Hi everybody, I would like to make a list of those features that lacks on windows phone, even if we are only at very early stages, maybe with the arrive of unlocks some of them could be added, in future..If you have any suggestions I can edit the list
P.S. I consider the GDR3 improvements alredy achieved (like a decent task manager, FM radio..)
-A FILE MANAGER
(yeah, I know that on the market already exists something, but they are definetly FAR from a real file manager. Anyway nokia/microsoft said that in the next months would come out http://www.tuttowindowsphone.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/nokia-lumia-file-manager.jpg , we will see..)
-FLASH PLAYER
(on windows RT exists and works, as in future the WP8 kernel would be almost the same of WinRT, probably we will se it..or at least I hope so)
-LIVE TILE TOOGLE
(Right now we have only shortcuts to settings, would be more useful if the live tile would act directly as a toogle. Maybe someone will give it an attempt :fingers-crossed: )
-A NOTIFICATION LED
(some phones does have the windows logo acting as a led, BUT it works only to notify some battery status (a bit useless..). If it should be used as a proper notification led would be amazing..or at least the camera flashlight could be used for that (ok, this is a desperate suggestion LoL)
-COSTUMIZABLE RINGTONES AND ALERTS RELATED TO THE APP
(A different sound for whatsapp, sms and e-mail. I personally use the phone at 90% in vibration/silent mode, But I know that it could be useful)
-A CUSTOMIZABLE LOCKSCREEN
(I mean lock-patterns and some other useful features..I mean, windows phone 8 lockscreen can be used better, you know..)
-A QUICK WAY TO MANUALLY ADJUST SCREEN BRIGHTNESS
Sometimes the Authomatic sensors don't work well and is necessary to switch the brightness manually.
-A BETTER PUSH NOTIFICATIONS MANAGEMENT (thank's to @Life'sGood for reporting and to @GoodDayToDie for explainations)
Sometimes are delayed
This really belongs in General; it is neither a question (or answer) nor related to troubleshooting.
With that said...
The only thing really standing in the way of an on-device file browser is the need for somebody to write it, but that doesn't mean it'll be worth much to do so right now; until I or somebody else gets more permissions working (ideally, all of them), the amount of the file system which is readable (never mind writable) is extremely small from an app's perspective. To get an idea of what I mean, take a look at my Webserver Native Access app - the all-capabilities version, if you have a Samsung phone - and see for yourself just how little of the system is accessible.
Even completely leaving aside the permissions issue (ha!), Flash player support is somewhat unlikely. First of all, it struggles a little even on the Surface RT, which has nearly twice the CPU power of any WP8 model right now (GDR3 opens the path for quad-core WP devices, but they aren't here yet). Second, the kernel may be the same but the user-space libraries are not; a lot of system components that Flashplayer depends on are probably missing from WP8.
Believe me, such toggles have been attempted, and they will go on being attempted. It'll happen eventually...
Some phones actually have a notification LED, even. There are (unofficial) APIs that could probably be used to control it, too... I wouldn't hold your breath on this one, though. In any case, you won't get colors unless there's actual multiple color elements there to work with; the best you could di is different flash/fade patterns.
Update 3 (GDR3) brings some additional controls over notifications. However, I believe you're right that they still don't offer per-app sounds (though you can set the sound for apps, as a class, I think).
Lock patterns are pretty darn weak and easy to break, but in general I agree with the concept of having more control over the lock screen, and additional features.
Not a problem that I've had, but I can see how it could be. This probably falls under the toggle tiles request, actually; have the ability to create tiles that increase or decrese the brightness.
Sorry for the bad section, I was looking at the same moment at general section and at Q&A and I chose the wrong browser tab, my fault (don't know how to change section)
Anyway thank you for the reply I think that the main problem for indipendent developers is time, because every 18 months windows stops the support on the actual OS and switches to another new (WP8 support is planned to be killed in july 2014, after that it will be an update to extend "phone life" of 6 months, in total: 2 years). After that date will come out another OS but nobody knows if it will be "similar" to WP8 or something totally different (probably the latter option)..and everything probably would start from the scratch. I think that all the OSs producers are making BIG efforts to make you change phones after exately two years LoL
P.S. When I talk about brightness control, I can't figure out how a live tile could directly make it (swiping on it?), it can only turn on/off. My idea was that could be useful something like a swipe on the status bar on the top of the screen, like cyanogenmod does (I don't want to compare android to windows because they are totally a different concept, so I generally don't want to mention functions present in other OSs that could be ported, IMHO it's quite useless thinking in this way.) but I suppose that this is quite impossible on a programmative side :s
You'd have two (small) tiles for brightness control, one to increase and the other to decrease. It would be a little messy and would need to go in significant steps, but it's possible.
I think it's not a bad idea I've just found out that on offical WP8 site exists a section dedicated at suggestions about features to add to windows phone, and many pepole voted on that site..but Microsoft NEVER listened to them LoL probably the task manager improvement in GDR3 will be the first feature accepted by Microsoft from that lists. Anyway the requests on the officiale site are quite the same on my post (file manager is STRONGLY requested)..nobody is asking for flash player or for led notification (quite strange IMHO but that's it).
P.s. any idea about how to reach bootloader (I'm talking about ativ s)? I suppose that with a simple boot is impossible, even pressing a combination of buttons will not work..
There have been multiple items implemented from uservoice, although the custom SMS tones and application closing are certainly notable for having been long-requested and taking until now to be provided.
No idea on the bootloader. I haven't been looking for it in particular, though; not my area of interest.
Technically, you can implement a media stream source to support flash (i believe there is one already on the interwebz).
However, flash is really not meant for mobile devices (which is why very few mobile OSes support flash out of the box), because it wasn't intended to be used on devices with such low computing power. So even if you were to have a flash player, you wouldn't be able to do much with it until your battery drops dead or your phone starts turning into plastic(or aluminum in some cases) soup.
There is also an increasing abuse of flash advertisement all over the internet (which is bad from many points of view), which hurt mobile internet browsing quite a lot on devices with flash support. I just wish google & adobe would stop supporting this dark ages format and move on to HTML 5
Yeah but..just to make a famous example, look at youtube. Many videos are locked down for mobile devices. Combining a flash player and a browser that supports desktop as user agent, you can go beyond this limit. Ok, the result is that it works quite bad, but at least it works..
gigsaw said:
Yeah but..just to make a famous example, look at youtube. Many videos are locked down for mobile devices. Combining a flash player and a browser that supports desktop as user agent, you can go beyond this limit. Ok, the result is that it works quite bad, but at least it works..
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I don't think that the format (flash) is the problem here, you can always watch these videos with an unofficial app, like Metrotube or Tunetube. And I doubt they use some kind of flash player, it's just not allowed on mobile devices by the uploader/youtube I think.
To the OP, what do you mean with "features that lacks in Windows phone 8", something MS should fix or hackers should provide as features? Because a file manager would completely be against windows phone's locked OS, every app is sandboxed and can't access other app's storage, which has its reasons for security. A file manager will never be possible, except for th case they change the whole OS. On iOS, it's pretty much the same, and with a jailbreak you get a file manager (if you want to). And you can brick the whole system, can make apps crash or even modify them, which would cause a lot of trouble for Microsoft.
I have to try those unofficial apps, I've never considered to use them Regarding the lacking of features I mean that with a system well locked down like WP8 is, I think that microsoft should put more effort to provide some features that nowdays are considered basic (you know, a notification led is useful and doesn't require any particular effort from microsoft or manufacters. Even (real) toogglers are essential but they are not in here..don't know why ) Of course I understand that not all the features can be provided by microsoft due to security reasons, and here comes developers' work
P.S. regarding file manager I suppose that, if it will would ever come out, would have been thanks to developers, but as I said in OP, nokia probably would provide it. Don't know if it's true, but let's see what comes next! Some hours ago at Abu Dhabi, at lumia phablet presentation, came encouraging signals to encrease the number of the apps for windows phone. Ok, it doesn't mean anything and Personally I don't use instagram but more apps means more people that will adopt WP8..and more people will call more developers (hopefully) and micosoft ecosystem would finally start (even if there's to solve the "problem" of Windows RT/Windows Phone, first).
As you said even iOS is closed-source but (even if I don't like making comparisons between OSs because they aren't meant to work in the same way) I think that the interest in that platfom made possible to create the powerful mobile substrate, to make even heavy modifications to the system.
But even without moddings, I mean..iOS now has quite al the essential features that a phone requires (quick and real toogglers, a camera flash that tries to act as a notification led..ok, not a file manager but it has a download folder, a quite "useful" lockscreen, battery percentage..), so IMHO is quite usable out of the box because apple now provides many of the basic features expected to be on a phone. So I think that for apple devices jailbreaking is not as necessary as was in the past. WP8 on the contrary strongly needs a jailbreak because is not a fully mature OS..
ANOTHER FEATURE THAT LACKS (IMHO): the new versions of office are not as useful as office 2010 in windows mobile. Who remembers WM, office 2010 was so similar at the desktop version (even fonts could be changed and added!!!)..but since then, the most part of features disappeared, so office mobile stopped being as useful as it was before for business people nobody will care about that (developers can't do anything for this, and microsoft will never provide those features..but I miss it. So I didn't put this in the list because it's more a "personal" thing.
And I was thinking that even a windows phone with the stylus would be useful especially with one note, that on PCs and tablets is ready to be used with a stylus and I found this fantastic. But even this is a "personal" desire that will never come LoL
::facepalm::
snickler said:
::facepalm::
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Why? I don't think I'm that wrong, there's no real possibility to have a fully featured file manager on WP, is it?
th0mas96 said:
Why? I don't think I'm that wrong, there's no real possibility to have a fully featured file manager on WP, is it?
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In my inner eyes i see next user/professional developer asking if there was a patch to adjust screen brightness to personal needs in more than just the dictated three steps.
Answer: Buy an other phone or program your own OS.
A very simple feature is missing, App update notifications from Store.
WP8 now doesn't seems to be telling me when the apps on my phone has been updated unless I went to look for them. Its only then that the tile shows 1 update available. HELLO???!!!
So that means I have to list out the apps I've downloaded and look for each and every single one of their updates?
How can Microsoft and OP miss this one out?
And my clock isn't synced even if I set it to auto, sometimes it jumps AM/PM or even months!
Life'sGood said:
A very simple feature is missing, App update notifications from Store.
WP8 now doesn't seems to be telling me when the apps on my phone has been updated unless I went to look for them. Its only then that the tile shows 1 update available. HELLO???!!!
So that means I have to list out the apps I've downloaded and look for each and every single one of their updates?
How can Microsoft and OP miss this one out?
And my clock isn't synced even if I set it to auto, sometimes it jumps AM/PM or even months!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Added in OP
@Life'sGood and @gigsaw: That's a problem with your phone, not the OS as a whole. I guarantee you that WP8 fully supports app update notifications and clock sync. If yours doesn't, that's a problem with your phone, specifically. Blaming Microsoft for it is nonsense and won't help you fix the problem.
Now, as for fixing the problem... do you have an active SIM card in the phone? If so, does it have a data connection? That's most logical reason I can think of for the app update notifications to not appear; no connectivity when the phone tries to check. The clock can sync off the towers as well (also needs a SIM, I suspect) but it can also sync off GPS satellites (which have extraordinarily accurate clocks, and broadcast time signals that anything with a GPS receiver can pick up even if it can't get an accurate locations fix).
The most likely solution, honestly, is to hard-reset your phone. You might want to call support or take the phone in to a Microsoft store or something first, though; hard-reset will wipe the data (though that's most likely what they'll tell you to do anyhow).
GoodDayToDie said:
@Life'sGood and @gigsaw: That's a problem with your phone, not the OS as a whole. I guarantee you that WP8 fully supports app update notifications and clock sync. If yours doesn't, that's a problem with your phone, specifically. Blaming Microsoft for it is nonsense and won't help you fix the problem.
Now, as for fixing the problem... do you have an active SIM card in the phone? If so, does it have a data connection? That's most logical reason I can think of for the app update notifications to not appear; no connectivity when the phone tries to check. The clock can sync off the towers as well (also needs a SIM, I suspect) but it can also sync off GPS satellites (which have extraordinarily accurate clocks, and broadcast time signals that anything with a GPS receiver can pick up even if it can't get an accurate locations fix).
The most likely solution, honestly, is to hard-reset your phone. You might want to call support or take the phone in to a Microsoft store or something first, though; hard-reset will wipe the data (though that's most likely what they'll tell you to do anyhow).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please let me explain why I though it was microsoft's fault: I had an WP7 with a different SIM (but same phone number) and those problems were there for almost Every app I had to update and clock often changed hour. After that I had an Android, at least with date and time no problem..with store of course I can't say after a year of android I switched back to WP8 and the market/time problems happened only a couple of times..but I thought that was something wrong in my phone because here on xda nobody has never talked about it. But I notoced that even whatsapp sometimes misses or delays some notifications with wp8 (with android never happened), and, at least in my country, this is a common problem with many users that complain abouth that, so at least for whatsapp I'm sure it's not my problem. I contacted the support of whatsapp and they said to me, if I remember well, that whatsapp notifications pass trough Microsoft servers, so in their opinion the fault of this problem was microsoft's. So I was thinking that even the other problems are related with Microsoft server's sync..so when another user said to have almost same problem As mine (but As I said, with WP8 happened to me only a couple of times, I don't know if other user has those problems more often), I convinced myself about my theory LoL of course I can imagine I am totally wrong because I don't know how those syncs works and if they work alla in the same way..what do you think about it? Before re-editing the OP I wanted to explain to you the whole situaton because you have for sure better knowledge about that
Push notifications for apps are completely different from update notifications. The latter are polled for, by the OS, at pre-determined times and without the app in question being involved at all; you'll get the update notifications even if you've never run it.
That said, push notifications on WP (7 or 8) are not as quick or reliable as on Android, it's true. The battery impact of push-using apps is lower, though.
Thank's, anyway I will hard reset my device. I have just realized right now that if the glance screen could be ported in future on other devices, a led notification becomes useless (of course, I don't know what is the battery impact on an AMOLED screen..and it's VERY important)
GoodDayToDie said:
@Life'sGood and @gigsaw: That's a problem with your phone, not the OS as a whole. I guarantee you that WP8 fully supports app update notifications and clock sync. If yours doesn't, that's a problem with your phone, specifically. Blaming Microsoft for it is nonsense and won't help you fix the problem.
Now, as for fixing the problem... do you have an active SIM card in the phone? If so, does it have a data connection? That's most logical reason I can think of for the app update notifications to not appear; no connectivity when the phone tries to check. The clock can sync off the towers as well (also needs a SIM, I suspect) but it can also sync off GPS satellites (which have extraordinarily accurate clocks, and broadcast time signals that anything with a GPS receiver can pick up even if it can't get an accurate locations fix).
The most likely solution, honestly, is to hard-reset your phone. You might want to call support or take the phone in to a Microsoft store or something first, though; hard-reset will wipe the data (though that's most likely what they'll tell you to do anyhow).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
afaik i'm not seeing these features. I did a hard reset but I've yet to see the Nokia Camera, network+ (call filter) update.
I googled and found out this is a system wide issue with almost everybody having this issue. So does a half f'ed apple still counted as an apple?
App update notification this feature is simply not available.
I have a SIM and data connection for my 1020, on Wifi most of the time. Clock doesn't sync at all neither.
Hi All
I'm new to this so I thought I'd put this thread together for other noobs. It explains in basic terms which rom is which, where to get it and what you can flash with your device locked or unlocked.
If I've got anything wrong, please let me know.
Unlocking Your Mi9
Don't forget to backup first!
There are plenty of threads on this, but I found a couple of gotchas. I went to the unlocking site https://en.miui.com/unlock/ and clicked the button, it took me to the Chinese language site. There was an option to choose US English, but that just gave an internal server error. After a day or so, this was working fine.
Secondly, once I had downloaded the PC based unlocking software and logged in I got an error message:
Can't unlock. Your account isn't associated with a phone number
After a bit of surfing I learned that I had to log into my Xiaomi account in a web browser and add my phone number as a backup number. Then it asked me to turn off wifi, enable mobile data, then it send me a code which I then entered into the site.
After all this it's now working, the countdown is going down and I hope to unlock my bootloader on Wednesday. Tick Tock...
Install ROMs before unlocking
If your device is not unlocked yet, you can only install official roms from here:
http://en.miui.com/download-361.html
There are instructions on how to do this on the web site. There is no need to backup when installing official ROMs. But you might like to anyway
There was one piece of information missing that threw me for a short while; The instructions on the web site tell you to click on the 3 dots and choose:
Choose Update Package.
This option was missing on my phone even after downloading the ROM to the phone. The fix is to go to Settings->System Update and Click the 10 logo 10 times. Fooled me lol.
Global or EEA?
If your phone is European you can't install the Global ROM. If you look at the top of the page there is a Global or EAA link. You can tell which you have by going into:
Settings->About Phone->MIUI Version.
Mine is EAA and the version is 10.2.15.0(PFAEUXM). The current Global one is V10.2.3.0.PFAMIXM. A bit of surfing shows CN=China
So EU = EAA, Global = MI and CN-China. So your box says Global but your settings say EAA? Mine too! A bit weird, but I think the EAA version supports WideVine for digital rights management for netflix etc.
Install ROMs after unlocking
You can find weekly build ROMs here:
https://xiaomi.eu/community/ and click on MIUI ROM DOWNLOADS
I am told these ROMs are based on the Chinese version, but I'm not sure of the implications there. Maybe someone could inform me?
Now that you're unlocked, you can (backup your current rom) and flash these images with TWRP. The instructions are further down the page and are quite comprehensive.
Don't relock your bootloader! I understand this will brick your phone!
That's all for now, please feel free to add or correct any info here.
Cheers
Steve
Thanks a ton for this informative post!
It's nice to know I can use official ROMs while I wait for the bootloader to unlock, especially since i bought the CN model. I'll get to that now...
Custom ROMs are based off of the Chinese version because its the most feature-full version. Thebonly reason I don't want to use the official CN rom is because you never know what deals-requirements Xiaomi has with their government on collecting and sending back your data.
Hi @Gourmandises
No probs and thanks for the extra description of China roms. Mind you, just about every stock app on my EU phone has a privacy policy as long as your arm, including video player and even calculator. If you read this, Xiaomi get access to pretty much everything.
I don't want to debloat yet, as I mentioned I'm waiting for an unlock and I worry that debloating might affect the unlocking as they need to harvest enough personal data from me!
I'll update as I go along. Can't wait to install the China rom now you've told me it has more features.
BTW as far as privacy goes, I like to install No Root Firewall here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.greyshirts.firewall
I like it because it blocks everything until you explicitly allow it. You can install apps with ads and they won't get through the firewall. The only slight issue is it doesn't seem to autostart on boot so you need to re-start it each time.
Cheers
Steve
Hi @picitup
I don't know much about the ROMs but xiaomi.eu makes it seem like there's some unique things in it where they say -Our ROMs features (Whats not in Global):-
Maybe the only reason its CN rom is for the weekly builds. Global and EU don't get features as early? I think the rest of that list is custom things they've added then...
This is your thread, and I know less than you hehe
Gourmandises said:
Hi @picitup
I don't know much about the ROMs but xiaomi.eu makes it seem like there's some unique things in it where they say -Our ROMs features (Whats not in Global):-
Maybe the only reason its CN rom is for the weekly builds. Global and EU don't get features as early? I think the rest of that list is custom things they've added then...
This is your thread, and I know less than you hehe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well no I'm getting even more excited. Probably should get out more.
It's what I had heard about the CN ROMs. Regular updates and the EEA version will update at some point in the future.
It doesn't really matter what you know or don't know - when you learn it you know it lol. I remember going on training courses and asking stupid questions. In the tea break people would tell me they didn't understand either, but were scared to ask.
I saw on someone else's thread the footer:
If you know what you're doing, you're not learning anything
Brill
Steve
This thread needs to be seriously bumped now that Mi9 sales are rocketing.
@picitup, would you be kind enough to edit the OP with a different structure? I was thinking about:
> 6-7 types of ROMs and how to find about your phone version's
- Global Stable & Global Developer
- EEA Stable
- Chinese Stable & Developer
- Xiaomi.eu fanmade custom roms based on China Developer
(& Where to download official roms)
> How to install & unlock bootloader
That would avoid a lot of frustration ("Why me wait me got phone me want unlock now"), errors ("Why me not Netflix HD, me not WideVineL1 after flashing official xiaomi.eu rom"), etc
Thank you
RedWave31 said:
This thread needs to be seriously bumped now that Mi9 sales are rocketing.
@picitup, would you be kind enough to edit the OP with a different structure? I was thinking about:
> 6-7 types of ROMs and how to find about your phone version's
- Global Stable & Global Developer
- EEA Stable
- Chinese Stable & Developer
- Xiaomi.eu fanmade custom roms based on China Developer
(& Where to download official roms)
> How to install & unlock bootloader
That would avoid a lot of frustration ("Why me wait me got phone me want unlock now"), errors ("Why me not Netflix HD, me not WideVineL1 after flashing official xiaomi.eu rom"), etc
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, no problem. My wife has forced me to drink whiskey tonight, so I'll look a restructuring it tomorrow
Cheers
picitup said:
Yes, no problem. My wife has forced me to drink whiskey tonight, so I'll look a restructuring it tomorrow
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*Forced... How awefull ?
marcel112 said:
*Forced... How awefull
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a tough job, but someone has to do it
SirTAVARES said:
i can help you guys out
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Click to collapse
Yes please if we can expand this to help more people, all the better.
If you'd like to post up here and links to Chinese global/developer roms and anything you think should be included, I'd be very grateful
I'll then include them in the 1st post.
Cheer
Recoveries:
revolution recoveryencryption working without typing password(?), didn't test yet
twrp siankatafb (TWRP-3.3.1-1-siankatabg-MI9.img), otg, encryption, gapps ok after resize,
twrp mauronofrio (twrp-3.2.3-10-cepheus-mauronofrio.img, twrp-3.3.1-4-cepheus.img) - otg, backups added, encryption, gapps ok after resize
twrp randomblame (Twrp_3.3.0_Cepheusv11.zip) - promising twrp under frequent development, flashing has to be done via cable, no encryption
twrp (chinese) wzsx150 (recovery-mi9-3.3.0.-9.0-b10.img also distributed as twrp_cepheus.img, recovery-TWRP-3.3.0-0524-XIAOMI9-CN-wzsx150.img) - encryption, gapps ok after resize, ez rooting via button or exit dialog, most features and least bootloops..also unparalleled collection of backup or flashing partitions [Best Recovery] L.R.Team recovery list (password: itk8)
twrp translated (twrp_en.img) - chinese with switched language, not sure if they switched the device identifier too, old anyways
ROMs:
global stable - mal/spy/adware and crippled UI and app framework [Daily Hate award] for all MIUI download page
global dev/beta - mal/spy/adware and won't boot without some components (not cleanable), with newest functionality, weekly updated
xiaomi.eu - too similar to global dev but with ugly app icons and some mal/spy/adware removal (fully cleanable), creates problems switching to aosp ROMs tweaks
mi-globe - xiaomieu clone where you can cook your config, extra debloat, 99% similar to xiaomieu
RevolutionOS - xiaomieu clone with extra debloat, ppl say battery is great, 99% similar to xiaomieu
flokorom - AOSP ROM best GSI til May no longer updated, fingerprint great but not perfect, bluetooth and tap2wake works with patch, crdroid customization is strong
phh - a base for other AOSP ROMs, showed a lot of love for mi9 in test builds, little customization and updates as a ROM but important base for AOSP!
rr - OTA but not frequent which doesn't help at this time as they took partial phh commits only so there's no fingerprint at all, lot of customization
Los16 - Linage16 by randomblame, first effort, lot of things broken yet
PE - Pixel Experience, AOSP non-GSI, gapps not needed, OTA, AOD fp! [Best ROM]
ViperOS - AOSP
crDroid - AOSP, very customizable but unofficial yet
Kernels:
randomblame kernel - upstream kernel, works well but can't be switched back to other kernel anymore
androplus kernel - battery oriented, lot of wakelocks kicked off but not saving battery at all imo, also kicks off 'There's an internal problem with your device. Contact your manufacturer for details.' error
extremekernel - performance oriented
Modems:
Rooting and exposing:
mindthegapps, opengapps, Magisk-v19.1.zip, Magisk-uninstaller-20190501.zip, MagiskManager-v7.1.2.apk, magisk-riru-core-v19.zip, magisk-EdXposed-v0.3.1.7_beta-release.zip (not good experience with newer versions), EdXposedInstaller_v2.2.4-release.apk, EdXposedUninstaller.zip, magisk_patch_for_Mi9_v5.zip, Savitar_GCam_Patch, 84Hz mod dtbo, MIUI Anesthetist
Tools:
miflash_unlock-en-3.3.1212.33.zip, miflash_unlock-en-2.3.803.10.zip (to avoid 3 extra days of waiting), MiFlashSetup_eng.msi, adb-setup-v2.exe, MiSetup3.2.1.3111_2717.zip ...
doggydog2 said:
Recoveries:
twrp xda (twrp-3.2.3-10-cepheus-mauronofrio.img) - no otg, backups and encryption; flashing has to be done via cable and cannot write to data, so it's one round flashing only! also can't install gapps (error 64, error 1)
twrp chinese (recovery-mi9-3.2.3.img also distributed as twrp_cepheus.img) - no data backups and encryption, incompatible with 'cepheus' flashing, it's powerful but might create 'cannot connect to camera' (or kernel?) and 'There's an internal problem with your device. Contact your manufacturer for details.' (or ROM?) errors
twrp translated (twrp_en.img) - chinese with switched language, not sure if they switched the device identifier too
ROMs:
global stable - mal/spy/adware
global dev/beta - mal/spy/adware and won't boot without some components (not cleanable), with newest functionality, weekly updated
xiaomi.eu - too similar to global dev but with ugly app icons and some mal/spy/adware removal (fully cleanable), creates problems switching to aosp ROMs
flokorom - most up to date and frequent mi9 related ROM, with limitations: glitchy AOD, problematic fingerprint, bluetooth (fixable), no tap2wake or raise2wake, some crdroid customization
phh - a base for other ROMs, showed a lot of love for mi9 in test builds, but can't even login as fingerprint circles overrides keyboard, little customization
rr - OTA but not frequent which doesn't help at this time as they took partial phh commits only so there's no fingerprint at all, lot of customization; i'd like to use this in future because of OTA
Kernels:
extremekernel - performance oriented
androplus kernel - battery oriented, lot of wakelocks kicked off
Modems:
Rooting and exposing:
Magisk-v19.0.zip, Magisk-uninstaller-20190328.zip, MagiskManager-v7.1.1.apk, magisk-riru-core-v18.zip, magisk-EdXposed-v0.3.1.7_beta-release.zip, EdXposedInstaller_v2.2.4-release.apk, EdXposedManager-org.meowcat.edxposed.manager-4.3.1-431-release.apk, EdXposedUninstaller.zip
Tools:
miflash_unlock-en-3.3.1212.33.zip, miflash_unlock-en-2.3.803.10.zip (to avoid 3 extra days of waiting), MiFlashSetup_eng.msi, adb-setup-v2.exe, MiSetup3.2.1.3111_2717.zip ...
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Thanks for this, a really useful summary.
I am curious of these gsi builds, especially RR, though gonna wait a bit longer as I'm happy with MIUI being stable etc
I'm a bit worried by what you say with TWRP being a one time flash only as it can't write to data.
Does this mean that if I install the xiaomi.eu ROM today, that's it no further flashes in the future?!
Also there's a warning on the xiaomi.eu download page that magisk may cause lag and fingerpring issues, has anyone experienced this?
I need to make sure that google pay works
I have a global model with the EU rom, can i use the dev rom or the xiaomi.eu rom? I've read that that european models can't use global rom, will these work?
i have EEA device version, can i flash global ROM and Re-Lock Bootloader ?
oziojik said:
i have EEA device version, can i flash global ROM and Re-Lock Bootloader ?
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Yes
cd993 said:
Thanks for this, a really useful summary.
I am curious of these gsi builds, especially RR, though gonna wait a bit longer as I'm happy with MIUI being stable etc
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Click to collapse
cheers. So i reached a fantastic configuration on what i believe is the best ROM for Mi9: Foloko. Very frequent updates now as the dev, cough cough, simply owns the physical device. Software wise it is fantastic, the tweaks are great, the tap-to-wake works, the AOD screen works in a smart way (like only notifications or only music if you wish), lot of useful actions work on deep doze screen like music control with volume buttons, and legendary Xposed Edge controls the AI button in that mode. Got 9 actions defined. So this disadvantage to 6T doze gestures is gone although the gestures are cooler. Bluetooth [car] works. The mesmerizing swipe-to-apps a.k.a. QuickStep works with the included launcher or even Hyperion (which you can enable with QuickStep magisk plugin). Navigation of apps is fantastic with the Pie button (and tweakable as hell; Xiaomi: impossible). So many Quick setting icons (i counted 40? whaat). Screenshot region works (Xiaomi: disabled even via Xposed). App notifications work great with extra blinking features, vanilla style (Xiaomi suppresses them by default!). Not missing anything from Xiaomi ROM and getting much more. Lot of free memory as the bloatware is gone. Traditional stuff like DataSaver, memory and battery control (Xiaomi: disfunctional kill-all memory guard). Only stuff that you want runs in the memory and you can open running processes from the notification bar (in Xiaomi: censored). There's even some OTA. Camera works. Charging is super fast and you see the volt and ampers on the lockscreen. You can throw away google backdoor SmartLock as you have The Profiles. Nigh mode (however not readable like on all ROMs/devices).
However it comes with this disadvantage at the moment:
- installation can be insane (miflashing stock ROM tgz is required, gapps will fail most of the time, custom kernel will be a problem etc - wasted many hours on this)
- fingerprint generally works but it's hard to see it and very often i have to press it twice, no facelock..... i think not a dealbreaker, not a reason to stick to xiaomi ROMs
- battery consumption is terrible (5%/hr in deep doze(!) standby - even in full wifi standby 100%->0% test!!!), and i believe it is because of Magisk as i didn't identify anything in the 3C monitor except rather high CPU frequencies and and disabling monitoring and gms had no effect ---> i'm exhausted but i will still work on this. Only when this is solved, will give away my lovely 6T just in: setting passive governor -> frequencies much lower, battery impact none.
no doubt the most difficult flashing experience in a decade.. imagine 2 weeks waiting for unlock, learn to hack the extra 3 days waittime award, 2 weeks trying to fight xiaomi ROMs, read their childish forums to gain knowledge, analyze the flashing process, the firmware packages, the flashing issue in every step possible, learn to modify the scripts in flash packages (wtf), learn about error 1, error 7, error 64, error... failed gapps packages, then spend tons of hours trying to make AOSP run.. who wants to go through this hell if you have a high privacy standard (need Xposed XPrivacy)?:silly: while the experience with 6T was: type oem unlock, flash magisk, xposed, one config session, done. No problem since. It just works. You don't need a custom ROM at all. Zero troubleshooting. zero problems. Fantastic battery 4 passive days. Wow. QC and Qi addiction is the reason i fight with xiaomi. Will update on battery, the very last issue.
doggydog2 said:
cheers. So i reached a fantastic configuration on what i believe is the best ROM for Mi9: Foloko. Very frequent updates now as the dev, cough cough, simply owns the physical device. Software wise it is fantastic, the tweaks are great, the tap-to-wake works, the AOD screen works in a smart way (like only notifications or only music if you wish), lot of useful actions work on deep doze screen like music control with volume buttons, and legendary Xposed Edge controls the AI button in that mode. Got 9 actions defined. So this disadvantage to 6T doze gestures is gone although the gestures are cooler. Bluetooth [car] works. The mesmerizing swipe-to-apps a.k.a. QuickStep works with the included launcher or even Hyperion (which you can enable with QuickStep magisk plugin). Navigation of apps is fantastic with the Pie button (and tweakable as hell; Xiaomi: impossible). So many Quick setting icons (i counted 40? whaat). Screenshot region works (Xiaomi: disabled even via Xposed). App notifications work great with extra blinking features, vanilla style (Xiaomi suppresses them by default!). Not missing anything from Xiaomi ROM and getting much more. Lot of free memory as the bloatware is gone. Traditional stuff like DataSaver, memory and battery control (Xiaomi: disfunctional kill-all memory guard). Only stuff that you want runs in the memory and you can open running processes from the notification bar (in Xiaomi: censored). There's even some OTA. Camera works. Charging is super fast and you see the volt and ampers on the lockscreen. You can throw away google backdoor SmartLock as you have The Profiles. Nigh mode (however not readable like on all ROMs/devices).
However it comes with this disadvantage at the moment:
- installation can be insane (miflashing stock ROM tgz is required, gapps will fail most of the time, custom kernel will be a problem etc - wasted many hours on this)
- fingerprint generally works but it's hard to see it and very often i have to press it twice, no facelock..... i think not a dealbreaker, not a reason to stick to xiaomi ROMs
- battery consumption is terrible (5%/hr in deep doze(!) standby - even in full wifi standby 100%->0% test!!!), and i believe it is because of Magisk as i didn't identify anything in the 3C monitor except rather high CPU frequencies and and disabling monitoring and gms had no effect ---> i'm exhausted but i will still work on this. Only when this is solved, will give away my lovely 6T just in: setting passive governor -> frequencies much lower, battery impact none.
no doubt the most difficult flashing experience in a decade.. imagine 2 weeks waiting for unlock, learn to hack the extra 3 days waittime award, 2 weeks trying to fight xiaomi ROMs, read their childish forums to gain knowledge, analyze the flashing process, the firmware packages, the flashing issue in every step possible, learn to modify the scripts in flash packages (wtf), learn about error 1, error 7, error 64, error... failed gapps packages, then spend tons of hours trying to make AOSP run.. who wants to go through this hell if you have a high privacy standard (need Xposed XPrivacy)?:silly: while the experience with 6T was: type oem unlock, flash magisk, xposed, one config session, done. No problem since. It just works. You don't need a custom ROM at all. Zero troubleshooting. zero problems. Fantastic battery 4 passive days. Wow. QC and Qi addiction is the reason i fight with xiaomi. Will update on battery, the very last issue.
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Very interesting to read! I'm curious of gsi roms however so far I'd miss stock camera and this battery life is also making me hesitant.
I'm currently trying out RevolutionOS which is proving to be a very nice rom.
I did try Floko and experienced the same issue with gapps, took a while to work but managed it eventually. When booted I couldn't change the contrast/colours and all the whites seemed dull, presumably that isn't fixed yet (?!) and so for that and other reasons I decided to flash back to miui. I really don't mind it, after soong lots of tweaks and debloating etc.
But indeed, I must say I am almost tempted by the OnePlus 7 Pro whenever that comes out..... But we'll see!
What happened? Got 1% drop in 3hours. Did the phone "settle"? Did Xiaomi disconnect? i'm leaving it alone for 1hr blocks all day, this time i let it longer..
3C: 0.33% per hour.. is the phone dead? all seems working, network was active, data was there, google connected, VPN uninterrupted and resident programs too (no cleanup, actually tons of stuff and xposed*).
GSam: estimates 132hr (5.5days) standby per full charge, by math it is 12.6day per this sick value (lowest ever measure in non-airplane mode) funny but that's how i measured 6T,Note9,V30.. sitting at the exact spot and waiting..6T gave me 7days theoretical number and 4 real passive days afterwards* and come home with 75%, wake up next morning with 65% in active days)
Let's quickly write the conditions:
- 3g and home wifi (yes the wifi is a battery saver, and home wifi is the best... you know... proximity)
- ROM: flokoRom 21-04-2019
- kernel: stock (default)
- flashing sequence: dtbo, vendor, persist, boot, system, resize system partition, reboot to recovery, mindthegapps64, wipe caches, magisk19.0, two reboots
- governor: schedulutil (default), others (default), f-sync on (default)
- kernel wakelocks blocked: none (default), system wakelocks blocked: none (default), system alarms blocked: none (default)
- wakelocks detected: c8c000.qcom,hal_bluetooth_lock,PowerManagerService.WakeLocks,qcom_rx_wakelock (no smp2p-sleepstate there surprisingly)
- naptime: ON (=deep doze was active, however it didn't mean anything in previous tests)
- servicely: ON, force app standby: OFF (this would block notifications)
- surface settings: crDroid pocket detection and other 2 phh doze features: OFF
- Magisk 19.1 with useless GMS hack and 3C OFF, Magisk Hide OFF (as i don't want to hide my root, not using payments, and only GMS doze used this); GSI patch v3, Quickstep, edXposed, Xyoutube ON
- Exposed with Edge, XCall, XPrivacy ON; 3C OFF (only nonsys app running and monitoring only battery)
*Note: measuring Standby. More important than SOT if you want to have working phone at evening. Measuring wifi standby with no interaction is to check max potential of the phone with all background setup running (200 apps, 3 chats, 3 mails, disk encryption, network encryption, location sharing, location history, xposed - maxed out setup). Exact same process on each phone. Standby home wifi > Standby wifi > Standby 3g by huge margins. Results when moving with phone will vary drastically. My goal is humble: 1.5day of mixed use.
This type of performance continued later. Followed by permaactive browsing session 8.5%/hr (max 12hr SOT). During the active day (3g / office wifi) ended up also with ~75% (GSam: 84hr standby left). So this is great. I keep the phone and give away 6T. Finally. Achieved (consider the huge time waste however):
- no sign of Xiaomi thrashware existence
- optimal Pie experience with no feature or setting missing, QuickStep(R) and Pie navbar
- sexier lighter thinner phone with less memory but newer processors (fastest on market)
- my favorite feature Qi a QC on all charging levels existing (fastest on market), compatible with all existing standard chargers, optioanlly 3 gram magnet system to Qi-charge & hold in the car ("Floveme" on AliEx)
- great battery life
- less problems after setup than with rooted Samsung, bit more than with OnePlus (fingerprint not great, but this will improve by time i guess)
SD card sucks, but USB-C flash in the wallet works well with the chinese TWRP. OnePlus 7 is out of consideration thanks to Qc/Qi. Not sure if I want to wait for unlock next time, i'd prefer to buy 2nd hand unlocked Xiaomi phone if any ("outsource" the waiting). Let's see if OnePlus will be stubborn next year..
---------- Post added 25th April 2019 at 12:07 AM ---------- Previous post was 24th April 2019 at 11:28 PM ----------
I just noticed the AOSP Pie AOD notifications are actionable, there are normal buttons on AOD like mark as read or reply. That's best solution seen yet, you can do some little interaction with Samsung AOD but to set message read or navigate form AOD? And LED blinks on any apps you wish, in any style you set. That is cool. Hard to miss notification with vibration, sound, AOD and LED? AOSP FlokoRom, updates bi-weekly... RR is updated bi-monthly... so much for subject "ROMs - which one is which"...