Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Martian]

As most of you are probably aware, I've been sitting on what's left of my backside this last year for various reasons and it doesn't take too many episodes of breaktard TV before the boredom sets in.

In order to occupy myself I decided to make a few mods to my phone (Galaxy SII)in an effort to speed things up a bit and make it slightly easier on the eye. I ended up getting so engrossed that it wasn't long before the entire ROM had been butchered, and the end result is below.

The mods include (but are not limited to)..

Call recording enabled
No ascending ringtone
No confirmation tone when call connected
No autorotation when in call
Messages are no longer converted to MMS after 4 SMS
Increased multi send from 10 contacts to 200
Sent time displayed by default as opposed to received time in SMS/MMS
Apps now show alphabetically in drawer
Running (background) apps shown in drawer
Wi-Fi scan interval increased to 180s (stock is 60s)
Max volume output for headphones boosted to 100% (stock is 87%)
Various governor tweaks to enhance battery life
Various UI tweaks

If there are any SGSII owners here who like the look of it then I can make it a theme pack only as opposed to a full ROM, however you will need root access and CWM Manager to install it.

Screenies below

[Tonka.]

I like that Martian

I am using a Nexus S but don't want to start butchering it for fear of bricking it   

I wonder how long it will take Google to pull their finger out and put ICS out OTA 

[Martian]

I wonder how long it will take Google to pull their finger out and put ICS out OTA 

Google released ICS for the Nexus S as an OTA update last month T, so if you haven't had it by now then I can only guess your handset is "carrier branded" (which means you'll have to wait for your service provider to release their version).
I have had ICS 4.0.3 (official Samsung) running on my S2, but it was still a little bit glitchy for me (although it is still in beta).
The official ICS release date for SII owners is around April this year, but once again that is only for "unbranded" handsets.

SII owners should be aware that flashing the handset with the official (beta) ICS ROM will result in the bootloader being replaced with one that no longer allows you to reset the hidden root counter, so make a backup of your old one if you want to be able to remove the yellow warning triangle after playing.

[Tonka.]

Yes, I had an update in December last year. It downloaded, went for install, then halted and reverted to GB.

Apparently, this happened world wide and was caused by Google pulling the update due to issues on the (9023?) Nexus S.

On the (9020?) Nexus S it seemed to install and run reasonably well 

[Martian]

Yes, I had an update in December last year. It downloaded, went for install, then halted and reverted to GB.

Apparently, this happened world wide and was caused by Google pulling the update due to issues on the (9023?) Nexus S.

On the (9020?) Nexus S it seemed to install and run reasonably well 

A quick google shows the firmware was bricking the radio in the handset 
There is a working official ICS update for your handset that I can give you the link to if you want, all you have to do to get it on the phone is to start the handset in recovery mode and follow the on screen instructions.

[pirate]

all bloody martian to me ive got a htc with beats audio bloody cool mob but dont use half the stuff it can do got a realy good spirit level though for fencing

[Tonka.]

Yes, I had an update in December last year. It downloaded, went for install, then halted and reverted to GB.

Apparently, this happened world wide and was caused by Google pulling the update due to issues on the (9023?) Nexus S.

On the (9020?) Nexus S it seemed to install and run reasonably well 

A quick google shows the firmware was bricking the radio in the handset 
There is a working official ICS update for your handset that I can give you the link to if you want, all you have to do to get it on the phone is to start the handset in recovery mode and follow the on screen instructions.

It was mine it failed on, the 9020, it succeeded on the 9023. Got it the wrong way round 

Is the update the one they talk about on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1398186 XDA-Developers?

If you can give me your link I can look over it. 

[Vamps]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about........

[tidla]

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about........

i do
 (whispers liar)

[Martian]

Is the update the one they talk about on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1398186 XDA-Developers?

I didn't see that discussion, however the firmware they link to there is the same as what is available on samfirmware.com (it downloads a hell of a lot quicker as they aren't using Hotfile to host it).

PS:
I've just read >THIS< on ZDNet, It seems that some UK users of the 9020 experienced severe battery drain after the upgrade and that was the reason for pulling it over here.
Although that report says there is no official way to revert back to Gingerbread 2.3.3, it is quite possible to roll back providing you have the original 2.3.3 ROM (which is also available on samfirmware.com).
If your handset is "carrier branded" (eg, O2, Voda, etc), let me know who you are with and I'll find their official firmware instead of the SIM free firmware that Samsung are offering (assuming you want to play that is).

I know you are itching to try ICS (it is quite nice), but I also know that you are wary about bricking your handset.
I can tell you now that the ONLY way anything can go wrong is if you end up corrupting the bootloader, but that could only really happen if the power were to fail while the bootloader itself is being written to the handset.

Like you I was initially cautious about killing my SII when I decided to root it and flash a different ROM, and I have "bricked" it on more than one occasion whereby it would get stuck in a constant reboot loop which could only be stopped by pulling the battery. However so long as the phone can start in recovery mode it will ALWAYS be fixable (in minutes) by anyone who has a working PC in front of them.

[Tonka.]

The handset was supplied by Orange and is using an Orange SIM. I am unsure if it is carrier branded to Orange. It doesn't mention Orange in the system information. I really don't think it is but how can I really tell? 

I would guess it is not branded but locked to Orange? 

[Martian]

I would guess it is not branded but locked to Orange? 

When I said "carrier branded", I was referring to whether it was supplied by your provider or you had bought the handset outright and it was "SIM free" (meaning you can use any SIM card). In your case, your handset will be locked to Orange and it will have their version of Gingerbread as opposed to the stock Google version.....sorry about any potential confusion there.

Anyway, it seems that Orange are dragging their ar$e$ in the firmware stakes (no surprise really) and all I can find at the moment is the stock Google firmware. There is nothing to stop you from flashing the handset with the Google version, the only differences afterwards will be that any Orange apps that came supplied will not be there and your handset will become SIM free.

I'll need to know what your baseband version is so that I can give you a link to the correct firmware (Menu > Settings > About Phone).

[Tonka.]

the only differences afterwards will be that any Orange apps that came supplied will not be there

I am glad you mentioned that. Any orange apps on the handset I have downloaded (Orange Wednesdays, Account Management/Viewing etc). Non came on the phone.

Also I have just popped a Vodafone Pay & Go SIM into the Nexus and it booted up in full working order. Must be unlocked and SIM free then 

The baseband version is ....... I9020XXKF1 

[Martian]

I am glad you mentioned that. Any orange apps on the handset I have downloaded (Orange Wednesdays, Account Management/Viewing etc). Non came on the phone.

No problem there then, you can always download them again.

Also I have just popped a Vodafone Pay & Go SIM into the Nexus and it booted up in full working order. Must be unlocked and SIM free then 

They must be slacking, they normally lock them down tighter than a ducks ar$e.

The baseband version is ....... I9020XXKF1 

Could you clarify the exact model of 9020 that you have as well as the kernel & build versions please T, because the KF1 radio is what comes with GB 2.3.6 and the only official firmware listed is XXJK1 (GB 2.3.3) which is for the 9020T only.

[Tonka.]

Model Number
Nexus S

Android Version
2.3.6

Baseband version
I9020XXKF1

Kernel version
2.6.35.7-gf5f63ef
android-build@apa28#1

Build number
GRK39F

Getting more mysterious???