Essentially, the Cellular South Milestone (referred to as Milestone from here out) is just a rebranded Droid.
This means an unlocked bootloader and the ability to easily flash roms and root the device for abilities beyond the stock rom.
Such abilities include storing apps on the sd card and tethering (though cellular south says no to tethering so no recommendations there).
Today we will look at how to root and flash to Sapphire.
First we need to root the device. This is easy. All one has to do is install one app from the web and run it. It's called UniversalAndRoot. To install it you need to get into "Settings" on your Milestone and then go to "Applications" and enable the "Unknown sources" option by checking the checkbox. After doing that, download UniversalAndRoot and run it for the 2.0-2.2 option. You should get a success message then close it.
You've successfully rooted your device and have now opened all types of opportunities. However, you're still at Android 2.1 and I assume you want to be on the latest and greatest 2.2 and be able to install Flash.
You do right? Now we look into a deeper modification that involves flashing a new rom called Sapphire to your phone. This will give you a lot of new features right out of the box but most of all, you'll be upgraded to the great Android 2.2.
Here's how. First go to the App Market and search for Rom Manager and download it (free or premium, doesn't matter).
Now what if all this messes up what we are about to do? We need a way to go back to the default image. So we will use Rom Manager to make us a backup. At the top is a button that says "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery". Hit that and say yes to everything. When it gets to the part that asks for super user permissions (remember, you rooted), hit the "Remember" checkbox and then hit allow. This will take a while. Wait until it says it has succeeded. If it says it has failed, try again (this will not mess up your device).
Now we need to make a backup. Scroll down in the Rom Manager and select "Backup Current Rom". It may ask for permissions, allow just like last time. It will reboot and start to backup. Then it will reboot and you'll be back in the Android interface.
Now we have a backup to revert to just in case we can proceed to flash Sapphire to the phone. Open up the Rom Manager and go to "Download Rom". In the list you will see many names for many different roms, however, I will only instruct on how to do Sapphire as I know for sure that this works. Go to "cvpcs" and choose the latest Sapphire (as of today is Sapphire 1.1.1 Froyo). Then click on "Download" and select "Install Google Apps" and then hit "OK". Then choose "cvpcs 7-slot 125-800mhz standard voltage" (choose others at own risk). That's the one known to work the best. I suggest choose the "Stock (Default)" theme. Choose whatever you please if you aren't new to this or scared of a new looking interface. Then choose "OK". When it finishes downloading the 60 + meg image, it will ask to install. Choose the "Wipe Data and Cache" option (or prepare for failures if not chosen) and then click "Install". It will reboot into recovery mode, flash Sapphire and Google Apps and your kernel and theme choice. It will then reboot and you will have an awesome phone. You will need to download Flash 10.1 on your own of course from the App Market (and the App Market will say verizon in it somewhere). However, those are little things that don't matter. If you didn't choose Google Apps then you won't have the market and may email me to ask how to get those things.
Do note I didn't tell you how to backup your data so you can recover it back. I generally just start new every time. Feel free to search for your own solution (and make comments as to what you prefer).
Lester L. Martin II (lmartin92, cs1ab) and any contributors (commentators) are not responsible for the use/misuse of the information provided within this post. You, the user, use the information provided at your own risk and are responsible for any possible damages, loss of data, damaged phones, damaged computers, or any other possible unforeseen complications from the use of said information.
I the owner of this blog did complete all the steps from a linux based computer. (Though you'll note none of those instructions mentioned a computer). What this means is I made messups here and there and did extra stuff that wasn't needed and that if you want to do the same I will give instructions in emails only as to how to do so under linux.
This means an unlocked bootloader and the ability to easily flash roms and root the device for abilities beyond the stock rom.
Such abilities include storing apps on the sd card and tethering (though cellular south says no to tethering so no recommendations there).
Today we will look at how to root and flash to Sapphire.
First we need to root the device. This is easy. All one has to do is install one app from the web and run it. It's called UniversalAndRoot. To install it you need to get into "Settings" on your Milestone and then go to "Applications" and enable the "Unknown sources" option by checking the checkbox. After doing that, download UniversalAndRoot and run it for the 2.0-2.2 option. You should get a success message then close it.
You've successfully rooted your device and have now opened all types of opportunities. However, you're still at Android 2.1 and I assume you want to be on the latest and greatest 2.2 and be able to install Flash.
You do right? Now we look into a deeper modification that involves flashing a new rom called Sapphire to your phone. This will give you a lot of new features right out of the box but most of all, you'll be upgraded to the great Android 2.2.
Here's how. First go to the App Market and search for Rom Manager and download it (free or premium, doesn't matter).
Now what if all this messes up what we are about to do? We need a way to go back to the default image. So we will use Rom Manager to make us a backup. At the top is a button that says "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery". Hit that and say yes to everything. When it gets to the part that asks for super user permissions (remember, you rooted), hit the "Remember" checkbox and then hit allow. This will take a while. Wait until it says it has succeeded. If it says it has failed, try again (this will not mess up your device).
Now we need to make a backup. Scroll down in the Rom Manager and select "Backup Current Rom". It may ask for permissions, allow just like last time. It will reboot and start to backup. Then it will reboot and you'll be back in the Android interface.
Now we have a backup to revert to just in case we can proceed to flash Sapphire to the phone. Open up the Rom Manager and go to "Download Rom". In the list you will see many names for many different roms, however, I will only instruct on how to do Sapphire as I know for sure that this works. Go to "cvpcs" and choose the latest Sapphire (as of today is Sapphire 1.1.1 Froyo). Then click on "Download" and select "Install Google Apps" and then hit "OK". Then choose "cvpcs 7-slot 125-800mhz standard voltage" (choose others at own risk). That's the one known to work the best. I suggest choose the "Stock (Default)" theme. Choose whatever you please if you aren't new to this or scared of a new looking interface. Then choose "OK". When it finishes downloading the 60 + meg image, it will ask to install. Choose the "Wipe Data and Cache" option (or prepare for failures if not chosen) and then click "Install". It will reboot into recovery mode, flash Sapphire and Google Apps and your kernel and theme choice. It will then reboot and you will have an awesome phone. You will need to download Flash 10.1 on your own of course from the App Market (and the App Market will say verizon in it somewhere). However, those are little things that don't matter. If you didn't choose Google Apps then you won't have the market and may email me to ask how to get those things.
Do note I didn't tell you how to backup your data so you can recover it back. I generally just start new every time. Feel free to search for your own solution (and make comments as to what you prefer).
Lester L. Martin II (lmartin92, cs1ab) and any contributors (commentators) are not responsible for the use/misuse of the information provided within this post. You, the user, use the information provided at your own risk and are responsible for any possible damages, loss of data, damaged phones, damaged computers, or any other possible unforeseen complications from the use of said information.
I the owner of this blog did complete all the steps from a linux based computer. (Though you'll note none of those instructions mentioned a computer). What this means is I made messups here and there and did extra stuff that wasn't needed and that if you want to do the same I will give instructions in emails only as to how to do so under linux.
EDIT:
I've been experimenting with roms and themes lately. Upon expirimenting, I have found certain roms work well. I will list roms and kernels and such below as an update as to what is working and what my experience with it was.
Sapphire is the only rom that I'm using right now. It works great out of the box with wifi (though certain 3rd party kernels don't and they generally don't work with wifi on any rom). I am running the low voltage 1.2 GHZ kernel and a custom theme Smoked Glass that simply looks awesome. Performance is by far the best in my opinion. Features are great as well. Overall, the only rom that comes out of the box without a problem for me. The Smoked glass theme had to be found seperately.
Lithium Mod is a great rom,
it and Sapphire are the only ones that work with wifi out of the box.
Works well with jdlfg and p3droid kernels (tested in low voltage up to 1.2 GHZ). It also worked well with the default kernel. The only problem experienced was the answer phone slide action doesn't work so well since the icon is smushed up against the left hand side of the screen. I installed the phone slider fix from Rom Manager and still no luck. Performance was great, however, Sapphire with stock kernels have performed faster in my opinion. It has customization preferences galore. It was the only one that let me change my boot theme as it had a tool to do such. I do think I'll find a way to do it without this though. I've ran it with the Nex Tang, Nex, Gala S, Default, and Smoked Glass theme that I find so awesome and stayed with Smoked glass through most of my time with this rom. I originally came to this rom to try themes I knew to be supported on this rom due to them being listed during installation from rom manager.
Pl3x rom is a cyanogen mod based rom so I'm going to put it as my opinion that this also applies to cyanogen mod as well. It is just a configurable as Cyanogen Mod plus a good bit more. I liked it and it ran well. It didn't have the problem with the phone slider either. However, the stock kernel and wifi didn't get along too well. So I went to JDLFG and P3DROID for kernels and once again was pleased. It didn't seem to have many unique features, but I switched to it since the phone problem was gone, and I could have my awesome theme with ease. Of course, I used Smoked Glass.
So overall the things that are common that worked for me were:
Kernels
P3Droid kernels
JDLFG kernels
Themes
Smoked Glass
What didn't work was:
ChevyNo1 kernels,
Slahyer kernels (I think I may have misspelled it and for that I am sorry, someone please correct me).
The reason that ChevyNo1's kernels didn't work was because certain wifi spots were not supported (WPA+WPA2 psk). Same applied to stock kernels for Cyanogen Mod. The ULV kernels didn't work at 1.2 GHZ so I had to step to LV.
The reason Slahyer's kernels didn't work (and I didn't look into it too well) was that I didn't see any voltage options. I tried 1.2 GHZ and super failed. It barely would let me boot past the Moto screen.
JDLFG's kernels were great, and wifi worked seamlessy, which was what I was looking for. However, it did kick my 3g down from EV to 1x. Ultra slow. It was a great fast kernel and I ran it for a while since I stay around wifi most of the day. It did run a little hot.
P3Droids was the top ranked kernel in my opinion. It ran well in 3G and wifi. It ran a little hot at times. Overall it was fine and had a lot more governors as well.
Whether the 2 kernels got hot over battery or cpu I do not know but it never destroyed my experience and never got unbearable hot (like it did with my one boot of Slahyer's kernel).
So what am I running now?
I'm running Sapphire with stock kernel clocked at 1.2 GHZ and smoked glass theme. This kernel has all the things I need and it doesn't get hot.
Maybe I'll get around to testing Liquid Frozen Yogurt. But if it requires a wipe data and cache it won't happen for a while. The best thing about the current roms I tried is I just swapped between them and kept my data with no problem. I did enjoy each, but of course, only one could be the winner and that is the one I came back to. It is also the only one I got a response from in IRC when I first started. To those of you reading this message who participate in that IRC channel, I'll be back soon to speak with you all about getting started with rom development. I've got a pet device I want to customize, and I may would like to help with your rom as well if there is anything I might be good at. Until that time comes, enjoy your favorite rom.
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