ROM Android: Mengapa Custom ROM
Custom ROMs For Android Explained - Here Is Why You Want Them Posted by Artem Russakovskii in Development, Tips & Tutorials Last Updated: August 20th, 2012
Introduction Custom ROMs Why You Want Custom ROMs Update Frequency Better Performance And Efficiency Upgrading To A Better/Later Version Of Android Ability To Install Apps To The SD Card About That Rooting Business… The Downsides Of Custom ROMs Something Could Go Wrong Clean Wipe Potential Problems You May Void Your Warranty Getting The Right Custom ROM Conclusion Comments (115)
Introduction
Ever wondered what the whole Android custom ROM scene was about?
What is all this talk of installing "aftermarket", custom upgrades on your phone?
Who needs it? Why do it? Is it safe?
Don't fret - I'm here to explain - the AndroidPolice Academy is now in session.
By the way, the word ROM means Read Only Memory, but has migrated in the modding community to mean an actual custom OS image that you install into the ROM area of your phone.
Also, the word kernel essentially means the heart of the OS - it's the barebones operating system components. Custom ROMs
A stock ROM is the version of the phone's operating system that comes with your phone when you buy it.
A custom ROM is a fully standalone version of the OS, including the kernel (which makes everything run), apps, services, etc - everything you need to operate the device, except it's customized by someone in some way.
So what does the "customized" part mean? Since Android is open source, developers are free to take stock ROMs, modify them, strip them of garbage, optimize them, add things, and pretty much do whatever their imagination and skills allow. Why You Want Custom ROMs Update Frequency
Using a custom ROM usually results in more frequent updates that fix bugs and introduce new features because the developer behind the ROM doesn't have the same procedures and red tape that the manufacturer+carrier combo does.
A quality update can be churned faster because it doesn't involve the bureaucracy of 30 different project managers, 15 vice presidents, and 5 dozen marketing departments. A ROM developer usually gains a loyal community which beta tests his updates in real life situations and provide feedback, or even fixes bugs - that's the beauty of open source software. Oh and did I mention that ROMs are usually free and supported by optional donations? If you can't afford to pay for it, you don't have to. Finally, most custom ROMs out there are updateable over the air (OTA) and without reinstalling anything.
Who doesn't love open source after this? Better Performance And Efficiency
Custom ROMs are oftentimes faster, more efficient, and use less memory because
the developer ripped out useless garbage, such as carrier installed apps or the developer optimized the kernel. For example, an undervolted kernel can provide a much better battery life than the stock one.
Upgrading To A Better/Later Version Of Android
You can upgrade to a version of the OS that has not yet been released for your device, or never will be. This is possible in 2 situations:
A leaked version of the new ROM showed up online, and the developer got on it like the fat kid chasing an ice cream truck. This was exactly the case with Hero and Android 2.1, allowing me to upgrade from 1.5 weeks (months) before the official version was available and ditch the bogged down and slow stock OS. A ROM from another phone was ported by the developer to work on yours. For example, G1 and MyTouch 3G users may never see Android 2.1 officially released on their phones, but Cyanogen, one of the most respected Android developers, was recently able to create a custom ROM running 2.1 for those devices. Oh, what a happy day it was for MT3G and G1 owners.
Ability To Install Apps To The SD Card
Most custom ROMs nowadays come with the ability to install applications to the SD card, called Apps2SD (or A2SD).
This is currently not possible on stock ROMs, even in Android 2.1 and is supposedly on Google's TODO list.
If you have run out of space on your phone (which I have repeatedly on my Hero), Apps2SD is a killer feature to have. About That Rooting Business…
Don't confuse custom ROMs with rooting - they're completely different.
We have explained rooting and its benefits in an article called Rooting Explained + Top 5 Benefits Of Rooting Your Android Phone. The Downsides Of Custom ROMs
Of course, there are dangers of using custom ROMs which you should be aware of. Something Could Go Wrong
First of all, something may go wrong with the flashing process (that's the process of installing the ROM) and leave your phone in a bricked state. The chances of this are pretty low nowadays, and most of the time you can restore it back to normal.
Try to go for the ROM that has been tested by time and has lots of positive feedback. Clean Wipe
In order to install a custom ROM, you need to perform a clean wipe.
This means you will lose all existing data, so you have to back everything up first. Of course, just for this, we have a straightforward tutorial that shows how to back up and restore your entire phone: [Complete Guide] How To Fully Back Up And Restore Your Android Phone Using Nandroid Backup. Potential Problems
Custom ROMs could have bugs… but then so do the stock ones.
However, in case you do find a bug, you actually have a 2-way channel of reporting it - post in the ROM forum and you will more than likely get an answer back and your bug acknowledged.
Try doing this to your phone manufacturer and see if you can get past the first level of outsourced monkeys, let alone actual developers. You May Void Your Warranty
It's possible that custom rooting will void your warranty because you will "break the seal" on the boot loader by installing a custom one which on some phones apparently can't be undone (this includes the Nexus One). Because of that, the manufacturer might be able to tell that the phone has had a custom ROM installed and not honor the warranty, in case you need to use it.
Now, in most cases, the benefits of the custom ROM outweigh the possibility of your warranty being denied. I recommend getting a warranty from your carrier and using that in case anything bad happens (that warranty is usually unconditional and covers things like losses and physical damage). Getting The Right Custom ROM
New phones and ROMs come out all the time, and the scope of this article doesn't cover individual ROMs - but the general approach to finding one is Googling for "YOUR_PHONE_MODEL ROM" or something similar, optionally including the wanted Android version. Try it out - you'll find what you want. Conclusion
And there you have it - another tutorial is in the can, as Leo Laporte likes to say.
Have you found it useful or got anything to add? Please share in the comments.
5 Reasons to Install a Custom Android ROM (and Why You Might Not Want To)
Android is open source, so developers can take its code, add features, and build their own operating system images for Android phones and tablets. Many Android geeks install such custom ROMs — but why?
“ROM” stands for “read-only memory.” A custom ROM replaces your device’s Android operating system — normally stored in read-only memory — with a new version of the Android operating system. Custom ROMs are different from acquiring root access.
Get The Latest Version of Android
This is by far the most popular reason to install a custom ROM. Many manufacturers never update their older Android phones and tablets or updates may take months to reach phones thanks to carrier and manufacturer delays. If you have an older device that isn’t receiving updates anymore and you want to run the latest version of Android, a custom ROM is just the ticket. CyanogenMod is the most popular ROM for this purpose — it has its own tweaks, but the base system is similar to the stock version of Android created by Google. Thanks to CyanogenMod and other custom ROMs, many older devices that will never be officially updated can run the latest version of Android.
If your device is still receiving timely updates — especially if it’s a Nexus device that Google is updating regularly — custom ROMs won’t be anywhere near as compelling.
Replace Manufacturer Skin With a Stock Version of Android
Manufacturers like Samsung and HTC “skin” their versions of Android, replacing the clean look Google created with their own look that’s often more cluttered and less cohesive. Many people don’t like this but still want to use a flagship phone like the Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One.
You can’t just switch from the manufacturer’s skin to the stock Android look — sure, you can replace the launcher without installing a custom ROM and even without rooting, but there’s no erasing all the questionable customizations the manufacturer has made to the operating system. To get the stock Android look and replace all the manufacturer’s customizations with the clean Android system, you’ll need to install a custom ROM.
If you don’t mind your device’s skin or you’re using a Nexus device that already comes with a stock Android system, there’s no reason to do this.
Eliminate Bloatware
When you purchase a phone from a carrier, it often comes packed with bloatware. NASCAR apps, TV apps, a Contacts app that stores your contacts on your carrier’s servers instead of on your phone — these apps can clutter your system and waste disk space. Manufacturers even add their own software before the carrier gets to it, so you have two companies each adding their own bloatware to your phone before it gets to you.
If you want to actually erase these apps from your disk, the best way to do so is to install a custom ROM. You can disable the apps without rooting, but this won’t free up the disk space they consume.
5 Reasons to Install a Custom Android ROM (and Why You Might Not Want To)
Android is open source, so developers can take its code, add features, and build their own operating system images for Android phones and tablets. Many Android geeks install such custom ROMs — but why?
“ROM” stands for “read-only memory.” A custom ROM replaces your device’s Android operating system — normally stored in read-only memory — with a new version of the Android operating system. Custom ROMs are different from acquiring root access. Get The Latest Version of Android
This is by far the most popular reason to install a custom ROM. Many manufacturers never update their older Android phones and tablets or updates may take months to reach phones thanks to carrier and manufacturer delays. If you have an older device that isn’t receiving updates anymore and you want to run the latest version of Android, a custom ROM is just the ticket. CyanogenMod is the most popular ROM for this purpose — it has its own tweaks, but the base system is similar to the stock version of Android created by Google. Thanks to CyanogenMod and other custom ROMs, many older devices that will never be officially updated can run the latest version of Android.
If your device is still receiving timely updates — especially if it’s a Nexus device that Google is updating regularly — custom ROMs won’t be anywhere near as compelling.
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Manufacturers like Samsung and HTC “skin” their versions of Android, replacing the clean look Google created with their own look that’s often more cluttered and less cohesive. Many people don’t like this but still want to use a flagship phone like the Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One.
You can’t just switch from the manufacturer’s skin to the stock Android look — sure, you can replace the launcher without installing a custom ROM and even without rooting, but there’s no erasing all the questionable customizations the manufacturer has made to the operating system. To get the stock Android look and replace all the manufacturer’s customizations with the clean Android system, you’ll need to install a custom ROM.
If you don’t mind your device’s skin or you’re using a Nexus device that already comes with a stock Android system, there’s no reason to do this.
Eliminate Bloatware RELATED ARTICLE How Carriers and Manufacturers Make Your Android Phone’s Software Worse Android’s openness is a big reason for its success, but cellular carriers and phone manufacturers often use this openness to... [Read Article]
When you purchase a phone from a carrier, it often comes packed with bloatware. NASCAR apps, TV apps, a Contacts app that stores your contacts on your carrier’s servers instead of on your phone — these apps can clutter your system and waste disk space. Manufacturers even add their own software before the carrier gets to it, so you have two companies each adding their own bloatware to your phone before it gets to you.
If you want to actually erase these apps from your disk, the best way to do so is to install a custom ROM. You can disable the apps without rooting, but this won’t free up the disk space they consume.
disable-built-in-app Add Additional Features and System Tweaks
Custom ROMs offer features not found in stock Android and many tweaking options you can’t get elsewhere. For example, a custom ROM may allow you to:
Install skins to customize how your entire Android operating system looks. Customize the quick settings menu Android includes to add your own most-used settings shortcuts. Run apps in tablet mode on a phone, using a more full-featured tablet interface for certain apps. Easily overclock your device to make it run faster or underclock it to make it run slower while squeezing out more battery life. Disable the volume warning that Android constantly shows when you increase the system volume while headphones are plugged in. Hide the bottom navigation bar (on-screen buttons) to get more screen real estate. Easily enable root access by toggling a system setting.
Custom ROMs offer many other features — this is only a snapshot of what you can do with such low-level access.
Some of these tweaks may be possible on a typical Android device with a solution like the Xposed Framework, which allows custom ROM-like tweaks with only root access. However, custom ROMs are further along in development and include these features in a single package.
Configure App Permissions
Custom ROMs often include a way to manage Android app permissions, so you can prevent Facebook from tracking your GPS location and play Android games without giving them your phone number and other identity information. This feature showed up in Android 4.3 as a hidden settings panel, so we can only hope that it will appear in an official version of Android soon.
Reasons Not to Install A Custom Android ROM
Custom ROMs aren’t perfect and they can have downsides — depending on the ROM, your device, and how well the ROM supports it. You may run into:
Battery Life Problems: The custom ROM may not be as optimized for your device and may drain battery faster than the device’s official ROM. Hardware Issues: Custom ROMs may not properly support every bit of hardware in your phone, so you may run into bugs, non-functioning hardware, or just other issues. For example, the device’s camera may not take pictures quite as well as it did on its official ROM. Bugs: The custom ROM hasn’t been tested by your manufacturer and carrier, so you may run into other bugs specific to your device and ROM. You could also experience system instability, with apps force-closing and the phone randomly restarting itself.
Custom ROMs are also more work than just purchasing a device and having it be officially supported and updated by the company you purchased it from. That’s why many Android geeks buy Nexus devices, which receive timely updates directly from Google. CyanogenMod is trying to change this by offering an easier installation process via a CyanogenMod app in Google Play.
If you’re looking for a custom ROM and don’t know where to start, check CyanogenMod’s website and see if it supports your device. You can also check the XDA Developers forum for your Android device and find custom ROMs developed specially for your device, which can be helpful if you have a less common device. Be sure to find a ROM that appears to be stable and well-supported if you go this route.