I have been reading all the forums looking for the best ROM to update my Nook Color. Currently I have it rooted with 1.1 and it is working quite well. So the real reason I am looking to update is to experiment and learn the different flavors of Android. I have already prepared my Ext 4 card and have loaded on it
1. phiremod V4
2. Froyo 0.6.8
3. Honeycomb V4
4. CM7 encore V5
So I am looking for advice on the following.
What will give me the best feature set and experience. Is Froyo better than Eclair? Is Gingerbread better than Froyo?
My Findings Posted 3/10/11
I have spent several days working with the Phiremod Beta 2 which most of the folks in this forum have said they felt was the best rom. I had it working well and for the most part was happy with its performance. I felt that there was no need to overclock. The stock 800 was fine. ON the down side there were several apps that would not install (Just Pictures) and many that always came up in a small screen as if it was a phone. And to that point this ROM left all the phone software in place further degrading its appeal since what I want is a tablet.
Well today I decided to load up Froyo emmc 6.6.8. I had tried this on the sd card and liked the implementation better then Phiremod. But I was never able to get the market to work. So today I decided to figure that out. I took the plunge and installed it on emmc. Easy to do just format a sd card with froyo eemc image and let it rip. Stanbdard install stuff. Format system, data and cache. Install from clockworks and then reboot.
Well I did resolve the market issue (which required clearing caches after initial install. More if people want to know). This is a far SUPERIOR rom IMHO. It removes all the phone crap and keeps the essentials. The implementation of softkeys is unique as well (at least I could never set it up this way) Apps that loaded in small screens in Phiremod load in full screen on Froyo 668 and apps that wouldnt install on Phiremod install fine here as well. The ROM also builds in the 1.1mhz kernal so you know it is right. Just install SetCpu and you are good to go. The notification bar is cleaner as it doesnt have phone signal meter and the wifi indicator takes less space. The app comes loaded with key essentials like DropBox (nice touch) and a great implementation of LauncherPro the full version.
Right about now I couldnt be happier. I really havnt found anything that isnt working. Youtube (which you need to install seperately) worked the 1st time. No weirdness.
I would suggest those that are trying new roms do not pass on this one. It really is great.
And to save some people time here is what you need to do to get the market working after the install.
My problem was 2 fold,
1) GTalkService is failing and gTalk cannot sign in
Debug: GTalkServiceHelper in Market was complaining (I can capture trace next time it happens again)
Solution: I did a few things (resetting password on gmail, clearing all data and caches in Market, Google Framework, Google Login Service, Download Manager) and somehow magically the error message went away
2) /cache is not mounted properly
Debug:
02-21 04:09:57.231: DEBUG/DownloadManager(1111): download aborted - not enough free space in internal storage
Solution: mounted /dev/block/mmcblk0p7 as ext4 using adb (rw,nosuid,noatime,nodiratime). Probably just a minor fix in init.rc.
and then Boot into recovery and format cache using the ROM manager
My Findings 3/22/2011
I have now installed CM7 nightly and Phiremod V5.1. Installed CM7 yesterday and repaced it with Phiremod V5.1 today. First off I want everyone to know that it is no more difficult to install these ROMs than any others. I have been reading and reading on the forums and had feared using these. It is as simple as creating the properCWR sd card with the current CWR on it and coping the files to the cards and then flashing like you would any other. There are plenty of instructions on how to do this so I wont go into it now. But I wanted those who like me was somewhat fearful to know it is as easy as any other flashing you may have done.
So my findings. CM7 is very nice but bare. You have to build it up yourself by adding GAPPS and then configuring it to your taste. No biggie just more time. It has the same feel to it as I had from UD 3.2.1 which is built on this. So if you want a pure Gingerbread experience then I would so go for it. I had no issues with it other then the YouTube app. But flash works fine in the browser so you give up little.
Today I loaded up Phiremod V5.1. Same install process as CM7. In fact they sit on the same sd card. Phiremod is more complete so it feels more done then CM7. It also sets up nicely with some animations which are nice and loads with some key and useful apps. Install was the same as CM7 so no change but the set up instructions are more thorough on Phiremod so that was helpful.
Leveraging the power of Titanium Backup was/is incredibly useful. It basically backs up and saves your apps and settings. This allows you to flash a new ROM and have it completely set up with your apps in minutes. Very cool.
Both ROMs come with ADW which I hate. But I had backed up Launcher Pro with Titanium so after my restore my Launcher Pro was there are ready to go with all my apps loaded on the desktop. It does not restore widgets though.
So my experience with UD, CM7 and Phiremod 5.1 has all been very smooth and positive. I would not hesitate to suggest to folks to give them a try. The thing I need to find out was I had really high battery drain on UD (could be because I installed SetCPU which none of these ROMs like. Dont do it). So I cant comment on that yet since I only have them running for hours now days yet.
But my message is give them a try. They all work well and are in my opinion much better then that stock sw. Yes you give up the BN specific functions (but that is true with all except the AutoNootered roots) but that wasnt important to me. If you want an Android tablet this is the way to go.
On another note I did get Bluetooth working. It works as it should software wise. But the radio range is very poor. I got my headphones paired and all the functions work but the phones and the NC need to be inches apart. Really not useful. Have no idea if that will ever be better but I am impressed none the less the guys got it to work in the 1st place.
Update 3.29.2011
Have been running Phiremod 5.1 for a week now. It has been very good and stable with a few quirks. Those quirks seem to be ironed out with Phiremod 5.2 which I flashed today. This is built on the latest CM7 nightly as of March 28 I believe. In any case it is improved. Video is better, lock screen is improved and many general enhancements. Also upgrade was painless. Just flashed over the old rom. No wiping needed. Everything worked on 1st try. Highly recommended! Bob
Have fun!
Bob Silver
1. phiremod V4
2. Froyo 0.6.8
3. Honeycomb V4
4. CM7 encore V5
So I am looking for advice on the following.
What will give me the best feature set and experience. Is Froyo better than Eclair? Is Gingerbread better than Froyo?
My Findings Posted 3/10/11
I have spent several days working with the Phiremod Beta 2 which most of the folks in this forum have said they felt was the best rom. I had it working well and for the most part was happy with its performance. I felt that there was no need to overclock. The stock 800 was fine. ON the down side there were several apps that would not install (Just Pictures) and many that always came up in a small screen as if it was a phone. And to that point this ROM left all the phone software in place further degrading its appeal since what I want is a tablet.
Well today I decided to load up Froyo emmc 6.6.8. I had tried this on the sd card and liked the implementation better then Phiremod. But I was never able to get the market to work. So today I decided to figure that out. I took the plunge and installed it on emmc. Easy to do just format a sd card with froyo eemc image and let it rip. Stanbdard install stuff. Format system, data and cache. Install from clockworks and then reboot.
Well I did resolve the market issue (which required clearing caches after initial install. More if people want to know). This is a far SUPERIOR rom IMHO. It removes all the phone crap and keeps the essentials. The implementation of softkeys is unique as well (at least I could never set it up this way) Apps that loaded in small screens in Phiremod load in full screen on Froyo 668 and apps that wouldnt install on Phiremod install fine here as well. The ROM also builds in the 1.1mhz kernal so you know it is right. Just install SetCpu and you are good to go. The notification bar is cleaner as it doesnt have phone signal meter and the wifi indicator takes less space. The app comes loaded with key essentials like DropBox (nice touch) and a great implementation of LauncherPro the full version.
Right about now I couldnt be happier. I really havnt found anything that isnt working. Youtube (which you need to install seperately) worked the 1st time. No weirdness.
I would suggest those that are trying new roms do not pass on this one. It really is great.
And to save some people time here is what you need to do to get the market working after the install.
My problem was 2 fold,
1) GTalkService is failing and gTalk cannot sign in
Debug: GTalkServiceHelper in Market was complaining (I can capture trace next time it happens again)
Solution: I did a few things (resetting password on gmail, clearing all data and caches in Market, Google Framework, Google Login Service, Download Manager) and somehow magically the error message went away
2) /cache is not mounted properly
Debug:
02-21 04:09:57.231: DEBUG/DownloadManager(1111): download aborted - not enough free space in internal storage
Solution: mounted /dev/block/mmcblk0p7 as ext4 using adb (rw,nosuid,noatime,nodiratime). Probably just a minor fix in init.rc.
and then Boot into recovery and format cache using the ROM manager
My Findings 3/22/2011
I have now installed CM7 nightly and Phiremod V5.1. Installed CM7 yesterday and repaced it with Phiremod V5.1 today. First off I want everyone to know that it is no more difficult to install these ROMs than any others. I have been reading and reading on the forums and had feared using these. It is as simple as creating the properCWR sd card with the current CWR on it and coping the files to the cards and then flashing like you would any other. There are plenty of instructions on how to do this so I wont go into it now. But I wanted those who like me was somewhat fearful to know it is as easy as any other flashing you may have done.
So my findings. CM7 is very nice but bare. You have to build it up yourself by adding GAPPS and then configuring it to your taste. No biggie just more time. It has the same feel to it as I had from UD 3.2.1 which is built on this. So if you want a pure Gingerbread experience then I would so go for it. I had no issues with it other then the YouTube app. But flash works fine in the browser so you give up little.
Today I loaded up Phiremod V5.1. Same install process as CM7. In fact they sit on the same sd card. Phiremod is more complete so it feels more done then CM7. It also sets up nicely with some animations which are nice and loads with some key and useful apps. Install was the same as CM7 so no change but the set up instructions are more thorough on Phiremod so that was helpful.
Leveraging the power of Titanium Backup was/is incredibly useful. It basically backs up and saves your apps and settings. This allows you to flash a new ROM and have it completely set up with your apps in minutes. Very cool.
Both ROMs come with ADW which I hate. But I had backed up Launcher Pro with Titanium so after my restore my Launcher Pro was there are ready to go with all my apps loaded on the desktop. It does not restore widgets though.
So my experience with UD, CM7 and Phiremod 5.1 has all been very smooth and positive. I would not hesitate to suggest to folks to give them a try. The thing I need to find out was I had really high battery drain on UD (could be because I installed SetCPU which none of these ROMs like. Dont do it). So I cant comment on that yet since I only have them running for hours now days yet.
But my message is give them a try. They all work well and are in my opinion much better then that stock sw. Yes you give up the BN specific functions (but that is true with all except the AutoNootered roots) but that wasnt important to me. If you want an Android tablet this is the way to go.
On another note I did get Bluetooth working. It works as it should software wise. But the radio range is very poor. I got my headphones paired and all the functions work but the phones and the NC need to be inches apart. Really not useful. Have no idea if that will ever be better but I am impressed none the less the guys got it to work in the 1st place.
Update 3.29.2011
Have been running Phiremod 5.1 for a week now. It has been very good and stable with a few quirks. Those quirks seem to be ironed out with Phiremod 5.2 which I flashed today. This is built on the latest CM7 nightly as of March 28 I believe. In any case it is improved. Video is better, lock screen is improved and many general enhancements. Also upgrade was painless. Just flashed over the old rom. No wiping needed. Everything worked on 1st try. Highly recommended! Bob
Have fun!
Bob Silver
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