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Sober IT truths from the island-state

by Michael Tan, Singapore

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What to do to your Android after you get it

Oct 29, 2009 14:58

Just a summary of links, on what to do after you get your Android phone, if you want a perfectly wonderful phone free of stupid layers like the crap stuff phone makers put on the handset. Seriously, why the heck does a certain company bother putting its own shell on the phone? It's such a waste of CPU cycles.

By the way, DO WHAT I WRITE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I DIDN'T BRICK MY PHONE, BUT YOU MAY. I'M NOT AN ENGINEER, I JUST READ THE WEB. IF YOUR PHONE EATS YOUR KIDS, DON'T BLAME ME.

First, root the phone. Destroy all the protection the phone has against you putting your own software on your own mobile. Kill it, terminate it, blast it to hell.

Singapore phones are more difficult than the rest because the smart hackers are all in Europe and the US, and they hack their own phones, and it's easy. For Singapore people, we have to use the Gold Card method.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=572683

Your phone has a recovery image. Meaning, this is the failsafe--if your phone screws up, you boot from this "program" to recover. This is a dangerous step, but I've tried it many times and didn't die. But you may, so be careful. You may also skip this step actually if you're afraid, and go straight to the new OS installation.

(Credit: Zone Gadgets)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=3915123

After you root it, and install the pimped-out recovery image (optional), you can put your own OS on it and keep it updated. My choice is CyanogenMod 4.X.X and I found it clean and nice and super stable, and it rocks. I think it's the best. If you don't have any idea of other firmware, just get it here. Look at the Cyanogen guy's signature, and get the latest and greatest (the link below is for the 4.2.2 just released yesterday):

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=567610

You're almost done. You cannot imagine how life is without Windows Update, which keeps your Windows installation updated with the latest and greatest. For the Android phone, there's also the Cyanogen updater. Get it from here, just an application, no problem with super installation procedure.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=544663

And you're done. You have an advanced phone, free of the ISP and phone manufacturer crap. Will it void warranty? Sure thing. Just reflash to the original stuff before you return it for repairs, if you can. If you can't tolerate the uncertainty, DON'T DO ANY OF THE ABOVE.

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About Michael Tan

Michael Tan is lucky enough not to have to choose between his job and his passion. He is the responsible for all aspects of developing new businesses and sourcing new productlines for a regional IT distribution company. He also oversees the company's legal affairs as General Counsel. In real life, he is a technology enthusiast, from both the fun and business viewpoint. The only choices he has to make are whether to play with his astro telescopes, his PC games, his Wii console, hit the track, tweak his car, or refine his biofilters, post his blogs, research for a new digicam, scour every forum to feed his habit further, play with his son… You can reach Michael at michaeltanyk@gmail.com ALL BLOGPOSTS ONLY REFLECT MICHAEL'S OPINIONS AND NOBODY ELSES'.