Advantages of Custom Roms over Stock Rom?

rejkin · 16-01-2011 6:31pm #1

I have a HTC desire but I guess this question could cover most android phones;

I'm thinking of putting the LeeDroid rom on my phone,I have it rooted but I was just wondering what's the advantage of doing this? I have looked through the Leedroid rom specs and I don't see whats so different to the Stock rom already on my phone,the battery isn't too bad on the phone with juicedefender running.

srsly78 · 16-01-2011 6:43pm

Don't bother putting custom ROM on Desire it isn't worth it. HTC are good with updates. Samsung however (and others) are awful. Galaxy S is rubbish unless you mod it yourself.

To do most stuff you don't even need root. Want to completely change the UI -> install launcher pro. I've been running leedroid for months, but there is no need anymore. Maybe I will install a gingerbread rom when they come out, but amn't too bothered.

PogMoThoin · 16-01-2011 6:50pm

But You gotta wait for Your provider to filter these updates out to the customer, I can't wait

srsly78 · 16-01-2011 6:56pm

True, it depends.

If your phone is "branded" then you are ****ed. Vodafone and 3 like to customise the roms, and thus add months of delay to them. If you are lucky and have a "normal" Desire then you are sorted. Some carriers like Meteor don't brand their phones, I bought mine online, so no waiting

Of course if you REALLY want updates quickly etc get a Nexus S or other developer phone as sold by Google.

rejkin · 16-01-2011 8:20pm

Thanks for the replies, yeah my phone is unbranded which is pretty sweet. Theres no bloatware on my phone, even though I got it from vodafone it was sim unlocked

Chet T16 · 16-01-2011 9:10pm

srsly78 wrote: »

Don't bother putting custom ROM on Desire it isn't worth it.

Wrong for many reasons starting with a2sd/a2sd+

srsly78 · 16-01-2011 9:52pm

Chet T16 wrote: »

Wrong for many reasons starting with a2sd/a2sd+

Average user won't care, froyo has limited builtin version. Do you wanna explain to average users how to format their sdcard etc? I've had leedroid for months and not bothered to use adsd+. Only needed by people that have compulsive need to install every pointless app on the market.

evolutionqy7 · 16-01-2011 11:43pm

Just for the fact that their better put together than stock HTC ones. Lots of extra features and the speed!

Idk

it just pays to open up and let you do whatever you want

for example you could flash the 2.3 Android

theteal · 17-01-2011 9:20am

Speed is a huge plus point. Being able to uninstall default apps (stocks, peep etc). I'm not a huge fan of sense, so I chose a rom that doesn't have sense (psychosis). There are many more advantages, too early in the morning...

Oh here's an unforeseen one (probably not relevant for a lot of people) but I spend a fair bit of time in the UK. I put my O2 UK sim in last month - I immediately cursed, thinking "balls, the apn settings, I don't know them!". Then I noticed after about 30 seconds of use, little H symbol appeared at the top of the screen

I then recalled, the rom includes a big apn list, score! Going to Germany next week, it'll work there too!

srsly78 · 17-01-2011 9:56am

You guys are wasting your time so. Stock 2.2 is just as fast, I see no difference between my leedroid and my brothers phone with stock. You don't need custom rom to get rid of Sense, just install launcher pro.

Modding your phone is cool and all, but hardly essential. You are just gonna scare normal users away if you tell them THEY HAVE TO DO IT.

Yes, 2.3 is about the only reason I would bother now. But it isn't out yet for Desire, am waiting for that, should be soon. The only reason I modded back in the summer was to get 2.2, and that isn't necessary now.

evolutionqy7 · 17-01-2011 6:37pm

idk i never liked HTC Sense too much. It just seems to cluttered and slower. Whats the point of installing launcher pro? All the main advantages then disappear. Might aswell just run stock and enjoy extended battery life and less lag.

srsly78 · 17-01-2011 6:59pm

LP replaces Sense. You get same speed and battery with LP as with stock, and LP is much more functional. This is the easiest way for people to "upgrade" their phones, without having to flash roms etc.

S.M.B. · 18-01-2011 1:52am

Doesn't LP just hide Sense, rather than replace it so it's still sitting there on your phone taking up lots of space.

And space and the HTC Desire were the only REAL issues that forced me to go down the rooting/modding road.

srsly78 · 18-01-2011 7:54am

Yeah it still takes up space, but stops it running.

Chet T16 · 18-01-2011 11:28am

srsly78 wrote: »

Yeah it still takes up space, but stops it running.

Doubtful, there is a LOT of stuff that is deeply reliant on Sense in the HTC roms

srsly78 · 18-01-2011 11:31am

Um no. Just the widgets and stuff. There can only be 1 launcher active at a time, I know because I have written some.

This is why you can't use the HTC widgets with Launcher Pro. You need LP + Beautiful widgets to properly replace Sense.

evolutionqy7 · 18-01-2011 1:09pm

or adw launcher ex

S.M.B. · 18-01-2011 1:20pm

srsly78 wrote: »

Yeah it still takes up space, but stops it running.

How would you not run out of space then?

I didn't have too many apps installed, maybe 20 or so, and spent about 2 months hovering around that 15mb limit which was an absolute nightmare.

So glad I rooted, partitioned my SD card and added leedroid.

srsly78 · 18-01-2011 1:22pm

I'm running leedroid with sense (sense not used tho), and I got no space problems. Haven't partitioned sdcard, am just using normal froyo a2sd. I don't obsessively install hundreds of useless apps, just what I need.

S.M.B. · 18-01-2011 1:42pm

Would you go away with your 'obsessively installing hundred of apps'.

I had about 20 on mine, and like I said, each one was used on occasion. I had to go uninstall all apps I didn't use on a daily basis.

How much space is free on yours then? And what did you originally start with when leedroid was flashed?

srsly78 · 18-01-2011 1:56pm

There is **** all space free on it, but I don't need more, so it isn't a problem. 99% of apps people install only get used once and are pointless.

S.M.B. · 18-01-2011 2:06pm

Would you stop saying that!

You've no idea how regularly people use their apps. No idea whatsoever.

So for you to say '99% of apps people install are only used once' is complete and utter rubbish.

You obviously have some sort of grudge against those who download every sort of app they lay their eyes on but some people get a lot of use out of numerous apps on their phone.

srsly78 · 18-01-2011 2:16pm

Actually that is a statistic I read. Google are able to track app usage and so on, the vast majority of apps get installed and hardly used.

I'm just giving my point of view as an experienced user, you are free to disagree.

S.M.B. · 18-01-2011 2:24pm

Well if you read that somewhere (link?) then I'm sure it was phrased differently.

Google Earth is probably the only app I have that doesn't get used on a weekly basis and I probably only have that installed cause I was curious that I actually had the space to install it after partitioning my SD card.

evolutionqy7 · 18-01-2011 2:41pm

well it gives you freedom to have as many apps as you like weather you need them or not. i dont wanna be stuck on 90 percent and then download a new app and see "low on space" app2sd+ i can install anything i want

in general 1gb in general should be the least. thats what i have set up. All data on phone and apps on the partition

_ptashek_ · 19-01-2011 1:12pm

srsly78 wrote: »

Modding your phone is cool and all, but hardly essential. You are just gonna scare normal users away if you tell them THEY HAVE TO DO IT.

True, "normal users" (think "the iPhone type of user") will never need root access and a custom rom. There's no benefit to having either in their case.

But for "power users" root and custom roms are essential.
Those are what I considered the most crucial benefits:

1. Tweaks which in many cases result in massive battery life savings or at the very least a nicer looking, snappier interface.

2. Custom ROMs have things no stock ROM has ever had: OpenVPN, CIFS, web proxy support, CPU over/underclocking and (some) undervolting support, full system backup etc.

3. Custom ROM support continues for devices long after official support ceases. HTC abandoned the Hero mid(ish)-2010 at Android 2.1, but you can still run Android 2.2.1 on it today and quite probably 2.3 soon enough.

4. If you're an Android developer, it makes your life easier.

srsly78 · 19-01-2011 7:31pm

Err they put VPN in with 2.2. Also I can overclock my device without using custom rom (z4 root).

2.2 killed many of the reasons on your list. I am an android developer, I had a rooted+modded g1 when I worked for t-mobile (on the g1). Sure there are advantages, but don't exaggerate. Desire with stock 2.2 rom is a solid phone, however Samsung galaxy is apalling unless you mod it. Btw I strongly disapprove of all the crap the carriers + manufacturers do to ruin android.

You are also wrong about the developer part, there is no advantage to modded phone. Actually it's a DISADVANTAGE. You don't want to test your software on a device that is different to your customers. I develop fine on normal phones with stock roms, just enabled USB debugging. Have you actually tried it yourself?

And again: I have a phone with custom rom, my point is merely it isn't that big a deal. You guys make it sound like the thing shoots out lazor beams and does your ironing

_ptashek_ · 19-01-2011 8:37pm

VPN != OpenVPN. No stock ROM has OpenVPN support.

You are also wrong about the developer part, there is no advantage to modded phone. Actually it's a DISADVANTAGE. You don't want to test your software on a device that is different to your customers.

Yes do DO want to test against custom ROMs (the most popular ones) because you have no warranty whatsoever that your users run stock. While the majority do, it's still a sign of good craftsmanship to test for the minority too

I develop fine on normal phones with stock roms, just enabled USB debugging. Have you actually tried it yourself?

Yeah. Nothing wrong there. But I do test a lot on non-stock too.

And again: I have a phone with custom rom, my point is merely it isn't that big a deal. You guys make it sound like the thing shoots out lazor beams and does your ironing

Hardly. But your phone is what you make of it, and there's precious little you can under the hood on stock should you want to (e.g. change scan interval on WiFi to save juice, undervolt etc.). I support the view of "If you don't care about what's under the hood, stay safe, run stock. Here be dragons.".

srsly78 · 19-01-2011 9:54pm

What's the difference between VPN and openVPN? I can connect to everything I've tried fine, the protocol is the same no? With android 1.5 on g1 I had to compile openvpn myself (did it with debian+gcc on the phone lol, took hours). Not needed now tho.

I really think you guys are scaring normal users off with this talk. Some stock roms are very very good (others are **** admittedly). Many detractors out there say that you need to tinker/tweak/root your android before it's good, which is not true in most cases.

_ptashek_ · 19-01-2011 10:57pm

What's the difference between VPN and openVPN

?
OpenVPN is more like an SSL tunnel, while VPN uses IPSec and PPTP/L2TP. Basically, they're similar only by name and the goal they serve.

I can connect to everything I've tried fine, the protocol is the same no?

Not at all.

I really think you guys are scaring normal users off with this talk.

Ain't that the point?

Convince them they don't need that sort of power and trouble.

Some stock roms are very very good (others are **** admittedly).

HTC makes good(ish) ones. Samsung makes horrible ones. Steve Kondik + team make some of the best out there. And that's all the first-hand experience I would have. Who are the others?

Many detractors out there say that you need to tinker/tweak/root your android before it's good, which is not true in most cases.

Agreed.

Advantages of Custom Roms over Stock Rom?

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