One step closer to OnePlus

First I'd like to apologize that took roughly a month to share my first thoughts with my brand new Android purchase among my readers. Unfortunately my Nexus 5 started to point out its lack of modern performance. In other words despite of proceeding full wipe and installing decent ROM for daily use, Hammerhead decided to be occasionally slow, laggy so to speak. Only method to gain and maintain decent performance was to perform moderate CPU overclock which actually worked as aimed. On the downside got even worse battery duration and slightly warm feeling in my gut, so to speak.

Next thing I had to admit myself that it was time to move on. After long consideration, I ended up with totally new branch of Android, at least to me. Purpose was to reach mid range Android mobile with latest possible technology and premium look. After a deep look to web, weighting pros and cons between various phones, OnePlus 3 promises the most, at least on the paper.

Now I've been using OP3 around a month and so far it's been promising. Not only having decent features, rooting and installing 3rd party operating systems won't harm official warranty - itself is more than could ever hope.

In spite of no cons toward mobile itself, unfortunately availability of gadgets here in Finland is currently very limited. Only one retailer sells OnePlus 3 and their available accessories are very limited. During day of purchase got only official glass screen protector - nothing else. After looking for decent rear cover from domestic markets, had 
to order Spigen from UK. Bright side was that price and estimated shipping time was acceptable.

I'm writing this post actually with my OP3 so unboxing photos later on. So it goes a bit backwards but this time here's photo of rear cover accessory I decided to give it a shot.

Era of new genuine battery replacement

Hi folks,

during past month my it appeared that my phone's battery seems to be reaching its final destination. First decided to clear out possibility that it enormous battery drain wouldn't be software issue. After clearing that out, it was time to seek new battery replacement, preferably genuine product.

After reading some comments and recommendations, decided to order new battery from eBay. Shipment arrived approximately week and half from order date. Package included only battery for non-retail purposes and no installation tools. I was aware lack of tools since already had required ones when got new battery for my wife's iPhone 5. Day after arrival decided to replace phone's current battery with brand new one. Process took roughly 20 minutes and with help of iFixit instructions, entire process was averagely easy to proceed. If I have to point out any possible challenge(s), battery was connected to phone's body with adhesive and to be honest, it required a bit of gentle prying to be able to remove current battery. Also when removing back cover, freeing some of the clips was a bit tacky but luckily was able to free all of those without causing major damage to back cover including fragile clips. Unfortunately one clip was partly damaged but I was able to clue it back together before installing cover back to phone.

Here's some photos I took during battery replacement process, mainly as purpose to describe how process looks instead of giving step by step instructions how to complete the process. Whoever I suggest to follow precisely instructions provided by iFixit.

Worthiness of rooting

Ahoy mateys,

since it's again more than a month from previous post, finally I decided to give a try to share some new thoughts among my readers.

Despite of Nexus 5 being Vanilla Goddess, I decided to root my Hammerhead and install both custom recovery and custom ROM. Decided to go with super lazy method via using toolkit to perform needed procedures. Wug's Nexus Root Toolkit gave more than enough to satisfy my current needs, so to speak. Toolkit also allows to unlock bootloader, nonetheless did that a while ago manually through CMD Prompt.

In nutshell entire process went following: NAND backup, full wipe and then custom recovery. After phone booted successfully to TWRP, it was time to install custom ROM. My first ROM to my Hammerhead was Cataclysm since wanted to try first stock based custom ROM instead of AOSP/AOKP. After testing Cataclysm more or less a week, decided to try out custom kernel as well. Currently using ElementalX kernel providing smooth performance and battery durability combination. The perfect companion for ElementalX kernel is EX Kernel Manager by giving total control over device. Totally worth of 3,5 EUR if you want to tweak kernel's settings manually instead of using kernel's stock adjustments.

Spigen Nexus 5 Case Ultra Fit

Hi again folks,

since had some minor cracks in my body's frame, I decided to order new case for my device. When doing some research, my priorities were basically black colored lightweight version with premium quality. After comparing various products, I finally ended up to Spigen's Nexus 5 Case Ultra Fit which I ordered directly from Spigen's online store.

Before deciding from which store I'd order Spigen's case, I ended up to Spigen's own online store for following reasons: guarantying genuine product (compared to fake alternatives from eBay or Amazon) and decent price shipping included.

Since product's price without shipping expenses would be below 22 EUR (approx 25 USD), shipment from non-EU location wouldn't land to customs here in Finland, I decided to order case from US.

Shipment confirmation included shipment tracking number, so I was able to follow my shipment via USPS tracking service which was relatively accurate even though it didn't notify me when shipment landed to airport in Finland.

Shipping duration was approx 7 days, didn't that much calculate more accurate duration.

Total cost was approx 18.5 EUR (21 USD).



Here's some unboxing photos from Spigen's case I'm currently using in my device.

Android 5.1.1 LMY48B improves battery durability

Hola folks,

as you might have noticed, Google has released new fw version for Hammerhead also known as Nexus 5. Latest release goes with 5.1.1 LMY48B build version and it's possible to download from Google Developers site under the title Factory Images for Nexus Devices. After a bit scrolling, it's possible to find device called "hammerhead" for Nexus 5 (GSM/LTE).

There's also brief factory image installation instructions on that specific site but in case you've noticed, my previous post provides alternative source for those instructions.

Quick sights from latest release

After a couple of days usage, I'd notice significant improvement compared to previous release 5.1 LMY47D. With latest version runtime more than 24 hours, free RAM has settled to approx 1.1GB which is 10-15% improvement from previous version when measuring my personal use.

Some remarks from battery usage

Here's average battery durability from 3 charges' average value. Battery lasted 25-30 hours with roughly 3 hour SOT (Screen On Time). And about my daily use in general, each email's push in every 15 minutes and all social media apps' has active push meaning when new message arrives to Facebook, phone let's me know it asap. Also some web browsing and Facebook basically every freaking day without forgetting minor video streaming from Youtube.

It's time for Lollipop 5.1

Hi folks,

as unfortunate it is, I'vent been active lately in this olive branch. Since now I've more suitable moment and something actual to discuss, let's start with Google's latest OS announcement.

Google has released new Lollipop 5.1 release with huge promises. Catch up content of unwrapping from Android's official blog,

Since Lollipop 5.1 update was just released, I should wait OTA announcement for my N5 some days, maybe even a week. Therefore I was a bit impatient, to be honest more than a bit. Therefore finally decided to give a shot to install manually Google's official OS image. As I've been keen on XDA Developers community, decided to search instructions and some tips to complete manual OS image installation as smooth as possible. Especially this process need to be taken care of very accurate since even soft bricking my only mobile phone would be extremely crucial since therefore wouldn't have any backup option to use mobile for my daily basis needs.

HOW TO MANUALLY INSTALL OFFICIAL OS FOR NEXUS 5

To share my succeeded process, I'd like to share it among my readers as well. Therefore following part of this post consist of step by step instructions how to complete Google's official OS image installation with Windows OS. Unfortunately I don't have device with Mac OS X operating system, so therefore readers using Apple products have to search help from somewhere else, my humble apologize for that, in matter of speech.

Pre-steps

1. Download and install USB and ADB drivers, click here
2. Download factory image you want to install, click here
3. Unlock bootloader manually via CMD prompt or automatically with suitable toolkit
   NB! Wipes all data from your device, remember to take backup if needed

Actual procedure

Step by step instructions provided by abaaaabbbb63 (recognized contributor at XDA Developers)

Method 1 

OR

Method 2

PERSONAL THOUGHTS

All required steps in entire process was pretty much clear to me as long is able to be enough patient and focused. Method 1 gave my error message while executing flash-all.bat. Whoever decided to give a try for method 2 which gave clear results. As a final closure for this particular post, here's screenshot proving device info of my N5.

Deving my old warhorse

Hey folks,

probably too much time instead of concentrating to spring semester's finals since decided to locate my old warhorse - also known as Galaxy S3 Int (i9300), erase it totally and try out latest KitKat SlimKat stable. Erased all current scraps with superwipe script, updated my current custom recovery to latest CWM PhilZ touch recovery, installed latest SlimKat (known as SlimRoms) without forgetting latest minimal gapps.

Slim of approval

At least after some testing, latest stable version of SlimKat seems to be well functioning, at least from the first glance. Ofc it requires much more testing to approve if that custom ROM is honestly ready for daily use. Will see - depending how long I'm able to maintain my interest to this specific matter. Stay tuned!