PimpmyCaptivate.

(ComprehensiveNoobFriendlyGuide)
ForSamsungCaptivate(AT&T)

Writtenmostlybysystoxity
Certainpartsandformattingcreatedbynbs11
ManythankstheXDADevswhoactuallycreatedthesemethods.

Alright,soyouhaveabrandspankingnewbeastofaphoneyouwanttomakethe
mostofit.Thisguidewillhelpyoudojustthattheeasyway.Iwrotethistobe
asnoobfriendlyandtothepointaspossible.Themainpurposeistoboost
functionalitywhilepreservingasmucheyecandyaspossible.Allsuggestionsare
welcomeandtheguidewillbeupdatedasnewmethods,apps,andinformation
becomeavailable.

Itisabsolutelynecessarytofollowthestepsin
PreparationandRootyourphonebeforeattempting
anyotherpartofthisguide!

ThisisaQRcode.Youwillseeitthroughouttheguide.Itallows
quickeraccesstothemarketappswelist.Youmaychoosetouse
itornot,butitrequiresanappsuchasBARCODESCANNERto
work.Yousimplyopentheappandpointyourcameraatitand
voila.

Tableofcontents
Preparation
RootYourPhone
SpeedOptimization

SwappingouttheslowSamsungLauncher

TaskKiller

RemovingATTBloatware

BatteryOptimization
GPSOptimization
CPUOptimization
SideloadingMadeEasy
RemovingAT&TCrapware
ClockworkModRecovery
ChangingyourMessagingRingtone
Dumpingyoucarriervoicemail
SyncingwithiTunes
Recommendedappsandgames

PrepYourPhone:

Alright,firstthingsfirst,gotoyourappdrawerandnavigatetothedevelopmentmenuthrough
thefollowingpath:Settings>Applications>Development.ChecktheboxnexttoUSBdebuggingand
clickyourhomebutton.Also,forthesakeofsimplicity,ifyouhaveamicrosdcardremoveitforthe
durationofthisguide.

PrepYourComputer:
Windows:
Driversallowyourcomputertocommunicatewithyourphone.Thecrapdriversthatwindows
automaticallydownloadsjustwontdothetrick.SamsungKiesisthebestwaytogetdriversifyoudont
reallyknowwhatyouaredoingorhavingtroubleconnectingtoyourPC.Afterinstallingandupdatingit,
itwillautomaticallyinstalltheproperdriversforyourversionofwindowsandCPU.
SamsungKies:
1. Goto:http://img.samsungapps.com/support/Kies_1.5.1.10071_32.exeitsalarge
downloadsotakeabreakorreadahead.
2. Onceitsdone,starttheinstallandfollowthroughasyouwouldwithanyother
program.
3. Whentheinstallfinishes,startuptheprogramandselectKiesinthetopleftcorner.
Scrolldownandselectupdate.Anewwindowwillpopupandsearchforupdates.Ifit
findsany,installthemnow.
4. Plugyourphoneintoyourcomputer;giveitagoodminutetoshakehands.IfKiesstarts
downloadingadditionaldrivers,letit.WheneveritsdoneinstallingdriverscloseKies
andrestartthecomputer.
5. Inyoursystemtray(thebottomrighthandcornerofyourtaskbar)rightclicktheKies
trayicon,deselectbothautostartoptions,andselectexit.Wewontbedealingwith
Kiesanymore.Youcanmessaroundwithitlaterwhenyourebored.
IfyourehavingtroublegettingKiesupandrunning,heresalinkthatgoesintoabitmoredetail:
http://forum.xdadevelopers.com/showthread.php?t=731454.
DroidExplorer:
Nowletsinstallthemainappthathelpsusmanipulateournewphone.Followtheyellowbrickroadto
http://de.codeplex.com/releases/view/48865anddownloadthelatestversionofdroidexplorer.Go
aheadanddownloadthesetupnotthestandalone.Note:Dontscrewthisupanddownloadthewrong
file.Ifyouhavea64bitoperatingsystem,makesureyoudownloadtheonewithx64inthefilename,
32bitusersdownloadthex86version.Onceyouvegotthisbadboydownloaded,installitasyouwould
anyotherprogram.

Congrats,yourereadytogaincompleteaccessofyourphonenow.
Mac:
YouaintgottadonuthinbutdlAndroidSideloadWonderfromthisthread:
http://forum.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?p=236589#post236589makesureyougettheMac
versionatthebottom.

RootYourPhone:
(ThanksBlackjackboy!)

MakeSureyouhavefollowedthestepsinPreppingYourPhoneandPrepping
yourCompabove!

PC:
FirstoffdownloadtherootZIPfileathttp://forum.xda
developers.com/showpost.php?p=7169129&postcount=18
1. Renamethezipfiletoupdate.zip
2. Onyourphonegotosettings>applicatons>USBSettingsthenselectUSBMassStorage.Next,go
tosettings>Applications>DevelopmentandselectUSBDebugging.
3. WhenyourPhoneispluggedin,mountitfromthenotificationbarandwhenandWindowsasks
youwhattodo,selectopenfolder.Thendragupdate.zipintotherootdirectory.
4. Afteritisfinishedcopying,unplugyourphonefromyourcomputerandturnthephoneoff.
5. Turnyourphoneonbypressingvolumeupanddownwhilepressingthepowerbutton.
6. Usevolumeupanddowntoselectreinstallpackagesandthenpressthepowerbutton.Allowit
toupdate.
7. Onceyoureboot,yourphoneshouldberooted.
8. Patyourselfontheback.Sofaryourphonehasntcaughtonfire.
9. Lastlymakesureyouthankblackjackboy,whoalsocitesLesHack,Justadude,andChaoscentral,
forthispartofmyguide.
Ifyouhadtroublewiththispartoftheguide,headonovertoblackjacksthread.Theresplentyofgreat
intelthere,andyoursolutionhasmostlikelyalreadybeenposted.
Mac:
FollowthesamestepsasPCexceptinsteadofusingwindowsexplorerjustusefinder(yourphone
shouldmountasaexternaldrive)

SpeedOptimization

Launcher:
Wordonthestreetis:thedefaulthomescreenSamsunginstalledonthephoneisdetrimental
tospeed(alongwithbeingthesingleugliestskinforandroidtodate).Iminclinedtoagree,lets
swapitoutforsomethingbetter:
1. Openupthemarketplaceonyourphoneandtypelauncherprointhesearchfield.Oryoucan
scanthebarcodebelow.

2. SelecttheAppcalledLauncherProBetaandinstallit(itsfree!).
3. Onceitsdone,openupyourappdrawerandclickyourhome
button.Apopupwillaskyouwhatappyouwanttouseforthis
command.
4. Beforeyouselectlauncherpro,checktheboxthatsaysusethisasthedefault.Select
LauncherPro.
5. Onceyouareonyourhomescreen,pressandholdtheiconinthebottomleftthatshouldbe
yourcontactsicon.
6. Ascreenwillpopupaskingyoutoselecttheshortcut.
7. Pickapplicationsandthenselectcontacts.
8. Youhavenowreplacedyourdefaultlauncherwithamuchfasterone,congrats.

Youllnoticethatyourhomescreenwilllookalittle
differentnow.Thetimecanbeseenonthe
notificationbar.Ifyoumissabiganalog/digitalclock
onthehomescreendontsweatit.Doasearchinthe
marketforretroclockorclockwidgets.Pickout
somethingtoyourtaste,thisonesonme(aslongas
itsfree).Ifyouarewillingtospendsomemoney,the
bestonebyfarisBeautifulWidgetsthanksfor
bringingthisupMadjsp

TaskKiller:
Androidhasthishabitofneverclosingthingswhenyouredonewiththemuntilitsabsolutely
necessary.Someusersreportthatusingataskkillerimprovesperformancewhileothersinsist
androidhandlesmemorymanagementjustfine.Itsuptoyouwhetheryouinstallitornot.A
taskkillerisanappthatkillsotherappsthatarentinuseatscheduledintervals.ThisApplets
youselectwhichappscanstayaliveandwhichappsitcankill.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

HeadtothemarketplaceandsearchforAdvanceTaskKiller.
SelecttheapplabeledAdvanceTaskKillerFree.
Installit
Selectthenewlyinstalledappinyourappdrawer.
Clickthemenubuttononyourphoneandselectsettings
Makesureautostartisselectedandshownotificationsdisabled
HolddownonahomescreenandselectWIDGETS
FindtheTaskKillerwidgetandplaceitonyourhomescreen.
Everytimeyourphoneisrunningsloworyourbatteryislow,just
pressthebutton.


RemovingATTBloatware:
AlrightyourphonesfasterthanaKenyannowwhat?LetsuninstallsomeofthecrapAT&Ttriestoshove
downourthroat.Hereswhatyouneedtodo:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Hitthemarketplaceagainanddoasearchfortitaniumbackup.
Downloadthefreeversionandletitinstall
Onceitsupandrunningclicktheproblemsbuttonatthebottom.
Whenpromptedwithainformationbox,selectyesdoit.
Whenitsdone,gotothetopandselectbackup/restore

BeverycarefulhereandonlyremoveTHEFOLLOWINGapps.*Missclickinghere
canbrickyourphone!*(Also,dontattemptthisifyouhaventswappedoutyour
launcherasinstructedtointhisguide!)

6. Findanyofthefollowingapplicationsthatyouwanttodelete.IFYOUDONTKNOWWHATITIS
DONOTDELETEITBECAUSEYOUMAYWANTITLATER.Thereareotherdeleteableapps,butI
recommendyoukeepthem.

At&tNavigator
At&tRadio
At&tMaps
At&tMusic
At&tMobileHotspots
MobileBanking
MobileVideo
Where
YPmobile
At&tFamilyMap
MiniDiary
MobiTV
WriteandGo
MediaHub
DailyBreifing

7. Clickontheappandpressthereduninstallbutton.NOTEUNINSTALLWILLREMAINTHROUGH
FACTORYRESETONLYUNISTALLIFYOUARESUREYOUWANTTO.

8. SomemoreappsthataresafetouninstallareImAppandthefollowinglivewallpapers:Aurora,
Bluesea,Dandelion,Luminescence,MagicSmoke,MusicVisualization.Idontrecommend
uninstallingthesehoweverastheycanbeusefulfromtimetotime.Plusthewallpaperslookbad
ass.

BatteryOptimization:
Ifyourelikemeandexpecttoatleastgetafulldayschargeoutofthisphonewithsomepretty
heavyuse,weregoingtohavetochangesomesettings.HereswhatIdidtoimprovebattery
power:
1. Changeyourbackgroundtosomethingwithalotofblack.Itsawellknownfactthatsuper
amoledsusenobatterypowerwhendisplayingblackpixels.Thisisbecauseitdoesnot
requireablacklight.
2. Decidebetweenmovingandstillwallpapers.Astillbackgroundwillpreservebatteryand
increaseperformance,alivebackgroundprovidesa+5coolfactor.Itsyourcall.
3. RememberthattaskkillerIhadyouinstalltoimprovespeed?Wellitalsosavespowerby
limitingbackgroundprocessesthatforceyourCPUtodowork.Again,itsrather
controversialbutyoushouldtestitoutyourselfandseeifitmakesadifference.
4. Wheneveryougotoschoolorworkorathome,andhaveWiFiconnection,goaheadand
turniton.IfyourWiFiisonandconnectedtoyournetwork,the3ggetsturnedoffandyou
savepower.WiFiusesuplessenergythan3g.However,makesureyouturnoffWiFiwhen
notconnectedoryoullhaveWiFiand3gonsimultaneously.
5. Ononeofyourhomescreens,pressdownandholdonanemptyspaceuntilamenupops
up.Selectwidgets,andthenselectpowercontrol.Thiswidgetisveryhandybecauseitlets
youcontrolWIFI,Bluetooth,GPS,Sync,andBrightness(inthatorderfromlefttoright)in
onesimplemenu.Topreservebatterydontmesswiththebrightnesssetting.KeepWiFion
onlywhenyouareconnectedtoanetwork,BluetoothandGPSoffunlessyouareusingit,
andlastlykeepsyncingoff.Thereasonyouwillneverusethebrightnessbuttonisbecauseit
resetssomecustombrightnesssettingswewillsetuplater.
6. Gotosettings>soundanddisplay.Uncheckaudibleselectionandtouchtones,theyrejust
annoying.Scrolldownandselectbrightness.Onthenewscreenmakesureautoadjust
brightnessischecked.Technicallyyoucouldsqueezemorebatteryoutbymanually
adjustingthescreenallthetime,butthatsahassle.Clickokandyoullenduponthescreen
youwerejuston.Enablethesecondtolastoption,PowerSavingModeifitisntalready.
7. Now,navigatetosettings>AccountsandSync.UncheckbackgrounddataandAutoSync.
Unlessyourelyheavilyonemailsandneedinstantnotifications,itisagoodideatoleave
autosyncoffandmanuallysyncwhenyouwanttocheckyouremail.Tomanuallysync,
selectyouremailaccountinthesamemenuandthenclickwhatyouwouldliketosync.
8. Thelastimportantthingtodoisgotosettings>LocationandSecurity.UncheckUseGPS
satellitesandmakesureUsewirelessnetworksischecked.Wheneveryouplanonusing
navigationjustturnGPSbackoninthathandypowerwidgetfromstep4.Whenyouare
donewithGPS,turnitbackoff.

GPSOptimization
UserGPSexperiencehasgenerallybeenhitormiss.Manyusersdonthaveanyissueswhilesomedo,it
hasbeenconfirmedthatitsasoftwareissueandisaffectedbylocationaswell.Thankfullyauserhere,
Shaneaus,haspostedagreatguideonhowtotakecareofthisproblem.Headonovertohisposttoget
thescoop,itssoeasyacavemancoulddoit!AlternativelyyoucanwaittillthenextOTAupdatefrom
Samsung.
http://forum.xdadevelopers.com/showthread.php?t=732030

CPUOptimization
BecausethiscouldfitbothunderOptimizationofspeedandbattery,Idecidedtomakeititsown
category.SamsungsCPUissetbydefaulttherunat1gHz.Howevertheprocessoriscapableofmuch
more(orless).Becauseofthis,youcanadjusttheCPUforeitherlesspowerormorepower.Itisnot
recommendedtogohigherthen1gHz,butIfounditusefultomaxitat800mHztosavebattery.Fora
guideonhowtodothisclickthelinkbelow.
http://forum.xdadevelopers.com/showthread.php?t=505419


SideloadingMadeEasy:
Incaseyoudidntknow,sideloadingistheprocessofinstallingappsfromothersourcesthanthemarket
place.Anyappyoudownloadovertheinternetonyourcomputerwillhavetobeinstalledontoyour
phoneandATTdoesntmakeiteasyonus.
PC:
1. Gotothemarketonceagainandsearchforbusybox.(RelaxIknowyoualreadyinstalleditwhen
youclickedtheproblemsbuttonintitaniumbackup.Thelatestversionneedstobeinstalled
againfromthemarket,sojustdoit).
2. OpentheBusyBoxappandpressinstall.
3. Ifyoucorrectlyfollowedthestepsintherestoftheguide,youshouldbeabletohookupthe
phonetoyourcomputer,startdroidexplorerandhaveitconnecttoyourphone.
4. Ifdroidexplorerisconnectedbutallyouseeisawhitescreen,youmessedsomethingup.This
usuallymeansthelatestversionofbusyboxwasntinstalled.Trystep2again.
5. Ifeverythingwentwellyoushouldseeabunchoffilesandfoldersindroidexplorer,dontmess
withthem.Gototools>plugins>batchinstaller.(Locatedatthetop).Fromthisboxyoucan
selectasmanyapksasyouwanttoinstall(apkisthefileextensionofandroidapps,eg:
boonami.apk.Whenyouaredoneselectingtheappsyouwanttoinstall,clickopenandthen
install.Waittillitsdoneandviolayouarenthopeless.

OR
1.DownloadSideloadWonderMachineandfollowtheirinstructions.Thismethoddoeshavefarless
functionality.
http://www.androidcentral.com/sideloadandroidappsallyouwantsideloadwondermachine
Mac:
JustrunthatprogramIhadyouinstallinthepreppingyourcomputersectionofthisguide.Itshouldbe
prettyselfexplanatory.PleasepostyourissueshereifyouhaveanysoIcanupdatethissectionofthe
guide.

RemovingATTMarketRestrictions:
Now,ifyoudidntknow,ATTdidanothernastything.Theycensoredthemarketsoyoucanonly
downloadappsthattheydeemok.Soletstakepowerbackintoourownhands(Youmayhavetodo
thisagainwhenyouwantunrestrictedmarketaccessifyourebootyourphone).Hereswhatyouve
gottado:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Headonovertohttp://uploaded.to/file/en3pg4andwait10seconds
Oncethetimeisup,clickfreedownload
Apopupwillcomeup,closethatpopupandyourdownloadshouldbeready.
Saveitsomewheresimplelikeyourdesktop.Donotattempttoopenitorextractit.
Sideloadthatapplikeapro.
Onceinstalled,startMarketEnableronyourphone.
Selectthesettingslisttab
Scrolldownto[us]TMobile(TMobile)
Pressandholdyourfingerover[us]TMobile(TMobile)untilamenupopsup.
Selectfakethisprovidernow.
Thankdeceptionforbringingthisupandgtg465xforbringingthisfixtotheattentionof
captivateusers.

Nowyouhavecompleteaccesstothemarketplace.Powertothepeople.
Ifyouhadtrouble,headonovertohttp://forum.xdadevelopers.com/showthread.php?t=733127for
moreinfo.

ClockworkModRecovery:
*Samerulesapplyaswitheveryotherpartofthisguide!Makesureyoufollowedalltheprevious
stepsbeforeattemptingthisone!*
ClockworkModRecoveryprovidesasimpleandfailproofwaytorecoveryourphoneandshouldbe
installedregardlessifyoureaheavyModderoraIjustusethisasaphoneuser.Ifanythinggoes
wrongonthisphonesoftwarewise,99%ofthetimeyoucanfixitwiththismethod.
ClockworkModiswrittenforusbyadeveloperthatgoesbythenameofKoushhereonourveryown
XDAforums.Theofficialthreadishere:http://forum.xdadevelopers.com/showthread.php?t=734163
andIalwaysrecommendgivingitareadforupdatesorhelpifthisguidereallyisntsimpleenoughfor
you.
1. GototheMarketplace
2. SearchforRomManager,makesureyoudownloadtheoneby
ClockworkMod.Nowifyouhave3.99IhighlyrecommendbuyingROM
Manager(Premium).ThisgentputatonofworkintohelpingusCaptivate
ownersout,theleastwecandoishelppayhisinternetbills.
3. Makesureifyourepluggedintoyourcomputerthatyoursdcardisnt
mounted.Youcanunmountitthesamewayyoumountedit.(Gotoyour
notificationmenu,selectturnoffusbstorage,andthenfinallyclickturnoff.)
4. OnceRomManagerisdoneinstallingopenitupandgiveitasecondtoload.
5. Ifyougetanerrormessagestating,SDCardNotMountedthenwherethehellhaveyou
been!?Didyoujustnotreadstepnumber3!?
6. Dontforgetthatyouwereinstructedtoremoveanyexternalsdcardsyouhaveputinyour
phoneearlierintheguide.Justdoittokeepitsimple.
7. Alrightsoyouhaverommanagerloadedandyoudidntgetanyerroraboutsdcardnot
mounted,nowwhat?Ifyouseeanyadsonthepage,givethemaclick,waitlike2secondsto
loadandclickyourreturnbuttononthebottomofyourphone.(atleasthelpthisguybyclicking
adsifyoudecidedtobecheapandnotsupporthimbypayingforhisapp).(notestepisoptional)
8. Soseriously,backtotheguide.Inthemenuchoosethefirstoption,FlashClockworkMod
Recoveryandwaituntilitpopsupamessagestatingitwassuccessful.
9. NextthingyouwannadoisclickBackupCurrentRomandthenok.Dontfreakoutyourphone
isabouttorestartandbackupyourrom.*ifyourphonedoesntstartbackingupandentersa
bluemenuinstead,usethevolumeupanddownkeystoscrolltorebootsystemnowandpress
yourpowerkey.Onceyourphoneisupandrunningtrytocreatethatbackuponemoretime*
10. Justwaitforittofinish.
11. Pickyournoseandcheckoutengadget.comuntilitsdonebackingup.
12. Yourphonewillrestartwhenitsdone.Goodjobmakingabackup.
13. Lastlyselectrebootintorecoverymodejusttodoublecheckitsworking.

14. Whenyourphonereboots,ifyouseeagreenmenuyoudideverythingright.Selectreboot
phoneandleaveitatthat.
15. Ifyoudidntseethegreenmenudoublecheckyourworkorchecktheabovelinkformore
troubleshootingtips.
Ifyoueverroyallyf**kyourphonehereshowtofixitwithsaidbackup:
1. Holdthevolumedown,volumeupandpowerbuttonwhileyourphoneisonuntilitshutsoff
(about10seconds).Keepholdingdownthevolumeupanddownbuttonevenafteritsoff,
howevermakesureyouletgoofyourpowerbuttonoryourphonewillkeeprestarting.
2. Whenabluemenuappearsyoucanletgoofyourvolumeupanddownbuttons.
3. Scrollthemenuwiththevolumeupanddownbuttonsandselectreinstallpackages.
4. Pressyourpowerbuttontoselectthisoption
5. TheClockworkModrecoverymenushouldshowup(itsgreen).
6. ScrollitthesamewayandselectApplysdcard:update.exe.
7. Yougotitfromhere

ChangingYourMessagingRingtone:
HeresoneIpersonallyhadaproblemwith.YoumaybefooledbythesettingNotificationRingtonein
soundanddisplaysettings.Contrarytothenamethisdoesntchangethenotificationringtones,wellthe
onesthatmatteranywayTochangeyourMessagingringtonedothis:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Onyourhomescreen,pushyourmessagingbutton.
Thenpressyourmenubuttonandselectsettings
ScrolldowntothebottomwhereSelectRingtoneishiddenandselectit.
Changeyourringtonetoyourheartscontent!(Ipersonallyprefermorningbreezebutw/e)

DumpingAT&TsVoicemail
Letsfaceit.Carriervoicemailssuck.Reallybadly.Whowantstocallanumberandhavetolistenthrough
severalvoicemailsjusttogettotheoneyouwant.WellgoodthingGooglehasGoogleVoice.Youmay
knowitastheservicethatgivesyouanewphonenumber,buttheyalsohaveadedicatedvoicemail
service.Tolearnmoregotohttp://www.google.com/voice.Ifyouchoosetosignup,youcangetthe
GoogleVoiceappfromthemarketthatletsyougetnotificationswhenyougetanewvoicemail,and
actuallyselectfromalistwhichvoicemailyouwant.

SyncingwithiTunes
Oneword:
DoubleTwist


RecommendedAppsandGamesbysystoxity:
Oknowthatyouknowhowtosideload,thefirstthingIrecommenddoingisusingGooglefindan
appcalledSyncMyPix.Onceyoufounditanddownloadedtheapk,sideloadit.Thisprogramwillpull
picturesforyourcontactsautomaticallyfromfacebookiftheyareyourfriends.
Ialsorecommendlookingupfreeapksthatdevspostedonlineandnotinthemarketplace.Explore
andtryoutnewthings.Heressomesurefireappsthatyoucaneitherfindinthemarketplaceor
sideload:(mostofthemareindeedalreadyinthemarketplace):

Free:
Apps:
SpeedTest
QuadrantStandard
QuickOffice
XdaApp
EngadgetApp
Shazam
BarcodeScanner
PandoraRadio
Games:
FallDown
FallingBall
PocketEmpires
SpaceMan
SNesoid
RoboDefense
ReplicaIsland
SpeedAnatomy

Cost$$:
IchoseonlythebestIveexperiencedforthissection.Ofc,looksomethingupongoogleb4buyingit
tomakesureitsyourcupofteatoo.Thepaidapps/gamesalsousuallyofferatrialorfreeversion
thatyoucantestoutbeforeyoubuy.Ihighlyrecommendtakingadvantageofthis.

Apps:
RootExplorer
Games:
CrusadeOfDestiny
CrystalLight
GuitarHero
HeavyGunner
JewelLust
NOVA
Speedx3D
BlockBreaker2Deluxe
Zenonia

Rememberifyouseeanythingthatisconfusingpleaseposthereorpmme.Illalwaysbelookingto
improvemyguide.Thatbeingsaid,ifyouseeanythingthatisincorrectpleaseletmeknowasapsoI
canchangeit.