In June of 2010, Sprint along with HTC, released the Evo. Since its release there has been the option for consumers to have the device rooted. Being that Android phones are Linux based, the phones have a “super user” account. Rooting your phone simply means that the user of the device has full access to the phone and can control features that are usually blocked.
The first thing that many people take notice to when they have their phone rooted is that it now allows you to tether the phones internet connection with other devices through a USB cable or WiFi. This is a feature that usually comes with a monthly fee from a service provider. With the device rooted it also allows the removal of applications that come preinstalled on the phone (i.e. Peep, SprintZone, Sprint NASCAR ect.) Thus freeing up space on the Evo’s internal memory. The user now has the option of adjusting the speed of the phone’s processor form its defaulted setting of 998mhz. By speeding up operation of the Evo allows it to run through its programs more quickly, while slowing it down on the other hand saves on battery life by slowing your processor down when its not in use. When rooted, different ROMs can be loaded onto the device. A ROM (Read Only Memory) is the software on your phone which acts like an operating system. Each ROM available for a rooted Evo has its own features allowing the user to do a variety of different things. An example is the Cyanogen ROM, it will allow the hookup of a Bluetooth mouse to the phone and let the user interact with the device in that way. There are also many applications that are not available for phones that are not rooted that can now be used with the device.
Upon rooting the HTC Evo all manufacture warrantees are void in most cases. Rooting the Evo runs the risk of “bricking” the phone. If the processor of a rooted phone fails, the phone may be permanently locked rendering it useless. Also with the Evo being rooted, the phone does not receive any manufacture updates, being that the phone is technically not with that service provider anymore.
Rooting the HTC Evo has it advantages and disadvantages, but it is always best to do research and be informed before a decision to go one way or the other is reached.
