The HTC One M7 Smartphone on a display for viewing. (Photo : Reuters)
HTC One M7 is getting a major update after the new Google Plus Android 5.1.1 Lollipop custom ROM has been released by a tech expert and the easy steps on how to install the upgrade were also revealed by the developer himself.
Google Plus Android 5.1.1. Lollipop custom ROM, which was created by XDA Developer Forum's santod040, will add and improve some features to the One M7 after completing its installation. Among the improvements of this update include the latest SuperSU, quick unlock, advanced power menu, volume panel timeout, lock screen shortcuts, the Ambient display, custom wake gestures, and the ability to disable SeLinux during installation process.
Before installing the update in HTC One M7, there are some things that the user needs to consider. First, the smartphone should be rooted prior to the start of ROM's installation. Rooting, also known as "manual software installation" should only be done by a person with knowledge of this process. It should be noted though that only the HTC One M7 (GSM) model is compatible with the ROM update. Other devices might get bricked if a user will try to update a non-GSM model.
Tech experts advised the HTC owners to backup important phone data because the ROM installation involves a "clearing memory" process. In order to backup data, the user may download the Clockwork Mod (CWM) Recovery app in the smartphone.
Installing USB drivers on desktop computers is also advised because the ROM update will come from the PC, making it important for the computing device to identify the connected smartphone. Lastly, the smartphone's battery should be more than 80 percent to ensure the success of the ROM installation.
According to The Revoluzionne, to start installing the ROM update, download both the Google Plus Android 5.1.1. Lollipop custom ROM and the Google Apps in the user's PC. Next, the HTC One M7 should be connected to the computer with the use of a USB cord. Then, move the zip files of the custom ROM and the Google Apps from PC to the SD memory card of the smartphone. The boot.img file should be placed in this directory: android-sdk-windowsplatform-tools.
After the process of downloading and moving the files into their right location, the device should be turned off and disconnected from the computer. Next, use the Bootloader mode to advance the installation process. A more detailed instruction regarding this mode was provided by XDA Developers on their site. After this process, reopen the smartphone, then go to Settings to confirm the installation of the custom ROM for Google Plus Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
HTC One M7 is the seventh model created by HTC Corporation and was released in 2013. The smartphone received some positive reviews because of its features such as the impressive 468 ppi display and the high-powered 2.6W RMS stereo sound system. M7 was awarded as the "Best New Mobile Device" by the GSM Association during the 2013 Mobile World Congress.
