HTC EVO 4G rooted in record time (video)

We're still a good dozen days away from its public release, but the EVO 4G has already been given a rooting makeover. Google dished out EVO handsets to all the lucky (so lucky!) attendees of its blowout I/O 2010 event, and a trio of those visitors rolled up their sleeves and decided to get down and intimate with the phone over the weekend. The product of their labor is at this stage just a few screenshots and a blurry video after the break, but fear not, we're sure details of the hack will be forthcoming promptly.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[boe Posted May 24th 2010 2:43PM]

@drksilenc Because it works for my business needs. It supports full MS exchange sync with multiple MS Exchange servers - android 2.2 is just beginning to accept that corporate users have exchnage servers.

It supports MS Office apps - android 2.2 still doesn't do that natively.

It has full voice command functionality via BT - 2.2 will get some functionality in that (really just now getting it? I don't think they get it).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIrUogp8sH0&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYdwEq8GqWc&feature=player_embedded

Feel free to extoll the virtues of open source, open docs as if Google was a non profit charity. In the mean time, I'll be scheduling meetings, exchanging proposals, dialing my contacts via BT.

[rlopin Posted May 24th 2010 9:31AM]

Rooting a Palm WebOS device is the easiest of all. That's because Palm themselves made it so! Just type webos20090606 on the home screen. Done.

Now THAT's open.

[luisfcosta Posted May 24th 2010 9:32AM]

It seems ironic that an HD phone with 720p Recording capabilities only gets the blurry cam treatment. Lol. Still, it does get more interesting every day.

[legacy Posted May 24th 2010 10:01AM]

AWESOME! Much thanks to the guys that put in the work to do this.

[kluesman Posted May 24th 2010 11:40AM]

Now it just needs a custom ROMs to go with it. Can't wait to see those roms on http://androidtechnical.info/romlib.html

[Alpine80s Posted May 24th 2010 12:27PM]

My neighbor/friend went to the Google I/O conference and got an EVO and a Droid---free.

I went over to his house last night and played with the EVO for about an hour.

S-W-E-E-T phone to say the least!

My friend is a die hard apple boy. He said as soon as 4G hits here in SLC in 60-90 days he is dumping his network-choked call-dropping iphone and going with the EVO. He said he will just use it as his phone and use the evo as a wifi hotspot to run his ipad when he wants something bigger.

As I/we looked at his iphone next to the EVO the screen difference size/brightness/clarity was staggering. He said "what do I need an iphone for anymore?"

I see they are already selling on ebay as we speak for close to $600.

I am going to the shack to see if I can put my order in for one and possible two of them.

[toharchitect Posted May 24th 2010 12:32PM]

Give EVO GSM now.

[Zzephyr Posted May 24th 2010 12:37PM]

OK, now I'm getting excited, baby!

[Veggiejosh Posted May 24th 2010 12:57PM]

@coolbho3000 Actually that update for the Rogers Dream/Magic was pushed out by Rogers, not HTC. If it was pushed out by HTC to lock out root then it would've been pushed to all Dream/Magic phones.

[Dr Yusuf AlKindi Posted May 24th 2010 1:22PM]

Right now, I want an Evo. What I do not get, and understand I am merely a gadget loving user, how does Rooting this phone help me? Will it allow me to use the hotspot feature without paying $30 a month? How could I, with limited technical knowledge, use this root thing? AND, should I get an Evo or wait for the next Android phone with Foryo or Gingerbread, or Crumb Cake, or Cream Cake???

[CornerStone Posted May 24th 2010 1:46PM]

If only the carriers would hear the voices of the people so we wouldn't have to brick... I mean root our phones.

[sonicwind Posted May 24th 2010 1:58PM]

Excellent cinematography. I love the use of constantly zooming in and out without giving it time to focus or the viewer the ability to settle their eyes. The out of focus is quite creative. It gives it that Je ne sais quoi I'm looking at. And finally the constant moving, swaying of the camera helps remind one that one is on a boat. I'm on a boat. Riding on a dolphin doing flips and shit and playing with my phone.

[pankomputerek Posted May 24th 2010 3:05PM]

Now, I wish all phones would be rooted that fast!

[WilliamH Posted May 24th 2010 5:07PM]

Sadly, Engadget hasn't updated their app on the android market, so I can't watch the flash video on FroYo.

[BigFatDuck Posted May 24th 2010 8:00PM]

can someone tell me what is the point of "rooting" an android phone? I mean I understand gaining root access to jailbreak an iphone or other "locked down" device, but if Android is so open and flexible, what is the point exactly?

[liquidkernel Posted May 25th 2010 12:49AM]

Awesome. I was thinking I'd have to wait a while after I got my phone next week. This will make it getting it oh the more joyful.

[Shonuff Posted Jun 6th 2010 2:01AM]

Hi, I have a question about rooting. Will you lose the Sense UI or can you get it back? I know some people don't like it, but others do. Also, if you root, does that make it to where you can't have the facebook integration? As far as 2.1, which I have on my Hero, can you get tethering for that?