like kernels, radio, bootloaders... could someone explain me what those are and how they are related together? Or show me an url that explains all this.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not real sure how to explain all this stuff in great detail but i will try and tell you all that i know. I think a kernel has to do with the drivers and things like that. A radio has to do with the everything that uses connections, i guess you would call it. Like your phone's network, wifi, bluetooth, etc. And for the bootloader i don't really know how to explain it but press and hold the power button and the trackball at the same time. thats the bootloader.
This should help some... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=619153
Bricolo_fr said:
Hi all,
I'm quite new to this android stuff, and especially modding. And I have to tell that I feel a bit lost.
After a few days browsing this forum and other places on the internet, I think I know what a ROM and rooting are. But here I see things like kernels, radio, bootloaders... could someone explain me what those are and how they are related together? Or show me an url that explains all this.
Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Bricolo!
Welcome to the forums!
I'll help you out here, but you're going to have to do some work too.
How about I do two, and you do two?
[Google]: android "what is a rom"
http://forum.androidcentral.com/hacking/6037-general-rom-faq.html
If you’re new to the Android platform (don’t be bashful, all of us were not too long ago), you’ll see terms floating around the forums that you might not be familiar with. “ROM” is one of those terms. A ROM image is a data file that contains information used on a Read Only Memory chip. For our purposes, that means a complete system image of an Android device. Each Android device has it’s own ROM image that contains files and code needed to boot the device up and run Android on it. But this is only part of a ROM. A ROM also contains a GUI (graphical user interface), required and useful applications, support files for those applications and the kernel. Let’s have a look at the parts that make a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-general-discussions/37418-what-rom.html
"ROM" is just a generic term for the software that makes up the OS, and a bit of a misnomer. This term could easily be changed to "OS sofware" or "system software". It does mean Read Only Memory, but ROM likely comes from that part of the system memory, since you dont want to be able to write over the system files (easily).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[Google]: android "what is a kernel"
http://androidforums.com/developer-101/62548-what-kernel.html
A kernel is basically the bridge between applications and the data processing at the hardware level. It serves as a level of abstraction for communication.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.applematters.com/article/how-long-will-apple-keep-the-mach-microkernel/
The easy answer is a kernel is the core of any operating system. DOS, Windows, UNIX, OS X and Linux all have some type of kernel. The implementations change but the basic concept remains the same. A kernel interfaces directly with the system’s hardware and is the lowest level of software. There are two types of kernels, micro-kernels and monolithic-kernels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
[Google]: android "what is a radio"
Your site(s) here.
[Google]: android "what is a bootloader"
You can do it!
[Google]: android "what is a X"
Google: It really is that easy
Good stuff Paul, it's refreshing to see someone go out of their way to help a newbie every once in a while
There are more polite ways to respond to this guy. Some people learn through interaction. I'm glad someone went out of their way to explain things to this guy. It's a shame how cut throat this community can be sometimes.
I agree, the attitude and lame jokes are really immature at times. Thanks paul for putting a lil effort and explaining few of the key points than cracking the usual radio is a fm/am joke here, the extreme nerdism almost kills me! lol.
As for the cutthroat and "nerdism" out there in this community, you have to remember, most of us that are regulars are ones that have been on this forum for a loooooooong while and not just in the Nexus One sections. I have migrated from WM to Android and see these posts time and time again.
There are Stickied "Noob" guilds galore, there is a search feature, there are TONS of resources out there for someone who puts in a MINIMAL effort can get this BASIC information.
When I first came here, I didn't just open a new post on "what is a ROM and ..." I read, I researched and when something wasn't clear and needed more information that wasn't out there, THEN I posted.
Those of us that may seem like we have an attitude aren't mean people, we don't expect everyone to come here with all the answers an NO questions, we just have an expectation that they at least put forth a LITTLE effort on figuring something out.
Paul did a great job in searching, but you have to wonder why the OP didn't even TRY and google anything or search here?
The impression I got is that it is not worth the OP's time to even try, so they put up a post asking these questions and expected the community to do all the work for them and compile some massive resource into a post that the OP most likely won't read and then start asking questions that were already answered in replies or links.
I have seen this happen time and time again on this board and others, so yeah, I am a bit of a jerk when someone puts forth no effort of their own.
Thanks a lot, Paul and the guys that helped
About me asking, and being new here... I DID search on this forum, but didn't find everything I needed. I used the search function, read the sticky threads, googled... After this, I still had questions, meaning that the information I got was not sufficient and that the additional information I was seeking wasn't accessible enough here. So that's why I asked.
If you don't like new people asking questions, but only expect new members to be experienced ones that will arrive with software/tricks/roms/etc "gifts" for you,you should reconsider your lifes. Maybe as sultans or something similar I agree with the remark about nerdy attitudes. Do you really think this is needed? If my topic is unwanted here, some people called moderators will lock or delete it, it seems it hasn't happened so far...
Back to the initial topic...
Well, maybe I did not make things clear enough. I'm not a complete computer noob. I know what a ROM is (not being specific to android devices), what an OS is, how to write a few lines of code, etc...
From what I understood, the bootloader can be see as the bios in a PC. It can execute a few tasks (diagnostics, rom flash, starting the OS...). The ROM contains the OS, software, config, etc...
As I said, what I don't really see is how all the things are related to each other. On this forum (and other places) I see a lot of alternative ROMs. I do understand what they are and their use. However I also see topics about kernels and radios, and that got me a bit lost. Aren't they already included in the ROMs?
Also, I'd like to learn a bit about how alternative ROMs are created. When additional features (applications?) are added to a ROM (features that were existing on other devices), is it "simply" the application files that from the other device that have been included to the ROM? When new features are added (not coming from other devices, like trackball led), how is that made? I assume it is added to the code somewhere, so is all the code available?
Thanks for helping
I'm going to move this thread to the Q&A section, and also clean up the noob bashing. Remember, not only is bashing discouraged throughout the entire site, but doing it in the Q&A section will likely earn you a short vacation from XDA.
Thanks,
NATF
and i am a complete android noob. i have never had any android based devices. i am an iphone owner. any tips/hints on where to start? ive looked through the forums but im nothing but confused at the terms and stuff.
i would like to root the device, where do i start? i dont know what all this rom stuff is and all the talk. can anyone help me out?
also, i tried connecting to wifi through my iphone (jailbroken running MyWi), but the Nook wouldnt recognize it. is it because it is considered an Ad-Hoc network?
any helps/pointers/links for a noob would be great. thanks.
To keep it simple, you will probably just want to root it through autonooter:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=872490
The first post has good instructions, but this post has even more thorough ones:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=9816724&highlight=skip#post9816724
Youtube might crash after this. Although that second link I listed states to delete, you'd be better served by doing this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=9915878#post9915878
Welcome to the community!
First off, i would say to take a read through the main Nook color information hub, found here: http://nookdevs.com/Portal:NookColor
There is lots of info about the device, and things that can be done with it. Terminology is all over the place, so if you have something in ind, i would suggest asking a specific question.
In general, the Android system is a highly customized Linux system, built on a linux kernel. Android itself is the rom, and is the OS that you are actually booting too. The kernel is the supporting software for the OS, and contains the system drivers (among other things). Commonly, when a custom rom is developed, an associated kernel is released with it, but they can be changed, if they are made interchangeable. If you do to the dev forum, you will see people working on both pieces.
The rooting information for the NC is in the portal page, and should get you fully started. As for the ad-hoc issue, yes, you will need to do some work to get that working, also found in this and the development forums.
Yes, welcome! I, too, am from iPhone jaikbreak land with this as my first android device. You'll love it! it's flexible and slick. Everyone here is so helpful, so just jump in!
Sent from my Nook Color
Just landed on the NOOKcolor planet as well
I love my Droid 1 and thought the Ipad worked pretty cool. It's pretty heavy though and $500? No thanks.
If only there was a smaller, cheaper, user customizable option.... the NOOKcolor!
Found info on XDA about it. Did some research. Played with it a few times. SOLD!
This thread links to everything I need to know about rooting it like my Droid so off I go.
Thanks for all the hard work everyone.
Mikey
Hello!
I'm kinda noobish with this ROM thing that everyone talking about (I have my 1st smartphone 2 days now) so I would like to ask you why do you update ROM? If I do it, can I lose warranty?
Also, without cracking the phone (or buying products), can I use word/excel/powerpoint?
For my new stupid (but for me important questions) I'll ask soon
Hope for fast answer, wanna use the best out of this OMG-SO-GOOD phone!
zlxmasta said:
Hello!
I'm kinda noobish with this ROM thing that everyone talking about (I have my 1st smartphone 2 days now) so I would like to ask you why do you update ROM? If I do it, can I lose warranty?
Also, without cracking the phone (or buying products), can I use word/excel/powerpoint?
For my new stupid (but for me important questions) I'll ask soon
Hope for fast answer, wanna use the best out of this OMG-SO-GOOD phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, installing custom roms does break your warranty, and to be quite honest if you don't know what the point of doing it is then its probably something that you will be better of not doing, especially since this is your first time using a smartphone.
btw this is not the correct forum for questions like this, you should have posted it in the general section, that would probably have resulted in a lot more answers.
Huh TNX, but if I dont learn it now I wouldnt know it later either (like general section), so I'm going to post it on general, maybe someone who has tima and will will tell me
zlxmasta said:
Huh TNX, but if I dont learn it now I wouldnt know it later either (like general section), so I'm going to post it on general, maybe someone who has tima and will will tell me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well thats right i suppose, just keep in mind that rooting/installing a custom mod can brick* your phone if your not careful, which is why I don't recommend that you do it unless you are somewhat experienced with android.
*note:bricking is when your phone becomes as useful as a brick... in other words not useful at all, the o2x can actually be recovered from a bricked state in most cases but the recovery procedure is rather complicated and not something i would recommend for someone with little computer/phone knowledge.
PS: when I said you should post it in the general section I meant the o2x general section not the global general section, I guess I should have been a little more specific on the exact forum, sorry If i confused you.
Well its had to be experienced if you don't start somewhere.
To answer OPs question, installing roms, can greatly increase your phones perfomance, and it's also a fun past time.
Just play around with it, you don't need to be an expert at anything, just follow instructions
So you came at XDA-Developers to find help? Well, this is your thread!
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"
Hello new user and welcome to XDA-Developers. We are a developer’s forum, with the purpose of development. Our work can be used in several ways, and, we know that sometimes it could help you. So, in order to maintain our forums clean and properly organized maintaining a proper development environment while at the same time to give you a chance to join our forums we created this thread.
This thread is for sensible questions from new or inexpert users. If you think your question may be a little basic for a developer forum then this is the place to ask it.
Here you shall find an atmosphere free of prejudice, where we will try to help you in your problem, answer yourmost basic questions and aid you on troubleshooting your device. We know that learning all the technicalities takes time, however they are necessary in order to interact with us.
Bare in mind that we are not technical support, we do not work for any company or get paid to help, we are just independent developers gathered in a community called XDA-Developers. Therefore all we will do is guide you into troubleshooting your device yourself, but under no circumstance we are abided to do so.
We want you to become the kind of user we see as productiveto a developer’s community, and why not?, to be a developer yourself!
Note to General users:
This is a chance for more advanced users to “give back” at XDA-Developers the knowledge we have gathered together in a decade of development. This is a thread to behave in a tolerant way, taking into consideration that the user posting queries might have never even heard words such as “adb” or “ROM", so, if you are not willing to be helpful, I kindly invite you to browse into another thread.
"Time has changed, Users have changed and so will XDA-Developers"
Moderators will not tolerate "flaming" or "trolling" in this thread as it is specifically provided for those who are still learning the basics.. We will delete and sanction without warning any post that show intention other than to help the new user.
Okay, then, I have a newbie question: can someone explain exactly what "S-Off" means?
Take S-Off for Security Off. With S-Off you can directly write to kernel, bootladers and radio, while S-On devices would need a second device (a PC) to write to those areas. Its like a protection mechanism for us not to brick our phones (at least not as easy).
There is plenty of explanations at our forums if you want t get into technical details or just want another explanation. Just try using the search button in the right top corner of XDA pages, you will be amazed how much you can find .
D.O.C
XDA Developers Senior Moderator
I'd go on with another newbie question.
If I'm not wrong rooting breaks warranty (in most of the cases at least) but I think (again im not sure) we can reboot our device to factory settings before giving it to technical service to fix its problems.
What happens if the device is not working? Is there an external way to fix the rooted system back to normal?
I am going to go with a NO in that subject.
Although there are plenty of methods that have been successful in several handsets in the past by using third party hardware, it can get complicated even for a advanced users to do so, since it might involve technichal aspects only manufacturers know about.
Normally, these methods are developed and posted here, depeding on the handset, it might be easy or not. Not so many years ago, these methods were as easy as flashing a "untouched" firmware, but lately, manufacturers have been implementing methods to detect if we have touched the bootloader and have increasingly making it harder for developers to break them, thus returning to a "factory untouched" state is getting harder with every new device.
In short, If you want your warranty intact beyond the existence of any doubt, do not root.
And why is my galaxy tab crushing with cm 10 mod with latest gapps. I dont really think it is a noob question.
Guys, please keep your questions device specific.
We can't be discussing Galaxy Tabs here.
Thanks
I have a problem and I'm new here, so I just reply in this topic. I'm sorry for my little English.
I have a HTC One S and I dropped it a few days ago, now the volume down button is dented and I can not use it anymore. Since you can still set te volume by pushing the volume up button and swipe the volume down, i thought it was ok.
Now I wanted to turn my phone off and this is what I've got:
*** LOCKED ***
VLE PVT SHIP S-ON RL
HBOOT-2.15.0000
Radio-1.11.50.05.28
OpenDSP-v31.1.0.45.0815
eMMC-boot
Dec 14 2012, 17:10:57:-1
HBOOT
<VOL UP> to previous item
<VOL DOWN. to next item
<POWER> to select item
FASTBOOT
RECOVERY
FACTORY RESET
CLEAR STORAGE
SIMLOCK
IMAGE CRC
SHOW BARCODE
Using the volume up button I can select one of the items, but pressing the powerbutton brings me nothing. I have no idea what to do or how I can fix this.
Please help!
I see this is the wrong topic but I am unable to delete this message, I'm sorry.
Well, it is a hardware fault since its broken, so not much we can help you here. Try maybe reading the HTC One S specific forums to find a workaround, but honestly, you better replace the handset.
I have two good question. What is the difference between the HTC One developer edition and the regular one (ha).
What I've seen made it look you would struggle with putting roms on the regular one.
Also, how soon is the one likely to have roms and people putting the latest android on it (like pure nexus jelly bean)? Like a couple months, a year?
Thanks for your help
TaderTot said:
I have two good question. What is the difference between the HTC One developer edition and the regular one (ha).
What I've seen made it look you would struggle with putting roms on the regular one.
Also, how soon is the one likely to have roms and people putting the latest android on it (like pure nexus jelly bean)? Like a couple months, a year?
Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The difference of the Developer Edition and regular one is that it is already S-Off, unlocked bootloader(no need to go to HTC dev) and has 64GB storage. And it comes only on one variant which is a US LTE type. So LTE won't work on Europe or Asia.
Regarding AOSP(pure nexus ROM) probably less than a month after the release of kernel source code by HTC on which I dunno when it would come.
So this will be my first non-nexus device. Will there be custom roms that will be up to date with the latest version of Android so I don't have to wait for HTC? If so, how will their stability be?
xGary said:
So this will be my first non-nexus device. Will there be custom roms that will be up to date with the latest version of Android so I don't have to wait for HTC? If so, how will their stability be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Give it time and there will be. I'm sure they'll be stable enough when released anyway.
I'm also coming from a Nexus and is a first for me to be getting a HTC.
It is possible to use the EU version of the HTC One in the US? I'm debating between the developer version and the EU since I'm located in the US (and want an unlocked bootloader), but it looks like the EU version would work on AT&T?
HSPA/WCDMA:
Europe/Asia: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE:
850/900/1800/1900 MHz
LTE:
EU: 800/1800/2600 MHz
US (AT&T): 700/850/AWS/1900 MHz
US (TMO): 700/AWS MHz
US (Sprint): 1900 MHz
Asia: 1800/2600 Mhz
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it looks like it, but, if you want an unlocked bootloader, developers edition should be your choice (that is what I would do)
Hi ! i am totaly new to Android Os so plz help me !!!
Hi
recently i bought HTC Desire A8181(Bravo).
i want to upgrade its software to Android v4.xxx . so i need help which firmware should i install on my HTC Desire so it work perfectly and has no Bugs ... Plz help me and guide me so i update my Phone
Thanks and also plz tell me Whats are Those ROMS ???
naeembabakheil said:
Hi
recently i bought HTC Desire A8181(Bravo).
i want to upgrade its software to Android v4.xxx . so i need help which firmware should i install on my HTC Desire so it work perfectly and has no Bugs ... Plz help me and guide me so i update my Phone
Thanks and also plz tell me Whats are Those ROMS ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi naeembakakheil.
First thing you might want to do when looking for firmwares for your mobile device, is look in the correct section. Try here for your device specific info.
Second, please browse through those forums, read the OP of each thread which includes the description of the ROM you are about to flash, and then, read through the replies your fellow users have left to see their impressions, you can usually find all the help you need by reading. This would be a good place to start. If you still have any doubts, then ask in the appropriate thread. If after extensive search you still do not find the appropriate answer to your question, then ask in the Q&A forum of the device (although if you do know how to search, you will hardly ever need to open a new thread, almost every question is already answered).
What you must not do ever is.....ask without reading or even worst, read the incorrect information (as in not your phone's forum), you could easily break your device useless by making that mistake.
When can we expect 4.2 ROMs for the HTC One?
amarshonarbangla said:
When can we expect 4.2 ROMs for the HTC One?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one can possibly tell you that. As a matter of fact, XDA was founded because of the same queries arouse between members...until they started building themselves. So, I kindly invite you to join our developer communitty and build yourself a 4.2 or at least get invokved in the process.
I wouldnt recommend coming to xda with expectations of the arrival of something, since it can be a very long and boring time . Its best to be involved in the making of things here at xda, that way I guarantee you will not get bored and eventually, you will get what you want.
D.O.C said:
No one can possibly tell you that. As a matter of fact, XDA was founded because of the same queries arouse between members...until they started building themselves. So, I kindly invite you to join our developer communitty and build yourself a 4.2 or at least get invokved in the process.
I wouldnt recommend coming to xda with expectations of the arrival of something, since it can be a very long and boring time . Its best to be involved in the making of things here at xda, that way I guarantee you will not get bored and eventually, you will get what you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a long time iOS user who recently switched to Windows Phone 8. Seeing how customizable Android is, I am thinking of making the jump soon. I have a lot of things to learn about this wonderful operating system, which is why I joined XDA
What goes into making a custom ROM? Do we need any specific files/firmwares/kernels/drivers from HTC to make a 4.2 ROM? Are there not any devs working on 4.2 ROMs for the One?
Hello there dear people! I just ordered my first smartphone, LG. I am FULLY newbie in Smartphones and I have almost no clue 'bout anything relating to them to be honest. All I know is that I have there Android 2.3.4 and the phone will arrive to me in next few days. I did some research and there are some questions that I'd like to ask.
A) I heard that camera in this phone is very bad, but mainly when you do research 'bout this phone you read two years old threads. When I came to your forum and checked the thread with 'best photos you took with LG' I was happy again. The question is how to get a good camera quality? Not like the old photos that I've seen which are REALLY bad.
B) I don't even know what ICS, Kernel, ROMS or anything is. I don't know which Android is best/newest and which to choose/ how to install. I'd really love to get some explanations from you that will help not only me, but many confused people starting their smartphone adventure. So...
C) I heard that battery life of this phone is fully unacceptable, but again, it was two years ago. What about now?
Having said that, I heard that this phone gets a totally new life with right software so if you could please just write me what's best to have this phone with:
Good camera quality,
Decent battery life,
Good audio on headphones.
I just realized that I don't tend to play so many games on phones and I might have bought a gaming phone, when what I really need is good photos, Internet, audio and battery.
Thank you for any answers in advance, I know that the subject must be probably very huge (like asking about Laptop software, windows etc.), but there must be some kind of default things making this phone better, and I want to install it as soon as I get the phone. :highfive:
Alright, here's my advice: stay with the stock ROM for some time. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but that'll help you understand the difference between LG's software and, for example, Cyanogenmod (CM).
Also, try not to ask questions that might be obvious to the most seasoned users. Instead, use the Search function - a lot. That will save you time and you will learn a lot in the process.
Experiment. Our 2X is quite hard to "brick", so if anything goes wrong you can always get back on business by flashing a stock ROM. So, don't be afraid to try stuff by yourself - even if it means screwing up your device every now and then. That'll teach you how to use the recovery, how to use Smartflash, NVFlash, etc.
Stop by the Development forum and read the stickies. Tonyp's Baseband thread is a must read. The other stickies might be a bit outdated, but I believe they're still worth a read.
Again, and I want to remark this, use the Search.
I'm aware that most of what I've said is not probably related to what you asked, but since you're a new smartphone user I believe these tips will be helpful for you.
Stay stock for a while, lurk the forums, read a lot!