HTC One M8 - would you install CyanogenMod on it?

[tami]

Just curious - I've never done much with CyanogenMod on any of my phones. I'm using a stock version of the latest carrier-pushed Android (4.4) on my HTC One M8. Consequently, I can't use Titanium backup despite having purchased a license years prior. I don't particularly mind the bloatware I have since I've effectively hidden most of it (I do have some NFL app I don't care much about though).

Is it *really* worth going with CyanogenMod? I like the idea of having the newest version of Android pushed to me, and I don't want to chase down the latest flavor of Android manually? Further, I would be concerned about going back to the stock version in the future in case there are warranty issues.

I'm interested in arguments for and against what I'm looking to do from someone who has been on both sides.

 

[ImDonly1]

Install a GPe ROM or convert it to a GPe if it is GSM.

 

[tami]

I'm looking for arguments on why I should rather than "this is what you should do."

I'm happy with the stock. Why should I go with a different ROM?

Please outline the pros and cons bearing in mind that I'll probably have to manually update my Android version from that point forward, and I don't love that idea.

Please also explain if it's easy to go back to the stock version in case I have a warranty issue with my phone.

THANKS

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Personally, I'm a huge fan of AOSP and CyanogenMod. I believe in a bloat free ROM although Sense is pretty close compared to the rest of the OEM ROMs.

With that said AOSP is too bland for me. It lacks a lot of toggles and options. Google's mentality is similar to Apple's and it's that they know best for the consumer. You can see in Lollipop you don't have the option to customize your toggles or turn off or on a lot of things like Heads Up for certain apps, etc. The notification system (silent, priority, etc.) is also just flat out borked.

CyanogenMod gives you the AOSP features but with extra toggles that Google missed. To me its a life saver, and every time I go back to stock, it feels very empty to me.

 

[ImDonly1]

I'm looking for arguments on why I should rather than "this is what you should do."

I'm happy with the stock. Why should I go with a different ROM?

Please outline the pros and cons bearing in mind that I'll probably have to manually update my Android version from that point forward, and I don't love that idea.

Please also explain if it's easy to go back to the stock version in case I have a warranty issue with my phone.

THANKS

If you love stock then stay stock...
I was going by your "I like the idea of having the newest version of Android pushed to me, and I don't want to chase down the latest flavor of Android manually?"

Newest version = GPe. It will be on 5.0 in a week or so.
If you convert it to a GPe it will automatically receive GPe updates I believe.

 

[tami]

Thanks @DLeRium - I wish there was a video to show the features so I could make a more informed decision. I'm afraid to take the risk. (Maybe when the phone stops getting new updates. I know Lollipop is expected on the One M8 in January.)

Know of any?

 

[tami]

Hmm, I didn't realize I could convert my phone to GPe. Any tips on doing this easily?

 

[syntropic]

Yes, there are a lot of step by step instructions in the HTC One M8 forum at xda-developers.com.

But my question to you is: are you more interested in running the cutting edge versions of AOSP? or—having more control over your phone (using TB, getting rid of bloatware), which is what it sounded like in your post at first.

What I'd recommend you do ASAP is root it and get S-off. With S-off, you can do anything with your phone...I currently run stock (the 4.4.4 you mentioned), but also, I can get OTA updates. It takes an extra step to allow the update to install, but that way you get the ROM that is most compatible with your hardware.

Also, the appeal of the GPE and getting Lolipop early convinced many to convert from Sense to GPE. Based on my reading of the forum, at least 75% of those who did this conversion missed the Sense-skinned Android and converted back. Read about it yourself in the XDA M8 forum, but I can say it dissuaded me from converting to GPE.

Right now...the only simple, no hassle way of getting S-off, which is something that allows everything else, including permanent root (even if HTC updates their hBoot or changes their bootloader, with S-off any restrictions on attaining root don't apply), is to use a software hack which costs $25. Back in May, there were methods posted to get S-off which obviously didn't cost anything, but those no longer worked as of July. So that's just a forewarning as a lot of people complain about this...and I myself hesitated for a week before doing it. But it's worth it. If you choose to convert to GPE, you will need S-off...if you want to root your phone but still get stock OTA updates you need S-off...

Lastly, if all of that sounds like a headache, you know you can go into settings--->apps and go through each app you consider bloatware and simply disable it (the storage on the phone does not create the same concerns to free up this bloatware space by actually deleting it).

There is a bit to read and understand... but spend a few hours at xda, and it will be easy to do whatever you want.

 

[tami]

See, I'm not sure what I want. I read that CyanogenMod is the best thing since sliced bread, and I am interested in knowing how or why.

By the way, I have an active account on XDA-developers but always thought it wasn't for the beginner, so I finally came back to AT.

But I also just want to have more customization on my phone. I debated the one click root method but I only see that same app you have to pay $25 for (I researched this earlier, so I'm familiar and frustrated that they can't let you try root once and then pay $25 for an upgrade), and I'm not sure I am going to care to root my phone for the long haul (yet). I miss the one click roots that existed before.

I don't use Sense at all. My phone lockscreen is Cover, the homescreen is Aviate, and I don't even use the crappy Sense input. SwiftKey is my poison there (but it sucks when you have to type in web addresses, so I may be looking for another try-before-you-buy alternative).

So I'm open to this just to see what I'm missing here. I may just disable those apps, but I'd love to root again and enjoy the benefits of backups, but then again, there's also Helium and that does the damage I need too.

I guess I need an argument on "why you should root your phone in this day and age" and "why a custom ROM is a worthwhile investment." I just don't know the answers to either question.

 

[tami]

bump from page 2

 

[Chrono]

I just got this phone... I'm quite okay with Sense 6.0... it's not as bad as say TouchWiz. I think if I get bored I'll put CM on it... but for now I'm good. If anything I would probably put on a debloated version of the HTC rom on it.

 

[QueBert]

HTC + ViperOne Rom = GOODNESS. It's Sense but made better. I've tried every rom on my M7, not every every. But at least 25 different ones. I've liked certain things about others better than ViperOne, but in the end I always go back to it. At this point I'm rommed out and unless something big happens in the ROM scene I won't be trying anything else. Not sure about M8 kernels, but on my M7 I LOVE ElementalX. Best battery life and has some nice tweaks.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Personally, I'm a huge fan of AOSP and CyanogenMod. I believe in a bloat free ROM although Sense is pretty close compared to the rest of the OEM ROMs.

With that said AOSP is too bland for me. It lacks a lot of toggles and options. Google's mentality is similar to Apple's and it's that they know best for the consumer. You can see in Lollipop you don't have the option to customize your toggles or turn off or on a lot of things like Heads Up for certain apps, etc. The notification system (silent, priority, etc.) is also just flat out borked.

CyanogenMod gives you the AOSP features but with extra toggles that Google missed. To me its a life saver, and every time I go back to stock, it feels very empty to me.

My beef is CM is so unstable. For years when it was the only reasonable AOSP option I dealt with the bugs, but ever since I ran that first GPE S4 rom and got a level of stability that I could not believe then CM went out of the picture for me. Optimal is GPE plus Xposed to fix issues with stock, but if Xposed dies I will take GPE stock over CM.

OP, my M8 is flashed to be a GPE version.

 

[tami]

Can I see screenshots of your ROMs on your M8s? I'm interested, but still am completely unsure about what I'm missing.

@poofyhairguy - any good guide on flashing to GPE? I see this this - good guide? How would one downgrade if required? Does the rooted version also push new Android updates automatically?

And finally - what are the benefits of GPE? Just that the bloatware is gone?

 

[poofyhairguy]

any good guide on flashing to GPE?

Here is the original guide:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2708589

How would one downgrade if required?

Follow this guide:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2733523

Does the rooted version also push new Android updates automatically?

Yeah, but you might lose root after upgrade.

And finally - what are the benefits of GPE? Just that the bloatware is gone?

It is not about "bloatware," it is about getting a Nexus-like Google experience.

Companies like Samsung and HTC take Android and change almost EVERYTHING. From the lock screen, to the notification settings, to the look of the settings menu, to what you see on boot. A GPE conversation puts you back on the path of what Google originally released.

Part of that benefit is faster updates, as it takes longer to do all these changes. The other part is I want a Google experience. If the stock Sense way for the M8 was the only way I never would have considered the device - in a way a GPE M8 is the normal sized Nexus phone Google didn't give us this year.

There are downsides-you lose many of the camera features (all those dual camera effects) and you lose access to the Dot View Cover or Blinkfeed. It is not a clear "upgrade" unless you are like me and a skinned stock OS is completely unacceptable.

Go look at a Moto X in a store to get a feeling for the differences stock can make.