RETIRED:[ROM][RHODIUM][US][Lite] 6.5 Foundation v1.0(Sense 2.1)(T-Mobile) 25-Jul-2010

[Joe USer]

I have decided to retire this ROM, it has served it's purpose and it is time to move on.

I'm very new at this, so don't expect anything flashy, I'm going for stability.

I'm working on a T-Mobile stable stock 6.5 foundation ROM.

The idea is to start with the stock 6.5 release and remove any apps that can be updated from the Internet. That way you always have a stable ROM with most of the standard features found in the T-Mobile 6.5 release and you get to pick and choose what structures you want to build on top of your foundation.

Due to multiple removal requests, I'm no longer hosting this ROM, however, other people are providing mirrors.
MD5 hash: b1448986dec4abf841909b4017bcb1e9

Recommended install

1. Hard SPL (follow instructions)
2. Task 29 (follow instructions)
3. To save time, install the T-Mobile 6.5 release, it will put the radio on and reset the splashscreen (if you like the TMo splash, some do)
4. Install the Foundation ROM

Changelog

v0.5 - First release
v0.51 - Minor bugfixes
v0.6 - Fixed some menu items, updated XDA_UC
v0.7 - 1% battery driver. Added some changes to XDA_UC.
v1.0RC - Fixed minor issues with XDA_UC. Registry. ROM appears stable.
v1.0 - Released - Stable

Flash at your own risk. This ROM is pre-configured for T-Mobile US phones only. Other phones may not work, and Verizon/Sprint phones absolutely will not work and you will brick your phone..​

 

[Joe USer]

ROM has the following removed:

Google Maps
Handango
MyPhone
Bing
Facebook
MyFaves
Visual Voicemail
Sample Music
OZ IM
Windows Live
Windows Live IM
WM Live Search Widget
WM Money Search Widget
WM Weather Search Widget
Jetcet (I never use it, but if people want it back in I'll keep it in)

Updated:
.NET CF to 3.5
Sense 2.1 - Compressed CFC
Turned off Push Internet to save memory, can be turned back on easily.

Added:
XDA_UC - I don't use it (yet), but I'm guessing some people might find it useful.

Things I left in and why:

Office 2007 - So you can upgrade to office 2010 via the marketplace.
Opera 9.5 - It's a solid browser, it works well and you can always add Mobile 5 later.
Youtube - This version seems to work well on the TP2, I'm not going to break a working app, again, can be updated to Google's latest version.
Sense 2.1 - The ROM came with this version and it performs well. I CFC'd it to improve memory, I did not notice much of a difference, but it can't hurt.

 

[Joe USer]

Structures

A Structure is a simple app or script to build on top of the Foundation ROM. Examples of structures would be an script to re-order the menu, or something to update a core component. They are completely optional and should be easy to customize.

I've attached a simple script to organize the start menu a little better. Rename it to menus.mscr and run it on the phone. Like I said, it's very simple, feel free to open it in notepad and make changes to your liking.

The second script is nobackup.mscr, it will remove the T-Mobile backup app from the startup and menus.

 

[Z's Windows Phone]

Much Success

May you be very successful in this. I just got into flashing a couple of days ago and its the coolest thing. I have the HD2 my wife likes what I am doing a wants to have some fun as well which is why I am in this section. I will check to see what progress your able to make.

 

[Showtime7]

I would have liked to have Telenav cooked in because I can never get it to work on custom ROMs so I have just settled for TomTom... But you may also want to remove the IM apps because a lot of people including myself just use Palringo (much like ebuddy if you are familiar with it)... Good luck with this, I was sad to see the Timor series discontinued as I am a T-Mobile USA customer too, but maybe this can be better.

 

[Joe USer]

I would have liked to have Telenav cooked in because I can never get it to work on custom ROMs so I have just settled for TomTom... But you may also want to remove the IM apps because a lot of people including myself just use Palringo (much like ebuddy if you are familiar with it)... Good luck with this, I was sad to see the Timor series discontinued as I am a T-Mobile USA customer too, but maybe this can be better.

I didn't think Telenav would be an issue, I'll put it back in. Hopefully I'll have something to show soon.

 

[Joe USer]

Version 0.5 is up. Let me know if you like it.

The usual warnings apply to anyone flashing, flash at your own risk, this is a beta release.

I fixed some problems and put up version 0.51.

 

[Joe USer]

Future releases

Future releases:

Does anyone want any of the following removed?

Jblend
T-Mobile Mobile Backup
T-Mobile email setup wizard
Youtube (can always download from Google)
Office 2007
MS Voice command

Does anyone want the following added?

New icons (Cook some in, or let you make your own set)
better folder layout (Again, do I do this in ROM, or would you rather do it yourself)
sense 2.5 (might be too tough)
Are there any additional apps that should be in the ROM.

 

[DADDYDC650]

Future releases:

Does anyone want any of the following removed?

Jblend
T-Mobile Mobile Backup
T-Mobile email setup wizard
Youtube (can always download from Google)
Office 2007
MS Voice command

Does anyone want the following added?

New icons (Cook some in, or let you make your own set)
better folder layout (Again, do I do this in ROM, or would you rather do it yourself)
sense 2.5 (might be too tough, I'll get back to
Are there any additional apps that should be in the ROM.

I think you should keep it simple and try not to add custom gfx/icons. Leave that up to other chefs like Sergio and NRG.

I also think you should leave in youtube, MS Voice Command and the email setup wizard. Can you toss in the latest version of Office and Palringo?

You should also stick to Sense 2.1 for obvious reasons. (RAM, stability)

 

[Showtime7]

Future releases:

Does anyone want any of the following removed?

Jblend
T-Mobile Mobile Backup
T-Mobile email setup wizard
Youtube (can always download from Google)
Office 2007
MS Voice command

Does anyone want the following added?

New icons (Cook some in, or let you make your own set)
better folder layout (Again, do I do this in ROM, or would you rather do it yourself)
sense 2.5 (might be too tough)
Are there any additional apps that should be in the ROM.

As this is your rom most of this should be up to you and what you think is best, but to keep most happy, I would say keep HTC Youtube because the Google version is not as good as HTC's app, and HTC Youtube is very tricky to get to work via CAB. Everything else you mentioned I would remove. I can only give my advice as to what I think you are trying to accomplish here, a stable and clean rom for T-Mobile users. So I'd stay away from Sense 2.5, because then you would probably have to change the WM build for stability reasons... And in that case you may be better off starting with the stock rom that comes with Sense 2.5 (which would make this no different from the popular Energy or DeepShining roms). So, to stay away from that I would leave the Sense and WM builds alone.

Other than that, I'd stay away from freeware apps that can easily be added via CAB. If you intend to include UC in the future it will be easy to get our favorite apps installed. But some are best off cooked in, like Youtube and Telenav... But one of my pet peeves is chefs throwing in Total Commander, and I am a Resco Explorer user. Total Commander can easily be installed wit a CAB, no problem. These apps I feel should be left out of custom roms. And I would also leave icons as is... Too much time wasted on something we can and usually will customize ourselves, more focus should be put on speed, stability, battery life, etc...

I will try this out soon.


EDIT: OK here is some feedback after a few minutes of use...

-You have an empty Instant Messaging start menu folder
-T-Mobile's e-mail setup app is redundant because there is an HTC app which does the same thing
-Very fluid, responsive, and fast
-Start menu needs some cleaning up

 

[Joe USer]

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm working on the next release which will fix a couple of minor issues, fix the menu up and I'm thinking about Office Mobile 2010.

I'm avoiding adding Palringo for now, it's easily installed.

Overall, I'm happy with the ROM so far, it boots up to about 50% free memory, it's fast and the battery life is excellent.

I'm always open to any suggestions, comments or other ideas, so keep them coming.

 

[Joe USer]

v.06 released

I have released version .06 which fixes some issues with XDA_UC and creates some submenus to hold the extra tools and internet components.

Please send feedback.

Also, I will start writing a few minor structures to build on this foundation in the upcoming days.

 

[Showtime7]

Downloading now...

 

[Joe USer]

I've uploaded a simple script (see third post) that will improve the menus for anyone who likes a more organized layout.

I'm also going to write one to disable the T-Mobile backup service.

 

[Showtime7]

A few things to consider for future releases:

- Add 1% battery driver and 1% compatible taskbar (stock with battery % above the icon)
- Additional tabs
- 4 rows start menu
- Action Screen

Other than that, this rom seems pretty close to final IMO... Maybe update Office to 2010 or remove it, I'd also remove Mobile Backup. Really loving this rom so far, my only complaint is the problem with starting up where you get the select time zone screen. It happened to me on the stock rom too, but I was hoping for some kind of fix.

 

[Joe USer]

A few things to consider for future releases:

- Add 1% battery driver and 1% compatible taskbar (stock with battery % above the icon)
- Additional tabs
- 4 rows start menu
- Action Screen

Other than that, this rom seems pretty close to final IMO... Maybe update Office to 2010 or remove it, I'd also remove Mobile Backup. Really loving this rom so far, my only complaint is the problem with starting up where you get the select time zone screen. It happened to me on the stock rom too, but I was hoping for some kind of fix.

I'm looking into all of them, including office 2010. Mobile Backup is easy to remove, I've uploaded a mini script for that. See post 3.

As for the timezone, you shouldn't be getting it. I have not seen it myself since I did a task29 clean, you might want to look into that.

 

[Showtime7]

Yes I did so too... But I have been getting it on and off. I got the same thing happening with the stock rom.

 

[ourtech]

I'm looking into all of them, including office 2010.

You might want to remove Office 2007. Office 2010 is now a free download to any device that has WM6.5 installed. In keeping with your stated theme that anything that has an upgrade is removed that should qualify. I will be trying your new ROM soon.

 

[Zylograth]

I would love to see a T-Mobile ROM with manila 2.5

 

[Joe USer]

You might want to remove Office 2007. Office 2010 is now a free download to any device that has WM6.5 installed. In keeping with your stated theme that anything that has an upgrade is removed that should qualify. I will be trying your new ROM soon.

Unfortunately, it's not a free download unless you have Office 2007 installed. Attempting to install on a ROM without 2007 will fail.

Another solution is to use a copy of Office 2010 found here, but I'm reluctant to do so. I would rather keep the ability to download updates from Microsoft.