HTC Legend and Desire caught up in root access twofer

Rooting is the first step in the arduous process of hacking the crap out of an Android-powered handset, and we're delighted to report that two of HTC's newest -- the Legend and Desire -- have taken less time than average to crack open. MoDaCo's Paul O'Brien tweeted this morning that he's done the deed, and from there, it should just be a matter of days until we start seeing serviceable replacement ROMs show up. Plenty of folks love HTC's Android 2.1 implementation of Sense, sure -- but if you're one of those crazies that wants a bone-stock "Google Experience" Legend, today's a pretty exciting day for you.

[Johnny Rockets Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:01AM]

I'm running Paul's Sense on my N1. He's the man.

God I love Android.

[JCreazy Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:26AM]

If the Desire comes to ATT I will most likely root it, although rooting seems more complicated than jailbreaking

[jroff Posted Apr 2nd 2010 2:43AM]

@JCreazy
It's two terms for the same thing, as far as I know.

I have a feeling that if the desire ever makes it to ATT, we'll have no choice but to root it, as ATT will surely crap it up with crapware and yahoo nonsense.

[bL4Ck Posted Apr 2nd 2010 4:50AM]

@JCreazy naaa rooting is easy, you've to follow a couple of steps, install an app and it's done.

[BigJayDogg3 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 11:23PM]

@jroff

Rooting gives you root access. You can run things as superuser/do superuser things.

Jailbreaking gives you another appstore and facilitates installation of unapproved applications.

The end result can be the same, but jailbreaking and rooting are different things.

[Bratyr Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:21AM]

Wow, thought they were going to have perfected SPLs and be uncrackable, awesome!

[bL4Ck Posted Apr 2nd 2010 9:14AM]

@Bratyr no, i don't think they'll ever do it, they know that xda moves a lot of people to buy new devices, in fact the N1 and Desire have the same unlocking method, install an app > reboot device > click on unlock > enjoy

[Eroded Fallacy Posted Apr 2nd 2010 5:40AM]

@ Johnny Yes i agree with you all the way!

Android is one of the very few platforms where you have freedom to do what you want with the products you buy. Not to mention a large base of users that dedicate their resources to the platform for us all to enjoy.

The only problem is with so many great android phones available or coming out soon which one should i get lol. Evo has my full attention but these look good too.

[groinger Posted Apr 2nd 2010 6:48AM]

April Fool's Day?

[JCreazy Posted Apr 2nd 2010 11:42AM]

How hard is it to root an android phone? Is it as easy as jailbreaking an iphone?

[AckbarsFist Posted Apr 3rd 2010 2:55AM]

@JCreazy It's a little more involved (although not really if you compare it to the early days of jailbreaking).

[Windows 7 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:29PM]

Maybe a little off topic, does anyone know a way to get an old school alpha numeric t-9 keypad on android. My son has a mytouch 3g and is really having a hard time with the qwerty for texting. Thanks.

[nodrog2994 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:46PM]

@Windows 7 download apps called "any soft keyboard" or "Better Keyboard" and in the settings i think there may be some T9 options i dont know which one try both hope i can help :)

[StalkyTheFish Posted Apr 2nd 2010 1:50PM]

@Windows 7

Smart Keyboard Pro in the apps store has a T9-in-portrait-mode function.

[Windows 7 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 2:09PM]

@StalkyTheFish Thank you very murch

[Windows 7 Posted Apr 2nd 2010 2:11PM]

Thank you very much