Android ICS on Epic 4G Touch (Sprint’s Galaxy SII)

Here, I am going to show how to Root you Epic 4G Touch phone with the latest leaked Android build (FF18) and add a custom recovery kernel called Clockwork Mod – CWM. Please read this entire long winded but detailed post before you even begin downloading anything to make sure you have a grasp on the whole processes. [This is primarily for a few family members and close friends who’ve asked me but I figured more of you might be interested so here it is.]

Before we begin you should probably do this if you haven’t already; register for an account (free) on the XDA-Developers site. This site is the go to site for everything in phone development and tweaking. I originally used this site to hack my Treo phones, then Windows Mobile and now Android devices. This post contains information directly from XDA’s site. ALL credit to any and everything here should go to the developers and contributors there! I just tried to tie this into one location for one specific purpose for those that asked.

Also I’m providing this tutorial for ONE specific Android phone – the Epic 4G Touch (Sprint USA’s iteration of the Samsung Galaxy S2 device). Virtually every phone is different; even the ‘same phone’ but on different carriers are different. For example the Samsung Galaxy S2 on AT&T is different than the Samsung Galaxy S2 on Sprint and T-Mobile. So using the wrong firmware/software and rooting/tweaking methods – those not specifically for your phone make, model and carrier can/will turn you nice new expensive device into a really neat shiny and expensive paper weight.

The video that they now include for sign up should definitely be watched! 🙂

Although the information I provide here is detailed and accurate you still have the slight possibility of ‘bricking’ your device – paperweight reference again 😉 I provide no guarantees or warranties as to how this will work for you.

If you’re on a Gingerbread version of Android – 2.3.x (EL29 most likely) you can easily ‘jump’ ahead and flash your phone to ICS 4.0.x with the ‘One-Click’ method.

If you’ve read my previous articles on rooting you probably already have root access and have hopefully installed Titanium backup.

You can use Titanium to do a full backup of your applications (and settings too but we won’t use system apps or settings for a restore to the new version; just applications)And before you begin I recommend using Titanium to back up your applications.

If you don’t have root you can do the following, just in case something goes awry and we need to do a ‘full RESET data wipe. Doing the ‘Preserve Data’ upgrade you should not have need for any of this. But I’m a stickler for backups:

Install App List Backup from Market, run it and save a list of all your apps. This saves the list of installed apps so you can re-download them from the Market later. This way, your apps still show up in downloads (My Apps in Google Play/Martket) and receive updates.

Install SMS Backup and Restore from Market, run it and backup your SMS history.

Install Call Logs Backup and Restore from Market, run it and backup your call log history. [Note that Google does this and you may not want or need this]

The ONLY change was the addition of ROOT to the ROM. This will NOT trigger the Yellow Triangle NOR will it increment the ODIN flash count. This does NOT have the issue with the USB jig being disabled. [I have condensed this guide from sfhub on XDA from these posts here and here.]

what is a build number and what does it mean? The build number tells you when it was released.

Example:

EG30 (Gingerbread 2.3.4) Was released/shipped 07-30-2011

EL13 (Gingerbread 2.3.6) released 12-13-2011/ EL29 (Gingerbread 2.3.6) released 12-29-2011

[E=year – 2011 L=month – December and 13=Date]

So Build FF18 is an Ice Cream Sandwich build of Android – 4.0.4. Built June 18, 2012]

1) Prerequisites Checklist
Phone charged above 70%. Uninstall or disable ANY Android Antivirus software you may have (add it back later if you want)

Good USB cable

Get 7-zip and install it on your PC  (right-click and install as Administrator)

Samsung [USB/Android drivers] are INSTALLED
Phone is connected to USB port and recognized.

Please DISABLE any PIN code (LockScreen etc.) you may have created to protect your phone. As a security measure, after the flash, Android will ask you for your PIN, if you have one enabled. It is simpler to have no PIN active.

2) Download the FF18 full restore One-Click self-extractor

a. SPH-D710.FF18_CL663858_ROOTED_NODATA-oc-sfx.exe (This version ‘PRESERVES’ user data) There is also a ‘RESET’ user data/full wipe version available at the xda post by sfhub.)

b. [MD5: 14ac16b15ef819af73b997a718134aea / Size: 310,594,612]

3) Extract the package
double-click on the self-extractor file, specify the directory to extract to (instructions assume C:\)

4) 4) Start ODIN One-Click
Navigate to C:\Odin-OC
NoData: Double-click on SPH-D710.FF18_CL663858_ROOTED_NODATA-OneClick.exe
Note #1: On Windows &, you MUST right-click on the file and Run as Administrator.

5) Place phone in ODIN download mode

Make sure your phone is NOT connect to PC yet

Power down phone completely

Wait for capacitive button lights to turn off

Simultaneously Press and Hold [Power] [VolDn] until confirmation screen appears

Then Press [VolUp] to enter Download mode

NOW

Connect USB cable to PC if not already connected

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ODIN should show yellow COM port in 2nd column (Doesn’t matter what the COM number is)

6) Start ODIN flash process
Press [Start]
7) Complete – PASS!
When complete you should see a screen similar to what is shown at top of post
Phone will automatically reboot
Status should change to green PASS!
Boot process will be slightly longer than usual during which time you’ll see the 4G logo screen. You will also likely see a screen saying ‘updating android….’

Next we’ll add CWM (ClockworkMod) by using Option D in the Auto Root Package to install FF11+CWM-agat (you are already rooted so Option A is not necessary)

1) Prerequisites Checklist

Make sure that USB Debugging is ENABLED – [Menu->Settings->Applications->Development->USB debugging]
USB Storage Mode is OFF – [Drag down the notification bar and tap on “USB Connected” – should be off by default – looks like this:

image

2) Download the E4GT automated rooting package e4gtauto.zip

UNZIP to top-level directory of your C: drive
Note #1: zergrush is a known exploit being used to root your phone. Your Anti-Virus software may quarantine or cause the download to be incomplete. Disable your Anti-Virus software if needed so the download can complete.

3) Run the E4GT automated rooting package:

Use Windows file explorer to navigate to C:\e4gtauto and double-click on RUNFIRST.bat and select Option D

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Then Option ‘U’

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Then finish.

Disconnect your phone, reboot and you will now have a ‘Stock Rooted FF11 based phone WITH a custom recovery (CWM) installed.

You will now be able to install and run applications that require ‘root access’ such as Titanium Backup; my number one recommended application for any Android device.

Here is a GREAT video showing you how to use the ‘One-Click install method by sfhub.

Please note that this video is for an earlier release and so the links are not to be used; use the ones I provided above. But the process is exactly the same!

Video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IL21F8Gfbs

 

And here is another video by Qbking77 on how to install CWM (as described above).

(Again note that the version demonstrated here is old but the process is the same.)

Video here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZRnH-_XZmM

 

Also on Ice Cream Sandwich there is a major change in how the device is recognized by windows; a mode called MTP is now the default vs USB which is how most devices are usually seen.

Read here

This can confuse and frustrate people. I prefer USB storage mode.

Fortunately sfhub comes to the rescue with his ‘AutoRoot’ package (the one above)

The Auto Root package has a solution for you. Under “Extra Options” of the main menu, there are 2 choices that affect ICS mass storage:

1) Enable ICS USB Mass Storage Mode

2) Enable ICS USB MTP Mode

These are mutually exclusive options. If you enable one, you disable the other.

To get GB USB Mass Storage behavior, choose the first option (USB Mass Storage Mode). This option once chosen, will be persistent through reboots and is stored in your Android User Data. It will only get reset if you reset your Android User Data or manually choose a different mode.

Here is a review of the older leaked build (FF02) but it has many of the functions of ICS described. And some of the ‘bugs’ have also been removed.

Good tutorial of what ClockworkMod (CWM) is here.

And how to Create and restore a Nandroid (image back up).

How to Boot to recovery – power off the phone completely.

Hold the volume up + the power button till you see the first Samsung logo; usually 6 to 7 seconds, and let go.

You’ll now be in recovery/CWM.

Now for some additional fun and features I added a custom ROM on top of the stock rooted one.

I like Agat’s ROM. It is lightly themed, has some speed and batter tweaks and over all just works great for me.

You can get it here:

http://d-h.st/ktf

Download and check the MD5 sum to make sure you got the whole thing. Copy it to your SD card.

Then shutdown you phone.

Then boot to recovery – Power on button + Volume Up button until you see the first Galaxy SII screen and let go.

The in the recovery menu choose install zip from SD card. Navigate to that tFF18_v0.1.0.zip file and click on it and choose to install. After the install you can then reboot into the system.

Some important notes:

You may have to go to Settings>Language and Inputs>Keyboards and select the Swipe keyboard and check the language settings and if it’s default.

THEN go into Settings>Applications>All and scroll to Swipe. Hold on it till options come up and clear data. Swipe should then work in all applications.

Also I always check the MD5 sum of all my downloads to ensure that I have the whole entire file. And when I copy files to my SD card I recheck the sum to make sure the entire file copied and did not get corrupted.

What is and MD5 Sum? Md5 is a unique cryptographic ‘hash’ used to check and to test for the integrity of your files from any degradation in both their physical and digital copies. If the hash for your file is different than what is supplied to you, the file is damaged / corrupted / tampered with.

I use this very simple MD5 hash checker to insure that the file(s) I’ve downloaded are complete and the ones originally posted.

I use the standalone version in the zip file (extracted to a folder).

You can of course use the installer version – it includes the User Manual which will probably benefit most!

MD5 Checker is simple and easy to use. Start MD5 Checker and select the file that you want to check. The chosen file’s MD5 hash is automatically generated and displayed. Then obtain the published MD5 hash for that program (from the trusted source). Copy the published MD5 hash on to the Clipboard and click on the MD5 Check button. The published hash is automatically pasted in from the Clipboard and a check made. The result of the check is then displayed.

Here is a list of my currently installed applications if any of you care.

Well happy flashing and enjoy. Peace out.

Amazingly Simple One-Click Android root

This is a follow up on my previous post(s) about rooting your android phone.
I posted some specifics for my personal phone – Epic 4G Touch (Sprints version of the Samsung Galaxy S2) here

Now comes an incredibly simple one click ‘root’ that looks like it will work to ‘root’ a WHOLE BUNCH of Android phones (including the Epic 4G Touch) with incredible ease!
Check this site OUT!

Directions are DEAD SIMPLE.
Follow – in order, and you will gain ‘root access’ to your phone with out changing ANYTHING else! That means that you will then be able to install applications that require ‘root’ system access.

Make sure as it states in step 1 to set the device to USB Debugging Mode.

Download the application here.

Follow the directions and MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A HIGH QUALITY USB CABLE! Poor quality cables are the cause of MANY failed updates and connection issues!! I was having problems gettin my friends AT&T Galaxy S2 to root till I switched USB cables to a higher quality one. But once did get the good cable the root process took only a few minutes!

So now that you have root access here are the things you should do/get first.

1st:
Superuser: An application from the Android Market. lets you manage superuser (root user) permissions; this is the first app a newly rooted phone needs installed on it allowing you to approve/disapprove of applications install access permissions. This should be already installed via the root process but you can check if it is there by looking in the applications. If not try downloading and installing if it won’t install it means your are not rooted.

Root Explorer: [Market Link] This is a File Manager ($3.80): shows you the files you can now access as a root user.

Titanium Backup root [Market Link] This backs up all your apps, removes bloatware, and otherwise helps you manage apps. And break down and spend the money for the Pro Key for Titanium. As I have mentioned a few times in other posts this app alone is reason enough alone to root your phone!!
I believe it is inexcusable to NOT have your data systems backed up – regularly and fully! I am going to provide a follow up of how to use this application to it’s fullest for backups and recovery. [stay tuned]

Wireless Tether for Root Users [Market Link] This turns your phone into a mobile hotspot. [Use this application at your own risk. It is possible that use of this program may violate your carrier’s Terms of Service.]

I hope some find this helpful. I plan on helping many of my friends with other Android phones get the benefits of having a root access with such great ease!

Epic 4g Touch EL26 Modem/Kernel/ROM – Full Restore – Rooted

Sprint has been trying to ‘push’ a system update to my phone for a couple of weeks – one that is supposed to fix many ‘bugs’ such as LOS (loss of signal) some where having and improve overall performance by updating the phone to Android version 2.6.3.

I have already ‘rooted’ my phone as I described in a previous article using this method with this file.

Even though the ‘root’ I did was the Stock ROM with just the addition of enabling full root access with recovery options, I was leery of running any ‘stock’ updates. Most cell providers have done a piss poor job of pushing out updates and my research showed this update was indeed causing more problems than it was supposed to fix!

So I waited and researched for further updates and ‘custom/patched’ fixes from the great folks at XDADevelopers Forum and the ACS team. My patience and research paid off.

Because my phone is already rooted I am able to use Titanium Backup Pro http://bit.ly/pLtba8 to back up all my application AND settings. I do this nightly to the local SD card AND to Dropbox (pretty much the only reason I use Dropbox actually).

If you want ANY reason why I believe you must root your Android phone, it is for the ability to use this application! If you install nothing else that requires root access or make any customizations you still win if you use Titanium. [OK so major plugging done.]

The guys at XDA now have a full ‘One-Click’ root available here.

I backed my data using Titanium (just in case!) then set about updating my phone following the easy to use (and very precise) directions. I chose the ‘NoData’ package – to preserve all my applications and settings! [but remember I still have my backup just in case!]

Following the instructions it worked flawlessly!!

Then to install even more recovery options (the Clockworkmod – a full system imaging tool!) I followed the directions here. They are simple and precise too. After the update and all the reboots system is up and running WITHOUT ANY ISSUES.

My download speed for both 3G and 4G have increased. My 3G data speed doubled – modem really made a difference!
The responsiveness of the phone is now even faster. Switching between applications and screens is faster and smoother too!

Super video on the ‘Rooting’ using the one-click root little faster than what I originally did!

Once the update to EL26 was complete I installed the Clockwork Mod exactly as described above and laid out in this awesome video below.

The guys at ACS and XDA are GREAT! I can’t thank them enough. To download and access some files you might be required to register for each forum. Both are free and the process is painless – do it!

Well there it is. I hope someone else finds this useful. Peace

My adventures in a phone upgrade part 2 the root and apps

I wrote about my phone adventure recently here  so I won’t go into WHY I needed a device that I could ‘completely control’ and have full access to. Suffice it to say I must be able to have complete access to the system I own without artificial limitations from the manufacturer or service provider. I want to use my hardware and software to its fullest potential. Humor to illustrate:)

 

I chose the Sprint Epic 4G Touch as my device. I loved the technical specs and knew from research that it would be easy to root and customize.

With Android devices there are so many different options to customize, tweak and really make the device your own, that it can be overwhelming. There are dozens of ROMs available and even subcategories of the main ones!

But there are some basic and simple tools to at least give you root access enough to be able to install ‘non-approved’ or custom applications and get a taste of freedom from the hardware manufacturer and service provider (ATT, sprint, Verizon etc.)

One of the most important things for me was the ability to be able to totally and completely back up the device – operating system, applications and settings; the WHOLE thing. I need to know that my system is backed up nightly (to the SD card AND the ‘Cloud’) and can be restored in a matter of minutes. I do not want to have to take a trip to a ‘corporate store’ or have to send my device away to be ‘reloaded or reset’. If an update – pushed from my carrier or other application, locks up or otherwise makes my device unusable. I have only one phone so I cannot be without it for any extended period of time.

So my quest led me to first just ‘root’ the stock ROM. Essentially giving me full root access but keeping the rest of the original Stock Sprint ROM. This way the only really operating system customization I was messing with was the actual ability to install and use non-approved applications or ones that require more system access than the carriers want to give you; like the ones for full system backups!

I must give credit here to the folks at these sites; XDA Developers, PPC Geeks and ACS, have a plethora of options, files and techniques for customizing your phone. Full access to these sites and their links and files is free with simple email sign up. I would recommend spending a few weekends just ‘looking’ through their sites; read the FAQs and poke through the different topics, tutorials and guides. You will learn a lot. I have spent years going through XDA and PPC Geeks learning so much about phones and systems.

I used the method and files found here: Stock root or Epic 4G

[Take note that you may need a new GOOD USB cable. I have had SO MANY USB devices report as ‘failed’ or ‘not fully connected’ when it turns out that all that was needed was a better cable! I have spent hours with clients trying to connect printers, phones, cameras etc., installing driver after driver, tool after tool etc.. When all that was needed was a good cable. DO NOT TAKE THIS TIP LIGHTLY! GET A FEW GOOD CABLES!]

OK so after flashing/rooting your device all will still look the same except you should now have a new application called ‘Superuser’ installed; this shows that you now have root access. You can download it here if it does not show up. It will only install if you do indeed have full access to your system.

After insuring that I had root access to my phone, the first application I installed was Titanium Backup AND I bought the Pro Key ($6.00 well spent!). This allows for full backups to the SD card(s) AND to Dropbox ‘the cloud'[I only use Dropbox for this purpose]. I have it set to back up my system nightly to the SD card and Drop Box. Now if I want to experiment with another ROM I can load it (via one of many methods from those great sites; probably ODIN) and if it doesn’t work out then I can reload the Stock ROM as above and reload my full back up and I’m good to go!

I then loaded and installed AppBrain Android market app here. Account is free and easy to set up.

Since I am an IT guy the most important app for me was my LogMeIn application. It was also my most expensive but well worth it. It is an amazing tool! After that the next best application I paid for was iSync. It allows me to sync iTunes playlists and libraries to my phone! AND it works better than I have ever seen iTunes work with any iDevice either.

So below is a list of all the applications I have currently on my phone. Many came pre-installed (Sprint) and some I got on the Android Market ‘daily deals’ for only $.10. I included the links to the applications (as they are on AppBrain; most can also be found in the official Android Market too). Check them out  – or don’t but have some fun!

Device: Samsung Epic Touch 4G

Apps: 73 total, 60 free (82%), 13 paid (17%)

Total Size of installed applications :183MB

Total value (at current prices – note that many apps were purchased on specials for only 10 cents U.S.):

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A HIIT Interval Timer
Free 276kb

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ADWLauncher EX
$3.28 1895kb

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Adobe AIR
Free 8575kb

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Adobe Flash Player 11
Free 4583kb

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Adobe Reader
Free 2761kb

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Advanced Task Manager
Free 412kb

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AirDroid
Free 2764kb

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Android Lost
Free 121kb

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AppBrain App Market
Free 724kb

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Auto Mount Your SD Card
Free 68kb

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Barcode Scanner
Free 589kb

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Camera ZOOM FX
$4.85 961kb [$.10]

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Dolphin Browser™ HD
Free 3500kb

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Dropbox
Free 3076kb

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Drudge Report
Free 193kb

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ESPN ScoreCenter
Free 1483kb

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Endomondo Sports Tracker PRO
$4.21 3014kb [$.10]

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FOX News
Free 1447kb

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Facebook for Android
Free 3929kb

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Fast Web Installer
Free 418kb

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Firefox
Free 15019kb

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GPS Status & Toolbox
Free 454kb

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Galaxy Core 3D LiveWallpaper
Free 994kb

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Gmail
Free 2147kb

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Google Books
Free 2381kb

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Google Docs
Free 2557kb

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Google Maps
Free 6379kb

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Google Reader
Free 1673kb

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Google Search
Free 608kb

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Google Shopper
Free 3131kb

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Google Sky Map
Free 2212kb

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Google Voice
Free 4304kb

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Gwang-Ju Subway
Free 81kb

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Jota Text Editor
Free 547kb

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KeePassDroid
Free 996kb

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Keyboard from Android 2.3
Free 1744kb

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Kindle
Free 9362kb

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LogMeIn Ignition
$29.99 2578kb

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Lovely Beach Live Wallpaper

$.10 13277kb

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Lovely Sky Live Wallpaper
$.10 7914kb

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MoboPlayer
Free 3426kb

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MyAppsList
Free 37kb

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OI File Manager
Free 172kb

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Opera Mobile web browser
Free 12881kb

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PdaNet 3.02
Free 117kb

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ROM Manager
Free 2375kb

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ROM Manager (Premium)
$5.99 42kb

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Remote Control Add-on
Free 560kb

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Remote Web Desktop
Free 2460kb

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Root Explorer (File Manager)
$4.06 272kb

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Root er
Free 662kb

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SMS Backup +
Free 1135kb

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SkyDrive Browser
Free 301kb

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Skype – free video calling
Free 11828kb

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Speedtest.net
Free 3063kb

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Sprint Mobile Wallet
Free 328kb

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Street View on Google Maps
Free 281kb

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SwiftKey X Keyboard
$4.06 [$.10] 4903kb

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Swype Keyboard
Free 1994kb

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Tabata Sport Interval Timer
Free 204kb

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TeamViewer for Remote Control
Free 1786kb

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Terminal Emulator
Free 28kb

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Tiny Flashlight + LED
Free 1668kb

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Titanium Backup PRO Key ★ root
$6.16 31kb

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Titanium Backup ★ root
Free 3234kb

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Tuner – gStrings
$2.85 136kb

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Voice Search
Free 2267kb

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YouTube
Free 2182kb

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Zemna AppList Backup
Free 244kb

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iSyncr WiFi Add-On
$0.99 925kb

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iSyncr for PC
$2.99 1983kb

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iris. (alpha)
Free 518kb

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ooVoo Video Call
Free 6327kb

Peace out.

My adventures in a phone upgrade part 1

It all started almost two years ago. I knew it was time to upgrade my phone but I could not find a suitable replacement for my ‘rooted/custom ROM’d’ Windows Mobile 6.5 phone – an HTC Touch Pro2. When I say suitable, I must first explain who I am and what I do. That may help to understand why I need what I do. I will also give out some definitions later too.

I have been having issues with my phone for over a year now, and of course they are not getting better with age. Hardware related problems and not ROM/Operating system issues like the reception of phone (which used to be stellar) getting poorer, data and GPS not working all the time – especially and of course when needed most. So I began my phone search in earnest nearly a year ago.

My background: I am a Network and System Administrator and integrator. I manage systems including Windows Domain(s), Cisco Firewalls/Routers/VPNs, VMware clusters and many Operating systems contained therein – Windows, OSX, Linux, Cisco IOS etc. I have been working in IT for a few decades, so I am very comfortable with technology. I am also not a ‘fan boy’ of any particular type of Operating System or hardware. I have and use Windows machines primarily, but have a Mac and Linux box here under my desk (and many Virtual Machines of those OS’s too). I have owned many machines since my first Amiga in the 70’s as a kid. I simply use the tools that provide me with the best ability to do my job(s) and any other tasks I may wish to.

I settled on Windows Mobile years ago because of the amount of customization and third party tools I needed that I could use with it. I need MS Exchange support, Terminal services/Telnet abilities, MS Office compatibility and other remote management software and tools – all to at least do my job and NONE available on any other platforms at the time. I was also able to put a custom ROM on my device to provide for even more flexibility and control of the Operating System, applications and themes.

I looked at the BlackBerry and iPhones but neither had the application support I needed, let alone the ability to customize the operating system in any real ways.

And the Android phones at the time were also limited in their functionality and performance. But I was sure that the Androids would improve fastest.

So I figured my next phone would be a Android but didn’t rule out the iPhones either. With the increasing ease of ‘Jailbreaking/rooting’ the iPhone and the newer iOs I thought that might be an still be an option for me.

Next and just as important for me is the service provider. I have been with Sprint for over a decade and it has provided phenomenal value, and most importantly RECEPTION in the places I use it most – home and work.
I had a friend who was on ATT and was considered the Blackberry guru – seriously this 80+ year old guy would show the ATT reps how to use their phones! [RIP Gerry] And his phone lost reception at my house and our office fairly often; much more than mine. So ATT was probably out. My fathers Verizon phone(s) too didn’t work well in his house or mine (both very close to each other) and neither did my step-brother’s Verizon phone(s). So Verizon was probably out too. I’ll stop here and say what ever phone you get won’t mean crap if you have no coverage and can’t use it!

A few months ago I demo’d an ATT iPhone and could not get ANY reception at my place – so goodbye ATT. Plus I was still not able to do all the things necessary for my work and fun. Even ‘rooted/Jailbroken’, the Apple device is WAY to constricting for me. Don’t get me wrong. the iPhone is a fine device. It makes phone calls, chats, take pictures and plays music and video well. And all fairly simply for the novice and average user. But to truly customize this device for my uses and needs is nearly impossible.

ALSO and this is NO small point the iPhone 4S is NOT repeat NOT a 4G device! No matter what network you use it on it uses 3G phone services! [look it up if you don’t believe me]. I require fast data connections for many of the management activities I do and it would be foolish for me to not have a 4G device. I also was again tempted to move to Verizon because of their build out of their 4G LTE network, but their recent changes in data plan fees are WAY too costly and restrictive for my uses.

So I stuck with Sprint. Now which phone? I purchased an EVO 3D a few months back but returned it because I just didn’t like the phone enough and the phone itself had some connection issues (much like the iPhone did – poor antennae placements I think) and it just didn’t quite meet my tech needs.

Back to my old dying Touch Pro2…

I found a device to dramatically increase my reception in my home for Sprint called an Airave for only $50.00US on Amazon and decided to give it a try to ‘extend’ the life (and reception) of my poor old phone. WORKED AMAZINGLY! It is essentially an in home ‘cell tower’. It uses your broadband connection to extend your wireless services. [Both ATT and Verizon offer these type of devices too by the way. Except Verizon’s devices START in price from $250.00US and ATT’s the same!] I was also able to install this device behind my home router in a DMZ – so it has it’s own network and is separate from my home systems yet still used my cable broadband.

So on to my final choice. After doing months and months of research (I’m kind of a nut about that) I settled on the Sprint Galaxy S2. And wow, am I a happy camper! I have the ability to completely customize the sh*t out the operating system(s). Blazing speeds on wifi, 3G and 4G and a very nice multi-media device which can actually play more types of media from more sources than the iPhone! With a rooted Android phone I can put any number of customized ROM’s and applications on the device – freedom, yay!

I mentioned rooting/jailbreaking. I would not get any device that did not provide me with this ability.
I completely understand why so many people (probably MOST) would not care one rip about this. They just want to be able to do what ever they can very easily. And they don’t mind be limited by their carrier, hardware or phone operating system as to what they can or can’t do. That is one reason the iPhone is such a huge success. It ‘just works’ as the fanboys like to point out. But of course it only works the way Apple and the carrier ‘let you work it. Period. Me, I must know that I have full control of the device I own! I must be able to make a ‘real full image back up’ of my device not just a file backup. And secondly I do not wish be stuck in a ‘walled garden’ of ‘approved’ applications and devices. I own it I want to be able to do what ever I want with it.

So let me briefly explain those terms.
Some definitions:
What is Rooting/Jailbreaking?:

Android Rooting is a process that allows users of mobile phones and other devices running the Android operating system to attain privileged control (known as “root access”) within Android’s Linux subsystem with the goal of overcoming limitations that carriers and manufacturers put on some devices. A good description of why.

iOS jailbreaking, or simply jailbreaking, is the process of removing the limitations imposed by Apple on devices running the iOS operating system through use of custom kernels. Such devices include the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and 2nd Gen Apple TV. Jailbreaking allows users to gain root access to the operating system, allowing iOS users to download additional applications, extensions, and themes that are unavailable through the official Apple App Store.

A jailbroken iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad running iOS can still use the App Store, iTunes, and other normal functions, such as making telephone calls. Unlike rooting an Android device, jailbreaking is necessary if the user intends to run software not authorized by Apple. A tethered jailbreak requires that the device be connected to a computer each time it needs to be booted; an un-tethered jailbreak allows the device to be powered without computer assistance. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, jailbreaking Apple devices is legal in the United States.

ROM:

Essentially a ROM is the phone’s operating system that comes with your phone when you buy it.

I was going to explain what a ROM is but this post here is WAY better than I could ever have done so check it out.

I just realized how freaking long this post is! So I am going to write another post about the steps and tweaks I applied to my device along with some tips and tricks for Android and the Galaxy S2 in particular. Stay tuned.. [I post most of this sh$t for my own reference anyways. 🙂 ]

A little side by side with the iPhone 4S and the Galaxy SII