HP TouchPad demonstrated running Android

Developer demonstrates alpha version of mobile OS working on ditched tablet

The challenge to port Google's Android OS to Hewlett-Packard's now-defunct TouchPad has been met, with a developer demonstrating an alpha version of the OS working on the tablet.

In a demonstration on Youtube, a customised version of Android is demonstrated booting up on the TouchPad. The version is in its early stages with capabilities such as touch not working.

The customised Android version was developed by a team for a group called Cyanogen. The group's goal is to "create a 'multiboot' solution where the end user will be able to boot into WebOS, Cyanogenmod, and/or other OSes," according to a note accompanying the video. Cyanogen creates customised versions of Android for smartphones, and this version, CM7, has been tweaked for tablets, the group says.

News about the successful Android port to TouchPad originally appeared on blog site Rootzwiki.

A bounty has been on offer for a developer who can port Android to the TouchPad, with the reward reaching US$2,300 on Monday.

Builds for the customised Android version are not yet available for download, the group says.

HP and retailers sold out TouchPads in fire sales around the world, including in New Zealand, following the news that HP would discontinue the development and sale of tablets and smartphones.

HP's sudden announcement sparked concern about whether the company would continue to support webOS, the current default OS on the tablet. HP says it will continue to develop and support webOS.