Gain Root Access To HTC EVO 4G [UPDATED]

The latest OTA update for the EVO (which recently patched the vulnerability that previously enabled root) has already been cracked. It uses Adobe's Flash Config page to gain entry to the system configuration. The full instructions aren't all that tricky and as we have said it before, we long as you read the instructions first, you should have no problem. If you haven't rooted before, it certainly is worth considering. There are a number of benefits and having a rooted phone is well worth it.

Well, isn’t this interesting – the latest OTA update for the EVO (which patched the vulnerability that previously enabled root) has been cracked. The interesting part? It uses Adobe’s Flash Config page to gain entry to the system config.

The full instructions aren’t all that tricky, and as we’ve said before, as long as you read the instructions first, you shouldn’t have an issue. If you haven’t rooted before, it’s certainly worth considering. The benefits are numerous, and having rooted a phone for the first time myself just a month ago, I can attest that it’s well worth it.

How To Gain Root Access To HTC EVO 4G [UPDATED]:

You can check out the video tutorial and full instructions:

Make sure you have adb ready to go and know how to get into adb shell. You must use the EVO browser to perform these steps. If these steps don’t work, use recovery to wipe your phone and start fresh (you will lose all of your data on the phone)

1. Unzip the files into a directory somewhere on your computer

2. Put the files into the root of your sdcard (mount the EVO as a disk drive)

3. Unmount your phone

4. Run "adb shell" and start part1 on your phone:

Code:

sh /sdcard/part1

5. If the script says to power down, hold your power button and turn off your phone, then turn it back on.

6. When it starts up it will ask you to open the EVO browser. open your EVO browser to http://bit.ly/ad0pRn

7. When it asks you to, refresh the EVO browser on the same page

8. Reboot your phone with "adb reboot"

9. Run adb shell as soon as you can (when the HTC logo is still showing). You need to be fast. If you get "error: device not found", try again.

Code:

adb shell /data/local/part2

10. It should print after part2 finished:

Code:

crw-rw-rw- root root 90, 2 2010-07-05 19:37 mtd1

11. When your phone finished booting, flash toastcfh’s mtd-eng.img to misc:

Code:

cat /sdcard/flash_image > /data/local/flash_image
chmod 755 /data/local/flash_image
/data/local/flash_image misc /sdcard/mtd-eng.img

12. Now flash the Engineering SPL with toastcfh’s post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=701835

Stay tuned for more news and info by following us on Twitter and/or subscribing to our RSS feeds.

HTC EVO 4G Updates Back Online; Bricking Problems Resolved

The previously pulled update is now back out and still promises a handful of fixes for WiFi, Exchange, and battery life. Still no Froyo but either way, its good to know that the update is back out with less brick than before. Just to clarify as well, if you have already updated and saw no issue, then this update can be ignored, the only change here is that after attempting to apply the update multiple times, you won't kill your phone.

Sprint Stops Evo 4G Updates Due To Reports Of Bricking

There has been a little bit of a complaint with the latest Evo 4G update which has resulted numerous people finding their smartphone becoming unusable. Aside from the expected rooted handsets having their predictable woes with the new official software, some users have found that applying the update twice bricked their phones, even those on a stock OS. Pretty worrysome for those who shelled out the money for this beast of a phone, especially because you can check for updates after a successful install gives you the option to apply it all over again. Sprint and HTC have acted quickly to pull the OTA (over-the-air) update off and they both promised to restore it as soon as the issue has been ironed out. Here is what two companies had to say:

While the vast majority of consumers successfully downloaded and installed the most recent HTC EVO 4G software update, we have received a handful of reports from customers having some issues with the update. In light of this, HTC and Sprint have decided to temporarily halt distribution of this software release until we can investigate further. We expect to be able to resume software updates shortly.

For now all we can do is sit and wait and hope that everything gets fixed soon, otherwise we will be left with several unsatisfied customers.

The rumor mill may have been early, but it's about to be proven correct - says Bloomberg.

It appears that Verizon, the largest U.S. mobile-phone company, will at long last finally introduce coverage for Apple's iPhone next year - possibly as early as January. Bloomberg is reporting from two familiar sources in the know (not something a major, credible news source like Bloomberg does very often) that AT&T's exclusive hold on the iPhone is effectively over.

Verizon Wireless, now laboring to roll out a high-speed fourth-generation network, is expected to include the iPhone in its big new product unveiling in January at the Consumer Electronics Show. Verizon's network coverage for the iPhone 4 will dramatically improve the user experience for both AT&T and Verizon iPhone customers, as the network expansion will significantly reduce the overwhelming data burdens presently incumbent on AT&T, the sole carrier of the iPhone in the US.

UBS AG analyst John Hodulik tells Bloomberg that Apple is going to drastically "increase the number of devices it sells in the US when exclusivity at AT&T ends. It’s hard to ignore the quality issues that AT&T has faced.” For now, spokespersons at Apple, AT&T, and Verizon are not commenting on the Bloomberg report, which for the most part, is presenting the iPhone's arrival on the Verizon network as fact rather than a mere possibility.

Of course, some conspiracy theorists are already speculating that the "leak" may be intentional by Verizon as a means to sway some folks to hold off on upgrading to the iPhone 4 and, consequently, extending their love-hate relationship with AT&T for another twenty-four months. As Verizon looks to ramp up its competitive efforts in the smartphone marketplace in the coming months, it isn't impossible to fathom the carrier pulling such a clever stunt.

Sprint Releases HTC Evo 4G OTA Update

Earlier today, Sprint released an over-the-air Android software update to the HTC Evo 4G. The update is labeled as version 1.47.651.1 and is 21.43MB. It is mainly a few bug fixes and improvements upon existing features. Many users have reported to have "enhanced" WiFi that works better and notice faster load times and more responsiveness on the phone's home screen. Others seemed to notice nothing different and and reported having certain customized settings being reset, such as wallpapers. If you own an HTC Evo 4G and have upgraded, let us know your experience post-update as opposed to before by dropping us comment below!

Android Port For HTC HD2 Rumored To Come Soon

One of the greatest things about the HTC HD2 is that it still remains an excellent hardware release but as long it comes packaged with the dead OS (Windows Mobile 6.5) it will remain a weak contender now matter how good it may look or powerful it may be. To end that situation, some people are working tireless to salvage the phone by throwing an Android OS onto it. Previously they were stuck with errors involving the phone's Snapdragon core and the so-called HaRET tool used to boot Linux from Windows CE-based devices that have made a proper port impossible. Currently this issue has been overcome which means a consumer-friendly Android build might finally be possible. Considering that there is no proper Evo 4G equivalent from HTC in Europe still, the project should have quite a bit of value to it. Stay tuned for more info by following us on Twitter and/or subscribing to our RSS feeds.

HTC Evo 4G Sells Out Online Once Again

The HTC Evo 4G first sold out soon after its release and is now still getting hard to find. You may have some luck tracking it down locally but the option that requires the least physical movement (ordering online) isn't actually an option for now, with Sprint saying "this device is hot we can't keep it on our virtual shelves." Within time the situation will probably be different but it makes you wonder whether the shortage is due to actual sales or the screen separation fix being on the assembly line. Have any of you been trying to get one? If so, share your experience in the comments below.

Fring Brings Video Calling To HTC and Dell Androids

If you are one of the people with an Android phone that has a front-facing camera and you know your friends and family have front-facing camera phones as well there finally is a cheaper alternative for video calling. The free IM app, Fring, is finally supporting the Streak and Evo 4G whereas other phones like X10 will have to rely on their main cameras. Fring isn't locked on to any particular connection method, so if you have an unlimited monthly data plan then you will be introduced to a world of free 3G video calls. A direct competitor for Apple's FaceTime.

Given the increased video quality and the improvement in the clarity of the video as well as more tolerable lag, the affordability of mobile data all combined seems like 3G video calls might be able to make a comeback and stick around. One of the only things to really watch out for is the fact that Fring's video uses about 1MB of bandwidth each minute, so for those of you who aren't on unlimited data plans, please be careful. The folks over at Engadget had some hands-on proof which you can find below:

HTC Planning To Fix Evo 4G Screen Issues

Word on the streets is that Evo 4G owners can sleep tight tonight since we have some good news for them. The glass separation issue is a real issue but is said to be a minor one that has no effect on the usability of the phone. HTC mentioned that they have made some assembly changes that should reduce or eliminate the problem going forward, and it'll keep an eye on the situation. Apparently there are also screen sensitivity issues that are also real and are apparently far more prevalent in dry climates. This somehow can be fixed with a software patch alone though and this patch will be rolling out on EVOs "soon."

Stay tuned for more information by following us on Twitter and/or subscribing to our RSS feeds.

BestBuy Exclusive – “White” HTC EVO 4G

If you are a fan of HTC phones, and are into the EVO 4G but aren't too crazy about the Black color, well cheer up. BestBuy have locked an exclusive deal to offer a White version of the popular android smartphone. According to sources, the white model is now available for pre-orders and is set to go on sale as of July 11th.

The new handset is expected to cost the same $200 with a two-year contract as the current Black Evo 4G. HTC Evo 4G is the first US handset compatible with a WiMAX network, which is available in some markets across the US, and has a 1GHz processor, 4.3-inch screen and a front-facing camera.

For more information about the HTC EVO 4G, check out our posts here.

Touchstone Mod Allows Users To Wirelessly Charge HTC Evo 4G

At this point everyone knows that heavy use of the HTC Evo 4G's WiMAX connectivity just calls for seeing the battery gauge to drop quickly. Anything that might help this situation has to be a good thing that everyone would want to fix, which is exactly why a YouTuber named infinitemods' made a DIY (do it yourself) hack to get the Sprint Evo 4G working with a Palm Touchstone inductive charger. It's quite impressive and it allows for easy drop-and-charge powering of the smartphone just like what you would get with the Pre Plus or Pixi Plus.

The inductive coil needs to be removed from a spare battery cover plate for the Pre which will run you about $46. The inductive coil needs to then be attached to the correct points on the Evo 4G's mainboard, more specifically near the battery connections but NOT directly on them, with four magnets around the coil to hold the phone in place on the Touchstone itself.

Although the mod does allow for quick and easy charging on the go, there are drawbacks. The magnets used to keep the inductive coil in place to hold the phone in place on the Touchstone mess up the Evo 4G's digital compass and the cover doesn't close exactly without reshaping a part of the case. Infinitemods has mentioned that he is currently in the process of making a tutorial as to how to hook up the inductive coil to the Evo 4G and to keep a look out for it. You can see a video of the mod in action below:

So what do you guys think of the mod? Will you be trying it once the tutorial is released? Share your thoughts and comments below!

Glass Separations Plague HTC Evo Users

There is some bad news in the air for Evo 4G owners as we are seeing plenty of reports from people having issues with the lower portions of their screens. Some theories about what is going on is that the adhesive holding the glass is failing, casing the screen to peel up a bit and cause the screen to begin to wear and tear. The separation is causing excessive light leakage from below and is a problem that is continually worsening as users spend more time massaging their screens, even those who are not being as harsh to their phones as this guy was. No official response from HTC yet but we aren't sure what a fix for an issue like this could even be. For those of you who don't mind carrying around funky hardware, duct tape could probably work wonders in a situation like this.

HTC Evo 4G Screen Scratch Test - Result Durable!

The thought of purposely harming the Evo 4G's stunning 4.3-inch display causes us to shiver but we have to remember that it is done in the name of science and to test the device for durability. An Android Forums member was due to return his defective Evo to Sprint so he figured he'd take the opportunity to run the unit through a variety of scratch tests include keys, a screw, a penny, and of course - a razor blade. After all the tests were performed, the Evo emerged victorious (for the most part) with just two small scratches on the display. Hopefully you Evo 4G owners out there won't be so harsh on your device but it is good to know that your new phone is durable enough to survive some wear and tear. Check out the videos below of the painful device torture:

[How To] Tether Your Evo 4G

Evo 4G users can already rejoice as more features start to come in for them. Evo users can enjoy unlimited free WiFi and Bluetooth tethering using the Wireless Tether for Root users (or simply Android-WiFi-Tether) app. The app’s main committer Harald Mue worked with a community contributor Andrew Robinson to get the app up and running. The community dedication was just simply amazing as the Evo was released just this past Friday.

Requirements

The only requirement is that your Evo is rooted. You can read about what root means and how to get your Evo rooted by following the instructions in our previous post. It is really simple and you’ll be done fairly quick.

Download

wireless_tether_2_0_1.apk (Stable)

wireless_tether_2_0_2-pre14.apk (Experimental)

After you have rooted, download and install the .apk file.

Update: android-wifi-tether does not work in infrastructure mode. Your devices have to be capable of joining an ad-hoc network. Android devices cannot as of right now, so your other mobile device may not be able to do so.

Sprint’s WiFi Hotspot

Sprint offers its own version of the WiFi app, which supports a stronger encryption (WPA/WPA2), while android-wifi-tether only supports a weak WEP. The company’s hotspot app also costs $30 a month while android-wifi-tether is free. You are already paying Sprint $10 extra for “premium data” per month already, why not really take advantage of it? This is one of the most useful apps to date for Android phones. For those of you who are concerned about WEP, you can use a whitelist capability of android-wifi-teter, which only lets through pre-approved WiFi MAC addresses. As of right now, there still may be bugs, but the new pre14 release seems to be working well from what we gathered. Download yours, test it out, and report back to us by dropping a comment below!

[How To] Gain Root Access To HTC EVO 4G

The Evo 4G was rooted some days ago, we have the instructions and it couldn't be easier. If you're new to this, we suggest you read through the thread at XDA Developers and then read through it again. After you think you don't have any more questions, read through it one more time. (Note: THIS WILL WIPE YOUR PHONE.) For the advanced, it's this simple:

1. Download this file (PC36IMG.zip). Move it to the root (as in top level) of the Evo's storage card.

2. Turn the phone off. Once it is, hold down the volume button and the power button until you get a white screen and some text. You're now in the bootloader. It should automatically start checking the PC36IMG.zip file you put on the card.

3. Once it's done, it'll list all the images on the card and ask if you want to flash. (Last chance to stop the whole procedure.) Say yes, and we're on our way. It'll look like this as it's going:

4. After it's done, it'll ask if you want to reboot. Do it.

That's it. You have a rooted ROM. You'll want to rename or delete the PC36IMG.zip image file that you put on the card, so that next time you enter the bootloader it won't try to automatically update again. You can do that by plugging in the phone, choosing "HTC Sync" and going to your favorite command line prompt and typing:

adb shell mv /sdcard/PC36IMG.zip /sdcard/root-PC36IMG.zip

Leave the phone plugged in if you want to go on to the next section and load the custom recovery otherwise, you're done.

Flashing recovery for custom ROMs

If you're going to want custom ROMs on the Evo, you need to flash the recovery image. Here's how you do that.

1. Download this file (evorecovery) to your desktop. Then unzip it.

2. Return to your favorite command line prompt and type "adb reboot recovery" (without quotes). This will reboot the phone into recovery mode. It looks like this:

3. Once it's in recovery mode, go back to your computer. Find the evo-recovery file that you unzipped. Inside are a series of files. For Windows, double-click "recovery-windows.bat." (If you're running Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click it first and choose "Run as administrator." Let it do it's thing, and you'll now have the custom recovery module so you can back up the phone, flash custom ROMs, etc.

That's everything. Props to the folks at XDA and everybody who worked on this project. Once you're done here, head on over there and be sure to thank them for all that they have done!

Qik Charges $4.99 Monthly Fee For Video Chatting On HTC Evo 4G

We all thought the mandatory $10 "premium data add-on" for Sprint's EVO 4G would additionally include YouTube and Qik video chat, well we were only half right. The people over at Android Guys have what seems to be an alleged to be scan from Sprint's training materials, and according to one image, Qik will cost everyone another $4.99 monthly via PayPal (not through the carrier) to use. It has been confirmed and it's a bit of a bummer to see the premiums continuing to add up. Luckily Fring's Skype video is still free and you can see in the video below that it works pretty well.

Possibility of iPhone 4G / HD Coming To Sprint Next Month

Several rumors in the past few weeks lead us to believe that the next generation iPhone will be available on Verizon from September this year. However, there are new rumors on the block that suggest that customers may not get a Verizon iPhone anytime soon but they might not have to wait so long for AT&T’s network exclusivity to end either.

According to TheTechUpdate, Apple might launch the next generation iPhone on Sprint in June this summer. According to their source, who claims to be an employee at Best Buy, the shelf display of the device could begin “within a week or two.” The source claims:

“I work in an electronics store that has a mobile phone store within it. I can confirm that Sprint will be carrying the iPhone beginning in June. They’ve begun to grease the wheels for advertising. There is no news in regards o a Verizon version however.”

TheTechUpdate has also posted screenshots of the email conversation they had with their source which can be found below:

The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is just a couple of weeks away. The latest speculations provide an additional dimension to recent rumors that Apple might announce an end to AT&T’s iPhone exclusivity wit the launch of the fourth generation iPhone. However, skeptics have questioned the credibility of these rumors considering that Apple’s original agreement with AT&T was signed for a period of five years.

The Best Buy employee claims that Apple may have cut short the duration of the agreement in exchange for AT&T’s iPad deal that was announced earlier this year. MacRumors points out that Best Buy employees are not good sources to carry insider information from Apple and hence may not carry enough credibility. Also, a rumored “shelf display” next week appears very unlikely considering that the next generation iPhone is at least two weeks away from launch.

Nonetheless, an iPhone on Sprint could be an exciting proposition for customers looking for an alternative to the congested AT&T network. It would also be interesting if you consider that the HTC Evo 4G, will also be available on Sprint’s 4G network from June 4. Would you be willing to switch to Sprint if Apple’s fourth generation is also available on it’s 4G network or will you stay with AT&T?

HTC Evo Gets Rooted Before Its Release

Just a few days after Google handed out an Evo 4G to every attendee of I/O 2010, a team of three hackers managed to successfully root the phone with 11 days to spare. Details aobut how the root was achieved are being kept from the public, out of fear of a last minute patch, but that doesn’t mean that ranking members of the Android Army can’t get their freak on watching a YouTube video of the root at work. Click to see the video below:

Shipping HTC Evo 4G Rom Released

If you are one of those people who can't wait to get your hands on an Evo 4G, then there is some good news for you. As of right now you can settle for the next best thing that's not actually anything like the real thing: the final, shopping version of the Evo 4G ROM It's been released into the wild courtesy of Conflipper, and is ready to be downloaded for use however you like and at your own risk of course. Download the file from here and drop us any comments if you manage to work any magic with it.

Android Superphone - HTC Evo 4G Has Lackluster Battery

The new Android superphone's (the HTC EVO 4G) kryptonite was finally discovered - it's battery. According to Walt Mossberg from the Wall Street Journal:

"...when using 4G, the EVO’s battery runs down alarmingly fast. In my tests, it didn’t last through a full day with 4G turned on. The carrier, in fact, is thinking of advising users to turn off the 4G network access when they don’t think they need it, to save battery life. This undercuts the whole idea of faster cellular speeds."

We haven't heard much about the new iPhone having any battery issues, but let's see how things pan out. You can catch Walt Mossberg's clip below:

Radio Shack To Offer HTC EVO 4G; Preorders Available For $50

Radio Shack has just been added to the list of retailers taking preorders for the HTC EVO 4G. They also are sweetening the deal just a little bit - if you reserve a phone prior to launch by purchasing a $50 gift card, they'll toss in a $20 credit toward accessories.

RadioShack’s preorder promotion is valid from today until May 31, 2010. There is a limit of three preorders per person, and once your EVO 4G arrives you have 48 hours to claim it.

The HTC EVO 4G will cost $200, with a two year contract, although to get this price you’ll need to turn in a $100 mail in rebate. You can also preorder the EVO 4G at Best Buy and Sprint stores, and if you preorder the device from Best Buy the retailer will get the $200 price without the hassle of a mail in rebate.