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Cant decide if i love or hate my ascend :'(

V

veronica12

Lurker
Okay, so I have metro and have been with them for many years. I had a Blackberry Curve for about 6 months and absolutely loved it. Just this past Saturday I dropped it in Safeway and almost died when the screen broke lol. Anyways, I took it to Metro to see if they'd fix it but ended up buying the Ascend instead. At first I loved it more because of the huge screen. But, it seems like now I'm finding all of the things out that it CANT do. Even the simplest things, like posting video to Facebook (really?!). Seems like everything i want to do, like have specific ringtones or even certain vibrations w notifications takes an app! I do love it though and have been reading here about how to Root it and am really close to doing it. I want to wait for the 2.2 switch but im impatient lol. Anyways, I dont want to say i hate it just yet but...i miss my blackberry! :'( what do you guys think?
 
veronica12 said:
Okay, so I have metro and have been with them for many years. I had a Blackberry Curve for about 6 months and absolutely loved it. Just this past Saturday I dropped it in Safeway and almost died when the screen broke lol. Anyways, I took it to Metro to see if they'd fix it but ended up buying the Ascend instead. At first I loved it more because of the huge screen. But, it seems like now I'm finding all of the things out that it CANT do. Even the simplest things, like posting video to Facebook (really?!). Seems like everything i want to do, like have specific ringtones or even certain vibrations w notifications takes an app! I do love it though and have been reading here about how to Root it and am really close to doing it. I want to wait for the 2.2 switch but im impatient lol. Anyways, I dont want to say i hate it just yet but...i miss my blackberry! :'( what do you guys think?
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It may not be that you hate the ascend, rather your just new to the android os. With some time you will forget all about that crackberry, consider this rehab.:D
 
Everything takes time to get used to. The good thing about Android is that for almost anything you want to do which requires an app, there is a free version that will suit your needs. Not always, but almost always, this is the case.

If you're thinking about rooting it, I say go for it. There's nothing you can do to the phone by rooting it that you can't undo by following the same steps. It's what you do after rooting it that can run you into trouble. Rooting just gives you superuser access to the phone, which a few apps here and there require.
 
I'll decide for you, you will definitely LOVE this phone after you become familiar with rooting and flashing. It will greatly improve your phone, just give it time.
 
Android isn't for everybody. If you don't like tinkering or messing around with things, you might be better off with blackberry. If you like to customize and make things your own, you will love android. My first suggestion would be to download Go launcher and get rid of the 9 home screen canvas. You'll be able to make your ascend look different than anybody else's.
 
fredrick1213 said:
I'll decide for you, you will definitely LOVE this phone after you become familiar with rooting and flashing. It will greatly improve your phone, just give it time.
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Lol thanks. And thanks to everyone for responding. I think ill be able to root it np but what is flashing? Ive already got the iphone keyboard, what are some other must haves to make my droid droidier? Lol
 
Flashing is referring to installing a custom ROM on it, basically a modified and tweaked Android OS. Usually this means bloatware (apps you don't need and won't use) are removed, performance tweaks are done, and the ability to have apps install to the SD card. The only 100% working ROM out there right now for the Ascend is Icarus, which I've been running for 3+ months now. I have NO complaints about it, as it dramatically increased my phone's response overall, and now I don't have to worry about how many apps I install. I kid you not, I have probably installed 100 apps on my phone to this point, and with very little impact to my internal memory, meaning the phone doesn't bog down because of a lack of memory.
 
BlastGT1 said:
Flashing is referring to installing a custom ROM on it, basically a modified and tweaked Android OS. Usually this means bloatware (apps you don't need and won't use) are removed, performance tweaks are done, and the ability to have apps install to the SD card. The only 100% working ROM out there right now for the Ascend is Icarus, which I've been running for 3+ months now. I have NO complaints about it, as it dramatically increased my phone's response overall, and now I don't have to worry about how many apps I install. I kid you not, I have probably installed 100 apps on my phone to this point, and with very little impact to my internal memory, meaning the phone doesn't bog down because of a lack of memory.
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Oooooh thats tight. I can root just w my phone right? I dont need a computer too?
 
Hmmmm well theres really no point in rooting right now if i dont have a computer for icarus then right? :( ill have to wait till this weekend. I wanna do it right now lol my phones so slooooow.
 
veronica12 said:
Hmmmm well theres really no point in rooting right now if i dont have a computer for icarus then right? :( ill have to wait till this weekend. I wanna do it right now lol my phones so slooooow.
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only thing the computer is needed for is to download the files, which can be down from the phone too, if you connect it to wifi. Computer is just faster and then you copy the files to you phone.


Dunno why some ppl wanna do it the hard way lol
 
BlastGT1 said:
Flashing is referring to installing a custom ROM on it, basically a modified and tweaked Android OS. Usually this means bloatware (apps you don't need and won't use) are removed, performance tweaks are done, and the ability to have apps install to the SD card. The only 100% working ROM out there right now for the Ascend is Icarus, which I've been running for 3+ months now. I have NO complaints about it, as it dramatically increased my phone's response overall, and now I don't have to worry about how many apps I install. I kid you not, I have probably installed 100 apps on my phone to this point, and with very little impact to my internal memory, meaning the phone doesn't bog down because of a lack of memory.
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I can totally vouche for that. I've had Icarus for at least 2 months myself. I'm happy with this. :)
 
PlayfulGod said:
only thing the computer is needed for is to download the files, which can be down from the phone too, if you connect it to wifi. Computer is just faster and then you copy the files to you phone.


Dunno why some ppl wanna do it the hard way lol
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Using the computer to install the CWM via fastboot was the easy way for me. If it was the hardest I don't think they would of done the Icarus walk through guide suggesting it. Unfortunate that you have to use a different CWM but, it's worth it. :)
 
veronica12 said:
Hmmmm well theres really no point in rooting right now if i dont have a computer for icarus then right? :( ill have to wait till this weekend. I wanna do it right now lol my phones so slooooow.
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Rooting is good for removing some of those pesky carrier apps! Just make sure to back them up and don't delete anything google related. :) Read up about it a little more if you need to! ^.^
 
Rooting can also enable you to do things like changing the boot animation and startup sound on the phone. I hate the MetroPCS startup screen and jingle, and even though I don't have it anymore since flashing Icarus, I still changed my boot animation, and currently have the Droid X boot animation on my phone, WAY cooler.

Honestly, as far as removing stock apps, there's not much point in removing them if you're doing it for size reasons. I looked at most of the files people remove, and they're pretty small, only a few kilobytes. Also, if you want to be able to install apps to your SD card without having to install a new ROM, check out Link2SD on the market, which can move apps that are designed with the ability to run from the SD card. Another recommendation: Download LauncherPro from the market. Pre-Icarus, I found it to make things smoother and less laggy than the stock Canvas homescreen app. There are other launchers in the market as well, lots of them really, but LauncherPro is the one I keep coming back to, time and time again. You will have to arrange your homescreens again with the icons the way you like them, but it's worth doing.

Flashing a new ROM to your phone isn't something you HAVE to do, but it does make a big difference in performance, freeing up a significant amount of internal memory so that the phone can run more efficiently.
 
BlastGT1 said:
Rooting can also enable you to do things like changing the boot animation and startup sound on the phone. I hate the MetroPCS startup screen and jingle, and even though I don't have it anymore since flashing Icarus, I still changed my boot animation, and currently have the Droid X boot animation on my phone, WAY cooler.

Honestly, as far as removing stock apps, there's not much point in removing them if you're doing it for size reasons. I looked at most of the files people remove, and they're pretty small, only a few kilobytes. Also, if you want to be able to install apps to your SD card without having to install a new ROM, check out Link2SD on the market, which can move apps that are designed with the ability to run from the SD card. Another recommendation: Download LauncherPro from the market. Pre-Icarus, I found it to make things smoother and less laggy than the stock Canvas homescreen app. There are other launchers in the market as well, lots of them really, but LauncherPro is the one I keep coming back to, time and time again. You will have to arrange your homescreens again with the icons the way you like them, but it's worth doing.

Flashing a new ROM to your phone isn't something you HAVE to do, but it does make a big difference in performance, freeing up a significant amount of internal memory so that the phone can run more efficiently.
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Mannnnn, i really wanna do it but im scared to get stuck and not have a computer to come on and ask u guys for help :mad: i feel pretty good about rooting it, seems like its just downloading and deleting things. But when i read how to install icarus i didnt even know what the hell they were talking about lol. Thats what scares me. I wish someone would just do it for me lol :D
 
veronica12 said:
But when i read how to install icarus i didnt even know what the hell they were talking about lol. Thats what scares me. I wish someone would just do it for me lol :D
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If you are near Orlando, Fl. I'm free this weekend. Or let me know when you want to do it and I'll try to be online to help you through it. PM me and let me know. PMs go to my phone usually within 15 minutes.
 
If you're worried about it, I would suggest just rooting it for now, and waiting to do anything else you're not comfortable with.

To be able to run z4root after downloading, you'll need to go to Settings>Applications and put a check in Unknown Sources. Once you do that, go to the file and run it, then you should have 2 options: Temporary Root and Permanent Root. Temporary does as it implies, once you reboot your phone, it is no longer rooted. Permanent works the same way, the phone stays rooted. If the app asks you to reboot, go ahead and do so.

The worst that could happen would be that your phone isn't able to be rooted, which should be a rare occurrence, if not nonexistent.
 
Godddddd!! I seriously hate this gd phone :'( it is so slow i just had to delete like 10 apps to be able to text w out a force close. Does rooting and a new rom or w e make the internet faster? Bcuz at this point i just want to throw this phone out the window im so frustrated, my blackberry never had these issues. I cant even youtube w o having to wait for days for it to load first. And when i try logging into my bank, oh god forget it. Takes like 7 minutes just to check my balance. I got a "smart phone" for ease and convenience w its capabilities....this phone wasnt worth it.....yet (i hope). If rooting and icarus doesnt perform like i need it to, i give up on android and am going back to my crackberry, i dont care if it has a tiny screen. I need step by step instructions this weekend how to get icarus, will someome help me? Pllllease! Before i go insane haha. Thank you! :)
 
veronica12 said:
Godddddd!! I seriously hate this gd phone :'( it is so slow i just had to delete like 10 apps to be able to text w out a force close. Does rooting and a new rom or w e make the internet faster? Bcuz at this point i just want to throw this phone out the window im so frustrated, my blackberry never had these issues. I cant even youtube w o having to wait for days for it to load first. And when i try logging into my bank, oh god forget it. Takes like 7 minutes just to check my balance. I got a "smart phone" for ease and convenience w its capabilities....this phone wasnt worth it.....yet (i hope). If rooting and icarus doesnt perform like i need it to, i give up on android and am going back to my crackberry, i dont care if it has a tiny screen. I need step by step instructions this weekend how to get icarus, will someome help me? Pllllease! Before i go insane haha. Thank you! :)
Click to expand...

This guide will explain everything. Just follow it step by step. Don't skip anything. When looking at it, it may look overwhelming at first but just start from the beginning and go a step at a time. Icarus will make a huge difference in the performance of your phone, but CM6 will make it even faster.
http://androidforums.com/ascend-all-things-root/320265-ultimate-ascend-customization-guide.html
 
veronica12 said:
Godddddd!! I seriously hate this gd phone :'( it is so slow i just had to delete like 10 apps to be able to text w out a force close. Does rooting and a new rom or w e make the internet faster? Bcuz at this point i just want to throw this phone out the window im so frustrated, my blackberry never had these issues. I cant even youtube w o having to wait for days for it to load first. And when i try logging into my bank, oh god forget it. Takes like 7 minutes just to check my balance. I got a "smart phone" for ease and convenience w its capabilities....this phone wasnt worth it.....yet (i hope). If rooting and icarus doesnt perform like i need it to, i give up on android and am going back to my crackberry, i dont care if it has a tiny screen. I need step by step instructions this weekend how to get icarus, will someome help me? Pllllease! Before i go insane haha. Thank you! :)
Click to expand...

i would suggest cm6...less time installing and much smoother...
 
If you're interested, OP, here is my story about my Ascend and how I ultimately realized I didn't like it, or the Android OS, in general.

My Ascend was my very first Android phone and at first I thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. The customization abilities were endless and kept me occupied for longer than I'd like to admit, lol. However, after having it for a few weeks, I realized just how annoying it was having to clear the history, cache, and do a memory boost every few hours so the phone didn't lag like crazy. I also hated having such limited phone storage space, which caused me to have to sacrifice apps and just keep an eye on my storage space altogether. On the advice of other Android users, I rooted my Ascend.

At first all of the annoyances seemed to disappear, but after a while my phone started to lag again and become like it was pre-root. I researched online, tried many suggestions, etc. Then a few days ago I was online looking at yet another thing I could do to speed up my phone and it hit me: why am I spending so much time doing all of this? It's a phone FFS! I shouldn't have to put THIS much effort into getting it to run properly and the way I want it to! So ya know what I did? I went to Verizon and got an iPhone 4. Know what I've been doing the past few days since I've had my new iPhone? What I should've been able to do with my Android all along: actually using my phone. I haven't had to look up one thing about making this phone run properly...the phone runs properly on its own. I don't have to clear the cache, the history, or do a memory boost. I also don't have to jailbreak (the iPhone equivalent to rooting) to get it to work properly and run fast. I'm also able to make and receive calls and texts since switching to Verizon since Cricket Wireless absolutely sucks in the reception department. Know what else I get? A TON more battery life. From day one I had to charge my Ascend about 3-5 times a day (no, I didn't have a defective battery. Cricket checked it and said my battery was fine). Using my iPhone in the same was I did my Ascend I only have to charge it once a day, when I go to bed at night.

Basically what I'm trying to say is you shouldn't have to root, research or tweak your phone to have it run properly. That's the responsibility of the phone manufacturer, not the user.

Please don't take my post offensively. I am in NO WAY saying Android phones suck. Both Androids and iPhones are great in their own ways and it ultimately comes down to user preference. I was just so sick of having to spend so much time getting my Android to run properly and I don't regret switching. Spend some more time with your Ascend and, if like me, you decide you just don't want to put so much time and effort into getting the phone to run the way you want it and do the things you want it to do, maybe consider an iPhone. :)
 
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