Oppo ColorOS doesn’t have tablet mode in its framework and I already bored tweaking the stock rom, besides, this GGD4 model has decent screen resolution vs dpi, and then i thought it would be nice if i make xperia rom on it. Got nothing to do while waiting for Walking Dead ep12 tv series,  then i create this xperia ported rom, here we go, go get it :

Features :

  • Android 4.2.2 with 3.4.5 kernel
  • Rooted, busybox, fully deodexed, zipaligned
  • rooted boot.img
  • init.d support + busybox run parts
  • gps, bt, hsdpa tweak
  • more languages
  • Superuser by Clockworkmod (thanks to Koush)
  • entropy generator tweak (thanks to lambgx02)
  • Xposed framework (thanks to rovo89 and Tungstwenty)
  • GravityBox customization module (thanks to C3C076)
  • PureXperia rom base (thanks to bgos10)
  • … something i forgot to list

Known issues :

  • the sony xperia rom was designed to use the pc companion to communicate between mass storage with the desktop pc. I cannot try this since i’m on linux, and i’m experience difficulties mounting the internal storage and the external sdcard at the same time, and this is annoying for me. However, there always a workaround for this issue by using ESExplorer file manager apps and transfer the files across network.
  • WiFi and Network location menu is missing from the Location access settings menu for some reason. However, when i’m logging in to my google accounts, then i enable Access Location option when maps asking to enable it, the feature seems working normally. maps can found my location abruptly even the gps icons still blinking try to find my precise location.

Here we go the custom rom :

Download : picopad_ggd4_xperia_signed_030314_161503.zip

MD5 : a7abc767ad2a256c5cd4f6b4c431bd26

And here is the steps to flash this custom rom :

Requirement and Preparation :

  • Read this thoroughly : Your warranty is now void !!! I am not responsible if you brick your phone, get stuck in a bootloop, or if your phone grows arms and tries to kill you. Flash at your own risk! Please do some research if you have any concerns about risk of flashing a custom rom before continuing! YOU are choosing to make these modifications, and if you point the finger at me for messing up your device, I will laugh at you!! If you have any other objection, don’t bother to comment, just close this page.
  • This custom rom need a custom recovery to flashed into the device, if you haven’t got it, get it here : cwm recovery for PICOpad GGD4. Both are working good for this device, get it whichever you like.

Flashing Process :

The steps to flash this custom rom is pretty straight forward :

  • Download the custom rom from link above and copy it to the root of your sdcard, you may check it first with your file manager to confirm it was there. There are two sdcard storage on this device, so you must know it’s at the internal sdcard or external sdcard. I prefer you to put this on external sdcard to avoid any difficulties.
  • Boot into recovery mode by turning off your phone, hold down Volume + button then press power button, hold them both until you see axioo logo on screen then release it. Wait a sec or two … then you’ll be in recovery mode.
  • BACKUP your stock rom and data using BACKUP feature, make sure you use external storage as destination because this backup is relatively big.
  • Choose Wipe Data / Factory reset and execute it.
  • Choose Wipe cache partition and execute it
  • Choose Wipe Dalvik Cache and execute it
  • Go back to main menu, and choose Install
  • It will open a list of file on your sdcard, choose the custom rom zip file that you put on step 1 and flash it.
  • After the installation completed, choose Reboot System
  • Done

Here is the result after flash :

Enable Landscape mode

Since this is a tablet device and all tablet usually use on landscape mode, then it would be nice to enable the auto rotate mode on Xperia launcher and also the lock screen.

  • To enable auto rotate feature on this Xperia home is very easy, just go to Settings -> Display -> Enable auto rotate.
  • To enable auto rotate feature on lockscreen you can use Gravitybox. Enable the Xposed framework like I explain above and after the framework is active, open Gravitybox -> go to Lockscreen Tweak -> Enable Lockscreen Rotation.

Disabling SIM2 signal icon

This device is a single sim model, and the xperia rom that I took as base is dual sim version, so it’s pretty clear that the sim2 will show no signal icon all the time. I cannot make the sim2 signal strength icon on status bar dissapear, i don’t know why, but my hack code on patching SystemUI that usually works on aosp and stock rom doesn’t work on this xperia framework, then … i release it as is. But no worries, there are plenty of hacks out there that can disable this signal strength icon too. Once again, we will use the awesome Xposed framework and Gravitybox to fix this.
Open Gravitybox -> go to Statusbar tweaks -> Auto-hide signal icons, then enable all the three of the option, Auto-hide SIM1, SIM2 and disable notifications. The SIM2 signal icon will immediately gone.

Here is the looks on my borrowed device after hiding the SIM2 signal icon during testing the functionality before releasing this rom :

Enjoy your PICOpad GGD4.