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Back in December we mentioned that it was possible to run Android 1.6 on the HTC Touch Pro (from Sprint and others). After just a few months it is now possible to run Android 2.x (Eclair) on it, there are still a couple of bugs but it is becoming more stable and usable everyday. Android 2.x brings many improvements from Android 1.6 so why not give it a shot!

Android 2 or Eclair added a couple of changes including (from Wikipedia):

• Optimized hardware speed
• Support for more screen sizes and resolutions
• Revamped UI
• New browser UI and HTML5 support
• New contact lists
• Better white/black ratio for backgrounds
• Improved Google Maps 3.1.2
• Microsoft Exchange support
• Built in flash support for Camera
• Digital Zoom
• Improved virtual keyboard
• Bluetooth 2.1
• Live Wallpapers

It has been possible to run Android 2.x on the HTC Touch Pro for quite a while now but recently some breakthrough have been made and for example the microphone now works fine without having to place a call in Windows Mobile prior to launching Android. Things like that makes it way more usable and suitable for an everyday use.

Developers over at XDA and PPCGeeks should be thanked for this.

The installation instructions are pretty simple:

1. Get the latest XAndroid package here –> (see http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=104276 for the latest links)
2. Remove any previous Android files from your Touch Pro SD Card.
3. Extract the content of the archive to the root of your SD Card.
4. Download the latest kernel and modules package for the HTC Touch Pro here:
   http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=104276
5. Replace the kernel and modules files (zImage and modules*.tar.gz) from your SD Card with the ones from the package you just downloaded.
6. Use your File Explorer to run Haret.exe located at the root of your SD Card.

Here is a list of the working / non working features on a CDMA Touch Pro(from PPCGeeks thread):

Current Status
Working

• Radio - making and receiving calls, making and receiving SMS
• Audio - Earpiece, device speaker, and microphone
• CDMA Data - If it's not working, check the FAQs below
• WiFi
• Physical Buttons - Button on top of phone is Home. Top left = Menu. Top Right = Back. Bottom Left = Phone/Dialer. Bottom Right = End Call/Sleep.
• Keyboard - Though the keyboard backlight is somewhat inconsistent and caps lock doesn't work.

Semi-Working

• Accelerometer - Works, but is strangely calibrated and weirdly sensitive -- the directions show up correctly in some applications and incorrectly in others.
• Touchscreen - works, but is sometimes unwilling to consider a long drag as a drag instead of a series of clicks.
• Power Management - Power Collapse works, but more optimization is desperately needed (too many things wake the phone up in the background). With typical settings, the phone's battery only lasts 1-4 hours.
• Battery Status - Reports, but the data it's reporting is not entirely accurate or stable
• 3D Driver - Works, but only if a 3d app is run in windows before booting android (TouchFlo 3D should do it, or Diamond Hologram). If 3D is working, you'll see the Nexus One animation on boot. If it isn't, you'll just see a black screen until the home screen comes up.

Not Working

• GPS
• Camera
• Bluetooth

You can follow the PPCGeeks thread here:
http://forum.ppcgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=104276

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