*** The Official Samsung Galaxy S4 Thread ***

Thank you again for a very detailed responce :)

I know how to root and flash ROMs on my Nexus but there is an all in one app that pretty much automated the whole process (Nexus ToolKit).
I'm assuming installing ROMs is the same as its done on the Nexus....reboot into recovery, clear cashe, dalvik cashe, install rom, install gapps...?

When I got my Nexus I made a few glaring errors. I remember a few times I wiped the whole phone and then struggled to send the rom and gapps files to it. Finally managed using nexus toolkit app which sent them over and flashed automatically. Saved my bacon a few times that app! Is there a similar app for the S4 where you can create backups, root, unroot, transfer files, flash ROMs etc etc?

Can anyone comment on the above please.

+ Can i use the "CF-Auto-Root" method by ChainFire to root?
 
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No there's no all in one toolkit, not as yet. Still it's not very complicated all the same. No gapps with Samsung roms for a start. There is a CM10.1 + gapps, but then you won't have all the cool Samsung sensor tricks.

CF-Auto-Root is one method to root yes, another is to flash an entire stock rom that's been deodexed and the bloatware removed. After that a custom recovery is the normal way to go. Depends what you're trying to achieve? Just the root? Custom rom?
 
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Can anyone comment on the above please.

+ Can i use the "CF-Auto-Root" method by ChainFire to root?



Yes flash Roms the same as you do on the Nexus.

Easiest way to root is to flash a pre-rooted rom from here

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2250824

Pick:

Model: GT-I9505 (4.2.2)
PDA: XXUBMEA
PHONE: XXUBMEA
CSC: OXABMEA (MultiCSC - 8 codes)
Kernel: 3.4.0-768421 (30.05)
Build Date: 29.05.2013
Changelist: 768421

Pre-Rooted ROM: Downloads: <<< Hotfile >>> or <<< Android Host >>>

Use the Android host as its faster.

Once you have downloaded the ROM, put your phone in download mode and open Odin and flash the ROM as PDA.

Watch this video on how to use odin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlsO5o_-CI8
 
No there's no all in one toolkit, not as yet. Still it's not very complicated all the same. No gapps with Samsung roms for a start. There is a CM10.1 + gapps, but then you won't have all the cool Samsung sensor tricks.

CF-Auto-Root is one method to root yes, another is to flash an entire stock rom that's been deodexed and the bloatware removed. After that a custom recovery is the normal way to go. Depends what you're trying to achieve? Just the root? Custom rom?

Basically, i want the same experience i get from my Nexus 4. I want the Google Edition Experience.

I've always used PA Rom on my nexus 4 and love it so im trying to get something close to that and CM10.1 ticks all the boxes.

Although, not having all the cool Samsung sensors is rather concerning....In an ideal world, i would want rid of touchwiz and the Samsung UI and replace it with a theme from the Play Store (BlackOut X). I rather like the CM10.1 SMS app too with the quick reply and the UI.
 
PA isnt the google experience. if you want PA then try the pacman rom. if you want google, then yes;cm10.1 is probably the way to go. if you want samsung trickery without the touchwiz stuff then you want wanam with JB domination theme or foxhound.
 
PA isnt the google experience. if you want PA then try the pacman rom. if you want google, then yes;cm10.1 is probably the way to go. if you want samsung trickery without the touchwiz stuff then you want wanam with JB domination theme or foxhound.

If i go with Wanam then could i still use themes from the Play Store that are designed for Cyanogenmod 10.1, AOKP, PA, CNA?

Stock PA, CM10 and Android 4.2 all the look the same to me in their bare state.
 
I dont know if you can use those themes on samsung roms.

Stock PA, CM10 and Android 4.2 all the look the same to me in their bare state.
There's a lot more to a rom than just the theme. PA with it's multi DPI/PiE/Halo is pretty far removed from stock android.
 
Im beginning to think i wish i never upgraded to the S4 at this rate. My head hurts. I would have been better off waiting for the Nexus 5.

You see, i dont use PIE and HALO on the Nexus 4. I just use tablet mode and thats it.
 
Is it stable?

Apparently.

I guess i will loose all of the Samsung Sensor stuff and the camera quality?

As with all non-samsung roms, yes you will loose it.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2295673
Q: Will the Samsung apps and features work on this rom like Smart Stay, Smart Scroll, Multi window?

A: No they won't because this is based on AOSP/CM and therefore doesn't have any of the Touchwiz/Samsung which all the Samsung Apps/Features require... If you require these features stay on a stock based rom;)

As for the camera, yes apparently the quality does suffer but I don't know the specifics.
 
Ahh man!!
Sounds like its pointless having this phone if your gonner install a AOSP/CM rom on it :/
I really want the camera quality- main reason i upgraded to it (and the 1080p screen).
Im not too fussed about Smart Stay/Scroll/Multi window. Its the camera i am really bothered about
 
Ahh man!!
Sounds like its pointless having this phone if your gonner install a AOSP/CM rom on it :/
I really want the camera quality- main reason i upgraded to it (and the 1080p screen).
Im not too fussed about Smart Stay/Scroll/Multi window. Its the camera i am really bothered about

S4 Google Edition is due soon, good bet a i9505G rom or slightly modified one will be available shortly. That'll get you the camera functionality if nothing else.
 
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It still won't have Samsung's touchwiz software optimisation for the camera though :(

AFAIK, there is no way that they will ever be able to implement the good stuff from touchwiz to work with a stock based ROM, same with every other skin.

Best thing is to just do what matt has, wanam, domination theme, install the stock android/cm apks
 
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Best thing is to just do what matt has, wanam, domination theme, install the stock android/cm apks

Looking at the screenshots of domination theme, it does look pretty good (although a black and white version would have been nice too like BlackOut X theme).

So the way I'm looking at this is as follows:

- Use Wanam
- Use Domination Theme
- Use Nova Launcher, minimilistic text, Icon Themer, Missed It!, RoundR, Widget Locker, XPosed Installer Framework (for Icon Themer)
- Install an Icon Pack
- Install CM10.1 apks (SMS, Dialer, Contacts etc)
- Change font using Rom Toolbox Pro

Job Done?!

The only thing i will be missing is the BlackOut X theme but i guess i can live without that for the time being...
 
Nexus you saying using Omega will make the camera and other things worse? Everything looks in order here, not that I ha en played around with much.
 
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