Complete guide: How to root, backup, and flash new ROM and kernel on your HTC EVO

WARNING: Follow this tutorial at your own risk. Make sure you're OK with anything on your phone disappearing. Sync your contacts, backup what you can, and kiss your Angry Birds save point goodbye (unless you backup with Titanium Backup first).

Quick Note: I've added some steps to these great instructions from Good and Evo that I needed to take in order to get unrevoked3 on my Windows PC and recognize my HTC Evo so that the application would start the root process.  I hope this helps some of you out.

How to Root

You're going to need a couple of things downloaded to your Windows computer before you root:

• unrevoked3 (as previously mentioned, v3.3 works with the latest EVO software update)
• HBOOT drivers

Now let's get started.

1. INSTALL HTC Sync if you don't not have it on your Windows PC.  Once installed uninstall HTC Sync; you can re-install it later if you want to. (You must do this in order to get the correct drivers installed.)
2. Install the HBOOT drivers as per the instructions provided by the unrevoked team. (Even more drivers you need installed.)
3. Turn on USB debugging on your EVO by tapping Menu -> Settings -> Applications -> Development -> USB debugging. If you skip this step, unrevoked will fail after your phone reboots (failing will cause a window to pop up that said it failed).
4. Plug your EVO into your computer and make sure the USB connection is set to charge only.
5. Run unrevoked's reflash_package. (You will see the unrevoked3 application pop up and it will say waiting for device.  Now that you know your phone is in USB ONLY mode from the previous step and have the unrevoked3 window up waiting for your device you should unplug your phone and then plug it back in.  For some reason then get the unrevoked3 application to find your phone!)  The application with now run and reboot your phone a few times.
6. Once done the unrevoked3 application window with show that it's complete and your phone will be booted into it's recovery menu.  

Congrats! You're rooted. You can stop here if you want, or you can continue reading to see how far down the rabbit hole goes. You shouldn't have lost any data at this point.

Read More: Good and Evo


Once you're done with that scan the QR code below or click the link to head on over to xda-developers to grab your customer ROM with some installation instructions.

4G Data on T-Mobile and a HTC Dream

Tasty Video, mmmmmmmm

T-Mobile 4G in the Puget Sound!

After installing Android 2.1 on my HTC Dream / T-Mobile G1 (Thank you Cyanogen) I noticed that I now sometimes have an H where it shows my data connection type in the Android notification bar. The H data connection symbol seems to only appear when I'm in a 3G data location and using a data intensive application.

The H data symbol = 4G data speeds! (aka HSDPA on T-Mobile)

Upon closer inspection it looks like T-Mobile quietly finished rolling out it's 3G data connection late last year, which means it's time to start working on 4G!   See this DailyTech article on the 3g roll out.

So what does all this mean for us?  3G got us all to 3.6 Mbps downlink rates.  4G data speeds will double that of 3G and will hit up to 7.2 Mbps.  The next step will then be 4G+ or HSDPA+ and apparently is currently in best testing only in Philadelphia.  HSPA+ will bring download speeds of up to 56 Mbps and upload speeds of up to 22 Mbps!

In Jan, 2010 people in the Seattle / Puget Sound area have been noticing the H data connection symbols and have reported faster data speeds as seen here at the XDA Forums.

I've read in the past that any and all Android phones will be able to use T-Mobiles brand of 4G because these increased speeds are really an improvement on older technology. This goes for the phones and the equipment that used on the cellular towers that currently run the 3G network.

With just a flip of a switch T-Mobile can "magically" make every 3G tower a 4G connection!

If you're in a location where you currently get 3G speeds and have an Android phone get to work upgrading your OS you might just have access to 4G speeds and not even know it!

According to Wikipedia T-Mobile has announced that it will begin to roll out 4G+ in their top tier markets sometime in 2010.  It looks like this is already happening but it appears that the Nexus One would be the only phone that T-Mobile has officially given access to the 4G network seeing as it runs Android 2.1.

At launch next month the HTC EVO will only have 4G speeds in under 20 cities total.  The closest cites to me would be Tacoma and Seattle.  Hopefully at work in Renton I'll be able access the 4G network from Sprint.

So there you go kids, a free 4G data speed upgrade for Android phones on T-Mobile that's available RIGHT NOW!  Who says that the Sprint EVO is the only phone that gets to have all the 4G fun?  It looks like if you have Android 2.1 and a T-Mobile phone you get 4G before before the 1st official 4G phone ever comes out in the U.S.!

On that note I'll get back to you all next month when I have a Sprint EVO in hand and can give everyone more feed back.

Sprint HTC EVO - BestBuy

Sprint HTC EVO - BestBuy

Oh snap, BestBuy now has a page up for the Sprint HTC EVO where you can input your E-Mail address to receive alerts.

Rumors started last week with BestBuy employees stating the device will be sold for $199.99 with a contract. Which coincides with what my Verizon sales rep friend has been saying since the HTC EVO was leaked a few months back.

Also rumored is that late next month BestBuy is going to start accepting pre-orders for the phone and it should be released by the end of June.

HD video and a zippy mobile device here I come!