The End Is Near: T-Mobile G2 Approaches EOL Status.

If you were contemplating a T-Mobile G2 purchase between now and the end of 2011, you might want to high tail it to your local shop. Like right now. A leaked internal screenshot shows the G2 with the words “Nearing EOL” (End of Life) following closely after. While nearing end of life is a far cry from actually being killed, it’s a stern warning of things to come.

T-Mobile G2 Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) ROM Officially Leaked!

Not too long after a previously leaked Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) G2 ROM leaked, an even better, more official version itself slipped out. 911Sniper has leaked another G2 ROM. This latest leak is said to the be official Android 2.3 update that T-Mobile will release in the very near future. Sounds like a great time to grab the official download and beat T-Mo to the punch.

(Claimed) Official Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Update for the G2: Download

T-Mobile G2 Hardware Security Cracked — For Good This Time.

While HTC and T-Mobile stand by their reasoning for locking down the G2, many developers realized what a capable piece of hardware it was, and in turn, have worked tirelessly for many weeks to unlock the true potential of the device. From here on out, the G2 just became “the” Android phone for devoted users. Basically, what it means is that the T-Mobile G2 is now stripped of all hardware security and is as open and free as the hallowed Nexus One.

Currently the methods and steps needed to unshackle your G2 are extremely advanced, and deal with among other things, lots of HEX editing. If you have to ask — don’t even being to attempt it. With that said, a simpler, more consumer-based unlock/crack is in the works. Keep checking back and we’ll let you know when things go live for everyone. In the meantime, familiarize yourselves with both the ongoing thread at XDA as well as the handy XDA Wiki.

The Hottest Smartphones on the Market — Literally. [Fire]

Some will cry foul and decry how the above depicts a senseless act of destruction. And to the gadget-loving side of me, I agree. I would gladly pay the associated costs to rescue the three desperados stranded on the metallica lake of fire above. But alas, it is too late. The deed has been done and the hardware…cooked (I couldn’t resist).

You might as well hop inside and see which phone lasts the longest. Don’t forget the tissue and a beer…you’ll need something to cry into…

G2′s Permanent Root Works on MyTouch 4G. #android #mytouch4g

Though it took several weeks and cost countless man hours, resources, and spent cases of beer, the G2 was finally rooted. And like a young kid throwing caution to the wind, blazing off into the sunset, and giving the finger to modern society, the MyTouch 4G is flaunting it’s newfound root access in the G2′s face. That’s because the same rooting method for the G2 works on the MyTouch 4G. Seeing as how phones are not living things and therefore cannot feel jealousy, malice, or hate, the fact that we have a multiple-bird-kill with a single stone is a load of our backs as well as Android hackers who write the code for said root access.

On that note, MyTouch 4G users who want to get their root on need only point their browsers to the thread over at XDA, download the tool, and follow the instructions. As always, proceed at your own risk…

Permanent Root Finally Graces G2!

While T-Mobile and Android developers have been going back and forth as to the “feature” status of the T-Mobile HTC G2′s on-boot de-rooting, I’m proud to say that the developers have overcome the digital nannies and prevailed. The temporary-root bug on the G2 has been patched. The move to permanent status can probably be attributed to the recent release of the source code by HTC combined with some developer elbow grease.

Unfortunately, as of writing the permanent fix hasn’t been released yet. However, keep your browser pointed to the thread over at XDA, because an update (and patch) can’t be too far away.

Update: G2 climbs to 1.42GHz.

The Droid X may be currently limited to a paltry 1.1GHz, but that doesn’t mean other Android devices are as soft-footed. Take for example, the wonderfully delightful HTC G2 on T-Mobile. Normally, this beaut hums along at 800MHz. But, kick it in the silicon and speeds can instantly rise up to 1.42GHz.

Yeah, your warranty may be kaput and the G2 still suffers from that “temporary root” problem. But even a few minutes of unbound speed is worth the experience. Right? Hop on past to see the G2 rear it’s head…

Update

The G2 can now do so much more…

G2 “Temporary root” problem: T-Mobile responds.

The G2 is easily one of if not the best Android devices on T-Mobile. No, it may not have the blinding speed of the Galaxy S Vibrant or raw speed and developer-friendly roots of the N1, but that doesn’t matter. The G2 packs a stock build of Android. That right there makes it better than the Vibrant as it will get updates faster and isn’t marred by a tacky 3rd party UI. But that argument is neither here nor there. The real sadness with the G2 is the “temporary root” problem that causes any and all custom ROM/root work to revert back to a stock, un-rooted state each and every time the phone is rebooted.

Now, if it were a phone on AT&T or Verizon, we’d here the carriers lambast us for “breaking” our devices and doing less than legal things (even though the DMCA was recently amended to make such things perfectly legal). T-Mobile however isn’t quite as douchey as the rest. Nevertheless, T-Mobile has come forward to officially address the issue as countless new G2 owners are pretty upset with the whole situation…

As pioneers in Android-powered mobile devices, T-Mobile and HTC strive to support innovation. The T-Mobile G2 is a powerful and highly customizable Android-powered smartphone, which customers can personalize and make their own, from the look of their home screen to adding their favorite applications and more.

The HTC software implementation on the G2 stores some components in read-only memory as a security measure to prevent key operating system software from becoming corrupted and rendering the device inoperable. There is a small subset of highly technical users who may want to modify and re-engineer their devices at the code level, known as “rooting,” but a side effect of HTC’s security measure is that these modifications are temporary and cannot be saved to permanent memory. As a result the original code is restored.

The fact that T-Mobile is even acknowlodging the rooting community in a positive way by calling them “highly technical” (read: talented, devoted, etc., etc.) is a huge plus in my book. I already liked T-Mo for the generally more pro-consumer tactics and overall good attitude. The argument of security is a valid one, even if it isn’t working in Android loyalists’ favor. With that said, I believe the statement made by T-Mo that G2 rooting is “temporary” and implying that it can never be made permanent is slightly flawed. Just like every other Android security feature established to prevent rooting, it too will fall. I give it 3 weeks tops. The G2 will have root just like the rest of the family…

Update: G2 rooting woes: Another hardware nanny spoils the fun.

Uh-oh. Looks like Android devs have another challenge on their hands. The HTC-built G2 that was just released on T-Mobile appears to have a hardware nanny on board that makes things very difficult for those wanting to control their own experience. If you recall, there was quite a bit of uproar a couple of months back over the DroidX’s eFuse chip. That little piece of hurt put devs in a pickle for many weeks. They did prevail, however, and justice was restored to the Android rooting scene.

HTC looks to have followed in Moto’s steps and has included a hardware nanny of their own No hardware is actually causing this “temporary root issue”. In reality, it’s a software root kit that is laying in wait, poised, and ready to kill any Android hackery fun. Basically, if you flash a custom ROM and then reboot your phone, stock software is automatically reloaded. There’s a length (and still growing) thread over at XDA on the subject, so that’s your best bet for up to the minute updates. In the meantime, relax and know that this too will pass. Android devs are a talented bunch. No matter the company or hardware/software nanny, a hole will be found and cracked.