Convert Canadian 6045i to US 6045i with all updates (performance, stagefright, etc).

Be very careful doing this, you could brick your phone if you aren't - you have been warned.

Okay, so, us Idol 3 users in Canada are stuck waiting for Alcatel to have any updates blessed by our cell carrier (Bell/Virgin, Telus/Koodo) before we're "allowed" to get them. And as we all know, Canadian cell carrier aren't exactly prompt about this sort of thing. So what's an enterprising XDA user to do, then? Why, convert your device to a US model, of course!

Step 1: Install TWRP
That can be done with this thread here, courtesy of @DallasCZ

Step 2: Download the latest US firmware
That can be done by downloading this file here, courtesy of @famewolf

Step 3: Flashing
Okay, so first, BACK UP YOUR EXISTING FIRMWARE. Take a system image, or nandroid, as your choice may be. Then, do the following:

• Decompress the US firmware


• Copy the decompressed 1970-01-22--16-43-23_LRX22G_release-keys folder into your TWRP/Backups/XXXXX/ folder on your External SD card or USB-OTG storage, where XXXXX is your device ID assigned by TWRP when you backed up your existing firmware.


• Wipe everything *but* External SD and USB-OTG in TWRP.


• DO NOT REBOOT - go back, and select Restore in TWRP. Pick the US firmware backup.


• Flash *both* the boot and system image.


• Reboot System. If your phone does the same as mine, it will seem to get stuck on the 'Alcatel/Smart Move' animation. Hold power until the phone turns off, then turn it back on. It should quickly go to 'Upgrading Android'.


• You're done! Set up your device, and feel free to install SuperSU, remove bloatware (AVG? Ugh), etc.

I didn't even need to add APN info for Virgin Mobile, it already set up the Bell Canada APN - worked right away out of the box.

One comment to note - I do not know that a Canadian device converted to a US one can get OTA updates, as I believe Alcatel uses some sort of IMEI identification to see what OTA ought to be passed to a device, but I'm unable to confirm this. Of course, I'm personally fine with just manually updating when need be, but that's up to you to decide if you are as well.

AS ALWAYS, BE CAREFUL, DO THIS PROCESS AT YOUR OWN RISK
Don't forget to thank @DallasCZ and @famewolf for their posts/uploads making this possible!