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If you're going to do any serious modding on your Android smartphone, your first step is going to be unlocking the bootloader. This is a simple procedure on Nexus devices and a few other handsets, but many of the top OEMs have added security measures to prevent regular users from mucking about with their stock software. For these devices, there's a tool called Sunshine by recognized developers Justin Case (jcase), beaups, and friends. Version 3.0 just came out, and it can unlock the bootloader and acquire S-Off with almost every modern Motorola and HTC smartphone on the market.
Back in March, Justin Case released a root tool called WeakSauce for HTC's flagship lineup on Verizon. Unfortunately, a steady procession of updates to each handset has patched the original exploit, leaving many without root. Now there's a new version of WeakSauce, and it can root just about every HTC phone on Verizon running Android 4.4.4 and below.
Verizon has announced an over-the-air software update for the DROID DNA that's going to make a few users upset. There's no reason to wonder if this latest firmware version will make it more difficult to achieve root access, for the carrier has put this little tidbit of information towards the top of the change log. The second, and perhaps most interesting, item on the list reads: Device root vulnerability issue has been resolved. That's pretty much all rooted users of the DROID DNA need to know about the 4.09.605.5 update.
HTC Has Technical Approval For The Droid DNA Android 4.4.2 + Sense 5.5 Update, OTAs Begin On 4/24
HTC got its technical approval for the Droid DNA Android 4.4.2.
The Droid DNA was the last device of its generation before HTC shook things up with the One (M7) in 2013. Also known as the Butterfly, the DNA launched with Android 4.1 and was later updated to 4.2. Owners have been clamoring for a taste of that sweet KitKat, and now it's almost here – HTC is starting the OTA push on April 24th.
Verizon posted details surround an incoming update for the DROID DNA several months ago that would bring the device up to Android 4.2.2 and dress it up with Sense 5, but an OTA never came. Now that's changing, as Verizon has officially announced it and provided a detailed overview of changes owners can expect. The update will provide an experience similar to that on the HTC One, with features such as BlinkFeed, quick settings, and improved Sense apps making their way over to what was 2012's best DROID.
Verizon hasn't explicitly announced an Android 4.2 update for the DROID DNA, but in a way, they have. The company has updated the support page for the nearly one-year-old handset with an in-depth look at what new goodies to expect. It's quite the ugly page, so we'll save you the effort of perusing it for yourself by providing the gist right here. After this update, DROID DNA owners will have an HTC Sense 5 experience that approaches that of the HTC One. The handset will get updated calendar, dialer, gallery, and contacts apps, along with the love-it-or-hate-it addition of BlinkFeed.
The Droid DNA was sort of an unprecedented phone. It was the first device in the US to feature a full 1080p display – something that has since become the norm. But at the time, its 440 PPI was absolutely mind-blowing. While mobile technology has undoubtedly progressed since the DNA's release, this phone is still able to hold its own in nearly every situation.
If Verizon's HTC One kind-of announcement just didn't do it for you because you can't stay away from the red-and-black-themed Droid line, Amazon has HTC's next best offering on the table for a solitary penny. Of course we're talking about the Droid DNA, the undeniable king of Big Red's Droid lineup for the time being.
[Deal Alert] Verizon Droid DNA Drops To $19.99 For New Accounts On Amazon
As the weekend begins, you know deep down inside what's missing in your life. Happiness, love, and security? Nah, if that's what you were about to say,
As the weekend begins, you know deep down inside what's missing in your life. Happiness, love, and security? Nah, if that's what you were about to say, that's dead wrong. What you need is a big honkin' phone in your pocket running on Big Red's 4G LTE network. Oh, and it can't just be big â it needs to have a full HD screen too. The Droid DNA certainly fits the description, and it just so happens it can be yours for the low price of $19.99 (some restrictions apply, phone will not love you back).
[Deal Alert] HTC Droid DNA $50 For Upgrades And New Contracts From HTC Direct
The Droid DNA may not have Boomsound, Ultrapixels, or other HTC-branded buzzwords, but it's most definitely the best HTC device you'll find on Verizon
The Droid DNA may not have Boomsound, Ultrapixels, or other HTC-branded buzzwords, but it's most definitely the best HTC device you'll find on Verizon right now. And if you're dead set on not paying more than a fifty spot for a new phone, the DNA is your ticket to a high-end smartphone that won't break the bank - , so long as you're willing to buy directly from HTC.
Earlier today, the DROID DNA disappeared from VZW's site. This, combined with all the Verizon-bound HTC One rumors, prompted some in the Android community to wonder whether such a One variant is almost upon us - after all, why would Big Red take down one of its most powerful smartphones so suddenly? The vanishing act didn't last long, however, as the DNA just returned, seemingly alive and well:
BBC News App Updated To Work On 1080p Devices, Adds Widgets And A Bit More Holo
BBC News App Updated To Work On 1080p Devices
The BBC News reader on Android got an update today that should please the pixel poppers among the audience. The app has been optimized to take advantage of Super Mega Ultra dense displays like on the Xperia Z and Droid DNA (to say nothing of the upcoming HTC One and Galaxy S 4). A pile of bugs have been squashed in the new update as well.
So, you want S-Off on your One X/L, or Droid DNA? Done and done. Thanks to a crafty new "hack" by jcase and beaups, S-Off can easily be yours. As always, however there are a few pre-requisites, as well as some caveats to be aware of.
Verizon's newest Droid is set to receive a software update over the air, and it actually has a number of important fixes and improvements. This isn't going to bump the device up to a new version of Android, but it's still a hefty download at 103.5 MB.
If you're in the market for a new smartphone, Verizon's pixel-packing Droid DNA is hard to beat. It offers a whopping 440PPI in its 5" 1920x1080 display, along with a quad-core Qualcomm S4 Pro and 2GB of RAM under the hood. Top all that off with Android 4.1.1, and you have an absolute monster of a phone.
The DROID DNA is a phone I have little trouble recommending to most people, even if I can't say it's my very favorite piece of hardware out there. A 5" 1080p display, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, great build quality, Verizon's near-ubiquitous LTE coverage - there's a lot to like about this phone. At $200 on contract, I might even say it's kind of a good deal already. But that wasn't low enough for Amazon. After dropping to $150 on contract back in December, Amazon has slashed another $50 off the DNA's price tag for new customers. You can pick one up for just if you're a new Verizon subscriber, and if you're upgrading, the price remains a reasonable $149.
Amazon just did some price slashing on a scale we rarely see, cutting costs for all sorts of new smartphones across the board. Hit up the list to see what's up for grabs. All of these deals are for both new customers and upgrades.
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).
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.
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."