Newbie to Android. Questions about the OS.

**whytefyrex** · 06-29-2012, 09:31 AM

I preordered the SIII on the 6th at 7AM, which is an upgrade of mine over my current enV3. I've researched this phone heavily but still have one question. I realize that TouchWiz is layered on top on Android but can I instead get stock ICS on it as well, without the use of a launcher similar to stock (Apex, Nova, etc.)? And how would I go about doing that?

Any help is appreciated.

**Mtn_Scott** · 06-29-2012, 09:42 AM

Not without flashing a custom ROM.

**Lolanerd** · 06-29-2012, 09:44 AM

You would have to root the phone then get a custom rom.

**johnatthebar** · 06-29-2012, 10:15 AM

Because Android is open there are many developers who make ROMs for popular phones. Because the SIII is proving to be so popular, you can bet there will be a slew of well written ROMs available. Most ROMs out there are basically vanilla android with certain, low impact enhancements by the developers. CyanogenMod is one very popular group, but for some devices, the most popular of ROMs have come from individuals.

I am confident that it won't take long at all to have many options available to SIIIs on all carriers. The process for doing this ranges by device, but is more often than not something that anyone who can follow instructions on a web page can do without much trouble. Of course there is always risk, voided warranties, etc.

All that in mind, most people here haven't yet played with TouchWiz 4. Maybe some of us won't mind it, it seems there are at least a few nice features it brings. Maybe we will like the features but hate the launcher (easy fix there, as you mentioned). Maybe we will all hate it even more than some think. Who knows.

**whytefyrex** · 06-29-2012, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by johnatthebar

Because Android is open there are many developers who make ROMs for popular phones. Because the SIII is proving to be so popular, you can bet there will be a slew of well written ROMs available. Most ROMs out there are basically vanilla android with certain, low impact enhancements by the developers. CyanogenMod is one very popular group, but for some devices, the most popular of ROMs have come from individuals.

I am confident that it won't take long at all to have many options available to SIIIs on all carriers. The process for doing this ranges by device, but is more often than not something that anyone who can follow instructions on a web page can do without much trouble. Of course there is always risk, voided warranties, etc.

All that in mind, most people here haven't yet played with TouchWiz 4. Maybe some of us won't mind it, it seems there are at least a few nice features it brings. Maybe we will like the features but hate the launcher (easy fix there, as you mentioned). Maybe we will all hate it even more than some think. Who knows.

Thank you. This helps a lot!

**joebob2000** · 06-29-2012, 12:35 PM

Considering there are already people out there moving the Jelly Bean rom onto the SGS3 (the ones released on other carriers, see XDA for info) you can be sure that there will be no shortage of roms available. The thing that has to be pointed out though, is that you want a launcher of some sort on your phone otherwise you won't really have much to do. Touchwiz might not appeal to all, but in order to get rid of it you need to find one you do like. That will be the challenge, as the choices out there are surely going to be many.

**EvilMonkey** · 06-29-2012, 01:01 PM

I'm using CM7 on an EVO right now (but getting my GSIII soon). One thing I don't quite understand about the newer custom ROMS and ICS and now Jellybean are how do they deal with the capacitive buttons now?

Like my EVO has 4 capacitive buttons, but the GSIII only has 2 (plus a physical button) and ICS and Jellybean have the onscreen ones. So do the ROMS just account for how many capacitive buttons you have? Bit confused on that.

**johnatthebar** · 06-29-2012, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by EvilMonkey

I'm using CM7 on an EVO right now (but getting my GSIII soon). One thing I don't quite understand about the newer custom ROMS and ICS and now Jellybean are how do they deal with the capacitive buttons now?

Like my EVO has 4 capacitive buttons, but the GSIII only has 2 (plus a physical button) and ICS and Jellybean have the onscreen ones. So do the ROMS just account for how many capacitive buttons you have? Bit confused on that.

I'm not an Android dev so I can't say for sure, but often there is a profile linking hardware interaction to the software. The output the capacitive task button in ICS may equal an output of 3 (to be arbitrary and simple in explanation), whereas the output from holding the SIII home button also equals 3. Make sense?