SGS2 ROM Review: Pure ICS v7.5 [XWLPG]

Pure ICS is a custom ROM that brings an Ice Cream Sandwich experience on top of a Samsung-based firmware. Here I'm going to review the standard "light" version which only includes few stock Samsung apps. But there is also an AOSP package if you don't mind having stock Samsung apps aka "bloatware".


Version reviewed in this post: Pure ICS v7.5 (XWLPG)


Build date: 06-16-2012


Developer: Spike_M of XDA Forums

PROS

• What works: WiFi, Data, Bluetooth, Camera, Video Recording, GPS
• Fully-themed even though it is Samsung-based!
• Apex Launcher allows further customization of UI
• Has FM Radio, Voice Recorder, CWM, and SuperUser SU
• Good battery life. Mine lasted more than 24 hours with some WiFi, calls, texting, and mostly on standby.

CONS

• Bugs: On the Gmail app, there was this one time that emails would go blank if you attempt to scroll to view the entire message. Again this only happened once after 7 days of use :)
• The ROM has stopped development - so I've heard :(

PREVIEW

For a 5-minute video walkthrough of Pure ICS, please check the bottom of this post :)

Lockscreen

Since this is a Sammy-based ROM, you can choose from the standard Slide, Face Unlock, Pattern, PIN, and Password lockscreen. You can access the Notifications Drawer from the Slide lockscreen.

Home Screen and Dock

Since Pure ICS has an Apex Launcher, you can control the number of docks (max 5), number of dock icons (max 7), and elastic scrolling just to name a few. You can even hide the dock completely! As for the home screen, you can control the number of screens (max 9), choose the default screen, resize widgets, among many other functions. To access the customization settings for the home screen and dock, simply go to Apex Settings > Homescreen settings or Dock settings.

Status Bar and Notifications Drawer

The status bar is Holo-themed which means that the time, battery, phone signal, and WiFi have a light blue color on black background. The screen brightness can also be adjusted from the status bar by holding and sliding your finger across. You can't customize the notifications drawer but there's really no need to. A lot of useful toggles are already on there. All you have to do is swipe across them.

There's are toggles for the standard WiFi, Mobile Data, Bluetooth, and GPS along with Sound Profiles, Autorotate Screen, Airplane Mode, Auto brightness, Screen On, Hotspot, Sync, Flashlight, Reboot, Recovery, Download Mode, and Shutdown. Most toggles act as shortcuts to their individual settings. But you can access all Settings by clicking the Settings Icon below the toggles.

Recent Apps View

As you can see, you can access the Task Manager from here - something I really like about Samsung-based ROMs.

Apps Drawer

There's still some bloatware on the standard edition of Pure ICS but they're mostly useful apps. If you want all Samsung apps, you can install the AOSP version of Pure ICS. The stock Samsung apps installed in the standard version I reviewed are as follows: Calculator, Calendar, Camera, Clock, Contacts, Downloads, Email, FM Radio, Gallery, Internet, Memo, My Files, Phone Dialer, Photo Editor, Task, Task Manager, Videos, and Voice Recorder.

Messaging, Contacts, and Phone Dialer

First off, the annoying yellow-blue-and-gray theme of the Messaging app is long gone. Spike_M managed to make it gray-and-black which I personally like better than the blue-on-white theme of stock ICS. The same theme is used on Contacts and Phone Dialer.

Gallery

Pure ICS has the stock Samsung Gallery since it is a Sammy-based ROM. Sorry but I just don't like it.

Internet Browser

The ROM also has a stock Internet browser which I actually like. It automatically signs you in to your Google account and syncs bookmarks from your Google Chrome for PC.

Camera

Other Pre-Installed Apps

• CWM Manager - for backing up, restoring, and deleting backups, reboot options, installing APKs, flashing kernels, and flashing stock firmware.
• SuperSU - grants root access

VIDEO WALKTHROUGH

Here's a 5-minute walkthrough of Pure ICS. I'm sorry if you hear some trucks or cars passing by :D Our house is right in front of the highway and we have this *antique* home made entirely of wood so sound easily gets through. I'm thinking about looking for a pair of headsets that eliminate background noise :) Not sure if they even exist lol.