Which customization should I use?

[dokujaryu]

I was looking at the customizations page on XperiCheck and I was wondering which is best. I don't want to root and lose my DRM keys.

https://xpericheck.com/device/G8341

Customized GR, NOBA, IT, KR and GEL seems to be getting updates the fastest. Any disadvantage of running those in the US? I don't use VoLTE or WiFi calling.

SOLVED: The one thing I would like is to be able to turn off the NFC icon. I'm assuming there's some law or something that says that has to be on in some regions cause security or something. Is there a region where this isn't the case? Is it one of the regions I listed above?

NFC is able to be disabled in the Customized KR firmware. I also checked the XZ Premium it seems KR is the way to go.

Update:
I downloaded all carrier unspecific FTF roms and extracted their properties. When I said KR was the way to go, what I mean is KR is already updated to the latest OTA update .51. So I assume Korea gets the new software sooner most of the time. However, it seems like it has a LOT of props set. Like "ro.camera.sound.forced". So that's maybe not so good.

Update:
OK, I guess I got this totally backwards. I'm assuming if ro.nfc.icon.enable=true then I -->cannot<-- turn it off.

Here's a list of all the ones with "ro.nfc.icon.enable=true". Do not use these.
AR
BR
DE
FR
KR
UK

Here's a list of the ones that are already on .51:
GEL
GR
IT
KR
NOBA

KR is the only overlap, so avoid.

Based on what I'm looking at, NOBA seems to have the most sub configuration files, which I assume are per carrier changes? Maybe that increases the chances of VoLTE and WiFi Calling? Not sure.

IT has the least folders and settings. Maybe THAT is best since you would think MOST things are not disabled? Not sure.

 

[pbarrette]

I was looking at the customizations page on XperiCheck and I was wondering which is best. I don't want to root and lose my DRM keys.

https://xpericheck.com/device/G8341

Customized GR, NOBA, IT, KR and GEL seems to be getting updates the fastest. Any disadvantage of running those in the US? I don't use VoLTE or WiFi calling.

The one thing I would like is to be able to turn off the NFC icon. I'm assuming there's some law or something that says that has to be on in some regions cause security or something. Is there a region where this isn't the case? Is it one of the regions I listed above?

Thanks!

If you don't use VoLTE or VoWiFi, then there's no difference. The band support is the same.

If you don't want the NFC icon, you'll have to download each firmware, extract the OEM sin file and look at the system-properties/config.prop file.
If the icon is enabled, the file with have a line with "ro.nfc.icon.enable=true" in it.

You can extract the OEM sin file with UnSIN and it will produce a ext4 image which can be opened in 7zip.

I would look for you, but I'm not all that keen on downloading multiple GB's of firmware just to check.

 

[dokujaryu]

If you don't use VoLTE or VoWiFi, then there's no difference. The band support is the same.

If you don't want the NFC icon, you'll have to download each firmware, extract the OEM sin file and look at the system-properties/config.prop file.
If the icon is enabled, the file with have a line with "ro.nfc.icon.enable=true" in it.

You can extract the OEM sin file with UnSIN and it will produce a ext4 image which can be opened in 7zip.

I would look for you, but I'm not all that keen on downloading multiple GB's of firmware just to check.

Is there anywhere I can get a generalized list of differences between firms? Like, which one use 4G, 4G+, and LTE icons? That's probably the only thing I've ever noticed.

 

[dokujaryu]

Updated main post, I downloaded many Customized XXXX firmwares and KR seems to be the way to go.

 

[KumarAnup]

Which firmware support Volte

 

[pbarrette]

Which firmware support Volte

Short answer: All firmwares support VoLTE for someone and no firmwares support VoLTE for everyone.

Long answer:
VoLTE support is handled by the files in the OEM sin file and is different for each carrier.

See here where I describe the bits in the OEM partition that handle VoLTE. I'm specifically talking about T-Mobile US, but it works the same way for all other carriers as well.

Basically, your MCC/MNC is looked up by the CustomizationSelector.apk and converted to a 3 digit "config_id". That config ID number is then used to select the proper modem file and to overlay the system UI to allow the VoLTE controls to be shown and used.

Each region / carrier firmware has different carrier specific configurations that are used for this.
So you would have to check your region's firmware to see if your carrier is supported.

Specifically, you would need to decompile the /oem/overlay/com.sonymobile.customizationselector-res-305.apk file, then look at its res/xml/configuration_selectors.xml file, which contains a number of "sim_config_id" values that look like "S264.1".

Then you need to find that value in the res/xml/service_providers.xml file and look at the MCC/MNC values associated with it to determine if they match the MCC/MNC values of your carrier.

If you have a match, then the "config_id" value in the res/xml/configuration_selectors.xml file will be used to set your modem to the value found in /oem/modem-config/XXX/modem.conf, where "XXX" is the 3 digit "config_id".

Finally, the overlay APK's found in /oem/overlay-XXX/ will be applied to the base applications. Specifically, the com.android.carrierconfig-res-XXX.apk should contain values in res/xml/vendor.xml such as <boolean name="carrier_volte_available_bool" value="true" />.

That's how VoLTE is handled.

EDIT:
Additionally, if the modem has a name that includes "ims" then it probably supports VoLTE for your carrier. If not, it probably doesn't. The actual modem files are found on the system partition at /system/etc/customization/modem if I remember correctly. But you still need the OEM partition bits to get that modem selected and the VoLTE controls enabled.

 

[dokujaryu]

Updated to contain all the property files I extracted and an analysis, based purely on property files, on which ones I find most desirable (spoiler, it's IT).

 

[astalavista66]

Someone already found a Firmware which supports VoLTE in Germany - Deutsche Telekom?

 

[matticala]

I'm sorry to add my question, could anyone point me to a way to change my firmware using a Mac?
Sony's tool is Windows only and the other NewFlasher the same.
Also, where can I download FTF files?

Thank you in advance to anyone who will kindly help

I'm on Customized BLX (Belgium-Netherlands) and apparently I don't receive updates. Even though 374 has been out for a while, even on BLX, I'm stuck on 324.

 

[SGH-i200]

Basically, your MCC/MNC is looked up by the CustomizationSelector.apk and converted to a 3 digit "config_id". That config ID number is then used to select the proper modem file and to overlay the system UI to allow the VoLTE controls to be shown and used.

Not only MCC/MNC is looked up, but the GID1 is important, too. That's my problem with German carrier "Congstar" (uses "Telekom" network) which supports VoLTE now, but the config has not changed in the firmware of course...

MCC = 262 (Both Telekom and Congstar)
MNC = 01 (Both Telekom and Congstar)
GID1 = 44 (Only Congstar! No GID1 for Telekom)