Stock ROM & Custom ROM

Stock ROM

Stock ROM (firmware) is an operating system (OS) or software that already been installed by the manufacturer. It also can be also called as official Android version that was developed by GOOGLE Inc. The Stock ROM will occur automatically when you buy or update the smartphone.

What is firmware?

•  Read-only operating systems that stay firmly in place without been modified.

What is kernel?

• Is a computer program that manages input and output request from  software.

What is the use of Stock ROMs?

•  Flashing the Stock ROMs can be the solution to repair your phone when the phone is corrupted, soft brick or been harmed by viruses. 

To flash the Stock ROMs you need

1. Flash tools like Odin

2. Stock ROM (usually the file extension will be (.md5)/(.tar)  which means message-digest algorithm )

3. Phone USB Cable

4. And of course a computer.

Custom ROM

Custom ROMs are slightly different from Stock ROMs. Custom ROMs are altered or modified versions of Stock ROMs. Android is an open source project and it is available for everyone to download, tweak (adjust or tune), or reproduce (GOOGLE indirectly encourage). Usually developer(s) will change the Stock ROMs to Custom ROMs.

There are several Custom ROMs and the developers that are really famous and praised by development teams, such as:

• CyanogenMod ( Steve Kondik and Team, Cyanogen Team)

• MIUI (Xiaomi Tech)

• Paranoid Android (Paranoid Android Team)

• Android Open Kang Project (AOPK Team)

• PAC ROM (Pac Man Android Team)

Why the developers try to change the Stock ROMs to Custom ROMs?

• There are some phone models that cannot use or enjoy android version more than 2.0; so the developers will help to modify the OS for an advance version which will be usually more than 2.0 version.
• One of the Smartphone is Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus GT-S7500.
• Allows the user to enjoy the interface or programs that have been changed.

Advantages of Custom ROMs
1. The Graphical User Interface (GUI) will be better and also can be changed by the user.
2. Has the better performance and efficiency (use less memory)
3. Upgrading to a better or later version of Android
4. Ability to Install Apps to the SD card
5. User-friendly
6. Allows user to use application that cannot be used in Official Android versions

Disadvantages of Custom ROMs

1. The warranty of the phone will be void.

2. There will be a lot of bugs.

3. The battery will drain faster.

4. Sometimes the application will be not working and close by itself.

5. When flashing the Custom ROMs, you might brick or damage your phone.

How to flash/install the Custom ROMs?

Before you want to flash/install the Custom ROMs, 

you must have rooted the phone.

Rooting:

Is a process that allows users of smartphone, tablets that runs the Android operating system to attain privileged control (root access). It gives the ability or permission to replace system application, settings, run specialized apps that require administrator-level permissions. User can be in full control of the CPU and kernel (only knowledgeable users). After rooting the phone, you must install custom recovery like ClockWorkMod (CMW). It will help to create and restore images backups of your phone, install/flash the Custom ROMs using (zip) or (rar.) file, and to use other developer tools or application, partition your SD card, wipe Dalvik cache and battery stats and many more.

How to root a phone:

For rooting your phone you need:

1. Odin (flashing tool)

2. CMW package

3. SuperSU Package

4. BusyBox.zip

5. And your phone (make sure the packages is compatible for your phone)

ClockWorkMod

  Then, you must be in recovery mode in your phone or 

devices in order to install the Custom ROMs. 

( Follow the Instructions).

SuperSU

  Is the access to advanced management tool and requires rooted device. Some of the application need root device, so the SuperSU will access it.

Busybox

  After rooting the device we need to install busybox. Busy box is a collection of powerful command-line tools which require root privileges. Usually will be in (.zip) format.

And that’s it the flashing of Custom ROM is done.

How to choose the right Custom ROMs:

1. Check whether how many bugs are there.

2. Check whether the Custom ROMs is compatible with your phone.

3. Read a lot about the Custom ROMs and the specifications and:-

4. Check whether the information you need is given by the developers.

You can learn how to do these by watching the videos that we have provided below. Enjoy ;)

Rooting a phone (Example using Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus)

installing custom rom (example: CyanogenMod)

Custom ROMs CyanogenMod (the popular Custom ROMs)

Re-installing Stock ROM (OFFICIAL ANDROID example)

  You can find more informations about Custom ROMs and about your phones here!

Android

The history of versions of Android began with the launch of version 1.0 in September 2008. Android is developed by Google and the Open Handset Alliance's mobile operating system. Android is a software layer that includes an operating system, middleware and applications. Android has undergone several updates since its first release. These updates are generally used to fix bugs and add new features. In general, each version developed under a name code based on desserts. These code names follow an alphabetical logic.

Alpha

Android 1.0 is the first commercial version released in September 2008 on the HTC Dream with the following characteristics:

Download and updates applications through Android Market 

Browser that supports web sites using HTML and XHTML 

Support Camera 

Support for application folders 

Access to e-mail POP3, IMAP4 etSMTP 

Synchronization of Gmail, Google Calendar and Contacts with their dedicated Google Maps with Latitude and Street View to use the mapping service of Google, addresses research and applications to use the phone as a GPS 

Synchronization of contacts, calendar and mail 

Internet search with the search engine 

Instant Messaging with Google Talk 

Sending SMS and MMS 

Media player to play audio and video files 

Notifications in the status bar, the ability to customize ringtones, vibrate and LED Speech to search for a number 

Ability to customize the wallpaper 

YouTube app 

Other applications included: alarm, calculator, call menu, home screen, gallery and menu settings Support Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Banana split

Launched in February 2009 for the HTC Dream, fixes some bugs and adds minor changes such as:

API Changes

Reviews and details added to Maps

Stop the screen longer period when using the loudspeaker

"Show" and "Hide" the keypad included in the call menu

Support to save MMS attachments

Cupcake 

April 30, 2009, the update to Android 1.5 (Cupcake), based on the Linux 2.6.27 kernel is published. There have been several new features and updates to the GUI in 1.5. 

Video recording in MPEG-4 and 3GP 

Support Bluetooth A2DP and AVRCP 

Adding copy / paste in browser 

Adding pictures to contacts saved as favorites 

Add the date and time in the call menu, and adding quick access to contacts from the same menu 

 Animations during a screen change 

Adding an auto-rotation 

Adding the current boot animation 

Uploading videos to YouTube and Picasa

Donut 

On 15 September 2009, the SDK for Android 1.6 (Donut), based on the Linux 2.6.29 kernel is published. The update includes: 

Updated research, allowing research to favorites, history, contacts, and Internet from the home screen 

Updated Voice Search, faster and better integration with native applications, including the ability to call contacts and support additional languages 

Native interface for the camera, camera and gallery 

Gallery: allows users to select multiple photos for deletion 

Google Navigation (GPS Free)

Eclair

On 26 October 2009, the SDK for Android 2.0 (Eclair), based on the same core that Donut is published. The update includes: 

Optimized hardware speed 

Support for more screen sizes and resolutions 

New browser interface and support for HTML5 

Improved Google Maps 3.1.2 

Support new features to the camera: flash, digital zoom, white balance, color effects and macro focus 

Bluetooth 2.1

FroYo

May 20, 2010, the SDK for Android 2.2 (Froyo), based on the 2.6.32 kernel is published. The update includes: 

General speed optimizations, memory and performance of Android OS 

Additional improvement in the speed of applications by implementing JIT31 

Integration of Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine in the browser 

Wi-Fi Hotspot and USB Tethering 

Ability to disable data access on mobile network 

Bug fixes, security updates and performance improvements

Gingerbread 

On 6 December 2010, the SDK for Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), based on the 2.6.35 kernel is published. The update includes: 

Support large screens to extra-large resolutions (WXGA and higher) 

Support for VoIP and SIP 

Support video format WebM / VP8, and AAC audio encoding 

NFC support 

Improved copy / paste function 

Support for new sensors (gyroscope and as the barometer) 

Adding a download manager 

Native support for multiple cameras (including frontal)

Honeycomb

February 22, 2011, the SDK for Android 3.0 (Honeycomb), based on the 2.6.36 kernel is published. Reserved for touch pads, this update includes numerous changes in the interface: 

Completely redesigned interface, optimized for touch pads 

Adding the system tray at the bottom of the screen that includes the time, notifications and navigation buttons 

Adding the action bar at the top of the screen that includes the search bar, access to the parameter menu and the application menu 

Hardware Acceleration Support for multi-processor heart 

Improved camera 

Improving the ability to view gallery with an album in full screen 

Ability to encrypt user data

Ice Cream Sandwich

On 19 October 2011, the SDK for Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), based on the 3.0.1 kernel is published. This new unified version for smartphones and tablets brings many changes:

Native screen capture

Adding Android Beam, an application that allows the exchange of information (favorites contacts, YouTube, videos ...) NFC (if device equipped with NFC chip)

WiFi Direct

Video recording in 1080p

Improving the fluidity of the system

Fixed a bug in the battery statistics

New Power menu

Optimizing the start time

Improving the Automatic brightness, with a smoother transition

Jelly Bean

More fluid user interface

Search by voice offline

Bluetooth data transfer to Android Beam

Google Search app replaced by Google Now, an intelligent personal assistant Siri comparable to

The basic browser is replaced by Google Chrome on devices that Jelly Bean is the original pre-installed.

KitKat

September 3, 2013, Google announced that version 4.4 will be named KitKat, while many rumors announced the name of Key Lime Pie. This version was released November 4, 2013, at the same time as the Nexus 5. The 4.4.2 version was released December 9, 2013, version 4.4.3 June 2, 2014, and version 4.4.4 June 20, 2014.

Here are the new features:

Appearance of an immersive mode, which hides the notification bar during games or watching a movie, and which, unlike the other versions of them reappear by swiping from the edge of the screen.

Updating the phone application, that sets up a new design, and seeks the person calling on Google+ if it is not in contact.

Hangouts replaces the Messages app and centralizes SMS, MMS and video calls.

Appearance of Google Cloud Print, which allows you to print photos, documents or web pages remotely from a smartphone or tablet via a connected printer.

Update the E-mail application with nested folders, photos, contacts and improved navigation.

And the latest version............

Lollipop

Presented June 25, 2014 at the Google I / O 2014, there is a "preview" version of Android 5.0 intended primarily for developers.The SDK f this preview was posted by Google on the day following the announcement in order to allow developers to explore the graphical overhaul and adapt their applications to the new design and the new runtime ART (Android Runtime). The Developer Preview is available for Nexus Nexus 5 and 7 (2013), although many members of the XDA-Developers forum have managed to bring this same version to the Nexus 4, Nexus 7 (2012) and the HTC One M8 using frameworks KitKat or the generic version of the SDK emulator (build LPV81B) in their portage. They noted that the original preview of Nexus devices (build LPV78) uses the Linux 3.4 and Android API 20 cores, just like KitKat, although it is possible to use older kernels (2.6.x).

The final version should be offered to the general public in autumn 2014 the Nexus devices and those certified Google Experience Edition initially.

Here are the new features:Complete overhaul of the user interface with a new design named Design Material

New runtime that compiles applications upon installation rather than Dalvik JIT compilation

Volta project which would reach 90 minutes of extra runtime on the Nexus 5 by reducing the refresh rate of the screen and the processor frequency when needed.

Preface

Android according to Oxford Dictionary refers to open-source operating system used for smartphones and tablet computers. In this blog we will be sharing information and knowledge about the Android development.