HTC: Sense vs. Android Stock UI

johnnycakes2 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-19-2010, 03:15 PM

Here's a question for anyone who might know:

If you have an HTC Android phone with Sense, and Android comes out with a new version, i.e. 2.5 "Froyo", can you deactivate Sense on the phone and simply upgrade OTA to Froyo, or is it impossible/not allowed/too complicated unless you root your phone?

I'm in the process of getting an Android phone, or maybe I'll just wait for the Supersonic. My biggest fear is that I'll be stuck with a device that has Android 2.1 and Sense until whenever HTC decides to upgrade it, and that, most likely, will be the only official upgrade I ever see.

So can you easily deactivate Sense and go with stock? What happens if you do upgrade OTA and try to reactivate Sense? Anybody have any experience with this?

hittingsmoke · #2 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 04:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnycakes2

Here's a question for anyone who might know:

If you have an HTC Android phone with Sense, and Android comes out with a new version, i.e. 2.5 "Froyo", can you deactivate Sense on the phone and simply upgrade OTA to Froyo, or is it impossible/not allowed/too complicated unless you root your phone?

I'm in the process of getting an Android phone, or maybe I'll just wait for the Supersonic. My biggest fear is that I'll be stuck with a device that has Android 2.1 and Sense until whenever HTC decides to upgrade it, and that, most likely, will be the only official upgrade I ever see.

So can you easily deactivate Sense and go with stock? What happens if you do upgrade OTA and try to reactivate Sense? Anybody have any experience with this?

Also looking into getting an Android phone and am wondering the same thing when shopping around for an HTC model.

Leukay · #3 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 03:41 PM

I'm not so sure what you are asking about the OTA update, but you can very easily switch off Sense and use stock android (vanilla), but that doesnt change anything with updates. Sense is basically a home replacement, and you can very easily switch it off. The firmware is the same, and the next update will have Sense included

johnnycakes2 · #4 (**permalink**) 02-20-2010, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leukay

I'm not so sure what you are asking about the OTA update, but you can very easily switch off Sense and use stock android (vanilla), but that doesnt change anything with updates. Sense is basically a home replacement, and you can very easily switch it off. The firmware is the same, and the next update will have Sense included

Basically I'm wondering if HTC and/or having Sense UI prohibit you in any way from upgrading to the next version of Android? I keep hearing about Hero owners having to wait until who-knows-when to get the 2.1 upgrade. Is that because they have Sense? Couldn't they just shut off Sense and upgrade OTA directly from Google? Or are they waiting specifically for HTC to lay Sense on top of 2.1 and get HTC's version of the upgrade?

Frankly, Sense is cool and easy on the eyes, but when Android 2.5 or 3.0 come out, I'd rather have those and their functionality. So is there anything keeping me from upgrading to the next version of Android when using Sense? Can't I just turn off Sense and upgrade anytime I want?

Leukay · #5 (**permalink**) 02-21-2010, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnycakes2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leukay

I'm not so sure what you are asking about the OTA update, but you can very easily switch off Sense and use stock android (vanilla), but that doesnt change anything with updates. Sense is basically a home replacement, and you can very easily switch it off. The firmware is the same, and the next update will have Sense included

Basically I'm wondering if HTC and/or having Sense UI prohibit you in any way from upgrading to the next version of Android? I keep hearing about Hero owners having to wait until who-knows-when to get the 2.1 upgrade. Is that because they have Sense? Couldn't they just shut off Sense and upgrade OTA directly from Google? Or are they waiting specifically for HTC to lay Sense on top of 2.1 and get HTC's version of the upgrade?

Frankly, Sense is cool and easy on the eyes, but when Android 2.5 or 3.0 come out, I'd rather have those and their functionality. So is there anything keeping me from upgrading to the next version of Android when using Sense? Can't I just turn off Sense and upgrade anytime I want?

Ahh I understand. The quick answer to this: "Couldn't they just shut off Sense and upgrade OTA directly from Google?" is no. HTC has to get the update so they can put all of their stuff (ie sense and all of their skinned apps) into the rom. That is what takes a while, because they are also adding more features to sense and their apps, and not just making it work. Whether or not you have sense turned on or off you still get the same update.

johnnycakes2 · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2010, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leukay

Ahh I understand. The quick answer to this: "Couldn't they just shut off Sense and upgrade OTA directly from Google?" is no. HTC has to get the update so they can put all of their stuff (ie sense and all of their skinned apps) into the rom. That is what takes a while, because they are also adding more features to sense and their apps, and not just making it work. Whether or not you have sense turned on or off you still get the same update.

Thanks for clarifying that. I don't like the answer, but that's certainly not your fault. I guess I'll have to root the device in the future if I want the upgrade.

HTC does a great job but they really need to figure out a better, quicker way to implement Sense onto the newer versions of Android. I can assure you, when Hero owners finally get that 2.1 upgrade, that's it. They will never see another official upgrade. HTC will not waste its time on it. So if I pick up the Supersonic with Android 2.1 or 2.2, I'll be lucky to get an upgrade to Froyo or Gingerbread, one or the other, but not both, and absolutely nothing beyond those. And that's a shame.

jdub01984 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-18-2010, 08:29 AM

That is only part of the answer to your question. Yes, HTC has to add all of their features to the rom, but more than likely they are doing that with test builds that google is supplying them with, so when the official build is released they only need to make small fixes.

The real problem is the individual carriers have to test the finished upgrades and sign off on them, before they can be released to you. So more than likely if the upgrade is out for some, then it is your carrier taking their sweet time approving the upgrade.

drksilenc · #8 (**permalink**) 03-18-2010, 02:08 PM

we have had released builds from htc for eris for a while and it is the cell company thats causing the problem with the slow updates we would prbly have the update a few months ago if not for sprints added software.

eval- · #9 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 04:43 PM

To do anything fun with your phone you'll have to root it anyway, right? I think there'll always be people at xda-developers porting the last great thing back to your phone, with or without HTC's latest sense, so it shouldn't factor too much in your decision... if you want the latest Android, you can get it.

But that said, working on the Diamond where I've tried XDAndroid 2.1, 2.0.1 and 1.6, I'm pretty willing to stick with 1.6 for speed. Just have to fix some bugs in bluetooth and other things that somehow work in 2.0.1 but not 1.6. Latest is not always greatest when it's being developed on phones with 2x the processor and RAM...

johnnycakes2 · #10 (**permalink**) 03-19-2010, 06:33 PM

Rooting a phone is easy, but I'd rather not sacrifice compatibility and official carrier support just to have a few slight tweaks on my device. If I had a dime for every cyanogen modder who wrote some bad review on the Android Market because a certain app didn't work with their ROM, I'd be Eric Schmidt. Rooting unlocks a few good abilities but not enough to warrant it IMO. But, to each his own.