HTC has released the kernel source code (v1.15.605.4) for the DROID DNA, which you can download at the HTCdev site here (direct link to file here).
The DNA, which has an unlockable bootloader through an exploit we published last week, is HTC's latest and greatest on Verizon, and the first 1080p phone to be sold in the US. This kernel source should allow developers to start tweaking the DNA a little more thoroughly, and improve custom ROM support. Hit up the source link to grab it now.
If you have a European or Asian model One X (read: Not AT&T), start frantically hitting that check update button - it's peanut butter jelly Jelly Bean time. We're hearing from multiple sources that HTC is beginning to roll out Jelly Bean to the One X in various regions today.
This update brings Android 4.1.1 and Sense 4+. Expandable notifications, Google Now, and some fairly minor tweaks like a new Gallery app in Sense are in tow. Sense also now has wonky holo blue highlights throughout the OS, so that's cool, I guess.
If you can't see the update on your phone, we've got a pretty easy explanation: your particular CID (a regional hardware identifier code, typically by country or carrier) hasn't had Jelly Bean rolled out to it.
If you're Cyber Monday shopping for a new phone and intend on ditching the "traditional" carrier for a much more affordable pay-as-you-go plan, Virgin Mobile may be a good place to start looking. For today only, the Sprint subsidiary has knocked $100 off three of its most popular phones: the HTC EVO V 4G is now $150, the Samsung Galaxy Reverb is $100, and the HTC One V can be scored for just $50. Those are all insanely good deals on some pretty decent hardware.
When the Droid DNA was first announced, we were all surprised to find that the bootloader was unlockable at HTCdev.com. Because of this, the device actually got root, recovery, and custom kernel days before the official release. Unfortunately, by the time the device became available in retail channels, Verizon pulled the plug and it was no longer unlocked through official means.
Thankfully, there's another way (isn't there always?). The softmod below will effectively change the carrier information, allowing it to once again be unlocked via HTC's official tool.
The word "unredacted" is experiencing quite a spike in usage this morning, on news that HTC and Apple are being required to produce the full, uncut version of their patent licensing agreement for use by Samsung's legal counsel. The document in question, which had previously been provided sans 33 words (some of which were, presumably, numbers), was requested by Samsung last week for the purpose of arguing against Apple's post-trial motions for permanent injunctions against infringing Samsung products. To be clear, this request is a part of the already-gone-to-verdict $1 billion trial that happened this summer.
Samsung's request is evidentiary in nature, and because of the highly sensitive material involved, HTC and Apple's settlement will be for "attorney's eyes only," meaning any references to it in the record will be filed under seal, and redacted from any publicly released documents.
Despite having been out for roughly six months, the HTC One X is still one of the best smartphones you can buy on AT&T. The design and build quality are both fantastic, Sense is tolerable, and it works on AT&T's blazing fast LTE network.
If you walk into an AT&T store right now to buy this phone, you'll be leaving $100 lighter. If, however, you want to grab this phone without spending more than a penny, Amazon Wireless can make that happen. This, of course, requires you to sign a two-year agreement, but the good news is that this deal is for both new contracts and upgrades.
The latest and greatest from Verizon and HTC's ongoing DROID partnership marks something of a shift in strategy for the two companies. In the past, if you wanted an HTC "DROID," your options were basically limited to the Incredible brand, which has become decidedly, well, less incredible over time. And while the Incredible started out as a top-of-the-heap smartphone back in 2010, it too was quickly eclipsed by bigger, better phones. Verizon's approach to HTC from basically day one has been "the DROID phone that costs less than some other DROID phone we throw a lot more marketing money behind."
There's nothing so wrong about that, but it hasn't exactly helped HTC grow its reputation on America's largest wireless carrier.
Just a quick reminder, the HTC DROID DNA is available starting today (November 21st) at a Verizon near you. HTC's latest addition to the DROID lineup is packing a 5" 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 pro processor, 2GB of RAM, LTE, NFC, and various other adjectives. And at $199 on a two-year agreement (less if you head to Wirefly), it's not a bad deal. Our review will be going up today, so be on the lookout.
By the way, Verizon decided having the phone unlockable via the HTC Dev site wasn't something they were so hot on, so you can't do that anymore.
HTC CEO Peter Chou has come out swinging against allegations that HTC is paying "$6-8 per handset" in royalties to Apple, calling the estimates "outrageous." Of course, those estimate were indeed just estimates, and they were also commented upon by HTC insiders at the time as being a little on the high side.
So, what do we take from Mr. Chou's statement? HTC is probably paying a royalty, but a $6-8 royalty (that's about 1-1.5% on a $600-800 smartphone)? Probably not. Who knows, it could be $3-5! Which, admittedly, would mean slashing the financial impact of the deal on HTC's coffers by up to half.
Update: Amazon just updated the deals and dropped many of the prices down for customers looking to upgrade. For example, the RAZR M is now also just a penny for those renewing.
If you're looking to abandon your existing carrier and move to Big Red, then the RAZR M is a great phone to choose for the transition. And now you can grab it from Amazon Wireless for only a penny (Black, White). That's a top-notch phone with Jelly Bean (4.1.x) for basically free - and it's still $99 at Verizon.
If, for some strange reason, you'd rather have an older model, Amazon Wireless is running a number of other devices for a penny, like the RAZR MAXX, HTC Rezound, and the DROID Incredible LTE.
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