If you're not keeping up with what's going on at StreakSmart, my Dell Streak site, then you may not know or care that the device will be getting an official update to Froyo this month. However, since new features from one Android phone can often be pulled out of their original ROMs and used on other phones like our very own HTC EVO, then there is actually something that could be of interest to you in Dell's upcoming update.
I've got a source who leaked some photos and info to me earlier this week (see here and here) and the headlining feature is a new UI called Dell Stage, which is made up of a launcher and 7 full-screen widgets on the Streak (it's different from what's been shown on the Dell Thunder). You already know where this is going so let me spare you the build up and say that yes, Stage can be installed and run on the EVO.
I've already done an HD video demo of Stage on the Streak, so I won't rehash the details and shortcomings of it here. Instead, I'll show you another HD demo of the UI, only this time I've got it running on my HTC EVO.
The widgets can only be used with the Stage launcher, so don't try to use them with Sense or ADW.Launcher or anything like that. Stage also requires that the LCD density be set at 160 (Sense is optimized for 240, which is the EVO's default setting) to display properly, so your EVO needs to be rooted if you really want to check out Stage in person. The UI itself doesn't require root, but changing the density using one of the LCD density apps in the Market does.
The Sense apps will retain their 240 settings for the most part, so using them with Dell Stage will result in some overlapping icons and oversized text because of the mismatch. Everything is still functional; some of it will just look a little weird. This isn't an issue if you don't use any of the Sense apps.
The email Stage widget keeps force closing on me for some reason, but everything else works as it should. You can get a pretty clear idea of what Stage is all about (it's pretty quirky) by watching the video I shot of the UI running on my Streak. Better yet, try it out for yourself by grabbing the Stage launcher and widget .apk files that untrueparadox kindly pulled from the latest custom Froyo ROM for the Streak and packaged in a .zip for everyone to use. You'll find it at the link below.
[MoDaCo]
Well, I installed everything and got it running. Its pretty cool, nice ui, but a bit too buggy for my taste. I would like to be able to set home screen apps instead of just seeing most recently used, facebook wont sign in, and the email app keeps fc ing on me as well. Also, if you press the phone button on the launcher it doesnt work as well. Oh well, maybe someone will get it working with the evo correctly, thanks for the info though.
So the Evo has to be rooted?
Am I the only one who just loves the HTC sense UI so much that I don’t feel the need to change it? Stage looks kind of cool, but I’m happy with sense.
i really love Launcher Pro, as I like the clean looking desktop and use the sliding dock feature.,the Dell Stage is pretty neat, a bit cluttery for me personally, but it looks like it has promise. Thanks for the info!
Are you rooted? I actually hesitated rooting until Jenn told me I could root and keep (and still use) HTC SenseUI, I liked it that much.
But after rooting and using Sense for a while, and getting rid of all the Sprint Bloat Apps, with some prodding (from folks here at G&E) I played around and discovered MYN’s Warm2.2!! If you like Sense you’ll LOVE Warm2.2. It’s intuitive in the same way, but has a transparent, smaller and better launch bar at screen bottom and transparent notification bar at top.
The transisiotns are what I’d hoped for and really just improve on the feel of the native interface.
In last sentence it should’ve been “transitions”. That was a beaut…!!!
Can anyone verify device clock accuracy as I wonder whether it is Sense or the firmware that causes Evo clock to be 15 seconds fast (gps-referenced rather than HTC).
How do you install it onto my Evo?
Wow I love this. Rooting the EVO 4G should be mandatory as user get much more out of a rooted phone
still not seeing/getting the hullabaloo about rooting my beloved evo.
Link for the Evo rom please
Is anyone having issues with their wifi tethering after the apk’s are installed???
disregard everyone, I fixed the issue.
Any help to as why it wont run in landscape mode? Thanks
Was in the same boat ’till I caved in and rooted mine.
Most electronic devices I own are hacked one way or another (my GPS will get hacked in a few hours).
After rooting my Evo I am able to use the phone more towards its full potential and get rid of the Sprint bloat also. I also increased the battery life drastically! Was getting 6 hours out of a charge before root. Last time I left it off the charger…….27 hours before it dropped to below 5%.
Back on topic though, I may try Dell stage.
Can’t see it replacing LauncherPro though (at least not on my phone).
i cant figure out how to install the dell stage … i am rooted and flashed to recovery and installed the zip but it wont show up…any ideas?
It is just an apk that you install like any other app. All the widgets are separate apks, so you can pick and choose which ones you want.