Just installed Cyanogen mod on my GS4

[paintdrinkingpete]

My statement was erroneous, what I meant and I forgot to add was the word "me"...touch wiz sucks for me. Sorry if I insulted anyone or anything?It wasn?t my intention. With that said I actually reverted back to TW for now, my email app and calendar were not working properly and I need it for work. I am hoping that when the Google GS4 comes out someone can make a ROM based on that image. Still I am very enthusiastic with Android vanilla, can?t wait what Android 5.0 brings to the table?.

I wasn't trying to suggest I was insulted, or even be that argumentative, but just point out (as you have acknowledged) that there are different strokes for different folks...and provide my own experience in dealing with it.

I think once the "Google Ed." drops, the potential for some great pure-Android ROMs will arrive, for those that want to go that route.

 

[rushmore]

I would prefer CM over stock, provided all the functions of the device work. Exception being the sensors. I do not want those since for me, just superfluous bloat. An intended double negative.

The less Samsung and Verizon bloat the better. Just need VZW to offer a 32gb and I will be in bidness'.

 

[orion575]

Camera works, it doesn't have all of the bells and whistles that touch wiz did but it works. U guys need to understand touch wiz sucks, I know it has all kind of stuff but this mod gave me the android experience I was looking for.

I read that the quality of the photos is worse on Cyanogen then it is on touchwiz camera

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[taylorz_412]

I read that the quality of the photos is worse on Cyanogen then it is on touchwiz camera

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Of course it will be, you lose All the tweaks and processing built into touch wiz so it being worse is inevitable

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2

 

[orion575]

I would like to flash CM but I'm not ready not to have a nice TW camera, it really holds me back from flashing a CM

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

 

[schmoli]

CM was nice on my S3 with RC 3,4, and 5. I'm waiting for something a little more stable, esp if there are GPS issues. Basically if I can have camera, GPS (for running), and a fast UI, i'm happy.

 

[JLeung1]

"Well, that's just like, your opinion, man"

I think a blanket statement such as "Touchwiz sucks" is erroneous. As you touched on, many of the advertised features of the phone are part of it. I realize that many folks prefer a more "vanilla" Android experience (though depending on your carrier, you could argue why you would choose a GS4 over a Nexus 4 if that is the case), but a lot folks buy the S4 because it is the flagship device with all the bells and whistles. Granted some had more unexpected issues with laggy-ness than they expected, no argument there, and depending on your comfort level with flashing ROMs and your desired experience with the phone, running CM may be a great suggestion...but it's not going to be the desired or even feasible solution for everyone.

I decided to go a different route. I actually like a lot of the Touchwiz features, but also want my phone running as optimized as possible, so what I did is installed CleanROM, which is touchwiz based but with all the Samsung (and, in my case, Verizon) bloatware removed. I then added back the "bloated" components that I personally desired to have on the phone, installed NOVA launcher, and froze/disabled anything else I don't want or need, such as various "motion" settings and so forth. What I'm left with a great device with no noticeable lag, great battery life*, yet still has all features of TW I wanted in the first place (like the camera). Now, CleanROM isn't available for all S4 models, I think it's only available for AT&T and Verizon S4(?), but my point is that there are other options out there, and Touchwiz as a whole doesn't need to be completely shunned. Perhaps Samsung didn't get it completely right out of the box, but I also don't feel like crippling my device to the point where I'm sacrificing features that attracted me to it in the first place.

FYI -- I've owned several Nexus devices in the past, and currently own a Nexus 10 tablet, so I do understand the great experience that "vanilla" Android can provide. Nothing against them, in fact I've thoroughly enjoyed most of those devices...but if that's what I wanted with my current phone, I would have bought a Nexus 4...just my opinion.

*This past weekend, came close 48 hours on single charge, with moderate use.

Do you need to unlock the bootloader before flashing CleanRom?

 

[sooner7]

The camera may be worse because it's missing the same software tweaks, and the synergy between that and the hardware. But regardless, that great camera hardware is there. The s4 on AOSP roms still takes damn good pictures, i'll throw some up if anyone wants me to.

 

[rushmore]

CM was nice on my S3 with RC 3,4, and 5. I'm waiting for something a little more stable, esp if there are GPS issues. Basically if I can have camera, GPS (for running), and a fast UI, i'm happy.

Yep. As long as the same function as the S3 works, I could care less about all the new sensors. Stable device though is key and correctly functioning GPS.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Do you need to unlock the bootloader before flashing CleanRom?

Short answer is "yes", but not exactly...As I have the Verizon version, technically the bootloader is not unlockable (at this time), but I did have to go through the entire rooting process and install Loki'd recovery. This would be similar on AT&T version.

[GUIDE] Root for Verizon Galaxy S4 ***Updated 6/5*** - xda-developers

 

[joejanisse]

do you have any issues with icons on the navigation bar getting accidently pressed cause of how close to the home button it is?

 

[snookasnoo]

I decided to go a different route. I actually like a lot of the Touchwiz features, but also want my phone running as optimized as possible, so what I did is installed CleanROM, which is touchwiz based but with all the Samsung (and, in my case, Verizon) bloatware removed. I then added back the "bloated" components that I personally desired to have on the phone, installed NOVA launcher, and froze/disabled anything else I don't want or need, such as various "motion" settings and so forth. What I'm left with a great device with no noticeable lag, great battery life*, yet still has all features of TW I wanted in the first place (like the camera). Now, CleanROM isn't available for all S4 models, I think it's only available for AT&T and Verizon S4(?), but my point is that there are other options out there, and Touchwiz as a whole doesn't need to be completely shunned. Perhaps Samsung didn't get it completely right out of the box, but I also don't feel like crippling my device to the point where I'm sacrificing features that attracted me to it in the first place.

I think Clean Rom is the best solution for most S 4 or Note users even though I also think Touchwiz sucks. Interested to try Cyanogen mod though. But I need to research it carefully to be sure it is a good idea.

- - - Updated - - -

How much space do you have on internal memory with CM installed?

So i did it...Just flashed my GS4 with latest build of cyanogen. I was worry but it went very smoothly... If you are having issues adapting to touch wiz lagging like I was coming from iPhone5, this is the solution. Lag is completely gone, even typing is heaven again. Everything runs so smooth and fast...Really changed my view on android for sure.

 

[Sharingtimeagin]

Ive been looking for just this kind of info. Knew the camera was not as good. Do you have solutions? Better camera app?

 

[Mike_Joachim]

Can anyone walk me through the process for verizon? Also, what are the pros and cons? Im new to android but love it so far!

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