GADGET REVIEWS Just another GADGET NEWS

If you love Nokia hardware but wish for a better operating system, consider what some enthusiastic developers have done.

As part of a project called NITDroid, the developers have created a compatible version of Android operating system for Nokia’s internet tablets. The result is a device that has the body of Nokia and the brains of Android.

“Nokia’s hardware is fantastic but their software is sub optimal, slow buggy and not always the best user experience,” says Terrence Eden, a U.K.-based mobile consultant who installed Android 1.6 ‘Donut’ on his Nokia N810. “Android is a much better software environment for Nokia hardware than what Nokia provides.”

Eden’s Nokia-Android hybrid works well except for access to Google Market and apps, he says.

Meanwhile developers have created a stable version of Android 2.2 Froyo for the Nokia N900, which ships with Nokia’s Maemo operating system. They have been able to get calls, data and Google apps going on the hacked device. The only missing feature is camera support.

This is not the first time a phone has been hacked to run an entirely different kind of operating system. Eager to experience Android’s features, some intrepid smartphone users hacked their Windows Mobile phones to run Android.

With Android for Nokia phones, the NITdroid project has had varying degrees of success. So far, they have attempted to port Android for Nokia’s tablet range of devices–which means the Nokia N770, N800, N810, and N900.

“On the N810., everything is pretty much functional. It isn’t a phone so there’s no call functionality to deal with,” says Eden.

But with the N900, users have found themselves unable to use the Android-powered device to make calls on a 3G network or change the screen brightness.

Tweaking the Nokia phones to change its operating system to Android isn’t for everyone, says Eden.

“It’s not something anyone off the street can do,” he says. “It’s a bit like installing Linux on the PC that you bought off Best Buy.”

But for those who are willing to take the risk, Eden has written a step-by-step guide on his blog for getting Android on the N810. The NITDroid wiki also has an installation guide for other Nokia phones.

Photo: Terence Eden

Source:wired.com

Posted under Gadget Reviews

A full carrier-unlock is now available for the iPhone 4. The whole process, from virgin iPhone 4 to jailbroken, carrier-independent iPhone takes seconds. Even a video showing how to do the whole thing lasts less than a minute and a half.

You need to jailbreak your iPhone to allow support for non-approved applications. Currently this is a one-click (one one-slide) process done by visiting the site jailbreakme.com. Then head to the Cydia store (where you’ll find all these non-approved apps) and search for an app called Ultrasn0w.

Install that, and you’re done. Congratulations: You’re iPhone should now work on pretty much any GSM carrier in the world, although further configuration will be needed to get everything working properly. If you live outside the US, it’s likely that your iPhone 4 is actually sold unlocked (hint: if more than one carrier offers the phone in your country, it is probably not carrier-locked).

Grow, grow ultrasn0w! [Dev Team Blog]

Video [TechTechManTV/YouTube]

Follow us for real-time tech news: Charlie Sorrel and Gadget Lab on Twitter.

Source:wired.com

Posted under Gadget Reviews

Hardcore Android fans have been leery of the Motorola Droid X because of the chip and bootloader combination in the device that could potentially brick it if custom versions of the Android operating system are loaded on it.

But now, they are a step closer to doing just that. The Droid X forum has posted step-by-step directions for rooting the Droid X–the Android equivalent of jailbreaking a device to get complete control. Rooting the device also lets users get rid of bloatware on their phones and tweak some of the features that they wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

The $200 Droid X (after a $100 rebate and with a Verizon wireless contract) hit retail shelves on July 15. The phone has a 4.3-inch screen and a 1 GHz processor. It launched with Android 2.1 operating system. It is expected to get an upgrade to Android 2.2 Froyo in the summer.

But last week, Android geeks found that Motorola has made it difficult for hackers to mod the Droid X by using a bootloader and chip combination that could potentially brick the phone if it is broken. The Droid X’ processor includes a feature called “eFuse” that’s intended to make it easier to tweak the chip’s power and memory after it is shipped.

However, eFuse only allows the device to start up when Motorola’s software is installed, squashing hackers hopes that they can quickly get custom ROMs on the device.

Rooting the Droid X is the first step towards being able to port a custom ROM on the phone. So far, based on the feedback in the forums, the Droid X root seems to work well. It will be interesting to see how soon the Android community can break the eFuse lock and port a custom ROM on the Droid X.

Photo: Droid X (Stefan Armijo/Wired.com)

Source:wired.com

Posted under Gadget Reviews