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[Q] HTC Support History - Ditch HTC??

HTC seem to be developing a history of dropping development and support on their models after 6 months, which is extremely annoying unless you like to upgrade every 6 months. Is this false? Or should we all migrate away from HTC to other phones for this reason? My particular interest is in Android.
I was going to get my wife a HTC Desire Z but now I'm wondering if she's better off with an Android phone from a brand with a support history longer than 6 months.

Which Android vendor provides you with long support?
For me, I have just bought a HTC Dream more than 2 years after its release because there are tons of custom roms on xda. The Dream lives on because of the large community.
Make sure what you buy is a popular phone, so when official support stops you would stil get new roms from the community.

Inclined to agree, I have the original Desire so I am reading up on rooting and custom ROMs. Any suggestions or warnings?

DroidBois said:
Inclined to agree, I have the original Desire so I am reading up on rooting and custom ROMs. Any suggestions or warnings?
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Click to collapse
Take your time and read those stickies on the Desire forums. You'll be glad you did.
To OP, I think most are about the same. Though, I am still a little annoyed at the whole TyTN II debacle a few years ago, lol. For me, it really comes down to build quality and not much competes with HTC. Especially when they try. Like the HD2.

I sure am taking my time. I am the kind of person who drives everyone nuts with questions on every detail.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

This site is a benefit to anyone who uses it. It will extend the life of your phone. Many of the manufacturers will drop support after a few months. Most don't provide upgrades to software. Being able to use this site provides you with both: technical support for problems and upgraded software as newer versions becomes available.
My advice to you; buy a phone supported by XDA. If its not on here, don't buy it...
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

Wise words. I am so thankful I got the STOCK factory standard unlocked / unbranded AMOLED UK HTC Desire now, that's about as 'vanilla' as you can get by the sounds of it and I should be ok for ROM support then. Now to work out the right rooting / ROM procedure and which ROM to use!!

First Impressions

I currently own the Sony Ericson Xperia x10a and tbh with the work of a few devs here at XDA have turned that phone into something extrodinary even though they still havnt managed to crack the bootloader. Mine runs on Android 2.3 and is blazing fast and beats even the Nexus 2.2 on Quadrant Scores.. I run a Linpak of 41 MFLOPS.
My question to the HTC guys is this. Apparently RoM development and debranding / rooting of HTC phones seem to be more indepth then what i am used to. SE has a flash tool that will Root / Flash any custom rom with the easiest of ease lol. Along with xrecovery its extremely simple.
Overall I guess I am wondering if this phone is worth it. How hard will it be to cook up roms and tweek boot.log files to speed this phone up. Is the processor over clockable or is it not completely rooted yet. Do you think HTC and ATT will actualy continue to update the software on this phone or will it fall to the wayside like soo many other ATT phones have.
It is gonna take some reading and browsing to understand how HTC phones work compared to SE but I think I can do it, just curiouse to know if its gonna be worth the trouble.

If ATT decides not to update this phone beyond Froyo then you will still have CyanogenMod7 with Gingerbread.

This phone has been out for less than a week. Source hasn't dropped yet.
HTC phones are quite popular with developers and HTC doesn't discourage development like Sony and Motorola seem to.
I moved to the Inspire from the Captivate for this very reason.
Since this phone is identical in almost every way to the European Desire HD, once we get Kernel Source, porting stuff from that phone to this one will be trivial.
One Click Root hasn't been found yet, but I'm not sure it exists on any 2.2.1 Android device.(I could be wrong about that I haven't investigated it).
To sum up, this is a great phone to get if you are into tweaking and custom roms.

Hey gunny. Super one click works on some 2.2.1 phones with the psneuter exploit.
And to the op the Inspire is an amazing phone. There's no one click root but its not terribly difficult to root and in the coming weeks I'm sure well see some amazing stuff come down the pipeline.
Sent from a patiently waiting Inspire 4g using XDA app

[Q] Predictions on the bootloader

Since I have very little technical knowledge, I want to ask the people who do: Do you think the signed HTC bootloaders can be cracked?
Are they bulletproof? Is it just a matter of time? No idea?

Lord Panzer said:
Since I have very little technical knowledge, I want to ask the people who do: Do you think the signed HTC bootloaders can be cracked?
Are they bulletproof? Is it just a matter of time? No idea?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My knowledge on the topic is probably as limited as yours, but consider this: if someone figured out how to crack an iPhone, someone will undoubtedly figure out how to crack a signed bootloader.

The SE X10 bootloader was locked too and xda devs have unlocked it...though it took them a year to do it
Now knowing that hTC devices are way more popular here in xda, the unlocking process will take much less time, the incredible S are already temp rooted and it wouldn't take much time to be permanently rooted.
Now if you want to play on the safe side and love HTC then buy the DHD, it's still a stong device,rooted and plenty of roms

I like to believe my knowledge is limited as well.
From what I understand, a signed bootloader will require a leak of an internal engineering build to unlock. This was done on the HTC Thunderbolt for example.
An encrypted bootloader is tougher to unlock. This is why most of us won't buy a Motorola device.

By the way we still don't have any confirmation if it will be locked or not.
Htc said that their approach to security is "unchanged." If their approach is unchanged from devices like the Incredible S, which has an encrypted bootloader, the Sensation is unlikely to see custom firmware. If, however, their approach is unchanged from the Thunderbolt, then we are in luck: that phone has already been unlocked and rooted.

kgbkny said:
My knowledge on the topic is probably as limited as yours, but consider this: if someone figured out how to crack an iPhone, someone will undoubtedly figure out how to crack a signed bootloader.
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Click to collapse
Except that Apple products seem to be very crackable, sometimes even before the launch date.

Once again they are not signed they are locked meaning there is a possible way to crack them. Motorola signed theirs. HTC just locked them in a different way. Making harder for us to crack. Bootloader locked and bootloader are signed two different things.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App

Perhaps but when you see the poor Incredible S users who tried everything possible to root it and couldn't...

vegetaleb said:
Perhaps but when you see the poor Incredible S users who tried everything possible to root it and couldn't...
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The ps3 couldn't be hack someone did it its mostly about popularity. They said the same thing about the g2 and the thunder bolt it got hacked. Its not impossible.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App

Not if, but when?
For me personally, the issue is not if the Sensation will be rooted, but WHEN. I'm personally thinking I might not want any new Android device before its rooted. I mean, although the Sensation has a lot to offer, unrooted it's going to be a resource hog that I won't be able to manage as I'd desire. I won't even be able to use Titanium Backup and some of my other apps till its rooted.
So I'm debating with myself about holding off on getting the Sensation till after it's rooted and an "unroot" path is also developed.
The only form of Android I've ever known is ROOTED, so going to a locked down version is not a pleasing option to me.

See this is what I love about Android and Opensource in general, and XDA in particular. You can go directly to the best and brightest and get answers! Thanks, everyone!

It shouldn't be a problem stock as bad as other phones gingerbread fixes alot of problems. The real fix is from ext4 but. It shouldn't be as bad as before though I hate sense the only thing I like is the camera apps ui and the fact that it doesn't lose data speeds.
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App

The main thing I like in Sensation is the Sense 3.0, but the low benchmark score is a clear indication that it needs root to speed up some things like kernel OC.
Rooting a phone is not sufficiant, you need a bunch of happy devs to build roms and kernels, look at the beautiful xperia Arc for exemple, it has same power as DHD and its rooted for 2 weeks, but due to lack of devs we still don't have recovery nor roms,it's like if you bought a ferrari but can't drive it because of lack of petrol
HTC devices are the most loved ones at XDA for the time being and they get tons of roms BUT things can change if HtC wanna lock all their new devices like the Incredible S, even Paul from Modaco is not willing to buy the Sensation if it will be locked like IS, the SGS2 will win the hearts of the devs here...

vegetaleb said:
The main thing I like in Sensation is the Sense 3.0, but the low benchmark score is a clear indication that it needs root to speed up some things like kernel OC.
Rooting a phone is not sufficiant, you need a bunch of happy devs to build roms and kernels, look at the beautiful xperia Arc for exemple, it has same power as DHD and its rooted for 2 weeks, but due to lack of devs we still don't have recovery nor roms,it's like if you bought a ferrari but can't drive it because of lack of petrol
HTC devices are the most loved ones at XDA for the time being and they get tons of roms BUT things can change if HtC wanna lock all their new devices like the Incredible S, even Paul from Modaco is not willing to buy the Sensation if it will be locked like IS, the SGS2 will win the hearts of the devs here...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before there was ever Android, there was Windows Mobile and locked ROMs. And this very same site, XDA Developers was the place to come to unlock and get new ROMs.
So HTC locking down Android devices is old hat, as is unlocking them .
This site's history is rooted in HTC devices and so long as HTC makes something even marginally competitive I don't see it changing. The developers here have been hacking HTC devices before Android came to town. In fact, Android is the new kid on this block . Here, a lock is simply an exciting challenge to overcome, and a source for some developer to earn our $upport .
Don't count on a lock in the Sensation causing any wave of developers here to go running to Samsung.

Can you say the same to Incredible S users?

vegetaleb said:
Can you say the same to Incredible S users?
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Click to collapse
Inc S is Verizon right? We all know in the US VZW is the largest CDMA Carrier cell co. They usually get what they want. To me VZW is like Steve Jobs bunch of corporate jerks
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App

I recall the old Touch Pro 2 also took a little time to crack, but it was also unlocked. Even the old Treo Pro was eventually cracked, both the GSM and CDMA versions. They all get unlocked, some take a little more time than others.
Which is why my only question is when? The Sensation being a device that will be with GSM carriers, having a good degree of pre-sale marketing and being made by HTC. It's going to have development somewhere to the level we see with the HD2. Most of us HD2 owners that frequent this site moved to Android and the Sensation is the next suitable upgrade.

epsix said:
Inc S is Verizon right? We all know in the US VZW is the largest CDMA Carrier cell co. They usually get what they want. To me VZW is like Steve Jobs bunch of corporate jerks
Sent from my HTC Glacier using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Incredible S is a GSM phone that is attracting attention since it has T-Mobile's AWS band support. Verizon is coming out with a dual-mode GSM/CDMA sister of the Inc S.

[Q] Interop-Unlock or Custom Rom for CDMA HTC Arrive

Has anyone made any progress on Interop-Unlock or a Custom Rom for CDMA HTCs, more specifically the HTC Arrive?

I've been searching
I've been searching for a long time now. I love my Arrive. I don't think anyone is trying to work on this. I've been searching for custom roms , interop unlock , advanced configuration. But nothing. I've found nothing. Almost every other device. Has this. Or has a way to get these. But I think the arrive is dead in the water.

The Verizon HTC Trophy is in the same boat. Blame the lack of CDMA interest and the fact that the only way to interop unlock an HTC device so far on mango, is to use the HTC Configuration app which is only relevant to GSM devices. That is why the Arrive and Trophy devices haven't been broken yet. There is a team working on a unlocked bootloader for the Arrive and possibly with it the trophy so once that is released, we can get custom roms and finally have full access to our phones.
It is funny to me, how back in the WM6.x days, the CDMA Sprint Touch Pro(2) was the king of hack devices for custom roms and whatnot, and sadly I think many of those people went to Android or other carriers. It is sad since the Arrive does carry some of the TP2's legacy, but I still think both carriers should start wanting more CDMA windows phones. A CDMA HD2 never came, how about a CDMA Titan? Tempting as heck but I am not jumping ship from sprint for a phone. :/

you said it.
I agree with everything you said. I can't wait for custom roms for the Arrive. I miss my touch pro 2 it was so fun I still have it but now wp7 is in the spot light and I just want to hack the shi.... Out of it. But I'm stuck waiting for someone to unlock it. If I had the knowledge I would do it. And I know here in xda there has to be someone with that knowledge. That's why I'm waiting . Most of you senior members have that knowledge. And I know you guys will crack it. Thanks guys.

Well , CDMA Trophy (Verizon) is just fine , because it is a global device and has a bypass . It does make me worry about future devices that may not be global though .
I recently found out someone i know has the Arrive . Whenever i get a chance im going to tinker a bit with it to see if i can find any weird bugs to take advantage of like the Verizon bypass . I wouldnt EXPECT anything . It all lies in getting connection setup to run . Who knows .. maybe something can trick it ..everyone said Verizon would not work as well , and that turned out to be a simple solution .

All of us lowly Arrive users would love to have a solution to this. Especially since Sprint does not appear to want any more windows phones. At least till the fall that is.
I would be happy to help. I have a student dev-unlocked arrive running 8107.

Yeah all this because Microsoft got greedy and copied the iPhone. And they wonder why their sales suck. LOL, Microsoft just needs to admit they screwed up and give us back what Windows Moible use to be about, screw the iPhone.

sinister1 said:
Yeah all this because Microsoft got greedy and copied the iPhone. And they wonder why their sales suck. LOL, Microsoft just needs to admit they screwed up and give us back what Windows Moible use to be about, screw the iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you sound like a broken disk

Wanting an 8X for VZW.

Hello all!
I've always been exclusively Android and never even thought about trying iOS.
But when MS put out WindowsPhone 8 I was extremely curious.
Now I'm about to grab an 8X off of eBay just to try it out!
Some things to know:
I'm on Verizon
I may want to "hack" this thing (I used to flash ROMs and kernels all day with my old Galaxy Nexus)
I have a lot of Google stuff i.e. Play Music, Drive etc..
Things I need to know:
Will this phone get WP 8.1?
Are there problems with the 8.1 Developer Preview once installed? (with the LTE or Beats Audio functionality or anything)
Are there benefits from unlocking these phones like free tethering and whatnot?
Thanks in advance!
Cheers!

I don't know much about this phone. I just got one as well.
But it seems to me that it's the complete opposite of a galaxy nexus : everything is blocked, impossible to flash downgrades, community is therefore not very interested in a phone that HTC didn't intend for "hack"
On the other hand I think it will officially get 8.1. And its a really nice phone I think (I use a nexus 4 as my daily one).
And for Google stuff use a Google phone (no gmail app on wp)
I have one branded and blocked. Kind of discouraging when you've easily flashed thousand of ROMs on other devices..

mikskcas said:
I don't know much about this phone. I just got one as well.
But it seems to me that it's the complete opposite of a galaxy nexus : everything is blocked, impossible to flash downgrades, community is therefore not very interested in a phone that HTC didn't intend for "hack"
On the other hand I think it will officially get 8.1. And its a really nice phone I think (I use a nexus 4 as my daily one).
And for Google stuff use a Google phone (no gmail app on wp)
I have one branded and blocked. Kind of discouraging when you've easily flashed thousand of ROMs on other devices..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for replying!
But yeah I assumed most Windows Phones would be locked up. Especially compared to a stock Android phone like a Nexus.
I just thing it would be cool to try out. I don't ever get much facetime with anything WP related.
Would make for an interesting change! I'll keep my Moto X around for sure though.

As someone with the TMO branded device, It is a nice phone. The Developer Preview for 8.1 has known issues with configuring CDMA devices. (it will be fixed in the final release).
As far as Windows Phone goes, it is perfectly hackable, it just comes down to sheer volume....Most people with a Windows Phone have a Lumia, so there are more people working on that. There are a couple of ways to load custom/other firmware for some variants of the 8x. (Most people have been posting in the WP8 General forum)
Also, HTC and Microsoft have both announced that the phone will be getting an official update to Windows Phone 8.1.
Hope that helps!