HTC One Features
How To: Get Even Better Sound Quality Out of Your HTC One's Speakers
One of the hardest tradeoffs when installing a non-Sense-based custom ROM on an HTC One is the loss of Beats Audio. Due to a patent restrictions from Beats and compatibility issues, it's currently impossible to port it to a non-Sense ROM, but with ViPER4Android you can get almost identical results, bringing life back to the BoomSound speakers on your device.
How To: The 5 Coolest Features You Should Be Using on Your HTC One M8
You did it! You got your hands on the much coveted all new HTC One (M8). Last year's M7 model, also named the One, was very well received critically, and HTC continues its smashing design here with stereo speakers that kick and curves that don't quit.
How To: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Duo Camera on Your HTC One M8
The camera situation on the all new HTC One is a little daunting. The M8 has not one, not two, but three camera lenses built in. First, there's the 5 megapixel selfie machine up front, then around back, there's the new Duo Camera with a refined UltraPixel sensor. HTC has done things differently here, and the UltraPixels and dual lenses means that the M8 doesn't necessarily take pictures like you'd expect—and that's not a bad thing. With a little guidance and some easy tricks, you can use all ...
How To: Turn the HTC Logo on Your HTC One into a Working Menu & Power Button
Like many other smartphones, the HTC One has a few capacitive keys on the bottom of the device, but that's the problem. It only has a few keys, meaning two, which are the Back and Home keys.
How To: Transform Your Android into a Sony Xperia Z3
Sony's latest flagship, the Xperia Z3, comes with some pretty high-end hardware, but what really draws me to it are the aesthetics of its ROM, Xperia UI. Even though my HTC One M8 can still go toe-to-toe with the Z3 in a performance matchup, there is something about Sony's UI that is simply missing from my HTC.
How To: Back Up & Restore Data for All Apps on Your HTC One Using ADB for Mac
Today, I'm going show you how to back up all of your apps and their data using Android Debug Bridge (ADB)—an essential function for all softModders. These commands will be especially useful when you are updating your version of Android, since they don't require a third-party program to run on your device.
How To: Hide That Pesky NFC Icon from Your HTC One's Status Bar (Root Required)
If you turned on your HTC One for the first time and wondered what that weird icon that looks like an N is, it indicates that NFC is on. It seems strange to me that HTC wanted to waste Status bar space on an NFC indicator, but sometimes we just have to deal with it. However, if you're a softModder, you don't have to just deal with it. The icon can't be removed permanently, but there is a very easy way to hide it forever.
How To: Two Simple Tricks to Taking Clearer, Sharper Photos on Your HTC One
Despite having the UltraPixel branding, the M7's camera can leave you feeling a little let down. The picture quality is clear and the low-light shots are decent, but when looking at the same shots taken on a friend's iPhone, you may feel a little inadequate.
How To: Revert Back to a More Traditional Sense-Style Home Screen on Your HTC One
The newer HTC One is arguably the best smartphone yet in terms of hardware, but its software moves considerably farther away from the stock Android experience. Even more so from HTC's own Sense.
How To: Update Your Rooted Google Play Edition HTC One to 4.4.3 Without Losing Any Data
The beauty of having a Google Play Edition HTC One is the ability to get as close to stock Android as possible while still getting some extra non-Google, proprietary HTC features. The newest version of Android, 4.4.3, has just hit the Nexus and Google Play Edition line of phones, but if you are rooted with a custom recovery, you will not be able to apply the OTA.
How To: Speed Up & Supercharge Your HTC One
HTC pulled out all the stops when designing the HTC One M8. From it's sleek body, to it's incredible sound quality, this thing just oozes sophistication. While all of these add-ons are great, they can be incredibly taxing on the CPU, in turn causing some serious lag.
How To: Make Your HTC One's Screen Turn On When Receiving New Text Messages
If you're new to Android phones, one of the first things you've probably noticed is how notification alerts differs from Apple devices, especially in regards to getting a text message.
How To: Turn Your HTC One into a Remote Control & TV Guide for Your Home Theater System
When the HTC One was announced, the fact that its IR transmitter was a side note more than a main feature made me dismiss it. When Samsung included one in the GS4, it became even less impressive. However, now that I actually have a One, I find that the "TV" app is way more than just one of Samsung's "S"-gimmicks. Step 1: Set Up Your Service Provider
How To: Install & Use the New Nokia Z Launcher (Even if You're Rooted)
While their merger with Microsoft has lead to a seemingly complete halt of new device development, some Nokia employees are still hard at work to bring new software to the table.
How To: Activate the Hidden AOSP Lock Screen on Your HTC One M8
Sense 6 is great, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I start to miss the vanilla Android experience that comes with Nexus devices. You can always convert your M8 to the Google Play Edition, but then you'd have to ditch all the Sense exclusive features, and we wouldn't want that.
How To: Get the LG G3 Exclusive Keyboard, Sounds, & Wallpapers on Any Android Phone or Tablet
Last week marked the announcement of LG's new G3 smartphone, and with it came a ton of new features and improvements to their Optimus UI. While most manufacturers put little effort into their keyboards—probably due to the attraction of third-party alternatives—LG has made their latest iteration one of the best OEM keyboards I have ever used.
How To: Revert Back to the Default Sense Launcher or Switch to a New Launcher on Your HTC One
So, you've installed a shiny new launcher but find that it doesn't quite meet your needs? Unfortunately, Sense doesn't come with a setting to choose the default launcher. No worries, though, because in this short guide, I'll show you how to revert back to any launcher, including the stock one. All you have to do is clear the default settings for your current launcher.
How To: What Every HTC One Owner Should Know About the UltraPixel Camera to Never Miss a Shot
Most smartphone manufacturers focus on megapixels when it comes to cameras, but HTC took a different direction with the HTC One. Instead of trying to compete with the 13MP camera on the Samsung Galaxy S4, or the 20MP camera on the Sony Xperia Z1, or even the newer iPhone's 8MP, they decided on a simple 4MP camera. At first, you might think that 4MP is terrible, but not so fast. There are many advantages to your HTC One's camera that other phones just don't have.
How To: Add "OK Google" Hotword Search to HTC Sense & Other Android Launchers
When I'm showing off my HTC One, the first thing I do is unlock my device and say, "OK Google". It may earn me a weird look or two, but in the end people are amazed by the voice recognition and automation of the Google Now Launcher.
How To: Customize the Boot Animation on Your HTC One
As fellow softModders, I'm sure you strive to find any and every way to make your phone unique. Wallpapers and icon packs are great to get started, but to really stand out from the rest, try changing your HTC One's boot animation.
News: What's New & Improved in Sense 6 for Your HTC One M7
After all the leaks and peeks of the HTC One M8, it has finally been officially introduced to the public, available for purchase at most U.S. carriers. HTC also unveiled Sense 6 during the launch event, the newest iteration of its operating system, and thanks to their new Advantage Program, the update shouldn't be too far behind for the older One (M7).
How To: Convert Your HTC One into a Google Edition HTC One for an Enhanced Nexus Experience
Ditching Sense (HTC's stock Android Launcher) is a great way to breathe new stock-like life into your HTC One smartphone without rooting, but even that has its limitations. If you really want the full Google experience, albeit with some extras, CyanogenMod has always been the go-to ROM. In effect, this will give you an experience similar to the Google Nexus or the new HTC One Google Edition.
How To: Add the "Knock Off" Feature to Your HTC One M8 Without Rooting
Your new HTC One M8 has a ton of really cool features, some of which relate to waking the device up. A swipe up to unlock to your last active screen, a swipe down to access the voice dialer, and a double-tap (or knock) to wake the device and bypass the lock screen.
How To: Get L-Style "Heads Up" Notifications Without Rooting Android
Google announced Android L to the masses at their I/O event, and with it they introduced their new "Heads Up" notification system. These notifications are part of the new Material Design UI and are sure to change the way we interact with notifications on our devices.
How To: Make Your HTC One M8 Feel Like a Google Play Edition Without Rooting
The all new HTC One M8 is the latest Android flagship making the rounds through major carriers hoping to beckon your purchase. Coming in at about $200 for most carriers with a contract, it makes a good case for itself with its advanced features and solid price point—but, there's another way to buy the One, and it's not from your carrier.
How To: Remove Blinkfeed from Your HTC One for a Stock Feel Without Rooting
For someone used to the old-style HTC Sense, upgrading to an HTC One with Sense 5 is a pretty intuitive experience, but there's one thing that some users find obtrusively different. Blinkfeed, an app which aggregates newsworthy articles from various sources and pins them in a scrolling feed on your home screen. If you don't like staying current on news, or don't like how much RAM it eats up, you probably want to get rid of it. There's been some questions about removing Blinkfeed in our forum,...
How To: Get Android's New "L" Keyboard on Your HTC One or Other Android Device
Google has finally announced the newest flavor of its mobile OS, Android L (Lollipop?), and I couldn't be more excited. While we won't see its official release until the fall, there are still some features we can get our hands on right now.
How To: Convert Your Google Play Edition HTC One into an HTC One with Sense & No Bloat
Just because you wanted a stable, stock Android version on your HTC One doesn't mean you have to miss out on Sense because you bought or softModded to a Google Play Edition. As long as you have the Android SDK tools and you've unlocked your bootloader, you can turn your HTC One into the Developer Edition, a Sense version free of carrier bloat.
How To: Change Sound Alerts for Individual Apps on Your HTC One
Normally, your sound settings only let you change up a few of the sounds on your device—generally your ringtone and default notification sound. While some developers include the option to choose custom notification sounds within their app's settings, most of the time you are left with an ambiguous ringer for everything—not very helpful for identifying what app that alert just came from.
How To: Painlessly Restore Apps & Settings After Flashing a New ROM
Restoring data is not always the easiest thing to do when you flash a new ROM on Android. Google can back up your contacts and Wi-Fi passwords, and various tools can back up your apps and data, but the rest is usually lost in-between ROM flashes. This leads to a lot of wasted time getting everything back into place, and it'll take a long time before your new ROM feels like "home" again.
How To: Get the Samsung Galaxy S5's Download Booster & Launcher on Your HTC One
Samsung may not be the best when it comes to redesigning their devices (hopefully that will change with Galaxy Note 4), but they do have a knack for including some pretty awesome features into their TouchWiz software.
How To: Install Facebook Home on Your HTC One or Other Android Device
Facebook and HTC's First was a complete disaster. Soon after its release, carriers were literally giving them away with a two-year contract—or just trying to send them back. It was supposed to be the flagship device for Facebook Home, an Android launcher for Facebook fiends.
How To: Get the Leaked HTC Update with Sense & Android 4.3 on Your HTC One
If you don't want to wait for Android 4.3 Jelly Bean to hit your HTC One, you don't have to. Android developer LlabTooFeR released his MaximusHD ROM, which includes a leaked copy of HTC's own 4.3 update, complete with Sense 5.
How To: Increase Photo & Video Quality for Your HTC One M8's Camera
Although lacking in megapixels, the HTC One M8's camera can be considered a top-tier, flagship-level shooter. With the Duo Camera and UltraPixel technology behind it, it can make even the most inexperienced photographer snap pictures like a pro. There seems to be little missing for the average user, but for the more seasoned photographers, some of the standard settings may seem a bit too dumbed down.
How To: Get the Sense Camera on Your Google Play Edition HTC One M7
While I do enjoy the vanilla Android Lollipop experience that comes with the Google Play Edition HTC One, I do miss the sweet camera that ships with Sense. Luckily, the people behind Liberty ROMs found a way to port that camera over and now we can enjoy the best of both worlds... well, sort of.
How To: Use TWRP Without Booting into Recovery Mode First on Your HTC One
Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP) is a custom recovery for Android devices and the one used by most softModders, mainly because it has touch-based actions, as compared to the more time-consuming button-based approach that ClockworkMod (CWM) uses.
How To: Blend Your Android's Status & Nav Bars to Match Any App's Color Scheme
While we wait for our chance to get our hands on Android Lollipop, Google has already released Material Design updates to most of their apps. I love the new direction of the updated UI, but something just seemed to be lacking in tying everything together.
How To: Install the New Google Play Edition Camera & Gallery Apps on Your HTC One
In a previous softModder guide, I detailed how to get the Jelly Bean 4.2 Photo Sphere Camera and Gallery on your HTC One running Sense 5, but that was quickly outdated with the release of the new Google Play Edition HTC One, which has a newer Camera that works great with our hardware.
How To: Make Your HTC One Feel Like a Nexus 5 with Android 4.4 KitKat
The launch of Android 4.4 KitKat alongside the Nexus 5 was met with much fanfare from Android enthusiasts. Unfortunately, if you don't have a Nexus device or are still awaiting the 4.4 update, you may feel a bit left behind.
How To: Get AOSP-Style Quick Settings Back in Your HTC One's Notification Tray
Ever since Sense 4, HTC phones have had no access to easy access setting toggles from the notification pane. CyanogenMod and other custom ROMs are an option, but even if your phone isn't rooted, you can still have clean, functional quick settings. Step 1: Install Power Toggles