Hey all. New to Android after using the iPhone for 6 years. One of the things that bugged me the most coming from iPhone was that not everyone gets software updates at the same time, different carriers and unlocked phones get updates at separate times. I was wondering since the factory unlocked HTC Ones already have 4.2.2 and the AT&T HTC Ones probably, won't have it for at least another 6 months. So, if I get my HTC One Factory Unlocked, will I be able to just OTA software update my HTC One to 4.2.2 without having to root? Basically just wondering if unlocking my AT&T HTC One would help me get software updates sooner. Thanks!
Unlock AT&T HTC One to get updates directly from HTC?
- Thread starter Coleman Lee
- Start date
SpookDroid
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- Jul 14, 2011
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Sorry, but you're misunderstanding a bit how unlocking works. First, a little 'hierarchy': Google licenses Android to the manufacturers and can sell 'pure Android' phones directly to users. Manufacturers tinker with Android to add their own features and sell the phones to carriers or directly to users. Carriers, in turn, tinker with the software some more and add some bloatware to put the cherry on top, and then sell the phone to you.
Google-sold phones, like the Nexus line, get updates directly from Google because the software is 'pure Android', just like iOS does.
Phones bought directly from the manufacturer can work on any supported network, and are therefore called 'Factory Unlocked' phones. Since they come from the manufacturer (in your case, HTC), they cannot receive the updates directly from Google because they modified the code to add in their features, UI-customization, and hardware-specific tweaks. So, Google gives the manufacturer the newest version of Android and then the manufacturer starts modifying it again to fit in their features. Sometimes, manufacturers for whatever reason decide not to update or take ages to do so.
When you get your phone from a Carrier (in your case, AT&T), they take the phone from the manufacturer (who already modified the core Android experience) and modify it some more, adding bloatware usually in the process. Also, they 'lock' the phone to work in their network only. This means that for them to update the OS, the carrier has to wait for the manufacturer to update their version of modified Android and THEN modify it again to suit the carrier's needs. Needless to say, if the manufacturer takes time to update and they only handle their own products, imagine how long carriers can take if they have tons of other companies involved. Sure, they're not doing it alone and they do get support from each manufacturer, but you get the idea.
Now, a phone already bought from a carrier CAN be unlocked, but this would only free the use of another carrier's network; the software remains the same. That means, unfortunately, that you're tied to the carrier's update cycles.
A way to get around this is to flash another ROM, or Android code that's already been modified and (hopefully) optimized to use with your phone by another programmer or dev. Usually, you can get an updated version of Android with these ROMs or tweaked versions that add features or remove annoying ones.
Now, while this is great for customization and making your phone your own and being all about flexibility...this also means a ton of different options. Cue in the infamous 'Android fragmentation'. It can get scary if you're a new user.
That being said, HTC is quite committed right now to updating fast (they do need the leverage to get out of the financial pit they're currently in), and are also 'encouraging' carriers to update as fast as they can, and are also willing to help. So even if AT&T has a reputation of slow updates, that might not be the case for the HTC One (or the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is also being pushed really hard for updates).
PS: If you REALLY like the HTC One, but really need the 'directly from Google' updates, then I suggest you sell your current phone and use the money to buy a "Google Edition" HTC One. Just remember, you lose the HTC-One-specific features. You just get the fancy outside, nearly cutting-edge hardware with a 'pure Android' experience.
Google-sold phones, like the Nexus line, get updates directly from Google because the software is 'pure Android', just like iOS does.
Phones bought directly from the manufacturer can work on any supported network, and are therefore called 'Factory Unlocked' phones. Since they come from the manufacturer (in your case, HTC), they cannot receive the updates directly from Google because they modified the code to add in their features, UI-customization, and hardware-specific tweaks. So, Google gives the manufacturer the newest version of Android and then the manufacturer starts modifying it again to fit in their features. Sometimes, manufacturers for whatever reason decide not to update or take ages to do so.
When you get your phone from a Carrier (in your case, AT&T), they take the phone from the manufacturer (who already modified the core Android experience) and modify it some more, adding bloatware usually in the process. Also, they 'lock' the phone to work in their network only. This means that for them to update the OS, the carrier has to wait for the manufacturer to update their version of modified Android and THEN modify it again to suit the carrier's needs. Needless to say, if the manufacturer takes time to update and they only handle their own products, imagine how long carriers can take if they have tons of other companies involved. Sure, they're not doing it alone and they do get support from each manufacturer, but you get the idea.
Now, a phone already bought from a carrier CAN be unlocked, but this would only free the use of another carrier's network; the software remains the same. That means, unfortunately, that you're tied to the carrier's update cycles.
A way to get around this is to flash another ROM, or Android code that's already been modified and (hopefully) optimized to use with your phone by another programmer or dev. Usually, you can get an updated version of Android with these ROMs or tweaked versions that add features or remove annoying ones.
Now, while this is great for customization and making your phone your own and being all about flexibility...this also means a ton of different options. Cue in the infamous 'Android fragmentation'. It can get scary if you're a new user.
That being said, HTC is quite committed right now to updating fast (they do need the leverage to get out of the financial pit they're currently in), and are also 'encouraging' carriers to update as fast as they can, and are also willing to help. So even if AT&T has a reputation of slow updates, that might not be the case for the HTC One (or the Samsung Galaxy S4, which is also being pushed really hard for updates).
PS: If you REALLY like the HTC One, but really need the 'directly from Google' updates, then I suggest you sell your current phone and use the money to buy a "Google Edition" HTC One. Just remember, you lose the HTC-One-specific features. You just get the fancy outside, nearly cutting-edge hardware with a 'pure Android' experience.
I read even with the Google edition HTC one the updates come from HTC still not Google. They say it will be faster then usual for updates but they will be coming from HTC not Google
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
TarekElsakka
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- Oct 28, 2012
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The problem isn't completely with HTC, no, the even bigger problem is the network providers and such. They're so slow and they love to bloat their ROMs, and that's to mention that I believe providers have to accept the update and manage it in a region first before it comes out to the CIDs of that specific region, or at least that's how I believe it works over here in Egypt and the Middle East (HTC__J15).
Phil Nickinson
Android Central Editor Emeritus
- Apr 21, 2009
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The Developer Edition HTC One does not have Android 4.2.2. The Google Play edition has Android 4.2.2. Both are based off the same SKU (that's the AT&T SKU), though.
I *cough* suspect we should see some news on this shortly.
I *cough* suspect we should see some news on this shortly.
SpookDroid
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You are correct. These phones don't come directly from Google; only Nexus devices do. The rest, although running a 'vanilla-flavored' version of Android, are still handled by the manufacturers, but since there's not UI-tinkering and feature set to be added, just hardware optimization, the process is/should be faster than updating a manufacturer-flavored phone.
Great info here guys. I am also new to Android after using iphone for past 4 years. I bought my HTC One directly from HTC unlocked. I have recently traveled to overseas (Pakistan) and will be here indefinitely. My question is how will I get updated to 4.2.2? This market does not have HTC one available yet and carriers don't send out updates for any phone. Will I get the OTA update directly from HTC? I just don't understand how and who is responsible for updating "carrier-less" unlocked phones and HTC tech support has been totally useless in this matter. They told me I can use Sync Manager to manually update my phone which I think is totally inaccurate. I hope someone on this forum can help clarify. thanks in advance...
SpookDroid
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It's based on the region it was released on. Even factory-unlocked phones usually have a region associated with them, and these updates roll out per region. Sometimes the update will be available as an OTA, but some others MIGHT only be available as downloads through the manufacturer's software (in the case of Samsung phones, for instance, Kies).
I have a T-Mobile One, and will be getting it unlocked asap. Once it is unlocked from T-mobile, will I be able to install Google Wallet with no restrictions from T-mobile? Or will I have to root it, just for this one app? I'm coming to the One from a nexus, and I miss using Wallet. I absolutely love this phone, and not having Wallet is the only negative that I can think of.
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
So long as you are on T-Mobile's network you will not be able to install Google Wallet. Sprint is the only network that will let the One use it.
No Google wallet in any HTC One except the Sprint model. The hardware is not in the other devices.
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
I'm still not sure I buy this. What is this mysterious hardware element? How was it added to the Sprint devices? Was the claim that it is a hardware deficiency in all but the Sprint models ever confirmed?
What if, after I get my phone unlocked from tmobile, I'm on one of the third party networks, such as straight talk, or net10...? Still no ability to use Google wallet?
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
It is called the secure element. The Sprint variant uses a different chipset than the other models (common in CDMA devices). This chipset includes the secure element its GSM brothers do not have. The xda folks confirmed this.
I have better things to do than make this stuff up.
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
No. The GSM devices will not be able to use Wallet unless the app is recoded to not require a secure element.
Sent from my HTC One using AC Forums mobile app
It's a hardware element that exists within the chipset. The secure element is what NFC payment processing apps use to encrypt payment keys and the like. A really good defination can be found here:
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