[About XDA developers] Fallen Spartan:
Don't think my journey is anything special tbh, was just an ordinary bloke looking for a mobile slightly less mainstream, something different that I could tweak, modify etc. So I bought the HTC Wallaby. Was a good, solid device, with windows mobile, but it wasn't perfect (is any device?)........I wanted to mod it. Play with it. I went online for info, to do some research and stumbled across XDA Developers using one of the must useful tools ever.....Google!! :p

I lurked for a while, but officially joined XDA in 2007, bought a HTC Hermes and my journey with XDA properly began.

I got stuck into Windows Mobile, rooting my device, flashing custom roms and then passing my knowledge on to others, helping them unlock their devices. Myself and a good buddy CrAcKwHoRe (Who's sadly no longer on XDA) created a guide for new users, we put it down in layman's terms, we helped people. I can only assume it was this that caught the eye of one or two mods who contacted us both and asked it we'd like to become mods. I couldn't believe, these higher beings, gods of XDA where asking me to join them, I couldn't believe it. It was like Christmas coming early!!

So I became a mod in the spring of 2008, along with a number of other great guys who are also here to this day.

I changed my phone, got a Kaiser, then a Diamond, followed by a Blackstone, a Raphael, a HD2, a Desire Z.........through to my current device, the HTC One X. You probably noticed one consistency there, all HTC devices. Whether my next device will be HTC is another thing though, they really need to get their heads out of their asses, or they'll lose one loyal fan!!

Anyway, the other thing you may have noticed was I switched from Windows Mobile to Android. Yes, I did have a one other OS...windows 7 using the HD7.....but I didn't like it, hence the jump to Android

Having owned more a wide range of devices has enabled me to see a lot of the forum, meet and appreciate some truly awesome people, and pick up a few tips and tricks to help the newer generation at the same time.

This also helped me with my mod duties, and I've been very active and lucky in this aspect tbh, I joined before SM's and FSM's existed. We where all just moderators. There was no Moderator Committee, these where just thoughts, news plans being discussed between us moderators, admin and the owners. Strangely, once the plans where finished, the owners asked if I would like to be in the Committee....me??? Are you serious???? Are you mad (obviously they were :silly:).....But it was Christmas all over again!!!

....and the madness spread, I also joined the Developer Committee when it was first set up. They must have though I knew something, either that or I hid things well lol

Anyway, I've been blessed with XDA. Learnt many things. Made lots of new friends. Saw lots of changes....some for the good, some for the bad. XDA is a very different place now (and I'm going to plagurize a friends post earlier here). XDA is still the top source for 'tinkering' with your phone on the Internet. There are a lot of unsung heroes who can take pride in knowing they have shaped an amazing community. Quite a few of them still reside on staff today. It is home to some wonderful people, with wonderful ideas. We have lots of new things planned in the not so distant future, hopefully they will transform XDA, improve the experience for everyone. I'm just thankful to have been a small part of XDA, and I wish it to continue for as long as possible

Rick

Moderator/Developer Committee