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Here’s a mid-week feat of heroic hacking — ambitious Android tinkerers have successfully got Android 4.1 Jelly Bean running on a T-Mobile G1, the first ever Android phone.
The SoCal Devs collective posted about their success on XDA-Developers, and uploaded a video to YouTube. The clip shows the very latest version of Android chugging along on the first phone to sport Google’s ever-popular operating system.
Admittedly, not every feature is working properly on the 2008 mobile, which sported a 3.2-inch touchscreen and lacked a 3.5mm headphone socket. Wi-Fi and the all-important touchscreen are working, and brand new near-psychic software Google Now is even partially operational, but screen rotation and the ability to make calls lie sadly out of reach — at least for now.
The cutting-edge Android 4.1 software runs on the G1, which was built by HTC, with more than a little lag — you can practically hear its 528MHz processor screaming in protest.
That said, the fact that Android enthusiasts have done such a good job of getting the software basically up and running throws modern day manufacturer’s update woes into stark relief.
Most notably Samsung Galaxy S2 owners were left fuming by Samsung’s bumbling attempts to update its popular smart phone to Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Then we have Sony urging customers to stick on Android 2.3 Gingerbread and backtracking on its promise to update the Xperia Play, Samsung deeming the Galaxy Ace too weak to handle Ice Cream Sandwich, or HTC leaving the Desire Z — which sports a G1-style slide-out keyboard — off its update lists.
Putting modern-day frustrations aside, I can only applaud the bonkers attempt to force Jelly Bean onto such an ancient smart phone. I wonder if I could get Jelly Bean running on my microwave…
What version of Android are you running, and are you waiting for an update? Say so in the comments or on our Facebook wall, then enjoy this retro CNET UK video from times gone by.
