In a move that will surely have Android modders revving their engines, HTC has announced that they will begin rolling out updates to unlock the bootloaders this Fall. HTC is currently testing updates with support for unlocking bootloaders for their newest generation of Android smartphones, according to their Facebook page. The first device to receive this update will be the GSM Sensation followed by the Sensation 4G on T-Mobile USA and the Evo 3D on Sprint. Other devices will be included in future maintenance releases. HTC expects that the unlocking capability will be ready in September for those devices that have received the software updates. In late May, the CEO of HTC, Peter Chou, announced:
There has been overwhelmingly [sic] customer feedback that people want access to open bootloaders on HTC phones. I want you to know that we've listened. Today, I'm confirming we will no longer be locking the bootloaders on our devices. Thanks for your passion, support and patience.
Just when unlocking capabilities would be added and to what devices was left to speculation until today's announcement. Allowing for unlocked bootloader opens the capability for users and hackers to load custom recovery images onto their phones which, in turn, allows for the installation for custom firmware, or ROM's. This is the latest in a series of concessions Android handset manufacturers have made to appease the custom firmware development communities. In early June, Samsung sent a Galaxy S II to the CyanogenMod team, makers of the most popular unofficial firmware for Android phones. Let's hope the trend continues.
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