Kernels, Firmwares, OS versions, ROMs confusions

[wolfman87]

Maybe I'm the only one confused (I doubt that though ) but there is a lack of clarity on different elements in the Development section (and others) about what is what.


To clarify (from what I understand:

Asus Firmware Updates
(things you get OTA if you're not unlocked and have nothing to do with Android per se., but Asus's implementation)

.22 was the release
.26 updates the scheduler and a few other things
.30 updated the camera

Was there a different JB release or is that only ROM dependent? There is a lot of talk about moving between .30 and JB.

Some ROMs/Recoveries are for ICS, others for JB, some for both. Which are which?
ex. CM10 is JB based, but will it work on an ICS BL and .26? From what I understand it will. If that is the case, what would be the advantage of updating my firmware? Does the Firmware update the bootloader as well? If I update firmware should it be to .30 and then to JB (see previous question about this)

Now, lets pull in the bootloaders:
TF700 ICS BL
TF300 BL
TF700 JB BL


There are also different guides for updating certain things, but not others. It's all generally confusing.

I'm not trying to piss and moan, I just think that there is a lot of information out there in specific pieces but not all of it connects. Lots of great options exist, but those of us who want to flash better ROMs and different Recoveries also need to understand how they are connected so we don't brick.

Thanks for anyone who can put this all together. I have a feeling it would be a pretty long post .

 

[_that]

Maybe I'm the only one confused (I doubt that though )

I am also confused, but at a different level, so I can at least clarify some of your points and ask others for more clarification.

Asus Firmware Updates
(things you get OTA if you're not unlocked and have nothing to do with Android per se., but Asus's implementation)

.22 was the release
.26 updates the scheduler and a few other things
.30 updated the camera

Was there a different JB release or is that only ROM dependent? There is a lot of talk about moving between .30 and JB.

The ASUS firmware consists of everything your tablet needs - bootloader, Android kernel, recovery kernel, Android apps and custom apps. Some updates may not include new versions of all components. The combination of everything except the bootloader is what most would call "ROM".
The version numbers in your list are 9.4.5.x, and all are based on Android 4.0 (ICS).

The ASUS JB release (Android 4.1) is firmware version 10.4.4.16.

Some ROMs/Recoveries are for ICS, others for JB, some for both. Which are which?
ex. CM10 is JB based, but will it work on an ICS BL and .26?

Now it gets interesting. First of all, starting with the bootloader released with 9.4.5.30, Asus changed something in the bootloader that disallows - if I understood it correctly - flashing an unsigned bootloader even on unlocked devices, and that means no downgrade to the .26 bootloader, and more importantly, no way to flash the AndroidRoot bootloader that enables us to create the initial blobs for wheelie and NVFlash.

And there appear to be some incompatibilities between versions of bootloaders and kernels - I would also like to know why exactly.
Also, some recoveries are incompatible either with specific bootloaders, or with some changes in the Android system partition introduced with JB. If anyone could shed some light on this, it would be very appreciated.

 

[pbrauer]

Maybe I'm the only one confused (I doubt that though ) but there is a lack of clarity on different elements in the Development section (and others) about what is what.


To clarify (from what I understand:

Asus Firmware Updates
(things you get OTA if you're not unlocked and have nothing to do with Android per se., but Asus's implementation)

.22 was the release
.26 updates the scheduler and a few other things
.30 updated the camera

Was there a different JB release or is that only ROM dependent? There is a lot of talk about moving between .30 and JB.

Some ROMs/Recoveries are for ICS, others for JB, some for both. Which are which?
ex. CM10 is JB based, but will it work on an ICS BL and .26? From what I understand it will. If that is the case, what would be the advantage of updating my firmware? Does the Firmware update the bootloader as well? If I update firmware should it be to .30 and then to JB (see previous question about this)

Now, lets pull in the bootloaders:
TF700 ICS BL
TF300 BL
TF700 JB BL


There are also different guides for updating certain things, but not others. It's all generally confusing.

I'm not trying to piss and moan, I just think that there is a lot of information out there in specific pieces but not all of it connects. Lots of great options exist, but those of us who want to flash better ROMs and different Recoveries also need to understand how they are connected so we don't brick.

Thanks for anyone who can put this all together. I have a feeling it would be a pretty long post .

I can't speak for the other guides, but I do try to organize the ROMs by what version they are (JB or ICS), and if there are specfic limiations for recoveries or kernels, i try to note those items too.

As for the moving between JB and .30, or downgrading for various reasons, there were a lot of things people did to port the TF300 ROMs to work on the 700 at the same time a patch came out for the 700 (.30). The combination of these things happening at the same time meant that people had bootloader issues, or had ROMs that limited what they could do long term. I know that does not clarify what they do, but hopefully helps explain why it happened.

I try to keep the directory i maintain updated every day M-F and once during the weekends. If there are specific things you would like to see, please feel free to PM me with details.

 

[MartyHulskemper]

OK, here goes with what very little I know. You are correct, as far as I know, in the things you put on there...

NOTE: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... Call in when you have something to add, correct or detract -- I've had several long, busy, stressful night shifts and I'm bound to have screwed up here and there. Please correct me if so.


ASUS Firmware updates:

* .22 was the release firmware
* .26 changed the scheduler from noop to cfq, smoothing out disk-write performance a bit, alleviating I/O issues to at least some extent; some minor app updates as well, it seems.
* .30 updated camera firmware (removing the clicking sound, amongst other minor fixes). The big thing was it updated the bootloader as well (without notice), which later turned out to prevent installation of Nvflash. This effectively shuts out those who flashed the .30 OTA or .30 manual ASUS firmware files from the added security of Nvflash... for now.
* .16 is the initial JB update

Confusion may stem from our colloquial designation for JB (.16) being out of order with the ICS builds that came before it (.22/.26/.30) -- our tendency to abbreviate anything needing more than three keystrokes has turned to shoot some people in the foot. If, however, you look at the full build number, the difference is quite evident:

.22 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.22 = ICS
.26 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.26 = ICS
.30 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.30 = ICS

.16 = ASUS firmware version 10.4.4.16 = JB


Bootloaders:

I believe any CM10/AOKP-based ROM will happily boot off of both the ICS and JB bootloaders. Currently, however, there seems to be no specific need or benefit to using the JB bootloader, so I'd stay away from it whenever possible.


Recoveries:

* The official ClockworkMod 6.0.1.4 Touch recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1926286 and
* The official ClockworkMod 6.0.1.4 Non-touch recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886901
both support ICS and JB bootloaders and carry device-specific fixes for the TF700

* TWRP 2.2.2.3 touch recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1797692
supports ICS and JB bootloaders and carry device-specific fixes for the TF700


ROMs, with the criteria as set forth by their devs, updated with users' experience:

* CleanROM Ultra Lite Edition 1.2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919851
UPDATED: Jellybean bootloader and TWRP 2.2.2.x+ are a preferred combination (by way of its developer), but the (.30) ICS bootloader works as well (thanks, Nebucatnetzer!)

* Stock Root Odex / De-Odex - 10.4.4.16 Base: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919271
REQUIRES JB bootloader and recent version of either ClockworkMod or TWRP (for it, obviously, needs JB support)

* Zeus_TF700T_series_v4.0: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1803386
has only been tested by Zeus on TWRP, but can install with ClockworkMod 6.0.1.4.

* Team EOS 3 *JELLYBEAN* Nightlies: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1887948
Currently DOES NOT BOOT AT ALL.

* Baked Black Bean 5 - Infinity Edition: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1884703
Installs with both ICS and JB bootloaders, and should install with either ClockworkMod or TWRP (have only tested it using TWRP)

* TF700T PARANOIDANDROID 2.17: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1904894
Installs with both ICS and JB bootloaders, and should install with either ClockworkMod or TWRP


Individual kernels:

* Mystical Kernel v0.1 for Official TF700 JB: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1922747
As the name implies, this is ONLY for JB.
Works with: CleanRom1.x and probably other stock-based ROMs
Does NOT work with: Black Bean v5 -- and therefore probably other CM10/AOKP-based ROMs
NOTE: you will lose ADB as root. This is a very young kernel. (NOTE: 'Immature' has a derogatory feel to it, which I tried to avoid.)

* Nice link aggregate how-to of STOCK ICS (.26 and .30) and STOCK JB (0.16) kernels and UNOFFICIAL CM10 kernels, and boot restore how-to added in for good measure, courtesy of Pretoriano80: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919961 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1833212 as well.


Loose ends:

I think a lot of the confusion stems from the fact that, in and of themselves, kernels and recoveries are interdependent, but not equivalent -- several times something was posted along the lines of "JB recovery kernel". It's probably best to stay on the ICS bootloader if you can help it, and only update it when you really need to (which doesn't actually seem to have been the case, yet). If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

 

[wolfman87]

Bootloaders:

I believe any CM10/AOKP-based ROM will happily boot off of both the ICS and JB bootloaders.

Thanks for writing all of this amongst a busy schedule - it's happening to me top (XDA is a nice short release during the day when I have a free minute )


When you say both ICS and JB Bootloaders, do you mean .26 and .30 respectively (since those are the ROMs that came bundled with them)?

numbers v. names is another thing we can add to the confusion pile

 

[Nebucatnetzer]

* CleanROM Ultra Lite Edition 1.2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919851
REQUIRES Jellybean bootloader and TWRP 2.2.2.x+

It's suggested buy the dev but it doesn't actually need the Jellybean bootloader.
I'm running .30 and it works without a problem so far.

 

[MartyHulskemper]

It's suggested buy the dev but it doesn't actually need the Jellybean bootloader.
I'm running .30 and it works without a problem so far.

Ouch -- managed to get Nvflash beforehand or have we lost you? :fingers-crossed:

---------- Post added at 02:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 AM ----------

Thanks for writing all of this amongst a busy schedule - it's happening to me top (XDA is a nice short release during the day when I have a free minute )


When you say both ICS and JB Bootloaders, do you mean .26 and .30 respectively (since those are the ROMs that came bundled with them)?

numbers v. names is another thing we can add to the confusion pile

Good point! Actually, the answer would be 'no' -- I updated my reply above to answer this; I'll add it here for the sake of chronology and readability -- the first three (.22/.26/.30) contain ICS bootloaders, and the first (and as of now only ) JB bootloader is .16, so, as above:

.22 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.22 = ICS
.26 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.26 = ICS
.30 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.30 = ICS

.16 = ASUS firmware version 10.4.4.16 = JB

Note that the confusion stems from us having called the first few firmwares by their incremental build number -- this is what is currently shooting some people in the foot. If, however, you look at the full build number, the difference is quite evident.

 

[pbrauer]

Marty and Wolfman, thanks for the question and thanks for the summary. I try to keep the links in one place, but also see all the confusion! I have taken liberty of referencing this thread, and copying part of it into the Directory thread that I maintain.

Hope that you don't mind!

 

[NeoGodSpeed]

OK, here goes with what very little I know. You are correct, as far as I know, in the things you put on there...

NOTE: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE... Call in when you have something to add, correct or detract -- I've had several long, busy, stressful night shifts and I'm bound to have screwed up here and there. Please correct me if so.


ASUS Firmware updates:

* .22 was the release firmware
* .26 changed the scheduler from noop to cfq, smoothing out disk-write performance a bit, alleviating I/O issues to at least some extent; some minor app updates as well, it seems.
* .30 updated camera firmware (removing the clicking sound, amongst other minor fixes). The big thing was it updated the bootloader as well (without notice), which later turned out to prevent installation of Nvflash. This effectively shuts out those who flashed the .30 OTA or .30 manual ASUS firmware files from the added security of Nvflash... for now.
* .16 is the initial JB update

Confusion may stem from our colloquial designation for JB (.16) being out of order with the ICS builds that came before it (.22/.26/.30) -- our tendency to abbreviate anything needing more than three keystrokes has turned to shoot some people in the foot. If, however, you look at the full build number, the difference is quite evident:

.22 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.22 = ICS
.26 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.26 = ICS
.30 = ASUS firmware version 9.4.5.30 = ICS

.16 = ASUS firmware version 10.4.4.16 = JB


Bootloaders:

I believe any CM10/AOKP-based ROM will happily boot off of both the ICS and JB bootloaders. Currently, however, there seems to be no specific need or benefit to using the JB bootloader, so I'd stay away from it whenever possible.


Recoveries:

* The official ClockworkMod 6.0.1.4 Touch recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1926286 and
* The official ClockworkMod 6.0.1.4 Non-touch recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886901
both support ICS and JB bootloaders and carry device-specific fixes for the TF700

* TWRP 2.2.2.3 touch recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1797692
supports ICS and JB bootloaders and carry device-specific fixes for the TF700


ROMs, with the criteria as set forth by their devs, updated with users' experience:

* CleanROM Ultra Lite Edition 1.2: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919851
UPDATED: Jellybean bootloader and TWRP 2.2.2.x+ are a preferred combination (by way of its developer), but the (.30) ICS bootloader works as well (thanks, Nebucatnetzer!)

* Stock Root Odex / De-Odex - 10.4.4.16 Base: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919271
REQUIRES JB bootloader and recent version of either ClockworkMod or TWRP (for it, obviously, needs JB support)

* Zeus_TF700T_series_v4.0: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1803386
has only been tested by Zeus on TWRP, but can install with ClockworkMod 6.0.1.4.

* Team EOS 3 *JELLYBEAN* Nightlies: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1887948
Currently DOES NOT BOOT AT ALL.

* Baked Black Bean 5 - Infinity Edition: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1884703
Installs with both ICS and JB bootloaders, and should install with either ClockworkMod or TWRP (have only tested it using TWRP)

* TF700T PARANOIDANDROID 2.17: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1904894
Installs with both ICS and JB bootloaders, and should install with either ClockworkMod or TWRP


Individual kernels:

* Mystical Kernel v0.1 for Official TF700 JB: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1922747
As the name implies, this is ONLY for JB.
Works with: CleanRom1.x and probably other stock-based ROMs
Does NOT work with: Black Bean v5 -- and therefore probably other CM10/AOKP-based ROMs
NOTE: you will lose ADB as root. This is a very young kernel. (NOTE: 'Immature' has a derogatory feel to it, which I tried to avoid.)

* Nice link aggregate how-to of STOCK ICS (.26 and .30) and STOCK JB (0.16) kernels and UNOFFICIAL CM10 kernels, and boot restore how-to added in for good measure, courtesy of Pretoriano80: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1919961 and http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1833212 as well.


Loose ends:

I think a lot of the confusion stems from the fact that, in and of themselves, kernels and recoveries are interdependent, but not equivalent -- several times something was posted along the lines of "JB recovery kernel". It's probably best to stay on the ICS bootloader if you can help it, and only update it when you really need to (which doesn't actually seem to have been the case, yet). If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

Thanks Alot for this very helpfull post

Can this post be added to a sticky and be updated when new roms are released, this info would help so many searching for answers

 

[okantomi]

Thanks Alot for this very helpfull post

Can this post be added to a sticky and be updated when new roms are released, this info would help so many searching for answers

I would say that some of that guidance is a bit out of date, but it is very nicely organized!

First, think whether you will want to go with stock-based roms. CleanROM Inheritance v2.5.1 is the latest and greatest version of the TF700 Infinity's stock-based offerings and this has the Aroma installer and has Clemsyn's overclocked kernel as an option during the install process. For this ROM, it is a good idea to use the latest TWRP recovery (install through Goomanager) but CWM is OK too. Another offshoot of scrosler's original CleanROM is being supported through the original CleanROM thread. The ROM I had tried was very nice.

If you would rather go Cyanogenmod-way, then you have the official CM ROM, you also have CM based Paranoid Android, Baked Black Bean and LiquidROMs. You also have Clemsyn's CM kernels, and CWM recovery. I think it's best to stick with CM/AOKP/AOSP--or--stock-based. They're like complete systems. There are other offerings too, and I don't mean any disrespect if I've missed any currently supported ROMs here, but there are a few that don't appear to be current anymore.

Good luck!