I’ve read somewhere before that it is possible to use an Android phone that isn’t under contract for Unity development. Is this still true? If so, is there anything I need to know before looking for an Android phone (e.g. does it need to be unlocked)? I’ve seen several HTC phones with Android and was considering one of those. All help/advice is greatly appreciated.
Unity3d’s Android does not care if the Android is branded or rooted, so the contract is pretty irrelevant when you are developing. In my case, i am using a smartphone without any plan and instead i use a pre-paid card.
What does a contract have to do with anything?
What exactly do you use the pre-paid card for (why would I need one)? I don’t own an Android device but i’m assuming it can connect to wifi freely if it isn’t under contract.
if the device can start without the sim card you are probably good to go.
Actually I just tested my nexus wihtout a sim card and it works fine.
Very few android devices require you to have a sim card, and most that do have a trick to bypass the screen anyway.
I use a virgin mobile phone (evo v, which is basically rebranded evo 3d) which is prepaid, an HP touchpad with android on it, as well as a virgin mobile Optimus V. The two phone’s I’ve built a test unity program to before activating, and the touchpad doesn’t even have the possibility of a contract system, as well as the new Nexus 7, which doesn’t have any contract system or anything.
The only way not having a contract would effect you is if you got one that locks the screen without a sim, like mentioned above.
EDIT:
OH!!! You also need to make certain the device is ARMv7 or higher. Very few ARMv6 devices work. If they do, they have to have a specific time (VFP if I recall right) which is why the optimus v worked at all with unity. (Please note that ARMv11 is not higher then 7… If I remember right it’s a modified v6.)
That’s why I made sure, however remote the possibility, if you can be certain within a minute, you do it.
The Kindle Fire doesn’t have a contract either and developing for it was not a problem.
Buy a used phone/tablet on eBay (or equivalent). It’s cheaper, no contract needed, and saves the environment from yet another new device that will probably end up in a landfill.
For phones you can buy a “BAD ESN” phone to get an even better deal. With those phones you won’t be able to activate them on a cellular network ever but it doesn’t sound like you care. They work fine for development and can connect to the Internet via Wifi.
We bought 6 popular devices on eBay for less than $500. Most were bad ESN.