Many smaller laptops/netbooks often come with a lack of USB ports. Something as simple as a mouse and flash drive pretty much pushes the limits of what smaller hardware can accommodate. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Noooo sir. When the going gets tough, the tough get a 24-port USB hub.
What anyone could possibly need 24 for at any given moment is beyond me. But I guess it’s nice to have the option, right? Pick yours up from Chinavasion for $28 bucks a pop.
If one word could sum up Android, it would be this: Unlimited. It’s literally unlimited what end users can *willingly* do with it. I mean, ports of ROMS traverse hardware boundaries and limitations, features added in after the fact bring about a more functional device, and then of course, completely different operating systems show perhaps the ultimate form of user customization. Take for instance the N1 you see ‘splayed above running Ubuntu. Yes, a full blown desktop OS on a phone.
Yeah, such hackery has been done many times before, and desktop OS’s aren’t really all that great on mobile devices anyway — The whole touch thing, ya know?. But that doesn’t mean we’re any less thrilled. As geeks, anything is fair game. Yup, even you you ubuntu running Nexus One.
For the full rundown and instructions (if you so choose to do this yourself), jump on over to NexusOneHacks.net and get to it. **Be sure to clear your calendar for the afternoon. Have fun…
One of the greatest things about a more open platform for smartphones I believe, is the ability to (if you choose) customize it until you’re hearts content. From personal experience, I swap ROM’s every couple of days on my DROID trying out the updates and newcomers to the custom DROID ROM scene alike. But porting various ROM’s developed for your phone, or at the very least, the phone’s operating system, are rather easy all things considered. Especially so when comparing a simple ROM port from one Android device to the next against porting a full blown desktop OS to a Sony Xperia X1. Oh yeah, it’s real.
As is usually true with all feats of smartphone hackery and digital strength, xda-forums is yet again home to the clever minds behind the Sony Xperia X1 Hardy Heron Edition. A quick glance above clearly shows the Linux OS up and running on the Xperia X1, bringing instant drool to many a geek. With such crazy ports and the obvious differences in each systems supporting hardware, the X1 Hardy Heron is at this point pretty limited in what it can do. But getting it to actually boot and run is the hard part.
Now all this project needs is a few more people that are either unemployed, on vacation, or a combination of the two to bring the functionality up to speed. Feelin’ a little crafty?
Android is all about customization and tweaking the hell out of it. While a large majority of those jumping on the Android bandwagon aren’t exactly the largest book of technical knowledge, it’s good to know that it’s not stopping development of custom ROM’s and all the enjoyable bits and pieces that make Android the highly customizable.
The last week has seen Android 2.1 (Flan) as the current “must have” for Droid users. I myself flashed the latest 2.1 ROM available and was thoroughly impressed though a few nagging issues such as non-working keyboard backlight are still keeping me tied to 2.0.1. I unlike many other Droid users however are also dying to get some Sense UI love on our Moto devices. That beast is entirely different and finally almost here.
If you’re entranced with Sense UI and are currently sporting a Moto Droid, stop on over to this thread on AllDroid and start hitting the refresh button. Thanks to “humancyborg”, Sense UI is making it’s way across the hardware gap. While this thread is still in it’s infancy, it’s already 8 pages long at writing.
A few days back when I was looking at the Android 2.1 ROM for the Droid, I stumbled across someone (can’t find it for the life of me now) mentioning someone — humancyborg to be exact — working on a Sense UI ROM for the Droid. A quick google search didn’t turn up any threads on any android forums. But that’s because until today, he was updating the world on his Sense UI ROM’s via his Twitter account: @humancyborg.
So what does it all mean? The Droid was rooted a only a couple of weeks ago. At first it didn’t seem like there was much benefit. Coming from an iPhone, Android itself is a huge step up in functionality. But as the devs around the world start picking up the pieces of the various bits of Android, we’re now finally starting to see some great stuff come to light with the early 2.1 and Sense UI ROMs.
One juicy tidbit is that as of writing, humancyborg posted a tweet saying that within the hour a new 2.1 dump will be ready for the Droid. How will it compare to already available 2.1 Droid ROM’s floating around on Alldroid? We will soon find out.
Ok, the final treat. There are even murmurs floating around of an upcoming Rosie ROM for the Droid. Rosie if you didn’t know is the spectacularly classy looking skin splashed all over Android on the Sony Xperia X10. The Android scene is really heating up folks.
Best Android 2.1 ROM’s to date for the Moto Droid:
Android’s openness and easily tweakable nature is quickly making it a hackers dream. If you don’t like something, fix it. In regards to the Droid, the biggest shortcoming many have voiced is the lack of multitouch support within the browser specifically as the Droid does actually have multitouch. (Just look at Dolphin browser on the Droid — it’s built in, Google just didn’t take advantage of it.)
Watching the video (below) is enough to make my mouth water and get all giddy inside. But what good or use is getting giddy if I’d never be able to poke, prod, pinch, and zoom myself? Thankfully we’ll all be able to very soon — as in the next couple of days.
Thank you’s can be sent to AllDroid’s Eugene and Barakinflorida whom put their Droids’ lives on the line in order to get a working Moto Milestone build up and running on it’s American counterpart. According to the duo, the builds works well. As well as a twin’s clothing should fit anyway. And for those worried about losing Google Navigation can remain calm as the pair above retained the multitouchy goodness of the Milestone’s firmware and tacked Google Nav on top. Super.
Keep those eyes glued to Gadgetsteria for as soon as we hear about the Milestone-Droid ROM dropping, we’ll be sure to pass it along to you dear reader.
Wetting your pants in excitement that AT&T is finally, finally getting on board with Android? Sorry to say that your little accident was for naught as AT&T is still stiff arming Google’s baby. Why? Well there’s many reasons why. (1) They don’t care about all of this “openness” crap. (2) Don’t want to harm exclusive agreements with Apple. Or (3), they’re just plain stupid. My vote’s for three, but this entire issue is best reserved for another article.
Don’t go just yet. I wasn’t lying when I said the Motorola Milestone was coming to AT&T. The only thing is you’ll have to do a little cross boarder magic yourself by picking up one of these GSM beauts from our friends up north. Telus Canada is launching the Milestone in “early 2010″. Since they use the same frequencies as AT&T, any interested user simply has to go ahead and purchase one unlocked. Full price isn’t going to be pretty as it looks to be easily north of $500. Still, if you want to get in on some GSM baed Android action via AT&T, this is your best and only bet for the time being.
Well sweet Jebus. Android how I love thee. If HTC’s Sense UI has lost the luster of your eye or simply isn’t your cup ‘o tea, perhaps you’d care to try your luck with Motorola’s new Android skin, “MOTOBLUR”, on your trusty G1? I sure would! That is…if I had a G1. Moving on, the dirty deeds are detailed in the vid above in case you’re feeling gutsy.
After the whole Google/Cyanogen drama, I’m sure Google, and more importantly Moto won’t be too thrilled with this harmless port. Hey, if you come to the open source game you better learn that open source individuals share…not restrict the free flow of information and goods. Hack away guys (and gals)!
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