Android Phones
Froyo on HTC EVO 4G Video Tour: What’s new in Android 2.2?
August 4, 2010 | by Andrew Kameka
HTC, ROMs
I’ve never been happier to be completely wrong. Last week I said that people shouldn’t hold their breath for Android 2.2 (Froyo) to come to the HTC EVO 4G. Four days later, the HTC EVO 4G Froyo update is rolling out to elated users across the country.
Below are a few highlights of what’s available in the new version of Froyo-based Sense. Please keep in mind that this is based on the rooted version of the non-final build of the HTC update. If you notice anything not featured in this video or listed below, please notify me in the comments section.
Standard Froyo features – Flash, Apps to SD support, and of course, the JIT Compiler are the headlines of getting Froyo on the EVO. JIT has given the EVO a noticeable boost as tasks snap to completion and pages load faster in the browser. As for Flash, I had trouble downloading it on this leaked ROM, but people who upgrade via the OTA should be able to see Flash 10.1 in the Android Market.
Android Market Update – The Android Market has been updated to include subtle tweaks, like Comments getting their own tab rather than appearing at the bottom of the Market. You’ll notice there’s also an option to Auto-update (do this if you trust developer and it updates frequently) and there’s corrections in search (misspell and see “Did you mean___”). There’s also the one thing I’ve wanted most for Android: UPDATE ALL BUTTON!
Recent Apps – Holding down the Home button use to bring up the six most recent apps opened on the phone. Froyo ups that number to eight, giving you more apps in a better looking window.
Widgets – You may notice a few new widgets that weren’t there before, including a rotating widget that shows featured apps from the Android Market. Clicking the link will bring up that app in the Android Market. FM Radio controls radio playback, Sync All will sync your data (great if you don’t have on autosync), and you can perform calculations from the homescreen. Other widgets have been tweaked visually.
New/Updated Apps
Flashlight is a new app that turns your LED light on to act as a flashlight. There are three levels of intensity, and it is pretty strong.
App Sharing makes it possible to let friends know about great apps that you like. This is similar to Bump in that it sends the friend to the Android Market to download, but there’s also an option for Facebook, Friend Stream, and other apps that can use Android’s share feature.
Car Panel car dock mode has been expanded to include six options rather than four. Use Footprints, Voice Search, View Map, Search, Make a call, or Navigation.
Camera Buttons / Light -The camera icons follow you wherever you go. Move between portrait and landscape and they will re-orientate to better suit your viewpoint. Users can also say goodbye to LED Light, the app we love because it forces the phone to turn on the LED during video recording. The camera app now includes this function natively. There are also speed improvements and new codec options.
Google Chrome to Phone – don’t forget that Froyo includes Chrome to Phone support, allowing you to automatically or manually push links to your phone. This is great for sending downloads, directions, or wallpapers. You must download the app and Chrome extension. Directions available here.
I’m very pleased HTC was able to get this update out in a reasonable timeframe.
UPDATE
There’s a massive list of new features posted on XDA that you may want to read. Some of the stuff listed was already covered here (and a couple were already in Eclair but went unnoticed), but it’s very comprehensive. Here are some select updates from that list:
- Internet browser now supports animated GIF files
- Download history now categorized
- Settings app has been changed
- Send vCard as SMS
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Awesome…….the Evo is now faster than ever…!!!!!
got the OTA today and everything is working great
What’s the exact name of the new LED flashlight app?
Flashlight
Sorry about my comment below. I didn't know it came pre-installed with 2.2.
Thanks!
flashlight
Wrong. searching "flashlight" brings up the ones that don't use the LED flash. I searched LED flashlight and a lot came up. Who makes the LED flashlight app that the dude is using in the video?
the app in the video is called “Flashlight” as everyone else said. It came installed with 2.2, no need to download from marketplace.
They forgot the part about Froyo breaking Pandora and other streaming audio sources.
I had to go to TuneWiki for the time being.. sigh
As far as app sharing, the update doesn't complete the share to facebook on my device.
when i did the update, i now cannot edit events in my calendar. does anyone else have this problem?
I'm having the same problem. In Google calendar "edit" is no longer in the menu at the bottom. If you enter an event and use "PC Sync" instead of Google calendar the "edit" is still in the menu.
Not being able to edit an event on my Evo is a major issue. I hope there will be an update to fix it.
Google calendar "edit" is no longer in the menu…
Just found another way to edit an event….
While in monthly view, touch menu on the bottom then touch "week". Next press the event you want to edit, then click on "edit event".
Still need a fix.
Google calendar "edit" is no longer in the menu…
One more way to edit an event….
While on daily view. Press and hold the event you want to edit. Next press "Edit event".
Hope this helps.
I want the update flash how do I get it
Very nice walkthrough! Although I've had the leaked rom installed since Friday, I learned about some new features (I hadn't found yet) from your article & video. Thank you!
A subtle new feature that I have been waiting for is that auto-rotate works both left and right now for all apps. Tilting your phone to the right will give you your on screen keyboard at the bottom.
EVERYTHING IS FASTER. The browser (and Flash) especially. Scrolling seems smoother (Leap is now 100% buttery-awesome-smooth), apps launch snappier, 3D renders better, and it’s just plain sexy.
I think YouTube functions a lot better: buffering is faster and you can actually return to your place in a video after switching out/pausing it.
The Downloads in the browser work differently (better, in my opinion); Now starting a download doesn’t take you to the Downloads screen, but instead does it in the background. Downloads are also now sorted into collapsible groups like “Today,” “Last 7 days,” “Last month,” etc.
Oh, and the AM/PM next to the time is smaller. It’s these little things that make it prettier.
Froyo update works fine on my EVO, but it fried my brothers EVO.Sprint gave him a new phone. Why does it fry some phones?
how do u get froyo for the htc evo
Home > Menu > Settings > System updates > Firmware update
No need to download flash 10.1, as it comes pre-installed on EVO OTA FROYO update.
Flash during video camera is pretty anemic = not really much use. I use the LED desire light and get a WAY brighter light to use while videoing.
My WIFI reception seems to be way better after the upgrade. I suspect HTC boosted the radio?
Overall, everything is definitely faster, which is incredible for a phone that was already lickety split fast.
My one small issue is that the brightness/auto brightness seems to be at odds with the Kindle app. brightness settings, they sometimes duke it out to see who gets to set brightness. After a while, Kindle gives up, and I’m reading with a too bright screen. minor glitch.
One thing that needs to be addressed now is the random opening of applications and the insistent re-opening of those applications after attempting to Force Close them.
HTC/Sprint: Please fix this issue yesterday. Thanks.
Froyo is available for Moto Droid! http://www.nexeo.net/?p=488
I have a question not a comment I want to know if someone can root the evo and still keep the sense I really like it don’t know why please post something
Yes, Ricardo. Root simply unlocks features, it doesn't remove Sense. The only way to lose Sense is to install a custom ROM that purposely doesn't include it.
I have an EVO and love it.. one things missing is a streaming movie app. (like Blockbuster app, and the Samsung media hub that's coming out) for the Epic 4G) having one of those or both would make this phone the BEAST!
greg – if you're running froyo you can stream videos from crackel or http://www.att.net/uverseonline -I think you can also change your user agent setting in browser to desktop and use a proxy to get to hulu… but- regardless – there are options…
Cheers!
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