FreshROMs 11.5.1.2 – The "Not-so-major" Update

John Vincent (TenSeventy7) - FreshROMs Main Dev

FreshROMs 11.5.1.2 is here! Let's explore all the features coming to this "not-so-major" update.

Under-the-hood Improvements

FreshROMs 11.5.1.2 includes the January 2021 security patches for the vendor, now based on A505FNXXU5BTLA (DBT). The system base is currently stuck on A507FNXXU5CTK3 (XTC) due to Samsung not bringing updates to the Galaxy A50s for the meantime.

Refined Kernel (Q) has been upstreamed to its current version as well, now on Linux kernel 4.14.113.

Comparison between stock (1.1) and FreshROMs 1.2 LMK values

This release also drastically changed how the system is tweaked. Almost all prop tweaks used in 1.1 have been dropped, with 1.2 focusing on improving how the system and One UI manages the RAM.

Values Samsung's custom low-memory killer (LMK) and RAM management implementation have been tuned to better manage variants with only 4GB of RAM. I focused on allowing less apps to remain in RAM, but not trigger the system too much that it kills them aggressively. This wouldn't affect 6GB variants much, but 4GB variant testers reported having at least 1.5GB free RAM.

FreshROM 11.5.1.2 will also include kernel tunables based on tytydraco's KTweak. Testing has shown that it has improved UI performance and has resulted in less jitter when navigating One UI. They are very light tweaks, and can be augmented by your own set of tweaks if chosen.

More Friendly Onboarding Experience

The all-new, fully-rewritten FreshToolkit will now be used on both ROM and addon installers starting with FreshROMs 11.5.1.2 and FreshROM addons starting v11.5.2.0. With FreshToolkit, it's easier to install FreshROM thanks to its automatic detection of installed addons, current OMC, and even MagiskHide modules such as MagiskHide Props Config.

The new installer can now backup your addons as well! Simply install your addons (requires addons v11.5.2.0 above!) once, and update FreshROMs anytime. You can be assured that your addons will be backed up and restored after ROM installation. Few files less to flash when you update!

The new FreshToolkit will also enable your addon installer to be its own addon uninstaller! Simply flash the same addon from TWRP and it will automatically uninstall itself.

Best of all, FreshToolkit is open source! Find it on GitHub here.

We <3 Samsung Camera (the features, not the app lol)

Switch cameras during Video mode and Pro Video mode

There was a bug including a hidden feature called "Quick Take" to FreshROMs 1.1 that caused some bugs on photo mode. I initially thought it is related to "Single Take" but it turns out it is a hidden and relatively undocumented feature.

This has been removed for 1.2, and the "burst photo"/"make GIF" capture modes have been switched back to "long-pressing the shutter button" (it was a swipe before). AR Doodle has been fixed as well and is tested working.

FreshROM 11.5.1.2 continues to add more functionality so you can maximize your Galaxy A50's camera. This release adds the ability to change between your device's rear and front cameras during recording, as well as allowing the use of the flash during Live Focus mode. Plus, you can now set the length of your Single Take shots! From the default 8 seconds, you can now set it from 5 to 15 seconds long!

Not only that, Pro Video, the feature that Samsung promised and failed to bring to the Galaxy A50 is also coming to FreshROMs 1.2! It will be the same "lite" mode the existing Pro mode uses, but it allows you to change White Balance and Exposure on the fly; even during recording!

Less Bloat, Less Bugs, More Fun

FreshROMs 11.5.1.2 continues removing more bloatware in the system, with the most recent "victims" including:

- Google's extra apps Duo, Gmail, Maps, and Android Auto;

- Samsung's Bixby Vision, Reminders, Lock Screen stories, Galaxy Friends, Kids Home Installer, Billing Service, and Push Service;

- ANT's ANT+ Bluetooth LE services; and

- Microsoft's Link to Windows/Your Phone and OneDrive.

They have been separated from the system and are now addons that can be installed separately.

Reported bugs such as "perma-dim always-on-display" have been fixed. Features such as High Performance Mode has been added to Device Care as well.

I <3 Community

All supported OMCs for FreshROMs 11.5.1.2

This FreshROMs release adds the Feedback app, which will allow you to send bug reports, feature suggestions, OMC requests, logs, screen recordings, and screenshots directly to me! The Feedback app is also fully open-source, find it on GitHub!

FreshROMs 11.5.1.2 will also include 90 OMCs compared to the previous 10, including the most-requested INS, SER, SEK, XXV, and more! The full list can be found on the photo. See if your OMC is supported for the next FreshROMs release!

Thank You 💛

This release will not be possible without the help of the community of users eager to test new features and report bugs. The community also tested the new peformance tweaks over the past week! Thank you all so much for sending in your feedback, suggestions, and product partitions (hey, that rhymed). Thank you all so much! 💛

I also want to extend my gratitude to @el0xren for contributing to Knox patching that honestly hurts my head, as well as allowing me to port over several camera features from Infinity OS.