My first android phone, couple of questions 4 the experts

See below post

 

Hey there, my name is Jose, creator of the How to Install Icarus MOD thread. Icarus is basically a phone makeover that brings aesthetic, performance, responsiveness, and battery improvements. It removes all the crapware, and enables installation of apps to the SD card. You can't do most of these individually. This phone does not and likely will not officially support Flash, but there are reports that Flash can be installed( PM Me For More Info). There ARE other ways of installing apps through getjar.com, Appbrain( From Market or Internet site) or a simple Google search for the name of the app with the .apk suffix attached. The latter can result in a free download of a paid app, which I do not endorse. The 2.2 update is expected to arrive in late March. There is a Chinese port of the update but it is extremely NOT recommended ( way too buggy and has bricked some phones). As for the apps, Lookout is a must, SetCPU or CPU Boost, Z4Root v.1.3.( need a Google search as its not available in Market), Pandas vs Ninjas, Squibble, Launcher Pro, Vevo, Green Power,and of course, the Phandroid app. For other recommendations, look for Favorite Apps for Huawei Ascend Users thread in the forum sticky. Icarus is highly recommended. PM me for any questions, problems, or concerns.

 

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The Icarus ROM is already rooted, so you wouldn't need that. Additionally, the big thing with the upgrade to Android 2.2 is the ability to install apps to the SD card, which Icarus also takes care of, by integrating the Apps2sd tool in the ROM. Also, Icarus has LauncherPro built in as an option, and it is definitely faster than the default Canvas.

As for how it runs, I'd have to say at absolute worst I've noticed a doubling of speed when it comes to overall performance. Apps load faster, screens move faster, less lag, less jittering in general. Even with many apps running, an Ascend running Icarus is miles ahead of even a regularly rooted Ascend that has had bloatware removed/apps kept to a minimum/non-default launcher installed.

A couple of comments on what joser116 said: Lookout is probably a good idea for malware/virus defense, but I can say it definitely has an impact on performance. I ran it before installing Icarus, and when I took it off, I could see the difference. As I mentioned before, you don't need z4root if you run Icarus, as it's already rooted, but if you are not running Icarus, z4root is the easiest way I've seen so far to root, and it has both temp and permanent options, both of which can be undone just as easily as they can be done. Pandas VS Ninjas is a good alternative to Angry Birds, as the Ascend does not run Angry Birds terribly well.

Apps2sd is hands down the best part of Icarus, in my opinion.

 

When you are preparing to flash Icarus, one of the steps in the guide joser116 put together is the creation of a backup for your stock ROM, which you can re-flash if you don't like Icarus.

 

There are themes you can install, but that's not a process I'm familiar with at present, having had this phone for a whole 3 weeks thus far. However, I would recommend downloading the LauncherPro Icons and Docks app from the market. Since you already have LauncherPro installed as an option when you flash Icarus, the above app gives you the ability to change your dock icons as well as the background behind the dock buttons. Go here to see what they have available:

LauncherPro Icons | Custom Android app icons for the awesome LauncherPro home screen replacement

Between that and changing your wallpaper, you'd be a large part of the way to installing a new theme without having to install a theme.

 

Actually Blast, she WOULD need Z4root because you have to be rooted in order to install Icarus.

 

I will lead you in the right direction to changing the theme, that is if you do not like the way Icarus looks.

 

Ah, right. Had my phone rooted the second day, so I never gave it a second thought when it came to Icarus.

 

It is a pretty noticeable speed improvement. I just have to say try it out for yourself. You won't be disappointed, but don't get your hopes too high either.

 

Don't worry about it, happens to me, too. P.S. I do not experience performance reduction when installing Lookout. Must be that Icarus takes care of that.