Which ROM is most like Josh's + CRC's rolled into one?

[christopherwoods]

I've been flashing a fair few ROMs in the past week or so, and I've come to the realisation that I like two ROMs more than any others: Josh's M2DLite, and CRC's 13.4 release.

Frustratingly, there's just a couple of things wrong with each release that leave me stuck and unable to choose between them... I have a couple of recurring problems with Manila 2D (it sometimes crashes out when I try to load an email which is accessed through the Seven.com system, and I can't change the clock to be a digital clock instead of analogue hands). There's also some remaining small problems with memory usage, plus for some reason my install of M2DLite stopped allowing me to install new CABs ("installation unsuccessful").

By contrast, CRC's 13.4 release is almost perfect - the stock, basic WM Today screen, with a lovely plain black theme. It has Device Update and a load of nice extras. However, it doesn't ship with the option to install and run M2D (the more I used it, the more I slowly came to like it).


As a result, I feel like I'm 90% close to finding the perfect ROM. I hate all the ROMs with gaudy themes or colour presets, but frustratingly some of those ROMs look quite appealing, aside from those annoying customisations. I'm really at a loss as to which ROM is ideal for the person who prefers the minimalist, discreet look, but wants all the regular stuff like 3G dialer, HSDPA, Internet Sharing and MMS to work without a hitch.


What ROM have you guys settled on? Did you try loads, but then find one which you think is perfect (maybe after a little bit of customisation)? I'd love to hear your thoughts. WM6, WM6.1 and WM6.5 ROMs are all eligibile. ;)

[boog]

All of the reasons you stated, is exactly why I started cooking my own. I always found things I disliked about every rom I flashed.

utak3r released his darkvisions 4 kitchen, and it is a very nice base to build on for 6.1.

With your own rom, you can have your cake and eat it too, after a bit of trial and error.

[christopherwoods]

That was something else I was contemplating... I have pretty much no idea where to start with cooking my own from a kitchen; you say utak3r's DV4 is a good base? I considered trying one of his ROMs but didn't like some of the modifications he'd done (naff-looking dialer, etc)

How long did it take until you got to where you wanted to be with your own custom ROM?

[boog]

At first I felt like I was never going to get there! lol

I'm still playing with things and tweaking little things, I'm not the pro like the other guys here, so it takes me a bit longer. But I'll just to little changes and flash it to the phone, too many big changes at once makes it tough to troubleshoot a problem.

I'm back to tweaking and testing on utak3r's kitchen, I have a kitchen from josh all set up the way I want it, but, cooking is addictive.

[utak3r]

I considered trying one of his ROMs but didn't like some of the modifications he'd done (naff-looking dialer, etc)


That's what this kitchen is for :D You can select your own desired apps (and the dialer, too).

[christopherwoods]

Ooo, interesting... So, what does one need to download and install (aside from the kitchen) to get set up and cook with one of your kitchens?

[utak3r]

Nothing - it contains all you need :) Maybe .Net and some runtimes - but you could have it already...

[christopherwoods]

Ah, I tried your kitchen - there's some nice stuff in there, but unfortunately no Connection Setup (had to configure manually but I knew the data connection settings anyway). I did notice that the Contacts softkey was labeled as Kontakty, even though I'd made sure NOT to select the PL language option...

Aside from that, it was a pretty nice way to quickly customise ROM options. What's the best way to cook in new CABs? I noticed a lot of stuff in the OEM folder, but as well as what looked like the installed contents of CABs I saw a lot of other custom configuration files...

[boog]

Glad to see you got it up and running quickly!

Here is cab2oem and package creator all in one zip.

cab to oem is drag and drop, and package creator is easy enough to figure out! :)

[utak3r]

cab to oem is drag and drop, and package creator is easy enough to figure out! :)

true - although one have to keep in mind it doesn't work in some cases! It's a good starting point, but sometimes you have to manually create proper rgus and initflashfiles.

[boog]

true - although one have to keep in mind it doesn't work in some cases! It's a good starting point, but sometimes you have to manually create proper rgus and initflashfiles.

You are right! I am about to attempt to see if I can edit/create one of my own. I wan't to see if I can make it work before I start asking for help on it though. :)

I have one program that won't properly make an oem with either of those programs. It's close, but missing something.

[utak3r]

I have one program that won't properly make an oem with either of those programs. It's close, but missing something.

Check the files installed (including all the links) and check carefully the registry. I strongly advice you to use CeRegEditor, the best PPC registry editor on PC that exists (Polish product :) ) - you can make an image of the reg before installing it and compare it after - that way you can have all the registry changes were made.

[necrolytic]

Hello I am Necrolytic, a grindcore musician and graphic artist from Northern CA. I have been lurking here for over 9 months and just registered a month or so ago.... post one ha.

I run Josh's V15 M2D after seriously smashing through every rom 6.1 or higher on the top 4 pages, if not for one reason... It came loaded with crap and it actually works. In my short but insightful adventures with WinMo Roms I have found that bloated Roms are usually unstable or sluggish on my Hermes...a complete fail.

I ripped quite a few ROMS apart, checking to see what actually made the roms different or "better" from one another. Learning through reverse engineering and tinkering.


Skinning a common build and auto installing your own bloated playlist of .cab files shouldn't be considered Rom Cooking... that is just how I feel. I mean at least do something creative with the htchome coding and/or exclusive features... something.
.

[boog]

Hello I am Necrolytic, a grindcore musician and graphic artist from Northern CA. I have been lurking here for over 9 months and just registered a month or so ago.... post one ha.

I run Josh's V15 M2D after seriously smashing through every rom 6.1 or higher on the top 4 pages, if not for one reason... It came loaded with crap and it actually works. In my short but insightful adventures with WinMo Roms I have found that bloated Roms are usually unstable or sluggish on my Hermes...a complete fail.

I ripped quite a few ROMS apart, checking to see what actually made the roms different or "better" from one another. Learning through reverse engineering and tinkering.


Skinning a common build and auto installing your own bloated playlist of .cab files shouldn't be considered Rom Cooking... that is just how I feel. I mean at least do something creative with the htchome coding and/or exclusive features... something.
.

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

Not sure if your directing your comment toward the op, or someone else. But that's kinda the way the thread is going. Leading someone towards the path of cooking their own rom.

There will be more for him to do than load a playlist of cabs!

There are all those little settings you like to have. All the programs you want, cooked in, not installed via cab, they will be there no matter what. Any theme you want, and today plugins you want, and in any order you want on the today screen. You can add/remove anything you want.

That's what most of the custom roms on this site are, the rom that the cook runs on their own phone (for the most part). Some cooks are doing custom roms for the community, but I bet they run that rom, or their own cooked variant.

I'm also hoping this thread will inspire more flashers to become cooks, maybe even you!

I am by no means a pro in the kitchen, I don't want to make it sound like I am. But I am getting by, and I love the roms I have cooked. If you think testing all the roms on the site is addictive, just wait till you cook a few roms, and debug, change settings, and cook those settings back into your own rom! then you'll really be hooked. I have been tempted to pick up a second hermes just for cooking and testing! haha