[Verizon] Help with ROM / Kernel selection

[Needsdecaf]

All:

I haven't rooted my Nexus yet however I plan on doing so this weekend. I rooted my OG Droid and my Droid X so no stranger to rooting. I've read the guides and it seems like it will be pretty straightforward if i follow the steps. I've had both phones "soft brick" on me and restored from Nandroid or factory reset so I'm not a panicker. LOL.

My main reason for rooting is to improve battery life. It would be nice if there were something to improve radio reception as well. Also, I'd love to be able to ditch the Google search bar and install the search icon on the soft keys. I see that this has been done, so I'm sure I can find it.

I know some of the older players in the ROM name, however not so many Nexus specific ones. I was running Pete's BB in the past and then Miui. I read about the zygot 3 series and was intrigued. Good place to start?
Thanks!

 

[jbdan]

All:

I haven't rooted my Nexus yet however I plan on doing so this weekend. I rooted my OG Droid and my Droid X so no stranger to rooting. I've read the guides and it seems like it will be pretty straightforward if i follow the steps. I've had both phones "soft brick" on me and restored from Nandroid or factory reset so I'm not a panicker. LOL.

My main reason for rooting is to improve battery life. It would be nice if there were something to improve radio reception as well. Also, I'd love to be able to ditch the Google search bar and install the search icon on the soft keys. I see that this has been done, so I'm sure I can find it.

I know some of the older players in the ROM name, however not so many Nexus specific ones. I was running Pete's BB in the past and then Miui. I read about the zygot 3 series and was intrigued. Good place to start?
Thanks!

Yay a rooter to join the masses!

Personally I think the best place to start or get your feet wet with GN rom'ing is to go to something most like stock. Just to test the waters. Then move on from there. I'd try AHRD (android revolution) from mike1986 as it's a nice improvement over the stock .2 ROM VZ loaded.

However, since you're an experienced rooter with other phones, you could lead a more dangerous lifestyle and go straight to a kanged ROM with a custom kernel and do some undervolting to further increase already good battery life. Team Kang's Milestone1 is very nice. GummyNex is also a winner. Rootzboat is also nice, but has some UI changes I don't favor. Pete's builds are always solid. Miui is available, but a little buggy atm. There are so many choices and the above ^ is all of my own opinion

Research what features and what people are saying about different ROM/kernel combos and see what you like gl!

 

[Needsdecaf]

Continuing to do some reading and I may end up just doing a kernel only first without a ROM. Would help battery life. But then again, I can't leave well enough alone.

 

[jbdan]

Continuing to do some reading and I may end up just doing a kernel only first without a ROM. Would help battery life. But then again, I can't leave well enough alone.

lol!

Only two 4.0.2 kernels I know of atm. Adren and Lou.

You have a huge variety with 4.0.3 if/when you decide to jump ship

 

[jbdan]

Also, to add to this, there are the new leaked radio's out for our CDMA GN so it might or might not increase your radio reception you speak of.

radio link

 

[VoidedSaint]

im having a fun time trying to figure out fabs kernel, i cant seem to access it to change anything... since i came from a DX, and kernels werent there for us. i dont know what im really doing so along with the OP this guide needs some assistance! mainly, how do i access the kernel settings?

 

[WormDoes]

im having a fun time trying to figure out fabs kernel, i cant seem to access it to change anything... since i came from a DX, and kernels werent there for us. i dont know what im really doing so along with the OP this guide needs some assistance! mainly, how do i access the kernel settings?

By "can't seem to access it to change anything" do you mean the voltage settings? If so, I don't have voltage options on v4 either. It's my understanding that the kernel has to "unlock" (so to speak) the options within setCPU. I think that Fab has the settings "locked" because he already undervolts this kernel quite a bit by default.

OP, welcome to the world of root I would suggest flashing a couple of ROMs and seeing which one you like the best. Remember that all our phones are different. So, a ROM/kernel combo that works great on my phone may not work well on your phone. It's all about trial and error. That being said, I was on Fab's stock rooted for a while until I flashed GummyNex yesterday. Prior to flashing Gummy every 4.0.3 ROM I flashed there were little things broken (nit picking) that made me run back to stock rooted. So far this is a very nice ROM and with Fab's Apex kernel I'm seeing really good battery. I can only imagine in a couple days when the kernel is fully settled in it'll get even better.

 

[Needsdecaf]

One other thing I forgot to ask...has anyone figured out the abnormally high Android OS issue and fixed it in a ROM?

 

[jbdan]

im having a fun time trying to figure out fabs kernel, i cant seem to access it to change anything... since i came from a DX, and kernels werent there for us. i dont know what im really doing so along with the OP this guide needs some assistance! mainly, how do i access the kernel settings?

In setcpu, when using for example imoseyon's 1.1.0 (fabulous kernel worth checking out) up top you have a VOL TAG column. My settings are in the thread I started about his kernel/s check it out. It has the default values as well.

I used fab kernel (apex) a while back and mV's were adjustable, but it appears they are no longer accessible. His kernel is already UV'd a bit as worm states.

It's fun messing around isn't it!!

 

[jbdan]

One other thing I forgot to ask...has anyone figured out the abnormally high Android OS issue and fixed it in a ROM?

Funny you ask this. As of late, with the latest iterations of 4.0.3 ROM's, I have noticed a drastic lowering of that processes effect on "wake times". fwiw

 

[quiklives]

Funny you ask this. As of late, with the latest iterations of 4.0.3 ROM's, I have noticed a drastic lowering of that processes effect on "wake times". fwiw

This is great to hear. Can you (or anyone) point me towards one that is as close to stock as there is, and *hopefully* with full instructions? Like the OP, I'm coming from the DX and things are different here in Nexusland, and I'm the cautious sort.

 

[Needsdecaf]

This is great to hear. Can you (or anyone) point me towards one that is as close to stock as there is, and *hopefully* with full instructions? Like the OP, I'm coming from the DX and things are different here in Nexusland, and I'm the cautious sort.

Last night I flashed Axiom ROM and the latest leaked radio.

With admittedly lighter than normal use, I'm still at 75% at lunchtime. AWESOME!

The Axiom rom is pretty stock looking.

 

[jbdan]

This is great to hear. Can you (or anyone) point me towards one that is as close to stock as there is, and *hopefully* with full instructions? Like the OP, I'm coming from the DX and things are different here in Nexusland, and I'm the cautious sort.

There really aren't any "like VZ stock" 4.0.3 roms imo. They all have, in one form or another, some pretty different changes in UI, apks, and in performance. However, this is not a bad thing at all, in fact, I think it's great!

Have you tried mike1986's ARHD 2.1.2? It's a great "like VZ stock" rom with a a few new apks inserted (but useful imo) and extremely stable and smooth with better than stock battery life and overall smoothness. I think it's a great start if you're unsure of which rom to begin with.

 

[quiklives]

There really aren't any "like VZ stock" 4.0.3 roms imo. They all have, in one form or another, some pretty different changes in UI, apks, and in performance. However, this is not a bad thing at all, in fact, I think it's great!

Have you tried mike1986's ARHD 2.1.2? It's a great "like VZ stock" rom with a a few new apks inserted (but useful imo) and extremely stable and smooth with better than stock battery life and overall smoothness. I think it's a great start if you're unsure of which rom to begin with.

After bouncing around the forums for a few hours like a madman, I ended up flashing the AOKP M1 ROM and Imoseyan's lean kernel, and a soft key/battery mod from RunAndHide over on Rootzwiki, and I flat out _could_not_be_ any happier with this phone right now. 53% after over 10 hrs on battery, snappier than stock...just perfect. Love these forums, and all the community support for this phone.

 

[jbdan]

After bouncing around the forums for a few hours like a madman, I ended up flashing the AOKP M1 ROM and Imoseyan's lean kernel, and a soft key/battery mod from RunAndHide over on Rootzwiki, and I flat out _could_not_be_ any happier with this phone right now. 53% after over 10 hrs on battery, snappier than stock...just perfect. Love these forums, and all the community support for this phone.

Now that's what I'm talkin bout! You jumped right in I love it and am happy you're happy.

Btw same combo I run but am finalizing testing on Franciscos kernel now. Can't wait to flash imoseyons new 1.2.0 tomorrow!