EVO 4G's Froyo firmware was available for download, manual install (update)
By Ross Miller 
posted July 30th 2010 7:03PM
posted July 30th 2010 7:03PM
Update: HTC just shot us a message to clarify that this is not the final ROM version and that the company is strongly recommending not to install this. Additionally, a request has been put in to remove the file from the server, so if you still want to try at your own risk, better download now while it's still available.
Update 2: ... and now it's gone. We're sure crafty internet users can still find the file lingering elsewhere, but you won't be getting it from HTC's servers this weekend. You know the old saying, ye who snoozes, something something, tough luck.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Works great for me too! Flash on the phone is so sweet! My phone is complete!
@Gmoney3000
The phone had flash before, it just has a more up-to-date version with hardware acceleration as I understand it!
Kinda disappointed with this update...but glad this is not the final. The update actually made me phone a lot slower...especially the SMS app. Takes forever to send a message and navigate through the SMS app. Anyway to get back to 2.1 without erasing my content?
@pxdon A time machine would be the best option. That way you can go back in time and never install the update in the first place
just deal with it for a couple days, I just finished installing! cant wait to try it out.
Does not require "rooting" your phone (jailbreak, homebrew, custom rom)
I downloaded the file as soon as the link at htc.com was release because I knew it would be taken down quickly. Sat on it for for over 12 hours.
It is a 84.4Mb file, I think there may be a corrupt file floating around out there giving many people problems.
I transferred the file to the phone via Dropbox. I moved the file and renamed it (update.zip) using ASTRO. Although I don't think this renaming is required, but I haven't tested that hypothesis.
Instructions have been posted many times. It is very easy. If you can manage to find the file, download it to your phone and save it onto your SD card properly then the install will be no problem for you.
PREPERATION: Find and download correct file
1) If you transfer via dropbox the file is located here. /sdcard/dropbox
2) Use ASTRO to navigate to this folder and locate file.
3) Rename by holding finger on file, when dialog pops up select edit. Select Rename.
4) Repeat step 3 except select move (this cuts the file)
5) Navigate to the "root" directory. Press the "UP" icon in ASTRO to navigate up the file hierarchy to the "root" directory. This is labeled by default "/sdcard/"
6) Now lets paste the file we cut. At top of ASTRO select "EDIT" icon and then select paste.
7) Verify file is now located in "/sdcard/" this is the "root" directory.
INSTALL
8) Turn Phone OFF
9) Hold "Volume Up" key. While holding, press and hold power Button until phone responds and displays new screen.
10) This will bring you to a menu page with the instructions how to navigate this and subsequent menus
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2974-800.jpg
11) Use "Volume" keys to navigate up and down cursor and use "Power" key to select or click on choice
12) Navigate and select "bootloader".... NOTE: This should already be default selection.
13) Navigate and select "RECOVERY" NOTE: Phone makes quick scan hangs up for 5-10 seconds here before you can make selection
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2975-800.jpg
14) This will bring up the triangle with "!"
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2967-800.jpg
15) AGAIN hold "Volume UP" key, while holding press and hold power button until phone enters new prompt... NOTE: Hold until menu pops up, do not release if you see this message "E:Can't open /cache/recovery/command"
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2979-800.jpg
16) Navigate and select "apply sdcard:update.zip"
17) Hands OFF and DO NOT interrupt this process. It takes some time and involves several reboots. The phone at times may appear to be hung up, just leave it alone! Please if your a nervous fish walk away and make a sandwich.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2967-800.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2965-800.jpg
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2971-800.jpg
18) COMPLETE
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2969-800.jpg
Impressions:
I haven't used this update long now, I waited to install to see how things were going with people.
Phone appears more responsive, both in touch panel, and navigation. Some minor GUI enhancements all for the better I have seen so far although the "spell check" interferes with the send key often. Prevents me from sending messages with bad grammar... oh darn! The input box has been redesigned and they moved the attach button out of the menu right next to send now.
The flashlight app by HTC is even better then the app I was using before (LED light), it has 4 settings (Low, Medium, High, OFF). Pretty slick!
Only bug I have found is Google Marketplace didn't show all my downloaded apps. However I forced closed everything and reopened the market and everything was working fine after that.
Enjoy Everyone!
Find out the 3rd if there really is a newer release!
@i5xswipe
Error on my part.
The photo associated with Step #14) should be this one!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2979-800.jpg
@i5xswipe
Bah... forget it, I didn't take a photo for step 14... the icon is the same just will not have the text!!
@i5xswipe how did you force close everything? I don't see everything in the market download area either.
@monst I use TasKiller Free by AxDroid LLC
@i5xswipe I used the new one that was built into Froyo, it worked great, thanks!
@monst Are you going into settings--applications--running services ??
Or is there something I have missed?!!!
@i5xswipe yeah Manage Applications -> Running
if you own a mac make sure that you uncheck the "open safe files after downloading" option in your general preferences pane for safari. the update wont work if you have to zip it back up yourself. the file has to remain intact as is... of course renaming the file is ok.
@Dilekz Not necessarily, you have to do a lot of development work on Android to get it working right on your devices, whereas if you want to sell Windows Phone 7 and you stick to the specs MS has required you hardly need to do anything at all since you can just use off the shelf drivers for everything.
It might cost money for licenses but you save money on development. And every time a new version of Android comes out you have to spend money and time to have your software engineers port the new version to your phones. Which is not at all free.
@tekdemon You either a) Don't develop for android b) Are able to see into the future of win7 or c) all of the above
I installed last night and overall I'm pretty happy except for one thing....voice dialing. I can now initiate a call through bluetooth but the accuracy is terrible and there is no request confirmation so it just goes off and dials whatever number it decides it heard which often is not the person that I intended. Haven't the android developers ever looked at Microsoft's voice command? Are their any alternatives?
Another mirror complete with noob friendly instructions ;-)
http://www.mediafire.com/?wtcw339o3f20sqr
@Programmer What is this in step 14, Wipe phones data? will everything be lost?
@monst the Wipe wasn't required
@monst
Well if you don't, you might get a boot loop.
@Programmer Gotcha I just upgraded a second EVO with no wipe. I suggest only doing the wipe if you have an issue after the fact so you don't waste losing a lot of stuff.
4G in Stockton, CA
Ugh!!! I spoke to sprint and was told that the official OTA update is delayed!!
@RChusid Yeah, I was under the impression I could get it today if I went to menu>settings>system updates>HTC software updates. Did I read that press release wrong? What I got from it was that I could get it that way starting aug 1st and that they would have push notifications sent out to phones starting the 1st to the 3rd.
i5xswipe: you said if you see "E:Can't open /cache/recovery/command" then keep holding the buttons down. Well, hold until when? Keeping on holding changes nothing - the error remains and the process does not proceed...thanks.
@ronno
I saw this error message once or twice during the install process, however it did not hang up the installation at all.
As I recall I saw that message first and then a fraction of a second later the "menu" popped up. You should see a screen like the image posted where you should be able to continue install.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7793712/IMG_2979-800.jpg
Srry guys but I think @android looks so ugly it's fun has won because ALMOST every comment is a reply to him. Anyways this is coming from my iP4 and well I wanted to say good luck with froyo (not trying to be mean or sarcastic)
@Bigbro
No luck needed, it runs great. Good luck with your stuggle for flash and over-censorship with iOS. (Not trying to be mean or sarcastic)
Anyone have the current 2.1 rom encase I want to downgrade?
@monst
I would just check xda-developers.com
@monst
You won't need or want to BTW, unless something buggy happens with the FOTA when that gets pushed.
@i5xswipe yeah its working fine, I was just a little paranoid! seems quick and nice. The only thing I found that sucks is using flash on vimeo videos, they are super chunky.
@monst
I don't stream to often, is it just a bandwidth issue? Maybe killing off some tasks and freeing up that limited RAM will free things up
@i5xswipe I figured out the stream issue, Vimeo requires you to be a plus member to encode your video into a mobile optimized format. Looks like youtube has jumped back ahead when it comes to video uploading sites. It does mobile encoding on all their videos. It also allows greater then 2gb files and can do 1080p.
Any of you use the new "car mode" yet... that's a bit different kind of nice I guess, haven't used it yet though off the couch!
Does anyone know when the "final" update is coming? I want froyo bad!
FroYo seems to have confused the Weather Widget. It does not always show weather for where the phone is and, in those circumstances, does not even recognize the name of the town when trying to enter it manually.