Mobile Handsets Review: [NEW ROM] Try A New 2.3.3 Gingerbread ROM for X8

Monday 1 August 2011

[NEW ROM] Try A New 2.3.3 Gingerbread ROM for X8


Hi,

Now that you have got a rooted Xperia X8, installed xRecovey, JIT and Link2SD, Live Wallpapers and everything is working fine... 

What's next? Playing games, using widgets and apps?

SONY Ericsson has officially stop developing Android OS for the Xpedia X8. 
Eclair 2.1.1. is the last software update. 

Wondered what it would be like to run Gingerbread 2.3.3 on your Xpedia X8? 

I have been using a "ported" new ROM called Srom-2.3.3GingerbreadX8-V2 by stelios97 & zousoum96@ XDA.

The Quadrant score for this ROM on my Xperia X8 hit the roof -> 1000+
Xpedia X8 running Android 2.1 - Quadrant Score = 440
Xpedia X8 running Android 2.1 with JIT - Quadrant Score = 550

This "Gingerbread" Android ROM 2.3.3 is stable.

QUOTE
Check out Stelios97 & Zousoum96's XDA Development Page:

[ROM] Srom-2.3.3GingerbreadX8-V2 by stelios97&zousoum96 <-- here

Download : Srom-2.3.3Gingerbread v2 (x8) <-- here

UNQUOTE


GIVE IT A TRY?

DISCLAIMER: Please use the info below at your own risk with no warranty of any kind.

Here is how you can try Gingerbread 2.3 safely and revert back to your stock Android Eclair 2.1.1 if you don't like the "Frankenstein" Android Gingerbread 2.3.3 ROM 

PREREQUISITES <-- IMPORTANT!!! 
1) Make sure you have Rooted and xRecovery installed on your Xperia X8.
2) Make sure you have new baseband xxxxxxx15 - check <settings><About phone>
If you don't have baseband xxxx015 your phone will end up in a boot loop


If not... see the my post below:
[OLD SKOOL] Root, Install & Use xRecovery on Xperia X8 <-- here

METHOD:

A) BACKUP STOCK ANDROID ECLAIR 2.1 

Step 1: Make a backup copy of your Android Eclair 2.1 using xRecovery
- check that your phone's SD Card has at least 650MB of free space 
[SD card free space is to hold both your phone original backup ROM and the 2.3 ROM]
- shutdown your X8 and wait 5 seconds -> <reboot> your phone.
- when you see the words [Sony Ericsson] on the phone screen -> start pressing the back button on your phone multiple times and you will enter the xRecovery Menu.
- select <backup and restore><backup> from the menu

NOTE: 
- This will create a backup file in your SD Card <SD/xRecovery/backup> 
- After you have completed the backup using xRecovery, it will return to the menu screen. 
- Now choose <reboot> - your X8 phone should restart

B) DOWNLOADING 2.3.3 ROM

Step 2: Go to the XDA Website and hit the download for the 2.3.3 ROM updated link
- <mount> your Xpedia X8 and copy this file <Srom-2.3.3Gingerbread-v2(x8).zip> into SD card
- <unmount> and shutdown your Xpedia X8

C) Custom install THE 2.3.3 ROM

Step 3: Installing the 2.3.3 ROM on your Xpedia X8
- <boot> Xpedia X8
- when you see the words [Sony Ericsson] on the phone screen -> start pressing the back button on your phone multiple times and you will enter the xRecovery Menu.
- perform <factory reset (full wipe)>
- scroll down and hit <install custom zip>
- select <Srom-2.3.3Gingerbread-v2(x8).zip> from your SD card & hit <yes>
- xRecovery will start to install the 2.3.3 ROM on your phone.
- when it is done, xRecovey will go back to the startup menu 
- <click><reboot>

Now you can start using your phone  - Isn't Gingerbread 2.3.3 great!!!


DON'T WANT TO USE THE 2.3.3 ROM ANYMORE?
Well it was fun visiting and touring the Gingerbread 2.3.3 ROM, now let's go back to Eclair 2.1.1

D) RESTORING THE Official Android Eclair 2.1.1 ROM

Step 4: Reinstalling your original Eclair 2.1.1 ROM 
- <shutdown> wait 5 seconds <reboot> Xpedia X8
- when you see the words [Sony Ericsson] on the phone screen -> start pressing the back button on your phone multiple times and you will enter the xRecovery Menu.
- scroll down and hit <backup/restore><restore>
- you should see two [folders] (your original 2.1 backup ROM & cm7-54 ROM)
- choose <2011-05-xx.xx.xx.xx.ROM><restore> [it should look something like 2011-05-06.21.01.23] 
- xRecovery will start to install the original 2.1.1 ROM [the ROM you've backed up in Step 1] from your phone's SD Card.
- when it is done xRecovey will go back to the startup menu 
- <click><reboot>

And you are back to where you have started - Xpedia X8 Android Eclair 2.1.1

If you have decided to keep and use the Gingerbread 2.3.3 ROM... like I did 

DO send a big THANK YOU to the developers @ XDA for their hard work building this custom 2.3.3 Gingerbread ROM

cheers 

You win some, you lose some... Let's hope you win more than you lose - Gordon Gekko



Other stable ROMS to date:

2.2.1 CM Floyo v0.15 (6 March 2011 build is stable, everything works!) <-- here
Remember to flash the update.zip to get the radio working 


ADDENDUM:

UPDATES WARNING:
DO NOT update to the new BusyBox from Android Market after you have setup your Xperia X8 with the 2.3.3 ROM or you will BRICK your Xperia X8 phone.

If you have bricked your Xperia phone... follow this guide to recover to stock Eclair 2.1.1.A.0.6

[GUIDE] How to rescue our bricked phone by Graveir @ XDA <-- here

App Updates:
Optional = install to update apps... does not affect stability of the 2.3.3 ROM
Recommended = recommended install/update for stability of the 2.3.3 ROM 

System v1.0.9 <-- here [Recommended]
Instructions: Download and install/upgrade using File Manager

LauncherPro v0.8.4.1 <-- here [Recommended]
Instructions: Download and install/upgrade using File Manager

Quadrant Advanced v1.1.6 <-- here [Optional]
Instructions: Download and install/upgrade using File Manager

Green Power Battery Saver v3.7 <-- here [Optional]
Instructions: Download and install using File Manager

Root Explorer v2.14.2 <--- here [Recommended]
Root Explorer v2.15 <--- here [Recommended]
Root Explorer v2.16 <--- here [Recommended]
Instructions: Download and install/upgrade using File Manager


Crash/Rebooting Issues:
a) Battery Drain Issues:
Charge battery to 100%... and then some 
<Reboot> into <xRecovery> 
go to <Advanced settings><clear battery stats>

Note: New Li-Ion battery do not have memory effect so do not need to drain flat [0%] before resetting battery stats. In fact it is more detrimental to use a phone until the battery is flat.
Li-Ion batteries have approx. 500 charge/discharge cycles - after 500 charge/discharge cycles your batt is dead no matter what you do.

A partial charge/discharge reduces stress and prolongs battery life. So it's much better to discharge and charge your phone intermittently to prolong battery life. 

b) Rebooting after installing applications --> New Root Explorer v2.14.2
Root Explorer has been updated to <Root Explorer v2.14.2
I have been using this version for awhile now - seems to work better. 

Still I recommend to...
use <File Manager> when you are installing apps 
go to <settings><manage applications> to uninstall apps

Also note... "older" apps may crash because it is not updated to support Gingerbread 2.3 - so if an app you are using crashes/causes phone to reboot - simply install another similar "newer" app.

c) Rebooting after moving apps to SD Card:
SD Cards should have only one partition [FAT32] and formatted with Xperia X8 [just to be safe ]
If you use a third party app to partition and format - do NOT name the SD card partition.

For Link2SD/APPS2SD functions
go to <settings><CyanogenMod settings><Application> select <Allow application moving>
go to <settings><CyanogenMod settings><Application><Install location><automatic>

Now you can move apps you have installed previously to your SD card.
go to <Settings><Manage applications><Move to SD Card>

Note: there will be apps that require installation in phone's memory (i.e. cannot be move to SD Card or app crash/reboot after you have move it to SD card). Check the developer's apps details for more information (usually says app supports APPS2SD). This is a app programming inherent issue.

d) VideoPlayer usage causing reboot:
go to <SD Card> created directory <media> & in <media> folder create a <video> folder and put all your format compatible video files in there. 

OR use... multi-format video players

MoboPlayer (supports multi-formats & free in Android Market) This app is stable and silky smooth when rendering of HD videos.

So far so good guys! I will keep updating this post until something better comes up.

cheers 

Do or Do not... There is no Try - Yoda

Reference:


Credits to Original Uploader @ XDA

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