[Q] Kernels and Firmware and all that?

Hey up chaps,

I've been on the site for a while and really enjoy the contribution that all the developers and everyone makes. I've mostly read stuff and never really bothered to make any threads or anything, as everything on here is self explanatory.

Anyway, I was just wanting a bit of clarification really. I've read the threads about flashing a new firmware, and the stuff about kernels, but I still have a bit of an issue understanding it all, and how it would affect me.

My understanding is that the firmware controls all the basics of the phone, like touchscreen, microphone, speakers, radio and all that stuff. And a kernel controls the way in which it works. Is that right?

I got my HTC One last August, and then unlocked it and rooted it, and then I put the Viper Rom on it, I think it was last updated to 4.3 Android OTA, the phone is an unlocked european (international) model.

I've often contemplated making the phone S-Off as I believe that gives a few benefits. Would I need to do that to put the latest firmware on it?

Would the latest firmware available on this forum make much difference to my phone? I don't have any concerns with it at the moment, but I'm always pleased when its updated and things work better or there are new features. How would I go about doing it? Would I have to wipe everything, and put a stock HTC international ROM on it to be able to update the firmware? Or could I flash it like I would with a ROM?

I'm not a developer or anything, but I can figure some things out with a little instruction.


I'll include the numbers in the bootloader in case anyone can advise me whether its worth upgrading the firmware/and or flashing a kernel.

M7_UL PVT SHIP S-ON RH
HBOOT-1.550000
RADIO-4A.21.3263.04
OpenDSP-v32.120.274.0909
OS-3.62.401.1
eMMC-boot 2048MB
Oct 17 2013,23:06:14.0

Thank you for any help you're able to give, and sorry if this is basic stuff and sorry if its something simple. I've had a look here: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2485651 and found it a bit confusing.

Would something like this website be a good first step: http://firewater-soff.com/ ?

Oh, and I have TWRP 2.6.3.3 and Viper ROM 6.1 at the moment. And I upgraded from the standard network unlocked ROM, it wasn't branded or anything when I bought it originally.

My build number is listed as 4.19.401.11 is that something that is related to the ROM or the actual phone? I was under the impression that it was the latter. http://forum.freeware.info.pl/gry/gothic.html

Is anyone able to shed any light on this for me? Thanks a lot.
Klondike: http://forum.freeware.info.pl/viewforum.php?f=4

clsA said:

S-off is good, very good - get s-off before you update to hboot 1.56
will you see any improvements with a new firmware ...probably not

not much changed between 4.3 and 4.4.2 firmware wise

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thanks for that. Good to know. So the best bet sounds to go to s-off and then I can wait for some more developments along the lines, if there are any. I doubt it as this is now an old model.

clsA said:

actually android 4.4.3 and Sense 6 are just around the corner

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Yeah. I've been using sense 6 happily on Viper Rom. I don't know whether the incremental android update would make much of a difference.

I heard someone saying that an updated firmware would improve the battery life. I've been looking at that firmware thread and still can't get my head around it.

What you said makes perfect sense. Thanks for that. I do a variety of things on my phone, not one thing over the other, so I'll get the phone s-off and then try out the latest firmware I think. http://m.freeware.info.pl/indy-cat.html

So I'm now S-OFF, and I've updated the bootloader to remove the hboot developmental red warning.

Whats the best course of action now? I've looked into radios, but not sure where I stand with that. My phone is an unlocked international model, and I'm in California on T-Mobile. Would putting the t mobile radio make much difference? Or should I just go with the latest firmware? From what I've read that includes a radio.


This is the latest firmware I would flash isn't it?

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2485651


Many thanks for the help.

Tachi91 said:

Using T-Mobile radio will benefit you since there tailored to US side of things, but you won't know until you try... Those zip aslong as they have the radio.img and the text file you can delete all the other things if you wish if not just flash them all.

Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thanks for that. I'll give that a go tomorrow and see what happens. I don't really have any problems with signal, and I know as my phone is a uk model there isn't any chance of me being able to utilize the 4g network. http://online.freeware.info.pl/shakes&fidget.html

Hello again,

I'm looking at this thread:

http://online.freeware.info.pl/klondike.html

and I'm a little confused about which radio I should put onto my phone. I'd like to give the T Mobile US radio and firmware a go but there are a couple of different ones listed in that thread and I'm uncertain about which to go for.

Thanks for the help.