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Pls enlighten this Android newbie

Hi all,
Am a newbie to Android tablets/devices both in terms of hardware and software. So if my post is posted in the wrong thread or reposted pls pardon me. I just want to understand a few basics.
As you all may know, now the market is being flooded by those Chinese made Android tablets. And many of them looks good (at least on paper) and at a very good price. But the problem is most of the time when come to chinese goods, they don't usually do what they claims (if you know what i mean). and the best part most of the salesperson don't know anything about the products they are selling especially when comes to tech gadgets like the Android tablets.
So here i am seeking help from you gurus and hoping i can start my Android journey on the right step. Below are a few questions. Hope I can get answers (links to somewhere where i can read up or anything).
1. What are the conditions (CPU make, firmware, etc) to fulfill if i wan to upgrade/root/hack the original Android OS? Cos most of the chinese made tablets are running on Android 1.5. Hoping to be able to upgrade the OS whenever a newer one comes out. Like the latest 2.1 And be able to download new apps from the apps market.
2. Which CPU chip is better and what are the common CPU chips in the market now? I know there are the Rockchips, VIA, Telechips.
3. Can we tell what are the hardware (CPU make etc) and software (OS/firmware version, etc) that are being used in the device from the system setting or something?
4. I read somewhere that not all CPU chips can be upgraded to the latest OS. i.e. that any upgrade is determined by the CPU chip. Is it true?
5. As for custom ROM, is it also device dependable? Like is there a generic ROM for all devices?
For now these are the questions which are bugging me. Hope the gurus here can enlighten this Android newbie.
Sorry for the long winded post and thanks for any help.

Hmmm. Just check that it is upgradable to froyo and it has more than 500mhz cpu
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

if you are looking for a tablet just get an ipad. the android tablets i see floating around are just 1.5 or 1.6. even if you get a tablet that can do 2.2 (froyo)... i dont see how that can be any better than an ipad.
i just feel that 2.2 isnt meant to be in tablet form. if you can wait... wait for 3.0 before you decide. the main deterrent here is the maximum resolution for android (854 x 480 or something), and that the apps were made with phones in mind.
im very happy with my nexus one... i just cant imagine having a tablet running android as of the moment unless its very very cheap ($200 or so).
i for one will get an ipad next month. my nexus one with wifi tether + the basic wifi ipad will be gadget heaven. looking to get an ipad primarily for reading magazines (zinio) and comic books. android does not have zinio yet. the android comic viewer (ACV) i use on my nexus is ok... but not great. then theres the games. games on android are still so so with less variety and choices.
as a phone the android is great! better than the iphone (yes im an apple user through and through) even. but as a tablet... not quite yet.

Hp is going to release a tablet so is samsung with 2.2
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Hopefully start seeing some of these 2.2 tablets in the 3rd Quarter...

Port Honeycomb the Blackberry Playbook

Hello,
I'm getting a free Blackberry Playbook, I know it runs on QNX OS, but is their away to put Honeycomb on it, seeing as it has no physical buttons.
I want a 7 inch tablet, and the Galaxy Tab and Flyer(wi-fi) is not doing it for me, seeing how the Playbook is 1.0Ghz dual core, it will keep up with every one else.
Plus the fact Android on BB would be pure swagger.
Iv spent 3 hours researching it and all i get is the fact that their porting apps.
Thanks

50 views no comment?

Since Google didn't release the Honeycomb source code, this task may be impossible.

but they will release for 4.0 ice cream sandwich... will then be someone who will be brave enough to unlock the device and port android to BB?

bsdnix said:
but they will release for 4.0 ice cream sandwich... will then be someone who will be brave enough to unlock the device and port android to BB?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, maybe.

Amazon has just released their kindle fire source code. I hope it helps porting playbook to android
http://kindle-src.s3.amazonaws.com/Kindle_src_6.2_11185402.tar.gz

Instead of posting in a new thread I will post here. Where can I find anything that would help me port android as an app to the playbook since the playbook as of now has a very secure boot mechanism. I have not tried to exploit it but from what I have seen QNX is insanely restrictive, you cant even read system logs. Is it even possible to port android as an app?

Afaik RIM added Android app support to the playbook?!
The classes are identical (j2me/java) so as a developer it shouldn't be to tricky to port it.

I'm asking about running android (the entire os) as an app. The android player wont do android native sdk among some other things so not all apps will run. I'm asking if its possible to for example take android and run it through a translation layer that will take calls to the gpu and just use opengl on the playbook to render things. So kind of like vm but specific to the device and version of android so its actually fast and not an emulator.

HC source code is released comparative with ICS one. You need a good experienced dev for that type of action.

Didn't think it was supposed to go on sale until Black Friday, but just left Best Buy. It's going for $199. Android and I'd buy quickly.

if you were lucky you could've picked up a 64gb playbook for $229 before tax at best buy.

chaose said:
if you were lucky you could've picked up a 64gb playbook for $229 before tax at best buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how so? price mistake? please do tell.
edit:
Scratch that. I found it over here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=19519966
Looks like the price was either a mistake or they're out. Either way... we need some devs hacking this thing.

Does anyone know if qnx uses a bootloader/recovery layout like Android? I would be interested to know how much reworking of the firmware would be needed and even so, would it be possible?

Deleted. Wrong thread.

Got one also.
Great video quality, fast, QNX not so bad;
but
App Store a real disappointment.
RIM wants paid for Apps that are free on Android; big big fail!
There is a loader (PowerUp & Volume + and volume minus; hold for 20 seconds)
Hopefully some xda weeney will jump all over this thing.
Great hardware.
Actually faster than my Gtablet w/FB10 (which is great too)!

Picked up one when it went on sale, and has been playing around with it. hardware is nice, QNX is very smooth. The machine is a multi-tasking beast.
Some android apps work,but you have to convert it to a .bar file first. The process can be frustrating.
Apparently people have gotten android app market to work on the playbook through the app player; not exactly sure how it's done but this gives me some hope.
App World, on the other hand, subpar apps that offers a quarter the functionality of free apps on the android market have a price of >$2.99. I can't find a single decent e reader on the app world.

I'm also interested in for getting android to Playbook, even webos if it is possible...

Vote here for playbook forum,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1416406

ICS is now out and so is the source so who wants to start hacking it?
It can be found on their site. I wanted to put a link in here but I am to much of a newbie.

Why is Android so fragmented?

I purchased a Sprint Galaxy Tab to give myself an opportunity to get acquainted with Android (it came with ver 2.2 Froyo). After two months reading the xda threads I have basically learned that Android isn't just a few variations (Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, etc.) - but rather each device has its own flavor of Android within those larger general classes. Different ROMs, different kernels, different application compatibilities, etc.
This surely isn't good for Google and/or Android in the marketplace.
This has come to light most vividly while trying to get my Netflix subscription to work on my Samsung Galaxy Tab. Netflix promotes that they support "Android devices" which technically may be true. I suspect there are at least a handful of Android devices supported. Sadly my Galaxy Tab is not among the selected few. And based on the extremely long threads on this subject with such a wide variety of proposed possible solutions, it is not isolated to the Galaxy Tab. This should not be such a big deal. And yes, I realize it is likely the fault of Netflix themselves trying to be the DRM cops that complicate this issue. But dang - how hard can it be???
I've got to ask why? How is it that this same Galaxy Tab can display video from a variety of sources, but not Netflix? And why are there so many 'apps' that will not run on similar (but not identical) Android platforms?
Sorry for venting a bit. But dang....

It would be nice if phone hardware had more of a PC architecture so when a new version of Android was released by google, you could just go and download it, possibly with a Google installer that would auto detect drivers and such. But that's just a dream.

avrillapete said:
... with a Google installer that would auto detect drivers and such. But that's just a dream.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
20 years ago it would have been a dream. But today? And a company as agressive as Google? WHY would it still be just a dream?
Google says they want to set an open source 'standard' and I think that is commendable. But it feels like the whole process of implementing and supporting the Android OS is stuck in the '80s - with the same problems and limitations that plagued the early CPM and MSDOS world. Surely Google has resources and smarts enough to do better!
Mostly I am surprised and disappointed that Google hasn't done a better job with this aspect of Android. Surely it will get better...

Google has acknowledged this issue, and it WILL get better. Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) will have even less fragmentation than honeycomb, and be on ALL devices from its release onward. many pre-existing devices will be upgraded to it as well, ending, for the most part, all android fragmentation.

Android on Bookeen-Cybook Odyssey (eBook Reader)?

Hello everyone, I know this is a long shot but: is anyone interested in porting Android to this excellent eBook Reader?
Device description is here: http://www.bookeen.com/en/cybook/odyssey
It is basically a Nook Touch Simple/Sony PRS T1 like device that features a very fast e-Ink display (amazingly fast for an e-Ink) and should support some tablet like use (browsing the web, reading a RSS feed) quite well. You can see here and here what HSIS (High Speed Ink System) can do.
Stock version is using a Linux 2.6.31 based OS (doesn't specify what flavor)
From the little I know the main problems with porting a Android whould be:
- possible locked bootloader on the Cybook Odyssey -> no way to know without the device
- supported chipset -> an ARM A8 based chipset is listed
- display drivers -> maybe those from regular pearl e-Ink can be used?
- wi-fi drivers -> again, depends on the chipset
I'm out of my league (php, web stuff) here but I plan to buy the device next month if there's hope for it
Ideas?

Hi!
I would point out, before getting your hopes up on the porting, the fact that you asked just one day after the launch of the device, makes one think that you're thoughts are audaciously early. So unless some xda-developers are Bokeen insiders and, ahem, unbound by their job to work on this matter, either waiting or is the thing to do. Or, ahem, , learning how to port?
The chances I see for this port to happen are small (but than again still possible). Perhaps we could see if the linux running it might offer more flexibility and run apps directly (?). Porting would would have it's obvious advantages ... an Android with it's screen technology superior to any current eInk readers, except the Mirasol powered ones perhaps (those are limited to Korea for now) would we awesome.

csioucs said:
Hi!
I would point out, before getting your hopes up on the porting, the fact that you asked just one day after the launch of the device, makes one think that you're thoughts are audaciously early. So unless some xda-developers are Bokeen insiders and, ahem, unbound by their job to work on this matter, either waiting or is the thing to do. Or, ahem, , learning how to port?
The chances I see for this port to happen are small (but than again still possible). Perhaps we could see if the linux running it might offer more flexibility and run apps directly (?). Porting would would have it's obvious advantages ... an Android with it's screen technology superior to any current eInk readers, except the Mirasol powered ones perhaps (those are limited to Korea for now) would we awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any news on debugging and or development possibilities on that platform? I have seen the gpl'ed linux source released at bookeen's site.
I have yet not found any pictures of a disassembled device and do not know if customized firmware updates are possible.
Would very much appreciate any news on that topic!

NonsenseInc said:
Is there any news on debugging and or development possibilities on that platform? I have seen the gpl'ed linux source released at bookeen's site.
I have yet not found any pictures of a disassembled device and do not know if customized firmware updates are possible.
Would very much appreciate any news on that topic!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also be interested in customized firmware for cybook odyssey. thanks

Any news on this anybody?

Anyone still watching this? I'd like to try to do it, but it's over my head, skill wise...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

thirstythirsty said:
Anyone still watching this? I'd like to try to do it, but it's over my head, skill wise...
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that internally some version of android ran on the device, but it's really not worth to do this. Android is absolutely not suited for such device and screen.
To install personalised linux/software, first crack the update format, then the device will be open to you...

Android One

Hello everyone,
I was searching for Android One topics here and unfortunately found nothing ( probably because of the confusing name)
So can someone explain what's up with this Android One software overlay.
I read some info on wiki but still have some questions:
Is it like normal firmware that only comes with certain smartphones, or you can flash it yourself?
It's a near stock android but, which version is it based on,
does it come out every time new android version rolls out, or it just gets updated to the new one.
and lastly let's say I have android one phone, and after three years they stopped regular updates,
it's still android one compatible phone right, so I can update to the new version myself?
Thank you.

avoup said:
Hello everyone,
I was searching for Android One topics here and unfortunately found nothing ( probably because of the confusing name)
...
and lastly let's say I have android one phone, and after three years they stopped regular updates,
it's still android one compatible phone right, so I can update to the new version myself?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Android One are phones that run a lite weight version of Android for budget phones with small specs (under 2Go of RAM, entry level processor,...) called Android Go. It's supposed to give a fluid experience to phones with limited capacity. Each Android Go version (for each Android One device) is in consequences very specific to the device, in order to use efficiently all of what the different specs has to offer.
You can still build ROMs/TWRP for those devices, and use it as a normal device, but the experience will be much slower. So to answer your 3 questions:
1)It's firmware that only comes with certain phones, it's build to use perfectly the SoC and memory, so it's very specific (not generic like GSI)
2) Android One are phones, Android Go is the Android version. Your phone may or may not receive an update to the Next Android version, on that side it's the same as other phones. If it receives an update, you'll run (for example) Android 10 Go Version. So update exists for Android One phones, they won't stay for ever at the same Android version they had at the beginning.
3) when your phone won't be supported anymore, you won't be able to update your phone to another version of Android Go. You'll still be able to flash ROMs or stuff like that, but since Android Go builds are very specific to each devices, you can't flash them "cross devices".
PS: at the moment I've not heard of Android 10 Go Edition, it's still at Android 9 if I'm correct. But it will be updated, the goal of Android one is to support cheap and often not long lasting phone over time.
Read more here : https://www.android.com/versions/go-edition/