It’s safe to say that for the advanced user the possibility of firmware is one of the important factors when choosing a smartphone. Under the cut we will select smartphones for which it was issued the highest number of alternative firmware.

In order to vary the material from each producer was chosen for the same device, or half the rated bold line would occupy smartphones Nexus, which would be obvious and too boring. This post is intended to show that the creators of alternative firmware are interested not only smartphones, out-of-wing Google, but devices designed other brands.

The key in the rating is the number of alternative (custom) firmware released for one or another smartphone. I think you will agree with me when I say that the most accurate information of this kind has a forum XDA-Developers – from there were taken figures that have become crucial for our members. Also consider their support for developers of such popular firmware as CyanogenMod, Paranoid Android, LiquidSmooth, SlimROM, BlissPop and others.

Oppo Find 5

Proprietary firmware Chinese smartphone now on everyone’s lips. ColorOS from Oppo, FlymeOS from MEIZU and from Xiaomi MIUI on their devices installed even owners of Nexus. But to install CyanogenMod on Chinese smartphone or the same Paranoid Android (we are talking about the official builds) were obtained in very rare cases. Of all the different phones Xiaomi team CyanogenMod officially supports only Mi2 (S), of MEIZU they do not want to hear. The only exceptions are smartphones and Oppo OnePlus, which here and there slip in the list of supported devices, alternative firmware.

The most popular smartphone Oppo be called Find 5. The forum XDA-Developers for the Find 5 is available only 12 alternative firmware. However, having dug deeper to Find 5 can be found MIUI, and Smartisan OS, and OmniROM, and as many as six Lollipop-assemblies (among which is CyanogenMod, MoKee OpenSource Project and LiquidSmooth).

OnePlus One

Interestingly, only one smartphone from our list was released in the past, in 2014, the rest – in 2013 and even earlier. Of course, waiting for alternative firmware in the flagships of 2014 was relatively less time, but the trend is that the model 2013 issue like romodelam more noticeable. Exceptions can only be HTC One (M8), which still lags behind the M7, and Nexus 6, which this year is likely to catch up.

OnePlus One is precisely thereby smartphone 2014 issue, which the creators of custom firmware is not bypassed. This is understandable, because even out of the box OnePlus One comes with a special version of CyanogenMod. According to the forum XDA-Developers, on the smartphone you can install 47 alternative firmware. Anyway, if earlier when creating firmware based on Android was considered good manners to support Nexus-smartphones, today to this rule can safely add support for devices OnePlus, what we actually observe.

Sony Xperia Z1

Sony is known for its loyalty to the developers of alternative firmware, they, in turn, respond to it in kind. The dedicated website regularly puts Sony firmware source code of their devices. At the end of November last year, the company even posted the source code AOSP Lollipop-assemblies for their latest smartphones. One of these smart phones has become a favorite for a long time romodelam Xperia Z1. On XDA-Developers for Sony Xperia Z1 can be found 73 firmware. Among them will CyanogenMod, and Paranoid Android, and PAC-man ROM, and LiquidSmooth, and SlimROM.

Moto G

It would seem, Motorola on this list should represent the public’s favorite Moto X, but it is not. If 4PDA number of firmware for Moto X and Moto G is approximately the same, at the XDA-Developers situation is quite different – from 17 to 78 Moto X at the Moto G. Among these 78 firmware can be found even such things as Firefox OS and FlymeOS.

HTC One (M7)

M7 old man still on horseback. And let him back in full breathing M8 (65 firmware vs. 79), he is doing well. Just like Sony, HTC is known for its loyalty to the developers. The site HTCdev can find the source code firmware smartphones HTC, and tools to unlock their bootloaders. And HTC One (M7), and HTC One (M8) participate in the program Google Play Edition, which, again, favorably affects the development of custom firmware for them.

LG G2

In 2013, LG has managed to present an extremely successful leader of a capacious battery, excellent display with narrow frames and a good camera. Custom firmware did not take long to wait. For LG G2 them have as many as 80. Among the users of G2 popular custom bikes on the basis of the original firmware, and on the basis of pure Android. The latter, by the way, a lot of presents. Almost every more or less large development team supports LG G2. For this smartphone released LiquidSmooth, CyanogenMod 12, BlissPop, SlimLP, OmniRom and others.

Google Nexus 5

Truly “People» Nexus, which is thousands of enthusiasts around the world day and night tirelessly stitch has been for almost a half years. Like any other Nexus-smartphone, after his announcement Nexus 5 was doomed to the emergence of dozens of alternative firmware. At the moment, they number 105. As I wrote above, when creating a custom firmware based on Android support for Nexus 5 is good manners, so rest assured – all that will come up romodely, the first step will be implemented on this smartphone. C on the other hand, it is necessary to accept the fact that soon will receive laurels Nexus 5 Nexus 6, and our favorite sink into oblivion, which, however, in any case inevitable.

Samsung Galaxy S4

Honestly, presenting this ranking, I could not imagine that any Samsung smartphone will be able to get around in it Nexus 5. But it is true. Today at XDA-Developers has 160 firmware for this smartphone. How did it happen? I am inclined to think that such a number of alternative firmware for Galaxy S4 is explained on the basis of custom bikes as the original firmware Samsung, and on the basis of pure Android. Add this to Google Play Edition-version of the smartphone with not the most powerful, yet Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 and get almost ideal conditions for the emergence of custom bikes.

HTC HD2

Without exaggeration, the legendary machine rightly occupies the top spot in our ranking. It seems that enthusiasts were able to run on it all, except, perhaps, Falcon 9. Out of the box HTC HD2 or HTC Leo is running the operating system Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional, seasoned with a proprietary shell HTC Sense. By the way, he was released more than five (!) Years ago.

Ported to the HTC HD2 Android, Windows Phone 7, Windows Phone 8, Windows RT, Ubuntu, Ubuntu Phone, MeeGo and Firefox OS. Ported firmware update for HTC HD2 come today. For example, on the eve of 2015 failed to start HD2 Android Lollipop.

Conclusion – best smartphones 2015 for firmware

As you can see, this rating has much in common with our recent material about the actual ex-champions, which once again proves that they should not be written off. And what a smartphone is the most pierced you?

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Porting and made ​​ready for use for the ROM-based version of Google Android Edition 4.4.2 for Galaxy S4 . The download is available via direct link from a few hours that we present below. You can then turn the Galaxy S4 in a Google Phone Edition with the latest update KitKat also available for the Nexus range.

For more information please see the link to the XDA thread and follow the URL for direct download. To install simply need a modified recovery and wipe all the data that will reset your smartphone.

The post Transform into a S4 i9505 Galaxy S4 Edition with Google Android 4.4.2 ROM KitKat appeared first on Raqwe.

We waited for him in an almost imminent after the release during the day yesterday of the source code, and so it was. The Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Edition has been updated from the Korean manufacturer to Android 4.4 KitKat after only a few weeks of waiting compared to the Nexus range (which in reality are still getting OTA) and confirming that those are the times of the GE versions along with HTC One, always updated during the day yesterday.

In anticipation of the first custom ROM based on the official GE, waiting for the official files available for download that will be available in the next few hours, in order to start the first cases of flash and try live all the news.

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At last, the Samsung Galaxy S4 is able to interact with the first smartwatch Samsung, one of the new update to Android 4.3 that Samsung has decided to recall in this promo video together with all the accolades that he has earned through some of the major newspapers.

Air Gesture, Multi Window and WatchON are just some of the software that allowed the Galaxy S4 to be known to appreciate in the world, thanks to its versatility and a new standard for the world of mobile telephony.

With the introduction of compatibility with the latest Galaxy Gear, the first top range of the Korean manufacturer launched this year sets a new level of functionality with the ability to answer calls directly through smartwatch and thus extend the potential at the top of wearable devices producer.

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It’s only been six months since the Galaxy S4 was launched on the international market, but it seems that many users are already having problems with the battery of the device. The German portal MobiFlip citing a reliable source who works at a very famous telephone operator, reports that currently are increasing requests for support for the battery of the new Galaxy S4, which in 30% of cases seems to be unable to maintain the charging long time.

That the batteries show reduced performance is normal, but it is a fact that certainly does discuss why we speak of a device used for only 6 months. These types of problems should be at least after a year or more of use.

Fortunately, the GS4 allows users to simply be able to overcome this problem by changing the battery, but you should not need to do anything after just six months of purchase, and more for a smartphone top-gamma paid 700 €.

Currently, the problem seems to be limited to one country, then perhaps it is due to a particularly bad batch of batteries. Of course, Samsung will have to investigate this issue.

You have had the same problem of poor performance of the battery?

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PocketBook company has developed a prototype of a very unusual accessory CoverReader, which also protects the smartphone and thus acts as a reader with E Ink screen. The model focuses on the use together with Samsung Galaxy S4 . The announcement was made at IFA 2013 in Berlin.

CoverReader is a thin and light notebook, cover, and it allows you to not only read books without too much eye strain, even in bright sunlight. Accessory easily connects to your phone and allows you to preview documents, e-mails or web article. In addition, E Ink displays informational messages about missed calls and received SMS-messages. It should also be noted that the use of CoverReader saves battery power your smartphone. After all, his own AMOLED-display is a major consumer of energy, while electronic paper orders of magnitude more cost effective in this regard.

In the near future PocketBook plans to launch commercial model CoverReader for Galaxy S4, as well as for other popular smartphones, including solutions from HTC and Sony.

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We have often heard about Samsung and variants of the new Galaxy S4. In addition to all the ones we know today may soon reach the market even with the enhanced Snapdragon 800, which would have made ​​a first appearance on Picasa, thanks to a photo, and also during the last hours of GLBenchmark.

After the uncertainty of the EXIF data of a few days ago the rich database of GLBenchmark brings to light the mysterious GT-I9507:

As revealed by this test, the GT-I9507 would not be equipped with the powerful Snapdragon 800, but the classic 600. Therefore, it should be a version dedicated solely to a new market or telephone operator.

This GS4 should be equipped with Full HD display, 1.9 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600, Adreno 320, Android 4.2.2 and LTE connectivity. Seems to be very similar to the version currently on the market.

We just have to wait for more information.

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