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Samsung Galaxy Ace 2 GT-I8160 Guide to Flash Firmware

The XXMG2 is the newest and the latest firmware released to date and logically is the best contender so far...
But is not perfect despite the great biased reviews posted on XDA...

*People that use the MF1 claim that the MF1 is the best...
*People that use the ME7 claim that the ME7 is the best...
*People that use the MG2 claim that the MG2 is the best...

But the question is:
-Did they tried any other firmware before to compare it???
-Did they perform a factory reset after flashing the firmware???

*If the firmware is so good, than why are they using modified scripts and modified kernel and modified firmware on top as well ???
"That don't make any sense to me."

People that update their phones from Ginger Bread to Jelly Bean using the latest firmware's are updating to 624mb ram without the need to flash the MB2/MB4 first.
And nothing else.

But the claims in relation to a better performance if you revert to GB first.
Are completely unfounded and ridiculous. (To say the least) , the performance is the same after you perform a factory (Rom) reset.

If you are running JB already on your phone? all you need to do is flash the JB firmware you want on top of the one you already have and perform a factory reset after.

Samsung will eventually release some JB update to all the other Rom's to stabilize the problematic early releases... (likely in November or December).

I don't like and don't use Custom Rom's and do not support them either.

If you are having trouble with your current stock firmware?
Just visit the "play store" and search for "Andromizer".
Using Andromizer select "one-touch optimization" and select the tweaks that better suit you.
...My advise is select the "Memory(adj,minfree) Tweak" only to start.
After that apply and experiment with the other tweaks as it suit you.

And problem solved.

Smokey
 
Hi All,

I am very new to andriod OS. I just got a Galaxy Ace 2 that came with JB. The phone is laggy and reboots numerous times a day. Seems like there is 2 options to improve the ph's performance. 1- Root or 2 - downgrade to GB. Which is the best method in terms of stability/usability? Appreciate any comments.
 
Thanks for the info Smokey. However Andromizer only seems to work if you have rooted your phone. Mine has been ugpraded to MC8 through Kies but is still very laggy compared to GB and sometimes freezes
 
DSSmobile said:
Thanks for the info Smokey. However Andromizer only seems to work if you have rooted your phone. Mine has been ugpraded to MC8 through Kies but is still very laggy compared to GB and sometimes freezes
Click to expand...

Check how much memory you have 624MB or lower? If it is lower then you can look at options to increase the memory to 624MB
 
I'm actually making the decision to downgrade back to Gingerbread and stay there this time until an update for Jelly Bean firmware is released for BTU.

I don't really like being rooted and having to tweak my system to get the best possible performance and even THEN after a while of heavy usage it could get sluggish. Gingerbread has been out for ages and the devices has had several updates to it's GB firmware meaning it is now perfectly stable and the fun pretty much SCREAMS on GB.

All my apps are GB compatible except Nova which I only used to improve performance on JB anyway and the purchase isn't a waste cause any Android phone I ever upgrade to I can install it on. I've just had it with messing about, being uncertain, using particular tools etc. I'm gonna flash back to GB and then I'm never gonna flash anything except official updates in future and only starting from the NEXT Jelly Bean firmware revision.

I'm not really missing much, camera zoom was a boon I guess but not the end of the world. I hardly ever used Google Now so that's not a big deal either. All features from apps I'll still have. Just got the joy of redownloading the GB firmwares now cause I removed them. Oops. :$
 
j800r said:
I'm actually making the decision to downgrade back to Gingerbread and stay there this time until an update for Jelly Bean firmware is released for BTU.

I don't really like being rooted and having to tweak my system to get the best possible performance and even THEN after a while of heavy usage it could get sluggish. Gingerbread has been out for ages and the devices has had several updates to it's GB firmware meaning it is now perfectly stable and the fun pretty much SCREAMS on GB.

All my apps are GB compatible except Nova which I only used to improve performance on JB anyway and the purchase isn't a waste cause any Android phone I ever upgrade to I can install it on. I've just had it with messing about, being uncertain, using particular tools etc. I'm gonna flash back to GB and then I'm never gonna flash anything except official updates in future and only starting from the NEXT Jelly Bean firmware revision.

I'm not really missing much, camera zoom was a boon I guess but not the end of the world. I hardly ever used Google Now so that's not a big deal either. All features from apps I'll still have. Just got the joy of redownloading the GB firmwares now cause I removed them. Oops. :$
Click to expand...

?
 
wigfield said:
So is the reason why Samsung isn't releasing jellbean over the air because of its sluggish problems.
Click to expand...

Is that a question or a statement? Personally it wouldn't surprise me at the moment. Gingerbread screams, Jelly Bean (MC8 at least is very laggy /unstable).

Since I went back to GB my phone flies. I can hammer it with anything and there's almost zero lag. No need for root or tweaking. I miss the newer version of Gmail bit that's literally all I miss. Can't wait to get back on JB when they release a more stable BTU firmware version but I'm happy with GB for now.
 
j800r said:
Is that a question or a statement? Personally it wouldn't surprise me at the moment. Gingerbread screams, Jelly Bean (MC8 at least is very laggy /unstable).

Since I went back to GB my phone flies. I can hammer it with anything and there's almost zero lag. No need for root or tweaking. I miss the newer version of Gmail bit that's literally all I miss. Can't wait to get back on JB when they release a more stable BTU firmware version but I'm happy with GB for now.
Click to expand...

Really?
Do you really believe you are doing yourself and your phone any favors by reversing back to Ginger Bread ?

I agree you shouldn't root your phone if you have no use for it.
But there is no need to repeat yourself over and over again in regards on how much you are against it.

...One of the best uses for root is to block advertising.
By doing that you save data, battery and you have a faster phone...

The MC8 BTU is not great but is not unstable.
The only consistent lag without tweaks is the video streaming and the Google chrome.
Apart from that is miles better than any GB firmware.

Simple experiment:
JB MC8 BTU without 3rd party apps.
The results In your words:
:D it flies !!!
 
I used to think that myself, but after some really heavy usage I started to notice a lot of lag. To the point that it got annoying. Streaming video is one of the main things I do with my phone so that bug was a serious issue.

MC8 did become unstable for me after a while. It couldn't take such a heavy load, Google Play would crash all the time and general interface was laggier.

As for the adblock thing, I used to run abp and found it would occasionally stop. In the end I settled for the ads as it seemed to make no difference to performance.
Gingerbread is like Lightning by comparison and just works. Maybe you've just tweaked your phone in a certain why but I weren't seeing that performance.
 
j800r said:
Is that a question or a statement? Personally it wouldn't surprise me at the moment. Gingerbread screams, Jelly Bean (MC8 at least is very laggy /unstable).

Since I went back to GB my phone flies. I can hammer it with anything and there's almost zero lag. No need for root or tweaking. I miss the newer version of Gmail bit that's literally all I miss. Can't wait to get back on JB when they release a more stable BTU firmware version but I'm happy with GB for now.
Click to expand...

Yea it was a question but i feel thats why we are not getting it straight to our phones as they know of the problems.
 
j800r said:
I used to think that myself, but after some really heavy usage I started to notice a lot of lag. To the point that it got annoying. Streaming video is one of the main things I do with my phone so that bug was a serious issue.

MC8 did become unstable for me after a while. It couldn't take such a heavy load, Google Play would crash all the time and general interface was laggier.

As for the adblock thing, I used to run abp and found it would occasionally stop. In the end I settled for the ads as it seemed to make no difference to performance.
Gingerbread is like Lightning by comparison and just works. Maybe you've just tweaked your phone in a certain why but I weren't seeing that performance.
Click to expand...

I'm confused.
Your descriptions are like if you had the TMN MC8 instead of the BTU MC8... But you claimed you updated with KIES ?! That is strange.

But than and again.
I constantly do cleaning maintenance to my devices to ensure they are fast and responsive.

Ads do consume battery, data and memory... they also slow up any device.
But you gone the wrong way round to address that.
I don't know anything about adb or any other app like that.
There are some dedicated tools to block ads in the device and you don't get them from the play store.

The tool I use to block the ads in the phone is called "lucky Patcher".
 
Ah, well lucky patcher isn't a standard ad blocker. I thought you meant things like adblock plus. Lucky patcher isn't guaranteed to remove ads for everything though.

I'm not so against rooting I guess. It's just that I don't want it to "break" anything and it blocked ota updates from working (kies still would).

Damn you though. You keep making me wanna give it another shot. :-P lol (I'm a very indecisive person.)

**update**

Well would you believe it! I seem to have managed to get JB MC8 pretty much smooth running without tweaks and no rooting!

Just upgraded again through Kies with one difference this time. I didn't factory reset before or after. Just did a direct upgrade with apps and all intact! All these recommendations to factory reset after upgrading and the opposite actually seems to have done me good. Of course, it's early days yet but signs look good.
 
Hi @j800r,
If is working better for you now without the factory reset than congratulations and leave it be :)

But that don't mean the advice is wrong. Because the advice exists for a reason. And that is all down to common sense.

Edit:

* If you update your phone from
(GB to another GB firmware) the complete firmware update only takes effect after you factory reset your phone.

* If you update your phone from
(JB to another JB firmware) the complete firmware update only takes effect after you factory reset your phone.

* If you update your phone from
(GB to some JB firmware) the firmware update takes effect but the integrity of the update only takes effect after you factory reset your phone.


Google play store identifies the Android version you are using and updates your phone to the compatible version of the apk's you download.

During that transition your phone might suffer from some issues and some malfunctioning apps, lags and etc...

Same app works differently in different Android versions.
Example:
Google chrome is or was not available for Ginger Bread.
Xbox smart glass was not available for Ginger Bread either.
Google mail is a completely different app for GB 2.3.6 or JB 4.1.2 or JB 4.2 ... etc.
 
I spoke to soon anyway. Lag started to appear after lengthy usage.

Tbh I think it's only the CSC code that doesn't change without a factory reset. Or maybe it's just the way kies handles firmware vs Odin.

On the positive, touchwiz seems a lot more responsive now.
 
Kies vs Odin

Odin:
Is a unintentionally leaked "unlocked" tool made by Samsung for technicians and repair shops.
Not intended to be distributed or used by the end consumer.

Kies:
Is a simplified and easy to use tool made by Samsung and is "locked by region codes" and intended to be used by the end consumer without the need to be any expert in software.


Odin is far superior to Kies in every single aspect.
But can be dangerous if used by inexperienced or clumsy people.
But they both flash the firmware in the same way.
 
The MG2 update is relatively a lot better than MC8. I would never revert to GB, thats like going backwards.I am not a heavy user of apps or anything. Its just the principle of it that I hate going backwards. Worst comes worst, I will just throw the phone and buy a better one that actually runs JB properly :)
 
revhappy said:
The MG2 update is relatively a lot better than MC8. I would never revert to GB, thats like going backwards.I am not a heavy user of apps or anything. Its just the principle of it that I hate going backwards. Worst comes worst, I will just throw the phone and buy a better one that actually runs JB properly :)
Click to expand...

Well that's fine if you have the money for it. I never paid for this one. It's on two year contract so I'm stuck with it till March 2015. I originally went back to GB (till smokey persuaded me to upgrade to JB again) because it is WAY more stable, no question. However, it IS a major downgrade. Particularly with Gmail.

However, if the MG2 firmware is genuinely more stable than MC8 I may just look into it. Even though I'm not too keen on the idea of installing Windows again (I'm a Mac user).

**update**

So, i flashed the UK O2 branded MG2 firmware and had a shocking discovery. RAM had shrunk to less than 500MB and seems more laggy than MC8 so far. I'm guessing it's the Russian MG2 that's an improvement or something.

**update**

So after some more firmware flashing adventures involving me downloading the branded Russian firmware instead of the unlocked one I finally got the standard Russian MG2 on my phone and have to say UI seems to occasionally lag at least as bad as MC8 however I don't think the streaming video bug exists anymore which is something at least. However, it does show Samsung STILL haven't got their act together with this device and just can't create a decent, stable/fluid JB firmware for the device.

Still sticking with MG2 over MC8 for now as it does seem marginally better. Just not a lot better like rev said and certainly nowhere near the fluidity of GB. Occasionally it gets that smooth then outta nowhere it occasionally divebombs.
 
@ j800r and anyone else,
Please accept my apologies if any of my comments give you the impression I persuaded you to do anything against your will on your phone.
It is not my intention to do such thing. My only intention is to share experiences, experiments and knowledge but also to learn from every one of you, who are willing to share your knowledge, experiences and experiments as well.

All the feedback you guys share and are willing to share is much appreciated.
And thank you all for the great feedback.

Smokey
 
Smokey, something you wrote that doesnt at first glance, seem right,

"* If you update your phone from
(JB to another JB firmware) the firmware update only takes effect after you factory reset your phone."

The reason is that after this update today (MF1) my ram is increased to 624, yet ive done no factory reset.
Im only interested in making sure my phone is working properly and im getting all the benefits even though i haven't done a factory reset.
TIA
 
Hi Stash68,
I wrote that for fail safe procedures.
All to do with the integrity of the firmware.
Sometimes some updates don't take effect straight away and other times the updates conflict with the already installed software.
That resulting in the phone starting to malfunctioning, lag and crashing.
So the simplest way to correct that problem is by factory resetting the device and all should fall in to place.

If your phone is working fine, than let it be and enjoy.
After all if is not broken than there is no need to fix it.

But a factory reset really makes a difference for better.

:) Is great news that Samsung managed to correct this low ram problem and finally give us a patch to the existing firmware before Christmas lol
 
@Smokey,
I get it now, many thx for clearing that up for me.
So far so good with my phone but it is early days.
Kudos to Samsung for this update, I was expecting them to fix the probs( if thats whats happend) but to be honest i thought it would be end of the year or early next year.
:)
 
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