There is no best custom rom, only what's more popular, or best for yourself.

XDA has implemented a rating system. You can check the number of stars for a tracked rom.

My dad's phone is on DN3 v2 and he's very happy about it. I said I can help him to update to v3.1.1 but he say never mind la, he's very happy about it. lol.
Thumbs up to the developer man!

After updating 4.3, its looking very neat and good. Photos are clearer too. However i find it to lag more.

Hi All Sifu, my n2 recently encounter SDS. Upon checking by samsung service centre, confirm need motherboard replacement. Phone is 14months old.

My question is:
1) Rm700 and only 1 month warranty,  worth fixing?
2) Chances of encountering similar issue again?
3) Go for 3rd party phone service, only rm500 3 months warranty.

Many Thanks

Sudden Death Syndrome

can read here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2096045

It means your device may just suddenly die.

Dont bother checking ..... Most will come with insane chip . Just update your ROM to minimize it . I have used Note 2 since b4 SME set came out , touch wood didnt kena before .

Up to u . Personally , battery life on 4.3 was never as good as 4.1.2 but then again joytest got a good battery life on a custom rom . For me , I used to get 2-3% over night with wifi + everything sync over 8-9 hours . On 4.3 , it's more like 1% drop per hour

There is no guarantee SDS wouldn't happen . It just minimize the risk of it happening . There are cases SDS happened to forumers here as well after upgrade and some was on custom ROM with all the SDS patch .

Before this i had tried any single methods that has inside here and XDA forum (EFS backup and restore method, flashed different firmware, flashed custom rom), but none of it successful. I still failed to retrieve my IMEI (lost IMEI 0049XXXX) or get my network ('not registered on the network' issue) working. The only way is, use older firmware which is XXDMC3 (4.1.2) and below (by doing this i have no issue with IMEI or network, everything is normal).

Then here it came, the 4.3 XXUEML3 pop up on my device (OTA), i am so happy that day and straight away perform an update and was hoping with this new firmware/update can help solve my problem. BUT, again my IMEI lost and cannot make a call and this time is worst, with this new samsung KNOX security, it won't allow my note 2 to downgrade to the older version and block ODIN (encounter error while flashing). It even triggered my device KNOX WARRANTY VOID to '1'. Hell yeahh. Hahaha. 

So i was stuck with the latest 4.3 firmware with IMEI broken hence cannot receive or make any call. 

Now this is good part. What did I do?

1. Flash custom recovery on my Note 2 (4.3) via ODIN.
2. Search for a XXDMC3 based custom ROM @ XDA and managed to flash the ROM via recovery mode and able to get back my original IMEI and phone work as normal (rooted). 
3. Reset custom binary download to zero/No ('KNOX WARRANTY VOID : 1' remained).
4. Flashed back to 4.3 XXUEML3 (with broken/lost IMEI).
5. Today went to Samsung service center @ Wisma Bently to claim for warranty. Tell the samsung staff/technician the whole story (except the rooting/custom flash part  ). And tell them that my knox triggered due trying to downgrade to the older firmware since i have broken IMEI with the latest samsung 4.3.
6. They open a case number for me and ask me to wait for a while. After 30min, my phone is ready. I have back my original IMEI with the latest 4.3 firmware. 

I did asked the technician what is the problem. He said my device's modem having a problem to read the latest firmware hence make the IMEI lost but it is only a software related issue. 

Btw, i am so glad that my problem solved and have a chance to taste the Kit Kat sooner or later on my note 2 (if any laa  ) For your guys info, my warranty will be ended @ 5th Jan 2014, just around the corner bro, fiiuuhhhh 

Well.. it is good story.. u r very lucky..

Btw, i'm new to flashing and rooting.. what do i need to backup before start flashing custom? Hope can help me.. 

Guys, my warranty is due tomorrow, can i still send in for claim tomorrow?

My warranty finishes on 6/1/2014.

tried calling earlier but no one picked up, if i know the answer i wouldn't turn to the forum for opinion, yes?

Installation Instructions for v16:
DO SUPER WIPE!- Changing from 4.1.2 to 4.3 will change the location of your internal sd, that is why you must to super wipe, to clean your internal sd. backup first.

you see that clean to install a new rom?

that is kind of super wipe... what they mean by super wipe is... it wipe everything... including your internal SD data... so save your internal sd data to somewhere before doing super wipe... unless you dont have anything important on it.

Hi.. I got a problem with Philz Recovery Installation..

I'm on Stock 4.1.2.. And want to install Philz Recovery 5.15.0.. I already tried to install usin Recovery (.zip) packages and Odin packages instructions.. Bot ways did not work for me.. 

This error happened when i tried to install trough Recovery (.zip) packages.. 


By usin Odin, everything seems going Ok but it did not boot into recovery.. I already tick-off AutoReboot.. Nothing happened! It still boot into stock recovery.. 

p/s: before this, I already update into MJ5 Bootloader

For people who like to change their icon sets and play with their homescreen looks

http://www.androidguys.com/2014/01/14/10-a...d-now-volume-6/