Stable Android 2.1 hacked onto Droid, speeds through those extra home screens

Staying warm out there? Got a cup of hot cocoa in hand? Good, because Mr. Greek35T over at AllDroid has a stable version of the (previously rough-around-the-edges) Android 2.1 ROM ready for all you Droid users to play around with. It's officially "super fast," and probably the best thing to happen this weekend outside of that wicked jump you built on the neighborhood sledding hill before you went and watched Avatar with all your old high school friends. Hit up the source link for the full install instructions, and there's a video of 2.1 in action after the break.

[Thanks, Brandon]

[reallynotnick Posted Dec 19th 2009 5:05PM]

@trm2124
My last final is on the night of the 22nd so I won't leave until the 23rd.

[Xudd Posted Dec 19th 2009 8:04PM]

@trm2124 21st here. A lot of people already left. Damn you registrar's office.

[astrath Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:22PM]

Very nice. Good to see Android finally getting speedy.
For me that's the one important feature about this releae.

I guess 2.1 is what 2.0 should have been, if Motorola and Verizone hadn't want to release the Droid before christmas (as Google always said that 2.0 is somehting we should expect in 2010).

[MedioGringo Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:41PM]

@astrath "if Motorola and Verizone"

What is that, the Italian version of Verizon?

"Frah-geee-lay" must be Italian. "Honey, I that that says fragile."

[qlimax Posted Dec 19th 2009 6:03PM]

@MedioGringo
E Frah-geee-lay che ca**o vuol dire :O ciauzz

[Charlie Eggwhite Posted Dec 19th 2009 6:41PM]

@astrath yeah it looks slick but "super fast"?! C'mon, if Android is only just now getting up to a respectable speed performance wise I'm amazed at all the "Android is the BEST" shouting that's been going on these last couple of years. I'd have been tearing my hair out long ago in frustration at a miserably slow OS... Still 2.1 does finally look comparable to other alternative OSes so that's a good thing I guess.

[Chefgon Posted Dec 20th 2009 9:47AM]

Android has run at a reasonable speed since it came out, but it has never had the rock solid UI responsiveness that the iPhone has. Even if it accomplishes tasks in about the same amount of time, it can feel slightly slower if the UI lags a quarter of a second to respond to clicks.

[yyandrew Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:23PM]

this is awesome. but I'm still waiting for the official release of 2.1 ...I've just got my droid-owning-protectiveness going on right now :p

[SquidLord Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:27PM]

How'd you know I saw Avatar with my high-school buddies?

[andthemaniam Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:27PM]

man that looks fast :D my Android envy is unbearable!

[emzino Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:31PM]

What happened to the story about the NexusOne being a fake or some kind of Dev only phone... Only reason I raise the point is because there still seems to be alot of news and excitement over it's unofficially stated launch in January (5th?).

[MedioGringo Posted Dec 19th 2009 4:38PM]

Yep, seems like the Nexus One hype turned out to be a bust. It's just a nice piece of hardware with Android 2.1 on Tmo. I bet it's not even Google branded, but sold as the Tmo Nexus One. Oh well.

That said, I'll still be getting one on the 5th (if that is indeed the release date). Then, when HTC releases this as the Bravo 6 months from now, I'll pay the $200 bucks to break my contract, sell the phone for $300, and get phone I really want.

Can't make it much longer with this $30 phone I've been using.

[emzino Posted Dec 19th 2009 5:05PM]

@MedioGringo Lol what's funny is, I think me and you are on the exact same boat!

I've been using a very old Nokia since August 2008. Reason was I waiting for the iPhone 3GS. Due to other commitments, I held it off and then Android really started picking up.

The Hero, as beautiful as it is, was too slow for my liking. I think the waiting is starting to pay off and I hope it doesn't take TOO long for this badboy to come out in Europe (UK).

[MedioGringo Posted Dec 19th 2009 5:08PM]

@emzino HTC usually releases their phones in Europe first, so the Bravo, if it sticks to the leaked brochure, should be out in April.

I've almost bough a Hero so many times I can't count them any more. Hopefully, the wait is almost over.

[dchao22 Posted Dec 19th 2009 5:01PM]

I can't wait to get my hands on it

[JChez Posted Dec 19th 2009 5:22PM]

"GPS doesn't work". Wait! What?
Thanks but no thanks I'll wait.

[Marcos BC Posted Dec 19th 2009 6:11PM]

I have one question: is that the default interface for Android 2.1, or is it a customized ROM?
Thanks in advance!

[angel12 Posted Dec 19th 2009 6:12PM]

@Marcos BC thats the default launcher and homescreen afaik, at least thats all we have seen of 2.1, because it is ripped from the nexus one

[Marcos BC Posted Dec 19th 2009 6:14PM]

@angel12 Oh, that was fast!
Thanks (again)!

[nexusone Posted Dec 19th 2009 6:49PM]

I'm still not sure if I want to put this on my Droid or not :)

http://www.droidforums.net has a few people who have done it without problems though.

[Chas Percodani Posted Dec 19th 2009 7:09PM]

@angel12 While I know this was the img from humancyborg, it was nowhere near as stable when I used his. Whatever Greek did to this it really makes a big difference. I hope he credits humancyborg BUT he did some extra work that human hasn't done yet so out of the 2 that are available now Greek's is the better one.

[gwhat88 Posted Dec 19th 2009 7:19PM]

This looks amazing! I want it now

[solo Posted Dec 19th 2009 8:05PM]

I'll wait for the OTA release this time. GPS ain't all there yet anyways. Nice to see what's coming tho.

[KI2594 Posted Dec 19th 2009 9:33PM]

My friend is curious: Will they actually officially release 2.1 to the Droid anytime soon?

[Grundyman Posted Dec 20th 2009 12:33AM]

im with you

[eshirazp Posted Dec 20th 2009 2:30AM]

I got the droid the first day it came out. Will Verizon not allow me to take my phone there and update it from 2.0.1 to 2.1?

[kajal Posted Dec 20th 2009 9:56AM]

Speedy android is a good thing, I want to see the new things
http://www.gizmoji.com

[wesley anthony Posted Dec 21st 2009 3:37AM]

Oh yes, cant wait for this!

Im not updating early cause i depend on GPS, but still

6 home screens? sexy new icon dock! im in!

[Loick Posted Dec 21st 2009 2:46PM]

THERES REALLY NO POINT OF THE SNAPDRAGON IS THERE??!

[toocou Posted Jan 7th 2010 7:00AM]

is it quicker?