HTC Aria update for AT&T enables mobile hotspot, sideloaded app support (update: partially working!)
By Chris Ziegler 
posted July 10th 2010 4:08PM
posted July 10th 2010 4:08PM
Update: We got downright excited for a second there, but an HTC spokesman just called to inform us there's been a mistake -- this download is only for the desktop HTC Sync client and doesn't actually enable anything on the phone. We're working to get more information right now, but it sounds like the sideloading ball is still squarely in AT&T's court.
Update 2: HTC apologizes for the confusion, saying the update description was in error -- it was merely supposed to read that the Aria now works with the company's desktop sync client. On Monday, the text will be updated to remove every last ounce of false hope.
Update 3: Sideloading works after all! Read all about it.
[Thanks, Dylan T.]
As a soon-to-be Aria owner (waiting for delivery), I was pretty stoked upon reading this article headline on my Twitter feed. However, a few minutes later I checked out the article and saw the updates. *soul crushed*
Lol pwnd
It's not a market, it's a company driven totalitarianism. Get up, you Americans.
I don't understand why out-of-market-apps are so important. I have owned Aria for two weeks now and I love it so much. The battery sucked at first. But after I kill AT&T processes it starts to last a full day. So I am happy. I am fine with the Android market thing. I think it's a good thing to lock in the market. It reduces the risk of malware. People make it too much a big deal. It's like multitasking, it's overrated.
@mwxiao sounds like you missed the iPhone boat by seconds. ;) What if you weren't allowed to kill the AT&T processes? What if you wanted to install an app that was important to you but not in the mainstream market? I guess you don't care about what's not right in front of you.
@huh Multitasking and 3rd party apps are nice. But they are overrated. They are not the reason I look at a phone. I have used iPhone before and I am using Android now. I love to have true multitasking on my phone, but I hate that I have to constantly use task managers to kill certain processes. Otherwise, my phone will die in half of a day. 90% the time, I wish I could close the app by just returning to the home screen.
And until now, I haven't found any important apps that are not in the market. If it is important enough, I am sure there is a similar one in the market. It would be nice to have the option to install 3rd party apps. If not, I am fine. I won't cry out loud about it.
@mwxiao
And you're the reason why carriers and manufacturers can deliver complete shit and still make money hand over fist.
You are the consumer. Manufacturers should be giving you what you want. You shouldn't have to settle for second best.
@mwxiao,
When you said you killed AT&T processes, did you mean you had to use task killer to do so (so you'd need to kill those processes again after each reboot)? Our was it possible to configure your Aria phone not to start that AT&T bloatware?
@BigJayDogg3 If your an individual user, getting a cell phone is like dating someone; it's possible to break up with them but it's still awkward. If you're a family plan user, getting a cell phone is like getting married; it's fairly easy to get into but logistically messy to get out of.
My partner and I are on AT&T. I was thinking about jumping ship and he said no, it's too much of a PITA cancelling the contract, buying new phones and selling the old ones.
If we could take the phones we buy to any carrier we want, then we'd be able to make the companies earn our patronage. Instead, we've accepted signing a contract for a subsidized phone as the norm. Paying full price for a phone or paying the ETF to switch providers whenever they start treating us like crap isn't acceptable to Americans; we are too cheap.
@vkelman You have to kill them EVERY time you reboot your phone. And I suggest you constantly use task manager to see if they are on the background. To be specific, the processes are AT&T navigator, AT&T hot spot, and other stuff starting with AT&T. They will start automatically and will drain your battery like crazy.
Engadget, please change the title of this post! That was the worst roller coaster of emotions I've experienced!
I so hope this phone sells like 10 million units and that 2 million of those units all go on to be a "mobile hotspot" at the same time..just to see at&t still blame the iphone for it's data issues.
38 days and I got to a REAL carrier, one that does not treat me like a child!
Let's see. Despite having the worst network Att is valued at 2x of Verizon and have added more net new smartphone customers than verizon, sprint and T Mobile combined over the last 3 years. Let's just say they know about running their business....
And those who say AT&T is hostile to non iPhone platforms, my personal experience at AT&T retail has been that I have been encouraged more times to buy something other than an iPhone. In fact I was directly told that the Tilt2 was a better phone than the iPhone 3GS. Higher screen resolution, key board, replaceable battery etc etc. In fact I did buy the Tilt2!
None of this is a huge deal to be honest.
I have an Aria. Rooted it the first day I got it and enabled proper sideloading of apps. Swype was really the only thing I wanted that wasn't in the market.
I'm also using EasyTether for tethering.
@gtg465x,
Was there a bloatware from AT&T which you could only remove by rooting your Aria?
My friend has an Aria, and he managed to install the Kwake 3 .apk file from the Internet using the HTC Sync client. The file is not available from the Android market. The HTC Sync client legitimately let's you install non-market applications on a non-rooted device.
Lol more engadget apple bias
Apply is buying AT&T.
Sitting here installing unsigned apps on my Aria ...
The update does not allow you do this from the phone, but you can use the sync client to install any .apk you wish.
Not ideal ... but it works as a way to install whatever you want ... you just need a computer to do it.
One thing not being mentioned about the Aria is the battery life.
I was at like 80% battery and put on yahoo music over wifi and fell sleep..I woke up like 3 hours later and was still at 70% battery.
several hours later I am still at 70%. I have GPS off and sync set to gmail and weather. I also leave wifi on all the time and in the 2 weeks I've had it I've only once gotten the 15% warning and it was my fault because I didn't charge it the night before.
I don't think I have ever used a smart phone with so much going on that lasts so long. Sure,you can make any smart phone last 2 days if you turn every last worthwhile function off and use it for texts and nothing else.
You can buy the sexy hot $200 phone but what good is it if it's dead half way through your day?
The Aria has ZERO lag. I mean... if the Aria is an Olympic sprinter it makes the iphone 3G,by comparison, look like Grandpa Jones on crutches. Coming from an iphone 3G it's nice to have apps open w/i .5 seconds versus 4.5.
I would like it if the screen were a touch bigger and I would say this is as small as you could possibly go and still have a useable phone. No annoying track ball. The display, for it's specs, is gorgeous.
My 3 flaws if you are thinking about this.
-Horrible in sunlight. By far my biggest gripe. It is completely unreadable in sunlight..you need to cup your hand which isn't a major deal if the other hand is free.
-Tough to hear in noisey areas. if you are standing on a street corner in a busy city you will need to press the phone tight to your ear and make sure the speaker is exactly in line with your ear hole. Much like the iPhone 1.
-A dedicated camera button on the side would have been nice. Also a flash.
I can live with the sunlight because that seems to be a big issue with many of these phones. I've had phones with clear loud ear pieces and some that were boarderline unusable. This falls in the middle. If you are in a quiet/normal volume room the call quality/volume is very good.
The camera button and flash woulda been nice but not deal breakers.
If you get this from Dell or the like for free you will be very pleased. Sure,the EVO and Droids are sickly amazing devices but unless money is no object I'd rather save the cash because the Aria is a much better device that any one would have any gall to imagine.
Every function I need can be found in the market so the side loading isn't an issue for me. I've also had no drops and using 3g inside brick buildings pages still load fast. If you just love ATT but don't want an iphone or are stuck on ATT and don't want an iPhone you should try this one out.
HTC: "Sorry for the confusion, AT&T actually *does* suck."