just sharing...

i was torn between phoenix and DN3 for custom roms. basically, what i wanted is KitKat (4.4.2) with note 2 functions.

in the end, after some feedback and reading, decided to just go with DN3 v5+ LITE. i figured 'lite' version is all I need coz if i end up with too many Note3 and s5 'features', they end up becoming bloatware and like all things, the more you have, the more complicated it becomes... and more likely to have error, etc...

OK... i'm still testing it out. I've been using the rom for about 1 week plus now. but some observations (which I will share in XDA forum later as well) on Ditto Note 3 (DN3) rom.

Overall first impression: Kinda 'sloppy'.
Flashing was easy process but i had a panic moment coz my microSD card is confirmed faulty. I had done factory wipe on the phone, so my copy of the image on the phone was wiped. could not use my microSD. luckily, found another spare card.
Anyway, the sloppy remark... coz right after everything is setup, i click settings... and prompted to use which settings. i suspect both Note3 and s5 settings are installed. i actually tried both and they have different look and feel. haiz... to me, this is sloppy since no one really needs TWO copies of it. plus, if really allow customised installation, then just let me choose which to install la... right?

What I like:
* one hand operation. this is nice... what you get is a smaller screen and it's really useful for those who complain about not being able to type with a single hand. you can enter/ exit this mode with a single swipe. very nice. my only complain, if it really is considered one, they should have put the background of the unused space as black. here's a screenshot to show what i mean:


* somehow, everything on the screen now seems sharper. not sure if it was the fonts (or display settings) i chose last time or just this one seems sharper. text, etc seems to look better. i really dunno why... maybe its just psychological effect or what. but i'm kinda sure if seems sharper now. maybe its some DPI tweak, new fonts or something.

* Ultra Power Saving mode. yes, this thing from S5 is here. but i realised this thing has got its limitations. you can't really run everything in black and white. only some apps seems to work. *sigh* i thought what this thing did was just turn everything black and white. seems it is not the case. but still, whatsapp and LINE works in this mode. so, still can do some messaging.

* caller notification pop-up. seems if i'm using an apps and there's an incoming call, there's a small pop-up notification. i can also answer call from there. this is nice.

* fan menu for the s-pen. but... now that i have it, i wonder if i really need it. but i'll keep an open mind and explore the features more in the next 1-2 weeks.

The not-so-nice:
* seems like when the USB cable is plugged in and charging the phone, you can't power off the phone. it will auto restart. also, i noticed that sometimes when the phone is being charged, i can't swipe to enter the One-Hand Operation mode.

* MAJOR BUG: i'm not sure if this is only on the LITE version (or maybe even my installation is buggy) but i can't get a lot of the features to work. Air gesture is not working at all. Even after i have enabled it. i wanted to see if i could do a jedi hand wave and move to the next picture in gallery. did not work. i did not even see the air gesture icon on the notification bar. there are also some other features listed but don't seem to work. another example is the customise notification panel. i had enabled to function so that when i connect earphone, some icons will be displayed so i can have quick access. customised... then tested... my customisations did not appear. i had added some media player, file manager, etc... <-- this is the recommended apps feature.

* wallpaper bug. i can't change the lockscreen wallpaper from settings. seems like i need to go and select from gallery or something, which means no LIVE WALLPAPER for lockscreen

* s-finder takes up a space in notification panel. can't remove it. i have no use for it. what the heck...

* when a call comes in while the phone is idle (screen off), the phone rings but the screen turns on only after about 2 seconds. so, sometimes end up have to wait for the screen to appear so i can answer call. this lag needs to be fixed.

OVERALL:
I'm kinda disappointed. to be honest, first time flashing the phone. previously, been using stock rom. i thought this was supposedly quite stable for daily use. it touted Note 3 features, but i only got a few. most of the rest... don't really work. i wonder if its any different if i go with the full/ complete version. or maybe just go with phoenix rom instead. *sigh*

i'm beginning to think this might be the case too.

anyway, got some explanation from XDA as well.

but still, puzzling thing... is like the air gesture. if it does not work, then dun la go put it. i was like trying so many times like mad man. but i'm surprised this needs special h/w. i thought it just uses the regular sensors...

anyway, some of the nice guys over at XDA told me the regular power saving mode has got a greyscale feature. cool... i go look at it later.

This post has been edited by mydragoon: Jun 10 2014, 01:03 PM

i bought the sketchbook during sales. looks about the same...

so, if i go back to stock rom, i'd just reinstall from Play.

i wonder if Phoenix rom is also just as 'buggy'. if this is what custom rom is all about... yucks. too buggy for my taste. buggy here dun really mean FC, but i'd think at least it should have been 'packaged nicely'.

there are pros and cons to either customs and/ or stock. in my case, stock rom... many features i don't use and hog up extra space. things like hubs, etc...

for me... i had the impression that the modern day custom rom is stable and packaged quite nicely. i guess i'm not really correct. but too soon to comment, i guess. i might just try another ROM to confirm. coz on my s2 which is flashed with OMNI, i'm quite happy. but that one... dun really have any "features, etc". very basic.

i have to go check with version i bought. quite sure its mobile pro too...

if you dun mind sharing... that it have those little quirks that i mentioned earlier in my "quick review" of DN3?

just quick sharing: field runner and field runner 2 on humble bundle. sale ends in the next 11 hours or so.

there's also metal slug 3 and "breach and clear"

just fyi...

there's version (the whole thread). this thread/ topic is version 29.

then there's page... currently we're on page 4.

there's also post count... this is post 70-something (i think should be 74).

hmmm... that's kinda old version, ya? coz now... its v5.2

air command works on v5+ too. just that i found some stuff to be there, but not working. and based on what others have commented, air gestures won't work since it requires 'special hardware' which Note 2 does not have. personally... i'm puzzled by this statement but i dun think i wanna press ahead. i'm pretty sure if its just sensors, we have them on Note 2....

this... i can relate. i dun like changes that happen too often, but i do appreciate change that brings about improvements & increased productivity.

well, i'd have to say i can't really agree.

i was happy with the original OS that came with Note 2. samsung updated the OS and removed some useful stuff *ahem* pop up browser.

anyway, the new OS was also not to my liking. and it didn't bring some of the Note 3 features. so for me, the upgrade was to get some features. unfortunately, my expectation of a 'stable' OS can be quite different that what others have...

another reason for me to try custom OS is to reduce the bloat. seriously, some stuff was taking too long, even like reboot. plus, i really don't have need for KNOX, Game Hubs, etc... but they take up space. i rather NOT have them

i'm still hoping i can find a stable OS that has what i need and removes what i don't need. customisable installation of custom OS (like using Aroma) is quite nice. but... i've yet to find a 'stable' OS. probably try my luck with phoenix next week and then decide again from there.

errr... curious... what do you mean issue signing into Google Play? coz i do rely on Play...

yes, i know can turn off some stuffs. i've been doing that. but... can't uninstall/ remove.

agreed. if its stable, it won't really have"issues". <-- well, not 100% la... but Google Play bug thingy... seems like a big problem.

and i'm also a bit confused:
what do you mean? that we are forced to sign into Google Play? not an issue for me since I rely on Google/ Gmail for my contacts....

i was checking out this site... alamak, why go support Flash... heh heh... it's a dying thing and i totally agree on not supporting it. putting it there with the ROM just makes it vulnerable. Flash is so... open to malwares, etc...

some feedback will be greatly appreciated. maybe you can also see what i commented about the earlier version and see if it still applies -- like the air gesture thingy. it's there but not supported.

also, i was sharing on XDA... i the 1+ week i've been using the ROM, twice i experienced the phone lag like crazy... pull down notification... takes a few seconds for the notification panel to come down... and even then... a few more seconds for the images/ text to appear. scroll between home screen pages also got problem. press + hold home button to get recent task and then task manager also took like a long time... more than 10 seconds. but task manager didn't show anything unusual.

last time it happened was earlier this morning. i left it for 10 minutes, then tried again. still can't... so ended up just rebooting the phone.

i'm curious... what's number 1? from where?

thanks... just went and Googled...

is this the page:
http://www.cnet.com/how-to/top-5-custom-ro...-galaxy-note-2/

errr... heh heh... dated 2012.

while it may be true, but do note that the article you mentioned is written in 2012. it was never updated. so, like others mentioned, it does not take into account what was developed after that. some ROMS, they got abandoned and ended up with very minimal updates... don't mean they are still the best.

just like maybe back in 2000, proton waja may be the best thing that happened... but 2014... lots of things have changed and looking back, its kinda horrid ( i owned one before)

thanks... someone in XDA also suggested Boat Browser. i was kinda hoping to keep my browsers to a minimal count... yes, i know the pop-up browser is actually another apps...

last night...

spot the bug.

i was like... "what the...?!?" then remembered this 'bug' was mentioned on XDA (or maybe it was here)...

5+ Lite.

the time is off -- there's a difference between the big time vs the one in notification. this morning, it was fine again. makes me wonder how that lock screen time gets the "data".

also, dem the lockscreen wallpaper. can't change to a LIVE one. seems to be another bug. but honestly, not really bothered too much about it.

personally, not too happy woth DN3. makes me wonder if i should even try 5.2...

haiz... stock ROM also got this issue... pengsan. honestly, this is one reason why i'm begining to stay away from Samsung. they're pushing too fast and spending less time on making quality product. but... the pen is just so irresistible... if not for the pen, already ditched Samsung long time ago...