The first alpha builds for Paranoid Android that have the new HALO feature baked in have been out for a week now, but one thing they seriously lacked was the ability to handle multiple notifications. Well, it appears the addition of this feature is just about ready for launch and have been previewed in a new video found on YouTube. 

HALO allows users to access any system app notification while inside another app. No more backing out of apps to view notifications and reply to friend’s messages. Everything is handled through HALO. Once this is launched, multiple notifications will be handled with an easy swipe of your finger. Watch the video and then stand up and clap for the developers of PA. This feature looks slick.

All I can say is, I want it right now.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers JetBlue!

Video: Preview of Paranoid Android’s HALO With Multiple Notification Support is a post from: Droid Life

Over the weekend, the first alpha builds of the 3.50 Paranoid Android ROM hit the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7. Starting today, all of you Galaxy Nexus owners can get in on the fun too. What makes Paranoid Android so special is that it features the fancy new Halo feature, something we have been chatting about for the past week. With Halo, you can have a system-wide Chat Head-like feature for your most recent notification. It’s new, sexy, and very cool. 

To download the build, follow the via link to XDA down below. Be on the lookout for a hands-on video with Halo sometime later today.

Via: XDA

Cheers Will, Jeremy, and Mike!

Builds of Paranoid Android 3.50 Now Up for Verizon “toro” Galaxy Nexus is a post from: Droid Life

Details are still scarce as to what exactly is going on, but there are plenty of teasers on Google+ and YouTube taking place, showing proof of concept for a new “multi-window” feature that is to be baked into the Paranoid Android ROM. Please allow me to try and explain. Imagine a Chat Heads-like function for every application on your device. That is what they are working on. 

From what they have said on their G+ page, this will be a marriage (that’s what we’re calling it) between multi-windows and Chat Heads, allowing users to access apps/messages while they are doing anything else on their device. For example, if you are playing a game that takes up your full screen, then get a message on Gtalk, a window will pop up allowing you full control over Gtalk while still inside your game. This functionality will work for any app on your phone. Facebook, Skype, uploading photos to Dropbox, or anything else you might need to do on your phone.

If this sounds exciting to you (it certainly should), you can expect alpha builds to start popping up for Nexus devices within the next couple of days according to the video’s uploader on YouTube. In the mean time, below is a video showing off the initial concept, but how it actually works and looks will be different according to the uploader. Once builds go up, we will link you to them.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via: +Paranoid Android

Cheers Chris and everyone else who sent this in!

Paranoid Android to Introduce New Multi-Windowing Chat Head-like Feature in Upcoming Alpha Build is a post from: Droid Life

I will admit, it is nice to start talking about custom ROMs for Motorola devices again. After a breakthrough on the unlocking of Moto bootloaders, developers have been hard at work to bring their ROMs to a new line of devices. Today, we are featuring RageHD for the DROID RAZR HD on Verizon, developed by BigDaddyHicks and his team. 

This ROM looks to bring a smoother experience to users, with a de-bloated (thank goodness) and zipaligned system, you will be flying though apps. PIE controls have been added for an extra-classy way to control your device, Goo Manager has been installed for easy updates, plus battery tweaks were performed to increase your device’s daily lifespan.

To top it off, there is already a theme available for the ROM called Metallic Blue which is shown above. Pretty snazzy looking.

Features:

• Deodexed
• Debloated
• Zipaligned
• Pre-Rooted
• Adb Insecured
• Adrenaline V3 Boost (Thanks to ImbaWind)
• Loopy Smoothness (Scrolling Smoothness Tweak)
• Full Init.d Support
• PIE Controls (LMT Launcher)
• DSP Manager
• Goo Manager Updates
• Amazing Battery Saving Tweaks
• Tons Of Awesome build.prop Tweaks

To download and install, you will need your bootloader unlocked and a custom recovery installed. If you need to do that still, look here on this post. If you are already unlocked and ready to rock, follow the via link below.

Via: DROIDRZR

Cheers MichaelFranz!

Custom ROM Friday: RageHD for the Motorola DROID RAZR HD is a post from: Droid Life

Welcome to Custom ROM Friday. Today, we are featuring CleanROM for the Galaxy Note 2 from developer scrosler. There is only so many ways to describe a custom ROM, so who better to sum up their work than the developer themselves? Here is the basic idea behind the ROM - “CleanROM is targeted to the towards the user that wants a stock ROM experience with the ability to choose the features and functions they want, demand performance and expect stability!” 

Seems, legit, right? On top of having a completely stable and performance-enhanced build, users are able to choose which add-ons and modifications they want to use. For example, features such as Samsung’s multi-window are beefed up to allow any app to be compatible, as well as the unlocked ability to WiFi tether. As a cherry on top, the developer also threw in some additional ringtones and fonts for the device.

Below we have placed some features that should certainly get some excited, as well as a link to where you can download the ROM.

Notable Features:

• International N7105XXDMB6 Jellybean 4.1.2 Base
• Multi Window Control to add or remove any app you want!
• WiFi Tether Unlocked!
• Unsecure boot image with init.d support!
• Samsung Find My Mobile capable!
• Long Press to skip music tracks with screen off!
• Additional Ringtones and Fonts!
• Performance and Stability that is nothing short of Legendary!

To download CleanROM, head to the full XDA thread here.

Overview of CleanROM via YouTube:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers everyone who submitted a ROM!

Custom ROM Friday: Scott’s CleanROM for Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a post from: Droid Life

It’s almost the weekend, so let’s get a shiny new ROM flashed for you to play with. Today, CyanogenMod launched the 10.1 M3 builds for an impressive list of phones like the Galaxy S3, Nexus 4, One X, Galaxy Nexus, etc. Naturally, as more builds are uploaded for different devices, you can expect to see this already impressive list grow even larger. 

In terms of what is new, you can expect to see the new Pie Control UI baked in, Koush’s open source Superuser application, and plenty other little goodies.

To download the M3 build for your device, follow the via to head to CM’s main download landing page.

Via: CM

CyanogenMod 10.1 M3 Builds Now Available For Large List of Devices is a post from: Droid Life

Tomorrow is Friday, which means it’s time to submit your choices for Custom ROM Friday. There are hundreds of developers out there with tons of great work, so here is your chance to make sure that everyone is getting their fair share of the glory.

In the comments, link us to your favorite ROM currently and go over why it should be featured. In essence, what makes this ROM better than the others? Let us know which device you are running it on too.

Check out our previous Custom ROM Friday posts.

Now Taking Submissions for Tomorrow’s Custom ROM Friday is a post from: Droid Life

Yesterday, we took submissions for Custom ROM Friday and got an overwhelming response to check out SynergyROM for the Galaxy S3. SynergyROM brings your basic Galaxy S3 skin look, but with lots of performance tweaks and optimizations such as re-sizable floating windows, Photo Sphere abilities, and other goodies. 

A team of developers have worked the ROM to be compatible with Galaxy S3 devices on all four major carriers, so there’s no discrimination going on here. Naturally, if you are interested in flashing any ROM, you will need to be running a custom recovery on your device. Below, we have taken a few of the major highlights of SynergyROM and listed them below.

Features:

• Jelly Bean 4.1.2
• Fully Deodexed, Zipaligned, Busybox, Superuser, Debloated
• Multiwindow with free-floating windows, created exclusively by Team Synergy!
• Team Synergy’s custom init.d scripts for insane performance
• Blocked Samsung’s “root checker” and screenlogger services
• 23 notification toggles
• 4-in-1 reboot menu
• Fully rotating homescreens
• Wifi Tether app working right out of the box
• Customized mounting scripts (see Q&A)
• Custom boot animation support
• 4G and WiFi speed tweaks
• Verizon OTAs blocked
• Customized SystemUI interface
• Tons more tweaks and enhancements

To download SynergyROM for your Galaxy S3, hit up their XDA thread here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Cheers everyone who submitted a ROM yesterday!

Custom ROM Friday: SynergyROM for the Samsung Galaxy S3 is a post from: Droid Life

As someone so kindly suggested on Twitter, how about we move away from Facebook news for a minute and get back to our roots? Since tomorrow is Friday and all, it’s time for us to accept submissions for Custom ROM Friday. This is your chance, every couple of weeks, to tell us what your favorite ROM of the moment is and for which device. Sell it to us in the comments by listing out features, the developer’s name, and the device you are using it on – just make sure you leave enough details so that we know why this ROM is kick ass.

The last couple of CRFs produced BAMF, CarbonROM, and Shiny, so let’s see what else is out there.

Check out our previous Custom ROM Friday posts.

Taking Submissions for Custom ROM Friday is a post from: Droid Life

The CyanogenMod team took to their Google+ page earlier, announcing that Pie Controls, a feature made popular in the Paranoid Android ROMs, would now be baked right into the CM10.1 nightlies.

Pie Controls are quick controls that are triggered by swiping on the display. While not in use, they are hidden, but with the quick swipe of a finger, you have access to settings, home buttons, or however you want to configure them for your device. 

If you feel like grabbing the newest CM nightly once it goes live, follow this link.

Via: +CyanogenMod

Cheers Pratik and Mack!

Pie Controls Now ‘Baked’ Into CyanogenMod Nightlies is a post from: Droid Life

This week, there was an overwhelming cry for us to feature BAMF’s Paradigm v3.1 for Custom ROM Friday. We touched on the original Paradigm last year, but it looks like there has been some major updating going down since then. It is based off of Android 4.2.2, and brings some killer custom features, coupled with great speeds and long battery life. What else could you ask for in a custom ROM? 

It is currently available for Nexus devices such as the Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 7, and Nexus 4, but there are murmurs suggesting it is also coming to the Galaxy S3. Below, I have thrown in some of the more awesome features that come baked inside, which should help you decide if you want to go ahead with your flashing. As a quick example, there are some extra LWP’s (I love LWP’s), configurable search soft key, and even a snazzy custom boot animation.

Add-ons:

• All stock sound files
• Additional live wallpapers not included in AOSP
• Enabled extra browser settings
• Increased rotation and animation speed and opened up 360 degree rotation
• Accurate battery
• Custom clock widget from ICS pre-release
• Added long press of Recent apps to activate menu key
• Configurable Search soft key with option to enable/disable
• Custom launcher with search bar removed, 4×5 grid layout, and custom app drawer button

BAMF Add-ons:

• Custom boot animation with audio (thanks to gadget! for the logo)
• BAMF LTE Widget
• BAMF Torch Widget
• Configurable Lockscreen with three hotseats, selectable left target, and pull down for Torch
• Completely configurable QuickSettings replacing normal settings in Status Bar

Downloads: Nexus 4 | Nexus 7 | Galaxy Nexus

Via: Team BAMF

Cheers everyone who submitted!

Custom ROM Friday: BAMF Paradigm v3.1 For Nexus Devices is a post from: Droid Life

With a recent story about one of, if not the largest custom ROM development teams for Android, possibly not having major support for the upcoming Galaxy S4 smartphone from Samsung, does this affect potential device buyers? For example, only a few months ago I would have still recommended the Galaxy Nexus, for the sole reason that developer support is amazing for that device. It will remain alive and well in the forum threads well after it’s “End of Life” announcement from carriers, receiving the newest version of Android for probably another year or however long it takes for the hardware to become outdated. 

As for me, if anyone pays attention, I make a point somewhat regularly that the time of custom ROMs is behind us and Android as a whole. I mean this in the sense that the reason I started rooting and tweaking was because Android was bland, ugly, and the processors were slow. Once you would boot up a custom ROM, you could make a device run faster, look better, and experience the device in a whole new light. Again, this is back when the notification bar was white and having a single core processor clocked at 1GHz was considered “dangerous.”

I say these times are behind us because frankly, Android has become an extremely sexy OS since those days, with OEMs adding equally good-looking hardware and powerful processors  For me, the reasons I rooted are no longer there, making the task pointless.

With that said, there are still many people who buy phones these days and immediately unlock, root, and flash ROMs to get rid of OEM skins such at HTC’s Sense and Samsung’s TouchWiz. I have heard countless times already that many more people would be interested in the HTC One if it came with vanilla Android instead of Sense 5. So, what if that was never a possibility?

Imagine a device you have your eye on is not receiving custom ROM support – would you still be purchasing?

Question of the Day: Would You Buy a Phone That Developers Won’t Support? is a post from: Droid Life

It’s Thursday, which means it is time once again to submit your suggestions for tomorrow’s Custom ROM Friday. CRF is the perfect time for developers to grab the spotlight and show off what they are bringing to the community. With the number of ROMs growing, it is sometimes hard to breakthrough and have the masses find your work and unfortunately, I get lost in all of those countless forum threads.

If you want to submit a developer’s ROM or submit a ROM of your own, please provide a brief description of the ROM, which device(s) it is available for, and a link to a thread where we can check it out.

Check out our previous Custom ROM Friday posts.

It’s Time to Submit Your Suggestions for Custom ROM Friday is a post from: Droid Life

A developer on XDA has been hard at work, porting HTC’s newest Sense 5 software to the DROID DNA. Currently, it has some bugs that need working out, but nothing that makes it unusable. For instance, if you had big hopes for HTC Zoe on your DROID, that is currently unavailable. But no worries, the developer is plugging away on fixes. 

Beyond bugs, you will have access to that brand new BlinkFeed that HTC introduced, Android 4.1.2, and a Beastmode kernel. Before anyone asks, yes you must be rooted and running a custom recovery in order to flash this zip file.

You can see a preview of this ROM below, although I will have to warn you that the camera work is awful.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Via: XDA

Cheers Tim!

Developer Ports Sense 5 ROM to DROID DNA, BlinkFeed in All of Its Glory is a post from: Droid Life

Today, the newest official builds of CyanogenMod are now up on their servers for flashing. These 10.1 M2 builds run the latest Android 4.2.2 code, bringing the newest Android goodies from Google and tons of custom features, much like you would expect from Team Douche.

Noteworthy devices able to flash these newest builds are the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Nexus (yes, toro is there), Nexus 4, OG Note, Nexus 10, and a ton more. For the full list of supported devices and links to download, check it out here.

Via: CyanogenMod

CyanogenMod 10.1 M2 Builds Running Android 4.2.2 Now Up Flashing is a post from: Droid Life