Categories
HTC Mobile

Permanent Root For HTC EVO Shift 4G Released

With dozens of new Android handsets being launched in the markets over the past few months, folks at XDA – the premier community for Android and other mobile platform hackers – must be having their hands full. Despite this, the community has announced that a permanent rooting solution for the newly launched HTC EVO Shift 4G has finally been released. The procedure itself is not entirely complicated and according to users who have already tried, the solution works like a charm.

Nevertheless, we must point out that rooting your Android handset can be extremely risky and could potentially brick your device besides voiding the manufacturer warranty. So, you are requested to go ahead with the rooting procedure only if you are a seasoned hacker and are aware of the potential risks. The complete rooting instructions are available on the XDA community here. Please don’t forget to tell us how it goes in the comments below.

Categories
Mobile Software and Apps

MyBackUp – An Android App To Backup And Restore Rooted Phones

Users looking to root their Android phones will frequently encounter instructions to backup and restore their phone contents. While these steps are not too difficult at the outset, it can be scary particularly if you are not a geek. A recently launched Android application makes this process easy.

MyBackUp is a free to download app that comes with a 30-day trial period. Using the application, the user may backup content from applications, contacts, bookmarks, SMS messages, music playlists and a host of other content from their phone to their SD card or to the company’s online servers. Data stored on the company server can also be accessed by logging online to the developers’ website.

Once the trial period is over, users will need to purchase a full version of the app at a price of $4.99. If you have a rooted phone, you can check out the app by using the QR code below.

MyBackUp QR

Categories
android Google

Google Nexus S Rooting Instructions Out

It has hardly been a day since the Google Nexus S arrived in the American stores and the device has already been rooted. XDA hacker Koush has announced that the Gingerbread running Google Android phone can now be rooted and put in recovery.

The instructions for this hack are pretty straightforward – that is if you are already well versed in the rooting procedure. Otherwise, there is no reason why you should risk bricking your day old phone that could also void its warranty.

To get started, you will need to download a few files and then run a few commands on the ADB (Android Debug Bridge) command shell. That should complete the process. Get the complete how-to guide here. As always do let us know how it works in the comments below.

Categories
Gadgets

Enable Android Market On NOOKcolor With New Hack

You will remember that the new Barnes & Noble eReader, NOOKcolor was rooted successfully earlier this month. The rooting method is not for the uninitiated and will require you to know a fair bit of command-line hacking. As we had noted, the rooted NOOKcolor was recently hacked to run Android 2.2.

Now, the developers working on this hack have gone one more step ahead and have ensured complete access to the Android marketplace over NOOKcolor. The steps required to enable this are quite complicated and you can read the instructions here. Nevertheless, do remember that this process is quite risky and unless you are absolutely sure, do not go ahead on this one.

That does not mean those who have tried should stop from letting us know on how the process works. As always, write to us in the comments below.

Categories
Gadgets

Logitech Revue Root Coming Soon?

Here is some good news for those of you looking to graduate from hacking smartphones and tablets to hacking television set top boxes. Android hacker Stephen (@Stericson) has revealed that he has been able to uncover the recovery mode of Logitech Revue. In a tweet sent yesterday, Stephen posted a picture of the Google TV device in recovery mode

This in itself does not mean anything significant for regular enthusiasts looking to root their devices. But now that the Revue has been hacked to recovery mode, a comprehensive rooting solution should not be too far away. That would mean much more freedom for those who want it.

You can follow Stephen on his Twitter account here. Meanwhile, we will also let you know when more development happens on this front.

Categories
HTC Mobile Software and Apps

New Droid Incredible Rooting Update From Unrevoked Releases

Droid Incredible users received an OTA update last month that brought the Verizon VCAST App Store to the phones. However, as several users who had rooted their handsets came to realize, this update also resulted in breaking the rooted handsets. Last week the dev team at Unrevoked had assured users that an update to the root application would be released shortly.

And release, they did. The new Unrevoked 3.22 update is now available for download that will reestablish the root on Droid Incredible handsets. Writing about this new update, the Unrevoked dev team notes all the changes made to their software:

  • Fix for latest Incredible OTA.
  • New Mac OS X build infrastructure; let us know if it broke for you.
  • Switched to in-house reimplementation of rageagainstthecage for better reliability.

    If you are a Droid Incredible user, you can download the latest version of  Unrevoked from the team website here.

    Categories
    android Mobile Motorola

    Motorola Defy Rooting Instructions Out

    This is one thing Motorola just couldn’t defy – stopping enthusiastic hackers from rooting the Motorola Defy. Folks at XDA Developers have always led the pack when it comes to rooting every new handset that arrives in the market and now a user has posted a complete step-by-step guide for users to root Defy.

    Categories
    Gadgets

    Barnes & Noble NOOKcolor Root Hacked Successfully

    NOOKColor, the touchscreen eReader from Barnes & Noble that went on sale last month has now been successfully rooted. This is thanks to the good folks at XDA developers who have been able to install the popular Angry Birds game on the eReader as a “proof” of the hack being developed successfully.

    According to the hackers who broke into the root of the NOOKcolor software, the rooted device is as “smooth as a Galaxy Tab” and that it has “potential to be an amazing device“.

    There are no official guides or step-by-step instructions for the root as yet and we will stay on the lookout for the same to let you know once it is up on the XDA forums. Are you excited about the prospect of rooting your NOOKcolor? Write to us in the comments.

    Categories
    HTC Mobile

    Unrevoked Root For Droid Incredible To Get Update Shortly

    Droid Incredible received an Over-The-Air update earlier this month. The update was primarily aimed at fixing a few bugs and bringing the VCAST app store to the Incredible handsets. What the update also did was to break the rooting established with the Unrevoked rooting application.

    Now, the Unrevoked dev team has announced that a fix is now in the works that will reestablish the rooting that was broken by the OTA update. This is apparently in the testing phase currently and is expected to be shipped shortly. In a tweet posted recently, the Unrevoked Dev Team wrote,

    “Inc folks — we’re really sorry for the delay. We have a fix, left to do is testing it and packing it up to ship. Final exams eat time…”

    While no ETA has been revealed as yet, we hope it happens by the weekend. We will update you on that when it happens.

    Categories
    android Mobile

    Install Android 2.2.1 On Droid X With New Hack

    The latest version of FroYo is not available for Motorola Droid X users yet. But if you are of the restless variety and need to get it sooner, a leaked version of Android 2.2.1 that can be installed on Droid X handsets is now available. Of course, since this is not official, you will need to root your Android phone first which, as you should be aware already, is fraught with risks and so will need you to proceed at your own risk.

    Even if you are successfully rooted, the Android 2.2.1 installation comes without an SBF file which means there is no way to go back to the original state should something go wrong. So proceed to the following steps only at the risk of bricking your phone. No guarantees here.

    To start with, you will need to download the source file from the link here. Once this is done, download the file and copy it to your SD card. Use the instructions mentioned here to bootstrap the recovery and reboot it. After you complete this, navigate to “mount and storage” and pick format system & mount /system.

    Now tap the power button of your phone once to return 1-Menu option. Here, select install zip from sdcard -> choose zip from sdcard. Pick the Blur.zip file that was downloaded to the SD card to proceed.

    This will complete the process. The Droid X will now reboot to the new Blur and Android version.