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HTC Wildfire New User Tips & Tricks
Hi,
Just thought I’d put this together for users of this great little phone. Hopefully it will be of use to someone.
First up, the Wildfire (also known as the Buzz) can run different firmware to that supplied by HTC.
There are several alternative firmware versions available, such as WildPuzzleROM. You can read more about these in the Wildfire Android Development sub-forum.
So why would you want to run different firmware?
One reason could be because you don’t like / have a use for the apps provided by your phone supplier (carrier) or HTC. As examples, many users may not have a need for social networking apps like FriendStream, Twitter, Facebook and so on. Other users may have no need for the Stock or News widgets. Other users are annoyed by all of the marketing-oriented crap from their phone company that fills up their app drawer with useless “apps” (these are often simply links to websites where you can buy ringtones, games, a.s.o.)
If you remove these apps from your installation (generally-speaking, you can’t remove them using the standard - or “stock” - firmware), it frees up a lot of internal memory for applications that you actually want to have on your phone. The other plus is that your phone will have more RAM to work with (because it‘s not running a bunch of default apps / services that start when you turn it on).
As with all computers, more free RAM means a faster, smoother experience and the ability to run more apps.
Another reason for using alternative firmware is to run a completely different interface. While you can install / run several “home” alternatives (basically, a different “desktop”) with the stock Wildfire firmware, the memory used by the default installed (HTC Sense) apps /services can affect the performance of your chosen alternate home.
Speaking of performance, many of the firmware alternatives allow you to overclock your Wildfire (make the processor run faster than the default speed). Some also enable a feature called JIT (just in time). Without getting into a bunch of technical jargon here, JIT can make applications run faster.
As an observation with MY Wildfire and overclocking - it becomes unstable if I use clock speeds over 691mHz - with a low limit of 128mHz. If I clock at 710, 728 etc. up to 768mHz I get lots of “fc” (force close) messages, weird hangs, or the phone simply reboots. Some folks are reporting stable usage at 768mHz, so it seems to be a luck of the draw thing, where some Wildfires will happily run at this speed. Having said that, a speed bump from the default 528mHz to 691mHz is a 31% increase in speed for free - so I’m not complaining.
Warning: As always with overclocking, you are using the CPU outside of spec which increases heat, battery use and so on. This is likely to reduce your phone’s lifespan and - in some cases - can destroy some phones. You’ve been warned of the risks, so it’s up to you to make the call on overclocking.
You can also UNDERclock your phone - using a utility such as SetCPU, which can be downloaded from the Market. This is the reverse of overclocking, where you run your CPU slower than default - which means a cooler phone and potentially much better battery life. This is unlikely to change the longevity of your phone, as the CPU is still running within spec.
Back to the benefits of running alternative firmware - and probably the biggest reason why you should consider it - is because it’s typically based on a more recent Android OS version than the one supplied by your phone company (or HTC themselves). New versions of Android often increase performance or add new features - and provide bug fixes.
In the Wildfire’s case, all of the current firmware alternatives are based on Android 2.2 (Froyo). The default firmware on Wildfire is Android 2.1 (Éclair).
Android 2.2 is faster than 2.1 and adds a feature which allows you to install your applications on the microSD card - rather than in the phone’s internal memory. This lets you install a lot more apps.
So, how do I install alternative firmware?
This involves a couple of steps.
First up is a process known as “rooting” your Wildfire. In plain language, you gain access to the base (or “root”) level of your phone’s operating software. If compared to a standard PC, this is the rough equivalent of the BIOS (Basic Input Output System). The easiest way to “root” your phone is with a utility called Unrevoked. See this thread for details on where to get it and how to use it:
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=764495
Warning: You should note that rooting a phone is not without risk. You can “brick’ your phone (functionally - turn it into something as useful for making phone calls as a brick). Having said that, many thousands of people have managed to do it by following the instructions / doing their homework BEFORE rooting. Do this, and you should be fine too.
Once you’ve rooted your phone, you need to find / download a firmware alternative. These are known / identified as a ROM. See / read / download from the threads in the Wildfire Android Development sub-forum.
Installation instructions are generally found in each ROM thread.
You can only install an alternative ROM on a rooted phone.
You can only install a ROM which is built for the Wildfire (or “Buzz”). Do not attempt to install a ROM designed for a “similar” phone, or you will end up with an expensive paperweight.
General Tips
Using a non-Sense UI “home” alternative allows you to change the look / general feel (and actual use) of your Wildfire. Among these alternative home apps are:
ADW.Launcher (my current home)
Launcher Pro (my fave, but just a little unstable at the moment….and will become my home when the handful of tiny problems are sorted)
Open Home
Panda Home
…and a lot of others.
These each offer their own unique set of features / way of user interaction and general layout. They are generally faster than Sense. Another plus is that they allow you to do things that you can’t do with HTC’s Sense. These include:
- the use of Live Wallpapers
- the ability to show more icons onscreen - both on the desktop or in the App Drawer.
- themes or skins that not only change the wallpaper, but also (some) app icons, taskbar appearance, and other stuff
There are a few caveats, however, which are due to the Wildfire’s screen resolution, processor, and lack of 3D acceleration. This means:
- many live wallpapers will not run
- changing the number of displayed app icons can look weird / overlap
- fonts can become hard to read
While we’re talking about hardware limitations, you should note that many apps (particularly games) will not run on the Wildfire. In fact, many may not even show up in the Market because they are designed for CPUs / 3D accelerators, or the higher screen resolutions found in “high-end” Android phones.
Many games designed for HVGA resolution (320 x 480) will run on Wildfire, but you might find that the right side of the image is off the edge of the screen.
The screen res also causes other weird quirks. An example is the Google Voice Search feature. When you first run this - a tutorial pops up, but you can’t exit this tutorial because you can’t see the onscreen buttons when in portrait mode. The solution is to rotate your Wildfire into landscape mode…and then you can access the buttons.
Extending Wildfire Battery Life
This collection of tips has been mercilessly plagiarised from various sources on the internet….so I don’t claim them as my own. I just compiled the ones that have worked for me.
Obviously, if there are certain features that you like / need to leave enabled, then leave ‘em turned on.
Settings > Accounts & sync
- Untick Auto Sync and Background data.
Some apps, like the Calendar, constantly sync….which chews through your battery. Some apps - like the Market & GMail - require sync to be active. My suggestion is to use these settings, and enable sync when you need to access the Market / use an app that requires sync to be enabled. Once you’re done, turn it off.
- In the settings of EACH app….NOT the phone Settings menu….you should be able to disable or change the timing of data retrieval or background syncing for apps like email or Twitter clients and RSS or Stock ticker apps.
Settings > Sound & display
- Screen Timeout Interval. Change to 15 or 30 seconds, rather than the default 1 minute.
- Screen brightness. You can manually set this, or use the automatic feature. I leave it on automatic because disabling it affects the way that the backlighting works for the buttons below the screen.
- Untick Phone Vibrate Notification. I can hear the ringtone, so don’t need the phone to vibrate to tell me I’ve got an incoming call.
- Untick Haptic Feedback. A personal choice. I leave it enabled, but it does save some juice if disabled.
Wireless & networks
- Untick Wi-Fi, Bluetooth & GPS. These suck down the power, so disable them unless you need them. As a tip, Android has a default widget called the Control Bar. Click-hold on a blank (4 columns wide by one row high) space on one of your home screens…and choose this widget. It provides a quick way to enable/disable Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, Sync, & to switch between a few Brightness levels (if Auto-brightness isn’t active in Settings > Sound & display).
Settings > Applications > Running Services > Select and Stop any apps that you’re not using. This frees up memory and saves CPU cycles - and therefore reduces battery drain.
looking for more tips on apps n game compatible with wildfire
Thanks for the tips!
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App
if you want your phone to look sexy and not boring like htc sense then yes.
phoros said:
What about interfaces: is it REALLY worthy to change sense for launcher or sth else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A personal choice, obviously....but compared with Sense...
- I like the additional customisation options that ADW or Launcher Pro offer.
- I use a Live Wallpaper - Plasma Live Wallpaper (Casey Langen)
- I turn off screen "bouncing" and scrolling delays, opening animations and fades etc. These make switching or scrolling between homescreens WAY faster than Sense - which makes the phone more fun to use. Swipe scrolling between homescreens "feels" like switching with a hardware button on another phone....if you get my drift?
- I have direct access to all of my essential apps in the menu bar at the bottom of the screen - not just the phone & app drawer. This is not only convenient, but it makes the phone faster to use.
- I can group / hide / choose by groups in the App Drawer. This reduces clutter, by hiding apps that I don't need to "launch" or add to the desktop (such as SuperUser)...or makes finding apps that are used rarely faster.
Why not download Launcher Pro and ADW etc. from the Market....and try them? Once installed, press the Home button, and choose the Launcher or Sense. Spend the time to set them up fully to YOUR liking....then actually use your phone like this for a day or two.
It took me a few weeks to try various launchers...but now - with an overclocked / completely Sense-less phone - I'd never go back. Sense is OK, but it's slow and a bit restrictive.
For me - it was about a setup that makes "sense" to me - and speed. The eye candy of the Live Wallpaper has a tiny performance penalty...which is my little indulgence after making everything else "lean".
Thanks for this guide, it is very helpful.
very informative, tried almost all of your tips. Thanks a lot!
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App
Having spent the last 7 days with a rooted H815, I've gotten it mostly working, at this point. I came from a Note 3 running custom ROMs, so mostly I've been trying to get the G$ as close to what I previously has as possible.
Still Lacking, as far as I'm concerned:
Omniwsitch works, but can not close apps - This is a common issues on stock ROMs, will need to wait for CM to fix this
Drives can not find the SDcard, seems like a bug in how LG reports it -- FIXED, manually had to add /storage/external_SD
DPI even at 540 is insanely large (should be closer to 500 or perhaps even 480).
Unable to automatically change wallpaper on lock screen - While at it the lock screen is awful compared to a simple stock L version in my opinion.
Apps Required to get to a point where it was usable:
3C Toolbox - remove annoying startup apps and monitor battery use
AFWall+ - Required for security
AdAway - Obvious
Wallpaper Manager - Cycle through Wallapapers
Tasker - Obvious reasons
JuiceSSH Tasker Plugin - To auto link external_SD to a more reasonable sdcard1
CF.Lumen - to deal with night time colors
KinScreen - To manage Screen timeouts
Light Flow - Manage Notification display
LTE Discovery - Being an H815 on T-Mobile helps to know what is being used
Swipe Navigation - Still deciding if it is required
Titanium Backup - Obvious Reasons
Nandroid Manager - Manage backups
TWRP Manager - Manage TWP, easy reboot recovery
Omniswitch - Work in progress, does not remove tasks currently
Persist - Volume of Notifications
OpenVPN - VPN Software
Fontster - Change the default font, with using that LG store thing.
I liked the Note 3 the size and shape of the G4 is better, performance seems about the same, maybe a little better for day to day use, we really need some decedent 3rd party ROMs say Blisspop, Liquid Smooth or even CM12 for this as the stock LG is bloated and while customizable has many limitations , I'm simply unable to fully work around.
ERIC
misleading title. should be H815 [rooted] features that are working
Thank you for sharing your findings and tips for apps.
Could you please describe, how to auto link external_SD to sdcard1.
Thank you in advance for help.
Please change the title... please
Hello
(Quick introduction : I am new here, but I've been a proud Yotaphone 2 french user for half a year now, I don't develop on it, but such a clever+smart+phone gives me the itch to)
First, THANKS to the Yota teams. I am very happy to see that Yota still develops and deploys updates, and the last one contains a lot of good things. At least, they addressed some of my own frustrations with their beautiful device :
+ Double-tap to unlock both screens
+ New backscreen widget with "Mobile data" switch
+ New small clock widget with date + battery level
+ New Events widget to display Agenda Events
+ Backscreen e-mail app allows switching accounts
+ Better sorting of the Yotaphone parameters
+ New parameters
+ No more useless "External" stockage category in the parameters
+ Some more new apps which I haven't still tried for lack of interest
So far, everything works better than usual for me with these new settings and apps. They even took the time to improve some french translations.
I feel that autonomy is the same overall, or maybe slightly better. I also feel that double-tap unlock is slower than the swipe, but it's much handier to me.
Some regular backscreen apps (Messenger and E-mails) look sluggish recently, but these slowdowns also tended to occur before, time will tell if something's wrong.
This is the end of my contribution to this forum, hope this can help someone.
Thanks for the info! I wonder which is the better firmware to run with at the moment: 1.87aEU or 1.112RU? Has anyone tried both?
Thanks for the quick review. It sounds good. Me I'm still sticking with Kitkat for the moment, seeing the drainage issues on LP. The new features you mention sound good though. Would it be possible to simply add these new widgets on Kitkat too? I´m especially interested in the Yotagram app/widget. Can someone upload it so I can try it out? thx
Hello, everyone, the Phoenix system x86 version v1.1 released. We added several new features to this version. For example, root permissions support, keyboard mapping function, Ethernet settings, you may not know where to open these functions, I will give you a detailed presentation.
Download：http://files.phoenixos.com/os/PhoenixOSInstaller-v1.1.0.exe
Update：
System
Add root access；
Add keyboard mapping function；
Add Mirror output function like HDMI;
Add Ethernet settings[font=宋体]：[/font]Boot default Ethernet connection
Add Resolution adjustment function;
Add Graphics adapter, mainly contains GTX700\800\900 series;
Repair Game can't connect network;
Optimized Reduce the maximum volume of the broken sound models;
Optimized Reduce the probability of crash by Atom processor;
The task bar & Notification Center
Revision notification center icon
Start menu
Optimize the display of large screen devices;
Browser
Optimizing UA display logic;
Update ad blocking list;
CZ FileManager
Increase picture and wallpaper images (Picture directory);
Network neighbors will pop up after the addition of success;
Repair the bug that desktop icon disappeared after the application upgrade;
Fix the bug that APE format file has no playback application optional;
Application of the market will not prompted to upgrade of FileManager;
Fix the bug that native music applications failed to add music;
Fix some other bug;
Enhanced stability;
More info:
http://bbs.phoenixstudio.org/en/showthread.php?tid=1716
Official mirror uploaded by @Dante_xu - it will soon be added to the official download site and it's already added on the official forum:
https://mega.nz/#!VgNCGJTD!y62XM6nge9OTkKMp-nRbZoGKYoHqGB0nYiLyxhbBN7I
It is worth mentioning that in this release, if we toggle the root ON, we can freely modify the system partition! No need for any custom files!
Does "Pokemon Go" app works with this version?
good update but remix os is still far superior.
@slybunda At what? I can also say my bike is superior without listing it's pros.
more stable and better 3d support
It all comes down to specific hardware @slybunda . On my devices Phoenix is more stable and has more features at the same time plus a better design. I personally don't care about 3D acceleration - android-x86 would be enough for games because those are usually ran in fullscreen, so no desktop UI needed.
Sent from mobile
I love your rom so much @Regnas I updated a port that already existed for the vzw gs4 just so I could keep using it for my own personal use. It's the best rom ever, 10,000xlove. Sorry that's a little off topic because it's not really the same rom. This is just the first post I've seen from you and had to shoutout some love
@tdct12 do have in mind that this is an official release by Chaozuo @Regnas does deserve the love for publishing it though
tdct12 said:
I love your rom so much @Regnas.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol...... see post above....
Still playstore not included?
It is included
Sent from mobile
Has anyone had any luck booting this from USB? I have tried from USB and SD, but have had no luck. I was able to dual boot from my SSD drive, but it seemed to make my Win 10 OS lag a lot. I ran the installer and selected install to U, and let it install. I do have bios setup to boot from USB first and even tried it through the boot menu. It almost seems like the drive is not bootable though. Any ideas or thoughts?
Verification failed error 15. Any work around?
I'm on B130 and I'm not sure if we get that Update. If anyone has an information, please let us know!
PIC-LX9C432B130
Gesendet von meinem PIC-LX9 mit Tapatalk
About Oreo - I Don’t Know, but if you want update to the latest ROM (PIC-LX9C432B150/151) you need to use FF https://forum.xda-developers.com/tools/general/huawei-firmware-finder-team-mt-t3469146
EMUI 8.0 for PIC-AL00 - PIC-AL00C00B311
EMUI 8.0 not only brings you the latest version of Android (8.0), it's also boosted with a lot of great features and improvements to make your device more intuitive, faster and safer. We highly recommend updating now.
Recommended level: ★★★★★
● Smarter
Smart recommendations anticipate the services you need and give you timely suggestions. HiVoice can check your system, and search for settings at your command. And HiBoard lets you track your packages and manage bookmarked articles with ease.
● Faster
AI-based optimizations deliver greater stability, fluidity, and speed. The system boots faster, videos are more fluid, and image thumbnails load in a flash.
● Safer
Updates to TrustSpace, Find my phone, and PrivateSpace offer greater payment security, more robust system and app security, and enhanced privacy.
New ways of interacting
● Adds a feature enabling you to add 3D dynamic images to Magazine unlock images. Enjoy images from different angles.
● A new floating Navigation dock lets you perform frequently-used operations from anywhere on the screen.
● Newly added home screen shortcuts let you quickly access the app features you use most frequently. Simply touch and hold an app icon to display a shortcut menu.
● Enjoy exclusive preloaded theme.
Smart features
● HiTouch lets you quickly isolate keywords from onscreen text and get links to related services such as restaurants, hotels, movies, and more. Simply hold two fingers on the text to generate keyword and service cards.
● HiVoice communicates with you more fluidly and understands you better. Use simple voice commands to enable or disable features such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, or ask for information about the status of your device (Voice commands only available in Chinese).
● Smart tips recommend you faster and smarter ways to operate your phone, appearing in specific usage scenarios and responding to your usage habits.
● HiBoard (accessed by swiping right on the home screen) now features a Save for later feature that lets you save social media posts and news articles as cards for later reading.
● HiBoard now features an Instant access feature that lets you access frequently used services in a single step. Make QR code payments, hail a taxi, or make a restaurant reservation with ease.
● HiBoard now features delivery cards that you can use to keep track of your packages. Get onscreen collection prompts when you approach parcel lockers.
Enhanced security
● The PrivateSpace menu has been optimized, making it easier to create a PrivateSpace on your device. Files can now be moved between the MainSpace and PrivateSpace with ease.
● TrustSpace now provides protection for more than 500 apps.
● Find my phone now lets you track your phone's movements and extend its battery life to increase your chances of retrieving it.
Higher efficiency
● Contacts and Email now let you sync the career details of your LinkedIn contacts.
● Settings has been redesigned for clearer and more intuitive organization. Voice commands can now be used to search for and change settings.
● Gallery now features a recycle bin that retains deleted photos for up to 30 days. Accidentally deleted photos can be restored with a single touch.
● Phone Manager has been simplified to make managing your device easier. Standard cleanups are faster and deep cleanups more thorough.
● Recorder now features speech-to-text conversion.
● Your device can now connect to two different Bluetooth devices simultaneously, such as a band and a car.
1. Automatic time zone uses location information to set a time zone when Location information is enabled.
2. Due to the redesign of Settings, the location of certification logos, legal information, and regulatory information (if applicable) has been altered.
3. To improve your experience, Smart notifications will be updated when you are connected to Wi-Fi. You can disable auto-updates in Settings.
1. This update will not erase your personal data, but we recommend that you back up any important data before updating.
2. Some third-party apps that are not compatible with Android 8.0 may function incorrectly after the update. It is recommended that you update these apps to their latest versions in HiApp.
3. This system version can be rolled back to the official version of EMUI 5.1 using HiSuite. Rolling back the system version will erase your personal data. Please back up your data in advance. For more information, please contact the customer service hotline.
4. If you encounter any issues, you can go to HiCare, Huawei Club, or call the official helpline at 400-830-8300 or 800-830-8300 (landline).
5. Your home screen layout may be rearranged slightly.
Hi guys...so, is there some news about how Oreo is doing with the Nova 2 device?
Got Update yesterday
Hey there, i got Android 8.0.0 on PIC-LX9 via OTA yesterday
Everything works fine.
Roborootomat said:
Hey there, i got Android 8.0.0 on PIC-LX9 via OTA yesterday
Everything works fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello...I have the same model but I m living in Europe...where are you from?
In Germany
Shurykan said:
Hello...I have the same model but I m living in Europe...where are you from?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I am from Germany
Greetings!
Hi...
My actual version is PIC-LX9 but the phone was originally a PIC-AL00...so I don't know witch version I should install on the phone for the update by Firmware Finder..... HELP !
Thanks
Roborootomat said:
Hi,
I am from Germany
Greetings!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello...so...Are you happy with Oreo? is it good? is it better? How is the camera?
Thanks !
Shurykan said:
Hello...so...Are you happy with Oreo? is it good? is it better? How is the camera?
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything works fine.
I can use the Nova about 3 days without charging.
Camera got, from my point of view, a litte bit poorer.
Roborootomat said:
Everything works fine.
I can use the Nova about 3 days without charging.
Camera got, from my point of view, a litte bit poorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I choose this phone over the Honor 8 because of the camera.....!
Since is very difficult to obtain information about this model, I really don't know if it's just a feeling that you've got about the camera or it's really poorer...it's what happened to Honor 6x after updating to Nougat...
Why are you feeling that the camera is poorer....?
Shurykan said:
I choose this phone over the Honor 8 because of the camera.....!
Since is very difficult to obtain information about this model, I really don't know if it's just a feeling that you've got about the camera or it's really poorer...it's what happened to Honor 6x after updating to Nougat...
Why are you feeling that the camera is poorer....?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems like, that the Pictures at bad light conditions, are more poor then before the Update.
At good weatherconditions, the Pictures are really good (like before)
Macro Picutes are also good.
Roborootomat said:
It seems like, that the Pictures at bad light conditions, are more poor then before the Update.
At good weatherconditions, the Pictures are really good (like before)
Macro Picutes are also good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too bad... It's a deal-breaker for me.... ??
Is it possible to perform a rollback?
Shurykan said:
Too bad... It's a deal-breaker for me....
Is it possible to perform a rollback?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know, if a Rollback is possible....