All about Samsung Galaxy S4

[s44]

Just root and install a custom recovery, as laid out here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2290798


The bootloader bypass is built in to the recoveries/kernels.

 

[Germanic]

http://blog.gsmarena.com/samsung-ga...d-regular-s4-with-lte-in-video-download-test/

Samsung Galaxy S4 LTE-A runs circles around regular S4 with LTE in video download test

So it seems the LTE-A is about 7 times faster in download speeds compared to normal 4G LTE.

 

[trmiv]

So who do I need to kill to get the red Phase Beam live wallpaper from the S4 Google Edition?

Edit: Found it, no death required:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=42989659

 

[ChronoReverse]

So 4.3 is available for the GS4 now courtesy of a "special package" from the Google Edition.

 

[santz]

besides the snapdragon 800 processor of the S4 LTE-A, i dont care much for the higher LTE speed as the networks here dont support such advanced high speeds, so whats the point,
its like upgrading to a super Fast i7 processor and retaining the Intel HD garaphics to play crysis

lol somedays i consider myself happy if I get a decent connection to LTE at all

 

[ImDonly1]

Any difference between CWM or TWRP recoveries?
Twrp is touch based but otherwise is one better?

 

[Apex]

Any difference between CWM or TWRP recoveries?
Twrp is touch based but otherwise is one better?

Rabid fans of one or the other will probably bring out the pitchforks, but IMHO, they're more similar than different. The way you interact with them (ie. touch) is different, but the functionality isn't that far apart. Some folks claim one is more reliable than the other or one is milliseconds faster in one or two functions.

 

[s44]

CWM uses this awful pile-of-blobs arrangement for its backups that's near-impossible to get off the device using MTP.

TWRP doesn't.

 

[WelshBloke]

CWM uses this awful pile-of-blobs arrangement for its backups that's near-impossible to get off the device using MTP.

TWRP doesn't.

Yeah, I understand why CWM went that way but TWRP is a lot easier to work with. I much prefer it.

You can turn the blobs thing off though in CWM.

 

[s44]

So wait, the GE firmware uses a TW kernel!? Whoa.

 

[WelshBloke]

So wait, the GE firmware uses a TW kernel!? Whoa.

Really?

That would be cool. You could flash back all the bits that you do like from touchwiz. (the camera, multiview, etc)

 

[dlock13]

I have no idea what ROM to use. I'm actually digging some of the Touchwiz features, but I'd prefer it to be stock AOSP. Like I want the camera, multiwindow, some of the air gestures, stock AOSP lockscreen and some other things, but I just am not sure which ROM to go with.

I also want to use HALOs and just everything else, but there's SO much for this phone that I don't know where to begin!

 

[WelshBloke]

I have no idea what ROM to use. I'm actually digging some of the Touchwiz features, but I'd prefer it to be stock AOSP. Like I want the camera, multiwindow, some of the air gestures, stock AOSP lockscreen and some other things, but I just am not sure which ROM to go with.

I also want to use HALOs and just everything else, but there's SO much for this phone that I don't know where to begin!

Touchwiz ROM. Debloat it and install nova launcher and widgetlocker.

 

[gorcorps]

I have no idea what ROM to use. I'm actually digging some of the Touchwiz features, but I'd prefer it to be stock AOSP. Like I want the camera, multiwindow, some of the air gestures, stock AOSP lockscreen and some other things, but I just am not sure which ROM to go with.

I also want to use HALOs and just everything else, but there's SO much for this phone that I don't know where to begin!

Yeah, you can't use an asop rom and have all those features so you'll have to find a Touchwiz based one. There should be some good ones out there though so no worries.

 

[Anna.Howard]

Its front camera tracks your eyes and automatically scrolls text for you.

This seems to be a great feature... Samsung Galaxy S4 for sure rocks....

 

[Elganja]

I have no idea what ROM to use. I'm actually digging some of the Touchwiz features, but I'd prefer it to be stock AOSP. Like I want the camera, multiwindow, some of the air gestures, stock AOSP lockscreen and some other things, but I just am not sure which ROM to go with.

I also want to use HALOs and just everything else, but there's SO much for this phone that I don't know where to begin!

For a TW based ROM... CleanROM 1.5 R2 -- Odex'd Version with Faux 006 TW Kernel has yielded some fantastic results for me

 

[krumme]

"Samsung Slides Equivalent of Sony as S4 Sales Disappoint"

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...nt-of-sony-as-galaxy-s4-sales-disappoint.html

"Samsung Electronics Co. lost $25.3 billion in market capitalization last month, more than the value of competitor Sony Corp., as sales of its flagship Galaxy S4 smartphone fell short of investor expectations"

But still: on the 5 largest markets in europe Samsung sell half the smarphones.

 

[lopri]

CWM uses this awful pile-of-blobs arrangement for its backups that's near-impossible to get off the device using MTP.

TWRP doesn't.

Can't believe they still haven't fix that crap. It was THE reason that pushed me to root without custom recoveries.

Yeah, I understand why CWM went that way but TWRP is a lot easier to work with. I much prefer it.

You can turn the blobs thing off though in CWM.

Are you sure about that? It's been a while I did my homework but at the time the only solution was doing occasional nandroid backups, so that the blops folders start over.

 

[lopri]

Galaxy phones are pretty durable and now with Samsung Warranty covering a broken screen or water damage. I don't think I'm ever getting my phone a case.

Is it in written in the warranty documents that come with the phone? How long is the duration of warranty? I wouldn't mind canceling the insurance for my parents' S4s.

 

[dlock13]

I don't have the warranty in front of me, but from the Googling I did, I saw that there were like 5-10 articles for an African phone carrier stating that they're including broken screens/water damage in their S4 warranty.

I don't know if the rest of us have that.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Can't believe they still haven't fix that crap. It was THE reason that pushed me to root without custom recoveries.

Or just use TWRP? The nice thing about Android is there are usually options for everything. TWRP has performed without problems for me long enough that I don't even give CWM a second thought nowadays.

I don't have the warranty in front of me, but from the Googling I did, I saw that there were like 5-10 articles for an African phone carrier stating that they're including broken screens/water damage in their S4 warranty.

I don't know if the rest of us have that.

We don't. As for rooting though, it's simple to return to stock software for the GS4.

 

[Skurge]

Is it in written in the warranty documents that come with the phone? How long is the duration of warranty? I wouldn't mind canceling the insurance for my parents' S4s.

Yeah, you just need to register your phone, but it looks like only Samsung Africa are offering it.

 

[Germanic]

I don't think the Galaxy S4 has the same USB water sensitivity problem (where the temperature of the phone is critically low) as the previous Galaxies.

 

[WelshBloke]

... Are you sure about that? It's been a while I did my homework but at the time the only solution was doing occasional nandroid backups, so that the blops folders start over.

No I'm not sure about it, I changed all my stuff over to TWRP. I've found it better, it's a lot easier to keep up to date as well using goomanager.

I don't think the Galaxy S4 has the same USB water sensitivity problem (where the temperature of the phone is critically low) as the previous Galaxies.

I have no idea what you mean by this.
None of the previous galaxy phones have been in the slightest bit water resistant so I don't see how water sensitivity is an issue. I've not found them to be any more sensitive to moisture than any other phone (I've dropped my S3 into a full bath and it survived).

 

[Oyeve]

I don't think the Galaxy S4 has the same USB water sensitivity problem (where the temperature of the phone is critically low) as the previous Galaxies.

What?