Today I will be doing just as the title suggests — unlocking and upgrading an HTC Apache to run Windows Mobile 6.1. Or at least that’s what I’m aiming to do. Everyone I’ve told this to seems to snicker and wish me luck. Is it impossible? From a brief bit of internet sleuthing, I’d say it’s possible. Is it practical? Maybe not.
The hardware in the HTC Apache is less than snappy. The Apache runs Windows Mobile 5 originally, has a miniSD slot, 128 MB of internal memory, a 416 MHz PXA270 CPU, 64k-colour TFT, 1.3 MP camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, USB, IR, and has a QWERTY keyboard and a touchscreen.
I’m excited to get this show on the road — so let’s see if I can’t find myself a good, stable ROM to start. Stay tuned for Part 2!
In the meantime, tell me — what’s the craziest upgrade/unlock you’ve done?
Good evening from Rome,
I have bought HTC APACHE last year in Hong kong. When I have bought they told me that it was unlock. But When I have put my simcard telephon doesn’t work. How can I unlock my apache please can u help me…
gee, i’ve unlocked Windows Mobile phones for the past 5 years and i don’t remember what crazy thing i’ve done. perhaps it could be the Touch HD. unlocked it last week, not realizing if i brick it, it would be the most expensive PDA i’ve bricked.
Not only is this very doable, it actually works really well. The apache is much more stable and snappy on windows mobile 6.1.
Now, if you want to really go crazy, why not try Windows Mobile 6.5 on the apache? I’ve had it running that for a few days now. It works great. A little buggy occasionally but not in a particularly devastating way. I haven’t even had to soft reset the thing which was unheard of with windows mobile 5.
I guess that’s probably the “craziest” upgrade I’ve ever done, but the upgrade itself is really easy. It’s crazy in that it’s insane to think that this 3 year old phone could run something that newer, more expensive phones will probably never see.
Here’s a link to the PPCgeeks post with the 6.5 rom. http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=58497