Considering trying Android 6.01 / CM13 on my S4

Forums › Android › Considering trying Android 6.01 / CM13 on my S4 - easy?

timmmay

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#192258 3-Mar-2016 15:26

I'm considering trying CM13 on my S4, CM13 download page is here. This XDA page says don't report bugs if

Flashed a custom kernel (yep I did that)
Installed or did mods from untrusted sources (maybe)
Installed SuperSU (yep and I want to keep / reinstall it so I have root)
Modified system files (don't think so)

Can I try CM13 if I have custom kernel / ROM? Currently on:

Baseband I9505XXUEMK9
Kernel 3.4.0-Adam-2.5
ROM WanamLite.v3.1.KOT490H......

Anything special I need to do, or just flash away? Any risks, given I have extensive backups (Nandroid / Titanium) and EFS backed up?

The main thing I don't like about plain Android is the lack of shortcuts to turn Wifi / 4G on and off. I install some little app on my wife's phone (Moto G) that does it, but it's not as clean or easy as Touchwiz where you just pull down and hit a toggle. Has Android 6 made this easier? I do automate using Llama so it may be moot now, it can do it automatically for me.

I'm still on Android 4.x because it works fine. Not even sure what benefits I'd get going to Android 6, but staying up to date sounds sensible.

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#1505572 3-Mar-2016 15:54

Hmmm , looks interesting, I have a spare S4 sitting doing nothing would not mind trying this out. Scared of bricking it though I guess as have never done it before but first time for everything I guess.

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d3Xt3r

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#1505575 3-Mar-2016 15:59

> don't report bugs if

Those conditions are only for if/when you're reporting bugs; they aren't pre-requisites to actually flashing the ROM.

> Can I try CM13 if I have custom kernel / ROM?

Most certainly, however, I'd recommend you flash the latest modem, bootloader and TWRP.

Instructions and links for the bootloader/modem are here.

You can get TWRP 3.0.0 here.

I'd recommend flashing TWRP first, since a working recovery is essential for pretty much everything. The easiest way to install it is from the TWRP Manager app, but if it doesn't work for you, you can flash the tar file using Odin.

Once you've got the new TWRP, modem and bootloader. Reboot into TWRP, do a factory reset, and flash CM followed by the Gapps. I recommend using OpenGapps Nano. You won't need SuperSU because root access is built into the ROM (you'll need to enable it though from the developer options).

> The main thing I don't like about plain Android is the lack of shortcuts to turn Wifi / 4G on and off.

Android 5.0 has this in the notification shade itself, but you need to pull down the notification shade twice (first time is to see the notifications, second time is to see the toggles). If you don't like this, you can enable quick-pulldown from the settings in CM so it takes only one swipe to see the toggles.

Alternatively, you can also install Notification Toggles.

> Not even sure what benefits I'd get going to Android 6

- Better battery life in theory (ART, Doze, App Standby)
- Better security (updated OS components; new permissions system),
- Better Performance (ART and other optimisations)
- Better compatibility / newer features with new apps
- Google Now on Tap

and lots more.

Disclaimer: I don't own a Galaxy S4 so I can't answer any S4-specific questions (ie stability of the various ROMs/kernels etc), but I can assist you with any general root/ROM queries. :)

timmmay

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#1505585 3-Mar-2016 16:27

Is TWRP 2.7.0.1 good enough? I have that already. Though updating should be pretty painless. Thanks for all the links and advice. I'll try it in a couple of weeks - when I have a free weekend :)

d3Xt3r

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#1505592 3-Mar-2016 17:22

timmmay:

Is TWRP 2.7.0.1 good enough? I have that already. Though updating should be pretty painless. Thanks for all the links and advice. I'll try it in a couple of weeks - when I have a free weekend :)

It should work fine, but it's better to use 3.0 since it's compiled against Android 6.0. And of course, 3.0 has a lot of bug-fixes and improvements as well, so it's worth it. :)

tanivula

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#1505859 4-Mar-2016 10:21

Would also recommend getting the AntaresOne version of TWRP with F2FS support (if you're keen on fiddling). I've found F2FS a bit smoother as write speeds are faster than EXT4.

Not sure if the official CM13 supports F2FS though, you could try team JDC's AOSP (i9505 original dev area) or CrDroid - which is a modified CM13 (i9505 android dev area).

MM has a couple of odd bugs on the S4 - relating to Bluetooth and WiFi sleeping.

Bluetooth - you cant use it has a headset and music streaming (need to disable one in Bluetooth profiles)

WiFi - seems to turn off when the display is off (or in deep sleep as I recall) even if WiFi is set to stay on all the time.

timmmay

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#1505880 4-Mar-2016 11:10

I don't think I'm willing to mess about with alternate file systems. I want a reliable phone, not a toy to play with.

timmmay

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#1512142 12-Mar-2016 21:43

I tried CM13 today, but the phone didn't work - no audio either way. I spent a while on it, but couldn't solve it. Plus I'd have lost access to the pedometer, which I find useful. So I went to Able95 8.0, which is a 5.01 ROM. Works fine, but it's annoying to get everything set up again. It needs the HPA1 bootloader and modem, which is linked from that thread. Haven't noticed any speed differences yet, but it's a small chance to go to V5.

I might try another ROM again when the latest Android just coming out now has been made to work with the 9505.

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tanivula

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#1512212 13-Mar-2016 10:18

For s*&ts and giggles, I looked at what the latest OTA's for the i9505 were... Surprisingly there's recent ones for the NZ versions. TNZ being the newest, and with the highest changelog!

What I've been waiting for has finally been released too - team JDC's optimised CM13, though a bug which was prevalent in CM at the time of building has mean their first release needs to be avoided!

@timmmay - if you need to use the 'features' of TW (SHealth pedo etc) you're kinda stuck with TW roms. I'm not sure if even the GPe release will work with the pedometer (though since it's realistically TW based, it's got the best chance of working).

timmmay

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#1512215 13-Mar-2016 10:36

I wonder if the pedometer works with third party apps. That's the main thing I use, but the temp/humidity I use sometimes.

I could actually go back to stock, rooted. That'd do everything I need.

Yabanize

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#1512218 13-Mar-2016 10:58

I am currently using CM13 on my S4 just fine, No real issues. Although it seems to take forever to boot

The phone not working will be something to do with your modem.. mine works fine, im using I9505XXUHOA7 modem

BTW, your current kernel and rom don't really matter as they both get overwritten when you flash CM.

Yes, I think quick settings has gotten better in stock android, especially in CM etc where you can customize it.

6 doesn't seem too significantly changed over 5.1, the main difference is apps have to ask for permissions before they use them

timmmay

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#1512221 13-Mar-2016 11:09

Yeah I gave up on CM13. I might try again some time, but can't be bothered right now. It takes ages (many hours over the course of a few weeks) to get the apps and shortcuts back how I like them, even with titanium backup.

Athlonite

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#1512238 13-Mar-2016 12:12

I was thinking of going CM13 on my Nexus 7 2012 because it seems that will be the only way to get rid of Lollipop 5.1.2

d3Xt3r

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#1512270 13-Mar-2016 13:29

Athlonite:

I was thinking of going CM13 on my Nexus 7 2012 because it seems that will be the only way to get rid of Lollipop 5.1.2

CM13 on Nexus 7 would be fine, because Nexuses are open - their drivers and sources are easily available, so custom ROMs work without any issues.

Although I'd recommend a pure AOSP-based ROM instead of CM, as it'll be more lightweight and have potentially fewer bugs. I would highly recommend Pure Nexus, which I run on all my Nexus devices. I would also recommend flashing the eMMC Fix mod on top to speed up your storage.

timmmay

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#1512328 13-Mar-2016 14:49

@Yabanize and others, what's the best CM based from for the 9505? Pure CM13 (latest nightly), one of the releases from XDA, etc? Tempted to try again before I get 5.01 set up fully.

Also, do the pedometer apps (pedometer, walklogger) count steps properly using the S4 hardware?

timmmay

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#1512382 13-Mar-2016 16:08

I installed Resurrection Remix, a CM13 Android 6.0.x ROM. So far so good, I can make calls, Samsung Health works for pedometer and steps. Android 6 seems pretty fast, faster than Android 4 on the same hardware. There's a lot more customisation possible. All in all, a good move I think - so far.

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