An OTA update began rolling out for the original HTC EVO 4G yesterday, bumping the software version up to 5.07.651.6. This comes almost 9 months after the last OTA update for the OG EVO, and is fairly significant given the EVO’s age (it’s approaching three years old).
As far as we know, this update doesn’t bring any new features or updates to the Android version that the phone is running. Instead, the official changelog only list those mysterious and elusive “security updates.”
I guess you could interpret this update in one of two ways: Either you could be thrilled that Sprint and HTC are still supporting a device that’s so old, and you could take this as a demonstration of HTC’s commitment to all of its devices, no matter their age. Or there could have been a really huge security bug that was so dangerous, HTC and Sprint knew they couldn’t ignore it for much longer.
My question, however, is this: How many of you are actually receiving this update? With a device so old, I’d imagine that the majority of you have either moved on to newer and better things, or are running some kind of custom ROM by now. Maybe I’m wrong, but I suspect I’m not.
[Sprint] Thanks, devo4g and Simon!
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Well, there’s at least one guy still using it. I was going to switch to the iPhone, but a couple of iOS limitations are holding me back. Of course, its a couple of Android limitations that are keeping me from buying a new Android device. And I don’t have time or the energy to root my original Evo. So, I’m stuck!
Still have my original evo. D/Ling update now
I wonder if “security update” means “Take away another avenue for rooting”
Yet another reason to take OTA’s with *extreme* caution if you think you will *ever* have any interest in rooting.
And yes, I still use my trusty Evo 4G as my daily driver. It’s running Jelly Bean of course, so software-feature-wise I’m not feeling a lot of need to upgrade. Might be nice to get the new 4G chipset someday. Or NFC. Otherwise, honestly, the new hardware in stores now isn’t *so* different from what we’ve all had since 2010.
By contrast, the Evo itself was a *huge* jump in quality over everything else available when it came out. I’m still waiting for a similar a quantum leap. Or for my Evo to get dropped onto something hard. Whichever comes first.
amen…i fix phones for sprint and i still tell everyone that their EVO is still relevant, i still does what the other new phones do…i still love my old EVO, kept it after i got the new EVO LTE.
I agree re: “their EVO is still relevant, still does what the other new phones do” and “software-feature-wise I’m not feeling a lot of need to upgrade.” Unfortunately Sprint’s consistently slow 3G speeds and non-existent WiMAX coverage wore me out. Earlier this week I ordered a Nexus 4, which I’ll activate on T-Mobile prepaid.
I’ll continue to use my EVO around the house on Wi-Fi.
It could be. I wonder how many people are still using the OG EVO 4G, though.
That being said, my wife still uses hers (and loves it). She still says, hands down, that it’s been the best phone she’s ever owned. Of course, she came from a Palm Pre. Take what you want from that.
By the way. What Jelly Bean ROM are you running, devo4g?
My wife has been asking about getting Jelly Bean on her EVO 4G because she loves it on the B&N Nook running CM10.1. I’d love to hear what you’re running and if it has a functional front facing camera and video capture.
I’m running MazWoz’s JB (4.2.1) ROM and loving it (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1947452).
–No FFC (pretty much never gonna get that working on OG Evo with newer OS versions)
–Camera works but can occasionally have funky graphics glitches in app (pictures come out fine though)
–Video crashes app every time for me.
There’s also an unofficial CM10 port (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2078193) for the OG Evo too, haven’t tried it so I can’t say how well it works, but may be a good fit since she’s using it on the Nook.
Hey. Thanks for the information.
I think my wife’s daily driver will continue to be CM7.2. I may test some Android 4.0 + ROMs though.
Hello, I still I have my EVO, I had installed CM7 but now I have a wonder “Jellybread” was feasible to say that it is 95%, and 5% GB JB is very stable, works the camera and videos, also Super savings batery is far best I’ve got for my evo.
Link: Jellybread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1974067
Link: Htc evo 4G Roms. http://alchemistar.blogspot.mx/2010/10/htc-evo-4g-supersonic-custom-roms-list.html
Enjoy it!
Front facing camera! I wish!
OK maybe you knew all this, but:
The conventional wisdom is FFC drivers for ICS, JB and beyond will not happen for the OG Evo. Same with WiMax. The proprietary drivers are closed source and there is no profit in updating them. (They would have to be completely re-written, not just a tweak of the existing Gingerbread drivers. Months of development effort.)
Anyways, the answer to your question is Evervolv. Almost all the Jelly Bean options for the OG Evo right now are somehow based on CM10, and most of those specifically based on the Evervolv variant of CM10. I am just running pure Evervolv.
It’s awesome, but taking away FFC and WiMax definitely hurts.
Yeah. I knew those were things that were never likely to work on Android 4.0+ ROMs (thanks to non compatible drivers). I haven’t been keeping up with the EVO 4G ROM scene the last few months, so I had hoped a miracle had happened. But that was a long shot.
My wife uses 4G and her front facing camera, so she’ll probably stick with CM7.2. It really works great anyway.
I just got an update on the Evo 4G LTE
After the update the phone doesn’t see the sd card any more. All the pics on the phone (wife’s phone) are gone. She’s not happy! Told me not to touch her phone ever again! I will have to mess with it later Lol.
two things to try: 1) reboot.
2) with the phone on a wall USB charger, remove the battery, SD card, reinsert.
made my leap to the s3……….but my O4G is my wifi buddy in case….and camera…..and music player….and well my google voice phone……LOL still use it and its rooted with ics themed by SWAGSTER….love it now will be flashing black bean…..BOOM!!! (that was the sound of my Evo….aka supersonic)
No problem on the tip. I was pretty surprised to see the EVO 4G and update mentioned in the same article title.
Nice to see it still getting a little love. That is one well supported handset.
The original EVO sold more than the 3d and lte versions.
Accessories are still available at any store you go to while ones for the 3d and lte are far and few. Not old stock either accesories are still selling for the OG EVO. I still have mine while not connected and am not planning on letting it go ever.
Understandable. The original EVO was sort of a game changer back in 2010. 4G, big screen, kickstand, front facing camera. The EVO 3D and EVO 4G LTE entered into a more mature market with way more competitors.
That being said, I still love my EVO 3D. It’s served me well and it still has great specifications, battery efficiency, and speed. I’ll likely be holding onto this guy for even a little while after my contract is up because I have no clue what phone I want next. The LTE situation from Sprint in my area is looking grim, so I may just go MVNO with the next Nexus and not look back.
The og Evo 4G is one of the dopest phones to come out. It pushed apple big time and I still have mine. 3vo too.
Thanks for the info regarding the new update. I’ve since moved away from HTC altogether (too much dragging their feet with updates to devices…ironic no?), I still have the OG as my backup device. I keep it updated as a wifi device every now and again, so it made for a good snow-day Sunday project.
I used the guide here to flash the OTA update and keep root access: http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-evo-4g-rooting-roms-hacks/115541-update-4-24-651-1-4-53-651-1-without-losing-root-apps.html .
While flashing AmonRA back after the OTA was applied, I decided to give both cache and dalvik cache a flush as well. That sped things up a great deal! menus and animations are much smoother and responsive now.
As for the update itself…yeah, I have no idea. 2.3.5 was a nice cap to the official run of software for the EVO OG device…which I think was the last one that came out.
I did the update the other day, and it seems that the RAM is being handled differently. One my phone, it stays over 200 Mb all the time no matter what programs I use.
Still using OG Evo 4G.
So is my wife. We got them both at the same time, a black one and a white one.
Don’t have time to root mine, either.
Planning to go with S3 or Note on Verizon when the contract is up.
Tired of getting laughed at about how crappy our so-called 4G service is, although it does connect quite a bit, nowadays, with the automatic setting.
Biggest problem I have with it is the lack of memory, which I guess would be a good reason to root.
Still have mine after all these years…. and running with the best … it’s been my best investment in mobile phones to date …..
Still using original Evo since June 2010. Will stick with it until Sprint upgrades are available in my market. I have considered having it rooted. Just need a little nudge. Still a great phone.