Customizations
After getting superuser privileges and the ability to flash custom ROMs, we can now look at modifications common to all Android devices. These guides will be divided into three sections:
- Usability Mods - Recommended apps and tweaks that make your life easier.
- Performance Mods - Mods that give some energy to a tired old Android.
- Deep System Tweaks - (Usually included by modders inside Custom ROMs) Crazy stuff that happens under the system to give Android cool new features. Knowing some of these makes it easier to find out which custom ROM is right for you.
- Mod Installers - Botbrew, the Auto-Patcher, all things that can create custom zips for every ROM.
- Trust no app: Using PDroid, Adfree, and DroidWall - Many apps have crazy unneeded permissions, ad tracking, and general nastiness. But sometimes these apps are a necessary evil. By putting up defenses, you can hedge against the invasiveness of a mobile device.
- Android 1.5 (Cupcake)
- Android 1.6 (Donut)
- Android 2.0/2.1 (Eclair)
- Android 2.2.x (Froyo)
- Android 3.0.x (Honeycomb)
Gingerbread is the dominant Android version, even though it is nearly 2 years old and two new Android versions have come and gone.
Before the release of ICS, the Android world was rocked by the introduction of Honeycomb and it's brand new "Holo" styling; unfortunately, it was made for tablets only. Ice Cream Sandwich merged both the phone and tablet systems with a modern, futuristic look and advanced new features.
Unfortunately, the complete redesign was too intensive for some old phones to swallow, and the high difficulty of porting ICS to Gingerbread phones made carriers and manufacturers loath to bring in updates.
Jelly Bean was released with less than 1% of Android users using ICS, and was
On Windows Phone, you are much more indebted to the custom ROM developer for implementing features and additions. Therefore, this guide is more tailored toward ROM builders, though any layman can learn how to build with ROM kitchens quite easily.
Note: All non-Android projects have moved to the BASLQC Wiki.
- Introduction - A quick intro to the rationale and ideals of this guide, and smartphone modding in general.
- General Setup - Learn how to install and run the tools you need to succeed.
- Device Guides - Customized, fully decked out guides for rooting each and every device we could find.
- General OS Customizations - General customizations that work on all devices of a specific OS.
- General Guidelines - The ideals that you should uphold while working with and editing this guide.
- Device Guide Templates - Templates and general guidelines for creating customized guides for a device.
- Linux - Run a full desktop OS on your little mobile device; research is being made to make it comfortable to use in the mobile space.
- Glossary - Contains all the crazy acronyms and word soup that you'll need to wade through when using this guide.
- Android Buying Guide for Modders - While modding can fix up an outdated device, it will make your life easier to buy the right device from the start.