Help I have a few things I'd like to see if are possible before I give up and go back to iOS

[Egregore]

I'm really, really trying to give Android a chance. Beside the fact that I can't delete the insufferable Samsung and Verizon bloatware (HIDING IT DOES NOT COUNT. I mean, seriously. Half of my space taken up so I can flail my hands in front of my phone to get it to make toast?) and I can't seem to find one decent tutorial on getting the GPe S4 ROM (or any stock android ROM) on this phone, I have some small gripes.

I like Google Chrome. But why, oh why, is it so hard to hit the X in the address bar, or the mic icon? I literally have to be on top of it, taking my time to aim my thumb (or pinky, if I'm really trying to be accurate). Is there a way to change the hitbox on that?

On my iPhone I had Auxo and Zephyr loaded up, which pretty much nailed the recreation of the unimpeachably perfect multitasking/app switching of WebOS. Is there anything that will allow for: swiping up from the bottom of the screen to get to card based (I.e horizontal) app switching, and is there a way to allow swiping from the left and the right of the screen to switch between apps? I've tried Kaduko, didn't work. Itching thumb seemed like it would do, but it no longer exists.

S4 is on 4.2.2 by the way.

Thanks dudes.

 

[Frisco]

I'm really, really trying to give Android a chance. Beside the fact that I can't delete the insufferable Samsung and Verizon bloatware (HIDING IT DOES NOT COUNT. I mean, seriously. Half of my space taken up so I can flail my hands in front of my phone to get it to make toast?) and I can't seem to find one decent tutorial on getting the GPe S4 ROM (or any stock android ROM) on this phone, I have some small gripes.

I like Google Chrome. But why, oh why, is it so hard to hit the X in the address bar, or the mic icon? I literally have to be on top of it, taking my time to aim my thumb (or pinky, if I'm really trying to be accurate). Is there a way to change the hitbox on that?

On my iPhone I had Auxo and Zephyr loaded up, which pretty much nailed the recreation of the unimpeachably perfect multitasking/app switching of WebOS. Is there anything that will allow for: swiping up from the bottom of the screen to get to card based (I.e horizontal) app switching, and is there a way to allow swiping from the left and the right of the screen to switch between apps? I've tried Kaduko, didn't work. Itching thumb seemed like it would do, but it no longer exists.

S4 is on 4.2.2 by the way.

Thanks dudes.

Hello and welcome, Egregore. Have you made yourself familiar with the Play Store app yet? Most of what you're lamenting can be handled by trying out the many different launchers (I use Next 3D).

Configuring those seems endless, at times. You can make just about anything happen on your screen(s) in the various launcher menus.

Not to mention rooting ("jailbreaking"). That little exploit is what enables users to get rid of what they consider unneeded apps and widgets included by the carrier and manufacturers.

Let us know if you'd like this thread in the Verizon All Things Root sub-forum. I've placed it in the general S4 area for now.

 

[hbryder]

I'm really, really trying to give Android a chance. Beside the fact that I can't delete the insufferable Samsung and Verizon bloatware (HIDING IT DOES NOT COUNT. I mean, seriously. Half of my space taken up so I can flail my hands in front of my phone to get it to make toast?) and I can't seem to find one decent tutorial on getting the GPe S4 ROM (or any stock android ROM) on this phone, I have some small gripes.

I like Google Chrome. But why, oh why, is it so hard to hit the X in the address bar, or the mic icon? I literally have to be on top of it, taking my time to aim my thumb (or pinky, if I'm really trying to be accurate). Is there a way to change the hitbox on that?

On my iPhone I had Auxo and Zephyr loaded up, which pretty much nailed the recreation of the unimpeachably perfect multitasking/app switching of WebOS. Is there anything that will allow for: swiping up from the bottom of the screen to get to card based (I.e horizontal) app switching, and is there a way to allow swiping from the left and the right of the screen to switch between apps? I've tried Kaduko, didn't work. Itching thumb seemed like it would do, but it no longer exists.

S4 is on 4.2.2 by the way.

Thanks dudes.

I use 2nd home launcher, it slides from any side of the phone and will hold 11 of your pick of apps. I use it with Next launcher 3d. There are quite a few options out there.

 

[Egregore]

I looked through the play store but there are a LOT of options. I was hoping someone could give me a good lead before I spent the next week trying them all out.

I saw a tutorial to root the VRUAME7 build but according to what I read it doesn't allow for flashing other ROMs. Is that information incorrect, or does any rooting allow for ROM flashing?

 

[Egregore]

Also, does everyone's batteries charge really, really slow? I'm even using a two amp charger.

 

[nickdalzell]

My battery charged quite fast but if i let it drain to like 7% then yeah, it takes forever to recharge. I think an iPhone personally wins the prize for longest charging time. My iPhone 4 would sit forever at 99%. My iPad took four hours to go from 70% to 100%

 

[Goodspike]

On my iPhone I had Auxo and Zephyr loaded up, which pretty much nailed the recreation of the unimpeachably perfect multitasking/app switching of WebOS. Is there anything that will allow for: swiping up from the bottom of the screen to get to card based (I.e horizontal) app switching, and is there a way to allow swiping from the left and the right of the screen to switch between apps?.

If you hold down on the Home button you'll get a vertical card based app switching. Does that work for you?

I just tried it and I was shocked how many apps it shows if you scroll up/down. It's not just still active apps.

As to the battery, part of the reason for the charge time is the size of the battery. I believe the most powerful USB charger is 2.1 amps, and if you're charging a larger battery at 2.1 amps it will take longer.

I agree with you about the bloatware, but with a MicroSD card it's not much of an issue.

 

[Goodspike]

I like Google Chrome. But why, oh why, is it so hard to hit the X in the address bar, or the mic icon? I literally have to be on top of it, taking my time to aim my thumb (or pinky, if I'm really trying to be accurate). Is there a way to change the hitbox on that?.

I'm not sure what's going on there. I just tried it, even using my thumb, and didn't have any issues.

What I did notice though is that on my phone it works differently in portrait than in landscape. In landscape it doesn't seem to work at all. Is that what's going on for you? That seemingly is an obscure bug in the current version.

 

[Goodspike]

BTW, Cnet has a Kindle book that is free for borrowing in the Kindle library with tips on how to use the S4. If you're not an Amazon Prime member I think it only costs a couple of bucks, but it's barely worth that. For free though, it's worth it.

 

[Podivin]

OK, I'm going to step in here a bit off topic.
Any time I see an thread like this my first thought is 'uh oh, they're going to grab pointy objects and start poking each other over the IOS/Android is better fight'. You know what I mean, we've all seen it (over and over and over again).

Then I read the OP and it's not in the least argumentative, just your basic 'how can I do this' questions, with no digs about how IOS is better and/or Android is awful.

Then all of the answers are helpful without IOS bashing or "go back where you came from if you don't like it here" comments.

What a pleasure to read, nicely done guys.

Now, back on topic...
For the most part, I don't have anything to add beyond what's already been suggested.
However you did mention a tutorial on installing a ROM, there are LOTS of those to be found via Google, but many of them will be contradictory to each other due to the nature of the phones being used at the time, so they may not really be helpful unless they are about your specific phone (note that these phones differ by carrier, make sure it's about YOUR carrier). So yeah, you're right, it's hard to find a good clear tutorial. What I've always ended up doing is reading/watching lots of different ones until I really understand the process.

In short (very short) the process is;
1) Root your phone (this will require lots of reading so that you know what to do). I used this method to root mine. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301720 This will not work if you're on the ME7 firmware.
2) Put a custom recovery on your phone. The primary choices are ClockWorkMod (CWM) or one of it's variations, or Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP). Some folks prefer one over the other, I'm not sure that it really makes a difference (others will debate that point).
3) Find the ROM you want to put on your phone. This is very much a personal preference, depending upon what you want. My suspicion is that you'd a 'stock, debloated' ROM. However you might find you like one of the heavily modified ones - to each his own there.
4) Download the ROM, put the downloaded Zip file on your phone.
5) Boot into the custom recovery
6) Wipe cache & dalvik, and factory reset the device
7) Install (flash) the ROM
Reboot the phone and you're on your way. Note that the first reboot after flashing a ROM always takes longer than normal, so don't start to worry until more than 5 minutes has passed. And don't REALLY start to worry until after 10.

Before rooting, you should also have a basic understanding of how to get your device back to stock, in the event that something goes wrong during the rooting or flashing process. That way you're not trying to figure that out when you're in panic mode about your phone not being able to boot.

To learn more about rooting, ROMs and such visit the Root forum for your specific carrier.

 

[BzB]

^ good post. i have nothing to add other than to say android is way more granular and involved than ios. i can understand why iphone users have a hard time adjusting to android phones, and why android users are frustrated with the simplicity of ios.

either way good luck to the op on getting things working the way you need them to. if all else fails at least you gave it a shot.

 

[Egregore]

Awesome, thanks guys. Both OSs have their merits. I just found that I can torrent directly to this phone so that pretty much settles all arguments for me, but iOS definitely wins in the "consitency" department. I'm using Firefox and there's no auto capital, for example -_- I hadn't used Android since the Droid Incredible and figured it had matured enough to be less frustrating, and it has. Except right now oh my god stop changing where my text is getting put arrrrggghh. Neither hold a candle to WebOS for me but, alas, all that is left is to emulate.

The multitasking on this phone isn't intuitive enough for me. I'm looking to be able to swipe left and right from within an app to get other open apps, at the very least. If I could get the multitasking cards to lay horizontal rather than vertical, that's a plus. To clarify.

 

[Goodspike]

If I could get the multitasking cards to lay horizontal rather than vertical, that's a plus.

They are horizontal if you rotate the phone to landscape mode.

(FYI, in the spirit of the thread I avoided making a joke about that.)

 

[Egregore]

Well, that was easy. I'm now rooted and flashed.

Which ROM will work with the ME7 build and give me the closest possible stock experience?

 

[Egregore]

OK, I'm going to step in here a bit off topic.
Any time I see an thread like this my first thought is 'uh oh, they're going to grab pointy objects and start poking each other over the IOS/Android is better fight'. You know what I mean, we've all seen it (over and over and over again).

Then I read the OP and it's not in the least argumentative, just your basic 'how can I do this' questions, with no digs about how IOS is better and/or Android is awful.

Then all of the answers are helpful without IOS bashing or "go back where you came from if you don't like it here" comments.

What a pleasure to read, nicely done guys.

Now, back on topic...
For the most part, I don't have anything to add beyond what's already been suggested.
However you did mention a tutorial on installing a ROM, there are LOTS of those to be found via Google, but many of them will be contradictory to each other due to the nature of the phones being used at the time, so they may not really be helpful unless they are about your specific phone (note that these phones differ by carrier, make sure it's about YOUR carrier). So yeah, you're right, it's hard to find a good clear tutorial. What I've always ended up doing is reading/watching lots of different ones until I really understand the process.

In short (very short) the process is;
1) Root your phone (this will require lots of reading so that you know what to do). I used this method to root mine. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301720 This will not work if you're on the ME7 firmware.
2) Put a custom recovery on your phone. The primary choices are ClockWorkMod (CWM) or one of it's variations, or Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP). Some folks prefer one over the other, I'm not sure that it really makes a difference (others will debate that point).
3) Find the ROM you want to put on your phone. This is very much a personal preference, depending upon what you want. My suspicion is that you'd a 'stock, debloated' ROM. However you might find you like one of the heavily modified ones - to each his own there.
4) Download the ROM, put the downloaded Zip file on your phone.
5) Boot into the custom recovery
6) Wipe cache & dalvik, and factory reset the device
7) Install (flash) the ROM
Reboot the phone and you're on your way. Note that the first reboot after flashing a ROM always takes longer than normal, so don't start to worry until more than 5 minutes has passed. And don't REALLY start to worry until after 10.

Before rooting, you should also have a basic understanding of how to get your device back to stock, in the event that something goes wrong during the rooting or flashing process. That way you're not trying to figure that out when you're in panic mode about your phone not being able to boot.

To learn more about rooting, ROMs and such visit the Root forum for your specific carrier.

This is seriously all I needed. Why couldn't anyone else just list the basic steps?

Currently downloading the ported vanilla GPe S4 ROM. Woop woop. Be back in a jiffy.

 

[Egregore]

So...

booted in to the custom recovery

selected "updated from external"

went to the .zip

it did some things and rebooted

nothing changed?

 

[Egregore]

I've tried wiping and resetting and installing from the SD card three time, twice in CWM and once in TWRP, nothing worked. Every time it throws an error saying that it can't verify somesuch, then goes through the rest. Every time the phone bootys back up I'm greeted by the horrendous TouchWiz interface.

ROM Manager doesn't see the .zip to allow me to install from it.

What gives dudes?

 

[Goodspike]

You might try posting in one of these rooting forums:

Samsung Galaxy S4 - Android Forums

 

[Podivin]

Yep, Goodspike is right, kindly move this particular 'root' part of the conversation to the appropriate root forum ('appropriate' being based on your carrier). That way you'll have the 'rooty' type people looking at your questions, and will likely get more and better answers.

And it helps to keep the forum neat.

 

[Goodspike]

I personally know nothing about rooting because my phone is my business. Bricking it would be a serious problem, even if that condition only lasted an hour.

I had planned on rooting my old Droid 2 Global when I upgraded, but I haven't even done that. I guess I just don't have that much interest in rooting.

 

[jhawkkw]

Well, that was easy. I'm now rooted and flashed.

Which ROM will work with the ME7 build and give me the closest possible stock experience?

I've tried wiping and resetting and installing from the SD card three time, twice in CWM and once in TWRP, nothing worked. Every time it throws an error saying that it can't verify somesuch, then goes through the rest. Every time the phone bootys back up I'm greeted by the horrendous TouchWiz interface.

ROM Manager doesn't see the .zip to allow me to install from it.

What gives dudes?

Welcome to what we in the rooting android community call unjustified carrier lockdown. Basically, there is a layer of security on your bootloader that will prevent the device from booting up into unauthorized software, whether it be the recovery, rom, or kernel. Before the me7 build, someone created an exploit that would allow one to get around around this security to allow them to flash customized software. Verizon being the control freak that it is, told Samsung to patch this exploit and thus the device is locked up again. So far, no one has been able to break this security on the me7 build on the bootloader.

The problem with Verizon is that it's not just Samsung. It's EVERY phone that you can buy from them that has this security, unless you pay full retail to get the developer edition of a device. It's one of the main reasons I left them and own a Nexus device.

 

[Petrah]

Welcome to what we in the rooting android community call unjustified carrier lockdown. .

Thank you for explaining! At least he won't have to continue to beat his head against the wall trying to figure out what the issue is.

Egregore; wish we could help you further. If someone figures out a way around it, we'll definitely help you get to where you wish to be with your phone.

 

[Goodspike]

One more thing for the OP. Put your carrier in your profile. I don't know anything about rooting, but I know there are issues with Verizon. I could have pointed you that direction if your profile had indicated Verizon.