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Multi-Touch Hack on Android T-Mo G1
SolSie.com —
The HTC Dream dubbed as T-Mobile G1 running the first iteration of Google OS Android. In the first release the G1 does not offer any multi-touch capability, which has been a desirable feature that is well known on the iPhone for zooming operation in various applications such Web browser, Map, photos, etc..
The multi-touch requires support for both hardware and software. Android developer community discovered the G1 has indeed hardware support but the first version of Android does not. So they decided to roll up their sleeves and come up with a hack that would add this function. The hack will be available for public consumption but requires several steps ...
Multitouch Implemented on G1 Android, Unofficially [Android]
Gizmodo —
Whether for fear of patent infringement or as the result of a colossal lapse in judgment, Android didn't ship with multitouch. No worries—the hardware was ready, and the third-party developers willing to oblige. Developer Luke Hutchison has devised a way to implement multitouch in a few of the major apps (Chrome and Maps) as well as a few demo applications. Thought the current build isn't as smooth as the iPhone or Pre multitouch zooming, with some dev help it easily could be—the solution lacks OpenGL acceleration for the time being, having just been released today. And even with the lack of hardware acceleration, performance is more ...
Multi-Touch Running On Hacked Googlephone
Wired: Gadget Lab —
Hacker Luke Hutchison has successfully brought multi-touch to the T-Mobile G1 Googlephone. The video shows that it's a rather clunky implementation right now, but as Luke points out, this is v.1.0:
This is a proof of concept, people — of course it will be optimized over time — the fact it’s not done yet doesn’t mean it can’t be or won’t be. Apple’s engineers were paid mega moola to implement their bling, I was not.
How does it work? Luke has patched the Linux kernel of the Android OS to tweak the (Synaptics) touchpad driver. As this is a software only ...
Multi-touch appears on G1 Android- proves value of open source
jkOnTheRun —
The T-Mobile G1 Android phone was missing one key ability that iPhone competitors are expected to have, multi-touch. The hardware is capable of supporting multi-touch features like the famous “zoom pinch” but it was missing from the phone in its released form. Given the recent saber-rattling between Palm and Apple about multi-touch and patents it’s easy to see why it was easier to avoid that whole debate and leave it out.
The primary difference between the Android platform and all the others is how it is based on an open source OS. This means that third party developers can extend the platform in any way they wish without official support from ...
Multi-Touch on the T-Mobile G1
Mobility Site —
Why HTC and Google never enabled the multi-touch capability in their T-Mobile G1 is something that I can’t understand.
I have read many comments at Mobilitysite in the past when I posted about this topic, many of them saying that so far there was not any proof that effectively showed that a G1 had that capability. Today I’m bringing a movie where you can see a G1 using that capability fully in all applications. ...
Multitouch on the T-Mobile G1: Proof of Concept Video
IntoMobile - Cell Phone News, Information, and Analysis —
It’s a well-known fact that multitouch is not supported on the T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) G1. HTC and Google (NSDQ: GOOG) no doubt have the smarts and ability to punch this out, yet it remains unavailable. Thanks to the Open Source community however, (and developer Luke Hutchison in particular) a proof of concept (at the very least) video has come to light. As you’ll see in the video above, Luke has put together quite a nice multitouch hack for the G1. You can pinch and spread and flick to your hearts’ content.
Great work Luke. For more details, full instructions, issues and more… take a ...
Multi-touch on the G1 is here
CrunchGear —
Do you have balls of steel? If you answered “YES!” or “SORT OF!” then you might have what it takes to flash the firmware on your T-Mobile G1 in order to get this multi-touch hack up and running, courtesy of developer Luke Hutchison.
Luke has implemented the code on the kernel level and will continue to optimize it going forward. As with any modifications to your phone’s firmware, be extremely careful as you’ll very likely void your warranty while running the risk of bricking your phone. That disclaimer aside, the process doesn’t look all that difficult if you’re handy with Linux root access.
Hutchison ...
Multi-Touch runs on a Hacked Google Phone
Gadget Venue —
A guy named Luke Hutchinson managed to get multi-touch features working on a G1 Google phone. Unfortunately the system is a little clunky although with it being just version 1 of the hack, that can be forgiven.
The system works by patching a Linux Kernal and then a quick tweak of the touchpad driver successfully activates multitouch. It is unclear right now if the hardware is capable of multi-touch, or if something somehow is just being emulated. The standard applications are not compatible meaning that modified apps will be needed. The creator, Luke, has provided a browser, maps and photo viewer for you to play around with.
The good news is that the ...
Get unofficial multi-touch support on your G1
Tech Ticker —
Multi-touch on G1 is very much possible but the end product was never shipped with the feature depriving many craving the multi-touch. Now a developer Luke Hutchison has posted a nifty tutorial that can make multi-touch on G1, a reality. He patched the kernel and re-flashed the firmware. If these terminologies seem alien to you, chances are that the tutorial won’t help you either. Advance users can happily advance to the tutorial link below or you can enjoy the video now and wait for the official multi-touch support to come.
Tutorial ...
Enable multitouch on the G1
MAKE Magazine: hacks —
With a patch to both the Android kernel and browser, Luke Hutchison was able to add usable multitouch support to the T-Mobile G1. If you aren't concerned about updating your firmware, this is a hack that you can use on your device today, despite this not being an official component of the device's design.
I moved my original multi-touch code back into the kernel, because it turns out that currently it's a lot easier to patch the kernel and get a working Android system than it is to patch the Android java stack and get a working system. (The Android java stack that made it into the G1 was branched and ...
Enable multitouch on the G1
MAKE Magazine —
With a patch to both the Android kernel and browser, Luke Hutchison was able to add usable multitouch support to the T-Mobile G1. If you aren't concerned about updating your firmware, this is a hack that you can use on your device today, despite this not being an official component of the device's design.
I moved my original multi-touch code back into the kernel, because it turns out that currently it's a lot easier to patch the kernel and get a working Android system than it is to patch the Android java stack and get a working system. (The Android java stack that made it into the G1 was branched and ...
G1 multi touch hack works but buyer beware
Newlaunches.com —
The G1 disappointed many when it didn’t feature a multi touch screen like the iPhone or other competing devices. Thankfully there is a hack to get your G1 multi tapping and going silly with it. The hack isn't very hard but since its not T-Mobile approved it will void any warranties you may have. If you don’t want to turn your phone into a brick consider staying away from this hack as there are chances things could go wrong. For the adventurous watch the video. Via [ BGR ...
Hack multitouch into a T-Mobile G1
Boing Boing Gadgets —
Luke Hutchisonw as able to make a hack to the Android kernel and browser and enable usable multitouch support on the T-Mobile G1. Since Apple claims to have patented multitouch colon-deep the wazoo, I wonder if this user's hack makes T-Mobile liable. Clearly the hardware is capable of it, which might imply — to Apple — a patent violation, and give reason for a lawsuit. I doubt it, but it's neat to imagine: the Hot Coffee lawsuit of the gadget world.
Get Multi-Touch Zooming Support on your T-Mobile G1 [Luke Hutch]
Google Backs Off Multi-Touch to Please Apple, Report Claims
Today @ PC World —
Google Backs Off Multi-Touch to Please Apple, Report Claims Google allegedly did not include multi-touch technology in the Android mobile operating system in a concession to Apple. The Day the Music Service Ruckus Died The "free" college oriented online music service Ruckus has shut down, diminishing hopes by some that campuses will stop their music stealing ways. Amazon Kindle 2: It's All About the E Ink Amazon announced its e-book reader Kindle 2 on Monday. But the real page-turning tech behind the device is the use of "virtual ink." Archos Tablet-Phone to Use Android OS Device maker Archos says it is working on tablet-phone that will use the ...
Did Google omit multi-touch for Android OS on Apple’s request?
IntoMobile - Cell Phone News, Information, and Analysis —
Like the iPhone’s lack of copy/paste functionality, the Android-powered T-Mobile (NYSE: DT) G1 has been criticized for its lack of true multi-touch support. Multi-touch technology has been gaining traction as the most intuitive way to interact with a touchscreen smartphone, and has been a driver in the iPhone’s success. So, why are the G1 and Android OS so conspicuously missing multi-touch support? Word has it that Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) asked Google (NSDQ: GOOG) to keep their hands off multi-touch technology.
According to an Android team member, Google purposefully omitted multi-touch support from their Android OS at the ...
