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July 19, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
Not too long ago, we brought you news that allowed HTC EVO 4G LTE users to customize their bootloaders. The process was pretty cool, allowing users to make their bootloader look however they want—including making it look unhacked. After the initial project was released, users clamored for this to be made available to more devices. The requests were heard and responded to. Now, the plugin has been made available to make the bootloader customizer for a number of HTC devices.
The process for a developer to port this is not hard. XDA Recognized Contributor regaw_leinad, who developed the application and plugin, takes a time out from the stags (yes, that’s really him) to explain how:
it’s basically all written, they just need to fill in the values for their hboot, and embed the hboot.img into the exe. I already have a placeholder for the hboot.img and android-info.txt so a drag and drop over them should keep it embedded.
Regaw_leinad is also creating the application for the supported devices, but wanted to release the plugin first so users had a chance to get it sooner. The current list of supported HTC devices include:
While the list is quite large, one must keep in mind that not all of these devices have S-Off, and users must have S-Off in order to actually use this application. To get started, visit the original thread.
July 13, 2012 By: egzthunder1
If you enjoy gaming in this day and age, you have certainly come across a few FPS (first person shooter) games. In recent times, it seems like the idea of a post-apocalyptic zombie future is prime material for the genre. With this in mind, we now introduce to you Dead Trigger, which for all practical purposes is a game that features you trying to survive against the walking dead. This game was introduced as part of the marketing campaign to further promote Nvidia’s Tegra 3 processor, which is featured in several devices such as the One X, Asus Transformer Infinity, and a few others. The extra punch provided by the GPU enables an ultra-rich and nearly lag-free experience, resembling the closest thing to PC gaming with a mobile phone—or so they would have you (and I) believe.
XDA Forum Member sgaheer posted a link in the EVO 3D section with a work-around to enable the ultimate-rich graphics we described previously for this game. As it turns out, you do not need a Tegra 3 device to enjoy Tegra-specific games in their full glory, but the software is written in such a way that these details are hidden when non-Tegra 3 devices are used. Calling this a shady practice would be an understatement, but I guess that is a rant for a different article, for which we may want to invite Linus Torvalds to share his views.
In any case, the guide itself is relatively simple to follow. You will need to have a rooted device and some sort of file manager capable of gaining access to the root folder (Solid Explorer and ES File Explorer are good and free). Also, you will need to do some minor (and I do mean minor) editing of an .xml file.
It’s quite simple, and there are several reports in the thread that the “hack” works wonderfully well. Please provide your feedback and your game experience on your “unworthy” non-Tegra devices.
You can find more information in the original thread.
Want something published in the Portal? Contact any News Writer.
July 12, 2012 By: Will Verduzco
Just about three months ago, we brought you news that the Team Win Recovery Project had received a massive update to version 2.1. April’s release largely heralded the start of a new age in recoveries—where one would no longer have to deal with cumbersome menus, instead interacting with a very user-friendly GUI.
It wasn’t simply about the GUI either. In addition to bringing an unrivaled level of UI polish, TWRP 2.1 offered users many advanced features such as update.zip queuing, a basic file manager, and dual storage support for Nandroid backups. Additionally, TWRP added support for the open source scripting engine OpenRecoveryScript, which works in conjunction with the previously covered GooManager.
How do you follow up something as revolutionary as TWRP 2.1? With TWRP 2.2, of course. That’s how! The new release builds on the previous offering by delivering many recovery “firsts.” For starters, this is the first recovery to feature on on-screen keyboard. Why would you want such a thing? How about naming and renaming Nandroid backups! TWRP 2.2 is also the only recovery to split extremely large backups, allowing users to backup and restore /data partitions larger than the 2 GB FAT32 file size limit.
In the words of XDA Recognized Developer Dees_Troy:
- On-screen keyboard in recovery! — supports long press, backspace repeat, and swipe left deletes everything left of the cursor
- Name new backups and rename existing backups
- Rename files and folders in the file manager
- Pseudo-terminal emulator
- Support decrypting an encrypted data partition on Galaxy Nexus (enter password using keyboard)
- Backup archive splitting — allows backup and restore of data partitions larger than 2GB
- Simplified XML layout support between resolutions
- Added dual storage selection radio buttons to zip install, backup, and restore pages
- Improved zip install compatibility
- Updated update-binary source code
- Numerous small bug fixes and improvements
Eager to get started? I know I am. Head to the links below to obtain the appropriate version for your device:
July 10, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
The march of Jelly Bean across XDA has reached a fevered pitch since it was first announced at Google I/O 2012. With a number of devices receiving a port of the new version of Android on the rise and more expected in the future now that Jelly Bean source was released, Jelly Bean has certainly hit with a splash. For Samsung Galaxy S II I9100 and HTC EVO 3D users, there isn’t an AOSP version of Jelly Bean yet. However, there is a SDK port users can check out to preview JB.
The Galaxy S II port is a little rough as expected for an alpha release but it does have a number of things working. The list includes:
device boot
LED-flash
SD card (internal-only)
MTP (can’t copy files)
ADB
Vibration
SuperUser
SM (courtesy of bpear96)
Network Data (courtesy of stormtroopercs)
logcat (courtesy of edint3000 & bpear96, again)
While the list of things that still need fixed include:
WiFi
Bluetooth
Camera
Google Now/Google Search
Audio
anything else.
XDA Senior Member LastStandingDroid is spearheading the effort, but there are a lot of XDA members and developers working on the project. With the hardest part—getting it to boot—out of the way, it’s all a matter of fixing the individual problems until the ROM is stable. It is not ready for daily driver use yet, but a few fixes here and there and it will be.
For the EVO 3D, XDA Senior Member ognimnella is heading up the project which already has a number of contributors, developers, and testers helping out. There are a lot of problems with the ROM. For instance, it doesn’t boot yet. On the initial release, developers could get to a frozen boot animation but not far enough to get a logcat. The logcat problem has been fixed so far, and has allowed the developers to truly begin the process of making everything work. It should be noted that this ROM is for developers only at this point. Users should not flash unless they are looking to help in some way with the development. Nevertheless, Jelly Bean being ported is always good news.
For Galaxy S II owners, you can get a taste of Jelly Bean from the SGS2 JB thread. EVO 3D owners can head to the EVO 3D development thread.
Edit 7/15/2012
Good news for EVO 3D users. The development team responsible for the EVO 3D Jelly Bean port have released a couple of updates bringing into the world of the living. The new list of things working are:
3G
SMS
Bluetooth (turns on)
Light sensor
There’s still quite a few things that don’t work, but it is now stable enough to be considered an alpha release and not a developer-only release!
June 29, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
The journey of ICS to the HTC EVO 3D has been long and interesting. We brought you news of the first ICS leak, the problems with the ICS leak, and the solution to the problems. The last leak was for the Virgin Mobile-branded device, which ultimately was the cause of many issues. This time, though, it’s legit.
XDA Forum Member AcerExtensa has posted a guide that for users with the German or unbranded versions of the device to obtain the official ICS OTA. What’s more, the OTA has been modified so that users don’t have to upgrade their HBoot, recovery, or radio before updating.
The process is in 3 stages. First, users download the OTA in the form of a flashable update.zip. It is noted that users should use the 4EXT recovery, as that is the only recovery tested so far. Afterwards, users are to download a PG86IMG.zip to flash in the bootloader. This gives users unrooted ICS without losing any of the fun stuff. The last step is flashing root to the device.
It won’t be long until many derivative ROMs are updated with the fresh base, and many options based on this build appear. Here’s hoping the CDMA EVO 3D gets similar treatment soon.
For the download links and instructions, head over to the original thread.
June 21, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
Music and camera modifications have been popping up frequently in recent months. Camera modifications for the HTC Vivid and HTC Sensation, as well as the Samsung Galaxy S II and Galaxy S III have given users over a wide range of phones better cameras. Paired with the many available music modifications, many Android devices are being optimized for better media experiences.
The HTC EVO 3D now has a camera and music mod of its own. Released by XDA Recognized Developer coolexe, the modifications bring features that refresh the aging device’s camera and music experience including:
* For 1.13.652.2_R2 Base.
* HDR, Panorama
* 1250 ISO
* Fast Click
* Sharpness Mod (For Sharp Photos and Videos)
* GPU Effects Mod (Photo/Video Enhancement)
* Front Cam 720p Video Recording
* Front Cam Image Auto-Enhance
Some of the features of the music mod include:
* Buggy HTC Music Fix
* Video/Streaming Mod
–Working SRS, HTC 5.1 and Beats Audio Without Breaking 3D Video
* Audio Mod
–Working SRS, Dolby, EQ and Beats Audio
* Improved SRS Audio (More Bass and Surround) *Only For Wired & BT Headset*
While not everything is working 100% properly yet in either modification, the developer is trying to squelch bugs and add new features. For information on both mods, download links and instructions, go to the original thread for more details.
May 23, 2012 By: FallenWriter
One of the most common questions here at XDA over the past several months has been, “When will my HTC device receive Ice Cream Sandwich?” Now, thanks to a tip from XDA Senior Member neoofoox we have our answer.
Although we previously mentioned the devices confirmed to get ICS from HTC’s blog back in March, it was only recently that HTC finally confirmed their timeline for this year’s releases. According to HTC:
What is the overall timeline of Android 4.0 updates?
The majority of devices will receive upgrades in June and July 2012 and we expect to finish upgrades in August 2012 for all announced devices.
When will my device get the Android 4.0 upgrade?
The target timeline for announced devices is below. Because of partner and network testing, and approval processes for device updates, it can take up to 45 days for all carriers and countries to get the update after a rollout has begun.
Device
Schedule
DROID Incredible 2 by HTC To be determined (by the end of August) HTC Amaze 4G May-June HTC Desire S June-July HTC Desire HD July-August HTC EVO 3D June-July HTC EVO 4G+ May-June HTC EVO Design 4G June-July HTC Incredible S June-July HTC Sensation March-June HTC Sensation 4G March-June HTC Sensation XE March-June HTC Sensation XL April-Jun HTC Rezound June-July HTC Rhyme June-July HTC Thunderbolt July-August HTC Velocity 4G March-June HTC Vivid March-June
Please note these dates are targets and may shift due to testing and approvals.
For a detailed look at when your specific device will be getting a taste of frosty Android goodness and several other questions answered, head on over the official page and salivate over your upcoming good fortune.
May 18, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
As our regular readers will tell you, we’ve been following the HTC EVO 3D closely. Not too long ago, it received an ICS leak and its associated problems. The leak wasn’t for the Sprint or GSM versions of the phone, but rather for the Virgin Mobile version of the phone, which hasn’t even been released yet. As you can imagine, early adopters who flashed the red hot leak had some serious problems—not least of which was being unable to revert back to factory firmware. Fortunately, those days have come to an end.
XDA Senior Member jlechner, with the help of other developers, has released a full method to downgrade the EVO 3D back to its Gingerbread roots. The process is a little complicated, and requires that users know how to flash RUU files in the bootloader as well as ADB commands, so this is definitely not for the faint of heart. Jlechner is kind enough to provide links for all downloads you’ll need. The whole process will take roughly half an hour once everything is in place. However, there is also a stern warning:
This works for some, others are having data issues after. YMMV.
WARNING: Some can’t activate now. Your risk.
So if you’re not confident your device can handle the return to Gingerbread, it’s probably best to skip this for right now. If you really want to revert to the older firmware, you do so at your own risk.
For additional information on what marks the end of the VM ICS leak experience, head on over to the original thread and get downgraded.
May 12, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
For owners of many HTC device such as the HTC Amaze 4G, EVO 3D, MyTouch 4G Slide, Sensation, and the Vivid/Raider/Velocity, this has been a long time coming. A fully functional method to restore a device from a full brick is a pretty big deal. This then gives users more confidence when performing potentially risky tasks such as HBoot updates, ROM flashes, or turning S On.
XDA Senior Member dexter93, along with a host of other developers, has finally released this project after several months of beta testing and waiting. This is great news for many HTC users who have bricked devices under certain circumstances, and is much better news for users who unintentionally—or even intentionally—brick theirs in the future.
The method is pretty complicated and requires a number of things on the user side. The method also requires the use of a Linux-based computer and the most up to date RUU for your device. Finally, the most important thing, according to dexter93 is as folllows:
a device bricked by writing security flag 3 with an unsigned hboot, or caused by a damaged hboot via interrupted OTA update/RUU flash on a S-ON device
In other words, this will not work for all kinds of bricks. Rather it will only work for devices bricked by setting S On with an unsigned HBoot or if your HBoot was somehow damaged. While this unfortunately doesn’t help those who may have bricked their devices through other means, it will undoubtedly help many previously helpless users. It should be mentioned, though, that dexter93 and crew are looking to find way to fix other bricks as well.
For all of the information—and there’s quite a bit—as well as download links, screen shots, the full instructions, and discussion, head on over to the appropriate thread to get unbricked:
May 9, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
Whenever a device gets a new leak, some brave soul has to flash it and figure out what works and what doesn’t. In many cases, there isn’t much wrong but often, the software is incomplete and there’s the occasional force close or signal issue. However, on some leaks—especially ones that aren’t really intended for your device—there are more numerous issues.
Those carrying the HTC EVO 3D may have noticed that on Sense 4 leaks, the camera doesn’t exactly work. While camera functionality is commonly lacking in ICS leaks, you don’t have to suffer from for long. XDA Recognized Developer JoelZ9614 has provided a fix that will get the shutterbugs out there back in action.
The fix, which comes packaged in a recovery-flashable update.zip, fixes some (but not all) of the camera problems. Specifically, users can expect their 2D camera and 2D camcorder to work again, but 3D functionality is still down for the time being. Additionally, you get some classic ICS transition animations. However, half a fix is better than having it broken, so users can expect this fix to be incorporated into various ROMs in the near future.
For additional information, check out the original thread.
May 9, 2012 By: pstevep
With Ice Cream Sandwich quickly spreading across Android devices like wildfire right now, new drivers for the Adreno 220 GPU found in the Qualcomm Snapdragon S3 have surfaced. These drivers can potentially lead to improved 2D UI rendering performance in ICS and, of course, increased benchmark scores.
XDA Senior Member gjcamp has produced recovery-flashable update.zip files that work across multiple devices with this hardware. Every phone running the Adreno 220 from the HTC Evo 3D to a couple variants of the Samsung Galaxy S2 may be able to benefit from these drivers, and there are currently seven different devices for which gjcamp has created threads. In his words:
…I have seen dramatically improved result on my Quadrant 3D scores with “Force 2D GPU rendering” UNCHECKED in the Setting->Develop Options Menu of this ICS Release. With this option checked I have seen improvements on both 2D and 3D. Although results are slightly degraded for 3D from post update the 2D results have doubled in value.
I can confirm this myself on my own Evo 3D that Quadrant scores were improved with these new drivers. Similarly, the 2D UI rendering does seem to be smoother, but this is always hard to measure objectively. As anyone who flashes bleeding edge tech to their phone knows, there could be side effects.
You can get started by visiting the threads in their respective sections listed below:
Even if your device isn’t explicitly, the drivers may potentially work on your device, provided that you’re running an Adreno 220 GPU and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. However, if your phone’s not on the list, be extra careful and be sure to have a working backup to revert to.
Not long ago we brought you great news of the EVO 3D receiving its first taste of ICS through a leaked firmware. Not even 24 hours after the leak, there were already a few developers making releases and repackaging the RUU as a flashable firmware update. It was rather comforting to see HTC showing their flagship phone from last year some love, and users were pretty happy as well. However, not everything is sunshine and kittens with the ICS leak, and now users are finding themselves in quite a pickle.
It was first documented in a question thread that many users looking to roll back to Gingerbread in order to regain some functionality. Apparently, many users suffered from decreased signal and had difficulty in maintaining a 3G connection, instead having to suffer through the dreaded 1X icon. That, along with reports of loss of VPN functionality, prompted some users to look to revert to Gingerbread until a more stable release emerges. If only it were that easy.
XDA Senior Member yousefak has posted a warning that states that, currently, there is no way to get back to Gingerbread from the ICS update, and that is a really big problem. As it turns out, the leak was for the Virgin Mobile version of the HTC EVO 3D and wasn’t really intended for the Sprint version or any other version for that matter.
The warning states the full list of issues, referring to the big ones specifically and the less important ones as other bugs, along with the reason users can’t just switch back and updates on the progress being made to fix this situation. As of right now, XDA Recognized Developer Chad.Goodman is working on a fix, but reports state that it’s not going well so for anyone on the ICS firmware, so users who tried out the leaked frmware may be stuck for a while. Yes, it’s HBoot 1.50 S-On all over again. Worry not, though, as there are several people working on getting it fixed.
For updates on the fix, more information, users should check out the official thread. For those who haven’t flashed the ICS update yet, it is highly recommended that you either do not flash it until a fix is found or only flash it if you’re aware of, and okay with, what it’ll do to your device.
May 4, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
With the recent and successful launch of the HTC One line, HTC has been due for something equally large on the software front for a bit now, and the ICS leak for the HTC EVO 3D suggests that the device should be getting an official release relatively soon. Hopefully, anyway.
The leaked ROM shows that HTC may still have some interest in their former flagship phone for Sprint, although given the difficulties in rolling out large updates, it is possible that we won’t see an official release until after the launch of the HTC EVO 4G LTE. XDA Recognized Developer dastin1015 has posted the RUU up for users to check out and, more importantly, for developers to get their hands on it to bring even more ICS goodness to the EVO 3D.
For users attempting to flash, approach with extreme caution as it’s been pointed out by XDA Recognized Developer kittykat858 that the mount points are wrong. Luckily, that’s currently being worked out, so it’ll be available to everyone soon. Additionally, there is already some custom ROMs being made based on the RUU for both the GSM and CDMA versions of the EVO 3D. So if you’re not confident in flashing the RUU just yet, there are some custom ROM alternatives.
For additional information and download links, head over to the leaked RUU thread, the ROM thread from XDA Senior Member ybinnenweg or the other ROM thread from XDA Recognized Developer JoelZ9614.
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