Sprint Pre 2 'FrankenPre' is finally a success 37
Back in November, during Developer Day NYC, we chronicled how webOS Internals' Rod Whitby had hacked apart and then hacked together the radio and back of a Sprint Pre (minus) with a Dev Day "Oprah Moment" Pre 2, along with some software changes via MetaDoctor, to create a Pre 2 that ran on Sprint. Ran, yes, but not well; there were subsequent discoveries that the "Two-ed" Sprint Pre might not properly access the App Catalog or receive OTA updates, as described in our forum thread about the process. Today, the FrankenPre lives and despite a bolt in its neck, appears to be fully functional and beats with the heart of true App Catalog access.
A few days ago (i.e. as soon as Verizon finally started selling the Pre 2), Whitby and his teammates at webOS Internals began to experiment on leveraging the Verizon webOS 2.0 Doctor to improve the usability of the Sprint-ified Pre 2. (See this forum thread for info.) As usual with such efforts once our community puts its collective mind to them, it didn't take long.
This morning, details have been posted in our forums, including one new twist: webOS 2.x masquerading as 1.4.5. The 1.4.5 masquerade was a crucial development, since previously, conflicts between various system elements caused hacked Pre 2s to report their webOS version as "9.9.9" to the App Catalog, so apps that were version-specific (including PDK apps like Angry Birds) would neither show as available nor install properly.
A subsequent tweet offered a screenshot showing Angry Birds in the App Catalog, to prove PDK availability.
Whitby has already posted instructions for this conversion in the forum, and has been careful to point out that "the app-cat-compatible Sprint Pre 2 is created from official HP doctors only. No leaked files or NDA info is used in the making." He expects (as do we) that webOS World, which offers paid "plussing" services for the Sprint Pre, will expand into "Two-ing" now.
It's almost a cliche by now, but kudos to Whitby, the rest of the webOS Internals group, and the entire broader webOS user community for once again pushing the envelope and showing how much potential our favorite open source, developer-friendly smartphone/tablet/desktop platform has.
Update: WebOS World does indeed intend to offer an upgrade service, you can sign up here. We should note that even this simplified service is probably for experts-only, as once you do it you won't be able to do OTA updates.
Source: PreCentral Forums
37 Comments
great job Rod and company.
I'm in so much awe! Is Verizon still more expensive than Sprint? Do you still have to pay extra for navigation? If yes, then plussing, twoing, & maybe threeing might be viable solutions for us all!
I've been comparison shopping and I can tell you that yes, verizon is still more expensive than Sprint.
Time to start shopping for a cheap Pre 2
I have a GSM Pre2 coming soon. I'll be all over this when it comes. Thanks guys.
Too bad I just bought a Verizon Pre+ off of eBay to + my Sprint Pre! I was going to attack that project next weekend.
Anyone interested in a Verizon Pre+ in near mint condition? (3 minor scratches on screen)
i'm thinking I may fork up the $ to webOS world. This could tied me over until we get some HP love from sprint.
You guys are incredible. Geek on!
*With tear in eyes* You guys are awesome.
This is why WebOS is the best, cause of people like you guys...
Thank you webos internalz. Finally somebody gave us hope. Where do I donate.
If you feel so inclined http://donate.webos-internals.org
Rod is the man. No Doubt.
Amazing work! However with the release of the pre 2 on Verizon wouldn't that be easier and cheaper to hack instead of two pre's being combined.
If it wasn't for this community I would of went back to a Feature phone. I haven't tried to go from a minus to a plus, but now that my phone is falling apart I might as well try to go to the Pre 2 until I see if Sprint will carry the Pre 3 or allow it on their network.
I will be donating part of my hard earned paycheck to webOs internals since I do not know how to program and don't know anything besides following your incredible instructions.
I have no idea what I'm doing but it's got me this far from day 1. Here is the list of things that I've done just by following instructions in Precentral.net.
1. Unlocked phone using the konami code
2. Installed webos quick install
3. Installed several patches
4. Installed different themes
5. Installed and still using preware
6. Got a seido 2600mA battery and made it touchstone compatible
7. Installed windows remote for controlling my desktop
8. Installed freetether before it was easy
9. Installed terminal
10. Installed virtual keyboard
11. I have 6 launcher pages
12. Most important I installed uberkernal and govnah to 500/1000
13. Installed wifi sync for easy transfer
14. Installed media streamer
15. Installed DanPLC's music player remix which I abuse when I go to the gym.
15. I know I've done more.
This is where I will take my biggest step to go from the Pre Minus to the Pre2. I'm willing to break my phone just to upgrade.
Does anyone have any advice on how to save everything the way I have on my pre minus to a pc file just incase something goes wrong? I usually write everything I've done and save my media to my computer hard drive.
Thanks Rod and everyone in this beautiful community.
I'll be sticking around and see what else you people come up with.
Yes, use Save/Restore by WebOS Internals. You can get it on Preware. Here is a link to the forum thread: http://bit.ly/bL4TE6
can anyone explain to me why, if verizon is going to have the pre2, why I wouldn't be able to buy from hp unlocked, and activate on sprint.. Keep in mind this coming from a person that just last week installed preware on my pre minus, even though I've had it since it came out. So dnt go too hard on me if this is a stupid question. Thanks... Donate link please!! Preware is sooooo awsome.. There is no os oit the as veritile as webos.. Everyone else is taking notes but they still don't have you guys *snicker, scoffs*...lol
at least as of right now, HP does not sell a CDMA unlocked device. Also, Palm's profile servers will report a device version of 9.9.9 on a Sprint Pre2 running 2.0.1 (which is what locks you out of the app cat). Using this method the profile servers detect a device version of 1.40.50 allowing app cat access.
WOW!!!. webOS will survive not because of HP...but because of people like Rob and the rest of webOS internals keeping the webOS community always on their toes blowing as away when there seems to be no hope left.
Keep up the good work guys and i firmly believe a couple of years from now, webOS will surpass iOS and Android and it'll be because webOS Internals, Precentral, etc brought the BEST out of webOS when everyone else threw in the towel.
Time to donate some $$$$.
If nothing lands on Sprint this summer, I'll definitely be doing this. GREAT JOB!
thanks for explaining that
Please note: After doing this Preware also thinks that your device is 1.4.5... thus offering you patches for 1.4.5. Please DO NOT install 1.4.5 patches on 2.0.1.
There's an additional step we haven't done yet which will remedy this.
-- Rod
i didnt understand if work also with gsm pre from europe or only with sprint pre......
The same technique could work with getting a Pre2 working on other carriers that don't have the Pre2... someone will have to test it though as I don't have a non-sprint Pre to toy with.
This is certainly cool, but I would be much more interested in a working frankendoctor so we could get webos2 onto an overclocked pre-
I still don't really understand why HP is saying that the older phones don't have the horsepower to utilize webos2 when the big things the touted for webos2 were moving completely to javascript libraries instead of java and adding hardware accelerated css which should both reducte the horsepower required.
All I want to know does it come with a black tall wig with a lightning bolt on it, as Elsa Lancaster wore in the bride of FrankenPre, I mean Frankstein?
Thank You WebOS Internals! You Are the Greatest! Keep webOS Alive!
Can you post Detailed info, on how I can buy a Pre 2, and then have someone "doctor" it for Sprint? Do I buy it from Version or HP? Where do I mail it, once I get it? How long will it take? How much will it cost to "doctor" it? How much of my info will you need to set it up? Will I have ANY kind of warrenty, or will it be STRICTLY "Buyer Beware"?
I look forward to proceeding with this, and I Will Donate to WebOS Internals!!
WebOS World will be providing a commercial service to do this.
-- Rod
I took apart both my broken Pre -'s this weekend and combined them into one working one (one of my resources was Rod's disassembly posts). Learned a lot! Definitely interested in looking closer at these details!
It's great that it finally results in a fully functional Sprint Pre 2. Since I don't think we'll need to worry about OTA updates anymore anyway, I'll definitely be trying this.
Sorry to ask this maybe dumb question:
Will/or this "frankenPre" WebOS doctor will in any way benefit all the original Palm Pre/Plus (GSM espacialy) owners?
O this is solely work dedicated to the frankenpre/2 on Sprint to run WebOS 2.x?
It is the latter.
There is still a missing piece of the puzzle for the former.
-- Rod
those don't look like HP laptops =)
I thought I was the only one who noticed, haha!
I just wanna say that it is REALLY awesome to see so many happy and positive posts. It's been so dark and dreary as of late.
How sad
How about an ETA on the simplified method. Possibly a Home brew download or simple root instructions?
I suppose we sill don't want to jump the gun yet.