XDA Developers' Android Hacker's Toolkit

Chapter 7: HTC EVO 3D: A Locked Device

In this chapter:

• Using the temporary root method

• Using the permanent root method

HTC phones have become developer- and hacker-friendly. HTC allows developers and enthusiasts to unlock their devices. You can find out more about HTC’s unlock method by browsing to http://htcdev.com/bootloader.

The EVO 3D was one of the first generation of smartphones based on a dual-core processor and running Android. The EVO 3D included a “glasses-free” 3D screen and camera. It shipped with Sense 3.0 and Android 2.3 (Gingerbread). It launched in the US on the Sprint network with access to Sprint’s 4G WiMAX network. The HTC Sensation had a similar specification, without the 3D capability, and launched on the T-Mobile network (and on similar 3G/UMTS networks worldwide).

The EVO 3D had a locked, signed bootloader and locked EMMC memory. It was considered to be one of the more locked-down devices released by HTC, but it was liberated a few weeks after its release.

The hacker community developed a temporary root method for the EVO 3D before there was a permanent solution that included S-OFF. After using the temporary root method, the EVO 3D file system would unroot itself and return to a factory state. A semi-permanent root method (known as a “perma-temp” method) gives root privileges until the device reboots. The permanent root solution discussed here removes S-ON and establishes permanent root access on the device.

The temporary root method uses Fre3vo and ...