How will FroYo's new Tethering affect the Evo?

[SprintFun]

EXCLUSIVE: More Information And Pictures Of Android 2.2 Froyo’s Tether And Built-in WiFi Access Point/Mobile Hotspot Capabilities | Android News, Reviews, Applications, Games, Phones, Devices, Tips, Hacks, Videos, Podcasts - Android Police

I guess I just don't know how this will all work.

For review:
-There are currently 3rd party apps to enable tethering.
-Part of the $10 fee we're going to pay for the Evo removes all of the soft data caps.
-Sprint let's you use their tethering app for $30 per month.
-Google laughs at the carriers and says screw the middle man, here you go for free.

I don't see how Sprint could possibly let us get FroYo with tethering in it, let people have unlimited unlimited data, but expect anybody to pay $30 a month for their tethering app.

Seems like a giant mess. I'm worried that Sprint is going to drag their feet on FroYo (down the line) and handcuff certain parts. Thank god for custom roms

 

[robg2008]

i would say sprint will either find a way to disable the feature in 2.2 or they will put off updated the evo to 2.2 for a looooooooooonggggg time lol.

i hope they just give us what we want and let us update to 2.2 and get rid of the stupid 29.99 for mobile hotspot

 

[I_Am_Incredible]

Its similar to the whole IPHONE FIASCO I think.... the 3GS can tether, its BUILT RIGHT IN... but guess what?... AT&T disables it and doesn't offer it at all. At the end of the day its always up to the Carriers if they choose to use certain features or not... and if they do use it... HOW they use it...

 

[SprintFun]

Really my only big fear with the Evo is Sprint being bastards and not publishing Android updates in a timely manner and/or severely crippling features. This is going to be exactly that. I mean from their perspective they have to, but that doesn't mean I'll be happy about it.

Lost in the Evo excitement is that fact that FroYo will most likely make its debut this week (at Google I/O) and hopefully we'll get a release date for that too.

 

[robg2008]

something tells me that sprint will for once be on top of getting 2.2 out on the evo.

they are kinda putting all their marbles on this one. im hoping they come through with the support i.e., updates.

 

[I_Am_Incredible]

something tells me that sprint will for once be on top of getting 2.2 out on the evo.

they are kinda putting all their marbles on this one. im hoping they come through with the support i.e., updates.

I have to agree with you on that one.... ESPECIALLY AFTER the whole HERO FIASCO and lack of trust that came from that... Also word is... the Evo would be right in line after the Nexus to get the 2.2.... Thats just the word on random blogs though

 

[robg2008]

that would be amazing. and a great move on sprints part.

 

[septro]

I would not be surprised that they release 2.2 but with the Tethering functionality disabled unless you are using paying for SPrint's hotspot plan.

What does this mean for folks who root their device? Well you do the math..

 

[CRPercodani]

Remember it's not 100% on Sprint to get updates out, the majority of that is on HTC. Once HTC actually builds the update then Sprint can test it and send it out but HTC's track record with Sense updates (or lack thereof) doesn't bode well for the EVO.

About the 2.2 built in tethering.....I imagine they will have it setup so the carrier knows your using it and it will most likely give you some sort of pop up telling you that you must add a tethering feature to your plan or get charged by the MB. Sorta like how the Pre's hotspot app works. Of course we can easily bypass all of this by using a app like pdanet or once rooted wifi tether.

 

[Caloy]

Looks like rooting is the only option.

 

[Red-Droid]

something tells me that sprint will for once be on top of getting 2.2 out on the evo.

they are kinda putting all their marbles on this one. im hoping they come through with the support i.e., updates.

You may be right...as of now they are touting the fee to enjoy a 4G wifi experience at half the price they popped the Sprint MiFi plan for a month.

After other 4G devices drop from competitors...sprint will have to offer it up for free, because the "newer" 4G folk will be doing the same, which would make their customers seem like the fools we sprint customers had been in the past BEFORE the new face/owner of sprint took the helm.

 

[Red-Droid]

I would not be surprised that they release 2.2 but with the Tethering functionality disabled unless you are using paying for SPrint's hotspot plan.

What does this mean for folks who root their device? Well you do the math..

Forgive my ignorance about the phrase "Root". I'm a former Blackberry owner & an iPad owner...so I'm familiar with the term "Jailbrake" as in Black Rain & Cydia.

Is root a method of "freeing" the droid from it's locks in the OS, like jailbreaking?

 

[CRPercodani]

Forgive my ignorance about the phrase "Root". I'm a former Blackberry owner & an iPad owner...so I'm familiar with the term "Jailbrake" as in Black Rain & Cydia.

Is root a method of "freeing" the droid from it's locks in the OS, like jailbreaking?

Yes, basically. You don't get any special app stores like Cydia when you root but it will allow you to modify the OS and flash custom ROM's (a user/team modified version of Android). You can also run special apps the require "root" access.

 

[adseguy]

Rooting and jailbreaking are the same thing. They give you admin access to your phone so you can do ANYTHING to the file system such as add native unsigned apps for both Android and iphone. Android has a nice app called Android wi-fi tether that you can use to do exactly what Sprint's "mobile hotspot" app will do, but you arern't going to pay $30/month. I wouldn't use it religiously because they will find out at some point.

In google's documents it says that the feature will be disable based on the carrier, so the documentation is already out there and confirmed. Whether or not Sprint wants to use the native service or not is up to them.

 

[fr4nk1yn]

I've been watching Android since the Evo was announced.
The Hero may have been(?) the flagship once, The Moment not really so.
The delay in updates can be understandable even if they are the only Android devices on Sprint they're just not "current".

The Evo on the other hand is the flagship for at least a few months for HTC and a year for Sprint.
I'd also assume that manufacturers are given access to new builds early so they can start developing phones/apps/etc.
I don't see HTC NOT having Froyo already in their hands and NOT already be working on getting it to the EVO.
Same with Sprint they'd want to get this out ASAP or else be eclipsed when another carrier releases a phone with 2.2 in short order. Even with the awesome specs they'll be lots of complaints of "it doesn't have 2.2, I'm going to buy the x___________ from x_____________".

Perhaps we'll see something major next week. I know they'll tout the Nexus one at I/O but maybe they'll not ignore the 800lb Gorilla in the room, The Evo is the flagship of all Android right now, maybe of all phones o:

 

[GoldenStatePanda]

I have to agree with you on that one.... ESPECIALLY AFTER the whole HERO FIASCO and lack of trust that came from that... Also word is... the Evo would be right in line after the Nexus to get the 2.2.... Thats just the word on random blogs though

that would be amazing. and a great move on sprints part.

look who we're dealing with though. their track record is less than stellar. "this time is their chance to turn it around" happens all the time and they never disappoint in how much they mess it up.

 

[Painkillaz]

Question: I'm new to android, so if you root your evo, would you be able to tether using 4g or just 3g?

 

[KiLo11]

Question: I'm new to android, so if you root your evo, would you be able to tether using 4g or just 3g?

you can tether with the 3g but until the evo is rooted we wont know if it can tether on 4g but it probably will be able to tether on 4g