Installing Android On an HP TouchPad

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Installing Android On an HP TouchPad

Posted by timothy on Tuesday October 18, 2011 @02:25AM from the gets-ever-more-tantalizing dept.

Barence writes "PC Pro has published a comprehensive guide to installing Android on a HP TouchPad using CyanogenMod's alpha Android release. The mod, which is based on Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) instead of 3.0 (Honeycomb, the source code of which is yet to be released) 'performs similarly to the Tegra 2-based tablets we've seen from the likes of Asus and Samsung,' according to PC Pro. 'The only real problem we hit was some apps refusing to install from the Android Market because they didn't recognise the hardware,' although there are ways around it."

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WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by LightStruk · 2011-10-18 02:32 · Score: 5, Interesting

I won't be installing Android on my TouchPad for one simple reason - that would be a downgrade. WebOS is much more pleasant to use than Android; it's better thought through, easier to configure, and easier to manage open apps. If I ever have to install Android on my TouchPad, perhaps because of a glaring security hole in WebOS that won't get fixed, it will be a very, very sad day.
1. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by gmuslera · 2011-10-18 02:39 · Score: 1
  
  My toughts exactly. Android is nice, have a lot of apps, but for the OS itself WebOS should be better (and probably the available apps are enough for your needs).
  For alternate OSs for that device, would go to Meego, or another linux distro (ubuntu?), or maybe in some time, Tizen.
2. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by Pollardito · 2011-10-18 02:41 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I would think with the death of WebOS you might want to install Android at some point just to get new apps
3. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by TerminaMorte · 2011-10-18 02:41 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  You realize that by default it will dual-boot?
  
  So you get the great multi-tasking of WebOS, but with the great app selection (and browser options...) of Android.
  
  Netflix, minecraft, Firefox.... I certainly don't consider it a downgrade. :P
4. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by RonnyJ · 2011-10-18 02:45 · Score: 2
  
  I have installed Android on my TouchPad for one simple reason - application availability. The OS may be nice, but I use my devices primarily for the applications, not the OS.
5. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by Riceballsan · 2011-10-18 02:47 · Score: 1
  
  heh well fortunately I really doubt you would ever have to worry about a glaring security hole on webos (even if there were some huge massive security hole that allowed someone to completely copy everything from as little as visiting a webpage, who would bother to exploit it, they might as well be looking for holes in BEOS or other operating systems that while technically great, died before ever reaching a noticeable userbase. That being said for most people this option is a great option, assuming some critical app comes out that they can't live without owners of the touchpad have the option to install android to run it. That is what makes hacks great, it is an option that will never be forced on you if you don't need them.
6. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by robmv · 2011-10-18 03:15 · Score: 2
  
  Or security updates, I am pretty sure HP will not care anymore about browser fixes
7. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2011-10-18 03:26 · Score: 2
  
  I just got my Touchpad today. I can't wait to see how much friendlier it is... but I have to seriously ding HP on this one issue: I cannot run the tablet until I get it on a Wifi source to click agree on their Terms and Conditions. Boooo!
  Guess I'll find out when I get home what it's like. Apple's the same way, the iPad requires an iTunes sync. Actually.. I don't think I had to do anything like that at all with the Galaxy Tab. I want to play with my gadgets before I get home, dammit!
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
8. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by oakgrove · 2011-10-18 03:34 · Score: 2
  
  You do realize it is a dual-boot scenario, right? Are you really that much of a curmudgeon?
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
9. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by h4rr4r · 2011-10-18 03:36 · Score: 2
  
  It would dual boot, also WebOS is now unsupported already.
10. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by fafaforza · 2011-10-18 03:54 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  So you then have to mirror all your settings and documents across two separate OSes. I'd pass too, as I passed on dual booting Linux with Windows. I just chose one over the other.
11. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by bill_mcgonigle · 2011-10-18 04:14 · Score: 1
  
  If I ever have to install Android on my TouchPad, perhaps because of a glaring security hole in WebOS that won't get fixed, it will be a very, very sad day.
  We all know that day will come - it's just a balancing act of setting up a workflow now on a technology that's (unfortunately) a dead-end and getting to increased productivity today, vs. having to do that all again at an inopportune time.
  Or you get lucky, and you can use it until you dispose of it. Maybe the guy you sell it to installs Android. Maybe that's when you decide to sell it. But then again, what do you do at that point?
  There's no 'right' answer.
  
  --
  My God, it's Full of Source!
  OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
12. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by JohnSearle · 2011-10-18 04:15 · Score: 2
  
  I agree...
  I quickly sold one of my two Tablets (the other one is going to family) due to the lack of apps available. Without software, the tablet is nothing but an video player, ebook reader, and over sized ipod.
  Granted that the above is not bad for $150, but I opted for the full suite of actions by getting an Asus Transformer - best decision I could have made. I immediately had access to quite large number of games, a proper word processor, apps for scanning and business, etc. These were missing or sub par on WebOS.
  I'm definitely going to be putting Android on the second Touchpad in order to get similar functionality... I just want to wait until they've worked out a few more bugs.
13. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by Cinder6 · 2011-10-18 04:20 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, HP just released a big update today. 3.0.4 77. In my early testing, it is nearly as fast as the device was when I had it overclocked to 1.7GHz and a bunch of performance patches installed. A very pleasant surprise.
  Random link: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Precentralnet/~3/UVQV0BP2eHI/hands-on-webos-3-0-4-video
  
  --
  If you can't convince them, convict them.
14. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by oakgrove · 2011-10-18 04:48 · Score: 1
  
  Many people have multiple devices between cell phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, etc. and I have never heard anyone seriously say they would give up the utility of the different devices just so they didn't have to sync their documents. Android offers a ton of functionality that just doesn't exist in WebOS and for me that far outweighs the small inconvenience of putting Android on a touchpad entails. Not to mention things like Dropbox and Google Docs alleviates much of the burden of synchronization anyway. Worrying about mirroring settings between Android and WebOS is really a non-issue. That's like worrying about your settings between Windows and an iPad. The two don't map.
  
  --
  The soylentnews experiment has been a dismal failure.
15. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by melted · 2011-10-18 05:04 · Score: 1
  
  I generally like it, but PDF reader really sucks ass in webOS. It renders PDFs at a single resolution and does not re-render as you zoom in. This alone is a good incentive for me to replace webOS with Gingerbread.
16. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by Deathlizard · 2011-10-18 06:02 · Score: 1
  
  But right now, HP is still supporting the OS, and I would assume they'll support it until the warranty's start running out. Also keep in mind that the only way HP would recoup some of the massive loss the fire sale did is through sales on the marketplace, so I don't see that getting canned (although I doubt they can keep their devs for much longer unless they start showing them that HP still is supporting WebOS even though the hardware is dead)
  Until then WebOS stays. It's just better for just about everything I need. It blows my Viewsonic G Tablet out of the water to the point that I wish there was WebOS for the G Tablet (although I haven't rooted the G tablet yet, I'm running the latest stock 5274 so far) and I'm not going to mess my touchpad experience up with a alpha build of an not as tablet friendly build of android.
  Maybe when Hp quits supporting WebOS and Ice cream sandwich or Honeycomb gets sourced we'll talk but until then, it's WebOS on my Touchpad.
  
  --
  In Soviet Russia, Trojan exploits YOU!
17. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by pkluss · 2011-10-18 06:26 · Score: 1
  
  3.0.2 to 3.0.4 is not a big update. It's actually quite minor. And there are grumblings of the WebOS team disbanding. WebOS's best days are likely behind it -which is unfortunate because I purchased a TouchPad through the firesale and quite like it.
  
  Rumor: http://www.webosroundup.com/2011/10/rumor-hp-to-layoff-webos-engineers-by-months-end-exclusive/
18. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by Cinder6 · 2011-10-18 06:44 · Score: 1
  
  You are right, I misspoke...No new features, but the performance improvements are pretty big. My point was that they are, at least, still updating it for the time being.
  
  --
  If you can't convince them, convict them.
19. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by wick3t · 2011-10-18 07:28 · Score: 1
  
  Actually development is very active and a webOS update for the TouchPad was released just today. This is better support than most Android OEMs who seldomly release any OS updates.
20. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by Pauldow · 2011-10-18 10:45 · Score: 1
  
  HP still has an interest in keeping up some WebOS development, since they are looking for someone to buy the operating system. Shutting down everything would reduce the value too much, so a bit of investment is needed to maintain the software, plus keep some of the development team intact so any potential buyer can have that knowledge base transferred.
21. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by eharvill · 2011-10-18 12:00 · Score: 1
  
  You have the option of choosing your boot OS. I am enjoying my Android based Touchpad.
  
  --
  At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend I don't care that you're not here with me
22. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by EponymousCustard · 2011-10-19 03:33 · Score: 1
  
  Yeah, and the T&C screen didn't allow wifi connections via captive portal or enterprise-wpa with certificates. (webos does allow these once you get past the initial screen). i ended up making my android phone a wifi hotspot to get past the initial screen
23. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2011-10-19 03:49 · Score: 1
  
  I got back to the hotel I'm staying at and... well when you get on wifi there, any web page you go to is replaced with their "Welcome to our Hotel!" with a 'Connect to internet" button on the upper right. The TouchPad did give me a little window peeking at that page, but it was cropped. No amount of scrolling would let me see the upper right portion of the page!! Then my girlfriend goes "try rotating the tablet..." I did as she said and a sliver of the button on the right was now visible, I clicked on it and managed to finally make it connect so I could hit the T&C button.
  HP's already started off on the wrong foot with me.
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
24. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by EponymousCustard · 2011-10-19 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  and it will continue to do so until you update webos - 3.02 came with a lot of essential performance fixes, i hated it until i updated.
25. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by MobileTatsu-NJG · 2011-10-19 04:11 · Score: 1
  
  Yessir! I upgraded to 3.04 this morning, cant wait to see!
  
  --
  
  "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)
26. Re:WebOS is staying on my TouchPad by fafaforza · 2011-10-22 13:13 · Score: 1
  
  Talking about different devices is irrelevant because the discussion is about dual booting on a single device.
Twitter started on Slashdot by tepples · 2011-10-18 02:34 · Score: 1

"Tweet"? "+1"? FFS this is /., it's not like anyone has a credible social life in here.
Twitter has had a social life all by himself since 2001, years before Twitter.com opened.
1. Re:Twitter started on Slashdot by abigor · 2011-10-18 05:11 · Score: 1
  
  Damn, I miss that guy. Why doesn't he post here anymore?
2. Re:Twitter started on Slashdot by tepples · 2011-10-18 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  10 LET M$ = "Microsoft"
  
  Why doesn't [the notorious sockpuppeteer twitter] post here anymore?
  I think it had something to do with countertrolls asking him to restate his tl;dr M$-bashing in 140 characters or less after the namesake microblog host became popular.
Have Xoom, would Keep WebOS on Touchpad by syntap · 2011-10-18 02:41 · Score: 1

I have a real Android tablet in the Xoom, but scored a couple of Touchpads when they went fire-sale. I would keep WebOS on the Touchpad at least until HP releases another update to it which I believe they have already said they would.
It runs very well and I hope Android moves in the direction of WebOS' interface. Tablets are coming down in price... I understand the hack cred of showing your Touchpad to your friends with a castrated-functionality Android deployment but I wouldn't do it unless I could put WebOS back on once I realized it wasn't worth the effort.
1. Re:Have Xoom, would Keep WebOS on Touchpad by TerminaMorte · 2011-10-18 02:44 · Score: 1
  
  I've been unable to find anywhere that WebOS for the touchpad will get another upgrade. Source?
2. Re:Have Xoom, would Keep WebOS on Touchpad by syntap · 2011-10-18 02:53 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Lots out there, Google harder I guess.
  August after 3.02 release -
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/hp-touchpad-will-receive-ota-udpate-for-added-functionality/
  Today, 3.04 release -
  http://gizmodo.com/5850862/hp-touchpad-gets-a-webos-upgrade-from-beyond-the-grave
3. Re:Have Xoom, would Keep WebOS on Touchpad by Nithin+Philips · 2011-10-18 03:48 · Score: 1
  
  The 3.0.4 Update was released today (Oct 18).
  
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/18/hp-touchpad-gets-webos-3-0-4-update-now-able-to-answer-calls-fr/
  
  Check the Software Manger for OTA update.
  
  --
  Einmal ist Keinmal. What happens but once might as well not have happened at all.
Fix for apps refusing to install by strikernl · 2011-10-18 02:51 · Score: 3, Informative

Can be found here: http://code.google.com/p/cmtouchpad/issues/detail?id=65#c14
easy by indecks · 2011-10-18 02:53 · Score: 1

I had a really easy time installing Android on my touchpad. The only issue I have now is that if the touchpad sits idle for a while (around 10 mins or more) it will lock up and I have to hard-reset the touchpad. Otherwise, Android works pretty well. Just have to get a fix for the Facebook and Twitter apps, since Facebook locks because of the lack of a GPS locator in the Touchpad.
1. Re:easy by strikernl · 2011-10-18 02:56 · Score: 1
  
  The sleep of death issue was (mostly) fixed for me by this: http://rootzwiki.com/showthread.php?8127-New-SLEEP-OF-DEATH-BUG-fix-for-CM7-that-works-for-some
2. Re:easy by indecks · 2011-10-18 03:04 · Score: 1
  
  Nice! I'll have to check it out when I get home. (damn firewalls at work).
3. Re:easy by indecks · 2011-10-18 03:39 · Score: 1
  
  This makes no sense. I'm fairly certain that the lock up is because this software is in an ALPHA state, and not because it's Android. Way to generalize, there.
4. Re:easy by tlhIngan · 2011-10-18 03:55 · Score: 1
  
  That, and the Android phone I foolishly bought thinking "it's Android, it can't be that bad". (For those who've never tussled with Android: It's a fairly meaningless brand in terms of identifying quality. It's just as possible to build a terrible Android phone as it is to build a good one so really you want to find an Android phone that's got a reputation of being OK).
  It's a lot easier if you think of it as being ONE Android phone and many Android-compatible phones out there.
  That is, right now, the Nexus S - it's the cleanest Android implementation because Google's supporting it, and you're not getting some compatible-but-bastardized version that some OEM needed to add stuff to, and to which the carrier adds their own crap to as well.
  Yes, I care little for Sense, Motoblur, TouchWiz (if I wanted an iPhone, I'd get an iPhone!), and the other stuff out there. Just stick with what Google's officially supporting and it'll be the best and slickest Android experience around.
Re:Dislike WebOS by indecks · 2011-10-18 03:15 · Score: 1

Yeah I didn't understand that either. It's got this great huge desktop area and you can't put anything on it. Then apps that are downloaded from the AppCatalog are stored in downloads, rather than 'Apps'. You have to move them yourself. I don't like the browser either. Dalingren did mention that there's a version of Firefox out there for the Touchpad's native OS but I haven't looked for it since I've installed Android. I do like the 'tossing away' of current tasks, but that's about it. I really prefer Android on this thing.
Android On? by iroll · 2011-10-18 03:17 · Score: 1

I've never heard of this... is it a prerelease or something?

--
Repetition does not transform a lie into the truth. - FDR
My Experience by Tokolosh · 2011-10-18 03:34 · Score: 1

I installed this over the weekend. The install is relatively simple, and you can easily boot to WebOS, Android or recovery. For a first alpha release it is amazingly good. There are a number of documented bugs which will be fixed in due course, but none of them are show-stoppers.
As others have mentioned, the great advantage is access to the Android Market and the myriad apps available there. Is this better than WebOS? It depends on how you use this tablet. What is a tablet for, anyway?
In the long run, Android is the future for this device. I believe open systems will win over walled gardens. HP should support this effort!

--
Prove anything by multiplying Huge Number times Tiny Number
But why? by ProppaT · 2011-10-18 04:19 · Score: 1

Why would you want to cripple your beautiful TouchPad with a version of Android not designed for a tablet? Unfortunately I wasn't able to snag one myself, but WebOS, despite it's faults, is a beautiful OS. Sure, you don't get some of the apps that you do with Android, but for most practical uses WebOS is going to blow Android 2.3 out of the water.

--
Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
1. Re:But why? by Aryden · 2011-10-18 04:48 · Score: 1
  
  WebOS lasted all of about an hour on the one I pulled out of the box. I nearly threw the damn thing against the wall it infuriated me so much. I've left them sitting on a shelf waiting for the prices on ebay to go up till this weekend. I installed the ALPHA and I am loving it. Can't wait for the few, very minor, bugs to get knocked out and it will be superb.
2. Re:But why? by ProppaT · 2011-10-18 08:28 · Score: 1
  
  I had a WebOS phone for 2 years, does that count?
  
  --
  Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
Re:Dislike WebOS by gregthebunny · 2011-10-18 04:35 · Score: 1

there is no default app to take a picture with the camera
The latest update to webOS for TouchPad (ver 3.0.4) includes a "Camera" app. Just sayin'.
Here, here! by ThatsNotPudding · 2011-10-18 05:32 · Score: 1

If HP were run by humans instead of destructive MBAbots, they'd open source WebOS and have a thousand flowers bloom - possibly all over Androids' grave.
actually, it's not yet unsupported by Chirs · 2011-10-18 06:22 · Score: 1

HP just shipped an over-the-air update to WebOS 3.0.4 today. Long-term will be another story though...and I'll likely move to Android when ICS becomes available.
excessive by Chirs · 2011-10-18 06:26 · Score: 1

WebOS isn't that bad. With the addition of preware and kalemsoft media player, it provides decent web browsing, video playback, kindle client, VPN suport, web proxy support, and an xterm with a shell, along with a reasonable selection of games. That's like 95% of my usage right there.
1. Re:excessive by Aryden · 2011-10-18 07:42 · Score: 1
  
  Of your usage. The Touchpad is not much more than a video player or ebook reader for alot of what I do. Though, now with android installed, I can actually use it on my corporate network which increases it's use to me.
2. Re:excessive by ProppaT · 2011-10-18 08:33 · Score: 2
  
  You can complain about WebOS not having the SPECIFIC app you want, and you can complain about a few niggly things it doesn't support, but honestly...the OS just about does it all, and really well to boot. I miss the days of my WebOS phone where I had a device that didn't crash (Android crashes a lot more often), didn't have weird audio issues (Android seems to), and I could easily kill off tasks (still have to use Advanced Task Killer in Android). No one beats WebOS's multitasking/memory management and ability to have a stupid amount of web pages and apps open at once.
  
  --
  Wise men say, "Forgiveness is divine, but never pay full price for late pizza."
3. Re:excessive by Loopy · 2011-10-19 04:26 · Score: 1
  
  There are a raft of apps I use daily that aren't available on WebOS (Netflix, several games, my gas mileage app, etc.).
  Also, the last time I had a crash on my Android phone was me doing something I shouldn't have been a few weeks ago. And I've _never_ had any audio issues. Sounds like you bought shit hardware. That's on you and the OEM, not the OS.
  Of course, to be fair, I've never had any crashes or audio issues on WebOS OR Android. /shrug
When do we see the damned sourcecode to GB? by AbRASiON · 2011-10-18 14:17 · Score: 1

I recently grabbed a touchpad instinctively after seeing the CM7 video on youtube, not thinking clearly (and having too much damn money, not enough patience)
I'd forgotten about Gingerbread entirely, does anyone know googles plans for GB and Ice Cream sandwich? I'd really like to see the touchpad working well with an OS designed for a tablet.
Anyone got any theories or information?