HTC has been in the smartphone game since its inception, so sometimes you just have to give credit where it’s due. They created the first Android phone that was built for consumers and even made some of the first devices to even feature keyboards and touchscreens. Let’s face it, they’re OGs in the game. 

We should also point out they were one of the first to create a skin to lay on top of stock Android. Whether you like where Sense has come since 2009 or not, it’s still one of the things that HTC is proud of for creating.

In the video below, HTC takes us a on brief tour through time of when the company got their starts in smartphones. Check it out and then down below, let’s hear some sincere thoughts on HTC. Time to get a little sentimental.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Video: HTC Shows Us Their History Through the Smartphone Evolution is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Thunderbolt is largely thought to be one of the most disappointing, frustrating, and disastrous smartphones of all time. It was released as Verizon’s first 4G LTE device, so you can imagine how much attention it grabbed from the tech universe leading up to and after its arrival two years ago. In fact, we hypebeasted the Thunderbolt for months after it was first unveiled at CES in January of 2011, followed by non-stop coverage of it for a lengthy period of time after release. Unfortunately for HTC and those who bought the phone, the phone struggled to become anything but a nuisance as software delays and poor performance tarnished any sort of positive life it once attempted to live. 

But this isn’t news to any of us. The horror stories of life with the Thunderbolt are well-documented throughout this site and others. The Thunderbolt experience was so bad, that some readers have admitted time and time again that they will never buy another HTC device, no matter how good the reviews on them are. Strong words, very strong words. What if HTC was willing to sympathize with you? Would that change anything?

According to an HTC employee who has been on the prowl over at reddit for the last few days answering questions and providing support, his company feels your pain. Reddit user “Erick_HTC” who very well could be Erick Nielsen, because he introduced himself as someone who works at writing up troubleshooting guides of devices and supporting users who report issues, wants to say “sorry about the Thunderbolt in general.” He admits that the Tbolt was a “difficult project” and that he understands why you feel the way you do, but wishes “we didn’t destroy your trust.”

Erick hopes that you will give them another chance because they are doing “much better” now, though, something we can attest to.

Refreshing to see someone from a tech company express their true feelings, even if they aren’t a part of their PR or social media teams. I can imagine that plenty of their company workers feel similarly, yet aren’t in a position to share those thoughts. Reddit to the rescue!

So what do you think, Thunderbolt owners – will you ever give HTC another chance?

Via:  reddit

HTC Employee: “Sorry About the Thunderbolt in General” is a post from: Droid Life

We figured Verizon was pulling an epic April Fools prank and approved an update for the Thunderbolt yesterday. Turns out, it is very real and build 7.02.605.10 is rolling out to owners this morning. The update includes a handful of fixes and small improvements to the Ice Cream Sandwich firmware that was pushed out last month.

The update is 19.3MB in size.

More info.

Cheers Chris!

HTC Thunderbolt Update to Build 7.02.605.10 is Now Live is a post from: Droid Life

Verizon approved a new update for the HTC Thunderbolt this morning, one that will bring the phone up to build 7.02.605.10. It’s minor and includes small improvements to a handful of features, like the microphone, HTC Watch, text messaging, and Yahoo/Microsoft Exchange connectivity. Yep, that’s it.

The update is 19.3MB in size.

More info.

On a related note, while I have Thunderbolt owners’ attention, how is the phone performing after the Ice Cream Sandwich update? My brother has a T-Bolt and I noticed him using it this weekend – holy s**t was his phone ridiculously slow and laggy. Is it like that for all of you? Would the phone have been better off without this update?

HTC Thunderbolt Update to Build 7.02.605.10 on the Way is a post from: Droid Life

Now that the official Ice Cream Sandwich build for the Thunderbolt has been released and pushed out to remaining owners (I hear crickets), developers are already working their magic. Last week, a developer released a rooted, deodexed, and more importantly, debloated version of the official ICS build to users. I say more importantly because after looking at the list of removed apps, it’s hard to believe there was any room on the device’s storage for any user-installed applications. 

Removed apps:

• Adobe Reader
• Backup Assistant Sync Service
• Books Tablet
• City ID
• Kindle
• My Report Agent
• My Verizon
• NewbayVaultMarket (VZW crap)
• Polaris Office
• Rock Band
• Slacker Radio
• Tethering Guard
• TuneWiki
• Vcast Tones
• VzNav
• VZW Golf
• VZW Remote Tool

Beyond that, it is a stock ROM with no further modifications. It’s nice and clean.

If you are into flashing ROM’s on your Thunderbolt, go grab it from the via link below.

Via: XDA

Cheers blackhawk!

OMG: Rooted, Deodexed, Debloated ICS ROM Released for the HTC Thunderbolt is a post from: Droid Life

According to our inbox, and various Android forums like XDA, the Ice Cream Sandwich update that Verizon approved last week for the HTC Thunderbolt, is rolling out now. As expected, the update is a whoppin’ 395MB, but that’s expected with the big jump from Gingerbread to Android 4.0.

Head into Menu>Settings>Software update to pull it. Full changelog.

Update:  Verizon has confirmed that it is indeed rolling out in batches starting today.

Let us know if you can pull it!

Via:  XDA

Cheers James and Paul!

Ice Cream Sandwich Update for the HTC Thunderbolt Rolling Out Now! is a post from: Droid Life

You probably don’t believe this, but Verizon has approved Ice Cream Sandwich for the HTC Thunderbolt. After missing their self-imposed August deadline, the update is finally ready now that we are in January of 2013. The official build number is 7.02.605.06. Once updated, your phone will be running Android 4.0.4 with Sense 3.6.

Welcome to the club Thunderbolt owners, you poor abused souls.

In this update you’ll find lock screen notifications, a custom launch bar, easily create folders, multitask with ease, and more. It’s a major update from Gingerbread.

The update is 395MB in size. 

More info.

Verizon Finally Approves Ice Cream Sandwich for the HTC Thunderbolt as Build 7.02.605.06 is a post from: Droid Life

The HTC Thunderbolt was originally supposed to receive its Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) update by the end of August. As we all know, that didn’t exactly happen. So here we are, approaching the end of 2012 and the update is still nowhere in sight. HTC is well aware that they missed their deadline and assure us that they are still working on it, however, they have yet to give us any sort of new time frame to get excited over. All we have heard recently, is that they are working on connectivity issues with Verizon and that they’ll share info as they work through them. 

Well, today, they changed their tone a bit and are now saying that the update “will be here soon.” “Soon” can obviously mean 6 months from now for all we know, but at this point, I don’t think they wouldn’t say “soon” if they didn’t think that they had moved past their issues and are steps away from approving the update.

Unfortunately for Thunderbolt owners, your two years with the device is about up and you are probably about ready to upgrade to something else. It would have been nice if you could have spent your last 6 or 7 months with proper software rather than dealing with the frustrations of Gingerbread.

Via:  @HTCUSA

HTC on Twitter: Thunderbolt Ice Cream Sandwich Update Will be Here “Soon” is a post from: Droid Life

HTC has updated their device FAQ for anyone looking to find information on when and if their device will receive Jelly Bean. Long story short, HTC has made it clear that in general, devices with 512MB of RAM or less will more than likely not receive Jelly Bean. Unfortunately, that probably goes for you too Thunderbolt owners, even with your 768MB of RAM. Other devices from HTC that are equipped with just 512MB of RAM are the One V and Desire C.

We work hard to ensure each of our products has the optimal user experience and therefore some products will remain at their current version of Android. In general, devices with 512MB RAM or less will not be upgraded to Android 4.1. As we identify other devices that will not be upgraded, we’ll provide updated information.

As for which devices will definitely get JB, HTC says they are prioritizing the update for the devices that were launched in 2012, then working their way back. The company has quite the portfolio to work through, and as you most likely already guessed, it could take quite some time before we see updates go live for the Rezound, EVO 3D, and other once-flagship devices. 

Now, to be fair, Thunderbolt owners should have already known that their devices wouldn’t officially see Jelly Bean. But as this calendar year ticks down towards the new year, the device still has yet to receive Ice Cream Sandwich which was supposed to hit the device by the end of August.

Via: Android and Me | HTC

HTC Will Prioritize Devices Launched in 2012 to Receive Android 4.1 Update, Says Sorry to Devices With 512MB of RAM is a post from: Droid Life

If you were a little upset when HTC missed their self-imposed deadline of August for the ICS upgrade for the Thunderbolt, we may have some good news for you. LiquidSmooth has pushed out another milestone update for their ROM bringing a lot of bug fixes and general ICS-goodness to the aging Thunderbolt.

If you are looking for an AOSP-based ROM for the Thunderbolt this will be right up your alley. The developers have kept everything clean and smooth while still offering customizations like navigation bar colors and lockscreen customization. The list of features this ROM goes on and on so if you want to beat HTC to the upgrade punch hit the source link below.

XDA Thread for LiquidSmooth 

Cheers Ryan!

Ice Cream Sandwich Arrives for Thunderbolt in Form of LiquidSmooth ROM is a post from: Droid Life

Many Thunderbolt owners may be asking themselves today, “Where’s my Ice Cream Sandwich? I could have sworn HTC said it would come this month.” Well, unfortunately HTC has basically confirmed that they will indeed miss the August update deadline for ICS. Funny enough, HTC pokes that they are working with Verizon to get the software out to users as soon as possible.

Sorry Thunderbolt owners. We’ll keep you posted.

Via: Facebook

Cheers Grandpope!

HTC: We’re Aware We Missed the Deadline For ICS on the Thunderbolt is a post from: Droid Life

Thunderbolt owners! An official Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0.3) build has been released in ROM form for you to take for a spin. Thanks to Team BAMF, you can taste the sweet update ahead of Verizon’s approval. The build number is 7.00.605.2, which bumps the device up to Sense 3.6 and an experience most Thunderbolt owners will be pleasantly surprised with. The separate “Quick Settings” tab that HTC includes is top notch. The Settings menu has also been completely revamped to match ICS styling.

The ROM itself is stock (deodexed), but does include root. HTC’s “spyware” has also been removed. You can grab the file from the source link below.

So until HTC and Verizon finalize everything in order to meet their self-imposed August deadline, this should hold you over. And feel free to the flip the bird to Woz.

Via:  BAMF

Cheers Josh!

HTC Thunderbolt Official Ice Cream Sandwich Build Leaks, Ready for ROM Flashers to Entertain is a post from: Droid Life

Bear with me here, because the mention of someone from Apple doesn’t necessarily mean a flame war immediately. Gizmodo recently asked their readers what the worst technology gadget they had ever purchased was, and if you dig through the comments you can find Apple honcho Steve Wozniak weighing in that the HTC Thunderbolt was right at the top of his list.

Unfortunately, he did not go into much detail, but take a poll from the TBolt owners we have reading the site and they can be sure to tell you. Bad LTE signals all over the place, random reboots, update failures and that isn’t even touching on the horrible stock battery life.

Would you agree with Woz that the Thunderbolt was that bad? Or have you had worse?

Via: Gizmodo

Steve Wozniak: The HTC Thunderbolt Was One of the Worst Gadgets I Ever Purchased is a post from: Droid Life

According to HTC’s Facebook page, the Thunderbolt is still on schedule to receive its Ice Cream Sandwich update by the end of August (this month). They told us back in May that we should expect it in either July or August and are sticking to their guns.

Other than the Thunderbolt, the Rhyme should see it as well, unless something has changed since we last heard from HTC. The Incredible 2 is apparently still questionable.

Via:  Facebook | HTCSource

HTC: Thunderbolt Ice Cream Sandwich Update Still Should be Done by End of August is a post from: Droid Life

HTC posted a timeline for Ice Cream Sandwich rollouts some time over the last few days on their support pages and it includes more details than we have seen to date. The HTC Rezound and Rhyme will see Android 4.0 in either June or July, Thunderbolt in July or August, and the Incredible 2 is now up-in-the-air as to whether or not it will see it. Previously, the Incredible 2 was listed as a device on the upgrade list, so this is a new development. If you own one of HTC’s tablets, you are stuck on Honeycomb. 

In this new support page, HTC mentions that all of these devices will see Sense 3.6 with Android 4.0.3 rather than the newly released Sense 4.0 that comes loaded on the HTC One Series. They claim that Sense 4.0 needs specific dedicated hardware which none of these older devices contains. They expect to finish rolling out ICS updates by the end of August.

Via:  HTC

Cheers Steve and Eric!

HTC Rezound to Receive Ice Cream Sandwich in June-July, Thunderbolt in July-August, Incredible 2 Status Up in the Air is a post from: Droid Life