My Adventures with a Samsung Galaxy S i9000b: CyanogenMod 7.1

Thanks to Olavo, I’ve found out that the guys from BrasilDroid managed to get a port of CyanogenMod working on the i9000b version of the Samsung Galaxy S, which is one of the best Android roms available out there. Supporting stuff like native theming, FLAC, OpenVPN, performance tweaks and a bunch of other things. More details can be found at it’s wikipedia entry.

So, after doing some research I was able to get it working, not without a small scare of course (got the phone bricked but managed to unbrick). My phone was still running the stock Gingerbread rom that which I installed some months ago.

According to the installation procedure from BrasilDroid, I had all the requirements in place, except having a kernel with ClockWorkMod (you used to need to be running a Froyo rom, but that’s no longer the case). Managed to find a Gingerbread kernel (Gingerbread BrD’s #2) on BrasilDroid’s Samsung Galaxy S kernel list. Followed the same procedure from my previous post to install the new kernel and here’s where I hit a bump on the road, the installation attempt failed and the phone got bricked, but  I was still able to get into download mode (whew). I think some of the USB drivers were missing, so I re-installed Samsung Kies (disabled it afterwards) and repeated the procedure, all worked like a breeze and now I had a kernel with ClockWorkMod.

With all the requirements taking care of, it was just a matter of following downloading the rom, the google apps, placing them on the root of the internal SD card and following the official procedure (slightly adapted below):

1. Turning off the phone
2. Boot into the ClockworkMod Recovery. (Volume UP and the Menu keys, followed by the Power key)
3. Once the device boots into the ClockworkMod Recovery, use the side volume keys to move around, and either the power or the menu keys to  select.
4. Select the option to Wipe data/factory reset.
5. Then select the option to Wipe cache partition.
6. Select Install zip from sdcard.
7. Select Choose zip from sdcard.
8. Select the update-cm-7.1.0-RC1-GalaxyS_B-KANG-signed.zip file (wait for it to finish).
9. Repeat the procedure with the gapps-gb-20110503-signed.zip file (wait for it to finish)
10. Select +++++Go Back+++++ to get back to the main menu, and select the Reboot system now option. The Samsung Galaxy S should now boot into CyanogenMod.

So far it is looking pretty sweet.

Material:

• Gingerbread BrD’s #2 kernel: kernel-odin.v2.tar
• CyanogemMod 7.1.0 RC1 for Galaxy S i9000b: update-cm-7.1.0-RC1-GalaxyS_B-KANG-signed.zip
• Google Apps: gapps-gb-20110503-signed.zip
• Odin: Odin3 v1.3 com 803.pit.rar (Unfortunately Odin is Windows only, there’s Heimdall which works on Linux and OSX but at this time I still didn’t had the time to give it a try)

Credits

• BrasilDroid team
• CyanogenMod team
• Samsung Galaxy S – OFICIAL community on Orkut
• André Ferrandis on Orkut for the Rooting tutorial

References:

• BrasilDroid’s CyanogenMod 7.1 Gingerbread 2.3.5 GT-I9000B Tutorial
• BrasilDroid’s Galaxy S I9000B kernel list
• CyanogenMod’s Samsung Galaxy S: Full Update Guide
• Orkut Article: [DICA] Root no Gigerbread 2.3.3 ou 2.3.4

Disclaimer:

These tutorials might brick your phone, making it unusable so be careful. Neither me nor the original authors are to be held responsible for what you do with your phone. Be warned that the processes described in some of them might also void your warranty.

My Adventures with a Samsung Galaxy S i9000b: Rooting Gingerbread 2.3.3

Well, as I have mentioned on my previous post, the SuperOneClick Root did not work to root the phone (Version 1.9). I have managed to get it rooted some weeks ago through the method I will describe here, but version 1.9.5 might work and I suggest you try that one before going over this one. The procedure should be similar to the one described in this post.

Material:

• International Galaxy S Kernel with root: CF-Root-XX_JVP_AAD_RFS_aplica root no 234.tar
• Official i900b 2.3.3 kernel: KERNEL ONLY I9000BVJJV3_I9000BVJJV3_I9000BAROJV..tar
• Odin: Odin3 v1.3 com 803.pit.rar (Unfortunately Odin is Windows only, there’s Heimdall which works on Linux and OSX but at this time I still didn’t had the time to give it a try)

The Procedure:

1. On Windows, as an Administrator open Odin by right-clicking on the executable file and selecting “Run as administrator“. On XP you probably just need to double click
2. Select the the CF-Root-XX_JVP_AAD_RFS_aplica root no 234.tar file in PDA
3. Shutdown the phone by long-pressing the power-off button
4. Start in Download mode by pressing the Volume Down and the Menu keys, followed by the Power key
5. Attach your phone to your computer through the USB Cable. Odin should recognize it like by turning one of the ID:COM boxes to yellow
6. Click in start and wait for it to be done. If all goes well your phone will reboot with the new kernel and your touch-screen won’t work. But no panic. Shutdown the phone by removing the battery (since you won’t be able to select the shutdown option)
7. Start in Download mode by pressing the Volume Down and the Menu keys, followed by the Power key
8. Odin should recognize the phone again by turning one of the ID:COM boxes to yellow
9. Select the KERNEL ONLY I9000BVJJV3_I9000BVJJV3_I9000BAROJV..tar file in PDA
10. Click in start, wait for it to be done. Your phone will reboot.
11. That’s it. If everything went well you should the Superuser application on your Applications list:

Superuser on Gingerbread

Please note that some other apps will also be installed, such CWM, which won’t work so you can just remove it with a root uninstaller. The reason the touchscreen stops working is because of the international kernel. It seems that the i9000b is not different just due to the TV, but also by the touchscreen hardware. It is important to be careful to not disconnect the USB cable in the flashing process. I bricked my phone in the process (probably because of the cable) but was able to get it back working.

Credits

• Samsung Galaxy S – OFICIAL community on Orkut
• André Ferrandis on Orkut for the Rooting tutorial

References:

• Orkut Article: [DICA] Root no Gigerbread 2.3.3 ou 2.3.4

Disclaimer:

These tutorials might brick your phone, making it unusable so be careful. Neither me nor the original authors are to be held responsible for what you do with your phone. Be warned that the processes described in some of them might also void your warranty.

My Adventures with a Samsung Galaxy S i9000b: Official Gingerbread 2.3.3 pt-BR available from Samsung

Well , good news for Brazilian Samsung Galaxy S owners. Samsung released Gingerbread 2.3.3 pt-BR for the i9000b through Kies. Just download the latest version of Kies from Samsung’s website, plug your phone to your PC and let it search for updates. If all goes well you should be offered the update.

I have heard from some of my friends that they are not being offered Gingerbread on Kies (while running Froyo 2.2), if that’s the case you might want to consider following the procedure I have mentioned previously here to install the Froyo 2.2.1 rom from Argentina, and then connecting to Kies to update. Sounds like a hassle but might be worth it if you want a newer Android version.

Note: Please be aware that this rom is not rooted, and SuperOneClick Root at the time of this writing (version 1.9) doesn’t quite do the trick.

Gingerbread Screen

Gingerbread version info (in pt_BR)

My Adventures with a Samsung Galaxy S i9000b: Rooting Froyo 2.2.1

Installing the Android 2.2.1 (Froyo) rom mentioned on my previous post, un-rooted my phone as expected. For those that are not familiar with the term, basically means enabling full control of the phone’s Operational System. Root is what the superuser (a.ka.a administrator) is called on most Unix-like operating systems. This unlocks certain features on the phone and some apps only work with their full capabilities (like Titanium Backup). Mind you this doesn’t come without risks and this may void your warranty.

Material:

• SuperOneClick v1.7: SuperOneClickv1.7-ShortFuse.zip

The Procedure:

1. Turn on USB Debugging:  Go to Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB Debugging
2. Plug the phone to your computer, but do not mount the SD Card nor activate Kyes
3. On Windows, as an Administrator open SuperOneClick by right-clicking on the executable file and selecting “Run as administrator“. On XP you probably just need to double click
4. Click the Root button
5. If all goes well a prompt will be shown saying “Root files have been installed! Would you like to run a test?“. You can just click on No.

That’s it. If everything went well you should the Superuser application on your Applications list:

 

Superuser on Android

 

 

More information about the application, donating to the developer and a nice youtube video can be found on the XDA Developers Forum thread.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682

Credits

• “CLShortFuse” the author of SuperOneClick clshortfuseAAAAAAThotmailDOOOOTcom

References:

• XDA-Developers Forum Thread: [APP]SuperOneClick v1.7 (Root, Unroot, Enable Non-Market App)
• Youtube Rooting Video: How To – Root Your Android Phone (SuperOneClick Method) – www.TheUnlockr.com
• ShortFuse website: http://www.shortfuse.org/
• ShortFuse donation: PayPal Donation

Disclaimer:

These tutorials might brick your phone, making it unusable so be careful. Neither me nor the original authors are to be held responsible for what you do with your phone. Be warned that the processes described in some of them might also void your warranty.

My Adventures with a Samsung Galaxy S i9000b: Installing Froyo 2.2.1 pt-BR

It seems that an original Samsung rom with Android 2.2.1 (Froyo) has been made available over the Internet for the Galaxy S i9000b from Argentina, which is the same device as the Brazilian one and therefore compatible. It is unbranded, so there’s no carrier bloatware included. It supports the following languages:

• English
• Spanish
• Portuguese (pt-BR)
• An Asian language I am not able to quite define

It also comes with Swype 2.8.50.12867 supporting the same above mentioned languages and supports the TV receiver which is great. Most of the roms available on the Internet are for the international version and they don’t quite work on the i9000b version, breaking the TV, not having support for pt-BR, making the touch screen not work properly, etc. My hope is that this will solve the lag issue (and maybe make the GPS more operational).

Material:

• Rom: JPG_JP4_JPG.tar
• Odin: Odin3 v1.3 com 803.pit.rar (Unfortunately Odin is Windows only, there’s Heimdall which works on Linux and OSX but at this time I don’t have any experience with it and the tutorial I followed was written using Odin. Hopefully in the future I will manage to give it a try)

The Procedure:

1. Shutdown the phone by long-pressing the power-off button
2. Start in Recovery mode by pressing the Volume Up and the Menu keys, followed by the Power key
3. In recovery mode: Select wipe data/factory reset
4. In recovery mode: Select wipe cache partition
5. In recovery mode: Select reboot system now
6. On Windows, as an Administrator open Odin by right-clicking on the executable file and selecting “Run as administrator“. On XP you probably just need to double click
7. Make sure the only options set are “Auto Reboot” and “F. Reset Time“. Click on the PDA button and select the rom file JPG_JPA_JPG.tar. In the end it should look more or less like this
8. Shutdown the phone by long-pressing the power-off button
9. Start in Download mode by pressing the Volume Down and the Menu keys, followed by the Power key.
10. Attach your phone to your computer through the USB Cable. Odin should recognize it like by turning one of the ID:COM boxes to yellow
11. Hit the Start button. It should take some minutes as the rom is loaded, but if all goes well Odin will finish it’s job and the phone will reboot. The successful screen for Odin is something like this
12. Shutdown the phone by long-pressing the power-off button
13. Start in Recovery mode by pressing the Volume Up and the Menu keys, followed by the Power key
14. In recovery mode: Select wipe data/factory reset
15. In recovery mode: Select wipe cache partition
16. In recovery mode: Select reboot system now
17. Enjoy your Android 2.2.1 (Froyo)

Here’s a screenshot of the default home screen:

 

Froyo 2.2.1 home screen

Credits

• Samsung Galaxy S – OFICIAL community on Orkut
• “Ranchos Zappa.” on Orkut for the Odin tutorial
• “Gustavo Rech” on Orkut for linking the Froyo rom
• @TheARC77 from @GrupoAndroid for posting the rom

References:

• Orkut Article: [NEWS] ATUALIZAÇÃO FROYO 2.2 “NACIONAL” (ODIN)
• Orkut rom post: [ROM] Original para GT-i9000b Froyo 2.2.1 – Aro
• TheARC77′s post: New Firmware 2.2.1 for SGS 9000B Argentina

Disclaimer:

These tutorials might brick your phone, making it unusable so be careful. Neither me nor the original authors are to be held responsible for what you do with your phone. Be warned that the processes described in some of them might also void your warranty.

My Adventures with a Samsung Galaxy S i9000b: Foreword

Samsung Galaxy S i9000

Foreword:

A couple of months ago I got myself a Samsung Galaxy S Smartphone, the Brazilian version (i9000b). It came with Android 2.1 (Eclair) and a decent hardware: 1GHz processor, 512MB of Ram, 2GB internal storage, 6GB internal SD, 2GB external SD, Super Amoled Screen, back and front facing cameras, GPS  and a digital TV receiver.

Overall though my feelings towards it are mixed. Despite the nice hardware, it proved itself to be quite slow and laggy after it was upgraded to Android 2.2 (Froyo), with a barely functional GPS. On the other hand, the OS in general is very nice, the applications available on the market are good and the back camera is sweet for daylight photos (it doesn’t come any sort of flash though and the dark photos are generally bad). If you use Google services like I do the integration is just awesome.

As I go around toying/hacking with the device and following tutorials here and there, I decided it would be interesting to document my efforts in case I ever had to do them again without having to keep a million bookmarks to several websites. Also, it would be a way to share with other i9000b users my experiences. What I intend to write here are the tutorials and steps I have followed, properly credited. Most (if not all) of the material won’t be my own, so kudos to the nice folks over the Internet that took time to hack, brick, break, document and try to improve the system of this interesting piece of hardware.

Disclaimer:

These tutorials might brick your phone, making it unusable so be careful. Neither me nor the original authors are to be held responsible for what you do with your phone. Be warned that the processes described in some of them might also void your warranty.