[Xperia Z1 Android Development] srqrox:
iHacker's Google Edition ROM - Review / Impressions

Yesterday, I got the chance to review the iHacker's Nano (Read it Here ).

Not only it was one of the smoothest Stock based ROM, right after first boot but was also pretty compact - extremely bloat free with nothing but Google and Sony Services in background. It worked like charm, multitasking was a breeze, with slight (Intentionally trying to keep away from Faux Clock) tweaking it was butter smooth. Applications were great and so was the battery timing.

Call me a bit skeptic, but I was afraid of losing the perfect setup when I got the chance to review iHacker's Google Edition ROM. I knew it wasn't going to be as bloatfree, I knew it might not be as battery friendly - but in the spirit of my love for all things AOSP, I decided to give it a go. After all, I can always turn back to Nano if things didn't work out, right?

Test Plan:

1. I'd flash the ROM, use it, let the battery discharge, charge it again and then begin testing.

2. Won't install any add-on during while reviewing the Google Edition - in order to see how it stands on its own.

3. Would see the smoothness with the default iHacker's Kernel and later install some other Kernel in order to see how ROM fares with that.

4. Tweak every bit of the Kernel as I can, keeping in sight the wonderful setups by [MENTION=4598683]Destroyedbeauty[/MENTION] and others.

Installation: Impressions

This Aroma script is one of the cleanest you'll see, choose the device type / kernel / boot animation / nav bar height / Google apps to be installed alongside the essential ones = Done.

Installation took about 1 minute 25 seconds considerably fast when taking into consideration that it is almost 1.7x of Nano's 390 MB. Rest of the installation was breezy and as minimal as it could get considering that one is installing a remarkably different ROM.

First boot took 1 minute 45 seconds, again consistent with the variety this brings over the Nano version, and right after that I was on the setup screen. First indication that you are running a a "hybrid" version comes when you first see the latest Google Keyboard pop up instead of Sony's.

After finishing the initial setup I was taken directly to the homescreen, a homescreen that I'd definitely have taken as a AOSP/CM based ROM's had it not been for Sony's status bar icons.

Fig. iHacker's Google Edition - Running Google Now Launcher

First instinct was to say "OK Google" which I did to satisfy the itch of course ;)

Launcher had all the essentials installed with Nano's de-bloat precision. I had Lollipop goodies, like new SMS application alternate Messenger, Google Camera, Google Calender, Browser, GMail, and Play Store.

Fig. Thread View in Messenger + The New Material Keyboard.

Fig. The New Calender App + Messenger (Contact's name and Text have been removed.)

(One can install just about every other Google application during the installation of ROM, I just chose not to and stick to essentials that I have mentioned above.)

Performance was smooth so far, lag was apparent only in Calender application. Default governor is OnDemand which I intended to change but I'll get to it later though.

I use Two Factor Authentication / 2 Way Authentication for my Google Account, and tend to add it later not in the initial Setup. On iHacker's Nano, I had a minor bump adding it - which on Dev's advice was fixed by installing a GApps package and clearing caches. I was expecting similar problem here but boy I was wrong! This stage cleared as quickly as the rest had and it was added in no time.

So far, I am impressed.

There is no "bloat", there is no hiccup so far, everything is as Google-ish as possible, and it is clean just as Nano was.

2nd Boot: Getting My Stuff Back / Taking Tweaking up a Notch.

I tend to restore my application after rebooting the phone once, and that's what I did. TB worked fine, applications are back and I am functional again.

At this point I am all set and ready and am ready to install a different Kernel, to see if I can boost the performance, eliminate the barely noticeable lag find a balance between performance and conservation of Juice.

I installed the latest Kernel by Doomlord, i.e Doomlord V22.

ROM did boot up fine, Wifi is working, so is the Bluetooth, I am not losing signals on 3G. Perfect.

I adjusted a few things, now the ROM is flying, and the battery is impressive.

Fig. SOT: 2 Hours and 29 Minutes, Battery Left: 74 Percent.

(It is as much or maybe a even better than I was getting on PA, which I thought was the best ROM when it came to battery saving).

What Works:

Camera:

It totally does. ROM comes with an updated Google Camera and it works perfectly.

Ringer / Notification Volume:

For some reason, Stock based ROMs have better volume, even without any add-on; iHacker's Google Edition is no different.

Call / Loudspeaker:

I seem to hear the other person on call louder than I did on Nano when calling the same person. Loudspeaker works fine.

Signals:

I am getting fine reception, my 3G signals aren't dropping that's brilliant.

Wifi / Tethering:

Have downloaded applications over Wifi, speed is fine - no slow downs.

This is I am sure is related to Kernel but I am mentioning it anyway.

Tethering is working fine at my end.

Other:

I am planning to keep this ROM till evening, it is 12 PM here, feel free to ask if you need to know if any particular thing is working or not.

What Bothers Me:

Calender:

Google's Calender Application (Lollipop one) seems to have a terrible lag after my adjustments in Faux.

Everything else is working perfectly fine except for this particular app.

I haven't tried Per App control in Faux Clock, but I am about to give it a try to see if I can make it any better.

Proximity Sensor:

When I am on the call, and take the phone away from my ear - Screen doesn't turn on.

Conclusion:

Coming from Nano, I was rather skeptic about Google Edition. In my head I was concerned that it won't be as bloat-free and light as Nano was.

Damn I was so wrong.

It works as smoothly as Nano does and that surprises me. It comes with Lollipop goodies (Applications, Keyboard - With Material Themes, a Lollipop 5.0 Theme - Which changes the interface / navbar / toggles and much).

At this point I am so confused about going back to Nano or keeping this, it is THAT good - not even thinking about my other favourite ROMs for now. Still looking forward for other Kernel setups based on this ROM,
[MENTION=4598683]Destroyedbeauty[/MENTION] - looking at you.