Joined the Android Club

[Duffydemon]

After ignoring android for long time and a long time Nokia fan, finally joined the android team. Got my Xperia SL (White) delivered today, The device is beautiful, big, screen is amazing and really responsive comparing to my old Nokia 603. I have heard a lot about rooting. And my geeky side wants to root it, but i am not sure what extra features costum rom will add in my Xperia Device. Bieng a complete n00b to android, any suggestions like themes, apps and games are welcome. :)

[paraman]

Its a beautiful phone. Congrats. Welcome to android club. Head over to xda developers for everything related to rooting. BTW, how much did the phone cost you? Did you buy it in India or abroad?

[Duffydemon]

Dubai, the phone costs around 18000 INR there, in India its 24000 INR.

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Enjoy your new phone. You'll find Android to be a huge improvement compared to Symbian.

As for app suggestions: I blogged about the apps I'm using on Android just now. Maybe you can find a few apps you like in the list. </shamelessplug>

[Nick H. Supervisor]

After ignoring android for long time and a long time Nokia fan, finally joined the android team. Got my Xperia SL (White) delivered today, The device is beautiful, big, screen is amazing and really responsive comparing to my old Nokia 603. I have heard a lot about rooting. And my geeky side wants to root it, but i am not sure what extra features costum rom will add in my Xperia Device. Bieng a complete n00b to android, any suggestions like themes, apps and games are welcome. :)

First of all, congratulations on the new purchase!

Next, rooting. The biggest reasons to root your phone are the following:

• Some apps require a rooted phone to run.
  
• Because you can.
  

That's the general idea. People talk about how Android is easy to root, thereby accessing the filesystem. But if you don't get involved with programming then the only real reason to root your phone is because some applications require a rooted phone.

As for suggestions, I would recommend checking out the GO team's apps for themes (GO Locker, GO Launcher, etc.) and also look in to some type of ad-blocking software. For file management I use ES File Explorer.

Here's a question: What do you want your phone to do that you can't do at the moment? If you can provide a situation I'm sure we'll be able to offer an app/solution.

[Duffydemon]

Right now i want a better battery bar with percentage, the default camera app isnt gud, like on samsung devices you have lots of focus modes, but on Xperia there is none ( which is weird as its packing a 12mp camera ). It has 1 GB RAM, but only 512 is usable out of which 230 mb is available for apps.

[ashpowell]

Installing custom roms is good, they usually enable extra features and are tweaked to be faster

[yowanvista]

The Xperia SL is quite old and it'll probably be receiving its last update (4.1.2) in March-April, anything newer Android update is uncertain after 4.1, Sony will likely abandon it like they did with their 2011 Xperias.

[The Evil Overlord]

Congratulations and welcome to android :)

I Just like you, was a long term nokia fan, but seeing as nothing took my fancy when the Samsung came out, I took the chance and tried it, loved it.

I must admit, I think the Sony is a better looking device, so I'm jealous.

Anyway, Welcome to android :) NOW GET TO WORK! :p

[AbandonedTrolley]

Right now i want a better battery bar with percentage, the default camera app isnt gud, like on samsung devices you have lots of focus modes, but on Xperia there is none ( which is weird as its packing a 12mp camera ). It has 1 GB RAM, but only 512 is usable out of which 230 mb is available for apps.

Are you sure on that only 512 usable for apps?

I'm currently running SEMC 0.3 which is using CM10 as a base on my Xperia S and I have 720mb usable for running apps.

Regarding the camera, when you run custom roms that aren't based on stock so AOKP,ASOP etc you will currently get a worse camera than what Sony offer due to driver issues. Till Sony release the JB version of stock there isn't much that can be done about that though. There are some stock ROMS out there that have updated the camera software to that of the Z/T with extra options on which can improve images.

I admit to preferring the custom roms mainly as I prefer the blue icons compared to the outdated offerings from Sony.

Also it allows the battery bar with percentage as mentioned.

[Duffydemon]

Are you sure on that only 512 usable for apps?

I'm currently running SEMC 0.3 which is using CM10 as a base on my Xperia S and I have 720mb usable for running apps.

Regarding the camera, when you run custom roms that aren't based on stock so AOKP,ASOP etc you will currently get a worse camera than what Sony offer due to driver issues. Till Sony release the JB version of stock there isn't much that can be done about that though. There are some stock ROMS out there that have updated the camera software to that of the Z/T with extra options on which can improve images.

I admit to preferring the custom roms mainly as I prefer the blue icons compared to the outdated offerings from Sony.

Also it allows the battery bar with percentage as mentioned.

Yup, its showing 512 available for apps on default ROM. I am looking for jelly bean based Roms on Xda developers but no luck, there are lots of roms available for Xperia s but none for sl. I checked the semc 0.3, dint like it. I am more interested in Pure cyanogen mod. :/

[Kreuger]

Have Sony released the code for ICS? I'm sure you can find a fully working rom for that until they release JB. One of the best apps to have when you root your phone is Titanium Backup.

Edit: It should be known that instead of rooting your stock rom, you can unlock your bootloader (do a nandroid backup) and flash an already rooted rom.

[Ambroos]

You should be able to use Xperia S ROM's on the Xperia SL. There is no hardware difference between the phones, the regular Xperia S can be clocked up to the SL speeds too (and you won't notice that 200Mhz difference).

I'd try using it without root to begin with. I've always used my Androids without root and have always really liked them (and I had pretty much all Sony's too, Arc, Arc S, Neo, S, T and now Z since a little over two weeks). In the camera app you should be able to change the focus mode if you set the camera to Normal instead of Automatic.

And at Kreuger above me, Sony is pretty much the fastest and most complete manufacturer when it comes to releasing source codes. Every single Xperia released since 2011 has Cyanogenmod 10 and usually even 10.1 available :) Plus, to root the Xperia S(L) (and pretty much all other Xperia's) you need to unlock the bootloader. Then flash a kernel with recovery (and usually root) embedded.

[Growled Member]

Congratulations on your purchase. You will find a lot of options, maybe too many. Just take your time and just enjoy your device.

[Detection]

Yup, its showing 512 available for apps on default ROM. I am looking for jelly bean based Roms on Xda developers but no luck, there are lots of roms available for Xperia s but none for sl. I checked the semc 0.3, dint like it. I am more interested in Pure cyanogen mod. :/

Instructions on how to root it here, on this hideous site

http://android.syokz...ware-2012-2013/

Apparently you can flash the S ROMs to the SL, but do not flash the kernel or you lose the 1.7GHz on the CPU (But I guess with a custom OC kernel you could easily get it back up there)

http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1949670

And

http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1921865

Looks like these guys should know more too

http://rootzwiki.com/forum/532-xperia-s/

[techbeck]

Instructions on how to root it here, on this hideous site

http://android.syokz...ware-2012-2013/

Apparently you can flash the S ROMs to the SL, but do not flash the kernel or you lose the 1.7GHz on the CPU (But I guess with a custom OC kernel you could easily get it back up there)

http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1949670

And

http://forum.xda-dev...d.php?t=1921865

Looks like these guys should know more too

http://rootzwiki.com...m/532-xperia-s/

Off topic, tried the latest ROM build, 4.2.2, for my transformer you recommended. Tried the kernel with it to but the phone kept getting stuck on "starting apps". Fast without the kernel tho and better than AOKP.

Now back on topic...haha

[YounGMessiah]

Search for your phone on xda developers, boom done. They have pretty clear instructions typically lol and the appropriate topics pinned.

Welcome rooting is fun and can be made to fit you.

I have tons of fun using a phone that wasnt made to have JB :) smooth and new kernel

[Detection]

Haha actually I recommend EOS3 #81 with K.A.T kernel #69, I was just letting you know 4.2.2 was available :)

The 4.2.x builds have not been ready for full time for me, #81 is as close to perfect as you can get for the Transformer imo

[techbeck]

Haha actually I recommend EOS3 #81 with K.A.T kernel #69, I was just letting you know 4.2.2 was available :)

The 4.2.x builds have not been ready for full time for me, #81 is as close to perfect as you can get for the Transformer imo

I know what you recommended...but had to try 4.2.2 anyway...haha. Have not had any problems with it so far.

Anyway, dont want to derail this topic to much. A sticky post needs to be made to discuss this kind of thing.

[Richteralan]

Just a few words of caution:

1. You'll need to root before more apps are available to you. Of course there are plenty if you plan not to root your XSL.

2. I won't suggest you flashing custom ROM, at least yet. Unlocking BL is a irreversible process, unlike Nexus.

3. Be prepared not receiving update from Sony. If you don't care then it's all good.

[Redmak Administrators]

Are you sure on that only 512 usable for apps?

I'm currently running SEMC 0.3 which is using CM10 as a base on my Xperia S and I have 720mb usable for running apps.

Regarding the camera, when you run custom roms that aren't based on stock so AOKP,ASOP etc you will currently get a worse camera than what Sony offer due to driver issues. Till Sony release the JB version of stock there isn't much that can be done about that though. There are some stock ROMS out there that have updated the camera software to that of the Z/T with extra options on which can improve images.

I admit to preferring the custom roms mainly as I prefer the blue icons compared to the outdated offerings from Sony.

Also it allows the battery bar with percentage as mentioned.

Nice background :). Care to share it?

[Belazor]

Nice background :). Care to share it?

+1, I love the WP too :D