Should I flash-ROM to a better WM version than T-Mobile's -- before installing ifonz?

quicksite said:

I am not a developer; just an end-user. But I've read tons of threads, wiki entries for Herald, etc -- and I can't figure out the sequencing of what to install on my T-Mobile WING.

Everything I've read says that these OEM versions of windows come loaded down with crap that wastes device storage, and hampers performance. But I have been scratching my head trying to figure this out:

I for sure am using ifonz theme -- I have been using it for past week installed onto the T-Mobile default default, and the navigation system is so great, I love it. But I get lots of Memory error messages and freezes if I run ifonz, MortPlayer, and a browser such as NetFront or OperaMini... Just not enough memory avail to handle it all.

From reading, I have seen that various ROMs cooked here have performance boosts (whether it involves overclocking or whatever). So my question is: which ROM is best for this purpose for me -- to be the underlying windows OS running that enables me to run ifonz and several other apps without this problem?

What confuses me is that ROMs seem to be OS tweeks PLUS UI display functionality -- such as emulating the HTC Touch etc. I just can't decode all of this to understand what elements are best for my needs, and which components MUST be on device vs storage card, and which would be optimal to install on storage card so as to leave headroom on device?

I also have installed PCM Keyboard (but I can't get it to stick as the default keyboard; the windows one always comes back), MortPlayer, Comm Manager (love this!). I am so impressed by the current ifonz theme. I read the whole thread from its first release and practically every suggestion has been implemented -- that is so impressive. (I wont bog down this topic further.)

All suggestions appreciated. And thank you. I will be donating to each component's authors. Y'all are the best! I can't believe the productivity difference since modifyng my PoclketPC. Now I can actually use the many aps and utilities!

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quicksite said:

Okay, thanks. so would you want to put me into the ballpark of which ROMs are lean and most efficient for my needs?

If you're suggesting the DESCRIPTIONS of the various ROMS will make that obvious to me, well, okay... but I could use some recs...

Also: A followup for my grasping the concept:

When most people here are cooking up these custom ROMs, they are selecting various apps to stitch together into on overall release, right?

If so, I am trying to understand if there are appreciable differences between

(a) A stripped bare custom ROM.... and then my then adding and manually installing a la carte cab files for things like S2U2, Comm Manager, Mort Player, etc ...

and

(b) starting with a ROM that has those aps integrated into the one cab file?

That's too hard for a lay person to understand without an expert explaining, so I hope someone will do that.

If (b) actually enables efficiencies in performance, I would obviously want to use one of those ROMS.

If they are 6 of one and half dozen of another, and no code difference whatsoever as pertains to the way those individual apps perform within the package, then I guess it doesn't matter much at all.

Should I be posting to a different forum -- like maybe the Herald forum, to get specific recommendations on which ROMS would be god for me to start ourt with knowing that my end game is to run ifonz and similar iphone-like applications?

thanks!

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quicksite said:

thanks very much!... that's interesting re other launchers and performance. (i know i'm in over my head but is that because ifonz was written in .NET vs native code ? i thiught i read that somewhere).

QUESTION: is there a "Browse by Photo Gallery" forum or wiki section... that lets one see the look/UI of the theme, launcher, etc of the various roms, as a means for narrowing down choices?

thx

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alongenemylines said:

everyone's gonna recommend something different. i personally prefer just2clean. it's exactly that. smooth, fast, and clean. honestly, of all the roms i've ever flashed, it's the only one that i've had absolutely zero issues with. i don't mind taking the time to install each program i really want. most of the other roms come with lots of extra programs that i have no use for, and can't delete, since there isn't an add/remove item for them... they're cooked in with the rom.

so really, it all just come down to your own preference. just check the herald rom development section. i think pureskillz (maybe?) did a write up on various roms and his pros and cons on each.

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quicksite said:

Another of my primary questions answered. Thanks so much! I was trying to learn the practical differences between apps cooks in, and installing cab files a la carte.

My own recap:

(1) YES, flash to a better ROM to free up memory, remove OEM junk

(2) There is no gallery of ROM photos of interfaces, but a great REVIEW thread of lots of ROMS

(3) Apps as part of the ROM makes them unremoveable.

(that recap's for other newbies like me!)

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