Samsung Galaxy S2 Take 2

waynegohl

waynegohl

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furpile said:
Google releases new version > Samsung decides only flagship models get the update, and add all their stuff onto it > VC, MTN and CellC decide if they want to roll out this updates to the phones on their network. This is where it mostly falls flat, and a lot of time is lost. The cell companies have to "test" each build on their network, and I don't think they want to test a lot of different versions the whole time. That is why you see only flagship model get updated and maybe only 1 or 2 updates.
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But why do the cellphone companies make a shyte load of phones but only update a few when they could do a blanket firmware update and give people the option to either install it or not?

I have a galaxy tab 2 and the samsung s2 and both are "stuck" on jellybean with no kitkat updates that I know of, so my question is, can these 2 devices be rooted and then updated to kitkat and is there a difference between rooting and hacking a device? If hacking a device is possible, can the device then be updated to the latest firmware?
 
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furpile

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waynegohl said:
But why do the cellphone companies make a shyte load of phones but only update a few when they could do a blanket firmware update and give people the option to either install it or not?

I have a galaxy tab 2 and the samsung s2 and both are "stuck" on jellybean with no kitkat updates that I know of, so my question is, can these 2 devices be rooted and then updated to kitkat and is there a difference between rooting and hacking a device? If hacking a device is possible, can the device then be updated to the latest firmware?
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Because the firmware has to be customised for each phones hardware. That's why they don't bother with the lower en phones or older phones. My S2 was also stuck so I did an unofficial upgrade. Some colleagues upgraded to an international Samsung ROM for the S2 which we didn't get in SA. I used the Cyanogenmod Installer, it only works coming off a stock rom. That automatically installs the recovery program for you and flashes the new CM 4.4 Rom. I saw they are working on a Lollipop rom as well, but the S2 development is also going slower now because it's an older phone. After you have used the CM installer it is really easy to flash any new rom you want to try out. Also, the CM installer does rootiing for you, so no need to mess around with ADB or anything like that.

Rooting is not really hacking, it just removes the manufacturers limitations. Seeing as the S2's are all out of warranty and you won't get any support for it anyway, why not upgrade to a new rom with less bloatware? In the very rare situation where your device is bricked (in a way that cannot be recovered) then it's time for a new phone :)
 
waynegohl

waynegohl

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Hmmm, I am leaning towards getting a galaxy note and getting rid of of my other 2 Samsung devices so maybe messing about with the s2 is an idea.
 
waynegohl

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My phone has a 1850mAh battery, I also have another galaxy s2 with a 1350mAh battery which does not power on even with it attached to a wall plug could it be that the battery is too low to power it?
 
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ashfaak

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Are you guys with the music problems using kernels with the FPBug fix? I thought the patch went through all CM sources by now, it was released in December last year.
 
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furpile

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ashfaak said:
Are you guys with the music problems using kernels with the FPBug fix? I thought the patch went through all CM sources by now, it was released in December last year.
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I have no idea. Haven't heard of it before. First I had the latest cm installer version. Then flashed the latest cm release version (M12) I think. Now on slimkat 9. All have the problem. Where can I find more info on this bug or a release that has the fix?
 
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furpile

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Might have to go back to CM on the latest nightly build, I don't see any mention on Slimrom for a fix for the FPBug. On the CM nightlies it is supposed to be fixed from cm-11-20150111-NIGHTLY-i9100.zip
 
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pedruid

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furpile said:
Might have to go back to CM on the latest nightly build, I don't see any mention on Slimrom for a fix for the FPBug. On the CM nightlies it is supposed to be fixed from cm-11-20150111-NIGHTLY-i9100.zip
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Hi furpile, I have never used a smartphone but my local Lazer Inn offer me a new S2 for R1600. I'm a bit long in the tooth and need your advice please.
 
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furpile

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pedruid said:
Hi furpile, I have never used a smartphone but my local Lazer Inn offer me a new S2 for R1600. I'm a bit long in the tooth and need your advice please.
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Are you sure it's a new phone and not refurbished? I don't think the price is bad, because the S2 is still a very decent phone (especially compared to what you will get now for that price). If you have never had a smartphone before it will be best if you know somebody that can help you set it up. The phones have a lot of customisation that can make the phone really easy to use (once set up), and then you will only see what you need to see on the phone. Also check if you are comfortable with the touch screen. Any specific reason you want to get a smartphone now?
 
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pedruid

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furpile said:
Are you sure it's a new phone and not refurbished? I don't think the price is bad, because the S2 is still a very decent phone (especially compared to what you will get now for that price). If you have never had a smartphone before it will be best if you know somebody that can help you set it up. The phones have a lot of customisation that can make the phone really easy to use (once set up), and then you will only see what you need to see on the phone. Also check if you are comfortable with the touch screen. Any specific reason you want to get a smartphone now?
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I just felt it's time to do it. I use facebook on my iPad which I find very useful for checking up on feskom load shedding. I will check with the vendor about where're it's been refurbished. It looked ok but I'll ask for it out of the box before I part with any cash. I have downloaded a few you tubes to learn about removing Samsung bloat ware and have followed your post about cracking it etc.
I'll certainly heed your concerns and if it's ok with you will PM you for any tips.
 
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furpile

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pedruid said:
I just felt it's time to do it. I use facebook on my iPad which I find very useful for checking up on feskom load shedding. I will check with the vendor about where're it's been refurbished. It looked ok but I'll ask for it out of the box before I part with any cash. I have downloaded a few you tubes to learn about removing Samsung bloat ware and have followed your post about cracking it etc.
I'll certainly heed your concerns and if it's ok with you will PM you for any tips.
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Feel free to ask. For me the easiest way to start with custom roms was the cyanogenmod installer. It does everything automatically. Thereafter it is very easy to install new roms.
 
waynegohl

waynegohl

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Bought a 3800mAh battery and cover off Amazon and it it sure does keep a longer charge.
 
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pedruid

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Hi, I heeded your advice and checked and it's definitely been used. Told him thanks but no deal.
 
DrJohnZoidberg

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Flashed a new pit file tonight to get more space for apps, it's a lot less stressful doing this stuff when it's not your primary device :D
 
DrJohnZoidberg

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Finally found a pit file with a 1GB system partition. Now able to install full gapps on CM12.

If anyone is interested this procedure is actually quite simple on a Mac (but use at own risk as per usual). I assume you are already very familiar flashing roms:

1. Grab the necessary pit files (http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ivatives/mod-increase-partition-size-t3011162 - download the pit_files.zip).
2. Grab a custom recovery (http://downloadandroidrom.com/file/GalaxyS2/recovery/CWM-KitKatCompatible-i9100.tar). Extract it to the same folder as your pit files (there should be a file called zImage).
3. Make sure you have downloaded your custom ROM and appropriate gapps file to your external SD card or you are familiar with adb to you can push it to your device after partitioning. There will be nothing on your device after the repartition so saving your ROM to the device beforehand will not help.
4. Make sure you have Heimdall installed (https://github.com/downloads/Benjamin-Dobell/Heimdall/heimdall-suite-1.3.2-mac.dmg).
5. If you need to backup your device, do so. Repartition will erase everything on your internal SD.
6. Switch off your device and then start up in Download mode (VolDown + Home + Power). Continue by pressing VolUp.
7. Plug in USB cable into your phone and Mac.
8. Fire up a terminal on your Mac.
9. Check that Heimdall can detect your device:
Code: 
sudo heimdall detect

You should see this:
Code: 
Device detected

10. Move to the folder where you have saved your pit files and the zImage (recovery) file.
11. Type in the following:

Code: 
sudo heimdall flash --repartition --pit I91001GB_3GB.pit --KERNEL zImage

In this example I'm using the pit file with a 1GB system partition and 3GB data partition.

You should start seeing output like this:

Code: 
Heimdall v1.4.0

Copyright (c) 2010-2013, Benjamin Dobell, Glass Echidna
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/

This software is provided free of charge. Copying and redistribution is
encouraged.

If you appreciate this software and you would like to support future
development please consider donating:
http://www.glassechidna.com.au/donate/

Initialising connection...
Detecting device...
Claiming interface...
Setting up interface...

Initialising protocol...
Protocol initialisation successful.

Beginning session...

Some devices may take up to 2 minutes to respond.
Please be patient!

Session begun.

Uploading PIT
PIT upload successful

Uploading KERNEL
100%
KERNEL upload successful

Ending session...
Rebooting device...
Releasing device interface...

Your device will restart.

12. Pull the battery now and put it back, then reboot in to your recovery (VolUp + Home + Power).
13. Inside recovery do a Factory Reset/Wipe. You must do this step.
14. Now you can flash your ROM and gapps from the external sdcard or use adb to push the files over in the recovery.

Voila, you can now have resized partitions.
 
DrJohnZoidberg

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