[Q] Another "Which ROM" Thread: Closest to Samsung Stock without limitations?

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Short Question: What ROM is closest to the stock AT&T ROM without the bloatware and WiFi tethering snooping/limitations?

Long Question:

I am not a total buffoon, and have been running custom ROMs since my HTC Blue Angel. This week I upgraded my Telstra T9193 running WinMO and Froyo Super RAM to a stock AT&T SII. This is the first AT&T branded phone I have had in over a decade. Them changing the data plan to have caps and losing my grandfathered in plan of unlimited as being truly unlimited has forced me to switch phones to get the 5GB cap instead of the 3GB cap and then also I have been eligible for an upgrade for 8-9 years and havent because of the data plan.

So I like the look and feel of the stock ROM. However I despise all the AT&T bloatware on there and the lack of WiFi tethering. I have already rooted the device and it is ready to accept a new ROM.

What I am looking for is something that is close to stock, but doesn't have the AT&T contacts, doesn't have any of the pre-installed AT&T apps, doesn't have the limited market (they mask market apps?! WTF!), and doesn't have the AT&T modem that routes tether traffic differently so they can identify phone data versus tether data.

My biggest complaint is tethering. I need that. I use between 4GB and 10GB a month on my phone with data, as that is my internet line 5 days a week. For now I am still using my HTC T9193 until I can get this limitation fixed. The other ones are more of wishlists, but the tethering is a hard requirement.

So any suggestions? I am still looking over the ROM list. Last time I looked for a ROM though, there were a few big players and it was easy to pick which one you jived with best. Now it seems like everyone and there mother is trying to cook a ROM. I just want something that puts the phone back to the way Samsung and Google intended and not the crooks at AT&T...

Originally Posted by Vergunst

Now it seems like everyone and there mother is trying to cook a ROM.

^ This. Basically you should start looking in the "original development" subforum. I'll give you a short overview later.

Originally Posted by Vergunst

I just want something that puts the phone back to the way Samsung and Google intended and not the crooks at AT&T...

Lol. The way Google intended Android to be like and the way Samsung does are two very, very different things.
You can go with either one, but not both.

First I'd like to know what model you have, as there are different Galaxy S2's.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

ignore.....

Originally Posted by TheSniperFan

Lol. The way Google intended Android to be like and the way Samsung does are two very, very different things.

I would prefer pure GB or pure ICS. GB + Samsung bloat is OK. GB + Samsung bloat + AT&T bloat is not.

You can go with either one, but not both.

First I'd like to know what model you have, as there are different Galaxy S2's.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

SGH-i777, newest stock AT&T phone. I am not used to these crappy from-carrier phones.

Originally Posted by Vergunst

SGH-i777, newest stock AT&T phone. I am not used to these crappy from-carrier phones.

What do you mean by "from-carrier phones".
Because the original, international Galaxy S2 is the i9100. The i777 is a carrier modified version. However the i777 is the closest to the i9100 therefore it has good development (even if it's not as good as the original one when it comes to custom roms and such).

You'll get a short overview from me shortly...I'm hungry ;)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

Originally Posted by Vergunst

Short Question: What ROM is closest to the stock AT&T ROM without the bloatware and WiFi tethering snooping/limitations?

Long Question:

I am not a total buffoon, and have been running custom ROMs since my HTC Blue Angel. This week I upgraded my Telstra T9193 running WinMO and Froyo Super RAM to a stock AT&T SII. This is the first AT&T branded phone I have had in over a decade. Them changing the data plan to have caps and losing my grandfathered in plan of unlimited as being truly unlimited has forced me to switch phones to get the 5GB cap instead of the 3GB cap and then also I have been eligible for an upgrade for 8-9 years and havent because of the data plan.

So I like the look and feel of the stock ROM. However I despise all the AT&T bloatware on there and the lack of WiFi tethering. I have already rooted the device and it is ready to accept a new ROM.

What I am looking for is something that is close to stock, but doesn't have the AT&T contacts, doesn't have any of the pre-installed AT&T apps, doesn't have the limited market (they mask market apps?! WTF!), and doesn't have the AT&T modem that routes tether traffic differently so they can identify phone data versus tether data.

My biggest complaint is tethering. I need that. I use between 4GB and 10GB a month on my phone with data, as that is my internet line 5 days a week. For now I am still using my HTC T9193 until I can get this limitation fixed. The other ones are more of wishlists, but the tethering is a hard requirement.

So any suggestions? I am still looking over the ROM list. Last time I looked for a ROM though, there were a few big players and it was easy to pick which one you jived with best. Now it seems like everyone and there mother is trying to cook a ROM. I just want something that puts the phone back to the way Samsung and Google intended and not the crooks at AT&T...

Short Answer:
The following are all ICS based:
Pure AOSP - AOKP or CyanogenMod 9
Samsung Based without bloat - Ultimatum, Phone Bricker, ShoStock, etc.

Its on YOU to figure out what YOU want. This thread is probably going to be short lived as "Which ROM" threads are looked down upon.

First: xda has a i777 forum where you might get better help.

Second: The poster above me is right.

Third: I'm in rather good mood so you get a short overview anyway.

Google's gingerbread: CyanogenMod 7

Google's Ice Cream Sandwich:
CyanogenMod 9

Samsung's GB or ICS:
Take a look at the i777 forum as I own an i9100 and don't know the i777 scene.

Maybe worth a look too:
MIUI (the gingerbread version - MIUI v4 sucks). Something entirely different, although I don't know if it's available for the i777.

Hope this helps.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

Originally Posted by TheSniperFan

What do you mean by "from-carrier phones".

I either buy my phones directly from HTC or from Telstra (Australia). I have never just gone down to the AT&T store and asked for a phone since we got our original Nokia phones near the turn of the millennium.

Originally Posted by TheSniperFan

Because the original, international Galaxy S2 is the i9100. The i777 is a carrier modified version. However the i777 is the closest to the i9100 therefore it has good development (even if it's not as good as the original one when it comes to custom roms and such).

You'll get a short overview from me shortly...I'm hungry ;)

Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA

I'm going to grab lunch too.

I am downloading an ICS build from a member with a few thousand posts. For now, that is what I am going off of until I figure out what's what around here.

Originally Posted by TheSniperFan

First: xda has a i777 forum where you might get better help.

this is the i777 forum.....

Originally Posted by Pirateghost

this is the i777 forum.....

Wtf. How did I end up here? Was the thread moved or what? Because I access the Galaxy S2 forum through my favorites in the xda app.
Well, nvm...

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