Installing Villain SlideROM on HTC Hero
I, like many others, am tired of waiting for HTC to update the software on my phone. The new Android apps I read about in the news are starting to require Android 2.1 or higher and I’m stuck on version 1.5. At least, I was stuck. I tried out a few ROMs and can recommend the VillainSlide ROM on the HTC Hero. It has the most responsive interface and apart from a slightly annoying application listing screen and home screen icons is visually very appealing too. Here’s the steps I took to install the ROM. It will hopefully save you a few searches.
There is a great guide for installing a custom ROM on the XDA Developer’s forum. I didn’t need the GoldCard method so my install was fairly straightforward. Follow steps PRE and 1-3 and you’re running a new version!
Here’s the SlideVillainROM so you don’t have to find that either.
The first boot after an install takes forever and a day and the SMS recovery isn’t the fastest in the world either. You’ll need to re-download apps from the marketplace too but all your contact data is safe in the Google cloud.
May 10th, 2010 at 21:21
Two more things to make it usable:
1. Do NOT install the HTC_IME update. The keyboard it provides is terrible IMHO. Stick with the default.
2. DO install the OTA server update mentioned here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6387515&highlight=slideupdaterv5#post6387515
May 10th, 2010 at 21:40
Also, I highly recommend not running through the email and social network setup after your first boot until you’ve signed on to a wifi network. Sync is much faster that way.
May 10th, 2010 at 21:49
I don’t know what the winmo bubble remover does or is. Aaaah – does that get rid of the silly bubbles around all the icons? If so I need to install it!!
There’s no need to keep a list of your installed apps that you’ve paid for. The marketplace remembers those but doesn’t keep track of your free ones for you.
May 10th, 2010 at 21:55
If you live in the UK and use T-Mobile, your settings might be wrong. Follow these instructions from T-Mobile to check:
Press the Menu key
Tap on Settings
Tap on Wireless & Networks to select.
Scroll down and tap on Mobile networks
Tap on Access Point Names to select.
Press the Menu key
Tap on New APN
Tap Name then enter T-Mobile MMS select OK
Tap APN then enter general.t-mobile.uk select OK
Tap Username then enter t-mobile select OK
Tap Password then enter tm select OK
Tap MMSC then enter http://mmsc.t-mobile.co.uk:8002 select OK
Tap MMS proxy then enter 149.254.201.135 select OK
Tap MMS port then enter 8080 select OK
Tap APN type then enter mms select OK
Press the Menu key
Tap Save
Press the Home key
Your phone is now ready for use
May 10th, 2010 at 21:56
You should also check that your T-Mobile Internet APN settings are correct.
Press the Menu key
Tap on Settings
Tap on Wireless & Networks to select.
Scroll down and tap on Mobile networks
Tap on Access Point Names to select.
Press the Menu key
Tap on New APN
Tap Name then enter T-Mobile Internet select OK
Tap APN then enter general.t-mobile.uk select OK
Tap Username then enter t-mobile select OK
Tap Password then enter tm select OK
Tap APN type then enter default select OK
Press the Menu key
Tap Save
Press the Home Key
Your phone is now ready for use
May 10th, 2010 at 22:33
OH yes. And send a picture message to yourself so that your operator figures out that you can send and receive picture messages.