yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Questions and Answers] steveyc2:
So I'm looking to buy a new phone and it seems that about 70% of the market share in the best buys is comprised of Chinese owned manufacturers.

There have been numerous reports of such manufacturers collecting user-identifable data and phoning home with it. I know that western owned phone companies collect data but believe that the rules /laws, ehtics and security are better followed in the west. I'm not trying to get into a debate of east vs west btw this is just my opinion. Yes I know that almost all phones are manufactured in China but I'm more concerned about who is influencing the companies themselves if they are Chinese.

So given that I value my privacy and want to keep personal data out of the hands of bad actors I'm left with a choice of buying a western owned phone which are generally much lower spec for a price point or perhaps buying Chinese and rooting.

My question is whether this is a practical answer given the need to use a phone as a secure device e.g. 2FA and internet banking apps etc and a daily driver? Also my experience tells me that when one takes a custom ROM they take on responsibility for applying patches and updates which is something of an administration burden I probably don't have the time /inclination for.

For the record I've flashed and used custom roms on about 3-4 devices in the past so have some first hand experiance but wondered if things have changed for the better or worse?
[General Questions and Answers] blackhawk:
They could have embedded hidden backdoors in the hardware or worse.
[General Questions and Answers] Fytdyh:
Well, things are still the same, if not even worse. Beside security patches, Google has been cracking down on rooted users, so in the near future some features and some apps might stop working. Unfortunately users with just an unlocked bootloader might be caught in the crossfire. As for privacy, try Xiaomi. Sure, there have been rumors of Spyware on Xiaomi devices. Well, back in January some cybersecurity firm from Germany test that theory. Proved it was false.

Germany: No evidence of spying from Xiaomi phones

One point for Xiaomi

www.gadgetmatch.com

Thus Xiaomi might be one of the good ones. At least in terms of being spied by them. Sure, third party apps also spy on you, but for that you have adb.
[General Questions and Answers] steveyc2:
That's bad to hear that Google are trying to put the squeeze on and a deterrent to investing time and energy installing Roms that may only get worse with time in terms of G Apps and services.

Hmmm that article refers to an absence of censorship rather than not spying.

Here's an example of the story which I've seen repeated elsewhere on Xiaomi spying:

Exclusive: Warning Over Chinese Mobile Giant Xiaomi Recording Millions Of People’s ‘Private’ Web And Phone Use

Xiaomi is collecting users’ browser habits and phone usage, raising red flags for privacy researchers.

www.forbes.com
[General Questions and Answers] Fytdyh:
Sorry about that.

At this point, I doubt there isn't a smartphone maker that does not track its users. From chinese makers to American makers, everyone tracks their users. Their data sells the best. At this rate, if you want to totally protect your privacy, don't buy a phone. Anything and everything can be tracked. Dumb phones and smartphones. So picking a smartphone isn't going to keep your privacy secure. You might have a say in how many people do you want to track you, based on phone's price.
[General Questions and Answers] xXx yYy:
To be on the safe side, you can install an alternative ROM, such as LineageOS, instead of the preinstalled OS: requires phone's bootloader is unlockable.
[General Questions and Answers] xXx yYy:
Be aware that no cell phone provides you with true anonymity.
[General Questions and Answers] steveyc2:
yes i know i can do that- and the firmware too- my question was about the practicality of living with such a phone once done

Yes, aware of that, just trying to minimise exposure while still having a usable phone

worrying but if one wipes the firmware and ROM then that would mitigate any hardware backdoor risks I would have thought?
[General Questions and Answers] sso003:
Has anyone actually tested a custom rom on a chinese phone that was known to send data back to chinese servers?

For example:

test with stock rom: wireshark shows phone sending information to chinese IP

test with custom rom: wireshark shows no packets sent to chinese IPs.
[General Questions and Answers] Fytdyh:
Some infos could go to an American proxy server then to Chinese. In order to be sure no one gets you data, learn to code and make your own rom and your own apps. Open source apps are an option if you know to check the source yourself.
[General Questions and Answers] steveyc2:
So I'm looking to buy a new phone and it seems that about 70% of the market share in the best buys is comprised of Chinese owned manufacturers.

There have been numerous reports of such manufacturers collecting user-identifable data and phoning home with it. I know that western owned phone companies collect data but believe that the rules /laws, ehtics and security are better followed in the west. I'm not trying to get into a debate of east vs west btw this is just my opinion. Yes I know that almost all phones are manufactured in China but I'm more concerned about who is influencing the companies themselves if they are Chinese.

So given that I value my privacy and want to keep personal data out of the hands of bad actors I'm left with a choice of buying a western owned phone which are generally much lower spec for a price point or perhaps buying Chinese and rooting.

My question is whether this is a practical answer given the need to use a phone as a secure device e.g. 2FA and internet banking apps etc and a reliable daily driver? Also my experience tells me that when one takes a custom ROM they take on responsibility for applying patches and updates which is something of an administration burden I probably don't have the time /inclination for.

For the record I've flashed and used custom roms on about 3-4 devices in the past so have some first hand experiance but wondered if things have changed for the better or worse?
[General Questions and Answers] Oswald Boelcke:
@steveyc2 Thread closed as duplicate of

https://xdaforums.com/t/chinese-pho...oting-custom-firmware-rom-the-answer.4487515/

All replies to this thread have been moved to the still open one.

Please review the XDA Forum Rules with special emphasis on rule no. 5 and post only ONCE! Thanks for your cooperation.

Regards

Oswald Boelcke

Senior Moderator
[Redmi Note 11 (spes/spesn)] MacroHard Onfire:
I'm new to this so i probably messed up something. I just got a redmi note 11 spesn and decided to root it. I unlocked the bootloader with the official xiaomi tool and downloaded what should be the official rom (https://xiaomifirmwareupdater.com/miui/spesn/stable/V13.0.2.0.SGKMIXM/). I then unpacked the payload.bin into separate img files with a python tool, patched boot.img file with magisk and then, again from the pc, flashed it to my phone. The phone takes about 3 minutes to boot up but that isn't really that big of a deal. Apps can now get root (confirmed with adaway) but I can't turn on wifi or tilt my screen. I have a suspicion it may be because i flashed a newer version of rom (noticed later), one that also ships with android 12, while the phone still displays the old version number and android 11. Do i have to flash any other image as well for it to work, or is this an unexpected result and I'm better off just flashing the default, A11 rom with the official flash tool and forget about rooting
[Redmi Note 11 (spes/spesn)] NeoSDAP:
As described, you are using boot.img from a newer version (A12) of your installed software (A11). Also, isn't it easier to install Magisk using TWRP?

There is an unofficial version for this device but it works correctly, except for the MTP
[Touch HD General] blacktime:
So far everything has worked well, if uploading videos read them perfectly with both the mediaplayer and clicking from the home because they found the photos ...

Now if I click on a video, and in the application "album" makes me see the preview, I get a popup with written as a header, "Windows Media", and the message that says "unable to load the source filter for the file "

Same problem with the video that his tour with the HD.

The Coreplayer me see them all but the default player I always make the same mistake ...

What help?

What may have happened?

A solution?

Thank you

Scuse me for my english ;)
[Touch HD General] Petterax:
Same problem here, someone have a solution?

Petter
[Samsung Galaxy A6 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Oth] Sleep_With_Me:
LineAge Recovery Unknow Version For A6lte

Bug - SD Card Not Working

View attachment 5702065

Credit By

© Batuhan Tested in Galaxy J7

© BrunoLiraTM Tested In Galaxy J6

© Sleep_With_Me Ported For Galaxy A6
[Samsung Galaxy A6 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Oth] Denis1412:
Can you give me the lineage os file ? i want to try it too i have a usb and i can`t find a custom rom for my a6
[Samsung Galaxy A6 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Oth] nqnxev:
But... where is the download link?
[Samsung Galaxy A6 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Oth] Sleep_With_Me:
ok
[Samsung Galaxy A6 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Oth] Sleep_With_Me:
wait
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arjitmittal:
USING ROOT PRIVILEGE I REMOVED THE PACKAGE INSTALLER.

TO RESOLVE IT I INSTALLED A CUSTOM ROM FOR MY DEVICE.

LATER AFTER INSTALLING IT WHEN I RESTARTED MY TAB MY LENOVO TAB GOT STUCK IN A BOOT LOOP.

AGAIN I INSTALLED ANOTHER ROM BUT THE SAME PROBLEM TOOK PLACE.

PLEASE HELP ME WITH MY PROBLEM I WOULD BE VERY THANKFUL TO YOU.
[Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NO_ob:
I'm having trouble getting any android 6 roms to boot. I had android 12 installed, went to twrp wiped and flashed cm13 it stayed on the boot screen for a number of hours, tried a few other cm13 roms with the same result. I then used odin to reset to stock android 4, flashed twrp 3.0.0.2 and then tried flashing cm13 with the same result. Is there something special I need to be doing for android 6? I need android 6 specifically help would be appreciated

Please dont reply about wiping partitions in twrp wiping cache dalvik etc ive done all of that
[Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra] explosive0:
I have an ATT branded S22 Ultra (SM-S908U) where I flashed unlocked firmware using Odin (was trying to sign up for 5.0 beta...but even flashing unlocked firmware does not show me sign up option in Samsung Users).

I am now trying to return to stock ATT firmware, however, Odin fails at file analysis for both AVA6 and AVC8 firmware.

Is there anything I'm doing wrong?
[Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra] butchieboy:
Factory wipe. Make sure you are using patch Odin. If it fails and boots to emergency warning screen do not try to get back to stock recovery. Just flash firmware again without factory wipe. I usually have to flash in Odin twice.
[Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra] kraz01:
Use Odin 3.13 patched
[Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra] wr3cckl3ss1:
If you were on Beta (thats Rev 2) and you're trying to flash back to firmwares on (Rev 1) .....that's why your failing. You can't go back but to AVDC. And no matter what patched Odin you try.....nothing will get you to those firmwares.

*EDIT* I misread your post. But either way those firmware are not able to be flashed. You can only flash firmware within your REV.
[General Questions and Answers] fillip:
After uninstalling some programs the folders remain in the menu's this is probably an extremely stupid question but i cant work out how to do it i assumed you would be able to create modify rename folders as much as you like much like you can with desktop windows but if you can i cant work it out. please could you help a noob to windows mobile.

Thanks
[General Questions and Answers] nir36:
open a file explorer

go to /windows/start menu

look for the folders/links you wanted deleted...
[General Questions and Answers] fillip:
Thank you I was looking in the wrong place i was just looking in programs, cheers!
[General Questions and Answers] nir36:
my pleasure dude
[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] The Carpenter:
Dear XDA helpers,

I have done pretty comprehenisve searches for a day or so but I am having trouble. I have a Samsung S5 SM-G900F... I am trying to install lineage 18.1 using a MAC (OS 10.15.5 CATALINA) I can't find a version of heimdall suite that works on Catalina. Heimdall suite 1.4.0 doesn't install on Catalina. I got Heimdall-1.4.1-Unofficial-Signed to install but I can't find the front end and I can't find the installed app location on my hard disk. Also I downloaded the official lineage-18.1-20220828-recovery-klte.img but the image is not recognised and I can't open it on a Mac machine.

Basically I am having a cross patform nightmare, I can get some things installed on Catalina (such as Jodin3) but some of the necessary support files are not compatible with Mac Catalina (such as lineage-18.1-20220828-recovery-klte.img).

Am I wasting my time trying to do this on my mac? I would need a relatively straight forward process anyway because I am a noob, so these extra cross platform issues are not helping.

Is there a thread with instructions using Catalina? I haven't been able to find much useful in a day of wide ranging searching.

Thanks for your help

All the best Tim
[Samsung Galaxy A30 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] tutibreaker:
Stockless lite is a rom as is name says a lite version a the stockless bases on latest firmware A305GUBU8CVG1 with better performance and other goodies

How To install:

1) install TWRP for your device

2) enter in advance wipe and wipe dalvik, system,data,internal storage and cache

3) format data partition

4) flash the rom

5) enjoy!!

Download: Stockless Lite

​

ROM OS Version: 11

ROM Kernel: Stock

ROM Firmware Required: Stock Android 11

Status: Stable

Created 01-09-2022

Last Updated 01-09-2022
[Samsung Galaxy A30 ROMs, Kernels, Recoveries, & Ot] SirKosichka:
Gayming ROM 😍😍😍
[G1 General] patp:
T-Mo UK now has the G1 free on a £30/m 18m contract. You get an 8GB memory card and WnW Plus (which gives you access to Wifi hotspots as well as "unlimited" 3G).

Quite tempted, but read so many so-so reviews of the hardware.
[G1 General] veda_sticks:
I just got mine on an upgrade. But i only got a 2gb card. No biggy. IMO the phone is great.

Its got a 528mhz processor

192mb ram

256mb rom

3mp camera

Bluetooth

wifi

gps

compas

accelerometer

Comes with a wired headset (usb connection, u can get a usb to 3.5mm adapter if you want to use a better headphones)

Battery life is ok. If your a heavy user of internet its going to drain the battery quick. Ive been charging twice a day when i use it alot. You can get a higher capacity battery aswell. Though its possible theres still a few bugs thats causing battery loss.

Dont have everything on all the time.

Its permenantly connected to the internet. Browsing speed is respectable and the browser is nice.

The hardware is great. We just need software to go with it. At the moment it only supports bluetooth headset. But that will change with new updates.

No virtual keyboard, but again thats coming aswell.

Gmail is great on it.

Text messaging works, though mms doesnt support videos and i dont think you can save to SD yet.

Theres still alot of support to add yet. pdf word etc

If your willing to put up with some missing features then its a great phone.

When you get it, its probably be on rc7. Youll get a notification of a new update. If you want to keep root access dont install it. rc8 update fixes the root access and isnt reversible at the moment.

If you no what your doing with linux terminal commands, id install the modified rc8 update that keeps root access, its explained in the development thread.
[G1 General] Audiofreq:
Do you know what minutes and messages you get on that?

I'm on the £40 one which allows you to spend £250 a month but i'll probably never use that so going down a level might be good for me...
[G1 General] fowler002:
from what I've been told, you can't go down the price plan till you come to upgrade so you're stuck on what you've got unfortunatly.

the £30/month is either ther combi 25 + web'n'walk plus(£25/month + £5 for the web'n'walk. 300mins, 600texts) or the flext 30 + free web'n'walk plus(£30/month, £140 to spend a month). I tempted to get the flext 30 but also got my eye on the touch hd so not fully decided yet.
[G1 General] saffyreuk:
Ive just picked up the £30 a month combi plan from carphone warehouse. Got a 2gb memory card with it, not fussed about that. Really pleased with the phone so far, shame I was so hasty about upgrading. No root access for now :(.
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
Reg Hotspot

Hi there mate, on the wnw plus for the G1 you dont get unlimited hotspot

access because it's a promotional feature. You do get it usually but not with this :( Only know this because I work for T-Mobile ;)
[G1 General] saffyreuk:
that sucks. do you think they coukd be persuaded to give in on that?
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
hotspot

No mate because of the way it would have to be set up on the account the features arent compatible ;)

Its only a tenner for unlimited hotspot access which you can use on BTOZ's too.
[G1 General] saffyreuk:
10 a month? or a one off payment? i doubt i would use it very often and i have 3g. cant say it would be worth 10 a month but it would be nice on occasion.
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
hotspot

Yeah 10 a month, would be good if you were in starbucks a lot ;)
[G1 General] saffyreuk:
yeah exactly. with the speed of 3g now i guess the main benefit would be saving on usage allowence.

still shame its not included, kind of annoying as i had assumed it had (my fault obv).
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
Hotspot

Dont worry about your data becoz if your in the UK (which i assume u are) then you dont have a data allowance, you have whats called a Fair use policy (or FUP) basiclly this means that you will never be charged for data with the WnW Plus feature, the only thing that may happen is if you go over your 3Gig FUP for 3 months in a row you will get a letter sent to u asking to reduce your usage and if you still go over it your speeds will be reduced to 64kbps for 2-4 weeks.

If you then go over it once more (were now up to 6/7 months in a row!!) it will be permanently reduced to 64 kbps or you can upgrade to the max version (about 20 quid per month extra) which gives a 10Gig FUP.

All i'm really saying is dont worry about it !! Surf away. (Untill you recieve a letter ;))
[G1 General] Rmg12gra:
It actually isn't £30pm. Its £35pm. that's because the WnW if £5pm extra and you NEED it as the phone is an internet phone. Mines on that deal for 700 mins and unlimited txts, unlimited browsing.
[G1 General] fowler002:
the £30/month plans are the combi 25(£25/month + 5 for the w'n'p plus, 300mins, 600text(300texts if bought in store)) & the flext 30(£30/month + free w'n'w plus, £140 allowance to spend on mins, texts etc).

chris are you sure you can't use the t-mobile hotspots for free? the guy at my local store told me that you could(using the wifi on the g1, obv not on a laptop, ipod touch or other wifi capable device).
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
hotspot

Yeah am sure, even if you did get it there is no way they can tell if your using a g1 or a pc while using the hotspot. Go back to ur shop and tell the guy to check his facts !
[G1 General] fowler002:
I don't have a g1 yet(not fully decided yet, also looking at the touch hd), but wanted to check if the t-mobiles hotspots are included with the g1 plan.

looking on the forums on t-mobile.com(usa site)link if you download this hotspot app you can connect to the hotspot(tho reading that thread it seemed hit & miss, i.e. some people were able to others not able to), just wondered if there was a similar thing for the uk. I don't really travel much so its not really a big deal for me(don't think I'll be using up the 3gb fup anyway) but would have been nice to have.

if I was to put the sim into another non-g1 phone(be it t-mobile or sim-free), what is the fup on the internet in that case(1gb or still 3gb)? also will there be any problems making calls, texting etc? I currently don't have a job but if I was to start I might be putting the sim into another phone as I wouldn't want to loose the g1(places like sainsburys, toys r us don't like you to keep your phone on you during work and want you to leave it in the staff room).
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
No T-Mob UK doesnt have anything like that mate ;)

But you can use the sim in another fone and use the web free of charge as its your sim that has the feature on it - not specific to the fone ;)
[G1 General] patp:
Well they don't make it very easy to find out what the difference is between web'n'walk, web'n'walk Plus and web'n'walk MAX, but on the info about hotspots it says:

WiFi HotSpot included in Mobile Broadband Plans

New customers that sign up to web'n'walk Max, Plus, or Plus Daily* can now enjoy WiFi access in any of our HotSpots across the UK. So on top of 3G coverage across the country, unlimited WiFi Hotspots are included in the price - in places where you need WiFi the most, such as airports, hotels and Starbucks.​

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/services/mobile-internet/on-your-laptop/free-wifi/

This was what I'd always understood about the Plus option- that it sanctions tethering and let's you use hotspots.
[G1 General] mitch1974:
My current contract ends next month, and since it doesn't look like the UK is getting the Vario IV, I might just go for one of these.

And the T-Mobile 3G coverage is tremendous where I live, on my Vario II whenever I connect for data I get a nice little H symbol and a fast download speed, strangely, the coverage in Newcastle (upon Tyne, the real Newcastle!) the connection can be a bit hit and miss :confused:
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
hotspot

The standard plus option doesn't but because your getting the g1 plus option for a fiver (or free on flext) it isn't included as it is a promo !
[G1 General] patp:
It's nice that the website is so clear about it. Maybe you could have a word.
[G1 General] patp:
I thought I'd go and check it out. You're right of course, the features are great. But I'm even less convinced now I've had a play. I LOVE the OS, but the hardware is a big disappointment, I would never want this phone. Releasing it without a soft keyboard is daft, the hard keyboard is one of the worst I've seen, my Hermes is better. And the chin definitely gets in the way - what's the point of it. No, this device is a mistake, evidence of Google's lack of attention to detail. They've made a great OS, they are geniuses, they should be smart enough to hire someone equally talented in product design.

I just hope the Touch HD gets an android port soon.
[G1 General] lajtosi:
I have ordered ny black G1 and I got a friend at T-Mobile hence I have pay £15 a month on 18month contract...bargain for this masterpiece...:D

Normally it is £30 for 18 month on flext-30 which includes:

- £140 worth of calls, messages (20p/min on calls,10p/sms ans 20p/mms...)

- capped data download on 3G (up to 1Gb per month)

- unlimited wifi access TMO hotspots

- free hardware

- 8GB sandisk microSDHC card (this is normally rrp £39.99)

- standard accessories (mini USB stereo headset, slim battery (1150mAh) and screen protector, charger and miniUSB cable
[G1 General] fowler002:
might want to check that little fact with your friend at t-mobile(its 3gb for the g1 contracts, 1gb for other phones). ;)
[G1 General] ChrisMcCann:
g1

Correct fowler;)
[Samsung Galaxy A32 5G] konksz:
So my litlle brother played with my phone .When it was doing a software update and somehow turned it off.And now when i try to turn it on it shows me some green dots and then shuts down.

When i am charging it it also shows green dots .If someone could help me thanks in advance.

VIDEO LINK
[Samsung Galaxy A32 5G] konksz:
download mode or recovery mode doesn't work, it keeps turning on with the green dots on it