HTC Desire series

[dapprman]

As per the title, is there any news as 2.3.5 is meant to fix many of the memory issues that made 2.3.3 OSed Zs almost unusable.

[dcarmi]

I didn't think there was a 2.3.5 for the DZ! I agree the problem with Sense is really really frustrating and very poor. It is caused by Sense being flushed out of memory and hence having to restart.

There are two solutions, since HTC seem unwilling to fix it.

1. Install another launcher like GO.

2. (and this is the irritating bit) There is a configuration that once changed prevents Sense from being flushed from memory. Basically it involves changing a 0 to 1. Unfortunately this involves rooting your phone, which is something I have not done on the one I currently have as it invalidates warranty. If interested Google for results.

It is most dissappointing that HTC have not seen fit to fix this problem, given that the potential solution is trivial.

[dcarmi]

Given I had recommended using another launcher, I thought it only right I give one a go. I installed Go Launcher Ex from Play Store (free) at the weekend. Installation was straightforward. You have to lay out the screens again and you cannot use Sense widgets of course. Go Launcher comes with its own widgets but I am also using those from Beautiful Widgets. 

Whe the phone needs a Launcher you can choose between Sense and Go and after a short while I set it to default to Go. I also tried the Go Lockscreen but decided to continue using the HTC one. (Go did not tell me how much my phone had charged when on the cable).

Go Launcher is perhaps not quite a slick looking as Sense but it has loads more functionality. I am able to set the screen to 5x5 (rather tha the default 4x4) and can resize objects on the screen. I have set up 7 screens and could have more, rather than the 5 Sense provides.

The application bar at the bottom of each screen can have 20 applications, shortcuts etc assigned. Defaults are phone, contacts, messages, app list and internet.

Transitions betweeen screens can be chosen. I have a rotating cube and the transition effect is smooth on my Desire Z and I have not specifically noticed any impact on battery life or overall performance.

Homescreens can rotate in 3 directions (it won't do upside down).

You can save and reload your Go Launcher Ex configuration to SD card.

Best of all and unlike Sense, it has not crashed. 

Will I keep Go Launcher Ex? There are a few minor things I need to work out yet but on the whole the added extras it provides means the benefits outweigh the familiarity of Sense. So I will keep it and further tweak the layout. The biggest advantages to me being the ability to add screens, change the layout to 5x5 and not crash. Besides, if I decide to ditch it I just de-install and go back to HTC Sense.

[DavidRennieWald…]

HTC haven't updated it since 2.3.3 (and probably never will).

am I really the only person that has 0 problems with 2.3.3 on it?

[dcarmi]

The nature of forums such as these is that people who have no problems rareky report the fact. For this reason it is hard to say how many people have no issues.

The problem with Sense restarting is fairly commonly reported, Count yyourself lucky, I guess.