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Question. Would you put Android on your iPhone?

By Joshua Schnell Sat, Nov 29, 2008 @ 11:00 AM

Those hackers are tearing the iPhone to shreds these days.  First came jailbreaks, then came Linux on the iPhone.  Now, there’s speculation that Android might be a possibility.  This is starting to get exciting.  I love my iPhone and wouldn’t change anything about it, but the possibility of putting a whole new phone OS on my device, if I feel like it, is mighty enticing.  It’s a ways off, but would you try Android out on your iPhone?  There’s a lot of possibilities that this brings to the surface. First, the iPhone could become more mobile desktop than cellphone.  Second, it could make a lot of people aware of linux, and how great those operating systems have become over the last couple years. Third, given the state of the open source community, it would only be a matter of time before some sweet homebrew options pop-up (probably the most exciting part).  The next couple of months will be pretty exciting.

Below is the iPhone linux demonstration.


iPhone Linux Demonstration Video from planetbeing on Vimeo.

  • Sean

    The enthusiast in me would want to try Linux/Android. The experienced user in me would never install either. Apple's software and hardware integration and my appreciation for the way they allow me to devote so litttle attention to my devices has won out as I have gotten older.

  • http://grantbrunner.com Bassguy

    Under no circumstance would I ever put another operating system on the iPhone. I understand the “Doing it to see if it can be done” angle, but anything else seems crazy to me.

    I feel the same way about OSX86. I understand that people want to see if they can do it, but it has little-to-no practical use.

    • http://www.macgasm.net macgasm

      I think it could be very practical in a number of scenarios. If you had the ability to build your own OS for corporate purposes, the iPhone could become quite the device.

      • http://grantbrunner.com Bassguy

        Unless Steve Jobs makes an about-face, the iPhone will continue to be locked down. So the only way one can load a new OS is through hackery.

        As we know from the keynotes, businesses can distribute apps using ad-hoc without having to be approved by Apple. Needs can be met through app development. If your problem can't be solved by an app, is making a whole new OS for a cracked piece of hardware going to be your solution?

        Can you think of anything specifically that couldn't just be handled through ad-hoc app distribution within a business?

    • Jayjay

      How is it not practical to have an install of OSX86?
      It’s the possibility of running OSX on the hardware you choose. You can build a stronger computer than apple can sell you and install that OSX86. You can also use it to test some compatibility/debug make sure everything works fine on multiple platform. To me that is not “not practical”.

      Also, Android is a heck of a lot nicer for a few things, mainly the browser interaction. I would shove my iOS off my iphone and put android on it. I love the build quality of the iphone (iphone 4 even more) but I prefer android. Having the best of both world would make me a happy men.

  • http://grantbrunner.com Bassguy

    Unless Steve Jobs makes an about-face, the iPhone will continue to be locked down. So the only way one can load a new OS is through hackery.

    As we know from the keynotes, businesses can distribute apps using ad-hoc without having to be approved by Apple. Needs can be met through app development. If your problem can't be solved by an app, is making a whole new OS for a cracked piece of hardware going to be your solution?

    Can you think of anything specifically that couldn't just be handled through ad-hoc app distribution within a business?

  • NjaJoker

    Having something like the iphone that is so limited by the warrentee and stuff like that becomes an issue, u ask if we can come up with something the iphone cant do with just an app and nothing in particular comes to mind, but creating a new os opens alot of doors to those who like to create. the reason the jailbraking became such a thing was because of the customization, creating a new os would do something just like that but for evverything, like the psp and homebrewed games and apps the iphone with a new(esier to creat for) os could become one of the best mobile devices on the market because it could get anything it wanted, bassically taking the jailbreaking to a whole new lvl.