They always say that when it seems to good to be true, then it must. Anyway, that seems to fit in with yesterdays news rumor in regards to the new Sense user interface coming to existing Android phones.
Sure, HTC CEO Peter Chou did state that the “HTC sense will be available on some other existing devices,” however what we did not realize yesterday was that by “other existing devices” he really meant non-Google branded Android devices.
Sadly that means the G1, as well as the soon-to-be released myTouch 3G will not be getting any Sense. That said, it also seems like it will just be a matter of time before the UI is made available through unofficial channels.
Additionally, and perhaps the reason for the Sense user interface not coming to Google-branded Android phones is due to the over-the-air updates. It seems that HTC will not be offering any over-the-air updates for the Sense UI.
Of course, the official reason is due to licensing terms when it comes to a Microsoft Exchange client.
[via Mobile Burn]
June 26th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
What about my rooted G1? I should be able to install Sense on there, right?
June 26th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
@Mike: Have a look at xda-developers.com. Iirc some already have that UI running on their phones…
June 26th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Guess Android isn't all that open.
June 26th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
What constitutes a non google-branded phone?
June 26th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
Google-branded phones have "with Google" on the background and are the standard versions of Android seen on the G1. There are collaborative features/marketing efforts between Google and the carrier.
Some carriers have gotten HTC to customize Android (for instance with Exchange support in Asia or other features seen in the Hero or Rogers' Dream) so you won't see "with Google" on the back.
June 26th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
Google-branded phones have "with Google" on the background and are the standard versions of Android seen on the G1. In order to use “with Google” as a marketing term, carriers have to agree to certain standards/features.
Some carriers have chosen to customize their Android builds to the point that they cannot use the Google-branding. The Rogers version of the G1 doesn’t have “with Google” and the Hero probably won’t either because of this.
June 30th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
AndrewKam: Does that mean that my magic without Google branding will be able to run Sense without having to be rooted?
June 30th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
It's a maybe at the moment. HTC's president has said he'd like to do it but there's been no official word given on how it would be implemented to non-Google phones.
July 8th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Eh? The myTouch3G won't have Sense? I thought 'myTouch3G' was just T-Mobile UK's branded name for the Hero?
August 5th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
so will the sense ui come to rogers g1/dream?
October 16th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
T-Mobile UK call the Hero the G2 Touch, the myTouch3G is a rebadged HTC Magic.