What does weekly xiaomi firmware mean? How to distinguish global firmware from Chinese firmware for Xiaomi

This information may be interesting, and perhaps even extremely useful. Not everyone understands the differences between firmware versions. What is global, and how does it differ from development? We will answer these questions below.

In this article, we decided to give a brief overview of MIUI firmware and help you understand the variety of firmware, so that in the future you will know what it is “weekly”, “homemade” and what to expect from the firmware. All MIUI firmware is divided into several types and subtypes.

BY ORIGIN

Initially, MIUI is presented in two versions: English-Chinese (China ROM) And global (Global ROM).

China ROM, "Anglo-Chinese" The version is focused on China and is equipped with various functions and software relevant only for China. Of the available languages, only English and Chinese are represented in it, as is clear from the name. We are not interested in her.

Global ROM, she's the same "Global", "Multilingual" in turn, is aimed at users outside of China and is not supplied with services for China, but on the contrary, Google services are installed. There are many more languages ​​available, including Russian.

BY TYPE

Developer ROM, she's the same “Weekly”, “Developer”, "Beta". The developer firmware is the most current and innovative, as it receives all the innovations first. This firmware is official from Xiaomi itself and primarily it was created for advanced users to test innovations. It is updated every week, usually on Friday, with the exception of Chinese holidays and the presence of serious bugs, when the developers delay the release of the update. However, don't be alarmed if you encounter an error; most likely, it will be fixed by next Friday. And many users use the weekly firmware without worrying about bugs.

The name of the developer firmware release is the date of its release. For example, the firmware is called MIUI 8 6.11.3, which means that it was released on November 3, 2016. The first digit is the year, the second is the month, the third is the day.

Stable ROM, she's the same “Stable”. This firmware, like the Weekly one, is official and released by the MIUI development team at Xiaomi. It is the main assembly and is a kind of standard: it is stable, all functions are debugged and optimized, all bugs that are found in the weekly firmware are fixed. It is recommended to install it if you do not strive for all the innovations and associated bugs, but you need stable operation of the system without surprises. The name of stable firmware versions is not tied to the release date, but to the accumulated updates, so it is updated irregularly. Updates can come either once every two weeks or once every three months.

Ported ROM, she's the same “Custom”, “Unofficial”. Custom builds include various localized versions from third-party development teams, enthusiast builds, and firmware versions for smartphones from other smartphone brands. Custom builds are always based on the Stable or Weekly official builds. They can also be updated either once a week or at longer intervals. Many Custom builds are not updated over the air, so you will have to install them yourself each time.

Samopal ROM- this is a kind of subspecies, an offshoot from Custom firmware. We apologize for such a free interpretation of the names of these “versions” of firmware, however, recently there have been even more of them and unscrupulous sellers do not hesitate to install them on the smartphones of gullible buyers. Basically, these are homemade firmware with disgusting translation, frequent errors and ubiquitous bugs. Stable operation of such firmware is absolutely not guaranteed and often spoils the impression of the device. It is always recommended to install assemblies of the first three types, or better yet just Stable.

Other firmware versions.

There are several other types of firmware that are no longer so common. TD ROM And WCDMA ROM- firmware created for a specific type of communication in a specific country. For example, the TD version was created for the same type of 3G connection only in China. Phones with TD ROM will only work within China, and in our region they will be of little more than zero use. Phones with WCDMA ROM created for 3G communications, widespread throughout the world. However, there are some varieties such as WCDMA HK, WCDMA Singapore, WCDMA Taiwan, WCDMA Malaysia, which also will not work outside these countries.

TO SIZE

Full ROM, aka “Full firmware package”. This is a complete firmware file that is usually used when installing software from scratch or for the first time. Also, installing firmware by downloading the full package often helps eliminate some errors that were previously in the device. The full version of the firmware includes all applications and services, even those that did not change in the update. Typically, a complete update package weighs from 600 MB to 2 GB.

Incremental ROM, aka “OTA update”, “Renewal”. Includes only new files, as well as updates, fixes and additions. Typically, this is the kind of update that comes to devices via OTA (over the air). Such updates, as a rule, are not significant and weigh from 20 MB to 200 MB.

Thus, you receive both Developer firmware and Stable firmware in the form of an OTA update, and if you wish, you can download the full firmware package in the standard Updater application of your device.

UPDATE

Official (global, English-Chinese / weekly, stable) firmware is always updated over the air, except in cases of incorrect installation or any other incorrect user actions that could lead to damage to system files. If your official firmware does not want to be updated, you need to install the firmware manually. You can download official and some custom builds of MIUI from the official MIUI forum.

We don’t often tell our readers about flashing devices, but in the case of Xiaomi this is most relevant, because those who bought a company device will probably be faced with the need to install localized firmware or firmware with weekly updates, called Developer firmware.

By the way, you can flash the device with custom firmware only through the Developer version. We will use Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro as an example. To install the official version of Xiaomi firmware, as a rule, you do not need to submit a request for the opportunity to unlock the bootloader on the official Xiaomi website. If you plan to engage in similar activities in the future, you can submit a request to unlock your device.

Let's proceed directly to installing the firmware with weekly updates ( Before installation you need to back up all your data). The first step is to register. Then, by going to , you should select your device. Next, look for “Developer ROM” and click on “Download Full ROM”. After which the firmware will begin downloading, the size of which in our case is 1.2-1.3 gigabytes.

After downloading, connect the smartphone via USB cable to the computer and transfer the firmware file to the “downloaded_rom” folder.

After this, you can disconnect the device from the computer. Next, go to settings, select the “About phone” section and click on the round button in the bottom middle with the words “System update” (Option 2: open the “Update” shortcut on the desktop). Then click on the 3 dots, then tap on “Select firmware file”, after which we will be transferred to Explorer. Here you should go to the “downloaded_rom” folder and select our firmware file.

Then click on the checkmark that says “OK” at the bottom of the screen. After which the installation of the weekly version of the system should begin. If the error “Could not verify the installation file” appears, try downloading an older version. If attempts to install earlier versions were unsuccessful, you need to download the Mi Flash program and directly install the firmware file through it.

The editors are not responsible for any consequences of performing the manipulations given above

Based on materials from MIUI

Many lovers of new products in the field of smartphones have long paid attention to.

However, figuring out all the know-how on your own is not so easy, which is where the question arises: why is global firmware needed and what is it?

Contents:

Definition of global firmware

In technical parlance, firmware means the operating system that is used as the core material for running any smartphone.

Since manufacturers are constantly working to improve it, the phone periodically offers to update the firmware version so that the user can appreciate the new capabilities of his gadget.

The product developed by the company has become a leader in the field of secure data storage.

However, with the development of the Chinese market, a number of technical devices along with all the “stuffing” have been replenished. Based on the existing Androind base, manufacturers such as , Flyme, (Xiaomi) decided to create their own versions of global firmware.

The initial form of the new invention was planned to be used exclusively in Chinese, since there was no such forecast that could calculate such a large popularity in the competitive market.

In the first version, there were only two languages: national and English, only relevant applications for the Chinese population were used, and it was not available.

The common people called this version of the firmware “Chine ROM”.

As demand for Chinese smartphones skyrockets, The main task of manufacturers was to expand the existing characteristics. Thus, the firmware appeared in many languages, hence the name global firmware (Global ROM).

Types of firmware, considering origin

The initial firmware has two versions: standard (China ROM, available in two languages: Chinese and English) and global (Global ROM, available for use in many languages ​​of the world).

1 China ROM as the name implies, it is relevant for the local population in China, since it has a number of its own characteristics. It comes with culturally sensitive apps and functionality. In addition, there are language restrictions, since the firmware only supports two languages: Chinese and English

2 Global ROM means multi-spectrum, focusing on other cultures. In this case, there are no applications relevant for the first option. Most services are present, which is especially common in the USA and Europe.

Classification by type

1 Weekly (Developer ROM). The most popular type of firmware, since all the latest changes can be obtained through its use. It is an official legacy from the developer Xiaomi. Generally, updates occur every week until Friday, excluding Chinese public holidays. Often, if there are errors in the new firmware, then you should not worry, since they will be fixed in the next weekly update

2 Stable (Stable ROM). As in the first version, it is the official creation of the Chinese developer MIUI (a protégé of Xiaomi). However, there is a difference: this firmware contains exclusively measured parameters and functions, the operation of which is maximally debugged. The best option for those who are not chasing new bugs and are not testing technical innovations. An important difference from other versions of global firmware is inconsistent updates, since it uses exclusively well-established mechanisms

3 Unofficial, custom (Ported ROM). Built on many functions and programs that were created by third-party specialists. Standard, proven firmware is used as the basis. In this case, updates do not occur constantly, so it is impossible to calculate a specific date. Sometimes the interval is up to several months

4 Samopal. It is not an independent category of global firmware. As a rule, these firmwares are presented at the lowest possible cost, since they are assembled by amateurs with numerous errors, an inconvenient interface, and poor-quality translation. Since the quality of this type leaves much to be desired, it is most reasonable to use one of the three options presented above

Global firmware sizes

It is customary to highlight all two size ranges of existing firmware:

  • Full (Full ROM). A complete adapted package, which is most often installed when using the gadget for the first time. It contains all the necessary programs and applications that you will need to work with the device. As a rule, the weight of such a package is no more than 2 GB
  • Update (Incremental ROM). As the name implies, such firmware is focused exclusively on new services, applications and eliminating errors from previous versions. It is important to note that due to its light weight (up to 200MB), almost every smartphone has technical support for a similar package.

Differences between Chinese firmware and global firmware

Many users are confident that, apart from the lack of support for the Russian language in the English-Chinese version, the rest of the program is no different from the global one.

  • China ROM is indeed characterized by a lack of support for the Russian language. But there are also models with basic firmware that have completely eradicated this drawback. However, it is important to understand that when using such patches, any security is completely absent. Therefore, trusting personal information means taking a really serious risk.
  • Everyone's favorite is also missing, and converting your own gadget is only possible using unofficial versions
  • China ROM contains exclusively services intended for use by the Chinese population, so the question of how relevant they are for residents of other countries remains open. It is also worth noting that the operation of such a gadget is characterized by lower productivity. Errors occur frequently
  • There are situations when a manually installed one refuses to continue working., due to the fact that the system recognizes it as malware, so it is unlikely to be fully exploited.

Updates

All types of official firmware can be updated over the air. The only exception can be the moment when problems or errors occur during the downloading process.

If the update does not occur automatically, then there is an alternative option - manual download.

To avoid the risk of contracting a virus or downloading unwanted programs, it is recommended to use only reliable sources.

The most popular is the official website of the MIUI manufacturer. As for custom options, they can only be found in unofficial sources.

If we talk about custom firmware, then it is impossible to use it in the same way as the official one. A download from the resource will be required.

The situation when the operating system becomes outdated and is not able to efficiently load new games or applications is typical in nature.

If the phone starts to work incorrectly or freezes, then this is the first sign that it’s time to change the firmware.

In this case, in order to expand the capabilities of the gadget, you should not resort to downloading the official global firmware, since in the end the same result will be obtained. They help increase the phone's performance.

However, such firmware still has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages and disadvantages

  • Advantages:
  • However, users who keep up with the times note another advantage of custom firmware - the absence of additional garbage that clogs the phone's memory with unnecessary programs. The performance of the phone increases with changes in the firmware, since the initially existing code is considered optimized, which means you can download an upgrade at any time. Since the firmware does not involve saving data from third-party applications, charging the gadget will last much longer.
  • By using custom firmware, you can install the latest version. It is worth noting that not a single manufacturer producing smartphones or gadgets is updating the operating system, so installing the latest version is only possible with the support of unofficial firmware.

Flaws:

  • First of all, the most important drawback is related to the fact that each user must have advanced capabilities of the copyright holder, which may not always lead to the desired consequences. As an opposite effect, there is always the possibility of getting together an ordinary plastic brick that will not respond to even the most trivial commands. Therefore, before you start filling, you need to read and thoroughly study all the information about the firmware.
  • If your phone breaks down, it is important to understand that After flashing, warranty service is no longer possible, so repairs can cost quite a large sum. Sometimes it turns out that taking risks and installing an unofficial version of the firmware is not so important, since the user may have enough of the existing functions, so there is no point in doing such things unnecessarily.
  • Before downloading the firmware, it is recommended to find out as much information as possible about it. There are many forums on the Internet where advanced users discuss this or that version, what its disadvantages are, what doesn’t work after downloading, and whether there are viruses. It is not advisable to take risks and download firmware from a source unknown to anyone, since they may be scammers.

Installation instructions

Modern users of Chinese-made smartphones have long been accustomed to ordering goods directly from companies.

And although the cost of the gadget is an order of magnitude lower, there is still one nuance - the presence of China ROM, which does not support the Russian language.

To understand the question of how to install global firmware, let's take Meizu MX6 as an example:

1 Gets Root. To do this, you must either enable mobile data. Register or go through authorization for a Flyme account. If you already have a login, then go straight to the fifth point

2 Install Play Market. Since the design is unusual, in a local store you need to type it into Google search and download the file installer. Next, you need to enter all the data from your usual Google account. Download the SuperSu program. must be saved in the phone's memory. Moving to internal memory

4 Open the last downloaded Flash Fire program and tick the following points: 1-3, skip 4, 5-6. Next, click Flash after which the download of the new firmware should begin.

If the instructions are completed correctly, the phone should reboot and.

In the world of smartphone software, firmware refers to the operating system that is currently installed on the phone.

All operating systems are regularly updated, that is, new firmware appears from time to time. Until recently, the leading positions belonged to the Android and iOS operating systems. Android is loved for its open architecture and many settings; iOS has good data protection and optimization.

Global and international firmware

Much has changed when Chinese manufacturers burst into the smartphone market with their own proprietary Android-based firmware - MIUI from Xiaomi, Flyme from Meizu and others. Now they are rapidly gaining popularity, and it was with their advent that the concept of global firmware appeared.

Initially, these firmwares were used exclusively on the Chinese market. The shells were distinguished by the absence of Google services, the presence of applications relevant only to China, and the availability of only two languages ​​- Chinese and English. On the Internet they are also called China ROM.

After some time, these smartphones, due to their characteristics and low cost, began to be in high demand outside of China. For such devices they began to produce global (international) firmware - Global ROM. It supports many languages, including Russian, as well as Google services and applications.

How to order a smartphone with international firmware?

Many users tend to purchase a new phone directly from China, as this allows them to save on the purchase. When ordering, you should be careful, as there is a risk of receiving a smartphone with Chinese firmware. To do this, you need to carefully study the characteristics of the model on the seller’s website and make sure that it is marked “Global Version” or “Global ROM”. It’s even better to write to the seller and ask him for more information.

If, due to the seller’s dishonesty or your own carelessness, you buy a smartphone with Chinese firmware (China ROM), do not be upset - in most cases, you can install global (international) firmware on the gadget, but this is a solution for experienced users.



 

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