Slaid, our knight in shining armour!

Members of various forums rejoiced recently as Slaid480 is taking over as device maintainer for the Samsung Galaxy Ace.

As we featured recently, we questioned whether official builds for Galaxy Ace were worth it. We were quick to judge, however it seems that official Cyanogenmod has been brought back from the grave.
Slaid480 is well-known in the Galaxy Ace community from creating various scripts and sharing them at xda. His most recent project, called SlaidyBoost, was even featured in xda’s news portal.

At the moment, Slaid is only releasing his builds on his xda thread, however when he gets access to CyanogenMod’s buildbot, nightlies should be pouring out.
We wish him all the best, and thank him for taking such a big role in the Ace community.

Was Official Cyanogenmod Worth The Wait? [Opinion]

As you may know, after a lot of speculation, Samsung Galaxy Ace users’ highly anticipated Official release of CyanogenMod 7 is now making its way. The community was so excited that a user even made an autoscript that checked for nightly every five minutes. In march, we got a nightly and a release candidate.

A week later, do we still think it’s the best? Many forum users are annoyed that they flashed the official build, as it isn’t as good as some KANG builds out there on the internet. Why? Here are 3 reasons;

• It isn’t recent!
  The nightly build was compiled a while back, as the BuildBot machine wasn’t running at full capacity
• There aren’t many changes!
  The RC build contained very few changes, and the changes implemented were very minor bug fixes
• The maintainer sold his phone!
  Kolja, the project maintainer for cooper recently announced on his Google+ account that he sold his Galaxy Ace

All in all, most people don’t really think it was really worth the wait and it’s properly better for you stick stick to those KANG builds, such as FrozenAceTeam’s build. Other active development teams, such as GalaxyICS are doing a great job with Ice Cream Sandwich for various low-end Samsung devices.

Did you give the official build a try, let us know what you think!

[Official] CyanogenMod 7 for Samsung Galaxy Ace [Release Candiadate 1]

Not a week has passed by since the first official nightly shockingly! appeared on CM repositories for Samsung Galaxy Ace. This was indeed with compliance with earlier reports that official CM 7.2 was confirmed for Ace & will release with the global schedule.

The Cyanogenmod 7.2 Official is finally making its way to Samsung Galaxy Ace. The final stable version release will coincide with the global official release of CM 7.2 for more than 69 devices.

There might be some bugs, so inexperienced users and those who would like a finished product might want to keep away.
So without further ado.. Here we go:
Download Links:

• CyanogenMod RC1 build: Official | Mirror (Mediafire)
• GAPPS GB 20120116 – Market 3.4.4
• cm-blackhawk-kernel.zip (Overclock Kernel)

1. If you aren’t already on Gingerbread (2.3.x), do so. (Tutorial)
2. Install CWM Recovery 5. (CWM 4 might work) (Tutorial)
3. While in CWM Recovery, do the following:
   • Wipe data/factory reset
   • Wipe cache partition
   • Wipe dalvik cache
4. In CWM Recovery, choose
   Install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > update-cm-7-20120312 NIGHTLY-cooper-signed.zip > yes. Install.
5. Reboot system!!
   Note: First boot may take 2-5 minutes.
6. Install Google Apps:
   • Choose Install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > gapps-gb-20120116-237-signed.zip > yes. Install
   • Reboot!
7. Install Kernel with Overclock capability
   • Choose Install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > cm-blackhawk-kernel.zip > yes. Install
   • Reboot!

And Done! Now you are up and working. Steps 6 & 7 are optional.

Note: Without step 6, you will lack basic google apps on your phone. They cannot be included in CM builds due to google objection.
Without step 7, you won’t be able to change CPU frequency.

Bugs:

• Yet to be reported (Report at code.google.com/p/cyanogenmod/issues/)

This is THE news people have been waiting for. Not only after the final version release, not only the users will have a definite version to install but the devs will also be able to use it as a base for a custom ROM.

7.2.0 CHANGELOG (notable new features or fixes)

New devices: Samsung Galaxy Ace
Common: Updated translations – (everyone)
Common: T9 predictive Phone dialer – Danesh M, Pawit Pornkitprasan
Common: Media player and recorder fixes for a number of corner cases – CAF, Danny Baumann
Common: Profile resets – Ladios Jonquil
Common: Assorted Wifi fixes
OMAP Common: Support for recent OMAP3/OMAP4 devices – omapzoom
Common: Control haptic in quiet hours – Danesh M
Common: Lockscreen updates and new styles – Andrew Sutherland, Danny Baumann, Danesh M, Sven Dawitz, Taichi Nishimura
Common: Bluetooth MAP support – Jonathan Bensen
Common: ICS telephony fix backports – Spencer Oliver
Common: Support for Bluetooth GPS dongles – Cuong Bui
Common: Better support for mouse and usb keyboards – Emilio Lopez, Tanguy Pruvot
Common: Fix timezone detection in Hawaii – Warren Togami
Common: ICS Transition effects backport – Russ Underhill
Common: ICS Rotation effects backport – Tanguy Pruvot
Common: Allow photo storage selection when possible – Greg Kochaniak
Common: Improved Calendar reminder options – Danny Baumann
Common: Fix color banding in Gallery while displaying 32bpp images – Sang Tae Park
Common: ADB over network
Common: Improved AVRCP 1.3 compatibility
Common: Improved external keyboard and mouse behaviour on some corner cases – Tanguy Pruvot
Common: Status bar battery icon configuration – Simon Davie

What do you guys think? Drop your opinions in the comments below.
[via XDA]

[Official] CyanogenMod 7 for Samsung Galaxy Ace [Nightly Apr 6]

So finally, its official! See, what did we tell you! Keeping faith & having patience finally paid up, huh!
The Cyanogenmod 7.2 Official is finally making its way to Samsung Galaxy Ace. A nightly was released on Mar 12 and a final stable version might not be much far away.
UPDATE:
Latest nightly of Apr 6 attached.

There might be some bugs, so inexperienced users and those who would like a finished product might want to keep away.
So without further ado.. Here we go:
Download Links:

• CyanogenMod Nightly build:
  6th April 2012 Build (Mediafire)
  12th March Build:  Official | Mirror (Mediafire)
• GAPPS GB 20120116 – Market 3.4.4
• cm-blackhawk-kernel.zip (Overclock Kernel)

1. If you aren’t already on Gingerbread (2.3.x), do so.
2. Install CWM Recovery 5. (CWM 4 might work)
3. While in CWM Recovery, do the following:
   • Wipe data/factory reset
   • Wipe cache partition
   • Wipe dalvik cache
4. In CWM Recovery, choose
   Install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > update-cm-7-20120312 NIGHTLY-cooper-signed.zip > yes. Install.
5. Reboot system!!
   Note: First boot may take 2-5 minutes.
6. Install Google Apps:
   • Choose Install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > gapps-gb-20120116-237-signed.zip > yes. Install
   • Reboot!
7. Install Kernel with Overclock capability
   • Choose Install zip from sdcard > choose zip from sdcard > cm-blackhawk-kernel.zip > yes. Install
   • Reboot!

And Done! Now you are up and working. Steps 6 & 7 are optional.

Bugs:

• Found any?

Fix for link2sd (credit to kansar)

Try moving/deleting init.d script “05mountsd” then reconfigure link2sd, that script interferes with Link2sd’s sd-ext partition mounting script

While installing this build & testing it might leave you unsatisfied, this is definitely very good news. This is THE news people have been waiting for. Not only After the final version release, not only the users will have a definite version to install but the devs will also be able to use it as a base for a custom ROM.

What do you guys think? Drop your opinions in the comments below.
[via XDA]

CyanogenMod 9 RC0 Beta 8 for Samsung Galaxy Ace [Video]

Good news! The work on ICS (unofficial) is going on smoothly. A beta 8 has been released with more bug fixes. You can try it in your phone though we would recommend you to wait for some time for the final version. However this build is quite stable.

Here is the download link.

Installation Guide:

Beta 3 Demo:

Note: Do a full wipe after installation.

Official CyanogenMod 7.2 Confirmed for Samsung Galaxy Ace

UPDATE: CM7.2 official is confirmed for Samsung Galaxy Ace & will roll out with the official 7.2 of all devices. More info

Why no nightlies?
Due to insufficient computing power available, the nightlies haven’t rolled out for SGA.

What about CM9?
If Samsung doesn’t rolls out ICS for Ace, it will be nearly impossible for an official CM9.

ORIGINAL:
Samsung Galaxy Ace has finally pulled it together. Expect official CyanogenMod Nightlies soon at the official website. No more betas by XDA devs. When all the bugs in nightlies will be sorted out, an RC version will follow and then a stable one.

More Information: http://review.cyanogenmod.com/#change,7133

New nightly build for download will be available  here as device name ‘Cooper’ (Within a week maybe): http://download.cyanogenmod.com/?type=nightly

So keep a little more patience. We will keep you updated.

Related Articles:
[Unofficial] Cyanogenmod 9.0 Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.9 Alpha for Samsung Galaxy Ace [Video]

Gingerbread 2.3.4 DDKQ6 (Kies Update India) & Differences

Yes!! The latest firmware for India region is now DDKQ6 Android 2.3.4.

Method 1: Update using Samsung Kies
Method 2: For flashing with Odin. here is the link to the firmware: DDKQ6 (Pass: sampro.pl)
Then just follow the ODIN tutorial.
We were unable to spot any differences from KQ5 so far. Did you?

Update: One of our reader Ramit has informed that the process of taking screenshots has changed. (by pressing back and home key simultaneously)
Simply press & keep holding the Home key. Task manager will pop up. Press back. Now press lock key to take a screenshot.
This way you can even navigate in the menu (still holding the home key) or some app and take multiple screenshots at a time conveniently.

Related Articles:
How to upgrade Samsung Galaxy Ace through Samsung Kies?

How to Overclock Samsung Galaxy Ace

Custom kernels are Hi-fi stuff. They unlock awesome features on your phone. We previously showed you how to flash the CF-Root Custom Kernel on Ace with BLN & Swap support. Today its time for overclock.

For overclock/underclock capabilities, you need to have a custom kernel that supports it. Thanks to the efforts of ketut.kumajaya , this is now possible on Samsung Galaxy Ace.

For now this will only work on the cyanogenmod 7 builds only . Refer here.

Instructions:

1. Install cyanogenmod7 build if not already on it.
2. Download the overclock kernel “cm-7.1-oc-kernel-2.6.35.7-perf-CL562111.zip”
3. Flash it using the CWM recovery.
4. Reboot & goto CM7 settings. Or use the SetCPU app for overclocking.

People are reporting 864,883 & even 940 MHz options as stable. Phone instantly reboots above those. It is not recommended to use too high a value. You will need to experiment for a stable value. Start from 800 and and go 1 level above at a time. Test for about half an hour atleast.

An undervolt module is yet not made for Ace. Till then be happy with whatever extra Hz you are getting.

images by Ketut.
[via xda-developers]

Android 2.3.5 XWKS9 for Samsung Galaxy Ace

UPDATE : Seems like Sammy wants to go upto 2.3.7 or possibly upto 4.0?!! We won’t mind that. Perhaps ICS? So the firmware is available with 2 CSC’s. Just so that you know.

Download Link:
2.3.5 XWKS9   CSC: XEO | XEF (Password: sampro.pl)

UPDATE : XWKS3 (update to XWKS2) is now available. Remeber, the same happened in India where KQ5 was followed by KQ6. Whats going on with Sammy here? Releasing buggy firmwares & then trying to cover up mistakes?
Regardless, here is the download link. Flash it with ODIN as told below for KS2.

Download Link:
2.3.5 XWKS3 (Password: sampro.pl)

ORIGINAL
Another official update has hit the Ace. We were previously unsure whether this was the official version or not, but it is! The build date is mentioned as 17th Sep 2011. It is a Europe  region firmware though anyone else can install it.

Android 2.3.5
Band Base S5830XWKS2
Kernel 2.6.35.7-perf-CL601370 DELL124 root @ # 1
Build GINGERBREAD.BUKS1F
PDA: S1F / PHONE: KS2 / CSC: KS1 (OMN)

Instructions:

1. Download the one package file from here.(Pass for the rar: sampro.pl)
2. Flash it with ODIN using the ‘onepackage method‘ using this tutorial

What do you think about so much firmwares? Let us know in the comments section below.

How to flash CF-Root kernel (Ex with BLN & swap) on Samsung Galaxy Ace (Gingerbread)

Previously we showed you how to flash CF-Root kernel on Samsung Galaxy Ace but that version of kernel didn’t include BLN & swap support. Today we are going to show you how to flash this kernel on your stock Gingerbread (versions listed below). This tutorial is not meant for new users.
If you don’t already know, CF-Root kernel is very popular kenel for Samsung Galaxy Ace. It provides many popular features like Ext4 file system & many useful scripts.As of now all the Customs Roms are based on this kernel.

Note : This is not a custom firmware. It is only a kernel for Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830 . You do NOT need to wipe anything for this patch. This will  work with KPH/KPN/DDKQ5/KPB/KPO versions of GB.