Root Nexus4 rooted

[JonTheGreek]

Hello, I'm Jon and I am brand new to the Android scene. I just came over from iOS and so far I like it. There are some things that I miss about my iPhone but it's not that big of a deal. So let's get down to why I posted.
Well I just rooted my phone and was wondering about the Roms for it. What are some good ones to use? I hear that there are certain Roms for certain phones. I just want to educate myself a little before I begin this. Thank you.

 

[El Presidente]

Welcome Jon!

There are dozens and dozens of ROMs for the Nexus 4 so you're spoiled for choice really. We have a few listed here: http://androidforums.com/nexus-4-al...nexus-4-all-things-root-guide-12-18-12-a.html

You are correct in that only certain ROMs work for certain phones, but if you have a scan over on XDA, there are a load more (way too many to list): http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1907 (check the Android Development & The Original Android Development Sections).

I'm using Carbon at the moment and loving it although I can recommend SlimBean as well. Paranoid Android and AOKP are also popular choices.

 

[JonTheGreek]

What do you like about the carbon that made you pick it? The development team, the fact that they combined a lot of other rooms into theirs, or the speed and stability of it? There are so many I read on that link I would just like to have some input about the different ones seeing as you sound like you've been around the block a few times

 

[El Presidente]

I like it because it's slick, stable, customisable and there are a couple of things it will do that certain other ROMs don't. For example, I get a really, really poor 3G signal at home and as a consequence, battery life can take a hit. If I switch to using a 2G signal only, I have no signal issues but it's a bit of a pain switching between 2G/3G dependant on where I am. Because of this, I use an app called Tasker to tell my phone to not bother looking for a 3G network when I'm connected to my home wireless network. A lot of ROMs won't allow tasker access to do that, Carbon will.

I can also have NFC poll when the screen is off/locked meaning I can tap the tag on my keyring on to the back of my phone when I get home and it turns WiFi on with me having to unlock and enter my pin etc.

Pretty specific, but that's the sort of functionality I'm looking for.

It's also got the PIE controls which I never really use, but it's nice to have the option.

Battery is also superb (based on how I use the phone, YMMV) which is a huge plus for me too.

 

[JonTheGreek]

I used to use the edge/3g option on my iPhone all the time when it was jail broken and I loved it. What are PIE controls and YMMV?

 

[Banished Angel]

I used to use the edge/3g option on my iPhone all the time when it was jail broken and I loved it. What are PIE controls and YMMV?

Pie is an alternative UI to navigate the phone. It gets rid of the status bar at the top and the on screen buttons at the bottom so you have a full screen experience. To get the buttons to reappear or to check if you have a new notification you swipe up from the bottom of the screen and a pie like wheel appears with the control buttons and notifications.

YMMV - Your mileage may vary. To each their own in a sense.

Here is a way to tell what ROMs people like:

http://androidforums.com/nexus-4-al...hat-rom-you-running-your-nexus-4-v-2-0-a.html


In the end just research the different ROMs and try one that appeals to you. You can always flash multiple ones and give them a test drive.


You can also flash different kernels. Again this is a personal preference sort of thing, but i'd recommend Franco's kernel.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2002782

 

[El Presidente]

Sorry!

YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary.

PIE Controls are like an extended menu system that appears when you hold and swipe a certain part of the desktop. It gets rid of the status and navigation bars too. A video will explain it better:

Other ROMs have the 2G/3G toggle option, but that would involve extra button presses. With the Tasker/NFC setup I have, I don't even need to switch my screen on.

 

[xploPR]

Sorry!

YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary.

PIE Controls are like an extended menu system that appears when you hold and swipe a certain part of the desktop. It gets rid of the status and navigation bars too. A video will explain it better:

Other ROMs have the 2G/3G toggle option, but that would involve extra button presses. With the Tasker/NFC setup I have, I don't even need to switch my screen on.

This video made me want to go root and flash a rom with PIE controls, i can't resist much longer staying stock, im trying to hard to fight it off lol

 

[El Presidente]

This video made me want to go root and flash a rom with PIE controls, i can't resist much longer staying stock, im trying to hard to fight it off lol

It is so easy, you can be up and running with a custom ROM in less than an hour!

 

[xploPR]

It is so easy, you can be up and running with a custom ROM in less than an hour!

Cool, im going to attempt to root now, i was reading in the stickie thread and i see it says that Wugs Nexus 4 Root Toolkit (The safest/easiest option).

Will try that method.

 

[El Presidente]

Yeah, by far.

Just shout if you get stuck!

 

[xploPR]

Im already unlock and rooted

Now, i will like to flash a rom, should i stay with Team Win Recovery, i want to flash carbon rom.

 

[El Presidente]

TeamWin does the job for me, I've not used Clockwork for an age.

ROM wise, Carbon is pretty good, it's probably the ROM that's lastest the longest for me anyway. If you're going to try a different kernel, either the Paranoid Android or Faux Enhanced Stock are pretty good. Battery life on both is superb.

 

[xploPR]

Ok, im about to download CarbonRom, but im stuck on which zip to download if the 1.6 or the latest nightly. also is gapps already in the rom or i have to flash it separate?

and last which kernel you recommend me from PA and Faux? just want to make sure i have a nice setup

thanks, and sorry to OP for jacking his thread

 

[El Presidente]

If you want me to move these to your own thread, I'll happily oblige.

I'm currently on the 1.6 stable, I've toyed with the nightlies, but my setup is close to perfect at the moment and I don't really want to mess.

Gapps are a separate download, if you want the dark theme, I think you need the SlimBean Gapps (I'll need to double check), but if you don't the normal are fine.

PA kernel is fine, I've only had Faux on for a couple of days, but it seems ok so far. It's 6 of one or half a dozen of the other. Changing is easy enough if you're not happy with one.

 

[xploPR]

It's ok, you could leave it here, maybe it could help OP as he was looking more info on roms.

I already downloaded CarbonRom and gapps, i was searching for PA kernel on the stickie thread, but only saw a link for faux, franco and 4.2.1 Kernel. is there a specific thread with PA kernel or i have to pull it out from a specific rom?

Also flashing instructions are the same as if i was flashing on my other phone, nandroid>wipe all> flash rom>kernel>gapps and reboot?

 

[jhawkkw]

Just don't wipe internal memory or else you'll end up with no OS on the device and no rom to install. It's fixable, but not as easy as just simply not wiping internal memory.

 

[El Presidente]

Goo.im Downloads - Browsing mako

There are the PA Kernels (towards the bottom of the page). CalibratedBright.zip worked best for me, but go for any of them.

Re the flash method, I normally let the ROM boot once before installing a kernel, but it's up to you. Also the latest version of TWRP makes you type stuff if you try to wipe the wrong data partition, so if you're asked to type the word YES to confirm delete, you're in the wrong place.

 

[xploPR]

Thanks for all the help El Presidente, im already running CarbonRom and PA kernel, rooting & unlocking was so easy compared when i had to root my HTC Evo V 4G, and had to peform the wire trick to get s-off lol Thanks again

@jhawkkw thanks for the tip on not wiping internal memory, now i know thats a nono on this phone

The rom is so smooth, im going to start playing with it now, and setup pie control.

 

[El Presidente]

How are you finding it so far?

 

[xploPR]

Im liking it, it's so stable and fast and battery life is freaking awesome, 11 hours and 20 minutes since i took it off from charger, and after some moderate use of social networks, and web browsing, news apps during the day.. i still have 62% left of battery.

It feels good to have total ownage of your phone and be able to tweak it and customize it here and there the way you like it.

 

[El Presidente]

Yeah, it is. Agreed on battery life too, it is superb!

Glad you're liking it so far.

 

[xploPR]

Hey is there a thread that explains each paranoid kernels, im using CalibratedBright.zip, i would like to know the difference between one another of the zips.

 

[El Presidente]

They just offer different levels of gamma correction and colour tweaks. Aside from that, they're all pretty much stock google.

I think you can even mess about with the colour etc yourself using Trickster Mod Kernel settings on Play.

No harm in trying the others though, it's all about taste and bright is what worked for me. You may not even notice the difference.

 

[xploPR]

I see there's a new update CARBON-JB-v1.7-mako.zip, but i didn't see a changelog.