Thursday, February 2, 2017
Android Custom ROMs A Beginners guide
Android Custom ROMs A Beginners guide
Firstly, let me wish you all a Happy New Year!. Your best of 2014 shall be your worst in 2015. Its my first post this year and today i will be telling you all you need to know about Android Custom ROMs and why you may need one. So, What is a custom ROM?
WHAT IS A CUSTOM ROM?
ROM is an abbreviation for Read Only Memory but in this context it has been modded to mean an actual custom OS image that you install into the ROM area of your phone. 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 its customized by someone in some way. Kernel can be called the heart of the OS.
A Stock ROM is the version of the OS that comes with your phone when you buy it. Since Android is Open Source developers are free to modify the OS in any manner possible. These Modified OS is called a Custom ROM since it has been customised.
NB: Installing a Custom ROM voids the warranty of your device but is reversible by installing the Stock ROM to the device. Installing the wrong Custom ROM on your device may cause a soft/hard brick rendering your device temporary unusable.
WHY SHOULD I INSTALL A CUSTOM ROM?
There are several reasons why you may want to install a Custom ROM. Here are 5 reasons why you should:
=> UPGRADE: Your device may not be a flagship like the Galaxy S5 or Xperia Z which means the update frequency may be minimal or even non existent. Your device may be stuck on version 2.3 (Gingerbread) now that 5.0 (lollipop) is even out. Custom ROMs give you the ability to upgrade your phone to the latest OS free.
=> PERFORMANCE: Stock ROMs come with a bunch of pre-installed apps and processes which may slow down the performance of your device. Custom ROMs come ridded of all those processes and apps to make it faster, more efficient and use less memory because the developer has optimized the kernel for better performance.
=> ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Custom ROMs come installed with additional features like run apps in tablet mode on a phone, disable the volume warning that Android constantly shows when you increase the system volume while headphones are plugged in, easily enable root access by toggling a system setting or hide the bottom navigation bar (on-screen buttons) to get more screen real estate.
=. CUSTOMIZATION: Custom ROMs enables you to fully customize your device. You can install skins to customize how your entire Android operating system looks or customize the quick settings menu Android includes to add your own most-used settings shortcuts.
=.APP PERMISSIONS: Most Custom ROMs come with the ability to help you set app permissions. So you can prevent apps from getting your personal details or knowing your location via GPS.
DANGERS OF INSTALLING CUSTOM ROMs
Installing Custom ROMs come with their own problems (most of which are easily fixable). Some of these problems include:
=> BRICKING: There is a chance you may brick your device making it temporarily useless and unusable while installing a Custom ROM. Therefore always have a backup of your device.
=> BATTERY: If a ROM has not been optimized properly it may cause a battery drain issue with your device.
=> BUGS: Most Custom ROMs have initial bugs in them which are fixed with updates which may be take time before they are released. But these bugs can easily be reported and fixed unlike those found in Stock ROMs.
=> WARRANTY: Installing a Custom ROM in most cases voids the warranty of your device. Note that the benefits of Custom ROMs outweigh the loss of warranty which only comes in place due to physical damage.
=> CORRECT CUSTOM ROM: Getting the right custom ROM for your device can be a huge headache. Also there are multitude of Custom ROMs avalable for a single device. An easy way to find a Custom ROM for your device is by searching on Google "YOUR_PHONE_MODEL ROM" or something similar.
WHICH CUSTOM ROM SHOULD I INSTALL?
There are several custom ROMs available for every range of devices. The most popular Custom ROM maker is Cyanogen Mod who partnered with One Plus to create the first ever Android phone running on a fully customized version. The phone is the One Plus One (Yeah.. Google it!). Another popular Android Custom ROM is the Remix OS.
When selecting a Custom ROM to install, make sure it has a good support team, minimum bugs, easy to use interface and good reviews. Just always have a backup of your device soyou can easily reverse the procedure in case of any problems.
What next? How to install Custom ROMs. Subscribe for our newsletter below to be the first to know when i post it.
Thanks to androidpolice.com for some of the details.
Do you have any questions? Drop a comment below.
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