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All the hype surrounding Froyo got me thinking - chances are, when a Froyo ROM leaks, someone will quickly port it to the Desire but that does mean that sense isn't going to be a part of it. I'm not sure how long that'll take, most likely HTC will take their time porting it and I'm not sure how feasible it'll be for someone to port it themselves, so when it boils down to it, us Desire Owners may be faced with a choice - Froyo or Sense?
Which will you be going for?
its a tough one for me, been trying to use helix and freedhome to get the nexus feel and yes i do like the nexus desktop more, however all the sense handy stuff is just too important for me to be thrown away, so i think i will stick to it until htc releases an update with sense
It's definitely a tough choice for me. I think I can get used to not having Sense's home screen, but as I'm new to Android, I'm nervous about ditching sense entirely in case there's some amazing background feature that I use all the time without realising it lol
I reckon we'll see an update from HTC sooner than people think.
But having said that, if it takes longer than a couple of weeks I'll be ditching the stock software...
If Froyo gives me Apps2SD I will move straight away regardless of my preference for the Sense UI
I love HTC Sense but Flash support and speed improvements are more important for me
I hope HTC will be fast this time
Can't remember the source, but apparently someone from HTC stated that Sense 2.2 would be out in a month at most due to how similar 2.1 and 2.2 are and because of the non-existent hardware issues as opposed to Hero and weaker 1.6 phones. If it takes longer than that and/or if someone comes up with an easier root method for Desire (it's probably a lot easier than it looks but I can't be bothered with live cd's as of yet) I'm definitely switching to Android 2.2 until HTC hurries up.
EDIT: Just remembered - Seeing how Droid Incredible was just released and HTC Evo 4G is coming out in over a month, there's no way that HTC will settle for their flagship US superphone to recieve just 2.1. Expect 2.2 released unusually quickly.
You don't NEED a live CD to root the desire, I did mine entirely from within Windows 7 64bit.
Hmmm, awesome. Will look into it at some point.
Yeah the only thing to keep in mind with Win7 (x64, at least) is that the .bat files supplied with Paul's r4 hack don't anticipate Win7 taking a few seconds longer to recognise the device. By simply having a delay between some of the commands, it worked perfectly for me.
tuatha said:
I reckon we'll see an update from HTC sooner than people think.
But having said that, if it takes longer than a couple of weeks I'll be ditching the stock software...
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This ^ but I'll give them a month.
I think (hope) that since the Desire is mostly a Nexus One inside the update will be pretty swift...
...Unless HTC decide to throw in some improvements to the Sense layer, or must do some changes to the core of Sense required by the new OS...
I'm not sure. I think I will give them a month after the first custom ROMs become available.
I want 2.2 with HTC sense. Can't we have it all?
I've only ever used a Desire, so I have no idea what the difference is between a regular Android OS and a Sense one. In addition to those two options there's also what Orange UK has done to my phone. Stupid things, by all accounts - removing Google Talk but leaving the service running; installing apps I can't remove and which take up valuable space (and which I could download for myself if I wanted them); breaking the browser so when I zoom in/out it doesn't reformat the text, etc etc. And because Orange and HTC are going to want to pollute my phone with all their crap it means I'm likely going to see 2.2 released in 4 days, but be unable to use it until July or whenever HTC/Orange have finished defiling it.
I think Froyo will be coming to the HTC Desire pretty fast. And the reason is the full flash support.
HTC promised that we would get full flash soon after we bought our desire's.
Anyway, if I had to choose between what we have now (2.1 and sense) or 2.2 stock.. I think I would stick with sense. We do not know what 2.2 will bring yet, so I could change my mind.
I am just assuming that HTC will bring froyo fast and we will get the best out of both worlds.
Does anybody know of a list of programs/changes that Sense brings to Android? My Desire is my first Android phone and I have no idea what exactly is part of Android and what's been added by HTC Sense. I understand that programs like Friendstream were added by HTC, but what about the widgets or the multiple screens?
guys I have used a 2.1 Android phone without Sense. I found it very plain compared to sense. The most obvious difference was the widget list is only a few items compared to the widget list on sense which is quite big. The widgets on sense are prettier too, calender, clock etc. There is 5 screens versus 7 available. The helicopter view is gone on normal android. the browser doesn't reflow. I think android is awesome, but its more a framework, a scaffolding, rather than an entire user experience. I guess that suits some people more than others, but I am totally sold on sense. love it. And the nexus one people I have showed my phone to really liked it too.
just found this guys post on google forums
"I don't want the whole Sense UI running, just the HTC (Desire) stock widgets. As people have managed to get the HTC keyboard running on the Nexus One, so I think it should be possible to get the HTC widgets running in a similar fashion. The bundled widgets in the Nexus One, especially the clock widget are too plain, and I've been unable to find any widgets in the Android Market which even get close to the HTC bundled widgets in terms of aesthetic appeal."
Since Froyo+Sense will come eventually, I don't see why bother to reinstall and reconfigure all applications and settings for Froyo, and then do that all over again few weeks later when Sense version comes.
And it is always wise to wait few weeks after release to see if there is any problems with new version.
But then again, it there are no guys which install on first day, who would give such informations?
Android widgets: analog clock, calender, music, picture frame, power control, search, youtube, facebook.
HTC widgets that come with Sense UI(including all of the above default android ones): Bookmarks, Calender(HTC one), clock(HTC one), footprints, friendstream, mail, messages, music (HTC one), news reader, people, photo album, photo frame, search, stocks, sync all, twitter, weather.
vlasac.. I totally agree. I think I'll just wait for 2.2 sense. I just hope it comes within 8 weeks of the android release of 2.2. Hope so.
Hello folks,
I just sold my Touch Diamond 2 and moved to a Desire!
I liked sense on the TD2 very much, but I don't feel like sense adds something valuable to Android. I actually think it makes the phone slower. So I switched to LauncherPro which is a step ahead.
But i'm still thinking of moving to Froyo before the official release to get things really smooth. I wonder if i do this; will android still link my contacts with facebook (the picture) or is this really Sense-related? And will i be able to install sensewidgets afterall?
Also, i've been looking at the Froyo-roms here but after reading FAQ's i still remain with one question: does everything work? Because every rom has a bugfix/progress list. Should I wait till official release?
Thanks!
the contact linking to facebook is a sense thing unfortunately.
you will not be able to use the sense widgets but there are a very large variety of replacements out there on the android market, the 'pure series' to name a few (pure messenger, pure calendar etc)
the only problem there was with froyo roms was a non-working camcorder but this has just recently been fixed, everything on froyo roms are now working
the only bug some users have found is an echo when on the phone to someone, this is believed to be caused by the nexus one noise cancelling mic (as the froyo build for the desire is ported from the nexus one), there are however some work arounds and is not even that much of a problem.
hope this helps
I would wait. Thanks what I am doing. There are too many issues with the Custom 2.2 ROMS, the positives just dont out weigh the negatives.
Just my opinion.
Basically, I love the black, glossy Sense framework look (although I use launcherpro). I love the HTC dialer, the USB connection menu, the copy-and-paste and wifi router and the HTC camera from Froyo ROMs.
However, official Facebook/Twitter apps will not sync with Sense ROMs. I even pushed the default contacts app to the device, but the sync is still not working well. Also, voice search, chrome to phone etc is missing from the market in many Sense ROMs. I also prefer the stock Android contacts and messaging apps over HTCs.
I want to build a hybrid rom, probably based on the vanilla Opendesire ROM. I can skin the framework to black myself. My question is, does anyone know how to get the HTC camera / dialer /copy and paste / wifi / USB type apps onto a vanilla desire ROM?
I tried pushing the .apks myself through cmd but most just force close.
I'd really appreciate the help - I know a lot of users who are after these features.
Cheers,
Mike
Good idea! Also count HTC mail app with full exchange support.
I am not sure if there would be easier to start the other side - from the froyo sense rom and remove all unnecessary stuff...
masi0 said:
Good idea! Also count HTC mail app with full exchange support.
I am not sure if there would be easier to start the other side - from the froyo sense rom and remove all unnecessary stuff...
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This is the angle that I'm currently working. However, there is SO much junk in there, and I cannot for the life of me get Facebook / Twitter sync to work. I stripped out the Sense apps and installed the default Android contacts .apk. If I manually sync every contact through HTC 'People' / Facebook for Sense, it does somehow link the default Facebook app to the contact, but loads of bits don't work properly.
It's very annoying as integration of contacts between apps is one of the nicest features in Android (coming from a Moto Milestone), but doesn't exist on Sense Roms.
So nobody knows if it's possible to get the htc camera onto a rom without sense?
It's almost impossible as the Sense apps rely almost intirely on the Sense frameworks. You would need to port the Sense stuff from the frameworks.
One thing is cirtan: It will be hard or someone would've already done it.
I would however love this if it was possible
Juste remove the .apk you don't need in the /system/app folder, and then install the Sense ROM you want, download LauncherPro on the Market, and you will forget Sense but keep all Sense app and widgets !
but, very good IDEA
For sure _start_ with the Sense ROM, and remove stuff you don't want to get as close as possible to the ROM you want. This is what Team Villain did with their SuperHero roms.
Basicly all the Sense apps _rely_ on the HTC Framework. Pushing just a few .apk's to an AOSP rom will _never_ work. Without taking the needed stuff from the framework, which is basicly everything.
Facebook sync has little to nothing to do with the facebook app and / or the contacts app. Specially the contacts app does nothing with that. It are the dedicated sync providers that do the work and modify the contact-store. But (AFAIK this is widely known) getting facebook sync to work with the stock facebook app is about modifying your build.prop. If the facebook app detects a sense-model phone it won't present the sync options! On the hero with a clean compiled AOSP rom, changing the build.prop to report it as a Sapphire instead of a Hero and 'tadaah', facebook sync works.
The same with the desire: make sure the build.prop reports itself as a nexus one, and not a desire or any other phone model that came stock with sense, and it should work.
Once again, if you want a hybrid: Take a look at SuperHero rom for the Hero, and more importantly: Start with the Sense ROM of your choice and strip everything you don't want / like, retheme what you want to look stock and keep going. Getting the stock calendar / messaging apps in might be as simple as pushing the .apk's. Things like browser / people (contacts) / phone (dialer) I'm not so sure about, but it doesn't hurt to try!
dipje said:
For sure _start_ with the Sense ROM, and remove stuff you don't want to get as close as possible to the ROM you want. This is what Team Villain did with their SuperHero roms.
Basicly all the Sense apps _rely_ on the HTC Framework. Pushing just a few .apk's to an AOSP rom will _never_ work. Without taking the needed stuff from the framework, which is basicly everything.
Facebook sync has little to nothing to do with the facebook app and / or the contacts app. Specially the contacts app does nothing with that. It are the dedicated sync providers that do the work and modify the contact-store. But (AFAIK this is widely known) getting facebook sync to work with the stock facebook app is about modifying your build.prop. If the facebook app detects a sense-model phone it won't present the sync options! On the hero with a clean compiled AOSP rom, changing the build.prop to report it as a Sapphire instead of a Hero and 'tadaah', facebook sync works.
The same with the desire: make sure the build.prop reports itself as a nexus one, and not a desire or any other phone model that came stock with sense, and it should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
THIS is what I need to do! Any guidance on this build.prop?
I mean, what will I lose if I choose to use a rom without sense?
Do I get less battery drain?
you'll lose:
Sense Launcher, Sense Widgets - this can be fully replaced by Launcher Plus Pro, or, if you don't like the look of Sense Widgets by ADW.Launcher
Sense programs, like mail, calendar, ...
FM Radio
HTC Sync - you won't be able to sync your Desire calendar with Outlook directly any longer. You'll have to buy third party software to do this via the Google cloud or you use an Exchange Server.
Because the HTC Froyo source got released now, as it seems, you'll also be able to undervolt Sense ROMs now.
However, non Sense ROMs are lighter, more customized and contain some essential features which I miss on Sense ROMs: Bluetooth HID support.
Why get rid of sense?, its amazing!!!
you will also loose htc dialer and htc contacts
I love sense because of the widgets I keep it for that.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Agreed. I love everything about sense. It makes the phone great. If I wanted senseless I could have bought an N1.
Sense is the reason desire is the best smart phone! I would not dream having a smartphone without it...
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Sense is very nice but I see that there are many roms that don't contain it. So, I was wondering if it realy is neasecery, or what is better in a non-sense rom, and if a non-sense rom is less hungry for battery
I have two Desires - one has a Sense ROM and the other is running CyanogenMod. There are one or two small things I prefer about the CyanogenMod ROM, but a great deal more I prefer about Sense, but there are others on this forum who will tell you the opposite, and be equally correct because it is just an opinion.
One thing I will say though is that you will often hear that non-Sense ROMs are "faster" than Sense ROMs. In my experience, if there is a speed difference, you can only really tell in benchmarks - in general use I feel my Sense phone is every bit as fast as my CyanogenMod phone. The same is true on battery life - both seem to sip about the same amount of power.
I don't think there is any real alternative other than trying out a non-Sense ROM for yourself and making your own choice.
Regards,
Dave
You can undervolt Sense roms of course. Also now with S-Off you can remove the Sense apps you dont need easily from the phone.
After playing with a non-Sense rom I am back to a Sense one mainly because I cold not live with the battery drain and I can now customize the Sense apps.
On Alex 1.7 and with light use I can almost go 3 days on a battery... with a non-Sense rom I could barely make 24-36h (wipe before flash and few apps installed, no sync), so it's clear in my case which rom type drains more battery.
Also this Alex 1.7 Sense rom is smooth as silk and I never get any apps or the whole phone crashing (daily occurence in aosp rom for many people?).
Aosp roms are great if you like messing around with your phone all the time, but you cant get away with the fact that Sense roms just work.
Respect to all the rom makers Sense or non.Sense.
Thanks for all the responses, you helped a lot =]
Nutsonfire said:
After playing with a non-Sense rom I am back to a Sense one mainly because I cold not live with the battery drain and I can now customize the Sense apps.
On Alex 1.7 and with light use I can almost go 3 days on a battery... with a non-Sense rom I could barely make 24-36h (wipe before flash and few apps installed, no sync), so it's clear in my case which rom type drains more battery.
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Click to collapse
Mhh, something wasn't working properly then. With very light use I can also get 3 days battery life.
Else it's difficult to compare, because it heavily depends on how you use the phone. Playing around, surfing, ... drastically reduces battery life.
However, at the moment I use DeFroST 5.0 with HAVS kernel and the battery life looks perfect to me.
Nutsonfire said:
Also this Alex 1.7 Sense rom is smooth as silk and I never get any apps or the whole phone crashing (daily occurence in aosp rom for many people?).
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Click to collapse
Should be fixed now. AOSP roms had a few issues, but at it seems as if they're ironed out.
Nutsonfire said:
Aosp roms are great if you like messing around with your phone all the time, but you cant get away with the fact that Sense roms just work.
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Click to collapse
Somehow true, sometimes, but sense roms also have bugs often, and a not working revision, which gets fixed in the next release.
So if you want a stable ROM use the stock. If you want some customization, use a custom sense rom. If you don't use sense features, replaced it with other apps/widgets/tools, and need some AOSP rom features, then get an AOSP rom.
i dont have a Desire atm, but i plan on getting one soon (or possibly the DHD). I like sense, especially the new one which allows you to theme it. But something i've noticed with sense compared to stock is that HTC have removed a lot of animations. Like when opening an app or closing it. It instantly opens or closes with no animation. Stock android has a sort of zoom in zoom out animations.
From what i understand, HTC have set the options to "Some animations" in the settings by default. Could someone here go into Settings, Sound and Display, Animations, and set it to All Animations and report here if they see any changes?
htc contacts, gallery , dialer , camera and video , radio, weather ,friendstream are light years and galaxies far away from the aosp android ones...
Does anyone know of a senseless ICS rom that is newer than this one? Something based off a Sense 4 base.
I would love to go the CM route, but I love my Sense Mail. No other mail apps have come close to the way it handles multiple accounts, subfolders (both imap and exchange), and even message threads/grouping.
I didn't see anything here besides the one mentioned above and some older 2.x based ROMs.
Thanks
Zhindel said:
Does anyone know of a senseless ICS rom that is newer than this one? Something based off a Sense 4 base.
I would love to go the CM route, but I love my Sense Mail. No other mail apps have come close to the way it handles multiple accounts, subfolders (both imap and exchange), and even message threads/grouping.
I didn't see anything here besides the one mentioned above and some older 2.x based ROMs.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so, you want a de-sensed, sense based rom? ?
JehC said:
so, you want a de-sensed, sense based rom? ?
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Click to collapse
Yes. I'm can't claim to understand everything about ROMs, but from what I've read you need Sense to have Sense Mail.
Every thread you read about someone wanting HTC Sense Mail app on their non-HTC phone or ASOP ROM, ends with something to his effect:
You need x, y or z from the Sense 'framework' for Sense Mail to work.
The Sense Mail app in Viper is great. I just want to have something with the default launcher removed, but the other stuff intact and run a different launcher.
Can I safely freeze, disable, or remove the "HTC Sense x.x.x (Desktop) without trashing my phone?
I'll also take suggestions for alternate mail apps, but they need to have the following functions;
ability to sync subfolders (exchange and imap)
an "all messages' view per account
grouped message threads
I'll attach some screenshots to try and show what I mean.
The last time I tried some of the ones out there (free and paid), I didn't get all the functionality I was looking for.
Why don't you just download an alternative launcher and leave the Sense launcher be?
And yes you can freeze things one by one to see up to what point the ROM will still be stable then simply delete them