Related
Hey guys,
I'm due to receive my HTC One X later this week, direct from Orange UK. Big issue for me is the fact that the handset will be Orange bloatware branded. Now I've heard that their firmware isn't actually too bad and has had little customisation. However, what I am dubious of is the fact that Orange take MONTHS to release firmware updates... Incredibly frustrating.
SO, all I should like to do, is get my HOX running the plain and simple stock firmware. So I can receive OTA updates direct from HTC
Now, I'm very new to HTC. This is my first HTC phone since my run in with an old Window's PDA phone around 6 years ago... I became very gifted in the art of debranding and customising Samsung Android phones within the past two years, however HTC is a different game entirely!
Please, can someone give me a simple (I mean really dumbed down) version of how to debrand my HTC, how to root it (if necessary) and anything else in between! I would really, really appreciate it. I am a Mac OS X user, so Mac instructions would obviously be preferable
Thank you all very much for your time!
Eddy
MOD Can I have this moved to Q&A please?
You have just follow this tutorial for MAC OS X user
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1592922
Briefly, you need to unlock the bootloader in order to flash custom recovery and then custom ROM.
Fightspit said:
You have just follow this tutorial for MAC OS X user
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1592922
Briefly, you need to unlock the bootloader in order to flash custom recovery and then custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Which ROM should I go with? I'd just like a plain and simple one that I will receive update from HTC for.
Eddzz!! said:
Thank you. Which ROM should I go with? I'd just like a plain and simple one that I will receive update from HTC for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't get OTA updates if you unlock your bootloader from htcdev.com.
Sheesh, have you even read any of the topics in this forum? ;-)
agento said:
You can't get OTA updates if you unlock your bootloader from htcdev.com.
Sheesh, have you even read any of the topics in this forum? ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how would this work?
i too am due to get a voda branded HOX which I want to debrand. I'm not interested in rooting or anything... all I want to do is put stock HTC firmware on there which would receive stock unbranded HTC OTA updates as and when they are released....
is there any way to do this yet bearing in mind that I am not fussed about rooting?
Without s-off you can't debrand, you would have to go custom but then you wouldn't get ota updates
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda premium
agento said:
You can't get OTA updates if you unlock your bootloader from htcdev.com.
Sheesh, have you even read any of the topics in this forum? ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said, I am completely new to all of this!
Is there no way for me to have the best of both worlds?
Eddzz!! said:
Is there no way for me to have the best of both worlds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait to see if somebody can change the bootloader to S-OFF mode and then alter your CID if you want to use the stock HTC firmware and have OTA updates.
Custom firmware can track the latest/greatest HTC firmware versions anyway so you'd get roughly the same end result.
i found this over at modaco but am not sure what exactly has been done:
http://android.modaco.com/topic/353106-debrand-one-x/page__gopid__1934961#entry1934961
I bought this one x which comes with locked bootloader, no root,
Stock recovery with s off and super CID(111111). It is prompting an ota update to 1.28.708.10
Is it alright to install the OTA? Will I lose S-off or the super CID? Any harm in flashing
the OTA with S-Off?
No just install it. 1.28 software is very old btw ! Jellybean latest software is already up to 3.14 - 3.20 .....
And you cant have S-OFF on your Device, only unlocked bootloader
And yes you can update
3498BoyZ said:
And you cant have S-OFF on your Device, only unlocked bootloader
And yes you can update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes he can because some hox come with factory s off
Sent from my HTC One X using xda app-developers app
Thnks but why some HOX came with S-OFF ?
china and s-off
3498BoyZ said:
Thnks but why some HOX came with S-OFF ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there are a few places, using official htc software, in china that you can send your HOX to get s-off, some people did, sold their devices and some lucky guy got it, there are of course the preview devices that were sent to sites, magazines and some devs with s-off from HTC, so yes, there are s-off'ed HOXs running in the wild, if I could I would send mine too.
Some phones come back from repair with s-off.....some come out the factory with s-off.....
Just happend to some !
You can also run the 3.14.708 ruu which you can download from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2189048
Then you have stock JB software on your phone.
Thanks a lot guys! I am OTAing at the moment, installing the 3.14.708.28 right now, Chinese people have a way to get phones s-off and super CID. Not sure exactly how they do it but I got it like this, it is refurbished though. So basically after unlocking the bootloader,root and a custom recovery I can flash a rom just like old gen phones.. Copy the zip to sd, perform wipes and install zip from sd.. No need to flash the boot.img seperately from fastboot.. Is that true?
Basically its true yes, but.....many rom devs took out the boot.img flash script because not many people have a s-off device.
Do if you hit a bootloop its wise to flash the boot.img manually
Thanks a lot for the information Mr Hofs, really appreciate it!
So all is fine now ?
crossmission said:
there are a few places, using official htc software, in china that you can send your HOX to get s-off, some people did, sold their devices and some lucky guy got it, there are of course the preview devices that were sent to sites, magazines and some devs with s-off from HTC, so yes, there are s-off'ed HOXs running in the wild, if I could I would send mine too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i got a couple of these off of ebay. pre-released htc one x+ att
Tmobilefan906 said:
i got a couple of these off of ebay. pre-released htc one x+ att
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You really need to stay away from the hox section. This all is NOT for the hox +.
Mr Hofs said:
You really need to stay away from the hox section. This all is NOT for the hox +.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea...it's been a long time owning a HTC one x variant.. good thing I'm knowledgeable on things lol...it is nice that I got a couple of these pre-s offd.. I can supercid via fastboot as I already have s off
---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------
Mr Hofs said:
You really need to stay away from the hox section. This all is NOT for the hox +.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if i wanted to flash the ruu with the 2.15 radio from androidruu, do i still need to lock the bootloader even though im already s off?
Tmobilefan906 said:
Yea...it's been a long time owning a HTC one x variant.. good thing I'm knowledgeable on things lol...it is nice that I got a couple of these pre-s offd.. I can supercid via fastboot as I already have s off
---------- Post added at 09:02 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 AM ----------
if i wanted to flash the ruu with the 2.15 radio from androidruu, do i still need to lock the bootloader even though im already s off?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure anymore, but what you need to do is to start the conversations about this phone in the hox + section because it can be confusing for hox owners.
Mr Hofs said:
Not sure anymore, but what you need to do is to start the conversations about this phone in the hox + section because it can be confusing for hox owners.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry. I posted on this thread cuz u were one of the very few that had a more recent post.
Tmobilefan906 said:
I'm sorry. I posted on this thread cuz u were one of the very few that had a more recent post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do know that my comment is from 2013, yes?
lol
So, if you're S-OFF you can flash the radio separately if I remember correct.
But, despite it being a beautiful phone with a good camera and arguably
the best form factor ever with the three capacitive buttons that can be
swiped for screen on-off and the 2.5D display,
it's a REALLY old phone, and unless you got it for under 70 bucks
it's not worth the money and the time unless you're an enthusiast and you want the experience of owning it.
if you flash a stock RUU I believe you will lose s-off or maybe it won't even flash. Do some research on both HOX and HOX+ forums since they run similar chipset(the + is just factory oveclocked).
crossmission said:
You do know that my comment is from 2013, yes?
lol
So, if you're S-OFF you can flash the radio separately if I remember correct.
But, despite it being a beautiful phone with a good camera and arguably
the best form factor ever with the three capacitive buttons that can be
swiped for screen on-off and the 2.5D display,
it's a REALLY old phone, and unless you got it for under 70 bucks
it's not worth the money and the time unless you're an enthusiast and you want the experience of owning it.
if you flash a stock RUU I believe you will lose s-off or maybe it won't even flash. Do some research on both HOX and HOX+ forums since they run similar chipset(the + is just factory oveclocked).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant the entire ruu..I only mentioned the radio as I see that evitare only has three ruu. I thought if we were s off, we could run any regional ruu. As long as it's meant for this device
crossmission said:
You do know that my comment is from 2013, yes?
lol
So, if you're S-OFF you can flash the radio separately if I remember correct.
But, despite it being a beautiful phone with a good camera and arguably
the best form factor ever with the three capacitive buttons that can be
swiped for screen on-off and the 2.5D display,
it's a REALLY old phone, and unless you got it for under 70 bucks
it's not worth the money and the time unless you're an enthusiast and you want the experience of owning it.
if you flash a stock RUU I believe you will lose s-off or maybe it won't even flash. Do some research on both HOX and HOX+ forums since they run similar chipset(the + is just factory oveclocked).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have s off and I still had to fastboot flash boot.img. Why?
Tmobilefan906 said:
I have s off and I still had to fastboot flash boot.img. Why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't remember anymore, it's been 4 years since I last played with the HOX, I believe that all the procedures remain the same since it's an older device and noone bothered to look into it more since it was running a Tegra chip, that made it a difficult device to work with as for example NVIDIA never open sourced the kernel and everything had to be written from zero.
Being S-OFF on the HOX just gives you the luxury of flashing radios separately and engineering bootloaders (I think) and being able to return the phone to untampered for warranty purposes.
I know I'm not a big help but this is the reason I turned to Qualcomm based devices that are easier to get custom kernels and ROMs then.
Also bear in mind that I'd spend dozens of hours researching for that device progressively with the development so I could see the steps on new things one by one, there's probably a megathread with all that info somewhere in here.
EDIT: Why do you need a different region RUU? Do you need to keep it stock? There aren't any updates anymore, if you like the stock look try Android Revolution ROM by mike1986, it's not being developed anymore but it's a great rom with great battery life and all the HTC goodness without anything else bogging it down.
I'd love to get my hands on an S-off hox+ or even a normal one. that feeling it had in your hands was amazing.
im contemplating buying the at&t m8 tuesday on launch day but im worried since i know it will come locked down tight. rumor has it on android central that s-off will be waiting for us? is this true or no?
if not ill wait for root to buy.
Ya I'm in the same boat. Wanted the s5, but am now here considering the one for the first time because of Knox.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
mike86325 said:
Ya I'm in the same boat. Wanted the s5, but am now here considering the one for the first time because of Knox.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The s5 was never in the cards with me.
I see no reason that we won't have an exploit available pretty quickly. If nothing else, you can do the official HTC unlock now and wait for S-OFF later so you can cover your tracks.
fix-this! said:
The s5 was never in the cards with me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me neither. Until KNOX is either optional or gone altogether, Samsung will never get my business again. I refuse to support a company so openly anti-developer.
EtherealRemnant said:
I see no reason that we won't have an exploit available pretty quickly. If nothing else, you can do the official HTC unlock now and wait for S-OFF later so you can cover your tracks.
Me neither. Until KNOX is either optional or gone altogether, Samsung will never get my business again. I refuse to support a company so openly anti-developer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same about sammy. I vowed id only stick to the nexus line but this m8 looks awesome if it can be rooted.
Hopefully your right and it will be htc dev unlockable from day 1. I doubt it being at&t.
fix-this! said:
Same about sammy. I vowed id only stick to the nexus line but this m8 looks awesome if it can be rooted.
Hopefully your right and it will be htc dev unlockable from day 1. I doubt it being at&t.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With at&t its hard to tell but the One was HTC Dev unlockable on at&t at launch I thought?
This is why I'm glad I have T-Mobile. Besides the Sony phones (which T-Mobile likely doesn't even ask Sony to lock the bootloader but Sony chooses to do it themselves), T-Mobile is very cool about rooting and custom ROMs. Hell EVERY person at the T-Mobile store we go to has their **** rooted and they have no problem saying it! If an at&t employee did that, guaranteed there would be a job opening.
EtherealRemnant said:
With at&t its hard to tell but the One was HTC Dev unlockable on at&t at launch I thought?
This is why I'm glad I have T-Mobile. Besides the Sony phones (which T-Mobile likely doesn't even ask Sony to lock the bootloader but Sony chooses to do it themselves), T-Mobile is very cool about rooting and custom ROMs. Hell EVERY person at the T-Mobile store we go to has their **** rooted and they have no problem saying it! If an at&t employee did that, guaranteed there would be a job opening.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Original HTC One bootloader unlock was available on day 1 then vanished. I think there are other exploits. I have unlocked the bootloader of almost every Android device I've ever owned (except my Nexus 7 FHD). I *dont* intend on doing that with my M8 unless and until the promised support and updates doesn't materialize. In the best of all possible worlds, someone will come up with a temporary root method so I can at least run Titanium backup.
Every Qualcomm HTC devices has been S-OFFed, it will certainly be the same for the M8 trust me...
matt95 said:
Every Qualcomm HTC devices has been S-OFFed, it will certainly be the same for the M8 trust me...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i can confirm s-on
fix-this! said:
rumor has it on android central that s-off will be waiting for us? is this true or no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I get a link to the rumor?
jaythenut said:
i can confirm s-on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that it won't be S-OFFed? Nahhh
matt95 said:
Are you saying that it won't be S-OFFed? Nahhh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well mine is saying s-on
jaythenut said:
Well mine is saying s-on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ehm, that's normal... If you don't S-OFF it will say S-ON of course
matt95 said:
Ehm, that's normal... If you don't S-OFF it will say S-ON of course
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry guys, but could someone explain what S-ON and S-OFF mean?
I only have experience unlocking/rooting Nexus devices.
fil676 said:
Sorry guys, but could someone explain what S-ON and S-OFF mean?
I only have experience unlocking/rooting Nexus devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-On means you can only install "Secure" software. S-OFF, means you can install whatever you want.
If you want roms, you'll want S-OFF.
meest said:
S-On means you can only install "Secure" software. S-OFF, means you can install whatever you want.
If you want roms, you'll want S-OFF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not completely correct, if you want ROMs you just need an unlocked bootloader and a recovery which you can get without S-OFF too...
S-OFF (Security-OFF) = much more control of the entire phone (you can do pretty much everything if you're able to do it)
if you have enough time to spend then read this perfect in depth explanation
matt95 said:
Not completely correct, if you want ROMs you just need an unlocked bootloader and a recovery which you can get without S-OFF too...
S-OFF (Security-OFF) = much more control of the entire phone (you can do pretty much everything if you're able to do it)
if you have enough time to spend then read this perfect in depth explanation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which version of hboot is the verizon m8 shipping with? Assuming we can get root (if it's not already possible), s-off should work with firewater
skaforey said:
Which version of hboot is the verizon m8 shipping with? Assuming we can get root (if it's not already possible), s-off should work with firewater
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never tried Firewater stuff but I would wait to do that, that method hasn't even been tested on the new one...
skaforey said:
Which version of hboot is the verizon m8 shipping with? Assuming we can get root (if it's not already possible), s-off should work with firewater
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HBOOT: 3.16.0.0000
I tried the temp-root method but it failed running temp-root so I didn't bother executing the firewater command:
error in setsockopt().
Failed to get prepare_kernel_cred address.
Failed to get commit_creds address.
Failed to get ptmx_fops address.
Failed to setup variables.
jaythenut said:
i can confirm s-on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright bud
Did you swap out your N3 for this? - I pick mine up in the morning. Hoping it'll be a a quality device, miss my original One
Hi there.
I've recently bought an HTC One M8 online and was furious to find out it has Vodafone logo on bootup.
I consider myself above Novice but just below expert when it comes to ROMs, rooting, flashing, etc. and i would like to try to debrand and remove the network logo without the complicated rooting.
Can anyone help please? Many thanks.
The only 'real' way of doing this is with S-OFF so you can flash the unbranded EU ROM to the phone
EddyOS said:
The only 'real' way of doing this is with S-OFF so you can flash the unbranded EU ROM to the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is S-off an easy process? May i ask how?
Gino76ph said:
Is S-off an easy process? May i ask how?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only working method is sunshine which u can get here http://theroot.ninja but I would try firewater first if that doesnt work it will need to be sunshine.
What is Sunshine or Firewater? Are they maps or apt files that i need to download? I have a Mac. Is that a problem?
And if i do the S-off process will it completely rebrand and remove the network logo so i can use the "normal" One M8 and set it up as normal?
Gino76ph said:
What is Sunshine or Firewater? Are they maps or apt files that i need to download? I have a Mac. Is that a problem?
And if i do the S-off process will it completely rebrand and remove the network logo so i can use the "normal" One M8 and set it up as normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't know a lot about android development I wouldn't bother s-off as you can hard brick your phone if you don't know what you are doing. You need to flash stock firmware which will have the hboot.
So, how do i flash a stock ROM on my One M8? Is it easy? Will having a Mac be a factor?
And will flashing be able to debrand it?
Gino76ph said:
So, how do i flash a stock ROM on my One M8? Is it easy? Will having a Mac be a factor?
And will flashing be able to debrand it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having a Mac shouldn't be a problem as you can get fastboot and adb for Mac. Search on Google on how to do it as there is a lot of articles. It depends where the branding is, if its after the green HTC logo then yes as that will be the ROM.
I see.
So, what is the process usually? What do i need to download first? And then after downloading what do i need to do next?
All i want is to remove the Vodafone network branding that's all. Please advice.
Thank you.
Gino76ph said:
I see.
So, what is the process usually? What do i need to download first? And then after downloading what do i need to do next?
All i want is to remove the Vodafone network branding that's all. Please advice.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well first of all you will need to unlock your bootloader at http://htcdev.com or you can s-off using either firewater or sunshine. Then you need to flash a custom recovery like TWRP or CWM. Always make a back up! Then flash a custom ROM. But I'm not sure if that will remove the branding as the branding could be in the hboot which u will need s-off to modify it.
Gino76ph said:
I consider myself above Novice but just below expert
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the people on here are being very nice, you consider yourself just below expert but your questions certainly aren't. The point of this site is to help, not necessarily to teach. I suggest you go do some Google searches and learn about the things that people mentioned here rather than just continuously asking questions. To be honest all you have to do is install a new splash screen and/or boot image. That alone is not difficult but you need to do some learning first because there are some prerequisites you'll need to have done in order to flash it.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium HD app
I appreciate all the help. I will Google some stuff and will ask again if there are any more issues.
Many thanks
For reference, Firewater no longer works so Sunshine is the ONLY method for S-OFF at this time
Hi, I currently have a Samsung GS4 and I am pretty pissed about how it doesn't have an unlocked bootloader. I was wondering, if I can run out to Verizon now and buy a HTC One M9 if I can unlock it and install cyanogenmod 12 onto it (eventually). WIthout buying a special verizon, is this possible?
iLeoable said:
Hi, I currently have a Samsung GS4 and I am pretty pissed about how it doesn't have an unlocked bootloader. I was wondering, if I can run out to Verizon now and buy a HTC One M9 if I can unlock it and install cyanogenmod 12 onto it (eventually). WIthout buying a special verizon, is this possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Vzw doesn't allow boot loader unlocking. You will need to wait for sunshine app to update or seek out a user who has a Java card. @bschram is your closest user that has one.
So I cannot use HTC Dev website, and does sunshine require root to use it, and what is this http://venomroms.com/sunshine-s-off-for-the-htc-one-m9-released/
iLeoable said:
So I cannot use HTC Dev website, and does sunshine require root to use it, and what is this http://venomroms.com/sunshine-s-off-for-the-htc-one-m9-released/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon has HTC block their devices on HTC dev. Non vzw devices are fine.
Sunshine doesn't support vzw m9 or even the m8 if it has the latest os yet. Sunshine for the non Verizon m9 requires unlocking boot loader through HTC dev.
Make sense this time?
dottat said:
Verizon has HTC block their devices on HTC dev. Non vzw devices are fine.
Sunshine doesn't support vzw m9 or even the m8 if it has the latest os yet. Sunshine for the non Verizon m9 requires unlocking boot loader through HTC dev.
Make sense this time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, It does. But just to be sure, will this ensure a full 100% on unlocked bootloader and if it needs root to root it, how will it start doing that?
iLeoable said:
Yes, It does. But just to be sure, will this ensure a full 100% on unlocked bootloader and if it needs root to root it, how will it start doing that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the vzw m9 sunshine support will come when they figure out how to enable root and flip the s flag off all in one shot.
Your other alternative is to buy the phone and send it to a user who has a Java card. That process involves putting a special card in your SD slot and running see commands. You will end up with s-off and bootloader unlocked with that.
iLeoable said:
Yes, It does. But just to be sure, will this ensure a full 100% on unlocked bootloader and if it needs root to root it, how will it start doing that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a NON Verizon HTC m9...unlock your boot loader through HTC dev....then you run sunshine to get S-OFF...once there you can do whatever you want...flash custom roms already rooted....stay stock Sense and flash whatever supersu you need for root...basically the world is your oyster at that point...lol
Verizon M9 should eventually get there (sunshine S-OFF), but until it does the java card S-OFF is the only way...and there are plenty of fine fellows here that can assist you if you so choose.
With that method..after you are S-OFF...you can run an adb command to unlock your boot loader and then from there the same as above.
bakemcbride21 said:
With a NON Verizon HTC m9...unlock your boot loader through HTC dev....then you run sunshine to get S-OFF...once there you can do whatever you want...flash custom roms already rooted....stay stock Sense and flash whatever supersu you need for root...basically the world is your oyster at that point...lol
Verizon M9 should eventually get there (sunshine S-OFF), but until it does the java card S-OFF is the only way...and there are plenty of fine fellows here that can assist you if you so choose.
With that method..after you are S-OFF...you can run an adb command to unlock your boot loader and then from there the same as above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should add that the guys with cards are doing the works. S-off, bootloader unlock, twrp, and supersu.
dottat said:
Nope. Vzw doesn't allow boot loader unlocking. You will need to wait for sunshine app to update or seek out a user who has a Java card. @bschram is your closest user that has one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 for @bschram - Sorted my Verizon M9 a week ago --- Pre-root backup, S-off, install TWRP, root, and unlock bootloader.
Ready for me to install custom Rom
dottat said:
Should add that the guys with cards are doing the works. S-off, bootloader unlock, twrp, and supersu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Full service crew!
Only problem you will have afterwards is finding a Verizon CM12 ROM. Because as of now, this is what we have to work with...nothing. And from what I've heard, cm is no longer unifying devices. All I'm saying is its gonna be a bit of a road. However, if you don't mind waiting and running a sense based custom ROM for a while, then get it and have @dottat unlock everything for ya! I'm actually about to send him mine!
I don't know if any of you guys have heard of towelroot, but it only works for kitkat samsung devices on verizon, it might be possible that geohot will release an update for lollipop s5. and maybe someone will adapt that to fit the HTC One M9.
iLeoable said:
I don't know if any of you guys have heard of towelroot, but it only works for kitkat samsung devices on verizon, it might be possible that geohot will release an update for lollipop s5. and maybe someone will adapt that to fit the HTC One M9.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
highly doubt that...
http://www.polygon.com/2014/7/17/5911917/ps3-hacker-geohotz-hired-by-google