yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go] csillag:
Hi all,

I am noob at XDA. (About myself: I am a software engineer aged 30. I have been hacking computers since I was 10.)

I am here because I am planning to buy a new Android device soon. (And unless something really revolutionary happens, I don't plan to upgrade it in the next 2 years or so, so it's a long-term decision.)

My short-list is:

- HTC One S

- Sony Xperia S

or, if everything else fails:

- Samsung Galaxy Nexus

The hardware of the One S and the Xperia S is obviously more powerful than the Galaxy Nexus; my only concern is the software side of things.

The thing is, I really don't like the customization the hardware vendors do with the software, so I want to run raw vanilla AOSP, or something very close to it.

(CM definitely qualifies.)

Also, I am sick of waiting for ages for new android versions to be ported to my device.

Obviously, Galaxy Nexus is guaranteed to be get Android upgrades first, so that's a safe choice in this respect, but since I like the hardware of Xperia S (and One S) so much, I would like to gain a better understanding the software situation of them, so I can make an informed decision about my purchase.

I am aware of the fact that Sony is actively supporting the Free Xperia Team, which is bringing CM9 to Nozomi (among other devices), but I have no information about the details of the project, or it's limitations.

So, my questions are the following:

1. What is the exact nature of the support Sony is providing to the FXP team? (HW? HW docs? Binary drivers? Driver source? Consultation?) Has this changed in any way, now that Sony Ericsson has become Sony? Was this a one-time action, or have they made any commitment about the future?

2. What does one need to build a vanilla android ROM for the S, using the AOSP sources? (Let's forget Cyanogenmod for now.) What is the status of the required device drivers?

3. What are the current obstacles, hindering the release of CM9 (or any other derivative of AOSP) for this device? As far as I know, Nozomi was released in 2012.02, ~4 months ago. ICS was released in 2011.10, ~8 months ago. Official ICS (Sony's version, with Timescape) is rolling out about now; CM9 is not yet released. I wonder what is taking so long?

(Please understand that I really, literally wonder: I am not demanding anything, and I am not trying to offend or accuse anyone; I am totally aware that I don't understand the process; I would like to have more information to understand what needs to be done. And since I am software engineer, and I am not afraid of getting my hand dirty, so eventually, I might end up helping with it...)

4. Do we have any information about Sony's plan for this device beyond ICS? Jelly Bean is coming up soon. Regardless of Sony's decision, when JB is released, I would like to run it on my device, as soon as possible. What are our prospects for porting JB to Nozomi? Is Sony going to help with porting the device drivers to the new kernel, is something like that would come up?

* * *

Thank you for explaining this:

Csillag
[Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go] K900:
1) No one knows for sure, but I'm pretty sure that it's not game changing, judging by the progress me and Doomlord made on AOKP without any help from Sony (obviously).

2) You can try building Gingerbread, but no one cares, right? For ICS, see the next answer.

3) The most important problem is that we don't have the drivers/kernel sources, and there's not much motivation for building it from scratch considering the soon(ish) ICS release. There are leaks with files for so called 'brown' or developer devices, but they also don't give much because of different low-level software. So the state of things is that almost everything but wireless is working, but wireless doesn't work at all. That means data, calls and WiFi.

4) JellyBean will likely be a minor upgrade (4.1 that is) and there's nothing stopping Sony from releasing anything on the 4.x branch. When 5.0 comes, it will depend on the hardware requirements but I'd guess we're getting it too.
[Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go] csillag:
How is that possible?

The FXP guys (bin4ry, jerpelea, etc) are here on these forums...

... did they have to swear secrecy, even about the circumstances?

You mean we don't have the kernel sources for ICS, right? Because for GB, we do have something, in this thread... I guess I should ask this in the relevant thread, but has anybody determined the exact differences between this source and the stock ( 2.6.35 ? ) kernel this is based on? How many non-standard drivers are there? Do they come from Sony directly, or do they come from 3rd parties? I will need to look into this...

And according to past experience, how long does it take Sony to release the kernel for ICS, after the imminent official ICS release?

OK, that part sound good.

* * *

Thank you for explaining:

Csillag
[Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go] K900:
I haven't seen them tell anyone, and I've never seen them do anything that's not available for everyone else (thankfully).

There are kernel sources for GB, the same ones from which the stock kernel was built. If you mean the upstream Linux kernel, it'll be a huge diff that's not so easy to port without datasheets (which we don't have) and actual understanding of how the hardware works. Speaking of drivers, I'm pretty sure you misunderstand the way Linux / Android 'drivers' work. Kernel-space drivers (modules) and userspace drivers (libraries and daemons) are two different things. They have to open source their kernels because Linus's tree ('official' Linux) is GPL, but the userspace parts are proprietary. ICS also brought many ABI changes, so just taking old libs and placing them in a new ROM often doesn't suffice.

It takes time, can't say how long really, but it shouldn't take too long because they know we want those sources.
[Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go] csillag:
Have you seen them being explicitly asked about this?

(Because not saying anything because not being asked is completely different that refusing to reveal this info....)

Yes, that was what I have meant when I wrote "stock". Now I see that it was ambiguous wording...

That's sad.

I was hoping for finding only some added drivers, plus some small configuration changes elsewhere.

obviously

We don't have it, but the "official" FreeXperia team might, or they might be able to ask for it. This is exactly the kind of information I am trying to find about their collaboration with Sony...

No, actually I get that part. (I am exclusively using Linux for about 13 years now, and I have also done some kernel hacks earlier.) But maybe my wording was ambiguous again...

Well, that does not stop some vendors (like NVidia) to ship binary kernel modules, so I would not be too surprised to find even binary kernel modules bundled with the code. But if they are open source, that that's great.

I did not know the devices require userspace parts. I was assuming that the kernel modules implement standard linux device interfaces; for example cameras are simply accessible via v4l[2], the modem is a character device, etc...

...so you say this is not the situation, and besides the kernel modules, they require custom user-space parts for operation, right?

Yes, that part is clean.

So, you say that it's a totally possible situation that we need to wait for several further months until we can get access to the kernel sources, and build proper CM9, right?

Unfortunately, this is exactly what I would like to avoid.

Maybe I should just stick to Galaxy Nexus, in spite of the older hardware...

Thank you for explaining:

Csillag
[Sony Xperia P, U, Sola, Go] K900:
They tend to ignore such questions. PM me if you want my personal opinion, I'll try to stick to the facts here.

Nevermind.

They add some stuff, but they also change stuff internally. Tweaks and patches and many different things to get the best performance on this specific board. CAF has a generic msm-3.0 kernel, but that's not as customized. And we're not really waiting for the kernelspace here.

Such things are very, very strongly NDA protected. That's Qualcomm's secret sauce, and it wouldn't be secret any more if they gave datasheets to the community.

Nevermind :)

Actually what NVIDIA does is ship a GPL'ed kernel module whose only function is to set up an interface through which the userspace (libGL) can talk to the hardware. So their kernel module is open source, but all the magic happens in the proprietary userspace.

Android has a HAL of its own, so mostly it's about HAL modules, libGL and libril (Radio Interface Layer) to talk to the modem. And here is where many hardware vendors pull an NVIDIA.

No, the kernel isn't that much of a problem. If we have to wait for too long, we'll just take CodeAurora msm-3.0 and port it which shouldn't be too hard cause it's as generic as possible.

If you want AOSP now, you should go with the GNex. But the XPS is a nice phone, and the prospects with AOSP are good. Also would be nice to have someone more experienced with Linux (I'm just a student here) on the team/forums. If you get the XPS, PM me or Doomlord and I hope you'll help get AOKP running :)
[Huawei MediaPad, T-Mobile SpringBoard] lepatlau:
I have wired xbox controller for PC, but when i plug to mediapad using USB OTG, nothing happens....

It is possible using that controller on mediapad....

Please share conclusion for me... need help....
[Huawei MediaPad, T-Mobile SpringBoard] dark_fighter:
Look in the market, there is a controller emulator, just st search "usb/bt joystick center".

Hope it helps :-)
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Rescue Wagon:
So, this might sound crazy, but is there a way to enable car mode without a dock? The reason I ask is once my Trident Kraken AMS case gets here I'll be mounting it to my motorcycle with a bike clip and I thought it would be nice to use one of the car mode apps.

Just a thought.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] efrant:
Yes. All Car Home apps are regular apps, which can be launch via an icon.

You could also buy an nfc tag and have the app launch automatically.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] Rescue Wagon:
I guess I should clarify a little. What I was thinking is there a way to make the phone think its in the dock to get the features that come from that.

Thanks again.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] El Daddy:
Check out the car dock thread in accessories. Click on the attachments. Efrant uploaded the car dock and car mode apks.

Edit: Heres the linkhttp://xdaforums.com/misc.php?do=showattachments&t=1396051 Downoad the googlecarandhomedock.apk

You can also set the Car Home app to launch when paired to a bluetooth device in settings.
[Samsung Galaxy Nexus] mynameismolotov:
For the full experience, you can also install the modded NFC.apk that allows NFC access with the screen off (one version), or anytime the screen is on, including the lock screen (other version), here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1709586

Thus you can put an NFC sticker on any car mount you want and have it go into car dock mode as if using the POGO pins, even without using them and paying the extra premium for car docks with those.
[HTC One S] Jason Syn:
I just read a post on TMO News and they are releasing a software update, the big changes are as follows:

Improvements

Resolves goodbye splash not appearing when powering off due to low battery.

Resolves voicemail indicator not appearing while using Wi-Fi calling.

Improvements to Wi-Fi Calling

Improvements to camera stability

Resolves signal fluctuation.

It's dropping tomorrow so if you have the stock ROM you should be able to go into software updates and look for update and get it right away.

I have to wait for a dev to incorporate these changes as my phone is rooted, so I'll look forward to that once they get a dump.
[HTC One S] cerebeln:
It seems the 0.17 radio software is being released
[HTC One S] GeckoD:
I wish it included a fix for SMS notifications... I find I don't get a status icon or notification sound about 1/5 of the time.
[HTC One S] Totòòò:
The most stupid ota ive ever seen. "Does not work on rooted devices"
[HTC One S] fsamoggia:
I agree. First they allow to unlock the bootloader and then they release an update just for unrooted device...make you happy with one hand and take it away with the other, boh!?!

Do you know if this update is available already in italy? I am mainly interested in the radio update 0.17
[HTC One S] jonathan3579:
Troll much?
[HTC One S] GrimTG:
Much troll indeed
[HTC One S] Jason Syn:
Actually I did, maybe if he had some content in his post instead of just posting the word update and a link to a website I would've found it.

Sent from the future using the Tardis
[HTC One S] Jason Syn:
Updates have never come to rooted devices, this is the first one I've seen actually address the issue, and probably due to HTC's bootloader policy.

As far as I know and the article said this update is only for T-Mobile USA, not any other countries.

Sent from the future using the Tardis
[HTC One S] pierre.grand:
Hope it will resolve HOME button issue:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEKwMkuisqE
[HTC One S] WCCobra:
These are probably the existing EU updates repackaged for the US.
[HTC One S] pierre.grand:
According to cerebeln Radio base band would be 0.17 when European one(1.78) has the 0.16 version.

Let me hope ;-)
[HTC One S] fabiane79:
the radio is based on the software build... As I learned that the newest radio is not always the best radio
[HTC One S] Closed Source Project:
True. The 'best' radio depends on what ROM you are using. I have a TMOBUS device running on LeeDroid's ROM (EU). The EU radio works best for me since it is an EU ROM. When I restored my stock nand, the US version seemed to work better (data fluctuation and overall stability).
[HTC One S] Jason Syn:
I just have no idea how we are going to flash the new radio, bootloader, etc without having an RUU or getting S-Off. Is it possible?

Sent from the future using the Tardis
[HTC One S] fabiane79:
I do agree my battery last all day since I went back to stock and this is what I got from stock ROM data
[HTC One S] Naldonnis:
Can someone tell me if the legacy buttons on every single app is part of HTC? Because I know a lot of apps have the legacy buttons somewhere in the corner but the ones at the bottom are always there. If so, will this update have anything to do with it or am I just crazy?
[HTC One S] PopArtist:
Legacy button at the bottom is the fault of the app makers, not the phone, they haven't revised their code to optimize for ICS. One non-Google example of an app that does have the menu in the top corner is TripAdvisor. So, the update is not going to address that.
[HTC One S] Naldonnis:
Well I saw someone post that they loaded a custom ROM on the HTC one x that uses the multicasting button as the menu button, do you happen to know if a stock ROM exist for this phone that does that?
[HTC One S] bstromberg:
TrickDroid is mostly stock and has a tweaks package for removing 3 dot menu and remapping multitask button as menu button
[HTC One S] el_smurfo:
There is a mod for stock rooted ROM...Search for "3 dot menu"
[HTC One S] ToterPunkt:
What can i really consider stock?

Reason i ask is because i rooted my phone and then flashed a "recovery" using clockwork mod. i havent done any flashing or anything like that. at most i froze some apps and used some root only apps. am i technically considered stock?

thanks, i'm new to this.
[HTC One S] Closed Source Project:
It depends on what you want to consider 'stock'. Some consider their device stock if they are on the stock ROM (the OS the device shipped with)(with unlocked bootloader and custom recovery). True stock is if you had no unlocked bootloader and no root or custom recovery.
[HTC One S] Orical:
No update as of now, has anyone had it yet
[HTC One S] avataranjie:
My wifi is extremely stupid. It continously disconnects and reconnects. Also I can only get wifi upstairs. It won't even find the signal down stairs. Is this a software problem?
[HTC One S] Naldonnis:
Nothing down here in Louisiana.
[HTC One S] DrGreenLeaf:
Nothing in So. Cal
[HTC One S] Orical:
They usually roll out updates so that the server doesn't get over whelmed depending on region, I live in Boston so I'll more than likely be the last to get it, that's how it's been in the past.
[HTC One S] GeckoD:
Sounds like your signal... How does your software know what floor you're on...? Haha.

Also in Boston, none found yet...

EDIT: Found update today!
[HTC One S] c3po25:
Got UPDATE

this morning I sent to the software check and checked and there was the update. is all updated now but I lost root....so have to wait for that. but it is no updated! waiting to see if everything run smooth
[HTC One S] Naldonnis:
Hey same here. They said they took that away.
[HTC One S] c3po25:
Yeah, I've been checking since the 4th...and today it actually worked and started updating. Pretty glad about that lol
[HTC One S] mikea3000:
I also got the update, but my signal still sucks and fluctuates all the time while the phone just sits there. I am convinced that this is a hardware issue.
[HTC One S] Samugai:
I just got the update here in Boston and will see if the signal still fluctuate. I hope not because that would mean that it's probably hardware related.

Sent from the One.
[HTC One S] sherifone:
The update definitely fixed that annoying baseband throughput problem. My phone used to lag when heavy 3G traffic flowed. Now it easily pulls 15mb without a hitch, very pleased with the update. Haven't had a chance to see if they fixed the Wifi calling static.
[HTC One S] c3po25:
that's good to know! I didn't have wifi calling static issues...but I did have issues when using wifi calling after a while it cuts out and drops the call when I haven't even moved from the spot I was talking. Will try later and report back
[HTC One S] bruff84:
phone held a 4g signal longer than usual while at my workdesk, usually flashes no bars, then a minute later goes to 2g. seems more stable since the update. anyone have an idea what was all included though? they said it would be like 28mb, but the download was 58
[HTC One S] PopArtist:
One thing I seem to notice is that my notification tones are now always going off when it's supposed to - before sometimes it would not sound the tone when something came in.
[HTC One S] O_G:
Thread Closed​

Sorry this thread beat you to it. We only need the one.​
[Motorola Atrix 2] Fall of Enosis:
So, I'm trying to get the GB "screen on" animation working for our ROMS. Ya know, like the screen off animation but opposite? I had it on my CM7 ROM for my droid and liked it.

I figured it should just be a matter of editing the screen enter XML in the framework-res.apk.

So I decompiled both apk's, one from the DROID CM7 rom, and one from the Romulus rom I'm running. Cause I knew that the DROID rom had the animation. However the the XML files are exactly alike after comparing them.

Am I looking in the wrong folder? Wrong XML?

Also need to figure out how to make it a flashable zip after I recompile it. Using apk manager.

Tips anyone? Was up till three last night tearing apart xmls. Would like to work this out for us!
[Motorola Atrix 2] Fall of Enosis:
Bump?
[Motorola Atrix 2] jimbridgman:
If you are looking for the actual ROM boot animation screen, and not the first Moto screen that is located here:

/system/media/bootanimation.zip

Right now by default on the AT&T phone it is a dripping AT&T logo...

If you want to change the Moto dual core screen or the "breathing" M logo, then good luck with that, that is part of the bootloader itself.

If you are talking about when you hit the power button and turn the screen itself off, then there is going to be more to it than 1 apk. You might want to look at the UI headers and the UI.apks, not the framework-res.apk.

I am just grasping at straws here, since I am in no way a themer, but I do understand the intimate working s of android and ROMs.

You might also try the theme section of the atrix2 forum.
[Motorola Atrix 2] lkrasner:
its super easy to change the boot logo too. just create a raw image 540x540 invert blue and green. then save it as logo.bin and flash it with fast boot.
[Motorola Atrix 2] jimbridgman:
That will not change the dual core M screen though, just the "breathing" M logo... that is an easy one.. the Dual core screen is in the boot image itself I am afraid.
[Motorola Atrix 2] Fall of Enosis:
Naw, I've already changed my bootanimation. Got rid of that AT&T crap a while ago lol. No probs with that. And I know that I changed the splash screen on my droid, I pushed it through ADB, but i am assuming that was possible because the DROID's bootloader was unlocked.

Anywho, what I'm looking to change is the actual screen "on" animation for our phones. The animation that happens when you hit the lock button to wake your phone. How the screen comes up. I want it to do the opposite of THIS.

I know it's possible, I just gotta find the right files.
[Motorola Atrix 2] Fall of Enosis:
Oooo, also VERY good to know. Thanks! :D
[Motorola Atrix 2] jimbridgman:
That is why I suggested you take a look at the UI header files and the UI apk files, it is most likely in those, and not the framework files.
[Motorola Atrix 2] lkrasner:
wrong. I can prove it
[Motorola Atrix 2] alteredlikeness:
Ohhh.. that's the CRT effect... What do you mean by opposite of that? You wanna turn it off? Probably very difficult to change the animation style...

But, to turn it off you'll need to decompile your framework-res and go to /res/values/bools.xml. Change the value for "config_animateScreenLights" to true. That should get rid of it.

Funny, people with other devices are looking to turn CRT effect on.. I actually have no idea what it will do instead of the old tv style off, but let us know if it works.

Edit- wait, just re-read your op.. you wanna give the screen on the crt effect? No idea how one would go about that.. Or maybe what i just wrote will enable that... imma try it out
[Motorola Atrix 2] lkrasner:
now I am at a computer and can type a full response... The breathing M logo as you called it is actually part off the default boot animation, which is why it goes away when you change it. the dual core screen is whats called the boot logo and is called by the boot img from the logo.bin "partition" if you will that can be flashed. it is just a raw image with green and red (or maybe green and blue or some other combination) flipped. save that as logo.bin and flash it with fastboot.

Edit: here is my thread from earlier http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1632001&highlight=change+boot+logo
[Motorola Atrix 2] alteredlikeness:
Wait, again... That didn't do it. hmmm.. No problems with my other bools edits... Probably also need to add a line to ids.xml maybe? That should get it in the public.xml with a resource id, but then what? I'll look at it a little further.. out of my own curiosity, and for the common community of course. Search xda for the crt effect, here's one link
[Motorola Atrix 2] jimbridgman:
Really, that is good to know, I was never able to get the dual core screen to change even with the logo.bin change, I always saw the dual core screen, so I assumed it was in the boot image, like so many other manufactures startups.
[Motorola Atrix 2] lkrasner:
just see the thread i linked to. it is really easy as long as you have photoshop. gimp won't due it right. if you want you can send me an image and I will make it into the proper format
[Motorola Atrix 2] jimbridgman:
Nope I have photoshop on my macbook pros and my hackintoshes. I will take a look at the link you sent, thanks!
[Motorola Atrix 2] lkrasner:
glad I could prove you wrong. knowing you that is quite hard to do!!
[Motorola Atrix 2] jimbridgman:
LOL, I definitely don't know everything. I will be the first to admit when I am wrong... I will always guess first, and I if I am wrong so be it, cool beans.. glad you could prove me wrong and I learned something new!

Thanks again!