HTC pulls sideload-capable Sync app for AT&T's Aria
By Chris Ziegler 
posted July 15th 2010 2:47PM
posted July 15th 2010 2:47PM
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted July 15th 2010 2:47PM
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AT&Fail
Looks like the capability is built into the phone, just need the right tool. Someone hack HTC's app installer protocol?
Well it wouldn't be *fair* to Apple if other AT&T phones had features that the iPhone lacked. Next they'll be sabotaging the antennae of their other phones too, for fairness's sake.
@GaryZ
I doubt they use anything more complicated than adb, so it is probably as simple as an adb install.
@Steven
Even with HTC pulling it, the version that lets you do this must be floating around on the web somewhere... Hell, I might even have it, since I recently installed HTCSync for my desire. I'm assuming that it's the same application that gives you options depending on what phone is connected.
@BrightSilence
If a solution around this exists and on the web already, it won't be long. Damn AT&T really just doesn't get why people want Android over iPhone. Besides iPhone, there really are no good smartphones on AT&T besides Blackberries and my Bold 9000 just ain't so hot no more...
@VAVA Mk 2
Maybe they're afraid their network can only handle one popular smartphone. The other options are just to give the appearance of choice. Who knows. Either way, they either don't get the Android philosophy or they're willingly sabotaging it. Makes me glad I live in Europe.
@BrightSilence I have it and the installer...
if you google HTC sync 3.0.5372 you should be able to find it.
@Steven
Agreed. Fack you AT&T!!!
@drewmcd621
There you go! Now that version number should be included in the article! Power to the consumer! :)
@BrightSilence Now you aught to know that Engadget isn't going to do anything to piss Apple off...
@pinetreehater
There's a shocker.
@BrightSilence
HTC: Oopsy, we *accidentally* leaked this version onto the internet so that anybody technically capable enough to sideload would also easily be able to find it floating around somewhere. Our bad.
@Steven Does no one check XDA anymore?
they figured this out a while ago. and they released a custom rom without all the ATT crap.
the phone is really fast too without navigator and music being a pain
For a second there I actually thought AT&T was gonna change on us and embrace Android just a bit more.
Guess not.
@phobic99
Why do that when they have the iPhone?!
/sarcasm
@techee44 I think it's less to do with having the iPhone and more about just being outright rubbish.
Screw you AT&T. Everyone else has no problem with non-market downloads. Why do you?
@TheGM Why are you blaming AT&T? Why not demand HTC to ship the Aria unlocked? AT&T doesn't make the Aria nor the software, HTC does.
@pika2000
No, it's AT&T's fault.
We already know selling the phone unlocked without a carrier subsidization doesn't work. HTC and Google found that out with the Nexus One, which is why it never came to Sprint or Verizon like it was supposed to.
Blame the people responsible. Blame AT&T.
@pika2000 The unlocked version of the Aria is the Legend. To sell a phone subsidized by AT&T you have to follow their rules. One of those rules is to lock out non-market downloads.
How the hell do you blame HTC for that? It's either follow the rules or AT&T won't subsidize their phone. All the other carriers have no such restrictions. This is on AT&T.
@pika2000 u have no clue what your talking about
@techee44
Blame the people that responsible? Last time I check, AT&T doesn't make the phone nor the software. HTC does. Blame HTC for bending over for AT&T. This problem exist because people like you keep defending weaksauce manufactures like HTC that have no backbone. Blaming AT&T won't do anything as they keep doing what they're doing. Again, I have no issues with my N1, and I'm on AT&T. So how is AT&T at fault? Why can't people like you simply demand HTC to make a standalone version of their phones? Simple. Those that want to be restricted can buy the AT&T version, and others can simply buy the standalone version. Fact is, HTC doesn't do that as they love AT&T's money more than their fanboys.
@TheGM Who's stopping HTC for doing both, sell a locked Aria with AT&T AND an unlocked version? Nobody. But they opted to just stick with the locked Aria. How is that AT&T's fault?
Oh, and the Legend? Yeah, it only has dual-band 3G and not released in the US. Just shows you how d0uchy HTC is.
@Celz lollll at 2 cents
@Celz
Hey, I'm not the one having problems as I'm doing just fine with my N1 on AT&T, unlike these people that suddenly blame AT&T that they cannot do this and that. Who doesn't have clue again?
@pika2000
a unlocked version of a phone will never sell in the US
ATT should not put restrictions an Android phone
there is no agreeing with that and if you try it just makes you look stupid
@pika2000
Hey, you can't load apps onto the Samsung Captivate either. So shut up about AT&T. Not everyone can afford to pay 500-700 dollars for unsubsidized, unlocked phones.
@techee44
I'm sorry, I meant shut up about HTC.
We really need an edit button, Engadget.
@pika2000 You really are.... The problem here is people want subsidized phones from AT&T that aren't locked down. All the other carriers provide this. AT&T however requires all their subsidized phones to be locked down from out of market downloads. How is HTC selling an unlocked non restricted phone going to change the fact that nobody can get a subsidized Android phone for AT&T that's not restricted like they can for every other carrier? That's on AT&T.
@pika2000
You realize HTC makes the N1, right? And that they can release it for AT&T unlocked because it isn't subsidized and so doesn't have to follow their rules? (not to mention a TON of other phones on other networks that allow sideloaded apps)
It's not rocket science. AT&T will not subsidize (aka actually allow to sell) a phone unless it is locked down. When they do what you suggest it doesn't sell because it ends up being so much more expensive than other phones. It is 100% on AT&T, not HTC.
@pika2000
I just took a look through your comments. You're a strange breed of fanboy. Seems you don't like Apple, or HTC...
What did HTC do, rape your daughter?
@techee44 I own the N1, which is made by HTC, although they only provide the hardware and Google is in complete control of the software. Unlike all of you fanboys, I want a better product and better services, simple. I want Google, Apple, HTC, etc to break the shackle of the wireless carriers in the US. But no, all the fanboys love being reamed in the behind by their respective carriers, and keep defending the likes of HTC that is more interested in getting money from AT&T than actually promote a better product.
@pika2000
Google tried and failed Americans will not change the practice of buying subsidized phones and will never buy a $400+ phone
@pika2000
Dude, you're just flaming the wrong company. Like I mentioned before, the Samsung Captivate also does not allow for sideloading (is that the correct term? idk) apps onto the phone. That's AT&T's decision.
In my head you're a 40 year old virgin screaming at a computer monitor that HTC is the devil.
@jhall4 And it's not rocket science that HTC make the phone and software, not AT&T. Again, Nokia E71. Nokia made E71x for AT&T that is restricted, and also a plain E71. HTC could've done the exact same thing easily, to satisfy people that want freedom and people that love being reamed in their behind like you guys. But no, they just do a locked version (like their other Android phones sans the N1), and be done with it as they only care about money from AT&T. Yet people like you keep defending HTC. Mind boggling.
@DefPoet
Exactly what I said man. Glad to see you agree with me.
@pika2000
Are you an idiot or do you work for AT&T?
People want subsidized Android phones, that are not restricted. All other carriers provide that. AT&T does not. Unsubsidized and unlocked phones are great but people want to utilize their contract for a carrier subsidization. AT&T locks down their subsidized Android phones. So why should people not blame AT&T?
@DefPoet Because there are failed people like you that keep defending these kind of practices.
Besides, unlocked != no-subsidy. Countries like Singapore have all their subsidized and free phones unlocked out of the box. The idea of unlocked = $$$ is the FUD spread by the US carriers.
@TheGM Verizon and Motorola are restricting the Droid X too, so it's not just AT&T here. Even worse, Motorola implemented their eFuse technology that'll purposely brick your phone if you try to mod it. No other phone company has done anything even remotely as restrictive as Verizon and Motorola has done with the Droid X.
http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/07/14/droid-x-actually-self-destructs-if-you-try-to-mod-it/
@TheGM
"So why should people not blame AT&T?"
1. AT&T doesn't make phones
2. Nobody's stopping handset manufactures like HTC to do an unlocked version, or do both (AT&T and standalone version).
Are you too blinded by your fanboyism that you fail to see that?
@Narutogrey Verizon and Motorola didn't block non-market apps. The Droid X tries to block custom ROMS, that allow you to load customized versions of Android including things like HTC Sense. It's not a good thing but it's still nothing like AT&T blocking the built-in functionality of Android to download apps from places other than the Market.
@Narutogrey
That's only if you mess with the bootloader. It's not that big of a deal to me. It's not like the iPhone, there's still a lot of freedom in Android without having to mod.
@pika2000
All your comments are down ranked into oblivion, so clearly, you must obviously be right about this!
@pika2000
You know what, Pika? I hope you die in a house fire tonight. That way, the gene pool will be just a little less contaminated.
@pika2000
reported
@pika2000
no in the existence of engadget has been downranked in one post as much as you
not London, Brooklynn, iEye, Derk, Ocean, Clak, Hatedone, Deedeedee, etc
@pika2000 Are you really that stupid that you can't grasp this simple concept?
-People want subsidized phones.
-AT&T gimps their subsidized Android phones unlike every other carrier.
-Having unsubsidized phones that aren't gimped isn't going to help since they want subsidization.
-Therefore people are going to blame AT&T for gimping their phones.
@TheGM Custom ROMs are sort of the point. At least for the Aria, I (will) be able to root and load a ROM that is capable of sideloading apps and also runs much more efficiently, and then I'm free of restrictions.
For the Droid X, I'm stuck with whatever came in stock. If you've ever compared a stock build to a custom one from XDA, the speed differences are night and day.
@pika2000
Ok, I'm going to give this one try... one reasonable reply.
HTC makes the hardware and made the adjustments to the software to block sideloading. (They don't make Android, so they obviously don't make the biggest part of the software)
Now the Nexus One showed that selling a phone unlocked for the full price, just does not work in the US. People end up paying much more, so that's definitely not a surprise. And I think we can all agree that the low sales numbers aren't because the Nexus One is a bad phone. So it must be the sales model that doesn't work.
That said, US carriers don't give manufacturers the option to sell unlocked phones with a subsidy. And some of them have more demands like that, like blocking side loading of apps.
So HTC wants to have Android phones available for everyone. The above facts result in them having two options. Sell very few phones, or comply to the carriers wishes and sell loads of em. It's pretty clear what they are going to do. Since AT&T demands these restrictions, AT&T customers get the choice to either switch carriers and have an HTC phone without these restrictions or live with them. However, it's obvious that HTC has no problems with side loading of apps. Just AT&T does. And if you really must have an unlocked phone. You can always import one... HTC makes and sells lots of them, just not in the US where very few people are even interested in unlocked phones.
It sounds to me like HTC is being reasonable in every way, while it's clear that AT&T is setting the demands here.