Verizon Samsung Fascinate Newbee; Wasting time rooting w/ Mac?

[B-grace]

Hello all!

I am introducing myself here as a new member, AND also trying to find answers... I'm not trying to duplicate post here... it seems posts related to my particular need are old/outdated... so I'm hoping for more "up-to-date" input. Can anyone help with this?! I've spent over 15 hours going through the forums and am still stuck because I don't have access to a windows computer. I'm a total Newbee, so, please don't hate me here, but I use a Mac laptop. Is there a terminal work-around for rooting via a Mac?

I was given a Verizon Samsung Fascinate by a friend who now has an (eye)phone and doesn't need the SCH-i500 Galaxy S phone. It's totally clean, running the standard OS from Verizon with what I assume is Gingerbread 2.6.35.7. No updates are available when I check. She gave it to me because I'm totally OVER my (crack)berry storm, but I'm not in the financial position to buy a new phone right now...

I've experienced the huge issues trying to sync my Address Book and iCal data accurately with my BB phone... have duplicate entries I'm still trying to remove.

Being a TOTAL Newbee and unskilled at programming, my questions are:

-Is it even worth it to try and learn how to root this old Samsung Fascinate (details below) on my Mac?

-OR am I simply making more future work for myself, and wasting a lot of my time?

-Should I instead just keep the Verizon Samsung operating system standard/stock, loaded with all the Verizon bloat-ware, and try to sync my calendar and contacts using Google?

Last time I tried, it seemed that the Google Calendar and the Apple iCal don't fully sync correctly... leaving off alarms, reminders, birthdays etc... It's important that I be able to quickly update my calendar fully for business appointment alarms and daily scheduling.
Of course it would also be really cool to be able to use different Apps, and to tether my laptop through my phone wirelessly when needed...

If you have any work-arounds or tips about all of this, kind suggestions from the pro's here would be much appreciated.

Again, please don't slam me for using Apple... I'm doing the best I can with the resources that I currently have. (and honestly, I have enjoyed NOT being hacked and virused, nor experiencing repeat system crashes, since moving to native Mac a few years ago!)

Thanks for your help,
Hopeful,

Tresa

Samsung Fascinate SCH-i500 user
Firmware: 2.3.5
Baseband Ver: S:i500.04 v.EHO3
Kernal Version: 2.6.35.7

Laptop: intel core MacBook Pro running OSX 10.6.8

 

[sooner7]

Re: Verizon Samsung Fascinate Newbee; Wasting time rooting w/ Mac

This is in the wrong section, BUT...

I too have a SCH-i500 called the mesmerize through US Cellular.
I rooted my phone and flashed a custom rom. I am now running android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwhich) and this old phone is now a BEAST. I recommend you go to rootzwiki and do some reading. Look for Fascinate/Mesmerize/Showcase section. All you need to know is found in there.

There are guides to root and flash custom roms, all with custom roms listed with downloads and instructions. Make sure you read alot and don't ask questions that generally are already answered.

Now to the meat of your question, I don't think it would be any different on a Mac but I am not sure. All you need is a program called Odin, factory USB cord, and the right files (found on rootzwiki). You will be set.

Any other questions, PM me.

P.S.

Rooting the i500 is STUPID easy, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don't. it will overwhelm you at first but follow directions and you will be fine. It is also almost impossible to truly brick this phone too. I recommend reading up on Odin, clockworkmod (custom recovery used to flash roms, make backups, etc.).

 

[B-grace]

Re: Verizon Samsung Fascinate Newbee; Wasting time rooting w/ Mac

Thank you SOOO much Sooner7! I will PM you if needed (and... sorry about being in the wrong section... again, admittedly I'm a COMPLETE newbee... totally new to it ALL including forums...) Thanks again so much! I'll head over to "Rootzwiki" now! You rock!
:-*

 

[B-grace]

Re: Verizon Samsung Fascinate Newbee; Wasting time rooting w/ Mac

Oops! (I can't PM you back Sooner7, because I'm too new here to send direct messages yet)

So far it seems that there's no way to use Odin on a Mac... and it's needed to push the former CWM... Which, (per Braydon's Update post) is:

UPDATED 04/07: huge overhaul to clockworkmod (CWM):
Now called redrecovery
Now contains both 2.1 and 2.2 versions in one package
Has device detection
Integerated permission fix to (hopefully) eliminate file copy failure​

I'm burnt after sitting here on the computer for 15 hrs + searching the forums, Rootzwiki and the web.... uggh!

Any further help and input would be most appreciated... I'd like to root if it's as great as it sounds!

Still hopeful,
Tresa

Samsung Fascinate SCH-i500 user
Firmware: 2.3.5
Baseband Ver: S:i500.04 v.EHO3
Kernal Version: 2.6.35.7

Laptop: intel core MacBook Pro running OSX 10.6.8

 

[B-grace]

Re: Verizon Samsung Fascinate Newbee; Wasting time rooting w/ Mac

Any other advice here??

(BTW: I'm not sure how to move my question/post, rather than repost it, to the correct forum (Verizon Fascinate Rooting ROMS & Hacks), or I would!

Tips on Rooting the Fascinate Anyone?? I'm stuck with no contacts nor info on the phone yet, because I wanted to do this first, to see how things work, before going to all the trouble of CalDAVing all of my calendar and contacts etc... between Google / my Mac / my droid...

I found a few more recent File downloads (pit and tar)... but really feel hesitant & uncertain about how to move forward (since i've not done this before, and) all the links to the file downloads for the "How To" posts are now unavailable/seized.

I really don't need things to be drastically changed on this phone... But I'd just rather NOT be constantly pushed to use Bing... and o'course would like to lessen the Bloat.

Still hoping for assistance. :'( And SO impressed and thankful for all of the hard work that so many Posters & Forum Admins have done here to try and help us out! Great Forums!

Tresa

Samsung Fascinate SCH-i500 user
Firmware: 2.3.5
Baseband Ver: S:i500.04 v.EHO3
Kernal Version: 2.6.35.7

Laptop: intel core MacBook Pro running OSX 10.6.8