How to Install SOKP Android 4.4.4 on Galaxy S4 I9500 (Exynos 5 Variant)

The Sonic Open Kang Project (SOKP) firmware features the latest KitKat software with Android version 4.4.4 and is designed by Sonic Developers. The SOKP is based on the stable CyanogenMod base and selected features of various popular ROMs such as AOKP, AOSPA, SLIM ROM, Carbon, Omni and AOSB.

The SOKP custom firmware is especially build for those who like multitasking performance and optimum speed. One of the key features of the ROM is Real True-HD DTS Sound with HD display optimisations for videos and images. Additionally, the firmware has inbuilt options and settings to make customisations for the Android powered smartphone.

Sonic Open Kang Project changelog

• Customisable clock and date including Seconds with custom colors
• Customisable Battery icon with custom colors
• Status bar Notification Counts
• Double tap to sleep option in status bar
• Status bar Network Speed
• Status bar Breathing Notification icons for SMS, Missed Call, Voice mail
• Quick Pull-down & Auto Close Panel
• Open quick settings tiles in floating window
• Flip Tiles
• Customizable quick settings styles no of tiles per row and custom colors
• More Than 35 Select able Tiles
• 6 Dynamic Tiles
• Customizable Notification backgrounds with custom colors and transparency
• Notification panel Auto Close Behavior & Smart Pull down
• Brightness Slider
• Custom Carrier label with option to hide carrier label
• Option to display wifi network name
• Swipe to switch Detection
• Customizable quick access Ribbon
• Notification Reminder
• Notification shortcuts
• Customizable power menu with Screen shot, screen record, On-The-Go-Mode
• Customisable Illumination buttons time out
• Power Button to end cal
• Customisable device wakeup with home, volume buttons
• Customisable long press action and Double tap action
• Option to reorient volume button when screen rotates
• Keyboard cursor control
• Playback control with volume button when screen id off
• Clear all Button with custom positions in Recents Panel
• Slim Recents with customizable app size, expended mode and topmost task options
• Option to Switch Between Slim Recents and AOSP Recents
• Customizable Ram Bar
• Gesture Lock Scren
• Lock screen Themes custom lock handle Icon and custom colors
• Battery around Unlock ring
• Lock Screen battery status
• Customizable lock screen slider shortcuts
• Customizable lock screen button actions
• Glowpad double tap gesture
• Lock screen Blur
• Custom Lock screen widgets
• Indenticons
• Customisable Smooth progress-bar
• Sound Packs
• LCD Density changer
• Suspend Actions
• Screen Recorder with Record able audio from microphone
• Wake Lock Blocker
• System Application Remover
• GPS optimizer
• Gesture anywhere customisable trigger position, width and height
• App Bar
• Customisable Ribbons
• Customisable Navigation Bar and Navigation Rings
• Application Circle Bar with option to launch applications in floating window
• PA Peek
• Lock screen Notification with pocket mode
• Active Display advanced Settings
• Halo with Custom Colors
• PA Hower
• Heads UP
• Driving Mode
• CTR Animations
• Toast Animations
• Custom System Animations
• IME Animations
• List View animation with List view Interpolarors
• Slim TRDS 3.0 with Automatic Theme Switching option on light condition change
• New Cyanogen Mod Themes with customizable Styles, Icons, fonts boot animation, sound packs etc
• Custom Profile switcher
• Expanded Desktop (See Display Settings)
• Customisable advanced Display with Scenario, night mode
• Enable disable Notification Light and Battery light
• Screen Caster
• Partition Info
• Custom Volume Steps
• Ascending Phone Ring Tones
• Enable Disable Sound Option for camera Shutter, Dock Insert Sound, Play sound when connected to Power source
• Customizable Low Battery Warning
• Search Option in Settings
• Privacy Guard
• Captions
• Magnification Gesture (Triple Tap to zoom feature in system wide)
• ADB over Networks
• Mock Location and Mock SMS
• Omin Performance Control and Omni switch
• Dial Pad Key Padding
• Slims Actions
• Adoptive Back light
• Cyanogen Mod Hexo Theme
• Own Custom DTS Audio System with support of Audio Fx as a customizable equalizer which can be used for system wide sound control
• Sony X-Reality Engine
• Inbuilt Tweaks to Boost performance of Overall ROM

Head over to the development thread to know more about the features of SOKP ROM.

The SOKP build is available for the Galaxy S4 (I9500) powered by Exynos 5 octa-core. Interested users who wish to enjoy the features of SOKP ROM on their Galaxy S4, may follow the guide below to install the custom firmware featuring Android 4.4.4.

IBTimes UK reminds its readers that it will not be held responsible for any damage to the device. Before following the installation guide, users are advised to verify their devices meet the following requirements.

Pre-requisites

• Install USB Drivers for Galaxy S4 to transfer files between the Android device and the computer.
• Enable USB Debugging Mode on the phone to connect it with the computer and use Android SDK with it. [Navigate to Settings>> Developer Options then check USB Debugging.]
• As the tutorial might wipe out all data of the phone, create a backup. If the device has any custom recovery such as ClockworkMod or, TWRP then back up data using the same.
• If the Android phone powers off due to lack of battery during the process, it could damage the device. Therefore, the Galaxy S4 should have above 80% battery charge.
• The phone should be rooted and have the latest version of recovery.
• The SOKP Android 4.4.4 ROM works only with Samsung Galaxy S4 GT-I9500. As applying this to any incorrect variant might brick the device, verify the model number of Galaxy S4 by navigating to Settings>> About phone>> Model number.
• After flashing the ROM if the device gets stuck on booting animation or experience boot loop then perform wipe cache partition and wipe dalvik cache for a few times before rebooting the device.
• Once the ROM is installed, users are advised to give 10 minutes to the ROM after the device boots up for the first time for better user experience.

Download files

SOKP ROM

Google apps

How to install Android 4.4.4 on Galaxy S4 I9500 with SOKP ROM

Step-1: Connect and mount the Galaxy S4 USB memory on the computer with USB cable. Copy both the downloaded zip files to the SD card of the phone. Ensure the file is in the SD card root not in any folder

Step-2: Disconnect the phone from the computer and switch it off

Step-3: Enter into recovery mode by pressing and holding Volume Up, Home and Power buttons together

Step-4: Create a Nandroid backup of the current ROM, which can be restored later if the new ROM does not work or if you wish to go back to the previous ROM. Select backup and restore, name the file and confirm the process. Go back to main recovery menu when the backup is completed

Step-5: Perform a data wipe by selecting wipe data/factory reset. Use the Power button to select everything while in recovery mode

Step-6: Do a cache wipe by selecting wipe cache partition

Step-7: Perform wipe of dalvik cache. This is optional but it is recommended to do so the device will not get into bootloops or any other error. From CWM recovery, go to advanced then select wipe dalvik cache

Step-8: Install SOKP on Galaxy S4. Select install zip from sdcard >>choose zip from sdcard. Now browse to the location where Android 4.4.4 ROM is saved, select it and confirm installation on the next screen

Step-9: When the ROM is installed, repeat the same procedure to flash Gapps file

Step-10: After the installation process is completed, go to "+++++Go Back++++" and reboot the phone into normal mode by selecting reboot system now. The phone should boot now and might take a few minutes to boot on the first time

The Galaxy S4 should now be running SOKP Android 4.4.4 custom firmware. Navigate to Settings>> About phone to verify the new software version.

[Source: Team Android]