Samsung Galaxy S/SGH-T959

From XDA-Developers

Model Number: SGH-T959

Specification

Manufacturer:	Samsung
Release Date:	Jul 2010
Operating System:	Android
Dimensions:	4.82" x 2.54" x 0.39"
Weight:	4.16 ounces
Chipset:	Samsung Exynos 3110
Display:	4.0" WVGA 480x800 SAMOLED
Networks:	GSM850, GSM900, GSM1800, GSM1900 UMTS1700, UMTS1900, UMTS2100
Wifi:	802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz
Bluetooth:	Yes
NFC:	Not Known
GPS:	Yes
Video out:	Not Known
Camera:	5.0 MP
Secondary Camera:	No
Internal Memory:	16 GB NAND
Memory Card:	microSD, microSDHC
Battery:	1500 mAh
Additional Features:	FM Tuner

Introduction

With the confluence of increasingly powerful hand-held devices and a relatively open software platform such as Android, more and more people are becoming curious about the possibilities of tinkering with these devices. With this curiosity comes inquiry, and this inquiry leads to exploration. However, while the resources to accomplish many exciting tasks are readily available, it is more than a trivial task to find answers for the questions those tasks elicit. Often finding the right question to ask is the real challenge.

This Wiki is intended to provide clarity to those who are just starting with Android, specifically the Samsung Vibrant. The resources gathered here, however, should also be valuable to seasoned users.

This is the Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant (SGH-T959) for T-Mobile. Not to be confused with the international variant (GT-I9000), Samsung Galaxy S 4G (SGH-T959V), Bell Vibrant (GT-I9000M), or any other variant for other carriers.

Getting started

So you want to tinker with the Vibrant...

Initially approaching the topic of customization for the Vibrant (or any Android powered phone, for that matter) is daunting for the simple fact that it can be difficult to determine where to start. Most users that have explored this topic have learned that "rooting" is the first step.

Rooting

What is rooting?

Simply put, "rooting" is what enables you, the user, to make changes to the Android system that would normally be locked safely away.

Linux, the operating system on which Android is based, has a strict access structure that restricts all users from making significant changes to operating system. The only avenue by which system changes can be made is be entering a privileged mode called "root", or "super-user".

In Android environments, this privileged mode is inaccessible by default. The only way to make system changes is to use a special program called "Superuser" to mediate those actions. The process of "rooting" involves exploiting a security flaw in the OS to load the "Superuser" program onto the phone. As a result, the specific "rooting" process is typically different from phone to phone. The good news: super-smart, super-persistent Android hackers have found a way to root nearly every Android phone out there today.

Rooting Methods

Rooting a device has been easier than the past. Download the following ZIP and flash it in Clockwork Recovery.

Superuser v3.0.7: http://downloads.androidsu.com/superuser/Superuser-3.0.7-efghi-signed.zip

Binary v3.0.3.2: http://downloads.androidsu.com/superuser/su-bin-3.0.3.2-efghi-signed.zip

SuperSU gives you extra stability, functionality, or a replacement for Superuser. Must have ROOTED device to install. DO NOT UNINSTALL SUPERUSER AFTER! IT IS NECESSARY OR SUPERSU WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY.

SuperSU: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1538053

How To Flash a ROM

This is a generic guide that should work with all Vibrant ROMs that have been packaged into a flashable zip for use with Clockwork Recovery. Please read all information in the initial post of each ROM release thread in case there are additional instructions from the dev specific to that ROM.

Step 1: Root your phone.

Step 2: Go to the Market and download ROM Manager or the apk at http://www.clockworkmod.com/rommanager (in case if you don't have Google Apps installed).

Step 3: Open ROM Manager and select Flash ClockworkMod Recovery. Select Samsung Vibrant (MTD).

Step 4: Find a ROM of your choosing that says it can be flashed via Clockwork Recovery. This file will be a .zip file. If it is a .pit or .tar file, you will need to flash via Odin (which is explained in another section of this Wiki).

Step 5: Download the ROM of your choice, making sure that it is put onto the internal SD card NOT the external. Also, DO NOT rename the file.

Step 6: Reboot into ClockworkMod Recovery. There are several ways to do this: click Reboot into Recovery in ROM Manager or power off your phone and use the 3 button combo (power and volume up & down). If you initially go into stock recovery (a screen with blue lettering, an exclamation point and only 4 options) don't panic. Simply select "reinstall packages" using the volume rocker and then the power button once your selection is highlighted. Sometimes you will have to select "reinstall packages" twice.

Step 7: When you see green letters, you are in Clockwork Recovery. Select "install zip from sd card" and then "choose zip from sd card." Find the ROM .zip file that you downloaded in Step 5 and put on your internal SD. Select it.

Step 8: Let the install do its thing. Wait until it says the installation is complete.

Step 9: Go back to the main Clockwork Recovery menu and select "reboot system now."

Step 10: Enjoy your new custom ROM.

Check the Guides section of this Wiki for more detailed information, including how to backup your data before flashing a new ROM.

ROMs

Custom Roms

(See Custom ROMs)

Utilities/Tools

At some point or another, any Vibrant user who delves into modding/hacking/improving their device will find themselves needing a it more than a just their phone, pc and interface cable. Below are a few utilities to assist with access to parts of the Vibrant unaccessible otherwise.

ADB

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a small command-line utility for PC's (Windows and Linux) included as part of the Android Software Development Kit (Android SDK). It's not particularly complicated, but it does provide an external path to allow manipulation of the Android hardware, making it indispensable. From the command line, it's possible to reboot and enter recovery mode, push files onto the phone's memory, and allow or shell access to the phone. For those people who have hardware locked phones that wont allow entry to recovery mode using the phone's hardware buttons, ADB is often the easiest means of getting into recovery.

In order to use ADB, the correct USB drivers must be installed. See the drivers section for links.

ADB Guidance:

There are many resources explaining the many uses of ADB. Google's website on ADB is quite informative, but may be overkill for some folks looking to do very simple tasks. An XDA user, Nephron has put together a how-to page with details on setting everything up.

Basic ADB Commands: Run from the Windows/Linux/Mac command line.

adb devices Used initially upon connecting the phone to computer. This will start the ADB server if it is not started and return a unique identifier for th attached phone. This will provide confirmation that the phone is connected and ready to receive commands from ADB.

adb reboot recovery This will send a command to the attached device to reboot into recovery mode.

adb shell Access of the Android shell of the connected phone is one using this command.

adb kill-server Used to stop the ADB server (if having trouble getting ADB to recognize the device)

adb start-server Often used in conjunction with the 'kill-server'.

Getting ADB

ADB is most readily available as part of the Android SDK available from Google's Android site directly: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

Drivers

Windows USB drivers for Vibrant: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=728929
Generic ADB drivers: http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html

Flashing Utilities

Odin: http://goo-inside.me/tools/odin1.85.zip
Heimdall: http://www.glassechidna.com.au/products/heimdall/

Links

External Links

Guides

Complete Teardown of a i9000 Samsung Galaxy S (Very similar to Samsung Vibrant) http://www.squidoo.com/disassembly-of-samsung-galaxy-s
How to Guides for doing things in Ubuntu OS (Requires you running Ubuntu on your computer) http://www.xxthe3dmanxx.com/guides.html

Model Specific Details

Country

USA

Original Cellphone Carrier

Vibrant T-Mobile

Compatible Cellphone Carrier

Wind Mobile (Canada) ATT (1900 UMTS) Mobilicity (Canada)

Quad Band Voice GSM:

850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Quad Band Data GSM/GPRS/EDGE/2G:

850/900/1800/1900 MHz

Tri Band Data 3G/HSDPA:

1700/1900/2100 MHz

Internal SD

16 GB

Included External SD

2GB

Other Features:

4 Soft buttons
TV-Out
No Front Facing Camera (however there is a hardware mod to add one)

Samsung SGH-T959 Galaxy S Vibrant Specs on pdadb.net

Samsung Galaxy S/SGH-T959

Contents

Introduction

Getting started

Rooting

What is rooting?

Rooting Methods

How To Flash a ROM

ROMs

Custom Roms

Utilities/Tools

ADB

Drivers

Flashing Utilities

Links

Guides

Unlocking your phone

Adding a Front Facing Camera to your Vibrant

ROM Information

External Links

Guides

Model Specific Details

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