[Xperia Arc General] ramo55:
Introduction:

Everyone uses there android device differently, and as a result not everyone will be looking for the same features from a ROM, and as a result developers simply do not know what to do to satisfy the many needs of the andoid users.

what I aim to do with this thread is to provide a review of 2 of the best ROMs out there for our device (based on my opinion), and include some tips, bugs and suggestions for the future.

What I have here is a review of 2 android 4.4.2 ROMs for the xperia arc/s. the ROMs are VANIR AOSP and C-rom.

let's start with a introduction to VANIR AOSP:

Vanir aosp is a ROM built with the user who likes a degree of customization to there phone in mind. the devs behind it have decided to build a ROM completely based on what is important and necessary for the users. they added only those features that passed certain criteria and only those features were allowed to be put into the ROM build. any unnecessary features were not added.

The result is a light, super stable and lagless ROM that would be more than enough to please the android user.

THE GOOD:

-lots of customization options in settings

-very very stable

-very fast and all the time around 200mb free ram

-nice 'on the go mode' feature

-nice option for choosing boot animations

-dual panel mode for settings

THE BAD:

-only features the devs have picked are added to the rom, so if you have a feature you want but the dev thinks its not important it won't be added

-floating windows for apps cannot be moved

THE BUGS:

-sound manager forces close message every time I try to open it

-adding a new user causes a force close message to appear whenever trienf to open gallery

-swiping on the keyboard causes the aosp keyboard to force close

-screen recorder doesn't work (should just be removed from our devices completely, the arc will never be fat enough to screen record)

-camera video doesnt work (although ion kernel would be the problem)

C-ROM:

c-rom is a ROM that is simply mind blowing, the ROM just has every feature I can simply think off, and in some instances it had features I have never even heard off.

the dev behind it added every feature from android I can think off, all into one amazing rom, for those people who like to change every single thing on there phone.

THE GOOD:

-tons of customizations

-lots of free ram, around 200mb all the time

-super smooth

-good turn on and off speeds (experienced this with v5.9 not v5.6)

-movable floating windows

-on the go mode

THE BAD:

-opening apps in floating mode is a little tedious

-slightly high battery consumption

THR BUGS:

there are bugs in both versions of c-rom so here goes:

v5.6:

-multi user support doesn't work, causes tons of force close messages when switching to the new user

-no option for enabling widget support on the lockscreen (only way to get the option is by editing build.prop file, but that causes the high end graphics option to dissapear from the performance menu)

-sound recorder doesn't have a ui, so users can't launch it from drawer (vanir aosp has this)

-no dowbloads app from drawer, and hence I can't make shortcuts to the download manager because there sinply isn't icon for it.

-no option to opt out of c-rom stats, it came up once then disappeared, but I know the menu for it exists

-can't put apps into floating window mode with halo switched off (in vanir aosp you can do this)

v5.9 bugs:

-no camera (video) although could be due to ion kernel?

-kernel logo sometimes comes up while I am using the phone

-the button in the status bar that switches between the tiles and the notification view move out of alignment when pressed

-no save page option in the browser but the option is there?

-swiping on aosp keyboard causes it to force close

-no force high end graphics option in settings

-no sound recorder icon in drawer

-opening the advanced settings option in the performance control app causes a force close

-exposed module causes a bootloop (stuck on kernel logo)

-no option to opt out of c-rom stats

-multi user support works fine, but causes a force lose on all media apps, I.e. try opening gallery and it force closes

so as you can see both ROMs are each unique but they are considered (by me) the best ROMs for xperia arc.

some tips for everyone:

-downloads in kitkat are found under an app called 'documents'

-to enable widget support on lockscreen in c-rom v5.6 you need to modify build.prop file changing the low ram config option to false

-there is no sound recorder icon in the drawer, although the app is installed, if you want to record using it, create a new message and add an attachment, when picking the attachment pick sound recorder and that's it.

some suggestions for c-rom in the future:

-would be great if you could add a dual panel mode like in vanir

-a better way if opening apps in floating window

my final verdict though on both ROMs, is that they are both amazing ROMs, but I think the award has to go to c-rom, due to its vast number of customizations while being a stable and smooth ROM. Good job 3andala

I would like to also point out that, I am not disrespecting others developers who have made a kk ROM for xperia arc, I am simply giving my opinion on 2 ROMs that I really like and consider to be the best for my xperia arc.

my ultimate goal really from a thread like this is to maybe one day see all developers working on only one ROM, that would be the smoothest ROM, with the most features etc..... that everyone would use, and just simply have a ROM that takes the device to it's limits, a ROM that we can all say that its the most complete ROM ever made for the xperia arc, and there will never be a better rom for this device than this. anyone with me?

anyway that's it from me, I hope you liked what if provided and if I helped you let me know as it makes me happy.

P.S. is there any way of increasing the brightness of the notification LED? there are patches for this on ICS and jb but no patches for this on kitkat, so could anyone advise me how its done?