What is a rom? Rom stands for
read only memory. It is basically software or firmware that runs the phone. If you have root access (whether unlocked s-on or s-off) you can then change the software, if you like. It is why many have rooted their phones. The nice thing about being rooted is that you have direct access to alter parts of the rom as you see fit (ie removing bloatware). Keep in mind that doing so might affect how the software will run. You have the ability to go back to previous software versions like froyo or go forward and try software (roms) that was ported over from other phones. You can even try the latest android os that will never be released for the OG Evo (ie ICS, ice cream sandwhich or JB, jelly bean).
Ota's (firmware)are also software. They are basically roms with other potential firmware pieces like hboots and radios. However, ota's should never be accepted while you are rooted. Ota's could have adverse affects on a phone. Usually Ota's will close any previous exploit that was used to gain root access. So there is potential that if you accept an ota while you are rooted you could be unrooted with no way to re-root as the exploit was closed. Ota's also need a stock recovery to get installed so in some cases, it might not even work on a rooted phone as it will have a custom recovery. The easiest way to get the ota is to wait for the devs to cook up a rom for it. They can usually get a stock rooted ota rom out before the official release. Or the devs will cook the latest ota into the next release of their rom that they already have out.
Since the HTC Evo 4g is an android device, it operates under Googles android os using Google's proprietary apps (ie gmail, google maps, etc.). Google has named their android os and their updated software after desserts. It started with Cupcake then Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb(tablets only), Ice Cream Sandwich, and now Jelly Bean. If you noticed that they are alphabetical. I'm not sure what the letters A or B was. Maybe they were test builds and did not make the official release. Anyways.....
There are two types of roms. There is AOSP and then there is Sense. Lets see what they are and what are the differences.
AOSP
When Google releases the new android os, they will also release the source code. The devs will then use the code to create their own roms. These roms are called AOSP which stands for Android Open Source Project. It is pure android. Manufacturers will eventually release their own version of the latest android os, but they will add their own spin to it to differentiate them from other handsets. Htc for example adds HTC Sense to their phones. Because AOSP roms do not have Sense cooked in, they are thus smaller and sometimes faster then stock.
Now for a little history lesson. When Google first started out releasing source, devs immediately started working on roms. One of the very first teams to do this was Cyanogen Mod (CM). As the roms that the CM team were putting out were becoming very popular Google quickly took notice. They immediately sent the CM team a cease and desist letter. Basically Google's beef was that the CM team were including Google's proprietary apps cooked into their roms. Both sides eventually came to an understanding in that the CM team could continue making roms but to have Google's apps as a flashable .zip file to be flashed separately from thier roms. And thus gapps was born.
You will continue to see gapps being flashed separately from their roms until the end of time. They do not want to chance it with Google. Now the dev community is pretty close and usually do not mind sharing code for their roms provided the appropriate credit is given. Thus there are many roms that have come out that uses CM's roms as a base. Sometimes these roms may or may not have gapps included. Some might have it already cooked in so you do not have to flash gapps. Main thing is to read the op and follow directions. It will usually say if you have to flash gapps or not.
Sense
Because HTC wants to be able to distinguish itself from the other competitors, they have added their own twist to the android os. They call their version Sense. So what is it? Sense is basically an overlay software that sits on top of the android os. It is basically the Sense launcher and its associated widgets. And because it is on top of the android os, it is much larger then AOSP roms. They tend to be slower, however, there are many awesome devs that have found ways to speed up these roms and make them run smoother then stock.
There are many versions of Sense that HTC has put out in the past and present. We have Sense 1.0 (which is what the OG Evo has), 2.1, 3.0, and Sense 3.5. Many of these are ported over from other phones.
Sense 1.0 is what the Evo 4g has and will officially only have.
Sense 2.1 was ported from the Evo Shift.
Sense 3.0 some roms were ported from the Evo 3d which introduced the sense carousel
Sense 3.5 was ported from the HTC Runnymede and Bliss which introduced the quick launch feature.
OTA Software Versions
5.07.651.1 gave us the Sprint Connections Optimizer
Pocketables – HTC EVO 4G receives OTA update to 5.07.651.1, along with Sprint Connections Optimizer
4.67.651.3 changed the hboot version to 2.18 and updated the PEEP client with Twitter
Sprint Community: 1/19 - HTC EVO 4G Software Update - 4.67.651.3
4.54.651.1 a security update to correct the CIQ issue.
Pocketables – Huge security vulnerability found in HTC EVO devices and
Pocketables – All Sprint HTC EVO devices are now receiving OTA security update [Updated]
Here is a complete list of the official Sprint ota's released by Sprint:
Sprint Community: HTC EVO 4G: HTC EVO 4G Software Updates
- xda-developers
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