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Nexus S has been rooted, let the madness commence!
Our good friends at xda-developers haven't kept us waiting long. Root access on the Nexus S has been achieved on the phone's day of release, and full instructions for replicating it are available at the link below. The Nexus S is the proud and so far only carrier of Google's latest and greatest Android software, so you're basically getting unrestricted access to the very best Mountain View can offer. Hit that source link. Do it. [Thanks, Brad] Update: An Android team member has written in to remind us that the Nexus S, like the Nexus One before it, is designed with a user-unlockable bootloader out of the box -- it's not a magic trick. Good to know they're keeping the tradition going.
Gingerbread ROMs start cooking for HTC EVO 4G et al; keyboard ported for rooted Androids
You can have your doubts about when your phone maker will finally get around to delivering an Android 2.3 update (March if you're with HTC, June if Samsung, 2017 if you're unfortunate enough to own a Sony Ericsson), but the smartphone dev community doesn't work that slowly. The guys who build custom ROMs just for the sheer pride of it have already begun work on delivering Gingerbread to owners of HTC's EVO 4G, Droid Eris, and Wildfire. It's all in the very nascent stages and warnings abound that you should only install these ROMs if you intend to contribute to the development process, but it does give us hope for a consumable new OS in the not so distant future. One thing that does look ready to be gobbled up, however, is Gingerbread's new software keyboard -- you'll find the download and installation instructions at the Droid-Life link below, just remember to bring your rooted Android phone along. [Thanks, Jacob]
Nexus S poses for Mr. Blurrycam, flaunting those signature curves
That fine bastion of cellular modding prowess known as XDA-developers received some particularly savory snaps this fine Thanksgiving morn -- spy shots of Samsung's elusive Nexus S running an operating system that looks uncannily like Gingerbread, which it calls "Android version 2.3," and sporting a new back cover that would look perfectly normal on the original Samsung Galaxy S, if not for the extra curves. XDA's source also claims it has a 720p video camera, though other specs are still a little shaky. To be clear, this is most definitely the phone that Eric Schmidt showed us at the Web 2.0 Summit, though the rear cover looks much further along -- assuming Samsung hasn't scrapped it for a dual-core version, we wouldn't be surprised if we saw it again in person quite soon. Hit up our source link for some shots of a green-and-black operating system running on that AMOLED screen. [Thanks, Sid]
Hacker cons HTC Touch Pro 2 into providing multitouch, other WinMo devices too (video)
Never, ever doubt the skill and determination of the guys over at xda-developers, capable of cracking any device and bringing you fresh ROMs to brighten up your stuffy gadgets. This latest bit of wunder-code isn't a full new image, rather a tiny WinMo app that does something magical: enables multitouch on single-touch resistive screens. How? Sadly developer OndraSter isn't saying just yet, but it relies on leaving one finger in place and moving the other, so perhaps it detects a jump in touch position and treats it as a pinch gesture. In the videos below it's shown working in Opera, but should work anywhere, and while the developer filmed these on an HTC Touch Pro 2 he says this will work on just about any WinMo 6 or 6.1 device. The app has sadly not been released to the wild just yet, but we hope OndraSter drops some binaries soon before he starts a riot among Windows Mobile users with more than one finger. [Thanks, Wes]
HTC Desire ROM makes Sense on the Nexus One
It's no secret that the HTC Desire is the exact same hardware as the Nexus One with a Sense-based Android build on top of it, so it shouldn't be any surprise that an enterprising hacker has already started porting the Desire's ROM over to Google's baby. Interestingly, the system file is a little too big for the Nexus One's internal storage, so some rearranging was necessary, and not everything works yet, but it's a start -- and apparently Flash 10.1 is included and enabled, so this one should be a hot ticket when it's released. [Thanks, Thalib]
HTC Hero gets a leaked Android 2.1 ROM with Sense
We just saw some leaked shots of a Hero running Android 2.1 with HTC Sense a couple days ago, and now it looks like you can get in on the action yourself, thanks to a leaked ROM now up on XDA-developers and AllDroid. Installation appears to be pretty straightforward, but there are some steps involved, so make sure you backup and set aside some time to get things right -- and let us know how it all goes in comments! [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Google Maps Navigation hacked for extra-American use
Guess what, prospective Milestone owners, the Droid's one major advantage over its Euro cousin has just been coded out of existence by those proactive, un-American XDA Developers. The free Google Maps Navigation service, whose US announcement was so shocking as to decimate the stock prices of satnav purveyors Garmin and TomTom, has now been ported to work outside the land of the free as well. Not only that, but you can use the app on other Android devices, meaning your old G1 can get a breath of fresh air for absolutely free. That is if you don't count the time it takes you to learn how to insert all the code properly and the risk of bricking your device in the process. But we know our readers eat iron nails for breakfast and fashion elegantly optimized code before lunch, so we expect all of you to be using this by day's end, you hear?
Google Navigation hacked onto T-Mobile G1 (updated)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gadgets/Google_Navigation_hacked_onto_T_Mobile_G1'; It's always a good sign when a device-specific product release becomes the focal point of the XDA development community: it means you've got a winner on your hands. Not that anyone ever doubted the intense demand for Google's new turn-by-turn Navigation introduced exclusively on Motorola's DROID. No more. Brave souls have now tweaked the original code to run on the original Android device, the HTC G1 running on T-Mobile. Anecdotal reports suggest that it's working great -- a good sign that we'll see a cooked ROM unveiled just as soon as feverish fingers can package the new code. Update: Photographic evidence has arrived. Enjoy. [Thanks, Alex H.]
HTC HD2 (aka, Leo) launching on O2 UK October 12th?
A trusted tipster with a proven past just gave us the launch day scoop on the hotly anticipated HTC Leo. A Windows Mobile 6.5 handset we recently spied with HD2 branding and a 4.3-inch capacitive touchscreen display with 800x480 resolution -- a pixel density that should give plenty of room for finger-friendly TouchFlo 3D navigation. According to said source, the O2 intranet site lists the "HTC HD2" on its future products list with an October 12th launch date. O2 peeps will immediately recognize the lack of XDA branding which makes the claim a bit suspicious. Then again, HTC has been trying to break the shackles of pointless carrier rebranding for years. Truth be told in the days ahead.
O2's Xda Venn is the Pantech Matrix Pro in new clothes
O2 has been known to source its Xda line of smartphones from a number of different sources over the years including HTC and ASUS -- but Pantech? We're pretty sure that's a new one. Then again, WinMo 6.1 dual sliders aren't exactly easy to come by, so we suppose O2 simply did what it had to do to get one in the lineup when the time came. If this so-called Xda Venn looks familiar, that's because it's just a Matrix Pro tweaked with O2's corporate branding, featuring the same 2 megapixel cam, GPS, and HSDPA as its North American cousin on AT&T. It's not on sale yet through O2's online shop, but the plumbing appears to be in place, so we're guessing it'll be available soon.[Via CoolSmartPhone]
O2 Germany gets HTC Touch Diamond2 as the uncreatively-named Xda Diamond2
We can dig that the Xda brand carries some weight and some solid history on O2, but usually, the carrier puts at least a little effort into coming up with creative, unique names for its units -- even if they're just mild rebrands of globally-launched HTCs. This time, though, they're not even bothering with the formalities, simply tweaking the Touch Diamond2's name to "Xda Diamond2" for its German launch this week. Pleasantly, the device is SIM-unlocked and features a tasteful carrier tattoo on the lower back; you should be able to find it for €420 (about $568) contract-free, so we'll cut it some slack -- it is HSUPA-capable, after all.
Pantech prepping new O2 Xda device, say hello to the Venn?
The folks at the::unwired have unearthed a bit of news for fans of O2's Xda line, apparently Pantech is lining up a new device purportedly dubbed the O2 Xda Venn. Little is known about the Venn, but the rumored specs are of a quad-band GSM set with single-band HSPA -- of the 2100 MHz variety -- and of course we'd expect Windows Mobile. The when and where are still a mystery, but with a bit of luck Mr. Blurrycam'll be filling us in on the details sometime soon. Keep your eyes peeled for more as soon as we catch a whiff.
O2 Xda Guide gets photographed extensively
O2's oh-so-sexy Xda Guide was announced just around a month ago, but until now, all we've had are press shots to drool over. Thanks to the::unwired, we're now being graced with a gallery of photographs showing off every angle, curve and accent. There's even a shot of the rear with the casing gone for those who don't mind the risque. Have a look in the read link -- it's all there.
O2 launches HTC Advantage as Xda Flint, curiously aims at education sector
How do you make a niche handheld that's been out for over a year relevant again? Why, aim it at the unsuspecting education market, of course! The Xda Flint, which we first saw emerge back in early December, is officially being introduced to the world today by O2. If the device looks at all familiar, it's because it is -- we're looking at a re-branded Advantage X7510, with 16GB of internal storage, a 5-inch VGA display, quad-band connectivity, WiFi, HSDPA, a 3 megapixel camera and Windows Mobile 6.1 running the show. The odd thing here isn't that the Advantage is getting a new life, it's that O2 is targeting youngsters with a yearning to learn; it's suggesting that this device is perfect for reading eBooks, taking electronic notes and accessing knowledge portals. Of course, we'd argue a netbook with a non-mobile OS would be far more suitable, but what do we know?
O2 Germany introduces Xda Guide smartphone
Well, it looks like O2 customers in Germany now have yet another exclusive handset at their disposal, with the carrier today unveiling its new Xda Guide, which will apparently replace the equally exclusive Xda Orbit 2. As you can see above, this one doesn't stray too far from its HTC-built predecessor, although it does up the connectivity options a bit with both GSM / GPRS / EDGE and UMTS / HSDPA / HSUPA, plus some Bluetooth 2.0, WiFi, and GPS for good measure. Otherwise, you can expect the same 2.8-inch touchscreen and 3-megapixel camera as before, along with 256MB RAM, 512MB ROM, and a microSD card slot for some further expansion. No word on a price just yet, but you'll apparently be able to pick one up sometime in February.
HTC Advantage emerges as Xda Flint for O2
Believe it or not, the polarizing HTC Advantage is still kicking around, and now it has sashayed its way over to O2. Based on a relatively informative product page hosted up by the carrier, we're looking at a pretty standard Advantage X7510 with a swank O2 logo (though rechristened the Xda Flint), detachable QWERTY keyboard, 5-inch VGA touchscreen, a 624MHz processor, ATI graphics chip, Windows Mobile 6.1, 16GB of internal storage space, a 3.0-megapixel camera, HSDPA, built-in GPS and quad-band GSM connectivity. Mum's the word on a price or release date, but we'll keep you posted.[Via coolsmartphone]
O2 Xda Zest is first Xda on Pay&Go, on sale November 17th
We couldn't deny that the ASUS-built O2 Xda Zest was a real, live, breathing mobile, but at long last the carrier has made the phone available for purchase. Hailed as the first O2 Xda to be offered on a Pay&Go prepaid plan (as well as a traditional postpaid plan), the Windows Mobile 6.1-based unit can be acquired on November 17th for £249.99 ($392) with the Pay&Go option or as low as free on certain Pay Monthly contracts. As a refresher, this one brings a 2.8-inch display, a free fortnight of the CoPilot Sat Nav software, a 3-megapixel camera, multimedia player, WiFi and HSDPA.
ASUS-built O2 Xda Zest gets official, barely detailed
Sure enough, the ASUS-built O2 Xda Zest is more than just a figment of someone's imagination, though speaking of imaginations, we simply can't hear this phone's name without thinking about the soap. Sorry, just can't do it. All that aside, the handset has finally made its way onto the carrier's "Coming Soon" page, where we're told that it will include Windows Mobile for opening up Office documents, a 3-megapixel camera, 3G, WiFi, 356MB of internal memory and a microSD expansion slot. Looking for more? Strap yourself down and wait until November, vaquero.[Via CoolSmartphone]
O2 Xda Vista coming to China? What happened to MWg?
Last we'd heard, O2 was well out of Asia with remnants of the firm regrouping as MWg to forge ahead with some of O2's remaining projects and start blazing a new trail. Be that as it may, IT168 appears to have details of a clearly O2-branded "Xda Vista" with a WVGA display, NVIDIA graphics chipset, Windows Mobile 6.1, GPS, and pretty much every other feature a Windows Mobile power user is clamoring for these days. Those are downright modern specs, which means this thing was likely crafted after MWg came into existence -- or at the very least, after it was known that O2 Asia would go away -- so we're not sure what's going on here. Is it a fake? If not, will it end up getting rebranded as a MWg model by the time it's released? Then again, with a WVGA display and HSDPA, do we really care what it's called?[Via Slashphone]
O2 to pick up HTC Touch Pro for its Xda line
Given the carrier's history this really comes as no surprise, but the::unwired is reporting that O2 Germany will definitely be adding the just-announced HTC Touch Pro to its lineup later this year as part of its long-running Xda line of Windows Mobile devices. Typically, Xdas have diverged from HTC's standard designs for a given model, but it appears that O2 has stuck with the Touch Pro formula here -- wisely, may we add -- only swapping out the stylized rear for a more subdued soft-touch one. That already puts the carrier count for the Touch Pro in Germany at two, while most of the world's fine nations are still at zero. Seriously uncool, guys!
