Thursday, June 28, 2012

CM9 alpha6 for Epic 4G Touch Released


After weeks of patches submitted upstream and device bug fixes from Team Epic, we're proud to finally present CM9 alpha6 for the Epic 4G. This will be our final alpha build before we're ready to go into our beta cycle. Even with that, expect a few kinks and issues, as this isn't a Release Candidate or Final version of our product. However, this alpha is based off of RC1 source. With that said, we as Team Epic feel this is monumental enough for a public release. Please, follow us on Google+ and Facebook, for the latest info regarding progress on CM9 for the Sprint Epic 4G Touch. Also, be sure to check the Issue Tracker to see if your issue has been posted.








Release Notes
  • In alpha5, we decided to get rid of the ability to reboot into recovery. In alpha6, we have decided to add this feature back into the official release. Which brings me to my next point:
  • As said earlier, this will be our final alpha release before we delve into our beta cycle. With the sure imminent release of ICS for the Epic 4G Touch, there will surely be an imminent release of kernel sources, too. With that, we can patch up the eMMC devastating bug in the kernel, granted it's not already patched up by Samsung.
  • CM9 RC1 was recently released on a number of devices including the Team Epic maintained Epic 4G. The Epic 4G Touch has not yet reached official status since an official CM9 device must have a source-built kernel. Shortly after this happens, it can become official status, get.cm official nightly builds and stable releases.
Changelog
  • New Cid bootanimation upon power on. Self explanatory.
  • Kernel has been updated to FF18. Self explanatory.
  • Reworking the RIL to better report actual signal strength. Self explanatory.
  • Streamlined props. This helps keep our builds organized and prevent future problems with GPS, Wimax, 3G, etc.
  • Based on Release Candidate 1 CM9 source. With that comes upstream bugfixes, patches, and overall smoother experience.
  • CWM Recovery and the option to reboot into recovery from reboot menu are now back in alpha6 release.
  • We now have a "safer" recovery thanks to the work of chris41g and Dees_Troy. They have implemented a number of safe measures into CWM recovery to work around the eMMC bricking such as the removal of commands known to cause bricking and the use of a safe gingerbread update-binary when flashing .zips.
Links
See the CM9 Status page for more details on the ROM, then head over to the CM9 Install Guide to install the ROM. Please check the Epic Touch CM Issue Tracker to see if your bug has been reported, before filing a new issue report.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Progress toward CM9 alpha6 for Epic 4G Touch


Clarification: No CM Stable Releases Yet
Epic Touch will not be among the devices that release RC1 with CM9.  This device will have alpha releases for now, beta after we have a fully working ICS kernel built from source, then RC/stable releases only after that is proven stable and we have a fully safe CWM recovery that no longer needs the temporary update-binary hack.


News
  • 6/13 CM9 Build (Not Alpha6)
    • Download Nightly Builds
      • Read below for changelog. Please test and report back here or on Google+
      • Notes on 6/13 build
        • If your internal and external storage switch after flashing the updated build, try settings > storage > settings > storage config > check use internal storage > reboot.
        • If having trouble with MMS not sending, push mms.apk from alpha 5 to /system/app/, set permissions to rw-r--r-- and reboot.
    Changelog since the release of Alpha5
    • Switch from old skater bootanimation to new Cid bootanimation.
    • Kernel has been updated to FF11
    • Reworking the RIL to better report actual signal strength
    • CWM Recovery and the option to reboot into recovery from reboot menu are now back in CM9.
    • We now have a "safer" recovery thanks to the work of chris41g and Dees_Troy. They have implemented a number of safe measures into CWM recovery to work around the eMMC bricking such as the removal of commands known to cause bricking and the use of a safe gingerbread update-binary when flashing .zips.

    Wednesday, June 6, 2012

    CM9 alpha5 for Epic 4G Touch Released

    After weeks of patches submitted upstream and device bug fixes from Team Epic, we're proud to finally present CM9 alpha5 for the Epic 4G. This build is most likely to be our final alpha build before we're ready to go into our beta cycle. Even with that, expect a few kinks and issues, as this isn't a Release Candidate or Final version of our product. Nonetheless, we as Team Epic feel this is monumental enough for a public release. Please, follow us on Google+ and Facebook, for the latest info regarding progress on CM9 for the Sprint Epic 4G Touch. Also, be sure to check in the Issue Tracker to see if your issue has been posted.


    Release Notes

    • In alpha5, we decided to get rid of the ability to reboot into recovery. Mind you, this is temporary. This decision was based on the user not being able to do anything in the recovery to begin with, with the eMMC bug in our devices' firmware, currently. This ability will be added back in the next public release of Cyanogenmod 9 for the Epic 4G Touch.

      Which brings me to my next point:
    • As said earlier, this will be our final alpha release before we delve into our beta cycle. With the imminent release of ICS for the Epic 4G Touch, there will surely be an imminent release of kernel sources, too. With that, we can patch up the eMMC devastating bug in the kernel, granted it's not already patched up by Samsung. 
    Changelog
    • Lockscreen Weather Widget. CM9 users now have the ability to add a widget to the lockscreen to display weather information.
    • Lockscreen Calendars Widget. CM9 users now are able to display their calendar on the lockscreen.
    • Apollo Music Player. CM9 now has a completely revamped music player with improved aesthetics and added functionalities. Click the link for more information.
    • Phantom Voicemail fix now merged in CM9
      • Non-Sprint carrier users probably will want to enable Phone > Settings > Message Wait Indicator if they use non-visual voicemail.
    • Calibration fixed in Device Settings. Prior, there was bad logic in the code for actually calibrating the gsensors. That has now been fixed.
    • Capacitive Lights Settings fixed in Device Settings. Like calibration, the there was an issue in the code for the checkbox preference to actually work. This has been fixed. 
      • How the checkbox is currently set to work is that when checked, the lights will be enabled; they will timeout after 6 seconds. With the checkbox unchecked, you completely turn off the touchkey lights altogether.
    • Switch to AOSP Charger. Charging when the phone is turned off is now using AOSP code and icons.
    • Kernel updated to FF02. Pretty self-explanatory.
    Links
    See the CM9 Status page for more details on the ROM, then head over to the CM9 Install Guide to install the ROM. Please check the Epic Touch CM Issue Tracker to see if your bug has been reported, before filing a new issue report.