SPH-L710 Galaxy S3 My Favorite So Far & Rooted

Galaxy S3 is my favorite phone so far. I finally decided to root Android for the first time. I followed this guide and it worked fine. Rooting instructions has several instruction steps but this method is not difficult. I put this off because it looked like too much work, it was not. I am currently on 10/23 and  beyond now. Tips are at the end of this post.

This video tutorial is better. The Odin version is newer and the auto reboot is checked and battery removal is not mentioned. I believe this older tutorial needs to be modified to the method of the first tutorial. I included it because it is such a good video and has basically the same info except for the modified instructions.

I installed the Wifi Tether for Root from the play store and it also worked fine on the Sprint network using the original factory ROM.

I have no clue what BusyBox does but I installed it. Here is a reasonable explanation. Sounds like it is not totally necessary for simple root.

Here is the XDA Sprint Galaxy S3 page

I am holding off on custom ROM ....

I am not quite sure what is going to happen when a new update is pushed out. Of course I did not back up the original so if an update breaks things it will be a session. The factory ROM appears easily available. I was going to wait for the Jelly Bean update before rooting but oh well ... I believe that the phone will not auto update over the air if rooted. If update is desired follow the link below or find the update modified for rooted device.

This covers updating if rooted.

How to Install the CyanogenMod 10 JB
here is the xda site
change log
possible camera improvement
Pandora 1.7 will not stream on 3G so need 1.6

I'm not touching this yet ..... when the bugs settle down I plan to try it.

Update: I installed the 8-15-12 Build: http://d-h.st/KOL and it works great. I am free at last!
The chat room says new builds should work by simply installing over old with no wipe necessary. Wouldn't that be nice?
http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=gs3-sprint
channel= #gs3-sprint

What are the benefits of CyanogenMod? All the Sprint bloatware is gone. The interface is fast and crisp and the Samsung stuff is gone. I much prefer the Google voice commands over Samsung anyway. I did have one crash in two days and had to pull the battery. This CyanogenMod is still a preview but everything I tried so far has worked. Wifi hotspot works but root allowed that. Galaxy 3S stock is great but Cyanogen is faster and cleaner.

I just updated to nightly build 902. I downloaded on the phone, no PC required and booted into Clockwork. No wipe needed, just backup and install new mod over old then reboot. It has the new CyanogenMod boot screen, very nice.

I do love CyanogenMod 10.

There is a 5 second call answer delay before caller can hear you. This is supposed to be fixed with the 905 build, a welcomed fix.

905 installed. 3g didn't work so pulled battery and cleared the 2 caches. Now it works. I will use 905 until the forum reports some major release improvement.

I think each flash works better after giving it a day or two to settle in. At least it seems so.

Test from my basement. Forget it, I forgot to turn wifi off. If it's looks to good to be true ....

But I did get this, once, sometimes I can't even get 3G. I don't think it is a CM10 issue. There are too many variables to make judgements other than if it works, I am happy.

I just got this with build 910 from basement. Just moving the phone a couple feet will change the speed drastically in my basement.

Benchmark

Quadrant benchmark

910 is a good build for me. Pandora over 3G shows visually but I get no sound. 

Here is some information on corporate PRL (preferred roaming list). I have not tried it yet. Some say it helps speed and some say it helps roaming.

No. 25006 is the normal consumer PRL (currently). The corporate PRL is what goes out to phones on corporate accounts - accounts owned by corporations for company-owned phones. PRLs starting with 240xx are corporate. PRLs starting with 250xx go to everyone else.

get file here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=31313444&postcount=5264

To install:

1. Download and extract prl file from zip

2. Place file on INTERNAL sd card

3. Make a copy of the file and name it "TEST" (TEST.prl)

4.. Make nandroid backup

5.. Flash TW rom

6.. From dialer hit ##DATA#

7. select view>>PRL Write

8. Hit write PRL and let phone reboot

9. Go back to CM10

Here is an interesting list of apps for the Galaxy S3.

For what it's worth, the external SD is not seamlessly used. If you must direct programs to us the external SD, a directory bind could work.

Tips:
1. LTE handoff try "home only" under "mobile networks"
2. Clockwork Mod is fine but I use GooManager and TWRP. Cyanogen 10 also has an auto update in "about phone" that will download nightly and use TWRP to reboot recovery.
3. Samsung USB driver
4. If you get an "open with this program" selection and make the wrong "always" choice do this to fix: Settings>Apps>All>Media Storage and "Clear Defaults"
5. If you want the stock Jelly Bean leak
6. Set up lan server in ES File Explorer
Find the IP of the computer on the network to which you wish to connect.
Enter that IP into "Server"
Enter user name and password for that computer
Display name is anything
Now when you tap the server, the shares on that computer will be listed.
You can now download files from the network shares.

7. AirDroid will allow you to access the phone files from a wireless computer.

8. If you want stock Jelly Bean go here and here.

9. Jelly Bean 4.2 stuff here all in one zip here

10. Change log
11. Flash for Jelly Bean 2011.1_11.1.115.11
12. On TW to fix data reception problems try dialing ##72786#
13. Interesting file manager to try.
14. Force roaming Roam Control
15. Things to rename for battery save found here.

I've jumped ship on CM10.0 because CM10.1 is the new nightly and has too many problems. FreeGS3 is a Touch Wiz mod and works great. I'm going to stick with it until CM10.1 is ready and then reconsider. The 3G radio works better in a TW rom.