HTC EVO 4G to get Android 2.3 and new HTC Sense, but only after new flagship Gingerbread phone is released?
With the upcoming HTC EVO 3D and EVO View 4G both shipping with Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) this summer, the big question for EVO 4G owners is when they'll be treated to the newest smartphone version of the mobile operating system too.
According to an HTC employee at CTIA speaking to Skatter Tech, the cookie is already in the oven and will be served to the EVO 4G "very soon." Along with it will be a tall glass of the newest version of HTC Sense, presumably 2.0 (shown above), which supports landscape home screen orientation, HTCSense.com, sleek skins, and more, though possibly 2.5 or whatever the version seen running on the 3D was. It's expected to be a new version of Sense, in any case.
Nailing down a specific timeframe for the update is tricky, as HTC is allegedly waiting for at least one flagship phone to be released with Gingerbread before pushing the update to the EVO and other older handsets running Froyo. Withholding the update is supposedly "to ensure that customers do not hold back from purchasing newly announced devices."
Assuming that HTC is talking about its own flagship Gingerbread phones, then it's looking like the first one out of the gate could be the EVO 3D. And if that's the case, then it would seem that the EVO 4G will be waiting until "this summer" too. This is all just speculation, of course, and besides, we've already had custom Gingerbread ROMs available for our rooted EVOs since the winter. By the time the official HTC/Sprint-sanctioned 2.3 update is released, we may already be unwrapping an Ice Cream Sandwich.
[Skatter Tech]
Jenn.
What is the ROM shown on the photo?
Thanks.
ooh… that would be so cool… I sure hope you’re right
I’m not a huge fan of the updates like Eclair, Gingerbread, etc, mostly since I bought in to Android at the start with the G1 Prototype for me and my business partners, which essentially never got to update.
So does anyone know what the benefits are to Gingerbread? Are they significant upgrades or should we even care this time? My EVO is brilliant, even though my STATE doesn’t have any plans to get 4G on Sprint (I asked them yesterday, and Sprint’s response was “we don’t have any forecast about when to expect 4G in Indianapolis, IN”, and yes again, I live in South Carolina).
What gingerbread roms are out there for rooted phones? I don’t think any of them have the updated sense.
A Greenville man eh? I hear you completely cause I spend a lot of time there. :)
Myn’s Warm Z has it, but 4g is not working so I didn’t stick with it too long. Honestly, the changes it brought, I didn’t really care for. The only time I use the phone is landscape is playing games or watching a video so having Sense work in landscape mode isn’t exciting. As a matter of fact, I don’t even use Sense. lol
WarmZ is Froyo (Android 2.2) and not Gingerbread. It does have Sense 2.0, but a lot of things aren’t working and it’s been a while without any updates.
Cyanogen is the main Gingerbread ROM but it doesn’t run Sense.
I am very eager to see a Gingerbread ROM that is running Sense 2.0+. I really don’t want to have to wait for June/July time frame though!
Yep, I’m in Greenville, but also move around a lot through the state, heading to the coast tonight, nowhere has 4G and Sprint’s response only mentioned they don’t have plans for Indianapolis.
If Indianapolis isn’t getting 4G, forget the state of South Carolina. I’m switching my company to Verizon—-they already had 4G before getting 4G phones. I love my EVO, but without 4G (or hope of a future for 4G), it’s a waste, and that $10 additional fee per partner is insulting.
OK HTC, don’t worry about your prior customers, just care about the new customers that will buy your new devices… We’re your loyal customers and have already bought your devices! We deserve it.
On the other hand, I have been rooted and run a custom ROM and launcher anyway, so there’s really nothing special that I’m wanting out of this next release. If I wasn’t rooted, I’d be anxiously waiting. And waiting, and waiting…
I guess this is harsh, but why would they care about previous customers? Their job is to sell phones, not keep people on old phones. I love my EVO and hope to stretch as much life as I can out of it, but I don’t expect HTC to motivate me to do so.
Dude – just be happy that HTC is saying that they will put out an official 2.3 update. Sheesh – how long did it take Samsung to get 2.2?
Actually Indianapolis currently has limited 4G avaialibilty. It apperars that clear is currently testing it. I have also found it in Anderson and Columbus Indiana. My guess is that it will be anounced in a couple of monthes but who knows. If you want to see where some are finding it down Sensorly from the market.
June/July? Expect the update around December/Janurary…
I’ve been with Sprint for close to 10 years. I’m surprised that the Evo is getting a SECOND OS upgrade!
Sammie is NOTORIOUS for little/no support for their devices.
HTC usually gives ONE OS update on time; if you’re lucky, maybe a second one _eventually_.
If they get it out by August 1st, however, I’ll be amazed…
Did htc update their bluetooth stack with sense 2.0? Could we use a wiimote without rooting?
Is it possible to get this update if you have root, or is it going to brick my phone?
I wouldn’t. Not because it will or won’t brick your phone, but rather because we don’t know what HTC is going to do. Since HTC is locking the Incredible to reduce root and ROM, in my opinion, they may have something in the works for the new OS. I’d just wait for the XDA guys.
I like the contact auto-link and recommendation feature.
Glad to see the link I posted was used…
But like I said, this may be the only reason I would end up keeping my Evo. It’s still a great device and performance is great. Although, the increase in RAM on the Evo3D is a welcomed upgrade. I just never realized how disappointed I’d feel about the lack of a kickstand, but I could get over it if I decide to get the Evo3D.
If HTC pushes this upgrade on the current EVO, I will without a doubt renew my contract with sprint. I will definitely consider the EVO VIEW. I see they have good intentions on making their customers happy!
Warm Z TwoPointTwo with HTCs stock Metal skin.
Well, for starters for those people who are in the market for new phones wouldn’t you want to know that the maker was going to keep the software on your phone you bought yesterday current?
Its not a law, no, but its customer service and it goes into the value of the phone. Its one of the reason I dont want a skinned Samsung, they finally start getting 2.2 on their flagship devices when everyone else is moving to 2.3.
This is why we flash…you can have your “cake” err, Gingerbread, and so much more.
correct me if i am wrong, but is there a single fully functional gingerbread ROM out there for the Evo right now for me to flash? Not CM7, because the 4g doesnt work yet. I am looking for a ROM that has everything working…kind of like a Kings Unleashed type, except that those are for froyo’s but everything is working on it…
4G works in CM7.
CM7 has 4g working in the nightlies and rc2. I have been using it for weeks and find it to work flawlessly!! plus its super fast.. Even the 4g is consistently faster at least for me
If you look on this site, you’ll see the post about a kickstand coming out shortly after the release of EVO3D. It’s pretty sharp, actually.
As far as the EVO 3D? I like Sprint a lot, but I wanted an Android phone and switched from AT&T to Sprint to pick up the EVO when it was released. So that means I can’t upgrade till next year. Rather than spend probably $600 out of pocket to buy the EVO 3D (for upgrading too early) – I’m going to pick up one of those Samsung 8.9″ or 10.1″ tablets. Those are just too dang beautiful for me to pass up.
With the EVO 4G I have now, I’ll use that to tether and – BAM! – I have instant internet access when I’m not near free WIFI.
Yeah, it’s going to kill me to not have the EVO 3D, but what can I do, you know? But hey, the EVO that started it all isn’t exactly a bad looking phone either, and I keep it looking like new.
Next year, though – the 3D will be mine. But damn, I wish that Sprint had grandfathered us early adopters of the EVO into the Gold Premier plan. Dangit.
No, you can’t update OTA if you are rooted. I wouldn’t recommend it.
oh cool!! Would it be possible by any chance to provide me the download links? If not, no biggie..I am sure I can just google it myself or something :-) Now you got me all excited and stuff! Also, what about GPS issues?
I have anohter noobie q: since it’s a non-sense ROM, do I have to load a separate kernel through a separate link? How east it is to load a CM ROM using say…RomManager?
“Android 2.3 brings forth some great new UI themes, a substantially improved touchscreen keyboard in both landscape and portrait mode, new copy and paste functionality, improved power management which means much better battery life (take that Froyo), better application management, new download manager, NFC (Near Field Communication), support for VoIP/SIP calls, new Camera application for accessing multiple cameras and support for ever larger screens.”
“..increases the maximum size of the applications from the market to 50 MB (bigger, better games) and brings some new APIs to help with the future generations of games. And what better display to see the games than the newly supported ones up to 10 inches with a resolution of up to 1280 x 800 pixels. Just image your mobile device had a resolution to make even Apple’s Retina Display feel outdated.”
“Android 2.3 adds API support for several new sensor types, including gyroscope, rotation vector, linear acceleration, gravity, and barometer sensors.”
“The new audio effects API adds equalization, bass boost, headphone virtualization (widened soundstage), and reverb to audio tracks and sounds.”
http://www.mydaily-gadget.com/reviews/4337-android-2-2-froyo-vs-2-3-gingerbread
http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-android-2-2-froyo-and-android-2-3-gingerbread/
http://www.youmobile.org/blogs/entry/Difference-Between-Android-2-2-Froyo-and-Android-2-3-Gingerbread-
yes!!! im so excited go.EVO users!!!!. the home screen not turning always annoyed me
I’d love to jump on the Evo 3D, but I just got my 4G 6 months ago, and the stars don’t have it for me to see that new high-res screen. An update would be cool, even if Cyanogen 7 already brought 2.3 to the EVO.
Yes I will be happy when the evo4g gets that update we deserve that. But I will be updating to the Htc 3vo 3d i deserve this device. It will be the best device on the market in 2011
I don’t think we can blame HTC on this. Sprint controls the release of new updates OS and UI’s. The fact is that Sprint doesn’t want EVO users to have 2.3 before new phones like Nexus S and EVO 3D are releases. That’s the game Sprint and every other mobile phone company plays and we suffer. Blah!
I thought Google was skipping 2.3 and going to 2.4 keeping the gingerbread name. Adding support for dual core processors
I just think that early adopters of the EVO, especially those that switched from other carriers (namely me), should be grandfathered into the gold premier plan. We cannot get the EVO 3D til next year without paying full retail price. As lustworthy as that device is, I just can’t justify that, especially when a 16GB WIFI Samsung Tablet @ 10.1″ w/SD Card expandability is available for $499 and I can tether it to my current EVO.
I pay on my individual plan – $79.99 for the unlimited on the EVO. If Sprint were to offer an $89.99/month plan for the same service, but give me an option to upgrade every year to any phone I wanted with a commitment to the plan for 2 years? I would move to that plan in a heartbeat.
What do you guys think?
The 4G is currently working on CM7!
Thinking about rooting my evo today. Which rom is the best to flash?
i could have sworn that i updated via ota while rooted and it simply did its update and took my root away then i used unrevoked to root again, i could be wrong though
The biggest change in my mind is improved Sense UI. The 4G Sense is clumsy & time consuming to use. I use about 20 scenes (Android, NOOK, Games, Sailing, Financial, etc…) and anytime you make a simple change on a screen, like just moving, adding or deleting an app, you have to re-type the scene name exactly as it spelled including caps. This is a real pain in the B & I mentioned this in the HTC booth @ CTIA. The rep then went to show me a simple way to save after I moved 1 icon 1 cell and he discovered the error of his ways. The change did not stick.
PLEASE HTC & SPRINT, The EVO 4G is top dawg in the Android world with a ton of users promoting it for ever increasing sales for both companies. Improving the WOW factor quickly will help even more. For example, I am considering switching to the Thunderbolt now. Right now I am recommending to friends the Verizon TB as the new leadership product. The only other product that interests me now @ Sprint is the Flyer/View.
Please think carefully about your delay in this decision as it has been nice to see Sprint do well recently.
How can you possibly believe that just because your rooted that there is nothing special about this current verison of sense 3.0?? Nothing you have on your rooted device will be able to beat this version of gingerbread. It’s great you rooted cause you couldn’t wait but you better unroot your device before the actual gingerbread is released so you can see THE ERROR OF YOUR WAYS…Your only SHORT CHANGING YOURSELF…There no need to root your device unluss you have an older smartphone dating back at least 2years otherwise why root a brand new evo or the current evo 1year old when any kind of enhancement exist in the android market ie launchers, and various other items. People get fooled with this rooting business patients is the key and learning all aspects of the device is most important. This new Htc evo 3d with gingerbread will be great then the 2.4 ice cream will follow no question..http://www.youmobile.org/blogs/entry/Difference-Between-Android-2-2-Froyo-and-Android-2-3-Gingerbread-..
I was told if you were due for an upgrade when you bought your EVO your grandfathered in for one more year then after that you go to the 2 years. Like if you bought a smartphone before the 10 dollars on all smartphones hit your grandfathered in at not paying 10 bucks as long as you own that phone. I was told even though premiere statuses are changing if you were due you will still get it that they wont take it away but after this one it’s 2 years unless your going on 10 years like me which will be in Sept.
As much as I would like to get the EVO 3D, I can’t since i just upgraded to the EVO 4G in October. That said, I am looking at the HTC Flyer which I would be able to tether my EVO to and get access where WiFi is not available. For me, that is a better option.
Dear Sprint, I want it now! Please :D
Thanks for the update about the update. I guess it’s more waiting for me.
Ha ha ha, you Sense fanboy (read “fool”). Rooting your phone is the way to go! And it’s the only way to make the most of your investment. Not rooting is… just dumb (plus 53 other reasons).
Try the EViO Rom v1.7.7 or 1.8.
Best ROMs ever, and 4G – like everything else – works great!
Yeh sprint didnt give me the froyo update to the samsung moment three months after I baught it. Speculation then was that samsung had it already to go. This would not suprise me one bit if sprint did not release 2.3 for the evo. Sprints track record in the past with android shows 1 update to any given android device. By this summer there will be so many other 2.3 devices hitting sprint shelves that the evo will be forgotton and everyone of us will be mad because we are not getting it. It is ashame that verizon already has a leak of 2.3 for the x. Sprint will most likely not update the evo.
This is the most promising thing I have heard all day.. but where are your references? Is there anything out there that promises or even hints (coming from Sprint or HTC) that we EVO patrons will be getting an update to Sense 3.0 (with changeable skins/ themes etc (paintbrush in lower right instead of ‘+’ Widget Add), say nothing of the long awaited, much drooled over Gingerbread OS. Anything? Anyone? It seems that HTC and Sprint are both unusually mute on this topic and everyone and their brother (and his sister’s husband) are all speculating, and yet .. no one really knows.. o.O
Hmm, it’s a bit frustrating because HTC still advertises the HTC EVO on their homepage nonetheless. I would hope they wouldn’t continue advertising it like they do if they weren’t going to give it a much needed (even dare I say, final) upgrade to Gingerbread Android 2.3 and Sense 3.0. Both upgrades are much needed (way more than just looks and shininess here, folks) since the latest December upgrade really messed up a good number of things on the EVO. The online streaming audio was broken (thankfully I was able to fix mine by doing a little techie stuff), the phone has a tendency to reboot itself even if precious few apps are installed, and say nothing of smaller stuff, life wallpaper suddenly disappearing and colourbubble wallpaper taking its place no matter what you do til next reboot. Also, battery life is a crying shame unless you have the extended pack. So .. earthly speaking.. eyes fixed steadily on the light at the end of the tunnel… I just hope that the light isnt another train.. headed my way.. to smash the EVO as we know it before it even gets going. Yay for EVO 3D and etc, but I have EVO 4g, thanks very much and I’m not apt to buy a new phone for a while.. Haven’t even had this one 9 months yet.
Fingers crossed.. ;)
Ben Ditzel
Ventura, California
‘Ne vous conformez pas au siècle présent, mais soyez transformés par le renouvellement de l’intelligence, afin que vous discerniez quelle est la volonté de Dieu, ce qui est bon, agréable et parfait.’ Romains 12:2
A new version of Sense may not be included with the Gingerbread update: http://www.goodandevo.net/2011/04/gingerbread-update-for-htc-evo-4g-may-not-include-new-version-of-sense-ui.html
Sense 2.0 also includes changeable skins/themes, the new dock you describe, landscape home screen, and many other features that aren’t in Sense 1.0. That’s Sense 2.0 in the photo at the top of this post.
As for the source of the information in this post, it’s that Skatter Tech link at the bottom.
Thanks. Yeah I meant Sense 2.0. hmm, So now they are speculating that it probably won’t be part of Gingerbread and we will have to remain with Sense 1.0 even if Android 2.3 gets pushed to our phones?
That’s the rumor, but I’m hoping it isn’t true. Sense 2.0 is such an improvement to 1.0 and the main reason I’m using Myn’s Warm Z TwoPointTwo on my EVO.
Really? Since when would a carrier want you to purchase another subsidized device? They would rather milk you with you current device as long as possible. The usual answer is that contract reup, but not in the case of Evo users. They are in this for the full price upgrade now anyways, so I call BS on that “HTC rep” and ask once again if the EVOs hardware can handle 2.3 or if the GPU will love under the new Sense.
yep… I updated ota with a rooted evo
Actually sprint does not control the the device makers do