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May 3, 2013 By: jerdog
A while back, we took a poll on which handset we should add to the list of XDA merchandise. After a few months of discussion, and honestly just having a lot going on, we’re ready to announce the winning selections for addition to our XDA case lineup with CruzerLite. READ ON »
January 19, 2013 By: jerdog
At the end of last year, we started selling XDA cases with our friends at CruzerLite, and we’ve seen some phenomenal interest. Our current lineup is the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and the Google Nexus 4—but we want to add more. So we have decided to hold a poll and let the users choose which device(s) to add to our current lineup.
Below you will find some of the top devices at XDA. Please choose one from the list that you would like to see offered, and we will pick from the top 3 devices. The voting ends on February 15, so make sure you place your vote for the devices you love!
EDIT: The results are in, and displayed below. We’ll keep you updated as to the final options when they become available.
December 13, 2012 By: egzthunder1
If all rumors were true, we would likely be living with aliens, and Elvis would likely be alive and kicking back in his cozy shack in Las Vegas while sipping, well, virtually everything in front of him. That said, rumors have a tendency to give us a bad aftertaste since they normally tend to not be true, which is a very nice slap back into reality. However, when they are true, it normally takes a second or two to sink in, but we tend to jump with joy shortly thereafter.
XDA Forum Member 27s started a thread earlier today based on a story posted by AndroidPolice that stated, with a screenshot of unconfirmed and unknown origin, that Jelly Bean would be rolling out to the HTC EVO 4G LTE sometime today.
Lots of skepticism went around for the better part of the day, until people started reporting that they were getting OTA update notifications via Sprint Zone. If you can see the featured image in this article, you will see that the update is in fact the much awaited newer version of the Android OS, which has been making rounds through all of the Android world, mostly in the shape of AOSP-based ROMs.
The new version should come with a few goodies for EVO 4G LTE owners to enjoy. However, the best part is that now there is a fully JB-compatible version of Sense to play around with, and port back to older (but still very much capable) devices like the Sensation, EVO 3D, and others.
Please post some feedback. And if you happen to get your hands on a dump of the download, post it so that others can see what it had for lunch. Who knows what goodies (or baddies) this new build may have.
You can find more information in the original thread.
Want something published in the Portal? Contact any News Writer.
December 11, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
When dealing with AOSP-based ROMs, users and developers don’t really find themselves waiting for the next release of Android. In the case of OEM skins, they don’t have to wait for the next version either. For some time, the biggest issue facing the HTC EVO 4G LTE was unlocking the bootloader. With that accomplished, developers are now back to making sure they have the newest firmwares available. Now, there is a port of Jelly Bean with a dash of Sense 4.5.
XDA Senior Member chubbzlou released an early alpha build of Jelly Bean with Sense 4.5 for the EVO LTE. As the word “alpha” implies, it’s pretty rough around the edges. Here is the list of things not currently working:
Sdcard
Wifi
Bluetooth
NFC
Sound
Camera
Pretty much everything
So what works? So far, just data and GPS. It’s a port from the HTC Droid DNA, and chubbslou has asked for help from other devs to get this port up and running properly. For now, though, development will continue, and it’s not recommended that anyone flash the ROM unless they wanna see a preliminary build of Jelly Bean or if they’re going to help fix bugs. The EVO line up has always had good luck with ports, and this one will likely be no exception.
For additional details, check out the original thread.
[Big thanks to XDA Recognized Developer SinisterTensai for the tip!]
October 14, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
The last time we brought you news about TWRP, it was to announce that TWRP 2.2.2 had been released. It had fixed a lot of bugs from the initial release of TWRP 2.2 and added a few new features. Very recently, TWRP has been updated again to version 2.3.
There were a whole bunch of awesome improvements with TWRP 2.2 and a lot of unique and brand new features as well. TWRP 2.3 promises no less. The official change log includes:
Rebased onto AOSP Jelly Bean source code
Rewrote backup, restore, wipe, and mount code in C++ classes for easier maintenance going forward
NOTE: backups from prior versions of TWRP are still compatible with 2.3
ADB sideload functionality from AOSP is included in 2.3, see this link for more info
Re-wrote fix permissions entirely in C++ and runs in a few seconds instead of a few minutes (thanks to bigbiff)
Improvements to zip finding in OpenRecoveryScript (should be a lot fewer GooManager automation issues)
Faster boot times
Added charging indicator while in recovery (only updates once every 60 seconds)
Additionally, XDA Recognized Developer Dees_Troy has reported that there is now support for spaces in backup names. Before, if you added a space to the name of a backup, it would not restore. Now users can use whatever naming convention they want.
One of the biggest changes, though, is all of the TWRP being rewritten in C++ and its move to recovery API 3 instead of API 2. With the code rewrite, it will allow TWRP to update more quickly and with more stability. With the API 3 change, it means that some flashable zip files may stop working because the developer needs to update the update-binary. If you don’t want to wait for the developer, or the developer has ceased working on the project, you can find one to use on TWRP’s official website. To install the latest TWRP, you can use the Goomanager application. Simply open the application, hit menu, and install open recovery.
If you want to check out the latest TWRP recovery for your device, check one of the links below.
October 3, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
We’ve brought you multitasking tweaks before. While most of them involve simply editing minfree values to a more desirable number, the main difference has been the ease of doing so. Until now, that is. A new multitasking tweak has been discovered specifically for Sense 4.0 and Sense 4.1 ROMs on the HTC EVO 4G LTE.
XDA Recognized Developer zeppelinrox found the first tweak for the Sense 4.0/4.1. And now, it doesn’t involve just minfree tweaks. Before the tweak, the app limit for Sense ROMs was a mere 8 applications. After the tweak, it can go as high as 50. If that’s too much, zeppelinrox suggets using one of the many methods to tweak minfrees to rectify the problem. The tradeoff is that a higher minfree value frees up more RAM, while a lower value allows for more multitasking.
Additionally, XDA Recognized Themer and Contributor steal25 created a mod to give users more recent app panels for the EVO 4G LTE. Given that there’s a new way to have even more apps open on Sense ROMs, it makes sense to make more panels available as well. Unfortunately, the tweak has to be done manually. This means decompiling the SystemUI.apk and making some edits manually. It probably won’t be long until ROM devs start using this mod in their work or a flashable zip is produced. Until then, best to brush up on your compiling and decompiling skills.
For more info, you can check out zeppelinrox’s multitasking mod thread or steal25′s multitasking panel thread.
September 10, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
Multitasking is a central component of the Android experience. You can open up an application, go open up five more, and go back to the first application right where you left it. Unfortunately, this process doesn’t always work the way you want or need it to. Sometimes it requires a little coercion from an outside source. This is exactly what it takes for HTC EVO 4G LTE owners.
XDA Senior Member Cloaker posted a thread on XDA linking users to an application called mcTweaker Root. After testing the application and some of its settings, Cloaker was able to get multitasking on the EVO LTE working as it should be. As explained:
You have to grant it root permission, go to memory, hit cynic killer, select On.
Hit back, save, restart if asked by the app.
The application is free in the Google Play Store, and given how easy it is to set up and use, this is quite convenient for those who want their multitasking tweaked. What’s more, since this application is available to everyone and has been shown to work on other devices, the tweaked parameters may solve issues on other devices as well.
For more information and the download link to the Play Store, check out the original thread.
August 30, 2012 By: Ian Stacy
The CyanogenMod crew has added four new devices to their officially supported lineup. This is exciting news, considering the popularity of the devices in question. These four flagship-status devices are some of the most widely-used phones on the market today. The list of devices and maintainers is as follows:
This is great news for owners of these devices, since the aforementioned HTC and Samsung devices natively run HTC Sense and Samsung TouchWiz, respectively. Many users prefer a fully functional AOSP-based build to these bloated default ROMs, and CyanogenMod 10 fits the bill as an Android 4.1 ROM with some discrete, yet highly functional modifications. Keep your eye on the device forums to catch the latest release candidates, and try not to ask for ETAs!
August 6, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
Every now and then, a mod so unique pops up that it bears closer examination. For HTC EVO 4G LTE owners, a mod such as this has appeared. When booted into a Sense ROM and connected to a PC, one will notice that the device mounts as two drives. One is the internal storage, and the other is a CD-ROM. Yes, a CD-ROM. Naturally, upon discovering this, the first step is to see if it can be used for something else. As it turns out, it can be.
XDA Recognized Contributor closeone has discovered that there is a file on the EVO LTE called PCTOOL.ISO, which is what causes the EVO LTE to show up as a CD-ROM when it’s plugged into a PC. Closeone explains why it is there and what can be done about it:
There is a file named PCTOOL.ISO inside the /system/etc directory that normally contains the HTC Sync Manager Software. By replacing that ISO with another, it’ll mount that one instead. Because there isn’t too much room to spare in the /system partition, the file should probably be kept relatively small.
There are a number of things users can put in place of the HTC Sync Manager Software, although not a whole lot of things have been tested yet. In theory, though, quite a few useful tools can be placed here, as closeone says:
1. ROM Developers can include a package that contains a copy of the ADB and Fastboot executables within their ROM. ADB would be useful while the device is on; Fastboot would probably have to be copied to the computer.
2. Because the ISO is mounted as Read-Only media, it could be incredibly useful for field technicians who need to run portable software, without the risk of being infected with a virus on the host machine.
Being able to run portable software without thread of virus is definitely something anyone could benefit from. Aside from being one of the more unique mods on XDA, having functionality like this on the EVO LTE can lead to various possibilities.
To learn more, check out the original thread.
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 19, 2012 By: Joseph Hindy
When an OTA update is released for a device, rooted users and are running custom ROMs often have to wait a little longer to get the update. This is because developerss have to re-base the ROM, bringing it up to date with the most current firmware, and re-applying any tweaks, mods, or themes.
This is pretty standard, as anything from kernels to just a single mod might have to be reworked in order to make it compatible with the newest firmware. HTC EVO 4G LTE owners recently saw a firmware update, and now most tweaks have similarly been updated. XDA Senior Member O.M.J. has created a mod pack specifically designed to work with the 1.22 update, and quite a few things were updated, including:
1X/3G
GPS icon
Browser Debug
Camera Shutter
MMS compression
SMS Secure Box
SMS Block List
MMS over Wifi
Landscape Rosie
360 Rosie
Smooth Scrolling
Keyboard icon
Signature checks
5M MMS size
HTClinkify
Hotspot/USB/BT
ADB icon
While the list is already impressive, O.M.J. has stated that more mods will be added. There are also two versions—one is flashable in custom recovery, whereas the other contains the files for ROM developers to incorporate directly.
To get started, head over to the original thread.
July 13, 2012 By: mustangtim49
Recently, we brought you news of Paranoid Android being ported to the Sony Xperia Play. Well, we are happy to report that the list of ported devices is growing fast. For the uninitiated, Paranoid Android is a hybrid ROM that allows users to scale and project every app, every widget, even system components individually. As described in the Galaxy Nexus Jelly Bean port by XDA Forum Member molesarecoming:
To be honest, this is not tablet mode at all, it has nothing to do with silly build.prop hacks. This is the first and only Android rom to feature true Hybrid mode. This rom lets you scale and project every app, every widget, even systemcomponents individually. Remember, android is modular, everything is an app: Lockscreen, navigationbar, dialogs, popups, keyboards, widgets, and your regular apps of course. Apps have the capability to switch into various designs or layouts according to the device they run on. This can result in a complete new experience as many apps will transform to the better.
Now for every element that you like chose a mode (PhoneUI, Phablet/Nexus-7UI, TabletUI) and/or a size. You are 100% independent of the system DPI which runs nicely in whatever value it has been assigned to. You do not need to boot your phone into a certain DPI. Neither will most of the changes you apply require a reboot. You will not suffer from the myriads of troubles which normally haunt you under build.prop tablet mode. Your market, phone, etc. will all work, apps won’t shrink on you unless you shrink them yourself. This project will entirely transform your device, but retain the aesthetics and the feel of your phone.
In addition to the Galaxy Nexus, T-Mobile LG G2x owners now can enjoy a port thanks to XDA Recognized Contributor tonyp. I personally own this device, so I can speak from experience that it is stable enough to be used as a daily driver. Check out the ROM thread for more information and download links.
Other devices that have received ports include the HTC EVO 4G and EVO 4G LTE thanks to XDA Recognized Contributor mazdarider23. To get in on the action, visit the HTC EVO 4G ROM thread and EVO 4G LTE ROM thread. The list is growing very fast and is already quite large, check this page out to see if your device has received a port yet.
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:
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