[Moto E Android Development] minimale_ldz:
Introduction

This ROM is based on lost101's work you can find here. The aim of my modifications is to push debloating to the extreme and leave only what's really needed. Before you flash this ROM read all the informations below and make sure you still want to do it as some stuff you find essential might be missing. For privacy maniacs there's also "NoGApps" version available. This version doesn't contain any GApps and no Setup Wizard which means you won't be able to use Play Store or any other Google services that require GmsCore apps. You will also have to setup your device manually with ADB so make sure you have all the software and drivers needed. It's only a little price you need to pay for removing Google spying services, aka GmsCore.

Disclaimer

Even if everything works 100% fine for me I take no responsibility for anything that happens to anyone else's device after flashing my ROM. If you want to try it, do it on your own risk. Always backup your data.

Description

This is Retail EU 5.1 ROM (Optimized) v1.0 for XT1021 by lost101 with the following modifications:

ver 1.0 with GApps

Items removed from system/app:

- atfwd

- BasicDaydreams

- Calculator

- CalendarGoogle

- com.motorola.android.setting.diag_mdlog

- Exchange2

- FMRadioService

- FMRecordService

- GoogleContactsSyncAdapter

- LatinImeGoogle

- LiveWallpaprePicker

- PartnerBookmarksProvider

- PhotoTable

- Piktures

- PrintSpooler

- SoundRecorder

- UserDictionaryProvider

Items removed from system/priv-app:

- AudioEffects

- BackupRestoreConfirmation

- CalendarProvider

- CellBroadcastReceiver

- CQATest

- Email

- EmaraPhoneExtns

- GoogleBackupTransport

- MotCamera

- PreloadContacts

- StorageOptimizer

- WallpaperCropper

- WapPushSI

Items removed from system/etc/permissions:

- com.google.android.maps.xml

- com.google.android.media.effects.xml

- gom.google.android.widevine.software.drm.xml

- com.motorola.camera.xml

- com.motorola.context.xml

- com.motorola.gallery.xml

- com.motorola.software.fmradioservice.xml

- com.motorola.software.fmrecording.xml

- com.motorola.software.storageoptimizer.xml

Items removed from system/framework:

- com.google.android.maps.jar

- com.google.android.media.effects.jar

- com.google.widevine.software.drm.jar

- com.motorola.gallery.jar

Items removed from system/usr/srec/us-EN:

- all files

Files added to system/app:

- AnySoftKeyboard

- MiXplorer

Files added to system/bin:

- sqlite3

v 1.0 NoGApps

All of the above and the following:

Files removed from system/app:

- ConfigUpdater

Files removed from system/priv-app:

- GmsCore

- GoogleFeedback

- GoogleLoginService

- GoogleOneTimeInitializer

- GooglePartnerSetup

- GoogleServicesFramework

- MotoOneTimeInitializer

- Phonesky

- SetupWizard

- SetupWizardExt

Flashing

1. Boot into TWRP

(2. Backup)

3. Format data (Wipe>Format data>yes)

4. Transfer ROM to SD card/Local storage

5. Wipe>Factory reset

6. Install

7. Reboot

If you have installed GApps version your device is ready. Just go through Setup Wizard and set your device however you like. Please mind you need to install some very basic apps (like web browser) to make this ROM usable as a daily driver.

If you have installed NoGApps version you will find there's no Setup Wizard after initial boot and some basic functions of your device's UI are disabled (Home button and Quick Settings). This is normal. They are disabled by default to prevent user from escaping Setup Wizard with Home button or accessing phone's settings before you accept Ts & Cs and so on. Restoring UI in stock roms is handled by Setup WIzard and GmsCore services, but since they're not present in NoGapps version you have to do it manually:

1. Enable USB debugging on your device

2. Execute the following with ADB:

adb shell
su
sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
insert into global (name, value) VALUES('device_provisioned', 1);
insert into secure (name, value) VALUES('user_setup_complete', 1);
.quit
reboot

Your device is now ready.

Setup suggestions

Here are some tips you might find useful if care about your privacy and battery/RAM/CPU saving:

1. Remove SIM card before initial boot. This is to avoid download of any automatic "updates" using your mobile data during initial setup of your device.

2. In Setup Wizard (GApps version only):

- skip connecting to Wifi network before you install some firewall

- on "About your privacy" screen go to Privacy settings and disable "Help improve Motorola products" and "Enchanced device support" options. They're basically about monitoring your device and collecting "anonymous" data

- Skip adding your name (at least your real one)

- On Goole services screen opt out from "Use Google's location service", "Help improve location services" and "Improve your Android experience" options. They're all about monitoring and "anonymous" data collection as well

3. When you're done with Setup Wizard go to Google Settings (GApps version only):

- "Ads" > Reset advertising ID > Opt out of interest-based ads

- "Security" > disable "Allow remote lock and erase", "Improve harmful app detection" and "Scan device for security threats" options (again, it's all about monitoring your device and getting "anonymous" stats and data)

4. Open dialer > menu (3 dots in top right corner) > Settings > Advanced > Nearby places > disable

5. Go to Settings:

- Wifi (when you're ready to enable it) > menu > Advanced > disable "Scanning always available" (if enabled) and turn "Keep wifi during sleep" to "Never"

- Sound & notification > Other sounds > disable all to save battery/RAM/CPU

- Security > enable PIN/Pattern/whatever you like. Disable "Make passwords visible" option

- Language & input > disable spell checker and setup Any Soft Keyboard not to learn your dictionary and access your contacts (you never know)

- Backup & reset > disable "Backup my data" (if enabled). If you care about backing up your contacts etc. do it locally

That's about it. The rest depends on you and 3rd party software you install.

Known issues

- FC of Language & input menu in Settings after going back from "Language", "Spell checker" and "Google Keyboard"

Life after Google

You can try using Micro GmsCore to access Play Store content, and here are some alternatives:

1. Interesting and useful apps in F-Droid store:

- Adaway (system-wide ad blocker)

- AFWall+ (very nice firewall. I use it in whitelist mode because it blocks internet access to all apps by default)

- Etar (calendar. Won't work without Google calendar service and account)

- K-9 mail (bit ugly but awesome mail client)

- Open camera (stock camera replacement)

- Wifi automatic (turns wifi off when you lock the screen which saves battery and improves security. Bugged a little and randomly disables wifi from time to time)

- SMSsecure (messaging app with encryption)

- 920 Editor (text editor)

- Document Viewer (self explanatory)

- Network Log (self explanatory)

2. Other interesting and useful apps around the web (mostly on XDA):

- ApkTrack (app updates tracker),

- Calc+ (calculator),

- CoolTool (CPU and RAM usage and other info display),

- DejaOffice (office app that looks a bit outdated, but it's the only calendar app to work without Google services I found so far),

- Disconnect.me (private web searches; the app FC right after starting it, probably due to lack of Google search services available)

- DriveDroid (turns the phone into Linux live USB),

- ES File Explorer (file explorer),

- Firefox (web browser),

- Gravity Screen (Turning screen off and on without using physical power button),

- Greenify (apps hibernator),

- KWGT (custom widget maker),

- LiveBoot (Chainfire's app that replaces boot animation with system log display),

- maps.me (open source google maps alternative),

- MiXPlorer (file explorer),

- MoboClean (permissions manager),

- Naked Browser (web browser),

- NetGuard (no-root firewall),

- NeutriNote (notes),

- Nova Launcher (launcher)

- Open Camera (same as F-Droid app),

- Parasol (community based permission manager),

- PryFi (WiFi security),

- QuickPic (gallery),

- Recently ("close all apps" button in recents window),

- Recordr (sound recording app),

- Servicely (services management. Think twice before installing and using it :) - developer's G+ site, developer's APKMirror downloads

- SD Maid (cleaning tool),

- Super Backup (apps, sms, call logs, etc. backup),

- Titanium Backup (data backup),

- True phone (dialer),

- VLC (media player),

- WifiKill (WiFi killer),

- Wifi Protector (WiFi security, anti-wifikill),

- Xposed

You can find more interesting apps and links on this XDA forum

3. Software that may help you secure your device - sufficientlysecure.org

4. More security software - Secure Mobile Apps

5. XDA Labs (alpha version of XDA app store)

6. Firefox browser add-on that lets you download apk files directly from google play store (without Google account connected to your device) in case you can't find desired app anywhere else.

7. Alternative app-stores, .apk mirrors, etc. - use at your own risk. So far I only tried Amazon's store - the pro is that it exists, the cons are that it requires tons of permissions, has very unfriendly interface, takes a lot of space, and the apps you download will only work as long as the store's app is installed.

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life Moto E's "budget" hardware becomes an advantage. Low resolution screen, its relatively weak backlight and low frequency CPU are the things that might make flagship users envious if you consider their power consumption. My wife is using Moto E as her daily driver and she literally charges it once a week. A the moment stock battery menu shows the device was up for 8 days and 9 hours since the last charge and it still has 18% of juice left, which means it can stay up in standby mode for another 1-2 days. It also shows 2 hrs of voice calls made and nearly 2 hrs SoT. The biggest drainer is mobile radio (38%) and Gravity Screen (13%) I had to install because my wife notoriously forgets to lock her screen - remove that and you have 1 more day of standby/calls. In deep sleep the drain is pretty much none.

Credits and thanks

Motorola for making such a good device

Google for supporting Android (but not for invading it withe their intrusive services)

lost101 - creator of original ROM

HootanParsa - creator of MIxplorer

Menny Even Danan and all creators of AnySoftKeyboard

All people behind TWRP

Sqlite3 developers

All the developers who share useful information and solutions in the web

Please let me know if I missed someone, I'll be happy to update this list

Download

xt1021_Retail_EU_51_Optimized_v1.0_debloat_mod_v1.0GApps - version WITH GApps

xt1021_Retail_EU_51_Optimized_v1.0_debloat_mod_v1.0NoGApps - version WITHOUT GApps