So, I just found out about this phone last night and ordered it just hours later after doing my research. It's good to finally see an entry level Android with plenty of community modding support, etc. I have always enjoyed custom ROMs, recoveries and the like and it's good to see this show up, seemingly out of nowhere. I'm excited to jump in and get to the fun stuff like CyanogenMod among other things. I've been looking for this sort of configuration for quite some time and I'm glad to see people heavily adopting the concept. Look forward to joining the community of users that support this phone!
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
New to the Moto G
- Thread starter otacon239
- Start date
breadnatty08
pain rustique
While I'm with you on ROMing (which I pretty much had to do with my G2 cause LG's software is atrocious), give the Moto G some time on stock before rooting. I think the software is about as close to stock Android as possible and it's running 4.4.2. Though I don't use mine as my primary phone, it's one of the only devices I've had that I don't feel needs to be rooted and ROM'd to make it better. 
It's funny you mention that it's nearly stock Android. I'm interested in heavy modification like theming, pie menus, custom boot screens, etc. I like to make my phone completely unique. Often time, things like Cyan make that a lot easier. But I do agree that this phone is a pleasant breath of fresh air from the usual "We're going to throw 17 layers of gaudy skin on top of this."
I usually have no status bar, no soft buttons, etc. I prefer to be very immersed in whatever I'm using. I also am a bit of a shortcut junky...
Just my opinion, and I understand a lot of people prefer the stock UI, but I rather enjoy an interface-less navigation system.
I usually have no status bar, no soft buttons, etc. I prefer to be very immersed in whatever I'm using. I also am a bit of a shortcut junky...
Just my opinion, and I understand a lot of people prefer the stock UI, but I rather enjoy an interface-less navigation system.
Much of what you identified is provided by Nova Launcher Prime (a superb addition to all Droids). The other things you mentioned are readily done with Tasker.
A lot of people who were root-ing in the past are now un-root-ed with Nova Launcher Prime and Tasker.
(The center panel of my home screen [Droid Maxx] is shown below.)
... Thom
A lot of people who were root-ing in the past are now un-root-ed with Nova Launcher Prime and Tasker.
(The center panel of my home screen [Droid Maxx] is shown below.)
... Thom
Attachments
dizzle16
Android Enthusiast
Im inclined to agree with him, android is all about customization and im the last person to knock someone for it but this is the first out of my 6 android phones that i have not rooted simply because i have no need to. the phone is pretty fast and smooth, no lag (except chrome and i thought about rooting for the stock browser but the comments i saw seem like even it will just force close on me) the battery is beyond excellent, and its already running the latest OS for android. (funny thing, jelly bean had 4.1.2, 4.2.2 4.3 and 4.3.3 and others but google has been on 4.4.2 for quite some time)and in the past ive rooted to rid myself of touchwiz or HTC sense but i already have as close to stock AOSP as i can get on the Moto G without getting a google play phone. Believe it or not i actually use this as my daily phone and have a galaxy s3 from i use as my backup/media device. My only beef with this phone is my storage space. Im a big google play books user and i simply cannot store my books AND music on this phone so i got the music on my rooted galaxy s3 running cyanogenmod 11 and keep my books on the moto g. a pain in the butt i admit. but i would likely only gain some MB's by rooting, I need GB's lol. Otherwise i would root my moto g tonight. im just saying my experience with this phone is that its awesome without root. but root is awesome and why android is the greatest smartphone platform in the world
You also have to realize that the laws have been updated so that as long as the rooting itself isn't what is calling the issue, the warranty isn't void. Things like backing up the OS with TWRP and other things like that are what I do on a practical basis. I was really looking forward to exploring exciting new developer ROMs and seeing what the community has to offer. It's more of an opportunity to explore other people's unique takes on Android.
timmyh318
Android Enthusiast
Jelly bean had 4.1,4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.2, 4.2.1, 4.2.2 4.3 and 4.3.1. A lot of phones don't get some of these smaller updates because there bug fixes just for nexus devices. Nexus phones have been on 4.4.2 since December 9th. 4.4.3 will be released soon but again I'd bet many devices won't see it because it is mainly bug fixes for the nexus 5. I can't think of any non nexus device that actually ever saw the jelly bean 4.3.1 update.
ditto
MotoTurbo
Well-Known Member
Yea I accidently bought the Verizon edition. Immediately sold it
Hi all,
Hope it's alright to post such newbie questions in this thread. I just bought a 16gb Moto G from Amazon in the US (I'm from Europe) as I decided it was time to move on from my puny ZTE Blade V.
But, can you help this newbie love the Moto G? I realise some of my issues may be from moving from Jelly Bean to Kit Kat. But here goes.
No more menu/settings button?
oh man... that's a kick in the balls. I much preferred having a menu button down where my thumbs are, rather than an on screen button that seems to move around between apps. I'll miss it.
LED issues: I know there is that Motorola widget (incidentally my Blade V had an LED... I dont recall ever turning it off). The Moto Widget did nothing :/. Using Light Flow I've managed to get the LED working in white...and flickering in exactly the same way no matter what the notification. This is a bit of a step down from the Blade V, and kind of annoying as certain apps I use in silent/no vibrate, so the LED is key. Anything I can do about that?
The camera to me is fine (dont get why everyone bashes it). But is every single control in Kit Kat on the screen now? All camera settings? I suck at swiping... I miss features like using the volume rocker as a zoom
With a silicone case, I find it really hard to 'feel' where the power button and volume are...but I guess that's just me. I need a new case
I appreciate my comments here are a bit silly, haha... I'm just looking to decide soon on the Moto G: stick with it, or try and sell it
Thanks
Hope it's alright to post such newbie questions in this thread. I just bought a 16gb Moto G from Amazon in the US (I'm from Europe) as I decided it was time to move on from my puny ZTE Blade V.
But, can you help this newbie love the Moto G? I realise some of my issues may be from moving from Jelly Bean to Kit Kat. But here goes.
No more menu/settings button?
oh man... that's a kick in the balls. I much preferred having a menu button down where my thumbs are, rather than an on screen button that seems to move around between apps. I'll miss it.LED issues: I know there is that Motorola widget (incidentally my Blade V had an LED... I dont recall ever turning it off). The Moto Widget did nothing :/. Using Light Flow I've managed to get the LED working in white...and flickering in exactly the same way no matter what the notification. This is a bit of a step down from the Blade V, and kind of annoying as certain apps I use in silent/no vibrate, so the LED is key. Anything I can do about that?
The camera to me is fine (dont get why everyone bashes it). But is every single control in Kit Kat on the screen now? All camera settings? I suck at swiping... I miss features like using the volume rocker as a zoom
With a silicone case, I find it really hard to 'feel' where the power button and volume are...but I guess that's just me. I need a new case
I appreciate my comments here are a bit silly, haha... I'm just looking to decide soon on the Moto G: stick with it, or try and sell it
Thanks
As far as the on screen settings button, you might look into a custom ROM which will give you that option (obviously do your research here)
The led on this phone is only white, not rgb. I've found that only a few apps use different pulse times.
The camera is going to be pretty basic on this model. Realize that this is quite the budget phone and they invested all their time and money into a solid ui, not the camera.
Lastly, as far as cases go, I tried using a silicone one, but eventually took it off because I prefer the way it feels in the hand normally.
The led on this phone is only white, not rgb. I've found that only a few apps use different pulse times.
The camera is going to be pretty basic on this model. Realize that this is quite the budget phone and they invested all their time and money into a solid ui, not the camera.
Lastly, as far as cases go, I tried using a silicone one, but eventually took it off because I prefer the way it feels in the hand normally.
Hey Otacon, thanks for the replies. I do appreciate it considering how inane some of my issues are, haha.
I've previously rooted phones/put custom ROMs on...but not sure if I have the patience for all that this time. I've also heard Nova Launcher is worth a look?
LED only being white is a let down (who knew you should research such minor things before buying a phone, ah well)
To be honest I think the camera is fine. Nothing against it. Just wish it didn't have all the controls on the screen (possibly my issue with Kit Kat, again)
I'll consider going caseless. Just I have a tendency to drop phones, so want to try and avoid breaking it.
I've previously rooted phones/put custom ROMs on...but not sure if I have the patience for all that this time. I've also heard Nova Launcher is worth a look?
LED only being white is a let down (who knew you should research such minor things before buying a phone, ah well)
To be honest I think the camera is fine. Nothing against it. Just wish it didn't have all the controls on the screen (possibly my issue with Kit Kat, again)
I'll consider going caseless. Just I have a tendency to drop phones, so want to try and avoid breaking it.
I use Nova Launcher Prime on my Droid Maxx. It is definitely worth looking into. It solves a number of issues that people used to root to solve in the past.
Hide the preinstalled software that you just can't bear to look at.
Hide the Google search widget forced onto every home screen.
The list goers on.
... Thom
Hide the preinstalled software that you just can't bear to look at.
Hide the Google search widget forced onto every home screen.
The list goers on.
... Thom
Definitely a good shout. I'd like to see more of this list (that goes on and on)
I also miss the tiny arrows that would flicker above the Wi-Fi/3G signal when data was being exchanged (Actually, the GPS too). As my data service tends to suck, it's nice to know when it's doing something. Any way to get that back?
I'm guessing most phones I look at this days won't have a settings button right? Much learn to stretch my thumb a lot further... Maybe I'm just not ready for Kit Kat!
Thanks
I also miss the tiny arrows that would flicker above the Wi-Fi/3G signal when data was being exchanged (Actually, the GPS too). As my data service tends to suck, it's nice to know when it's doing something. Any way to get that back?
I'm guessing most phones I look at this days won't have a settings button right? Much learn to stretch my thumb a lot further... Maybe I'm just not ready for Kit Kat!
Thanks
Kogey
Lurker
I may be late to the party on throwing my two pennies in but I absolutely love the phone. I got the boost mobile version, ran stock JB for a while, then stock KK, and now I'm running C-ROM KK rom on it and I absolutely love it. Even though the storage on the phone is a tad low it's easily manageable. Overall I'm very satisfied with this phone.