Team Android reports that a custom ROM update is now available for S3 users, while Android Geeks reveals that a T-Mobile OTA update of the same firmware is now available for S4 users.
Custom ROM Packed with New Features
Team Android listed the new features and improvements that comes with the AICP custom ROM update. All the new features can be found in the Android KitKat 4.4.4 update. These include Halo, OminSwitch, lock screen notifications, and something many users will be happy about, the system app remover, to name a few. Other new features include:
- AOKP features
- TRDS Dark switch
- Profiles
- Active Display
- Wakelock blocker
- Animations
- Lock screen color theming
- Lock screen blur
- Gesture improvements
Meanwhile, for S4 users under T-Mobile, Android Geeks reports that the OTA firmware update build is N910TUVU1ANK4.
Installation Process for the Custom ROM
Before S3 users can install the AICP custom ROM, they need to install recovery tools like Clockwork Recovery that can flash a custom ROM. Users will also need to back up all of the files and apps they do not want to lose (several back-up apps are available on Google Play Store), and they have to charge their phone to 80%.
The process is comprised of the following steps:
1. Download the packages required for the installation process. There are two: the custom ROM (AICP Android 4.4.4) and Google Play.
- Transfer the downloaded packages to the phone. Users can do this by connecting their phones to the computer via USB or transferring the packages via Bluetooth. Make sure the files are saved to the SD card, not the phone's internal memory.
- Turn off the device and switch to recovery mode. Do this by pressing the Volume Up, Home and Power buttons simultaneously.
- Wipe the entire phone. In recovery mode, select "Wipe data / factory reset," confirm the action, and wait for the wipe to finish. Afterwards, select "Wipe cache partition."
- Install the files from the SD card by choosing the files. Wait for installation to finish.
- Once the installation finishes, select "Go Back" and choose "Reboot System Now" to reboot the phone.
The custom firmware should be installed in the phone by then.
Team Android warns users to install at their own risk. Make sure to create a backup copy of the phone's latest firmware before installing new custom ROMs to help phones go back to full functionality in case a custom ROM installation goes wrong.
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