We Android device owners (especially HTC owners) are a spoiled bunch. Not only do we get to own the best phones on the market, but we have free reign to hack, flash, update, modify and do whatever else we like to the hardware we spent our hard earned cash on. And it is because of this freedom that I bring to you another HTC Desire Rom Review! So, without further ado…
Runnymede 5.0 [STOCK][BEATS][RCTWEAKS] by sebastiaan15
This ROM is the first one I have tested that is running HTC Sense 3.5, the last HTC Sense UI before Ice Cream Sandwich was released. It provides some extra functionality through a new lockscreen, customisation buttons directly on the Home screen and a few other minor tweaks. Because the Sense UI has been borrowed from the HTC Runnymede, the text and images can be a bit small in some places due to the smaller screen size on the Desire, but otherwise it’s easily readible and provides a sleeker look compared to the HTC Sense 2/3 we are used to.
At first I had issues obtaining the correct ROM from the forums thread. Most ROM threads are notoriously hard to navigate because the authors have some kind of fixation with creating a 5 page long post and hiding all sorts of information in the corners where you don’t notice them. I downloaded the Data++ HBOOT version instead of the Stock HBOOT version, and ended up with force-closes galore. So pay attention! Once I got the correct version of the ROM installed, I then had performance issues where the UI would stutter and lock up for minutes on end. Eventually I narrowed this down to the CPU Frequency Governor being set to smartass. Luckily, an application called Daemon Controller is provided with the ROM. I disabled the Daemon and set the governor to good old trusty “ondemand”, which solved all problems.
Also included is Beats Audio. Apart from the boot animation, this seems to simply be a gimmick aimed at showcasing the multimedia capabilities of HTC Sense. There is no noticeable difference in audio quality, although I have not played any music through the speakers or any headphones, so it’s not fair for me to say this is a pro or a con. From what I understand it’s simply some changes to the equaliser to optimise listening on headphones.
Pros:
- HTC Sense 3.5 (based on the HTC Runnymede).
- Simple installation.
- Once configured properly, very smooth and quick.
- Comes with Adfree, and some other tweaks.
- Very good battery life (depending on your CPU frequency governor setting).
- No fancy gimmicks, no branding.
Cons:
- Default CPU FREQ governor caused issues with my phone (Smartass).
- Google applications such as Market are not up to date.
- Sound volumes seem to be boosted arbitrarily.
- Bugs such as wallpaper previews not showing are still occuring.
Overall, this ROM is a great choice for those wanting to see HTC Sense 3.5 on the aging HTC Desire. ROMs like these are a great testament to the HTC Desire and it’s versatility and prolonged life, backing up the many awards the Desire has won, and still continues to win, even though it’s nearly 2 years old. I highly recommend you perform a full wipe before installation, so back up any important data before diving in.
