Please don't kick me for asking, but what happened to AOKP here?

[LXative]

I got in to rooting and flashing when I was on my Samsung Fascinate, it was the device I learned the ropes on. By the time I was ready to upgrade devices, I was already running ICS on my Fascinate. We all know the history of the S3 and it being a flagship device for Samsung......and there were countless ROM builds for it. One of the most stable team builds I've ever been on was AOKP. Coming up through versions of OTA builds, AOKP was always on top....IMO. There were other ROM's that opened different customizations, but in my eyes none were as solid and consistent as AOKP was. Then we all know the hybrid ROM's came about, based on several different builds. There is where I found Rootbox, to this day I don't think I'll ever find a more complete and stable ROM. Its too bad its dev dropped building, but good for him as he was finishing school.

After owning my Note 3 now since it hit the stores, I finally rooted and flashed about a month or better ago. I tried a few ROM's, wasn't impressed with anything.....then a friend recommended HyperDrive. I had been on Release 7 for about a month, and pretty damn happy. Recently I flashed to their Release 8, which is KitKat. Granted, I know development is still early on KK.....but I've just been overwhelmed with the errors and bugs. I am generally a patient person, but this "stable" release is far from my experience with the S3 ROM's. And I do take into consideration these are two very different devices, based on different builds of Android software also.

Am I being too critical? Should I just shut up and wait it out? Where is AOKP? Where are the other teams with their big builds? Are they beyond forums now, and strictly WikiRoot and Gooim? I don't even venture over there, so I may really be missing out all together. A quick glimpse at AOKP's site and I found Note3 nightlies for "Unified Note 3", no specific carrier. Is this for ALL devices Note 3? Am I getting too old for this stuff?

Someone pass me a beer. :laugh:

 

[airmaxx23]

I got in to rooting and flashing when I was on my Samsung Fascinate, it was the device I learned the ropes on. By the time I was ready to upgrade devices, I was already running ICS on my Fascinate. We all know the history of the S3 and it being a flagship device for Samsung......and there were countless ROM builds for it. One of the most stable team builds I've ever been on was AOKP. Coming up through versions of OTA builds, AOKP was always on top....IMO. There were other ROM's that opened different customizations, but in my eyes none were as solid and consistent as AOKP was. Then we all know the hybrid ROM's came about, based on several different builds. There is where I found Rootbox, to this day I don't think I'll ever find a more complete and stable ROM. Its too bad its dev dropped building, but good for him as he was finishing school.

After owning my Note 3 now since it hit the stores, I finally rooted and flashed about a month or better ago. I tried a few ROM's, wasn't impressed with anything.....then a friend recommended HyperDrive. I had been on Release 7 for about a month, and pretty damn happy. Recently I flashed to their Release 8, which is KitKat. Granted, I know development is still early on KK.....but I've just been overwhelmed with the errors and bugs. I am generally a patient person, but this "stable" release is far from my experience with the S3 ROM's. And I do take into consideration these are two very different devices, based on different builds of Android software also.

Am I being too critical? Should I just shut up and wait it out? Where is AOKP? Where are the other teams with their big builds? Are they beyond forums now, and strictly WikiRoot and Gooim? I don't even venture over there, so I may really be missing out all together. A quick glimpse at AOKP's site and I found Note3 nightlies for "Unified Note 3", no specific carrier. Is this for ALL devices Note 3? Am I getting too old for this stuff?

Someone pass me a beer. :laugh:

With a locked boot loader we're currently stuck with TW based ROMs. If you're having that many bugs on HyperDrive give a different ROM a try. I use a few different ones and do not have any issues at all.

 

[droidstyle]

Only the developer editions can run AOSP roms...retail devices are stuck with touch wiz because safestrap recvovery limits you to using the stock kernel only. I feel your pain with TW KitKat NC2...it is pretty buggy. Hoping the NC4 update will fix some things. For the mean time I am chillaxin on Beans MJE B.6

 

[LeftyGR]

I can't believe you just asked that!

Request denied: Imma gonna kick you!!

 

[Easymfe]

I came from a Droid RAZR (original) that used Safestrap with a locked bootloader, but it had tons of AOSP and AOKP roms. What makes the Note 3 different?

Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app

 

[NeoMagus]

Retail Note 3 is locked to the stock kernel, aosp uses a diff one. I think others like Bionic can use kexec to boot which was what they were looking into on NC2 since kernel modules are enabled (and why they told everyone not to take the ota)

 

[LXative]

Thanks for the replies. I will admit I know how to get rooted and flash ROM's, but don't know a whole lot about the guts of the phone along with these limitations.

So in short, the retail carrier phones are all TouchWhiz forever? I am pulling that correctly out of these replies? Or is this something that some of the cell phone hacking geniuses that bring us this whole side of the cellular world, actually be able to overcome to allow us to run AOSP?

On an additional note, are all devices going to be like this from here on out? I had no clue about a "developer edition" phone, how does one acquire such a device?

Man, I need to catch up on my lingo.

 

[droidstyle]

Thanks for the replies. I will admit I know how to get rooted and flash ROM's, but don't know a whole lot about the guts of the phone along with these limitations.

So in short, the retail carrier phones are all TouchWhiz forever? I am pulling that correctly out of these replies? Or is this something that some of the cell phone hacking geniuses that bring us this whole side of the cellular world, actually be able to overcome to allow us to run AOSP?

On an additional note, are all devices going to be like this from here on out? I had no clue about a "developer edition" phone, how does one acquire such a device?

Man, I need to catch up on my lingo.

What you are use to no longer exists...Samsung is locking the device so tight these days, root will more then likely be a thing of the past. The VZW S5 has a 12k bounty just for root and nobody has cracked it. The developer editions are going to be the only way to root and flash roms. The downfall is you have to buy the device outright, no warranty, and samsung nor verizon provides updates for the DE. You would think no big deal, I will rely on Devs for updates, but there is a catch.

These days a lot of stuff is hidden in the bootloader partition that allows certain features of the device to work correctly. So If I want to upgrade from MJE to NC2 I need to flash a modified firmware pack. The problem is with DE is we can not flash that firmware pack without locking the bootloader. So we are then left with using a modfified stock kernel which allows us to use kitkat but we have to deal with certain bugs.

On a side note we can run AOSP all day with no issues being it uses its own kernel, but there is very few devs left working on Verizon devices. CM11 is all we have. I believe we can run some T-mobile roms with Apn edits.

The retail edition relies on Root privilidges for safe strap recovery to work. However since kernel modules are disabled on the latest update, kexec or any side load program that installs kernels will not work. Therfore Touchwiz is what all the retail devices can run.

It is really a no win situation at this point with Samsung devices on Verizon. Both Retail and DE have their own limitations.

I will probably continue to purchase Dev edition phones since I buy my device outright to keep unlimited. Also I am guranteed root capability to at the very least and I can mod my own stock rom. And if the retail gets a update down the road that is worthy of taking, I can choose to take it and lock the device. However as slow as verizon releases updates, I will most likely move on to another device before the update has any relevancy.


Your best bet is to move to T-mobile if you want a lot of development...I would but I am not sold on their service around my area.

 

[LXative]

Awesome, thanks for the break down.......it really helped me understand things a lot better.

Seems like I might just be best to flash back to stock and be happy as possible with the customization features Apex gives me. I REALLY don't understand the logic in locking the devs......no matter what they do, in the least someone is going to try to break into it.......especially if it is a popular device. It wouldn't be so bad on the other hand, if they would give us just some of the customization's that you can find in just about every custom ROM out there. You know they are paying attention to what the developers do on forums like this......but I personally really don't see them doing anything about it.

FYI, I too wanted to keep my data plan so I bought my Note 3 out right.....had no real clue about the dev edition though. From the sounds of it, I'm pretty discouraged about the current time and future of customization......especially for those of us who bought our phones out right. Pisses me off.

I've considered T-Mobile too, and it works fine everywhere but where I work. Being I get a stipend, I can't have a cell phone while I am at work.....that doesn't work. Or else I'd be long gone.

 

[Inkedadrenaline]

Only the developer editions can run AOSP roms...retail devices are stuck with touch wiz because safestrap recvovery limits you to using the stock kernel only. I feel your pain with TW KitKat NC2...it is pretty buggy. Hoping the NC4 update will fix some things. For the mean time I am chillaxin on Beans MJE B.6

This. No need to go away from Beans mje build until I buy a new home...

 

[Morkai Almandragon]

Actually I was under the impression the leak allowed for an unsigned kernel and there was work on an AOSP rom for the vzw Note 3?

 

[LeftyGR]

Actually I was under the impression the leak allowed for an unsigned kernel and there was work on an AOSP rom for the vzw Note 3?

The leak allows a "possible" exploit of our bootloader that would allow kernel modification. I'm sure smart people are trying. But what I've heard is that even the smarties will find this hard to do. Plus we don't even know if it will work.

I guarantee you if someone finds a way, it will be supwr noticable where to find that info on the forum.

<Note3>

 

[badchorizo]

Not trying to derail the thread, but it sounds like a couple of you bought devices outright "to keep unlimited data." Despite what vzw customer service and tech support may say, that is not true at all. I and many others with unlimited got a subsidized N3 from vzw. If you have a non-unlimited line on your account due for an upgrade, use it to get subsidized N3 on same capped data plan. Activate N3 and make calls on it. Turn off both phones. Go online and transfer lines on myverizon. Change N3 to your unlimited phone number. Take SIM card out of your current unlimited device and put in N3, turn on and call the device activation number just like you had purchased a phone outright from third party. There's another step in there about lUk8dia753 reactivating the original phone back on its original capped line, but I forget when you do it. Google knows. The point is Verizon will subsidize new devices that end up on unlimited data plans. In a circuitous way, it's legally required by the conditions of their purchase of the block c spectrum - the open device rule.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[droidstyle]

Not trying to derail the thread, but it sounds like a couple of you bought devices outright "to keep unlimited data." Despite what vzw customer service and tech support may say, that is not true at all. I and many others with unlimited got a subsidized N3 from vzw. If you have a non-unlimited line on your account due for an upgrade, use it to get subsidized N3 on same capped data plan. Activate N3 and make calls on it. Turn off both phones. Go online and transfer lines on myverizon. Change N3 to your unlimited phone number. Take SIM card out of your current unlimited device and put in N3, turn on and call the device activation number just like you had purchased a phone outright from third party. There's another step in there about lUk8dia753 reactivating the original phone back on its original capped line, but I forget when you do it. Google knows. The point is Verizon will subsidize new devices that end up on unlimited data plans. In a circuitous way, it's legally required by the conditions of their purchase of the block c spectrum - the open device rule.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

True but that does not work when the other lines on your account already have used their upgrade and are out 2yrs before they can upgrade. So from July 2012- July 2014, I have to buy my device outright to keep unlimited.

 

[mgftp]

Being someone who is trying to learn about rooting etc. I have found this thread very useful. To me if I choose to root a phone the biggest benefits I see would be getting rid of bloat and the UI. I love "plain" Android and Nexus devices, I like things simple, uncluttered, as I believe the way Google intends for it to be.

So if I understand this correctly at this point with a rooted Note3 I can not enjoy the benefits of running a stock JB or KK rom as it was straight from Google? Something about a locked bootloader is preventing these type of roms from running on our devices as of now, and who knows for how long?

 

[BigMcGuire]

Being someone who is trying to learn about rooting etc. I have found this thread very useful. To me if I choose to root a phone the biggest benefits I see would be getting rid of bloat and the UI. I love "plain" Android and Nexus devices, I like things simple, uncluttered, as I believe the way Google intends for it to be.

So if I understand this correctly at this point with a rooted Note3 I can not enjoy the benefits of running a stock JB or KK rom as it was straight from Google? Something about a locked bootloader is preventing these type of roms from running on our devices as of now, and who knows for how long?

You and I both - I find a huge attraction with the Nexus devices. Problem is, I'm on a carrier that refuses to carry them because they can't load adware on the phone and make a huge profit on what is already a huge profit (Verizon Wireless). I spent most of my youth on T-Mobile so when I got the Droid 1 on Verizon, I was pretty happy - better reception, etc... but the whole concept of adware really ticked me off. Without adware we could get a lot better battery life. These apps were running in the background of a phone I bought and paid money for (or promised $ for 2 years). What gives them the right to load it with adware?

The HTC Thunderbolt on Verizon - I was the first few to get it... The Blockbuster app glitched and was stuck downloading gigs of movie thumbnails. This killed the phone in 5-6 hours - no matter how many times you killed the app, it would start up and go downloading again till your battery ran out. Not only was Verizon forcing adware but the adware apps were so poorly programmed it drove me to Apple. Good job Google/Verizon! So after a few years of Apple (adware less phones) and relative bliss.... I went back to Android with the Moto X and now the Note 3. Sure, freezing Adware is nice... but rooting still provided much better battery life.

I'm one of those people who doesn't understand the idea of paying Direct TV/Cable TV $120+/mo for them to make $$$$ off of you via advertisements. If I pay retail for my phone (Verizon Edge plan) - I expect it to be mine.

I'm a sucker for ASOP.... but after owning the Note 3 for awhile (rooted) - I highly recommend you try it out. I'm getting insane battery life, the OS is light and fast, I run a custom launcher (Nova), and there is absolutely no adware/app that runs on my phone that I don't want. My only fear is... after the Note 3 (since the S5 is impossible to root and most likely the Note 4) - what will we have? Google Play Editions??? This mystical expensive Silver editions???

I'll try to keep my Note 3 as long as I can but if Google is getting rid of the Nexus lineup .... either I'll have to go back to T-Mobile - they do pay the ETF. Quite a few of the Verizon Note 3 devs left for T-Mobile.

Back to your post ---- there are quite a few lightweight roms to flashs on the Note 3 even a 600mb one!

 

[shaw0050]

True but that does not work when the other lines on your account already have used their upgrade and are out 2yrs before they can upgrade. So from July 2012- July 2014, I have to buy my device outright to keep unlimited.

You can transfer your upgrade to one of those lines. That's what I did - the capped line I used isn't due for an upgrade for another couple of weeks, but mine was up back in December. So I "gave" that upgrade to the capped line, bought a Note 3, and then swapped sims.

 

[droidstyle]

You can transfer your upgrade to one of those lines. That's what I did - the capped line I used isn't due for an upgrade for another couple of weeks, but mine was up back in December. So I "gave" that upgrade to the capped line, bought a Note 3, and then swapped sims.

Not sure how you accomplished that but I tried and was told I would lose unlimited if I transfered my upgrade to another line. Aside from that I will probably continue to purchase developer devices being Samsung retail devices can no longer be rooted.

 

[mgftp]

Not sure how you accomplished that but I tried and was told I would lose unlimited if I transfered my upgrade to another line. Aside from that I will probably continue to purchase developer devices being Samsung retail devices can no longer be rooted.

If you are interested in a retail device and using your upgrade you can purchase from an online retailer such as best buy and select keep old plan and ship to home. As long as you insert your current sim card before powering it on and discard the new one they send you you will keep your UDP and have your contract extended two years when you power up the new device. The trigger to knock you off UDP is tied to the new sim, nothing else. There are many threads around various forums regarding this but look at android central and slickdeals if you wanna know more.

Slickdeals thread: http://slickdeals.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6964624

 

[Morlok8k]

i kept unlimited by upgrading a basic phone (with no data plan) on my plan to the note 3, then switching it to my line.

edit: but i dont know how you get 20GB with reqular use. i get about 4-5gb with regular use, and my highest was 18gb in a month by USB tethering to my computer and torrenting a bunch of "linux software distros".